There Will Be A New Subaru WRX STI... But It Will Be A Hybrid

Judging by comments made by Subaru's European sales and marketing boss, the next WRX STI - and there will be one, eventually - will only exist as a plug-in hybrid
There Will Be A New Subaru WRX STI... But It Will Be A Hybrid

A new WRX STI will be built, says Subaru, but not until the company can work out how to build a plug-in hybrid one.

The current car’s 2.5-litre flat-four is both a blessing and a curse, giving it legendary character and noise but also providing one of the major reasons that Subaru UK has stopped selling it at all.

There Will Be A New Subaru WRX STI... But It Will Be A Hybrid

High emissions and a thirst for unleaded have never been able to compete with the more mainstream, less interesting alternatives. A perceived lower-quality interior and higher depreciation made it less attractive than the likes of the Golf R and Focus RS.

Now, Subaru Europe’s sales and marketing manager, David Dello Stritto, has told Dutch website AutoRAI that the turbocharged boxer four-pot “can simply not exist in the future.” He blames emissions laws and refers to the recent Viziv Performance concept (pictured top and below) as the future of the WRX.

There Will Be A New Subaru WRX STI... But It Will Be A Hybrid

“Subaru is waiting for market developments and has set the concept down. We definitely do not say goodbye to the WRX STI; the car belongs to Subaru, but there is a period of time where we temporarily will not carry it.

“[Hybrid drivetrains are] something we need to investigate. There really will be a new WRX STI, but it takes time.”

A hybrid Subaru is reportedly slated for 2018 production, but it will be a much more mainstream car than the WRX STI. It’s possible that the legendary rally-forged saloon’s totally changed persona might not appear for between five and 10 years from now.

Sources: Autocar/AutoRAI

Comments

675LT_ftw

Dear Subaru,
None of this please..
Many thanks, most of the world…

11/15/2017 - 08:32 |
122 | 4

I hate these even more than the Nissan Juke…

11/15/2017 - 13:51 |
6 | 0
Jakob

Doesn’t surprise me. Subaru can’t sell the same car with the same drivetrain and the same cheap interior anymore. If they really want to build an alternative to the current hot hatches, then they need to go with the trend. They cannot milk the “look, it won the WRC a hundred years ago” cow forever.

11/15/2017 - 08:37 |
222 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by Jakob

Good point.

11/15/2017 - 08:44 |
14 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Jakob

Well said. Subaru can rely on the old school heritage of the STI all it wants but that won’t convince buyers in any way.

11/15/2017 - 08:52 |
10 | 0
Nishant Dash

In reply to by Jakob

Good point my man, EVs aren’t necessarily a bad thing, just would long for a manual 😄😄

11/15/2017 - 12:57 |
4 | 2
Joel Peñaló

The problem with Subaru and the Impreza WRX is that they’re both stuck in 2004. For them to have an idea like this, I think is brilliant. Have a boxer 4 powering the rear and leave the electrics to assist the front. It’s time they got clever again.

11/15/2017 - 08:43 |
42 | 4

Subaru Symmetric AWD is their hallmark, I doubt they could ditch the transaxles. The WRX is still competitive, they just need to drop the EJ and move the STi to the FA platform with a twin-scroll or variable geometry turbo like they did the WRX.

11/15/2017 - 14:18 |
6 | 0

Nothing wrong with being stuck in 2004. My F1 sound preferably is…

11/15/2017 - 16:03 |
6 | 0
Jopel

It won’t be do your hear a SUBARUUU It’ll be ooh there’s that shhhh baru

11/15/2017 - 08:50 |
10 | 0
Anonymous

At least it isn’t like the new Evo - an electric SUV coupe.

11/15/2017 - 08:51 |
12 | 2
TheRealBouss

At least it didn’t end up like it’s arch rival… cough cough

11/15/2017 - 09:01 |
56 | 2
ᴶᵘˢᵗᴬᴿᵃⁿᵈᵒá

In reply to by TheRealBouss

clears throat twice

11/15/2017 - 12:45 |
2 | 0
5:19.55

So a four doors 918?

11/15/2017 - 09:14 |
4 | 12
Anonymous

Thats why I’ve bought an 03 WRX STi :)

11/15/2017 - 09:19 |
6 | 2
Anonymous

as long as it is fast - and nimble - do it.

11/15/2017 - 09:46 |
2 | 0
DL🏁

I don’t care if its hybrid or whatever as long as its not an ugly slow SUV cough Mitsu cough

11/15/2017 - 09:48 |
28 | 4

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