The WRX STI is officially on the calendar again, with Subaru locking in a January 9 reveal for a new performance flagship that will not be an electric vehicle. Instead of a battery-powered reboot, the brand is leaning back into turbocharged theatrics and rally-bred hardware, using a fresh round of teasers to signal how serious this comeback really is. The stakes are high, because this car has to satisfy purists without ignoring the industry’s rapid shift toward electrification.
The WRX STI is back on January 9, and Subaru is leaning into combustion
Subaru has confirmed that a new WRX STI will be unwrapped on January 9, timed to coincide with the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon and framed as a return of its most storied performance badge. The company has already shown a cloaked silhouette with the familiar aggressive stance and a bold STI script floating above the car, a clear signal that this is not just a mild trim package but a halo model meant to sit above the standard WRX. In a performance market where many rivals are pivoting to plug-in or full EV platforms, the decision to bring back the STI name at all is a statement of intent.
What makes this reveal even more striking is Subaru’s explicit confirmation that the car is not going electric, a point that has been described as a loaded promise given the regulatory and market pressures surrounding internal combustion. The brand is threading a narrow path, promising a new chapter for the WRX STI while acknowledging that the platform and emissions rules impose real constraints, a tension that has already been flagged in early coverage of the New Subaru WRX STI Debuts Jan story.
“It isn’t electric” is a promise with caveats built in
On the surface, saying the WRX STI is returning without batteries sounds like a simple win for enthusiasts who feared the next iteration would be a silent, heavy EV. In practice, that line comes with a series of caveats that reflect how far the industry has moved since the last STI left showrooms. Subaru still has to meet tightening emissions rules, manage fuel economy targets, and justify the business case for a relatively low-volume performance model, all while investing heavily in hybrid and electric technology elsewhere in its lineup.
That is why early reporting has framed the “it isn’t electric” claim as a heavily qualified reassurance rather than an open-ended guarantee about the future of the badge. The language around the reveal makes it clear that this car is being developed within strict boundaries, and that the long-term direction of Subaru performance could still bend toward electrification even if this particular model does not. The tension between enthusiast expectations and regulatory reality is already being highlighted in analysis that notes how But the fact remains that this STI is launching into a very different world than the one its predecessors dominated.
How the 2026 WRX sets the stage for an STI comeback
The new WRX STI does not exist in a vacuum, it is being built on the foundation of the current WRX that is already rolling into the 2026 model year. Dealers are preparing for that updated WRX to arrive in the first quarter, with internal guidance pointing to an “Expected” release window that lines up with a broader refresh cycle for Subaru’s compact performance sedan. That timing matters, because it suggests the STI will be closely tied to the latest chassis and powertrain tweaks rather than being a completely separate engineering project.
Retail materials describe a “Planet exclusive WRX Gallery” that showcases the 2025 model while noting that the 2026 car is due for what is described as a “Big Minor Change,” language that hints at meaningful updates without a full redesign. The fact that Planet Subaru is already flagging those changes, and inviting shoppers to “Click” through images of the current car, underscores how the standard WRX is being positioned as the volume base on which the hotter variant will sit. In that context, the STI reveal looks like the performance-focused capstone to a broader Planet Subaru strategy for the 2026 WRX lineup.
Teasers show Subaru wants the STI to look and feel like a real comeback
Subaru has not waited for the Tokyo lights to flip on before stoking anticipation, instead it has released short teaser clips that focus on the WRX STI’s design cues and performance hints. The footage shows a car that is clearly a more aggressive variant of the standard WRX, with sharper bodywork, pronounced haunches, and the kind of visual drama that long-time fans associate with the badge. The messaging around these teasers explicitly frames the project as a comeback, a return of a nameplate that many assumed had been shelved indefinitely.
Those clips also emphasize that this is still a road-going evolution of the rally-bred formula, not a track-only special or a one-off concept. The camera lingers on details that separate the STI from the regular sedan, while the soundtrack and editing underline that this is meant to be a usable, everyday performance car with a harder edge. The positioning of the teasers, which stress that Subaru is hinting at a WRX STI comeback with a January 9 reveal, reinforces that this car is being treated as a headline act rather than a quiet trim addition.
Interior, sound, and the art of hiding key details
While the exterior shots do most of the heavy lifting in the teasers, Subaru has also offered brief glimpses of the cabin and, crucially, the sound. Inside, the WRX STI appears to build on the current WRX layout with sportier seats, STI branding, and subtle trim changes that signal its status without turning the cockpit into a show car. The audio track, however, is where the brand is clearly trying to reassure fans, letting the rumble of a turbocharged boxer engine cut through the snow and forest scenery that frames the car’s runs.
Even with these peeks, the company is still holding back the most important numbers, including final power output, torque, and any changes to the all-wheel-drive system. That restraint has been noted in coverage that describes how Subaru is “Still Hiding Key Details,” even as it leans on nostalgia by reminding viewers that “Back” in the day it was easier to tell a WRX from an STI at a glance. The current approach suggests Subaru wants to build suspense while keeping its options open on final tuning, a strategy reflected in analysis of how the WRX and STI relationship has evolved.
Snowy back roads, boxer rumble, and the STI mythos
The imagery Subaru has chosen for its latest STI teasers is not accidental, it is a deliberate throwback to the brand’s rally heritage and the mythology that has grown around the badge. The car is shown tearing through snowy forest back roads, flinging powder off its tires as it carves through corners that look like they were lifted straight from a World Rally Championship stage. That setting is designed to remind viewers that the STI name has always been tied to real-world grip and confidence in bad conditions, not just straight-line speed or track-day bragging rights.
Sound design plays a central role in that nostalgia play, with the company urging viewers to “Turn the” volume up so they can hear the unmistakable rumble of a Subaru boxer engine working hard under load. The combination of snow, forest, and that signature exhaust note is meant to tap into decades of fan memory, from classic Impreza sedans to more recent WRX STI models that became cult favorites. The emotional weight of those choices is already being dissected in coverage that notes how Subaru is once again leaning on its rally roots to sell the idea of a new STI.
Another teaser, another round of “could this actually make it to production?”
The WRX STI’s path back to the spotlight has not been straightforward, and that history explains some of the skepticism that still surrounds the January reveal. Enthusiasts have already lived through multiple rounds of hints and concept cars that never translated into a showroom model, which is why each new teaser is greeted with a mix of excitement and caution. The latest clips have been described as “Another” chapter in a long-running saga of Subaru WRX STI previews, with observers openly asking whether this iteration will finally make it all the way to dealer lots.
That uncertainty is amplified by the broader context of Subaru’s global lineup, where some performance variants and technologies have appeared on models abroad but not in every market. Analysts have framed the current teasers with questions like “Could” this actually make it to production, pointing out that the company has previously showcased hardware that later stayed confined to specific regions or never reached mass production at all. The fact that this round of hints explicitly references the Subaru WRX STI name, rather than a generic performance concept, is a strong sign of intent, but until order books open, the doubts will linger.
Logos, pricing context, and where the STI might sit in the range
Beyond the sound and scenery, Subaru has also slipped in visual clues about how the WRX STI will be positioned and priced. One teaser shot lingers on the front number plate area, where the edge of the STI logo is visible, hinting at a more assertive branding approach than the subtle badges on the current WRX. Another angle focuses on the rear haunches, where wider bodywork and muscular surfacing suggest that the STI will once again stand apart from its sibling in both stance and presence.
Pricing has not been confirmed, but there are hints in how the current WRX range is structured. The top-spec WRX tS is listed at $61,490 before on-road costs, a figure that effectively sets the ceiling for the regular lineup and leaves room above for a more focused halo model. That context has been highlighted in reporting that notes how the STI logo tease and the existing STI pricing ladder could frame the new car as a premium step up rather than a modest upgrade, reinforcing its role as the flagship of Subaru’s performance portfolio.
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