Subaru WRX STI: The Cult Performance Car is Officially Dead
The badge could return with electric power.
Car enthusiasts all over the world including Australia have been waiting for the WRX STI for a while now. However, despite all the patience, it looks like the car will never enter production. So, all the enthusiasts better sit down. Subaru just confirmed that the WRX STI would not be returning anytime soon.
Subaru WRX STI
The automaker also stated, “Subaru Corporation is exploring opportunities for the next-generation Subaru WRX STI, including electrification.” The statement goes on to say, unequivocally, that a next-generation STI with an internal combustion engine “will not be produced based upon the new WRX platform.”
Last year in July, considerations were being made around a 345 horsepower STI. Then in the first month of 2022, Subaru got featured in the Tokyo Auto Salon with a concept of S4 STI. Car enthusiasts thought that the concept entry was just a glimpse of what might be becoming.
Regarding the WRX STI, Subaru just left a three-paragraph lengthy statement. However, the automaker solves the mystery at the beginning of the passage, stating the needs of an evolving marketplace and electrification.
For now, the intent does not matter because, officially, the WRX STI is dead. The very first version of the vehicle came in 1994 featured 247 horsepower. After that, the WRX Impreza ended up achieving a superstar status and entered the US markets in 2002. Then, the STI model arrived in 2004.
It is difficult to call whether the WRX STI will be revived in the next package. While electrification is certainly a possibility, the automaker Subaru has left the door open. Though, the WRX STI would not be the first small performance vehicle that ended up becoming a victim of electrification.
Earlier in 2018, the new Ford Focus RS hyper hatch also faced the same fate. Ford cited that the development costs were quite high very a very low sales volume. After all, the hybrid system must meet the emissions regulations in Europe, which are known to be quite strict.
So, car enthusiasts from Australia will not get any more glimpses of the long-awaited WRX STI by Subaru. Though, other more exciting packages might arrive later down the line as Subaru figures out where to go from here.
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