Subaru Teases a New STI Again, but Will It Ever Reach the U.S.?

Subaru hints again and fans are left wondering if this time is finally different

Subaru fans have been here before. A tease shows up online, excitement builds fast, and then everyone starts asking the same question. Is the STI really coming back, or is this just another hint with no payoff?

The WRX STI disappeared from the U.S. lineup when Subaru launched the current WRX. At the time, Subaru said emissions rules and future plans made the old STI setup hard to continue. That may be true, but it did not make fans feel any better. The STI was not just about power. It was about sound, feel, and the kind of driving that made every trip more fun.

Now Subaru is teasing something new ahead of the Tokyo Auto Salon. The clips are short and mysterious, but they show a more aggressive WRX and what looks like a manual transmission. That alone is enough to get people talking. For many fans, three pedals are non-negotiable.

Coming soon pic.twitter.com/Vh0fMWPPWs

— 株式会社ＳＵＢＡＲＵ (@SUBARU_CORP) December 29, 2025

Still, expectations should stay realistic. Subaru has shown exciting performance concepts before, and most of them never turned into real production cars. This new tease could simply point to a tuned WRX version rather than a true STI. Something similar to the WRX tS would not be surprising.

There is also the market issue. Events like the Tokyo Auto Salon often focus on Japan first. Manuals are no longer popular there, while U.S. buyers still love them. That creates a strange situation where American fans might want this car more than anyone else.

Subaru is doing just fine selling crossovers and SUVs. From a business view, the STI is not a must. But passion does not follow spreadsheets.

For now, U.S. fans can only wait. Subaru keeps teasing, hope stays alive, and the STI story refuses to end.