Subaru is releasing a new and exciting special edition version of the WRX in North America. One catch: the special edition WRX is exclusive to Canada, not the U.S. The model is called the WRX Raui Edition, which takes its name from the Japanese word that means “thunderstorm.” It carries a lot of exclusive features inside and out, but it's also limited to just 100 units, making it a must-have item for our friends north of the border.

2018 Subaru WRX Raiu Edition

Specifications
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  • Model: 2018 Subaru WRX Raiu Edition
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What makes the Subaru WRX Raui Edition special?

There’s a lot to like about the Subaru WRX Raui Edition, not the least of which is the fact that it’s the first special edition Subie that Canada is getting in over 15 years. That’s a long drought for a market as big as Canada, so it is, in effect, due for its own special edition Subie.

The Subaru WRX Raui Edition is the star of the show, and understandably so. It takes its name from a Japanese word that translates as “thunderstorm.”

Let’s get that out of the way. There are no power and performance upgrades to speak of; the WRX Raui Edition is powered by the same 2.0-liter, turbocharged, boxer-four that other WRX models also use. It also produces 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. All that power is sent to all four wheels courtesy of a six-speed manual transmission.

So what makes the WRX Raui Edition special? For that, we have to understand that the SE gets its status through trim enhancements. Lots of them. First, it’s dressed in a Cool Grey Khaki paint finish. The color is exclusive to WRX Raui, making it a unique WRX simply because of its body color. That color, by the way, is offset by blacked-out door mirrors, a shark-fin antenna, and a lot of badging that embraces its special edition status.

It may not feature the STI versions' performance chops, but the WRX Raui does come with a smattering of STI components, right down to the ground-effect aerodynamic components and the short-throw shifter in the cabin. Speaking of the interior, the WRX Raui is also based on the Sport-Tech RS trim of the WRX. That means that Recaro seats come as standard.

The Subaru WRX Raui Edition should go over well to Canadian customers, but it’s not a reason for us to feel pangs of jealousy. The model, in effect, is reminiscent of the Subaru WRX Series.Gray Edition that the automaker launched on our shores a few months ago. As we mentioned, Subaru only plans to release 100 units of the WRX Raui Edition. Each model costs $40,995 CAD, so that converts to around $31,000 in USD.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Subaru WRX.

Read our full review on the 2018 Subaru WRX STI.

Read our full review on the 2018 Subaru WRX STI Type RA

Read our full review on the 2018 Subaru WRX STI S208.

Read more Subaru news.