Is it Really Happening?
The return of the WRX STI has been a case of "will they or won't they?" for the longest time. The current WRX was shown to the world in mid-2021, and at the time, Subaru said it wouldn't be making an STI version of the car. A report from Road and Track back in 2022 mentioned that the hotter WRX won't be happening due to constant regulation changes. Heck, there was even a statement from the company that said "a next generation internal combustion engine WRX STI will not be produced based upon the new WRX platform."
Fast forward a couple of years, and Subaru has rolled out a couple of STI concepts and prototypes, and even a limited-edition model that's a half-step between WRX and STI dubbed the S210. More recently, the automaker rolled out a teaser on Christmas Day that featured a car with the much-revered badge.
Subaru
Hyping it Up
Not content with just one teaser, Subaru literally just posted a second one just hours ago at the time of writing. This time around, we see its interior, hear a little more of it, and see a few more snippets of the exterior. Nothing too revealing, as usual, but we can make out some details.
For instance, we see a fully digital cluster that looks slightly different from the WRX. In this case, there's now a boost pressure displayed on the screen. It also appears the car might be a manual, based on a quick glance at its pedal box. Lastly, the exhaust looks ever so slightly larger compared to the ones fitted to the WRX.
The Sound, Though
Yes, Subaru included the engine sound in the first teaser, but there's more of it this time around. That said, we'll be frank and say it doesn't sound too, er, inspiring. Having been in several STI models over the years, this one seems strangely wheezy and generic four-cylinder. We couldn't hear any of the signature boxer rumble, except for a hint of it at startup. Oh dear.
But if it's any consolation, at least the car sounds like it has a manual. There's an audible rev drop when the car cycled through the gears (assuming it has them), and there's also a blip of the throttle when it downshifted. Then again, modern automatics and even CVTs have reached a point where they mimic manuals, so we're a little cautious on that.
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Still Hiding Key Details
Back then, it was easier to differentiate a WRX from an STI. The clues were wider fenders, different wheels, a large wing, and a taller hood scoop. Subaru has cleverly hidden all those details by hiding most of them, angling it so it's harder to determine, or through erratic jump cuts.
With that, it's either we look out for more teasers for clues, or we have to wait until January 9 for the full reveal. We're keeping our fingers crossed that it sounds better in real life, and crossing our toes that it really does have three pedals. One thing is for sure, though: it looks very much based upon the current VB WRX platform, even after Subaru said it won't build an STI on it.
Subaru
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