If you have felt like Subaru has been stringing STI fans along for years, you are not alone. Ever since the WRX STI bowed out and Subaru confirmed the 2022 WRX would not get a full-fat STI counterpart, the brand’s performance faithful have been living on rumors, concept cars, and the occasional hint that something is still brewing behind the scenes. Now, another spark just landed, and it comes from a Subaru executive who sounds pretty confident that the STI badge still has a future.
According to comments attributed to Scott Lawrence, general manager of Subaru Australia, Subaru Tecnica International is very much still in the game. The big takeaway is simple: STI is not dead. More interesting is the reasoning behind that statement. Subaru has reportedly been watching how enthusiasts react to its latest STI-branded concepts, measuring the temperature of the room, and paying attention to what people actually want. That matters because it suggests Subaru is not just tossing out spicy show cars for attention. It is actively feeling out what could work in a real production lineup.
Those concepts are the headline grabbers here: the Performance-B and Performance-E. On paper, they represent two different visions of what modern Subaru performance could look like. The Performance-B leans into the classic formula that built the STI reputation in the first place: boxer power, all-wheel drive attitude, and the kind of styling that looks ready to park next to a rally stage. The Performance-E, on the other hand, is the neon sign pointing toward Subaru’s electric future, with STI flavor baked in from the start rather than added as an afterthought.
Here is the twist that will either frustrate you or make you lean in closer. Subaru has apparently indicated the gas-powered Performance-B is just that, a concept, and not a teaser for an imminent showroom model. But the electric Performance-E is a different story. Subaru is keeping its cards close, yet it is not shutting the door on a production version. That is the kind of careful corporate language that usually means “we are exploring it” and “we want to see how the market reacts” at the same time. If you are reading the tea leaves, the EV concept looks like the more likely path for STI’s return.
And honestly, the idea of an electric STI is not as far-fetched as it would have sounded a few years ago. Subaru has been building real-world EV experience, and the performance numbers are starting to get people’s attention. The updated Solterra, for example, has already proven that an electric Subaru can be properly quick, hitting 60 mph in 4.3 seconds in testing. That is the kind of acceleration that would have sounded like fantasy in the old days of stock WRXs. Sure, the purists will miss the character of a turbo boxer and the mechanical grit that made past STIs feel special, but speed has its own way of winning people over. If Subaru can translate that instant torque into an STI that still feels playful, confidence-inspiring, and rally-bred, the badge could land in a new era without losing its soul.
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.
