Subaru WRX STI Discontinued 2024 – what you need to know
Subaru of America declared that the next-generation WRX STI with a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine would not be produced. It isn’t going to be manufactured on the new WRX platform. The news stunned the performance car community. The 2022 Subaru WRX will be available at dealers this spring, and the STI is expected to follow the year after.
Performance enthusiasts were eager to learn how much horsepower the next-generation 2023 STI with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Boxer engine would have. It was rumored that it might generate close to 400 horsepower.
The air soon went out of the balloon when Subaru of America announced that the 2023 STI would not be produced.
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Subaru wrx discontinued 2023
The market for automobiles is still moving toward electrification. Subaru is therefore concentrating on how its upcoming sports and performance cars should change to satisfy the evolving market demands. The norms and standards made this choice for greenhouse gasses (GHG), zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), and corporate average fuel economy (CAFE).
The world is moving quickly toward electricity. By 2030, many automakers envision having an entirely electric lineup. Subaru Corporation has been hesitant to adopt a fully electric lineup. The Boxer engine and hybrid battery technology are the most effective ways to meet emissions and fuel efficiency criteria.
But when California re-established its GHG emission rules and ZEV sales requirement, many things changed.
The new law in California has altered what Subaru can sell in one of its biggest markets. Their announcement compelled Subaru Corporation to look into “options for the next-generation Subaru WRX STI, especially electrification.”
The United States or any other market will not receive the 2023 Subaru WRX STI. The next-generation STI was killed by greenhouse gasses, zero-emission vehicles, and corporate average fuel economy (CAFE), and it will never be revived.
Why did Subaru discontinue the STI?
Whether you love it or hate it, today’s age of fuel efficiency and carbon emissions makes electrified performance a necessity. It might even be more of a requirement for the Subaru WRX STI. Who among the products adjusted by STI doesn’t emit and burn like a burning oil rig?
It’s not bad to be letting go of its fire-breathing past. There are no longer factory-sponsored rallying initiatives, and the STI name has little connection to its gravel-throwing roots. Furthermore, the final WRX STI struggled to remain popular due to its outdated flat-four engine. It also worked to keep up with the hyperinflation in Europe. They should pause and resume when they are prepared.
list of factors explains why Subaru is discontinuing the WRX STI
- It’s unlikely that the most recent WRX line will outlive other generations. Subaru selected the WRX range to start cleaning up its act. Shortly, we will see more hybrid choices. The alternatives are either a fully electric WRX or a new EV platform by the decade’s end.
- It does seem logical that they have decided to discontinue high-performance vehicles if electrification is their long-term goal. Even some of the slower electric vehicle platforms on the market can compete with a gas-powered STI. Therefore, it makes sense to put this specific vehicle on hold until they develop an electric platform capable of doing it justice and possibly competing in motorsport.
- One clear justification for doing away with STIs is emissions, and CAFE is at the core of that. If they had produced the STI, a highly thirsty car, mainly when driven hard, their fuel economy result would have been significantly lower.
- The WRX is currently in its second generation. So if you’re searching for a sportier model, you’re in luck. The Boxer still has 270 horsepower, which is more than adequate. It is still available with a six-speed manual and four-wheel drive. However, all customizations are optional, as are STI badges if you genuinely want them.
- The WRX STI’s discontinuation does not mean that the desired STI nameplate is no longer used. It will endure in Japan and Australia with the Levorg STI Sport. Additionally, Subaru suggested that it might later return as an electric vehicle. The STI E-RA concept, unveiled earlier this year, indicates that the STI nameplate may get its line of exclusively electric sports cars.
- Subaru must disclose how its relationship with Toyota would have affected its choice. Toyota has just released the GR Yaris, so introducing a new STI would undoubtedly have impacted Yaris sales. The 86 and BRZ coexist in a bubble of some kind. Because it was a joint business, it is simple to justify. Two distinct models, the Yaris and the WRX would have ended up competing with one another for sales.
- Small-performance cars have been less popular for some years. People are choosing practical pickups and crossovers in increasing numbers. But it’s not just that; Subaru has also struggled to keep up with the competition. Their build quality and performance fall are short of hot hatches from rival manufacturers, such as the GR Yaris.
- The pandemic-related chip shortage is another aspect that had a minor influence on their choice. Existing models already struggle and have long delays. Therefore, a brand-new model at this time will be at the very end of the lengthy line.
- The primary marketing strategy Subaru employed in the past was motorsport. The early STI models were unbeatable on the WRC circuit and even performed admirably when driven by privateers. They last participated in the WRC for more than ten years, and part of this is their efforts to improve their reputation as a manufacturer.
Conclusion
It’s all business. Finally, Subaru could have easily left the current-generation WRX STI on the market for fans to enjoy, but they opted not to. This would have been an expensive solution, and in the end, you only need to glance at the sales charts from the previous few years. You’ll quickly understand why the STI had to fall on its weapon.
