Subaru Teases 2 New STIs: Silent Speed or Turbo Fury?

Subaru just gave us a double shot of STI energy, and it feels like a peek into two futures racing side by side. On one lane, there is a battery electric fastback that looks born for midnight city sprints. On the other, a punchy hot hatch with a familiar rumble and rally attitude. Both wear the Subaru Tecnica International badge and both are unapologetically bold, but they speak to different kinds of drivers and different kinds of roads.

The fully electric Performance-E STI concept leans into a clean, fastback silhouette. The headlights are slimmer, the hood line is tighter, and the front bumper is cut with sharp, angular surfaces that look like they were shaped by airflow. The wheels catch the eye immediately with gold aero covers that hint at efficiency and motorsport heritage in the same breath. It is the kind of design that makes you imagine instant torque, a planted stance, and that silent surge that never gets old.

Then there is the Performance-B STI concept with a combustion engine, which looks ready to pick a fight with anything wearing a Gazoo Racing badge. This one has the stance of a proper hot hatch: a noticeably larger roof spoiler, bulging fenders that promise grip, and vents flanking a functional hood scoop. The face reads WRX-inspired, and the proportions say “daily driver by weekday, back-road brawler by weekend.” Subaru says the mystery engine is paired with its symmetrical all-wheel drive, which should mean traction in the wet, confidence in the snow, and classic Subaru balance when the corners tighten.

The gasoline twist is the surprise. Not long ago, the company said STI would be reserved for electric vehicles going forward, and enthusiasts braced for a fully electric future. That is why this concept lands with extra voltage: it suggests Subaru is willing to explore both paths if the driving experience is worth it. The context matters, too. The WRX STI nameplate stepped aside in 2022 when emissions targets tightened. Even so, Subaru still flexed earlier this year with the S210 special edition revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon, a full-strength STI built around an upgraded 2.4-liter turbocharged engine rated at 296 horsepower. That sedan stayed in Japan and ran a continuously variable transmission only, but the message was clear: STI engineering never left the building.

Back to these concepts. The branding is loud in the best way: red accents, familiar STI marks, and bodywork that walks the line between aggression and aerodynamics. The electric fastback looks like it wants to whisper past you. The hot hatch looks like it wants to elbow past you. One promises instant throttle response with zero tailpipe emissions. The other promises mechanical drama, shift-by-feel, and the soundtrack that so many of us associate with track days and mountain passes.

We will see both on October 29 at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, where they will share the stage with a rugged mix of machines, including the Trailseeker, the Forester Wilderness, the Outback Wilderness, and a nostalgic crowd-pleaser, the 1983 GL Family Huckster. Whether either STI concept becomes a production model is still an open question. What is not a question is the intent: Subaru is testing the waters to find out how drivers want their speed served — with electrons or with gasoline.