Subaru unveils electric WRX! Performance-E STI EV concept prepares iconic super sedan for the electric age
Subaru has unveiled the all-electric new Subaru Performance-E STI concept at the 2025 Tokyo motor show that points to the future of the iconic WRX performance model.
It previews the car-maker’s future super sedans that have been promised to combine “thrilling aesthetic proportions with outstanding aerodynamics and practicality”.
Few details of the white-hot EV have been revealed, but Subaru promises it incorporates its most “innovative technologies” and features a “driver-friendly layout and a comfortable, spacious interior”.
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All of that sounds like it is describing a family sedan rather than a fast zero-emission rally refugee, but the exterior design and what’s under it suggests otherwise.
It’s thought the show car will gain at least two e-motors that will provide the brand’s trademark all-wheel drive and produce enough power to both offset the weight of a large battery and earn that trademark STI badge.
Looking like it’s painted in a matte version of the car-maker’s World Rally Blue paint, the new EV features gold aerodynamically optimised wheels, wide front and rear arches and huge side skirts.
Up-front is a low BRZ-style nose, vented bonnet and large air dam, plus a prominent splitter.
At the rear there’s further evidence of racy aero with a massive rear diffuser that incorporates an F1-style rain light.
A pair of wide and thin LED lamps and illuminated SUBARU lettering sit below a ducktail spoiler and an imposing rear wing.
Taking the shape of a streamlined five-door fastback, rather than a traditional sedan, the new concept could provide a replacement for either the current Impreza or larger Liberty that has not been sold Down Under since 2020.
Following on from the 2022 STI E-RA concept, it’s not known if the latest Performance-E STI features an updated version of that car’s wild quad-motor EV powertrain sourced from Yamaha that produced 800kW of power.
Unveiled on the same show stand as the wild-looking new EV was an STI version of the current combustion-powered Subaru WRX.
While the WRX STI is tipped to be on sale early next year in Japan, no timeline has been given for any hot battery-electric WRX or STI, but the evidence of yet another high-performance EV concept suggests a production car is looming.
