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Subaru Previews Fully Electric STI E-RA And Three More STI Performance Concepts For Tokyo Auto Salon

Subaru will join the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 with a bunch of interesting concept cars that were previewed today in a press release. The most important launch will be the STI E-RA Concept signalling the electric era of the performance brand, but we are also going to see “STI Performance” variants of the WRX S4, Levorg, and BRZ in concept form.

The STI E-RA Concept is described as a “study model of motorsport vehicles for the carbon-neutral era,” so don’t get your hopes up for a production vehicle anytime soon since this is probably a racing car prototype. However, as suggested by the teaser, the model will introduce new design elements that could be used in future Subaru vehicles like the C-shaped LED headlights mounted on the fenders, the double vented bonnet, the red illuminated STI badge on the low nose, and the front bumper with a prominent splitter. Subaru didn’t give us details on the powertrain, other than it will be fully electric.

Besides the motorsport concept for the new era, Subaru will also showcase three “STI Performance” concepts of the WRX S4, the Levorg, and the BRZ. The first one was previewed in an official picture showing additional aero components, which will likely be the case with the other two as well.

Compared to the WRX S4 STI Sport R that is already on sale in Japan and served as a base for the concept, the new aero includes a splitter, side sills and rear bumper extensions painted in pink, matching mirror caps and STI emblem, plus a large carbon-fiber rear spoiler. The bumpers seem to be slightly redesigned for a sportier look while there is a new set of black rims shod in performance tires. We are not sure if there will be any mechanical upgrades over the production model but Subaru also mentioned a performance muffler.

Similarly, the Levorg STI Performance concept will be based on the recently announced Levorg STI Sport R trim. It will feature cherry red accents on the additional aero components, a performance muffler, plus items “that will improve the usability” of the performance-oriented wagon. As for the BRZ STI Performance concept, it will add performance parts to the BRZ S grade painted in the same cherry red shade.

Lastly, the BRZ GT300 2021 racing car that won the class victory this year will be also exhibited at the Subaru booth, where the automaker will make announcements for the 2022 motorsport team. A lucky visitor of the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 will drive away in a brand new WRX STI Sport R EX that will be this years’ questionnaire prize.

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Travis Pastrana Races His Gymkhana Subaru WRX STI Against A 1,300 HP Altima Drift Car

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The Subaru WRX STI built for Travis Pastrana and Gymkhana 11 is a phenomenal performance machine and was recently brought out to Hoonigan’s drag strip for some races against an equally-as-unique Nissan Altima.

The Altima in question is owned by Formula Drift champion Chris Forsberg and has been comprehensively modified for drifting. However, that doesn’t mean it is a slouch in a straight-line as it recently proved when out-sprinting a modified Dodge Charger Hellcat with 1,000 hp and drag radial tires.

Watch Also: Take A Deep Dive Of Travis Pastrana’s Crazed Subaru WRX STI Gymkhana Car

Key modifications made to this Altima include the fitment of a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 from a Nissan GT-R that, depending on the state of tune, can deliver as much as 2,000 hp but is currently rocking around 1,300 hp. It absolutely loves to spin up the rear wheels and produces an intoxicating sound.

In the other corner is Pastrana’s WRX STI. It was built by Subaru Motorsports USA and Vermont SportsCar and features a custom boxer engine bored out to 2.3-liters complete with a billet engine block and the crankshaft from Subaru’s RallyCross program. It also has billet heads, a twin timing belt system and a huge turbocharger, and delivers no less than 862 hp. While that’s considerably less than Forsberg’s Altima, the Subaru has the advantage of being all-wheel drive.

Thanks to the Subaru’s better traction, it launches much better than the Altima and takes the first two races with ease. However, a rolling race is then held between the pair and in this case, it was the Nissan that pulled away from the Subaru and claimed the win.

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2022 Subaru WRX: What We Know About The Rally-Inspired Compact, From Looks To Powertrains

In a burgeoning age of electric vehicles, it’s comforting to know some of us out there still like it old-school. We’re talking about enthusiasm for rally-bred weapons like Subaru’s turbocharged WRX, the Mitsubishi Evolution series and Ford’s Focus RS. Sadly, neither the Mitsubishi nor Ford are still in production, and the Subaru is well into its twilight years.

However, there’s hope on the horizon for WRX fans; an all-new model is well under development, and the word is that it aims to retain its rally-bred heritage. But will it be as hardcore as it used to be? Let’s peel off the spy-shot camouflage to reveal what’s cooking for 2022.

Staunch Appearances

Inspired by the 2017 VIZIV Performance concept, the redesigned WRX brings a sleek, yet staunch demeanor whilst sharing the same front doors, hood scoop and headlights as the new Levorg wagon. Frontal styling is aggressively dynamic, featuring “hawk eye” LED headlamps, a bold trapezoidal grille and angled wheel arches.

Also See: Everything We Know About The 2022 Subaru BRZ Coupe

Illustrations Copyright Carscoops.com / Josh Byrnes

Subaru’s “Dynamic X Solid” design ethos is evident throughout the sculptured sheet metal surfacing, especially around the doors and rear haunches. The view from the back is much more muscular than any WRX before. It will sport quad exhausts, a large diffuser panel, triangular corner vents and C-clamp taillights connected by an illuminated strip across the trunk.

A Nicer Place To Be

Like other Subaru models launched recently, the next WRX sits on the company’s Subaru Global Platform which brings improved handling, safety and interior packaging benefits. The current car’s rather drab cabin also makes way for a much swankier layout, with design DNA and content plucked from the new Levorg wagon.

The Subaru WRX’s interior will strongly resemble that of the new Levorg pictured above

A massive 11.6-inch portrait-orientated touchscreen interface with very few physical knobs and buttons will greet occupants, as will a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and sports-themed Alcantara & leather trim.

Subaru’s new EyeSight X driver assist system will be available too. It uses 360-degree sensing via radars and cameras with highly-defined map data allowing for Level 2 semi-autonomous driving. As part of this package, it includes intersection assist in detecting frontal cross-traffic, emergency steering assist in helping maneuver around impending collisions and GPS-linked adaptive cruise control.

Subaru officials had said the next WRX will resemble the Viziv Performance Concept presented back in 2017, though we all know how that has played out in the past.

Boxing Harder

Water cooler conjecture suggests both the 2.0-litre FA20F and 2.5-litre EJ turbocharged units are to be replaced by one engine: a turbocharged 2.4-litre FA24F boxer-four. Used in the three-row Ascent SUV, Legacy and Outback, it produces 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Revisions to this engine will yield 300 horsepower in WRX trim, while the STI will get a healthy bump to almost 400 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque.

Bucking current automotive trends, we anticipate Subaru to again offer a six-speed manual transmission in conjunction with the Japanese marque’s well-regarded symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. Unfortunately, no luck for fans wanting a snappy dual-clutch or torque-converter automatic, as Subaru will again be offering their Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

What isn’t on the cards (and we’d love to be proven wrong) is any form of hybridization, whether it be a 48-volt mild hybrid, full hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Without it, getting the WRX into markets such as Europe will be difficult due to ever-tightening CO2 emission rules and severe penalties for missed emissions targets.

Rivals & Reveal

Once upon a time, Mitsubishi’s Evo X was the one to beat, as was Ford’s more recently-axed Focus RS. So what offerings will the next WRX compete against now? Arguably and at least for the WRX, that answer lays in the form of Hyundai’s i30N, the Honda Civic Type-R and premium rivals like Volkswagen’s Golf R & GTI, Audi S3, Mercedes-AMG A 35 and BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe.

We anticipate an official reveal before Christmas, or early 2021 as an MY2022 offering. Expect pricing to start around $30,000 for the base WRX.

So, what do you think of the WRX’s new look? Share your views in the comments below.

Note: The predictive illustration was made by CarScoops’ artist Josh Byrnes and is in no way related to or endorsed by Subaru