Subaru Teases WRX STI Looking Thing For October Debut
Subaru is preparing to debut a new performance prototype at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show in late October. The automaker offered an early glimpse at what could be the next chapter in the brand’s sports car lineup.
Key Points
- Subaru will debut a performance-focused prototype at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, hinting at a possible next-generation WRX or STI.
- The vehicle will feature a newly developed boxer engine and an evolved all-wheel-drive system based on Subaru’s motorsports technology.
- The new engine will support E20 carbon-neutral fuel, with potential hybrid integration, aligning with Subaru’s push toward lower emissions without abandoning internal combustion.
The prototype was teased over the weekend during the 24 Hours of Fuji endurance race, where Subaru Chief Technology Officer Tetsuo Fujinuki shared limited information. He confirmed the car will feature a newly developed boxer engine, which could feature a hybrid element based on announcements Subaru made last year.
There will also be a reworked all-wheel-drive system, which the automaker has been using in Japan's Super Taikyu race series. While the company stopped short of naming the model outright, early details and a teaser image look to indicate a successor to the WRX, possibly even laying the foundation for a new STI.
The teaser sure looks like a WRX STI with wide fenders, a vented hood, a large grille, and a prominent front splitter.
Fujinuki also confirmed the new boxer engine would be compatible with E20 carbon-neutral fuel—squaring with Subaru’s ongoing work with Toyota and Mazda to maximize alternative fuel use and electrification while keeping their unique engine DNA alive.
Subaru’s latest WRX launched in 2021, but the WRX STI was discontinued in 2022 due to tightening emissions regulations. The brand reintroduced an STI-badged WRX exclusively in Japan, but it's equipped with a CVT. The new prototype will be officially unveiled when the Japan Mobility Show opens on October 30.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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We want a two-door hatch STI