Late last year at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 (JMS 2025), Subaru unveiled the Performance‑B STI concept. It appeared alongside the futuristic Performance‑E STI, offering a glimpse of what many enthusiasts have long dreamed of — a new halo performance model rooted in Subaru’s rally heritage. While the Performance‑B STI concept seemed ready for production, Subaru’s latest teaser video on its Japanese social media platforms for a new STI model seems to hint at something quite different.
The video teases a mystery car in Subaru’s signature World Rally Blue, with an STI badge in Cherry Blossom Red on the front grille. Set to be unveiled on January 9, 2026, the headlights on the purported STI model looks to be largely similar to existing WRX models, and overhead shots confirm it is a sedan rather than a hatchback.
Along the sides of the car, the video shows black plastic wheel arches and grey wheels, reminiscent of the Subaru WRX tS in North America — “tS” standing for “Tuned by STI.” The engine note does sound rather fruity, though it can’t exactly match the deep boxer rumbles of STI models from yesteryear.
While a new STI model is always exciting, after seeing what could’ve been with the Performance-B STI concept, we can’t help but feel a little disappointed. The concept looked far more aggressive, with wide side fenders, 18‑inch BBS RI‑A wheels, no black plastic wheel arches, and a massive black bonnet scoop.
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The front grille of the concept is outlined in bright Cherry Blossom Red and extended all the way to the headlights. Notably, the Performance-B STI is also a hatchback, complete with a massive rear wing, emphasising its sporty, rally-inspired stance.
The fact that this purported STI model appears to be just another variant of the existing WRX, though, might explain why it was only teased on the marque’s Japanese platforms, rather than globally.
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In Japan, the WRX is currently available only as the WRX S4 STI Sport R — a model limited to a CVT transmission. Enthusiasts in the Japanese market can no longer purchase WRX models with a traditional H-pattern manual shifter, which has long been a defining trait of the STI experience.
The fact that Japanese media were given the chance to test the WRX with a manual gearbox in North America in an event last year suggests Subaru is aware of the demand for a more engaging driving experience, and this new STI model could just be that – a new Japan-exclusive WRX with a new row-your-own transmission.
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The new “STI” model will be revealed on January 9, 2026, which coincides with the press day for the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon. The car will likely retain the 2.4-litre turbocharged flat-four engine currently found in the WRX. In the standard WRX, this engine produces 275 hp and 375 Nm of torque, sending power to all four wheels via a CVT transmission, and takes 6.1 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill.
A more potent WRX STI S210, unveiled as a prototype in last year’s show, was also available in limited quantities – 500 units to be exact, offered solely via a lottery system. Bearing the iconic S model prefix, the same 2.4-litre boxer here is juiced up to produce 300 hp and 375 Nm alongside a handful of STI goodies – although to many fans’ dismay, it was also offered exclusively with a CVT gearbox.
