🔥 Is Subaru Finally Bringing the STI Back? The Signs Are Looking Good… 👀
For Subaru enthusiasts, there's one question that simply refuses to go away:
When are we getting a proper STI back?
Ever since Subaru confirmed that the current-generation WRX wouldn't receive the traditional WRX STI treatment, fans have been waiting — and hoping — for something to fill the gap.
Well… things are starting to get interesting. 👀
Over the last year, Subaru has been dropping more and more hints that driver-focused performance cars, manual gearboxes and STI aren't finished yet.
So, could we finally be getting closer to the return we've been waiting for?
Let's have a look at what's happening.
🏁 First Came the WRX STI Sport♯
At the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, Subaru Tecnica International unveiled the WRX STI Sport♯.
Now, before everyone gets too excited…
This isn't quite the full-blown WRX STI successor many of us have been waiting for.
But it is important.
The STI Sport♯ combines a turbocharged BOXER engine, Subaru's Symmetrical AWD system and — crucially — a 6-speed manual gearbox.
In fact, it's the first manual version of the current Japanese-market WRX.
Subaru also gave it STI-tuned ZF electronic dampers, high-performance tyres and some rather lovely gold Brembo brake calipers.
Sound familiar? 😏
It's a combination that feels much closer to the Subaru performance formula enthusiasts know and love.
⚙️ Subaru Isn't Giving Up on the Manual
Perhaps the biggest reason we're getting excited is what Subaru has been doing behind the scenes.
Reports from Japan suggest Subaru is developing three new enthusiast-focused manual cars for 2027.
And we're not just talking about putting a manual gearbox into an ordinary model.
Subaru has established a dedicated Sports Vehicle Planning Office, with the new cars expected to make use of technology and knowledge gained through motorsport.
Even more interestingly, one of the developments is expected to bring back Subaru's TY85 6-speed manual transmission.
For longtime Subaru fans, those three characters — TY85 — should sound very familiar.
Versions of that heavy-duty gearbox have previously been used in the WRX STI.
Now we're listening. 👀
🚗 Then There's the Performance-B STI Concept…
This is where things get REALLY interesting.
Subaru unveiled the Performance-B STI Concept at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show.
And unlike some futuristic concepts that clearly aren't going anywhere near a production line, this one looked surprisingly realistic.
It's a compact performance hatchback with an aggressive stance, big arches, serious aero and — most importantly — an internal-combustion BOXER engine and Subaru's Symmetrical AWD.
In other words…
It has the ingredients many Subaru enthusiasts have been asking for.
Reports in 2026 have since indicated that a production version of the Performance-B concept is part of Subaru's plans.
If that happens, we could potentially be looking at something very exciting indeed.
💙 And Now We've Got the WRX GD25
Then, just recently, Subaru revealed the 2027 WRX GD25.
World Rally Blue.
Gold wheels.
Manual gearbox.
Brembo brakes.
STI suspension upgrades.
And an enormous STI dry-carbon swan-neck rear wing.
Subaru couldn't have leaned much harder into its performance heritage if it tried.
The only slightly disappointing part?
The GD25 still produces 271 hp from its 2.4-litre turbocharged BOXER engine.
There's no big power increase.
But put all of these developments together and a pattern starts to appear.
🤔 So… Is the WRX STI Actually Coming Back?
Here's where we need to separate what we want to happen from what Subaru has actually confirmed.
At the time of writing, Subaru hasn't officially announced a brand-new global WRX STI successor.
So if you've seen headlines saying:
“THE NEW WRX STI IS CONFIRMED!”
…we wouldn't be placing an order just yet. 😂
But there are certainly reasons to be optimistic.
Subaru is:
🔥 Developing more manual performance cars
🔥 Putting STI technology into new models
🔥 Continuing development of turbocharged BOXER performance cars
🔥 Using motorsport to develop future road-car technology
🔥 Bringing back the TY85 manual gearbox
🔥 Developing the Performance-B STI concept towards production
🔥 And celebrating its WRX heritage with cars such as the GD25
That doesn't exactly look like a manufacturer that's finished with performance cars.
🔧 The FflatFour Take
For us, the important thing isn't necessarily whether Subaru sticks a WRX STI badge onto the boot tomorrow.
It's that Subaru seems to be remembering what made so many of us fall in love with the brand in the first place.
The BOXER engine.
Symmetrical AWD.
Manual gearboxes.
Motorsport.
Driver involvement.
And cars with a little bit of attitude.
Subaru has built an incredible community around those things.
You only have to look at the older Imprezas and STIs still being driven, modified, restored and rebuilt today to see how much these cars mean to people.
We see that ourselves every day at FflatFour Performance.
These aren't simply cars to their owners.
They're projects.
They're hobbies.
They're friendships.
And, occasionally, they're a very effective way of making your bank account considerably smaller. 😂🔧
So if Subaru really is starting a new chapter for its performance cars…
We're definitely paying attention.
💭 But What Would YOU Want From a New STI?
This is the question we're most interested in.
Forget what Subaru's marketing department thinks for a moment.
What would the Subaru community actually want?
For us, the recipe doesn't need to be ridiculously complicated.
🟡 Turbocharged BOXER engine
🔵 Symmetrical AWD
⚙️ Proper 6-speed manual gearbox
💪 Around 350+ bhp
🛑 Big Brembo brakes
🏁 Proper STI suspension
💙 World Rally Blue as an option
🟡 Gold wheels — obviously!
And please…
Give it a proper wing. 😂
👇 Over to You
If Subaru announced a brand-new STI tomorrow, what would it need to have for you to actually buy one?
Would you want another WRX STI saloon?
Would you prefer a Performance-B-style hot hatch?
And would you accept some form of hybrid assistance if it meant keeping a turbocharged BOXER engine alive?
Or should Subaru keep it completely old-school?
BOXER. AWD. Manual. End of discussion.
Let us know what your dream modern STI would look like over in the FflatFour Performance Members Club. 💙
Because if Subaru really is planning something…
We hope they're listening to the enthusiasts. 👀
💙 FflatFour Performance
Built by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts.
