Racing’s red flag has dropped, for now, on one of the auto industry’s most beloved performance cars.
Subaru, citing the advent of electrification and other environmental regulations, said Friday it will not produce a WRX STI with an internal combustion engine based on the recently launched WRX platform.
The fifth-generation WRX, introduced for the 2022 model year, is the first version of the sporty compact sedan built on Subaru’s Global Platform.
Even though it’s a limited edition, the WRX, with U.S. deliveries of 17,141, up 29 percent in 2021, is the top-selling compact sporty car with one of the most loyal fan bases across the auto industry.
Subaru’s high-performance flagship STI brand, for Subaru Tecnica International, was introduced more than 30 years ago, first on the Legacy in Japan. And the WRX STI, first introduced in 1994 in Japan, has become one of the most celebrated rally cars.
“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 gases, zero emissions vehicles, and Corporate Average Fuel Economy,” the company said in a statement.
Subaru said it is exploring opportunities for the next-generation Subaru WRX STI, including electrification, while “incorporating the essence of STI into our next generation of vehicles.”
The WRX STI debuted in U.S. showrooms in 2004 with a turbocharged 300-hp engine, 6-speed manual transmission, all-wheel drive, STI suspension and Brembo brakes.
In 2018, Subaru added the WRX STI Type RA limited run model to the U.S.
Perhaps ironically, the most recent STI generation ended up going out with a bang of sorts, with Subaru Corp. finally sending the U.S. market the 341-hp S209 in 2019, after nearly 20 years of the U.S. market not getting such variants.
