Home / Motoring / Electric Vehicles

Subaru Is Dead Serious About Reviving Its Sorely Missed Performance Lineup, but It Begs One Big Question from Fans

Go all-electric, stick to good ‘ol internal combustion, or run with a bit of both?

2025 Subaru Performance-E STI Concept - Tokyo (13)Subaru
Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google
A black and white portrait of a smiling man with short, dark hair. He is wearing a light-colored blazer over a collared shirt. The background is plain and unobtrusive.

By Chris Chin

Published

·

Updated

If you thought Subaru’s recent STI concepts at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan were just another round of empty promises, it appears such is not the case. Rather, the Fuji Heavy Industries-owned automaker is genuinely serious about reviving its performance brand.

Speaking with Australia’s Drive, Subaru’s general product manager, Masaaki Kobayashi, said that STI’s revival is definitely on the table. However, they’re at a major crossroads.

Do they pursue an all-electric future, or do they stick to classic internal combustion?

That’s the big question, as the company determines which path to go down.

The choice is yours, Subaru STI fans

Blue Subaru hatchback with large rear spoiler and black alloy wheels in a studio.
Subaru revealed the STI Performance-B Concept at Tokyo as a potential pitch at an internal combustion-powered revival.
Subaru

At the Tokyo Motor Show this year, Subaru shocked the world by revealing two different STI concepts. One was the STI Performance-B Concept, while the other was the STI Performance-E.

The Performance-B essentially looks like a high-performance variant of the current five-door Impreza hatchback, all-dressed up as an STI car should be. The other is a more, radical all-electric concept based on a completely new design.

Matte blue Subaru sports car with black hood, gold wheels, and red STI logos in a studio setting.
Subaru also revealed the STI Performance-E Concept as an all-electric suggestion.
Subaru

The Performance-B Concept promises a new, gas- or hybrid-powered STI performance car. The Performance-E is the all-electric alternative.

While it isn’t the first instance in which Subaru has teased the world with some enticing ideas, this time was a bit different. For starters, the Performance-B is one of the most production-ready-looking concepts we’ve seen from the brand in quite a long time.

Blue Subaru STI car front view with black hood scoop and red trim on grille.
Both concepts highlight Subaru’s interest in bringing back one of its most iconic nameplates.
Subaru

The Performance-E doesn’t look as production-ready, with its blacked-out windows, which usually indicate an incomplete interior. The Performance-B had a nearly-completed interior.

Blue Subaru STI sports car with sleek angular front and black hood in a studio.
The Performance-E Concept didn’t appear to have a completed interior, unlike the Performance-B Concept.
Subaru

The reason why Subaru revealed these two questions is to gather feedback from both prospective customers and media. Such feedback would be used to determine which direction they should go.

“We want to offer the choice, that’s the reason we showcased [two concepts] one as an ICE and one as a BEV,” Kobayashi-san told Drive.

Trying to make a business case

Close-up of the rear right side of a blue Subaru STI with red and white taillights and black aerodynamic trim.
Fans have been clamoring for the return of an Impreza-based WRX STI.
Subaru

As with any new car or potential concept, Subaru’s product engineers are in the planning stages. Currently, the company’s trying to determine if the potential return-on-investment is worth the effort of reviving an STI model.

The industry’s split over electrification makes the decision-making all the trickier. While diehard car enthusiasts lust for a classic internal combustion-powered STI model, similar to Impreza-based WRX STI models in the past, the influx of EV models has also given rise to a newfound niche for performance EVs.

White Subaru WRX sedan parked on a large asphalt surface with dry grassy hills in the background.
It’s been over five years since Subaru last gave us an Impreza-based WRX STI, and fans are hungry for a new one.
Subaru

Such examples leading the charge on performance EVs include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N. Kia is also working on its own with the EV6 GT and BMW has the all-electric M3 in the works.

Blue Subaru WRX STI hatchback with black hood scoop, black roof, large rear spoiler, and black alloy wheels in a studio.
While Subaru produces the WRX, it’s not the same as a full-fledged STI model.
Subaru

This has Subaru second-guessing the prospect of an internal combustion engine-powered STI car. But to make sure, they produced the Performance-E Concept to see how the world would react.

“Of course we are developing BEVs to achieve carbon neutrality,” Kobayashi-san continued. “But on the other side, [there is] the customer who chooses this car [Performance-B], so we want to make the option [available] to the customer, so that’s why we made an ICE car with an engine.”

Blue Subaru Performance-E STI concept car with gold-accented wheels and rear spoiler in a studio.
Electric performance cars like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N have Subaru asking the big question.
Subaru

“This is the first time we [have] shown it to the public, so, maybe we want to know what the customers think, maybe we get the feedback from the customers, then we will think [about production versions].”

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

Read More

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

add as a preferred source on google
,