Subaru has recently leaked a picture of a performance model that will be shown for the first time at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, which is actually called the Japan Automobile Exhibition. This may be the next STI. It’s as complicated as a Forester head gasket from the early 2000s. Subaru still sells some faster WRX models, but the STI hasn’t been on the market since 2021. Twelve years after its debut in 1994, the Subaru WRX STI made its first appearance in the United States. STI’s last show was in 2021, but it is still sorely missed. A real STI version of the WRX is still a long way off, even though Subaru already makes one with 271 horsepower and the top that comes with big Brembo brakes and Recaro seats. Car Watch reports that some interesting news from Japan has them thinking that this type of car might be arriving soon. There are many classes in the Super Taikyu racing series, ranging from GT3 Mercedes and Ferraris to cars with engines of less than 1,500cc. Subaru is in the middle of the pack when it comes to competitors at a recent press conference at Fuji Raceway, the company’s chief technical officer stated that a new performance model will likely be shown for the first time at the Japan Mobility Show this year. It was first called the Tokyo Motor Show. The JMS will start at the end of October and happen every two years. Subaru’s teaser picture resembles something the company could actually produce. However, the company consistently generates numerous interesting ideas, some of which are so far-fetched that they can hardly be considered possible. But Subie fans, hold on a minute before you pull out that vape pen. The image above resembles a blurred station wagon, similar to the Subaru Levorg model offered in markets outside the United States. People in Australia and New Zealand can already buy the WRX’s turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine, and Japan will soon be able to do the same. This could be the form of the future. However, the preview seems to showcase a redesigned front grille and noticeably more aggressive aerodynamic elements compared to the Levorg or the current WRX. There have been rumors for a long time that the STI will have an electric motor, but Subaru could easily boost the power of the 2.4-liter engine and make an STI with 300 horsepower or more. Although the STI hasn’t been sold in the US for years, WRX sales have remained high, especially among those with manual engines. Subaru could sell a lot of Crosstrek XTs or trucks with WRX engines. It might be more important to have a main model. People who buy Foresters and Outbacks can now enjoy watching a hood-scooted Subie fly sideways over gravel, and the Toyota GR Corolla can brag about its racing past. If you want to know more about Colin McRae coming back to Subaru from STI in October, stay tuned. The STI didn’t cross the Pacific until ten years later. This time, the wait will be shorter.
