Tag Archives: Subaru

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Subaru STI Is Back – and It’s Bringing Both Fire and Lightning

You can almost hear the turbo spool again. After years of silence, Subaru’s iconic STI badge is clawing its way out of hibernation – and it’s coming back swinging. Not with one concept car, but two. One’s powered by electrons, the other by good old-fashioned fossil fury. Tokyo Motor Show, brace yourself.

The teaser image Subaru dropped is pure fan-service: two squat little hot hatches crouched under spotlights, one sleek and electric, the other bristling with mechanical menace. For the faithful, it’s like seeing a long-lost friend step into the pub wearing a racing jacket and gold wheels again.

The Twin Revival

Let’s start with the EV. Subaru’s calling it the “spearhead” for its next generation of cars — a sharp-edged, future-ready machine wearing the brand’s bold new design language. Expect illuminated logos, distinctive light signatures, and a roofline rakish enough to make a Cayman nervous. It’s the STI that hums rather than growls, but it promises to be just as rabid.

Then there’s the combustion-powered sibling — more old-school, more familiar. Think Impreza hatchback gone rogue, fitted with a boxer engine and Subaru’s trademark symmetrical all-wheel drive. It’s not officially called a WRX, but the family resemblance is undeniable. Underneath the concept-car showmanship, this one’s the heartstring-tugger: the STI for those who still know what a clutch pedal does.

From Rally Glory to Quiet Retreat

It’s been a rough few years for Subaru’s performance arm. The last proper WRX STI bowed out in 2021, and UK fans lost access even earlier, casualties of emissions laws and the WRC’s shifting rulebook. Subaru UK tried to move on — trading rally stages for camping trips, and Imprezas for Outbacks. By 2021, the lineup was all SUVs and soft edges.

Back then, Subaru’s managing director even declared the WRX STI had “nothing really to do with the Subaru brand as it is today.” Ouch. Tell that to the millions who plastered STI stickers on their laptops — and maybe even their lawnmowers.

A Change of Heart

But tides are turning in Gunma. Subaru’s new leadership seems to realise what fans have been shouting for years: you can’t separate Subaru from STI. Europe boss David Dello Stritto admitted it himself earlier this year:

“Ask the average person what Subaru means and they’ll say STI. You can’t disassociate this from Subaru.”

Lorraine Bishton, Subaru’s UK boss, went one further, calling the brand’s retreat from performance “a little bit of a missed opportunity.” And that’s corporate-speak for: “We might’ve made a massive mistake.”

Blue Paint, Gold Wheels, and a Glimmer of Hope

So here we are. Two concept cars — one roaring, one silent — both wearing the STI halo. Whether the production versions ever make it to dealers is anyone’s guess. But make no mistake: this is Subaru rediscovering its swagger.

The thought of a future electric WRX STI, perhaps painted in World Rally Blue with bronze wheels and torque-vectoring witchcraft, feels almost too good to be true. But then, Subaru’s never really done “sensible,” has it?

The STI brand is back on the horizon. The engines (and motors) are warming up. And for the first time in years, it feels like Subaru’s heart is beating faster again.

Source: Subaru

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Subaru Impreza S-Edition: Rally DNA, or Just Fancy Shoes?

Ah, the Subaru Impreza. Once upon a time, it was the four-wheeled equivalent of a snorting rally hero—spitting flames, bouncing over gravel, and wearing gold wheels like a crown. But fast-forward to today, and the sixth-generation Impreza has become the sensible family hatchback of choice for people who like the idea of AWD but think horsepower is something you measure in lawnmowers.

Still, Subaru Australia seems determined to sprinkle some nostalgia dust on the humble hatch. Their latest concoction is the Impreza S-Edition, a special edition that looks like it got lost on its way to the Tokyo Auto Salon—and that’s not entirely a bad thing.

From the outside, it certainly talks the talk. The most obvious change is the new set of 18-inch Enkei alloys, finished in black and adorned with a cheeky red STI emblem—just in case your neighbours weren’t aware that your Impreza is, in fact, a bit special. Add a gloss-black front splitter, rear skirt, and roof spoiler, and you’ve got yourself a hatchback that looks like it’s trying out for a cameo in Gran Turismo. Subaru even throws in a unique sports grille, which is corporate speak for “it’s the same grille, but with fancier mesh.”

You can have it in just three colours—Pure Red, Crystal Black Silica, or Crystal White Pearl—basically, Ferrari, stealth mode, or stormtrooper. Inside, there’s an STI-branded start button and shift knob, because nothing says “performance” like red letters staring at you while the CVT hums like an electric toothbrush.

And here’s the rub: beneath all that cosplay, this is still the regular Impreza AWD 2.0S. Same 2.0-litre naturally aspirated boxer, same 154 horses, same Lineartronic CVT. In other words, plenty of grip, but not much go. Subaru calls it “racing spirit from grille to tail.” We’d call it “STI in appearance only.”

At least it’s a sensible deal. Only 100 units will be made, each costing AU$42,490—about AU$3,500 more than the standard Impreza AWD 2.0S. But here’s the kicker: you’re getting about AU$6,500 worth of goodies, which means, on paper at least, Subaru is paying you to look fast while being… not fast.

And because Subaru loves to share, there’s also the Crosstrek Onyx, which gets its own set of dark alloys and a black rear spoiler. That one will set you back AU$43,890, which is basically a grand and a half extra for paint and wheels.

So, what have we learned? The Impreza S-Edition is the car equivalent of wearing a rally jacket over your office clothes. It looks the part, feels a bit special, and makes you smile in the mirror—but don’t expect it to suddenly turn into a WRX when the traffic lights go green.

It’s Subaru giving enthusiasts a wink, not a punch.

Source: Subaru Crosstrek Onyx

Sale

Prodrive P25: A €800,000 Tribute to the Legendary Subaru 22B

A rare Prodrive P25 — a meticulously engineered tribute to the legendary Subaru Impreza 22B — has surfaced for sale, with an asking price exceeding €800,000.

Built by British motorsport powerhouse Prodrive, the P25 was unveiled in 2022 as a modern reinterpretation of the two-door Subaru Impreza WRX STI, paying homage to the coveted 22B STI that captured the hearts of enthusiasts in the late 1990s. Only 25 units were ever produced, making the P25 one of the rarest Subaru-based performance machines in existence.

Now, one of these 25 hand-built examples has appeared on the second-hand market with a staggering price tag of £700,000 (approximately €808,000). With just 306 kilometers on the odometer, the car is presented in near-factory condition and finished in the iconic Subaru World Rally blue.

Under the skin, the Prodrive P25 is far more than a nostalgic replica. It’s powered by a thoroughly reworked version of Subaru’s EJ25 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four engine. Prodrive fitted forged pistons, steel con-rods, machined cylinder heads, variable valve timing, a Garrett turbocharger, bespoke air intake, and a high-performance intercooler. The result? A brutal 456 horsepower and 619 Nm of torque.

Power is sent to all four wheels via a 6-speed sequential gearbox paired with an AP Racing dual-plate clutch. Thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber — including the roof, hood, and side panels — the P25 weighs just 1,200 kg, around 45 kg lighter than the WRX STI it’s based on. This lightweight construction helps launch the car from 0 to 100 km/h in under three seconds — putting it in supercar territory.

With its blend of rally-bred engineering, ultra-limited production, and modern performance, the Prodrive P25 has firmly established itself as a collector’s gem. And judging by the asking price of this example, it’s clear that the market agrees.

Source: RaceCarsForYou