There won’t be a Subaru WRX STI any time soon. Those responsible for the Japanese brand have confirmed that the high-performance variant of the Japanese saloon will not reach the market, not even with a traditional combustion engine. In some statements, they have admitted that they are exploring other ways to show off their sports philosophy by pointing their eyes at electrification.
The Subaru WRX stopped selling in Europe, abandoning a market category as demanding as it is special, because despite the fact that the firm has always enjoyed good health and acceptance among fans, the reality is that it has become more difficult to meet emissions targets. More lax rules in other markets, and to which to pay more attention.
But things have changed again in this new generation of the WRX, and there will be no top version of the offer, more radical in visual appeal and in the dynamic and performance planes. The Japanese manufacturer has decided to look the other way, never better said, confirmed in a statement to an Australian medium in which manufacturer sources have indicated that «Subaru Corporation is exploring new possibilities for the new generation of the Subaru WRX STI, including electrification » adding that «the new generation of WRX STI with internal combustion engine, derived from the new WRX platform, will not be produced».
Canceled the Subaru WRX STI, there will be no high-flying saloon
The truth is that, at the end of last summer, the Japanese brand presented a totally new generation of the sports saloon for the United States, and the same also for Japan, to which it added the short last name of “S4”. Rumors pointed out that the manufacturer was preparing the new STI for this coming summer, taking the engine from Hard-to-beat 2.0-litre boxer four-cylinder with a maximum output of 400 hp. However, there has been no report or leak that could confirm this point, which has now dispelled any doubts.
The presentation of the most radical Subaru STI E-RA Concept at the end of last year, taking advantage of the Tokyo Motor Show 2022, fueled the fire of the sports version with the seal of the three magic letters, but then the Japanese brand was already advancing this new strategic line. To this conceptual advance, of which he barely advanced a discreet advance, he added another that we can see in all its splendor, that of the Solterra STI Concept. The two conceptual advances are the living example of “when the river sounds, water carries”, so given the hopes unleashed in some markets, Subaru has decided to go ahead and nip all speculation in the bud.
The reality is that all brands are turning to full electrification, and Subaru’s expertise in terms of sportiness almost adds to the excitement of what they can actually achieve with their new crop of electric models. The attractive design of the new Solterra lends itself to this option, although aesthetically it will be difficult to implement a more radical image. Even so, the future of Subaru has already been defined and the possible sports versions will be zero emissions.
Source: Drive
