New Subaru WRX STI to be revealed this week

The next-generation Subaru WRX STI looks primed and ready to make its global debut as early as this Friday (January 14) at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon.

Compared to the upcoming sixth-generation Subaru WRX on which it will be based, Subaru has kept the build-up to the STI’s global reveal particularly low-key, with just a single darkened teaser image being released without fanfare in the last day or so.

The teaser image was only posted to the Japanese brand’s Tokyo Auto Salon landing page, where it has been given clear precedence over the rest of the content, so much so that it partially obscures the page’s banner graphic.

The image itself shows off the unmistakable illuminated lighting signature and grille of the new Subaru WRX, not to mention the faintest trace of the Rex’s new orange hero colour.

Look a little closer, however, and you’ll notice the grille’s texture differs from the regular WRX’s and that the darkened trim strip either side of the badge appears to be absent.

Addressing the elephant in the room, the centre of the image has been overlaid with an unmissable duo of Subaru and STI logos, beneath which reads “2022.01.14 COMING SOON” in bold, contrasting white font.

It’s worth noting this is a completely different image and vehicle to the Subaru STI E-RA concept teased last month, even though that car is also set to be revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon later this week.

Given the WRX STI is the last surviving Japanese rally icon and Subaru’s undisputed performance halo, it would be particularly fitting for the most advanced STI to date to be revealed on home soil, especially after the WRX’s US premiere.

We already know Subaru is planning a series of new STI Performance variants for the new-generation WRX sedan and wagon, as well as the second-gen Subaru BRZ, so the appearance of the full-fat STI performance flagship in Tokyo wouldn’t be a surprise.

For the time being at least, these STI Performance concepts – especially the WRX S4 STI Performance concept – give us our best indication as to what the turbocharged all-paw rally hero will look like.

In effect, it will be a sixth-gen WRX with bigger intakes, lower ride height, more aggressive aero features all-round and of course that signature rear wing.

Underneath the pumped-up body will be Subaru’s latest global architecture as well as an adjustable all-wheel drive system, manual transmission, limited-slip differential, higher-performance suspension, brakes and tyres, as well as the very latest driver aids.

In terms of the powertrain, the general consensus is that the STI will be motivated by an uprated version of the new WRX’s turbocharged 2.4-litre flat four-cylinder petrol engine, which in JDM form at least is good for 202kW/375Nm.

Given the old model’s EJ25 used to crank out 221kW/407Nm in its final form, we would expect the tickled up 2.4 to comfortably churn out more than 230kW/420Nm and delivery a sub-5.0sec dash to 100km/h.