Subaru axes the next-gen WRX STI
Monday, 14 March 2022
In some rather surprising news, Subaru has confirmed there won’t be a WRX STI based on the current model, opting instead to focus on future technologies.
The news came over the weekend through Subaru America, which released a short statement saying that Subaru is “focused on how our future sports and performance cars should evolve to meet the needs of the changing marketplace” as well as hitting targets for zero-emissions vehicles and CO2 regulations.
“As part of that effort, Subaru Corporation is exploring opportunities for the next-generation Subaru WRX STI, including electrification.
“In the meantime, a next-generation internal combustion engine WRX STI will not be produced based upon the new WRX platform.”
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Previously, we were expecting the STI to arrive with close to 300kW of power, to rival the Toyota Supra and Nissan Z.
The announcement means the most powerful combustion-powered Subaru will remain the WRX, which has a 2.4-litre boxer turbo engine that pumps out 200kW and 350Nm in US-market form.
While that means that the outgoing STI is the last we’ll see with a turbocharged flat-four, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the last-ever STI.
With the focus on electrification being paramount, it seems that Subaru will eventually replace the WRX STI with an all-electric standalone model, possibly based on the STI E-RA concept revealed earlier this year.
Subaru New Zealand’s managing director, Wallace Dumper, agreed: “Essentially the STI legacy will still live on in the new realm of electric cars.”
“This is a clear statement of a strong future technology drive by Subaru Corporation and Subaru Tecnica International. In January, Subaru Corporation revealed the exciting STI E-RA concept at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon. This hugely powerful all-wheel drive project is based around the STI E-RA electric race car and has been launched to gain experience with new motorsport technologies for the carbon-neutral era.”
Dumper also hinted at other new things coming, to be announced following the new WRX and WRX-GTB wagon’s local launch in May. He wouldn’t be drawn on what they might be.
In the meantime, it’s looking like STI owners might suddenly be sitting on a future classic. According to Dumper, the WRX STI Saigo special edition has already almost doubled in price since last year. And we all know how desirable the original STI 22B is, with a New Zealand example recently listed for around $500,000.