Subaru shows STI Concepts and they look production-ready
Subaru have showcased two concepts of the STi in the Japanese Mobility show, one with an electric powertrain and another with an ICE, and they both look production-ready.
New Delhi: Subaru always does outdo even themselves when they bring a STI, and while the company noted they are not planning to bring one with ICE in, the latest concept might be going the other way. During the Japan Mobility Show, Subaru showed two STI concepts.
One was a Performance-E STI, a completely electric vision of the potential battery-powered performance car, and then there is the Performance-B STI concept that has everyone talking. It is based on the current second-gen WRX (VB) model sold in the US, and the new iteration transforms the sedan into a five-door and adds a complete suite of SSTI-specific upgrades. It comes with new front and back splitters, side skirts, a hood scoop, custom wheels, red accents and a massive rear wing as well.
Subaru haven’t said the powertrain that is powering the concept, but confirmed that it was a "horizontally opposed engine”. Now it could be the WRX’s turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder boxer.
Beyond the STI concept, the WRX is just a five-door with some additions, and the interior is more or less the same; it appears with some STI badging. There’s a large central screen and a six-speed manual gearbox. With EVs seeing a poor adoption rate, Subaru could be the latest brand to reconsider their stance on EVs. In fact, they could very well change their stance a bring back an ICE-powered performance car.
With poor sales for the WRX, Subaru needs a concept like this. Subaru will be the newest to reconsider the whole EV strategy turnaround, with the likes of Porsche and Alpine having already reconsidered their stance, favouring ICE and hybrids more.