Subaru Might Revive an Affordable Performance Icon for the First Time in Half a Decade

Should the rumor be true, Subaru might become one of the first automakers to make an affordable performance EV.

Close-up of a white Subaru car front grille featuring the Subaru emblem on the left and a red "STI" badge on the right, with a honeycomb pattern and a red accent line above the badge.

Published 4 hours ago

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The Subaru WRX STI might be making a comeback, but potentially as a tire-shredding EV.

Britain’s AutoExpress reports that the quirky Japanese automaker is looking to reinvigorate some of the affordable performance enthusiasm it was once known for — and that could mean an electrified revival of one of its most iconic models.

That beloved icon is the high-performance version of the Impreza sedan, the WRX STI. While we still do get a gas-powered watered-down WRX today, it’s been almost five years since Subaru gave us the full-fledged STI.

The WRX STI is the one fans want back

Silver Subaru WRX sedan drifting on a gravel surface, kicking up a large cloud of dust with mountains in the background under a clear sky. — 2021 was the last year for the WRX STI.

Subaru might be known for cars like the Forester, Legacy and Impreza. But it was the WRX STI that made a lasting impression.

The WRX STI also catapulted the brand into the global limelight. It was the choice and victorious vehicle for many famous World Rally Championship drivers in the 1990s and 2000s, including the late, great Colin McRae.

But more so, road-going production versions of the WRX STI became beacons for affordable performance.

Subaru discontinued the WRX STI back in 2021 due to tightening emissions compliance and fuel economy regulations. Additionally, the automaker canned its world-famous factory-backed motorsports program in the early 2010s in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis. The challenging financial climate also toned down the company’s performance aspirations.

Blue Subaru Impreza WRX with gold alloy wheels parked on grass in a sunny, rural setting with a wooden structure and trees in the background. — The first-generation 1994-2000 Impreza WRX STI is where it all started for fans.

Since then, Subaru has been focusing on volume-driven, fuel-efficient, outdoorsy and family-friendly vehicles with a trajectory toward full electrification. Despite the introduction of the lightweight and fun BRZ sports coupe in partnership with Toyota to make up for the lack of an STI, fans are still clamoring for a new hi-po Impreza.

Reigniting old passions

Two silver Subaru WRX STI cars driving on a winding mountain road under a partly cloudy blue sky, with green forested hills in the background. The focus is on the rear side of the closest car, showing its spoiler, taillight, and dual exhaust. — Subaru discontinued the WRX STI mainly due to tighter fuel economy and emissions regulations.

Because the original WRX STI was such a famous car for Subaru, it took the role as the brand’s “halo car.”

A halo car is essentially a high-profile model that serves as a brand’s most desired and recognizable. It may not be a top seller, and from a business standpoint, halo cars generally don’t turn in a lot of profit.

Blue Subaru WRX STI sedan driving on a dirt road, kicking up dust behind it, with a clear sky and distant mountains in the background. — The Subaru WRX STI is just as much in its element off-road as it is on.

But they do significantly contribute to defining a brand’s image, as these signature performance models jump to mind when you think of a manufacturer. Other examples include the Nissan GT-R, the Lexus LF-A, the Porsche 911, the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Corvette.

To help revitalize its image as a purveyor of affordable performance, Subaru wants to “reignite old passions” by producing a new halo car.

For the brand, that halo car was the WRX STI. But because Subaru is adamant about its electric future, that could mean a new high-performance EV.

Two Subaru WRX sedans are parked on a wide, open concrete surface during sunset. The car on the left is blue with a prominent hood scoop and a rear spoiler, facing slightly toward the camera. The car on the right is red, positioned side-on with the sun shining behind it, casting long shadows on the ground. The sky is partly cloudy with warm, golden light illuminating the scene. — The last WRX STI featured a turbocharged, intercooled 2.5-liter flat-four and standard all-wheel drive.

“There’s a recognition that Subaru has been out of the game for a long time and it would be good to get back into it, although it’s a bit early to say how that would look,” a source within Subaru told AE. “It’s about product that reignites old passions, which is more difficult [with an EV] because a lot of the love for the Impreza was the noise. If you don’t concentrate on range too much, you can get good performance, but the fun factor is more difficult.”

Silver Subaru WRX sedan with a large rear spoiler driving at speed on a dusty dirt road in a mountainous desert area under a cloudy sky. — The WRX STI’s giant rear-wing spoiler is one of its most iconic attributes.

Although details aren’t readily available, AE reports that the new halo car would be developed entirely in-house. It wouldn’t be in partnership with Toyota, like the BRZ.

Subaru’s currently collaborating with Toyota and even Mazda to develop three new electric vehicles, which are anticipated to surface in the near future. Back in May 2024, the three automakers committed to a joint-venture to co-develop EVs, new internal combustion tech and other in-vehicle technologies.

Blue and yellow Subaru rally car kicking up dirt as it speeds around a gravel road corner in a forested area. The car features sponsor logos including Red Bull, Subaru, Yokohama, and Motul, with gold wheels and a large rear spoiler. Dust and gravel spray behind the car, emphasizing its motion. — The Subaru WRX is still a fixture in rally competitions today.

The last export model WRX STI featured a gasoline 2.5-liter turbocharged, intercooled “EJ207” flat-four. When it was discontinued, it produced 304 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, enabling a sprint to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds.

“EVs are coming and they’re making things that we’ve been dreaming of possible again, so we’re seeing almost a rebirth of that sort of blue car with the yellow paint on it,” Subaru’s general manager for its European division, David Dello Stritto, told AE in their exclusive interview. “It’s becoming possible again.”

rear three quarter view of a red subaru wrx in front of jagged black volcanic mountains — The current WRX is the closest thing to a modern-day STI.

“This is very exciting; they’re not the biggest group of Subaru buyers in Europe, but they’re very vocal and keep pushing us,” Dello Stritto continued. “Now we’ve got electric powertrains allowing us to do that, maybe at some point in the future we could start playing with that.”

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