Subaru’s Latest Concepts Reintroduce the Brand’s Most Beloved Nameplate

One of the concepts looks pretty darn production-ready to us. We’re crossing our fingers.

Front view of a blue Subaru STI car with black grille, hood scoop, and black alloy wheels.

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Published 2 hours ago

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It appears Subaru fans may get their wish. The quirky Japanese automaker fully revealed its two hotly anticipated STI concepts at the Japan Mobility.

Normally, concepts get their fair, yet short-lived, oohs and ahs, and get forgotten. That’s because concepts don’t typically represent production-ready cars. But this time might be a bit different.

Subaru actually gave us what looks like a production-ready concept

Blue Subaru hatchback with black roof, hood scoop, wide fenders, and large rear spoiler in a studio.

The first concept that truly caught our eyes is the Performance-B STI Concept. It appears to start life as a five-door Impreza.

But as one can tell from its wicked flared fender widebody modifications, its aggressive front and rear lower facias, that very performance-oriented rear bumper diffuser, and the you-can’t-miss-it giant rear spoiler, it’s what modern-day STI dreams are clearly made of.

Blue Subaru hatchback with large rear spoiler and black alloy wheels in a studio.

Subaru has a rife history of revealing promising concepts that seem to fall flat once they reach production, if they ever do. But this is by far the nearest production-ready-looking concept we’ve seen from the Fuji Heavy Industries-owned automaker.

Close-up of the rear right side of a blue Subaru STI with red and white taillights and black aerodynamic trim.

The company teased two STI concepts just a short time ago, with the descriptions suggesting that they’d be pitching both internal combustion-powered and electric-powered concepts. It’s likely in a bid to test the waters to see which gains traction the most.

It could also Subaru teasing its ambitions of offering customers powertrain choices, similar to other automakers.

Blue car hood with black vents and "Proud of BOXER" text near the windshield wipers.

The Performance-B STI Concept is clearly the gas-powered concept, being based on the current five-door Impreza. Subaru says it sports a “horizontally opposed turbo engine with a low center of gravity.” By logical deduction, it is presumably the company’s usual turbocharged boxer-four.

Rear view of a blue Subaru STI Performance-B Concept hatchback with large rear wing and dual exhaust.

The Performance-B also benefits from a whole bunch of weight-saving modifications, all to improve performance. Subaru also obviously included its signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, tuned for the Performance-B STI Concept’s application.

But the icing on the cake: it apparently comes with a six-speed manual. Yes, please, Subaru?

The Performance-E STI Concept hints at the nameplate’s future

Blue Subaru sports car with gold and black wheels in a studio setting.

Electrification is an inevitable part of our automotive future, which is also why Subaru revealed the Performance-E STI Concept. While most would be gravitating to the Performance-B STI Concept, the all-electric version also showcases what’s potentially possible.

Looking more like a design study, the Performance-E STI Concept is Subaru’s idea of reviving its most beloved sports car range as an EV.

Blue Subaru Performance-E STI concept car with gold-accented wheels and rear spoiler in a studio.

Although Subaru didn’t disclose any mechanical information, the Performance-E STI Concept is essentially an electric version of the Performance-B.

Rear side of a blue car with a large rear wing, black and gold multi-spoke wheel, and red brake caliper.

It sports a similar five-door hatchback body with all-wheel drive. But as one can tell from its appearance, it also dons some very sporty bodywork.

Such includes the front grille-less fascia and its massive lower air duct, which is presumably there to help keep the electric motors, battery pack and brakes properly cooled.

Blue Subaru STI sports car with sleek angular front and black hood in a studio.

Underbody effects and wide axle stance, both fore and aft, give the Performance-E a very aggressive appearance. And of course, like the Performance-B and even previous STI models, the Performance-E comes complete with unique two-piece aerodynamic rear spoilers at the rear pillars.

Needless to say, if there were any potential hints about the STI nameplate’s return becoming a reality, these are the strongest indicators yet.

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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