Subaru Affirms STI Legacy Will Continue
- Subaru Australia’s General Manager Scott Lawrence emphasizes ongoing dedication to the STI brand.
- Lawrence reveals significant development efforts are still underway for STI models.
- No official announcement yet on a new STI production vehicle.
Questions about the fate of Subaru’s iconic STI badge have been mounting, with enthusiasts eager to know when a new model might arrive. Despite several compelling concept vehicles being shown, Subaru has yet to confirm a production-ready STI car.
Nevertheless, the STI nameplate continues to hold a vital place within Subaru’s brand identity. Speaking with Australia’s Drive, Scott Lawrence, Subaru Australia’s General Manager, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the STI lineup:
"There has been increased public interest and activity related to STI. The badge has some of the most passionate supporters in Subaru’s community. As demonstrated by recent concepts, substantial work is ongoing—STI is far from being discontinued."
Subaru WRX STI Sport# Prototype
Earlier this year in Tokyo, Subaru unveiled the WRX STI Sport# Prototype, offering a preview of a potential next-generation performance sedan based on the latest WRX VB platform. In addition, last October, two STI concepts were showcased: the Performance-B and the Performance-E.
The Performance-E concept explored a futuristic electric-powered STI, while the Performance-B was more grounded, built on the five-door Impreza and featuring STI-specific upgrades, including a manual gearbox.
Subaru has urged enthusiasts to express their interest if they want a new STI. Given the steady flow of concept vehicles, there is optimism that a new STI could be in development. The key question remains when one of these concepts will transition to a production model.
