by Once upon a time — during the Yushchenko era, when the hits of “Satisfaction” echoed in the streets and golden chains glittered from under the collars of sports jackets — the Subaru STI and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo were the dream of every Ukrainian rich kid. They were symbols of speed, all-wheel drive, and that distinct sound of the boxer engine you could hear from a block away. And now — the STI is returning. But in a completely different reality.
At the upcoming Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, Subaru will present two concepts — the Performance-B STI and the Performance-E STI.
The first is a five-door hatchback with a boxer gasoline engine and the signature all-wheel drive, featuring an aggressive hood, wide fenders, and a spoiler that hints: the spirit of the WRX is alive. If this project gets the “green light,” it could become a direct competitor to the Toyota GR Corolla.
The second concept — the Performance-E STI — is a completely different beast. A fully electric sports car, which Subaru itself already calls a “leader of the new generation.” With golden wheels, LED optics, and a spacious interior — it seems this one has every chance of making it to production.
The era has changed, but the STI name still thunders
Yes, the times when STIs roared through nighttime Kyiv are gone. But Subaru hints: the legend is not dead — it’s just rebooting.
And now it’s not about emissions, but about electrons. Not about gasoline in the veins, but about data in the batteries. But if even a fraction of that same “STI magic” remains — the fans will forgive even a charging port instead of a fuel tank.
