A new Subaru WRX STI will make its debut on January 9, and it will not be an electric vehicle.
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Get ready, Subaru fans, because your holiday wish may be coming true. The STI badge is making a comeback.
This statement carries significant weight, and as you can imagine, there are several conditions attached. However, the truth is clear and it's not just a rumor. On Christmas Day, Subaru shared a teaser video on Instagram featuring a blue WRX prominently displaying an STI badge on its grille. The clip concludes with a debut date set for January 9, 2025, which coincides with the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon.
Subaru also released a press statement accompanied by a computer-generated image showcasing its display at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, as seen above. This image depicts all the vehicles Subaru plans to unveil at the event, with one notable exception. The press release neglects to mention a vehicle that is clearly the focus of the display, which appears shrouded in the image. It’s a WRX STI sedan, which may also be featured digitally above the covered vehicle.
The teaser clip reveals an STI badge on the grille of a current-generation WRX sedan. The wheels visible in the teaser resemble those of the current WRX tS available in the U.S. A brief shot of the car running shows it is equipped with a boxer engine, which can be heard revving, and it is clearly a sedan.
While this may dash hopes for a WRX STI hatchback revival, which had fans excited with a concept revealed in November at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, it could be just the start. The gas-powered hot-hatch concept was located mere feet from an STI-badged EV concept, which Subaru's design director indicated is being "considered." The manufacturer is still evaluating future performance models and has yet to determine the direction for powertrains.
The biggest uncertainty is whether this STI-badged WRX will be available in the U.S. market. The Drive reached out to representatives from Subaru of America, but the automaker is currently on holiday break, as is much of the world. We will provide updates as soon as we receive a response.
Regardless, a new WRX STI is set to debut shortly after the New Year, and that’s certainly exciting news for enthusiasts everywhere. It appears that 2026 will kick off with a boxer-powered thrill.
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A new Subaru WRX STI will make its debut on January 9, and it will not be an electric vehicle.
The STI badge is making a comeback, but it's still uncertain if it will be available in America.