Subaru Exec Reportedly Says the 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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subaru performancee sti concept
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.\nLawrence reportedly said the automaker has been listening to feedback from fans regarding recent concept models.\nSubaru 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.\nWe 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.\n\nSTI Is Staying Alive\nLawrence 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.\n\nFor Sale Near You\nSee all results for new 2028 Subaru WRX STI for sale near 634720\n\nJack Fitzgerald|Car and Driver\nLawrence 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.\”\n\nAn STI EV? Possibly\nSpeaking 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.”
