The STI(ll) Not back
Anyone who is a fan of Subaru’s or unfortunate enough to know a Subaru fan has probably heard by now that the STI is back. Except that it’s only kinda sorta? If we Rewind back to the Japan Mobility Show that happened just a couple months ago you would remember that we got teased on the potential of a new Combustion STI Hatchback and an EV STI as well. In recent times I think it was one of the more well received concepts that Subaru has unveiled. We kinda assumed that we would be getting a hatchback version of the current VB platform with a new STI coming, Perhaps not right away but eventually? While thats still not off the table we have now seen in the past week or so at Tokyo Auto Salon that the WRX STI Sport # was shown off. Which pretty much just looks like a dressed up WRX TS Featuring a Manual (in Japan the top trim WRX is an auto).
Now if you’ve followed us for any amount of time you’ve probably heard us say that the WRX TS is essentially a STI Lite. It has pretty much all of the hallmarks of a STI with none of the badging which is fine but of course we know this means that Subaru is leaving room on the table. After all if Subaru thinks the top trim performance model in their lineup can only make ~300Hp in 2026 I regret to inform them thats not the case. in the last half decade we’ve seen plenty of manufactures crank out 700-1000hp cars. While i have zero want for a factory 1000HP STI as much as Subarus Warranty department does I do think that its a bit upsetting that we haven’t gotten a 350-400Hp car yet. I would also anticipate that the Return of the STI is going to be costly and I can’t help but feel like if you were gonna be paying ~ 60K USD for a new Subaru for it to only have ~300 or so HP it would definitely be hard to justify over many other cars in that price range new and certainly many more over it in the used market. I guess this is where I find my major problem with Subaru at the moment and with the anticipation of a new STI if we are even to get one. I Mean in the current moment we do have Access to the TS but that lands at a $47,700 MSRP base and thats more expensive than any STI to date.
Perhaps I am wrong and a new STI could come to market at an affordable price but I don’t think thats the case, in fact I think that may be one of the most defining reasons why we don’t currently have one. As a Subaru fan and enjoyer for well over a decade at this point I would definitely think that it would be hard to sell a $60k STI especially when cars like the Supra, Nissan Z, Well Specced Mustang GT’s and the M2 are all within reach. Now I would love for nothing more than to be proved wrong and us given a new STI thats not only the most powerful we’ve seen but also come in at a price point thats reasonable for the brand and enthusiasts who enjoy the cars. At the current moment all we can do is let Japan celebrate that its getting something a bit more akin to what we are all after and hope that the sweet hatch concept comes to fruition soon.
