The departure of the WRX STI left a significant void in Subaru’s lineup, but even more so in the hearts of enthusiasts. While the new-generation WRX is an impressive car with breathtaking performance, brand loyalists are still calling for the return of the model’s ultimate evolution.
We knew Subaru was preparing something big for the Tokyo International Motor Show. To be honest, we were convinced the Japanese automaker would unveil a new WRX STI there. That almost turned out to be the case, as the brand lifted the veil on a prototype that comes dangerously close to a production-ready model.
Looks the Part
The Subaru WRX STI Sport Prototype won us over with its STI badges and red accents, particularly along the lower portion of the body.
As you might expect, very little is known about the car so far, but the Japanese manufacturer did share a few key details. First, the all-wheel-drive sports sedan is powered by the same turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine found in the production WRX. It delivers 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. We also know that the WRX STI Sport is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission—another piece of good news. In short, this is exactly the kind of powertrain we’d like to see under the hood of a production WRX STI, ideally with a slight boost in output, of course.
Even though it’s still a concept, the formula is very promising. Now, all that remains is to wait for the unveiling of a production model. At least, we hope Subaru is heading in this direction.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
