Subaru’s STI Performance Brand ‘Isn’t Dead’
The automaker has been paying close attention to fan reactions to its concepts, with an STI EV looking more and more likely.
By Jack FitzgeraldPublished: Mar 4, 2026
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Jack Fitzgerald|Car and Driver
Subaru’s STI division \”isn’t dead,\” according to Scott Lawrence, the general manager of Subaru Australia, speaking to the country’s Drive.com.
Lawrence reportedly said the automaker has been listening to feedback from fans regarding recent concept models.
Subaru doubled down on the gas-powered Performance-B concept as being just that, a concept, but left the door open to a production Performance-E EV.
We just can’t help ourselves. Even after being let down for the umpteenth time by Subaru Tecnica International as recently as January, the prospect of Subaru reviving the STI brand is too alluring for us to stay away from. Speaking to the Australian outlet Drive.com, the general manager for Subaru’s Australian business hinted that a new model is in the works. Even if his comments turn out to be more smoke and mirrors, we know we’ll get our hopes up again.
STI Is Staying Alive
Lawrence told the outlet that Subaru’s STI performance division is not dead. In fact, according to the executive, the automaker, which has shown several STI-branded products in recent months, has been paying close attention to fan reactions to those models. \”The tempo of news and activity out of STI publicly is picking up,\” he said.
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Lawrence directly addressed the Performance-B and Performance-E concept cars shown at the Tokyo auto show in October, and the public response following their reveals. \”There has been a significant volume of feedback,\” Lawrence said of the concepts. \”As those concepts proved, lots of work in that space—STI isn’t dead.\”
An STI EV? Possibly
Speaking of the Performance concepts, Subaru reportedly confirmed that the Performance-B and its internal-combustion powertrain are destined to remain concepts only. When it comes to the Performance-E concept, though, the automaker is apparently keeping the door open to a production version but wouldn’t make any comments on the car’s future.\n\nJack Fitzgerald|Car and Driver\nWhen Subaru first confirmed that the WRX generation that launched in 2022 wouldn’t get a fully fledged STI variant, it said it was exploring options for the next generation, including considering an electric powertrain. It’s been several years since that first announcement, and now Subaru has some experience building and selling electric cars. Fun fact: the Clif Bar-esque Solterra is the quickest Subaru we’ve ever tested, reaching 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. While many STI fans would likely hem and haw over Subaru dropping the famed boxer engine from its lineup, the added performance from an electric powertrain might appeal to some of them.\n\nSubaruSTI-branded WRX concepts\nSubaru\nSubaru has shown off a few STI-branded concepts recently, including the Performance-B (top) and the Performance-E (bottom).\n\nSubaru has shown off a few STI-branded concepts recently, including the Performance-B (top) and the Performance-E (bottom).\n\nSubaru confirmed to Car and Driver in 2022 that the current-generation WRX would not receive a high-performance STI variant, and instead the company was looking at alternative-powertrain solutions for the nameplate.\n\nSubaru\nSubaru confirmed to Car and Driver in 2022 that the current-generation WRX would not receive a high-performance STI variant, and instead the company was looking at alternative-powertrain solutions for the nameplate.\n\nSubaru has offered a variety of STI-branded products in recent years, including the STI-tuned WRX S4 (shown here) in Japan and a limited run of STI-tuned WRX models in the U.S. in 2023.\n\nSubaru\nSubaru has offered a variety of STI-branded products in recent years, including the STI-tuned WRX S4 (shown here) in Japan and a limited run of STI-tuned WRX models in the U.S. in 2023.\n\nThe WRX STI STI-tuned WRX S4 that Subaru sells in Japan has a 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder with 416 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It also features a continuously variable automatic transmission, a limited-slip front differential, and a torque-vectoring rear differential. The brakes are Brembos, and the wheels are Rays forged aluminum. The car sits 10mm lower than a standard WRX, and the wheels are wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires.\n\nSubaru\nThe WRX STI STI-tuned WRX S4 that Subaru sells in Japan has a 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder with 416 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It also features a continuously variable automatic transmission, a limited-slip front differential, and a torque-vectoring rear differential. The brakes are Brembos, and the wheels are Rays forged aluminum. The car sits 10mm lower than a standard WRX, and the wheels are wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires.\n\nThe 2024 WRX STI S4 also has a few cosmetic tweaks to distinguish it from the standard car, including a front splitter, a rear diffuser, and a trunklid spoiler. The interior gets STI-branded floor mats and a STI-branded steering wheel. The car also comes with a limited-slip differential and a torque-vectoring rear differential, which help to improve the car’s handling.\n\nSubaru\nThe 2024 WRX STI S4 also has a few cosmetic tweaks to distinguish it from the standard car, including a front splitter, a rear diffuser, and a trunklid spoiler. The interior gets STI-branded floor mats and a STI-branded steering wheel. The car also comes with a limited-slip differential and a torque-vectoring rear differential, which help to improve the car’s handling.\n\nThe previous generation WRX STI, which was discontinued after the 2021 model year, used a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine with 310 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a six-speed manual transmission, and it featured all-wheel drive with a limited-slip front differential and a torque-vectoring rear differential. The car also had Brembo brakes and Rays forged aluminum wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires. The previous generation WRX STI was a popular car with enthusiasts, and it is missed by many.\n\nSubaru\nThe previous generation WRX STI, which was discontinued after the 2021 model year, used a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine with 310 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a six-speed manual transmission, and it featured all-wheel drive with a limited-slip front differential and a torque-vectoring rear differential. The car also had Brembo brakes and Rays forged aluminum wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires. The previous generation WRX STI was a popular car with enthusiasts, and it is missed by many.\n\nThe 2024 WRX STI S4 has a few other changes from the standard WRX, including a sportier suspension tune, a retuned all-wheel-drive system, and a sportier exhaust note. The car also has a limited-slip front differential and a torque-vectoring rear differential, which help to improve the car’s handling. The 2024 WRX STI S4 is a great car for enthusiasts who want a WRX with a little extra performance.\n\nSubaru\nThe 2024 WRX STI S4 has a few other changes from the standard WRX, including a sportier suspension tune, a retuned all-wheel-drive system, and a sportier exhaust note. The car also has a limited-slip front differential and a torque-vectoring rear differential, which help to improve the car’s handling. The 2024 WRX STI S4 is a great car for enthusiasts who want a WRX with a little extra performance.\n\nThe 2024 WRX STI S4 also has a few cosmetic tweaks to distinguish it from the standard WRX, including a front splitter, a rear diffuser, and a trunklid spoiler. The interior gets STI-branded floor mats and a STI-branded steering wheel. The car also comes with a limited-slip differential and a torque-vectoring rear differential, which help to improve the car’s handling.\n\nSubaru\nThe 2024 WRX STI S4 also has a few cosmetic tweaks to distinguish it from the standard WRX, including a front splitter, a rear diffuser, and a trunklid spoiler. The interior gets STI-branded floor mats and a STI-branded steering wheel. The car also comes with a limited-slip differential and a torque-vectoring rear differential, which help to improve the car’s handling.\n\nSubaru has not announced any plans to bring the STI-tuned WRX S4 to the United States, but it
