Iconic Subaru nameplate could be reborn as an EV

Over the weekend Subaru made the surprise confirmation that it would be culling its much-loved Impreza STI performance variant, ending almost three decades of rallying-bred heritage.

Although for the moment it’s sad news for die-hard STI fans, Subaru has been keen to tease that the STI name could return in an electrified form, either as a BEV or as some kind of hybrid.

A statement from Subaru North America explained that the culling is part of the brand’s pivot to electrification.

“As the automotive marketplace continues to move towards electrification, Subaru is focused on how our future sports and performance cars should evolve to meet the needs of the changing marketplace and the regulations and requirements for greenhouse gasses, zero emissions vehicles, and Corporate Average Fuel Economy,” it said.

“A next generation internal combustion engine WRX STI will not be produced based upon the new WRX platform. […] Subaru Corporation is exploring opportunities for the next generation Subaru WRX STI, including electrification.”

A similar statement issued this morning by Subaru New Zealand added more fuel to the speculation.

“This is a clear statement of a strong future technology drive by Subaru Corporation and Subaru Tecnica International,” says Subaru of New Zealand managing director Wallis Dumper.

“In January, Subaru Corporation revealed the exciting STI E-RA Concept at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon. This hugely powerful all-wheel drive project is based around the STI E-RA electric race car and has been launched to gain experience with new motorsport technologies for the carbon-neutral era.

“So, essentially the STI legacy will still live on in the new realm of electric cars.”

The Impreza WRX STI was first introduced in 1994, and quickly became a cult hero among car enthusiasts during Subaru’s dominant period in the World Rally Championship. It’s been the brand’s halo nameplate ever since.

Along with unveiling its STI E-RA Concept, Subaru’s growing focus on electric vehicles also includes the upcoming launch of the Solterra; its first BEV. The new model, which was developed alongside the Toyota bZ4X and shares the same platform, has already been confirmed for the New Zealand market.

Dumper notes that, in spite of the STI’s departure and the arrival of plug-in variants like the Solterra, the New Zealand Government’s Clean Car Standard push will be a challenge for the local industry.

“Today’s STI announcement aligns with our current New Zealand government’s drive toward low emission vehicles, including electric vehicles,” Dumper adds.

“Our government has a desire to be ahead of the rest of the world, with the introduction of effectively a CO2 ‘tax’ which the customer will pay at the point of registering their new vehicle. 

“This certainly poses a challenge for the New Zealand automotive industry, given our smaller size in the context of the global automotive market, as it’s the larger markets that truly influence each brand’s manufacturer.”