Subaru Viziv Performance STI concept exposed

Subaru is set to give fans a reason to get excited later this month when it unveils a new Viziv STI concept in Japan.

Following in the wheel tracks of the regular Viziv Concept shown at last year’s Tokyo motor show, this wicked-up STI prototype visions what the next-generation flagship of the WRX might look like.

The Viziv Performance STI will be officially revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon later this month. Until then, Subaru has released a pair of teaser shots they say “embodies the brand’s vision for the future of making cars that deliver enjoyment and peace of mind to its customers”.

No technical details have been announced at this stage, though the concept does confirm that a next-generation STI is likely to continue with a large, oversized wing at the rear, along with more aggressive bumpers, larger air intakes, arch-filled alloy wheels and typical design flourishes.

The future of the WRX nameplate remains clouded at best. Subaru was rumoured to offer a next-generation model in 2019, though nothing concrete has emerged to suggest the production version will go ahead.

Speculation is rampant that Subaru will move to a hybrid layout in the next-gen WRX. It makes sense, since the forthcoming model will be underpinned by new SGP (Subaru Global Platform) architecture that is compatible with hybrid powertrains.

According to Subaru the regular Viziv (‘Vision for Innovation’) Performance Concept is 4630mm long, 1950mm wide and 1430mm high. That’s around 70mm longer than the current Impreza and the wheelbase accounts for most of that gain.