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Subaru’s Next Big Performance Car Could Piss Off Enthusiasts

The WRX may be facing its biggest change yet, and it’ll all likely occur under the hood.

Close-up of a red Subaru car's front headlight with the light turned on at sunset.Subaru
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By Chris Chin

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One of Subaru’s most notable performance models, the WRX, could be facing its biggest change in its entire history. A new spy photo from Japan recently surfaced, showing a test mule of the JDM Levorg Layback wagon.

But rather than just being your typical camouflaged prototype, the mule apparently reveals some telling details. And that has Subaru fans pondering the possibilities.

According to some reports, the prototype in the spy photo suggests that the next-gen WRX could be going gas-electric hybrid, which would be a first for the model.

The end of the gas-only WRX?

Two cars covered in black and silver camouflage wrap parked next to a white car behind orange traffic cones and a yellow-black striped barrier.
Notice the telling detail that’s missing from this supposed Subaru Levorg Layback prototype?
X via @HEV_Sanpuri

X user @HEV_Sanpuri reportedly snapped a picture of the vehicle in the Gunma Prefecture, just northwest of Tokyo. The Gunma Prefecture also happens to be one of the locations of Subaru’s primary test facilities.

While it looks like your average wrapped-up test vehicle, keen eyes and Subaru enthusiasts noticed that it lacked a very important detail. The prototype doesn’t sport the typical engine hood intake scoop, a signature detail of the WRX model.

Car engine bay with visible intercooler, battery with red cover, and various hoses and fluid reservoirs.
The WRX and other turbocharged Impreza-based models all featured functional hood scoops to help cool the engine’s top-mounted intercooler.
Subaru

Many vehicles today feature fake vents and hood scoops for aesthetic pleasure. But the one on all the WRX models actually functions as a cooling method for the turbocharged boxer engine’s top-mounted intercooler.

How does apply to the WRX? Well, the Levorg is basically the Japanese Domestic Market equivalent to what we’d normally get as the Impreza.

Similar to how America gets the sporty Impreza-based WRX, Japan also receives its own version called the Levorg WRX. The Levorg Layback is basically an Outback-equivalent of the JDM market Levorg Wagon, but with lifted suspension for more ground clearance, and an all-terrain-tuned all-wheel-drive system.

Yellow Subaru Levorg STI Sport wagon with black wheels and tinted windows on a white background.
The Subaru Levorg is essentially a Japanese Domestic Market Impreza WRX.
Subaru

And the Levorg specifically only comes with a turbocharged boxer-four. That makes it the template for the North American, European and other export market WRX model. For example, Australia’s WRX Sportswagon is basically a rebadged Levorg.

Because the Levorg Layback’s successor seems to be lacking that functional hood scoop, Subaru fans are worried it could mean the end of the gas-only WRX. Some also believe this could mean the next-gen WRX could be going gas-electric hybrid.

To go electric, or not?

Blue Subaru WRX STI hatchback with black hood scoop, black roof, large rear spoiler, and black alloy wheels in a studio.
Subaru is still figuring out which direction to take its future STI performance model.
Subaru

Subaru recently catapulted itself into the rumor sphere after confirming the revival of STI, with aspirations to produce new high-performance models in the near future.

The Fuji Heavy Industries-owned automaker originally teased two concepts at last year’s Tokyo Mobility Show, the Performance-E and Performance-B Concepts. The brand followed up at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this year, confirming STI’s desire to once again make a global high-performance model, a la WRX STI.

But it also called on fans, enthusiasts and prospective buyers to voice their desires to help determine the model’s direction. The Performance-E suggested a sporty all-electric model while the Performance-B kept it old-school as a gas-only model.

Blue Subaru sports car with black hood, gold wheels, and red STI logos in a gray studio.
If it doesn’t go all-electric or stick to classic internal combustion, why not blend both worlds with a gas-electric hybrid?
Subaru

Subaru executives claimed the feedback was beyond overwhelming, which apparently makes it even more difficult for the product planning team. So, rather than choosing one of the other, Subaru could be seeking to blend the best of both worlds by making a hybridized WRX and Levorg.

Some rumors suggest a next-gen Levorg is on the horizon to debut later this year with gas-only power. But others indicate that a new hybrid powertrain co-developed with Toyota may also be a part of the equation.

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).

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