Subaru May Have Something Big Planned for WRX STI Fans
One of the most iconic and beloved compact sports cars bowed out after the 2021 model year, and its return has been awaited by enthusiasts ever since. We're talking, of course, about the Subaru WRX STI.
The company briefly hinted at an electric successor, then launched slightly racier and sharper versions of the WRX—some of them exclusive to its domestic market such as the S210. Let's not forget the boxy-looking and highly futuristic Sport Mobility concept that debuted at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.
- Also: Subaru WRX STI S210: 296 Hp, 500 Units, One Persisting Problem
- Also: 2025 Subaru WRX tS: More New Blood, Still No Signs of a True STI
The same event will return in 2025 (October 30-November 9), and Subaru plans to unveil a new prototype as foreshadowed by the image below, which was recently made public. We can see what looks like a next-generation WRX with a hood scoop and bulging fenders.
Following the unveiling, the car will take part in the Fuji 24 Hours endurance race in 2026, allowing engineers to test some of the technologies in motorsports.
According to Japanese media outlets, a brand new boxer engine is planned, one that could run on carbon-neutral E20 fuel or be part of hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems. A more advanced, racing-derived all-wheel drive system is also reportedly in the works.
Hopefully Subaru will have some exciting news to share at the Japan Mobility Show this fall, including an update on where a next-generation WRX STI stands. In the meantime, Canadian customers can turn to the 271-horsepower WRX, available in tS trim (“tuned by STI”) with new electronically controlled dampers and an “STI” logo on the engine start button.
