Subaru is back to doing what it does best: dropping just enough STI bait to send the faithful into full detective mode. A couple of teaser clips out of Japan are pointing toward an STI-flavored reveal at the Tokyo Auto Salon on January 9, and if you have ever owned a hood-scooped sedan that smelled faintly of clutch dust and victory, you already know the feeling. Hope returns fast when you see those three letters, especially after years of watching the badge sit on the sidelines.
The sting is that the WRX STI did not exactly leave the party at its peak. By the time the last U.S.-market version bowed out with the previous generation, it was still a riot in the right conditions, but it also felt like a legend stubbornly refusing to update its playlist. Power figures that once sounded heroic had become common, and the competition kept getting sharper while the STI kept leaning on its old-school charm. That charm is real, though, and it is why so many of us assumed the current WRX would eventually get the full halo treatment.
Subaru did not help expectations by showing enthusiasts a pretty convincing wish list at last year’s Tokyo show with the Performance-B STI concept. It had the attitude people have been begging for, the kind of stance and hardware that screams rally fantasy turned street legal. It looked like the sort of thing you could imagine parked outside a mountain café with a heat-soaked intercooler ticking as it cooled down. The problem is that concepts are allowed to be perfect, and production plans have a way of turning perfect into “maybe later.”
That is why this latest tease deserves a little restraint, even if your group chat is already calling it a comeback. The hints so far point toward a sedan, and there is a very real chance the big news is not a full-strength STI at all. The wrinkle is that Japan’s WRX world does not mirror ours, and the idea of a three-pedal setup showing up there could simply mean Japan is getting a version of the WRX that feels familiar to U.S. buyers, rather than America finally getting a brand-new STI. In other words, it could be less “STI is back” and more “Japan finally gets the fun gearbox menu.”
So should U.S. fans be excited? Cautiously, yes, because Subaru is clearly paying attention to the noise and the STI letters still carry weight. But the smartest play is to treat January 9 like an information drop, not a guaranteed victory lap. If Subaru rolls out a true next-step STI with meaningful power, sharper hardware, and a reason to exist beyond badges and vibes, the celebration will be earned. Until then, enjoy the teasing, keep your expectations realistic, and maybe save the full World Rally Blue face paint for when Subaru actually shows the whole car.
Mike Floyd is a finance executive by trade and a car enthusiast at heart. As a CFO with a keen eye for detail and strategy, Mike brings his analytical mindset to the automotive world, uncovering fresh insights and unique perspectives that go beyond the surface. His passion for cars—especially his favorite, the Porsche 911, fuels his contributions to Automotive Addicts, where he blends a love for performance and design with his professional precision. Whether he’s breaking down industry trends or spotlighting emerging innovations, Mike helps keep the site both sharp and forward-thinking.
