Listen To Subaru's New STI Model Rev Its Boxer Engine

A new video teases an STI model for the Tokyo Auto Salon—complete with boxer engine revving. Could this actually make it to production?

Subaru STI Model Teaser

Photo by: Subaru

Jeff Perez

By: Jeff Perez

Updated: Jan 5, at 9:58am ET

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THE BREAKDOWN

Subaru teased a new STI model in a recent video.
The video shows STI badging and a blue silhouette.
Full reveal expected January 9 at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

Update: This story has been updated with a new teaser video in which you can hear the sound of Subaru's new STI model.

Another day, another Subaru WRX STI teaser. This time, Subaru released two short videos on its Japanese social media channels, hinting at the return of the legendary performance badge ahead of a debut in 2026. We’ve seen this before—but there’s still reason to be hopeful.

The clips are short but give us insight into what the new model could be. The first video opens with tight shots of an STI logo, followed by quick glimpses of a blue, WRX-shaped sedan (or maybe a hatch?) tearing through snowy forest back roads.

Turn the volume up on the second video, and you’ll catch the unmistakable rumble of a Subaru boxer engine, even though the company remains silent on any technical details.

The teasers wrap up with the message "Coming Soon" and a date of January 9, 2026. That timing lines up perfectly with the Tokyo Auto Salon, one of Japan’s biggest performance-car events in the world, and a logical place for Subaru to (potentially) reintroduce one of its most iconic nameplates.

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So what is it? Commentators speculate that this is probably just another STI Performance Pack—essentially the same warmed-over visual treatment we've seen on other models abroad. Subaru did tease the Performance-B and Performance-E concepts recently, which offered glimpses of what the brand’s performance future might look like. But this probably isn't a production version of either of those models, sadly.

Subaru has also suggested that future STI models could feature some level of electrification. But whatever’s hiding in this teaser doesn’t sound electric—or even hybrid. If Subaru follows through with a production STI, which seems unlikely at this point, January could finally mark the return of one of the most beloved names in rally-bred performance. Here's hoping.

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