Subaru turns to electricity for STI performance division as WRX hero is reimagined
Subaru’s fastest cars could soon be electric – and that includes the legendary WRX STI.
The Japanese car maker with a rich history of manufacturing rally-bred performance heroes has announced it is switching its go-fast efforts purely to electrification.
The company has previously announced its intention to explore EV for its high-performance models, but until now it had not been at the expense of the turbocharged petrol versions that have long held the STI high ground.
In a brief statement released today Subaru announced it would no longer be building a traditional STI version of its WRX – as it has done since 2001.
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Instead, the company confirmed it is turning to electricity.
“Subaru Corporation is exploring opportunities for the next generation Subaru WRX STI, including electrification,” said the statement. “In the meantime, a next generation internal combustion engine WRX STI will not be produced based upon the new WRX platform.”
Subaru said it “is focused on how our future sports and performance cars should evolve to meet the needs of the changing marketplace and the regulations and requirements for greenhouse gasses (GHG), zero emissions vehicles (ZEV), and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)”.
The move is a big change for a mainstream brand. While many car makers are exporing hybrid and EV models for future performance cars, most are still continuining with ICE in some form.
STI is the tuning division for Subaru, the acronym standing for Subaru Tecnica International.
STI helped redefine the 21st century pocket rocket, with a string of all-wheel drive vehicles that were originally formed the base for cars competing in the World Rally Championship.
The familiar pink STI badge has for two decades denoted the pinnacle of Subaru performance.
No word on what form of electrification could be used in a future Subaru STI – hybrid or battery electric – although the company has previously given some strong hints, al of point towards BEV technology over hybrid.
In January Subaru unveiled its STI E-RA Challenge Project, a track-focused all-electric track car it plans to race against the clock around the Nurburgring track in Germany.
The STI E-RA Challenge Project is described as a “near-future motorsport study project”.
It uses four Yamaha-developed electric motors to produce 800kW and is powered by a 60kWh battery.
At the same time, Subaru also showcased an STI version of its Solterra SUV, the company’s first EV, which is twinned with the upcoming Toyota bZ4X.
Again, there are no horizontally-opposed (or boxer) engines to be seen, something that has characterised Subarus for decades.
Instead, the extra pace is being delivered purely by batteries and electric motors.
All of which suggests it is battery electric propulsion that could form the basis for future STIs.
