My first thought upon reading the headline for this story is don鈥檛 get your hopes up.
But a recent Car and Driver story has me thinking it could happen. Maybe. But it鈥檚 probably not what you鈥檙e thinking. There鈥檚 a lot to unpack here, so let鈥檚 dive in.
The current WRX (VB chassis) is the second generation for the rally-inspired sedan since it was separated from the compact Impreza sedan in 2015. The VB was all new for the 2022 model year with new styling and a power boost for the turbo flat-four engine. Notably, Subaru did not bring the range-topping STI model back for the VB. It was WRX only.
Why? Basically, it likely wouldn鈥檛 have a very long shelf-life.
I was at the Canadian press launch for the WRX in the summer of 2022, and Subaru reps were asked to explain the STI鈥檚 absence. Our assembled group of journos was told that a new STI, even with improvements made to its turbo powertrain, would have trouble meeting global emission standards. Basically, Subaru wouldn鈥檛 likely be able to sell it in Europe. Or if it managed to pass certification at launch, it might become ineligible during its lifecycle. The WRX and BRZ aren鈥檛 sold in Europe primarily due to strict tailpipe emission regulations.
But, the reps said, the STI nameplate isn鈥檛 necessarily dead. And we all knew what that meant 鈥� the STI could come back, but only as a hybrid or EV.
Fast forward to last week at the New York auto show where Subaru鈥檚 European boss David Dello Stritto told British magazine Autocar (via Car and Driver) that while the gas-only STI is gone, it could return with some form of electrification.
鈥淲ith an EV, you鈥檝e got the power and performance, and you鈥檝e got an all-wheel-drive system. We鈥檙e working on more sport models, and electrification allows us to do this,鈥� he told Autocar. He also said Subaru鈥檚 partnership with Toyota could aid future performance car development.
The time horizon for an electrified STI is hard to predict. The current WRX is in its fourth model year, which means it should be in production until at least 2027. A next-gen model, which could include an STI hybrid or EV, likely wouldn鈥檛 go on sale any sooner than 2028.
Still, it鈥檚 good to hear the iconic STI performance nameplate could return.
Photos courtesy of Subaru
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