New Subaru WRX STI axed

In shock news announced today, Subaru has issued a statement saying it will not produce a high-performance STI version of the new 2022 Subaru WRX.

That’s right, the upcoming Subaru WRX sports sedan will be the first in 28 years not to be available in high-output STI form.

However, while it won’t grace the new-generation WRX, the Japanese car-maker said its iconic Subaru Tecnica International nameplate could return with all-electric power rather than a turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine – a Subaru performance trademark since 1992.

Subaru Australia has confirmed it will launch the new-generation 2022 Subaru WRX sedan alongside an all-new Subaru WRX Wagon – a rebadged version of the redesign Subaru Levorg – Down Under by June this year.

Powered by a bigger new 2.4-litre turbo flat-four producing at least 202kW/350Nm, the new WRX sister models were widely expected to be joined by a new-generation Subaru WRX STI sedan offering more than 250kW.

That was until today, when Subaru said “there will be no STI variant for the new generation Subaru WRX”, ending a lauded Japanese performance brand that has spanned four generations since 1994. In that time more than 10,000 examples of the WRX STI have been sold in Australia.

“As the automotive marketplace continues to move towards electrification, Subaru is focused on how our future sports and performance cars should evolve to meet the needs of the changing marketplace and the regulations and requirements for greenhouse gasses (GHG), zero emissions vehicles (ZEV), and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ),” said Subaru of America in a statement today.

“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.”

That leaves the door open for STI-badged and STI-tuned performance models to come from Subaru in future, albeit with pure electric power, but there will be no WRX STI until the new WRX life cycle ends later this decade.

“The Subaru WRX STI and the STI brand represent the zenith of Subaru’s performance vehicles exemplifying Subaru’s unique DNA and rally heritage. As we look to the future, we also look forward to incorporating the essence of STI into our next generation of vehicles,” said Subaru.

It’s unclear what form those vehicles will take but Subaru did dust off the STI badge for the Subaru Solterra STI concept at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon in January.

Sadly, the STI-badged concept car offered no more performance than the standard Solterra – the Japanese brand’s first electric vehicle, which was developed in tandem with the Toyota bZ4X EV but is yet to be confirmed for Australia – which is powered by a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery and offered in both single- (150kW) and dual-motor (160kW) configurations.

Subaru has teased the potential of an STI-tuned EV, however, with the STI E-RA concept it revealed alongside the Solterra STI in January.

Powered by a 60kWh lithium-ion battery, the STI E-RA’s quad-motor (one on each wheel) powertrain develops a combined 800kW – which Subaru said it hoped would see it lap the Nurburgring in a Porsche-rivalling 6:40 minutes.

Developed as part of an “STI near-future motorsport study project, with the aim of gaining experience and training of new technologies”, the STI E-RA was an all-electric racing prototype designed to pioneer Subaru’s EV hardware.

“STI will continue to strive in motorsports to refine our technology to keep creating cars that allow our customers to enjoy driving endlessly while feeling safe and comfortable,” said Subaru in January.

“We will also utilise the insight gained from this project as an initiative for a future electrified society.

“STI will continue to create new values so that cars will remain enjoyable, and which enrich the lives of our customers in an increasingly decarbonised world, for all Subarus.”

Subaru Australia said today that it will continue to offer “special limited edition vehicle offerings” and “STI inspired performance and styling parts”, presumably such as the STI Performance Parts currently available for models like the BRZ coupe and Impreza hatch, like rear wings, front spoilers, side skirts, alloy wheels and under-bonnet strut braces.

As in the US, similar bolt-on components are expected to become available in Australia for the new WRX, which will therefore remain Subaru’s most powerful model for the foreseeable future.

“This is a clear statement of the future performance direction of Subaru Corporation and Subaru Tecnica International,” said Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read in a statement.

“The prospect of what the Subaru Tecnica International engineering team can do with an electrified platform ensures an exhilarating future for Subaru fans, and we look forward to sharing with you what STI reveal next.”

While the new WRX will face renewed competition from a range of fresh hot hatches including the upcoming Toyota GR Corolla, new Honda Civic Type R and Mazda3 Turbo, which should come to Australia eventually, it looks like the WRX STI – at least as we know it – will ride off into the sunset along with the epic Ford Focus RS and, soon, the Renault Megane RS.

In the meantime, with all stocks of the previous WRX and STI now sold, your small performance car choices remain limited to the Hyundai i30 N hatch and sedan, the Volkswagen Golf GTI (which will soon be joined by the new Golf R) and premium options including the Audi RS 3, BMW M2 and M135i, and the Mercedes-AMG A 45 and CLA 45.