Whenever a Subaru WRX gets released, the car lovers expect its higher-performing sibling to follow behind. According to the trend so far, the much-loved WRX STI always hits the market soon after the release of WRX. With the introduction of the recent Subaru WRX 2022, car enthusiasts all over assumed that the much-anticipated STI 2022 version will follow suit. But unfortunately, that won’t be the case this time!
The Official Declaration
In an official statement released by Subaru, it was confirmed that there will be no STI version of the latest-generation WRX model. According to the statement, the company is focusing on meeting the needs of the changing automotive marketplace and the increasing demand for eco-friendly vehicles. So the future sports and performance cars of Subaru will move towards electrification, meeting the requirements and regulations for zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE), and greenhouse gasses (GHG). Meanwhile, in order to further explore the opportunities for electrification for the next-gen WRX STI, the traditional WRX STI model with an internal combustion engine will not be produced by the brand.
The Future Possibilities
According to a Subaru spokesperson, if a new WRX STI does show up in the future, its technology won’t be based on this current generation model. The company is possibly eyeing to launch a hybrid or fully electric version soon. It’s also unclear how long it would take for the new car model to hit the market. But since the latest WRX model has not even appeared in showrooms yet, it is assumed it would take at least 2-3 years for the new car. So, while there will be no new WRX STI any time soon, the updated model will likely feature an electrified powertrain. Now, time will only determine the effect of this widespread shift to electrification on the dedicated Subaru customers.