Having just celebrated 50 years in the U.S. with a batch of limited-edition packages for eight different models at the Chicago Auto Show, Subaru unveiled two more special-edition versions of the WRX and WRX STI at the 2018 Subaru Tecnica International Boxerfest in Washington D.C.

Much like the 50th Anniversary Edition, the Series.Gray comes with a special exterior paint, a sportier interior, and extra standard equipment. Only 1,000 units of the Series.Gray cars will be produced, with 750 WRX and only 250 WRX STI models to leave the factory. Besides being produced in smaller numbers, the WRX STI also gets a revised chassis for a sportier ride. Let's find out more about both cars in the review below.

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What makes the Subaru WRX and WRX STI Series.Gray special

Design upgrades are rather light, so the first thing that catches the eye is the Cool Gray Khaki paint. Although the name suggests a combination between gray and the colors usually used for military uniforms, this Cool Gray Khaki hue is actually a very light shade of blue. You will find it hard to find any gray in it, but it's definitely cool. The custom paint is highlighted by Crystal Black Silica badges and mirrors, features that are exclusive to this series, and 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss-black. Subaru also added some extra standard features, including LED Steering Responsive Headlamps and LED foglamps.

Moving over to the WRX STI, it features the same Cool Gray Khaki paint and Crystal Black Silica badging and mirror caps. It also has the gloss-black wheels, but the rims are slightly bigger at 19 inches. Unlike the regular WRX, the STI also comes with Brembo calipers painted in silver and with the "STI" logo.

The interior of the WRX remains similar to the regular model, but the Series.Gray is based on the Premium trim, so it gets the Performance Package. The bundle adds a few cool features, such as Ultrasuede-trimmed Recaro seats and eight-way power seat for the driver. The package also removes the moonroof in order to take the WRX closer to its iconic rally roots. Extra standard equipment includes keyless access with push-button start.

The WRX STI also gets the Recaro seats with the eight-way power driver's seat, but the Ultrasuede upholstery is paired with Carbon Black leather bolsters. The sporty steering wheel is also wrapped in Ultrasuede and features red stitching. The keyless access with push-button start is included at no additional cost on this model too.

Under the hood, the WRX remains unchanged, so it uses the same turbocharged 2.0-liter Boxer flat-four engine making 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The only thing that changes here is that the Series.Gray is restricted to the six-speed manual transmission. If you don’t like to row, then tough luck, you're going to have to get a different WRX to opt for the Continuously Variable Transmission. Naturally, the Symmetrical AWD system is standard and includes active torque vectoring and an optional variable torque distribution system.

The same goes for the WRX STI, which comes with the standard 2.5-liter flat-four engine. But it's plenty powerful at 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque, needing only five seconds to hit 60 mph from a standing start. Output is routed through a six-speed manual transmission and hits the asphalt through a Symmetrical AWD system. However, unlike the WRX, the STI did get a few extra bits. The sedan rides on a unique Bilstein suspension setup with sport-tuned dampers, inverted-strut front suspension, and double wishbone rear suspension. This can only mean one thing, the Series.Gray is a bit more fun to drive.

Pricing for the WRX Series.Gray starts from $32,595, which is a $3,300 premium over the WRX Premium it is based on. The WRX STI Series.Gray, on the other hand, retails from $39,695. For reference, the WRX STI starts from $36,095, while the WRX STI Limited fetches $40,895 before options.

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Subaru WRX STI.

Read our full review on the 2018 Subaru WRX.

Read more Subaru news.