The Subaru WRX STI looks set to return to take on the Honda Civic Type R after the automaker dropped two teaser clips on its social media channels bearing the words “Coming soon”.
The initial 12-second clip posted by Subaru shows a WRX sedan in its classic ‘WR Blue’ paintwork charging through a snowy forest, backed by an audio track of a free-revving ‘boxer’ engine.
Closer inspection shows this is not a regular WRX, but the performance flagship STI (Subaru Tecnica International) model not offered outside Japan and not seen since the current generation launched in 2021.
The opening shot reveals a grille-mounted STI badge, ominous in its traditional pink colour against the black WRX grille, and a slightly larger bonnet vent.
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The edge of the STI logo is also seen on the front number plate, before a shot to the rear haunches of the car teases what appear to be the 19-inch alloys seen on the tS Spec B – a manual-only WRX model released in Australia in 2025.
The Brembo brakes seen on the tS Spec B aren’t shown, but the footage confirms it’s a sedan body. Subaru gives away little else, apart from the date – January 9, 2026.
A second teaser shows a pair of exhaust outlets shaking as a racing driver pushes the WRX’s engine start button, before a rev counter – also showing turbo boost – appears, accompanied by the same engine-revving backing track.
A blurred shot of the blue Subaru shows the bonnet vent and what appears to be a more aggressive side skirt along its flanks.
Subaru Australia has not confirmed details of the vehicle or the event to CarExpert, but the WRX STI is expected to be shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon, which takes place from January 9 to 11, 2026.
Based on its previous standing, the new WRX STI would be offered with a six-speed manual transmission and sit above the tS Spec B in the Australian lineup, which is $61,490 before on-road costs.
The Spec B also comes with the aforementioned 19-inch wheels and gold-painted Brembo brakes, a larger rear wing and Recaro seats, among its upgrades.
However, it has the same 202kW/350Nm outputs from its 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, with the STI expected to lift these figures as the performance hero.
This would also see it better the Spec B’s 6.0-second 0–100km/h time as it chases the Honda Civic Type R’s 5.4-second claim from its 235kW/420Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder.
The current-generation WRX has seen the limited-edition S210 WRX STI sold in Japan, with its 2.4-litre engine bumped to 221kW/375Nm, matching the previous 2021 WRX STI for power but with 32Nm less torque.
Subaru also showed a pair of STI concepts at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show (JMS) in Tokyo, hinting at the next-generation WRX through hatch body styles and including an electric version.