STI-Badged Electric Vehicle? Subaru Is Still 'Evaluating' It Despite Shift Back to Gasoline Engines.
Joel Feder
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Get ready, because the STI badge isn’t gone; it’s merely resting. When it makes a comeback, it could be on an electric vehicle.
At the 2025 Japan Mobility Show on Tuesday, the Subaru Performance-E STI concept was unveiled. Subaru’s design director, Shin Imai, responded to inquiries about the electric concept being a signal of a future electric car with the STI badge by saying, “I’m considering, yes.”
Imai clarified that the Performance-E STI concept isn’t merely a preview of a production model. However, he mentioned that the design team aimed to incorporate elements from their historical STI vehicles, like the 22B.
Notable features of the 22B include its large round driving lights at the front, usually covered and marked with STI logos. Imai highlighted that the concept embraces this aspect with prominent STI logos on the front lower air dam flaps.
Imai quickly pointed out that with electric vehicles, aerodynamics play a crucial role, but the team wanted to pay tribute to the 22B with gold wheels. The concept’s sizable alloy wheels include a gold aero disc as a nod to Subaru's history. Although the rear hatch does not feature a wing for reducing drag, Imai mentioned that the small aero winglets allude to the 22B’s wing while also offering significant downforce.
“We try to strike a balance between range and performance driving simultaneously,” Imai remarked. While he refrained from commenting on the vehicle's range, he noted that the silhouette is designed in a teardrop shape for optimal aerodynamics.
The proportions of the Performance-E STI concept were influenced by the need to maximize interior space, as Imai stated, “obviously, it’s a Subaru.” The design team aimed to avoid creating just another sports car.
No specific timeline has been established for when Subaru might introduce an electric car bearing the STI badge, but the possibility is now officially recognized.
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STI-Badged Electric Vehicle? Subaru Is Still 'Evaluating' It Despite Shift Back to Gasoline Engines.
The Subaru STI badge may not be gone; it appears to just be hibernating.
