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Subaru Tecnica International (STI) Subaru's performance and motorsport subsidiary is about to enter a new era. Subaru Corporation and STI announced they would uncover an all-new electric STI performance car, the STI E-RA Concept, to the world at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 on January 14.
Subaru will launch the next-generation WRX STI this year, and it could be the last WRX STI with an internal combustion (ICE) engine. Subaru will drop the current EJ25 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in favor of the all-new FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer powerplant. It will likely be the last ICE engine for the fifth-generation WRX STI as a new era of performance begins.
Subaru says, "STI is showcasing the STI E-RA Concept developed in a new project launched to gain experience and practice in new technologies in the world of motorsport which is making its way toward a carbon-neutral era."
How will Subaru develop the next-generation all-electric STI?
Subaru will go back to its roots of motorsport, where they developed the first WRX. Subaru took the first generation WRX 2.0-liter Boxer engine to the rally stages around the globe. The 2.5-liter engine was next, and Subaru used the Nurburgring 24-hour race to develop its new engines further.
Subaru has used the grueling Nurburgring 24-hour race challenge since 2008 to test and develop the STI's engine and suspension. They have six class titles in the twelve years of running at the "Green Hell," one of the world's most challenging and dangerous tracks.
Subaru and Subaru Tecnica International will take a new STI E-RA performance car to the Nurburgring and develop its first-ever electric performance model. Subaru has a history of using WRX STI Type RA (Record Attempt) Time Attack cars.
The first record was set by Mark Higgins at the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course in 2016 when they set a record lap for a car with an average speed of 128.73 mph.
In 2017, they set the Nurburgring record with New Zealand driver Richie Stanaway setting a four-door sedan record of 6:57.5 in the WRX STI Type RA Time Attack car.
In 2018, Subaru took the high-performance STI to Romania's National Road 7C, known as the Transfagarașan, to attempt another word's record. Mark Higgins took the Subaru WRX STI Type RA Time Attack machine again and set a record on the 52.4-mile road in 40 minutes, 58.8 seconds. The average speed was an impressive 76.69 mph.
The STI E-RA Concept previews what Subaru and Subaru Tecnica International have in mind for a new era of high-performance sports cars.
Subaru will take the all-new electric STI and develop the new technology in another RA (Record Attempt) car, the STI E-RA performance sports car. We don't know if they will take the new STI to the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, the 12.9 mile Nurburgring Nordschleife, or Romania's 52.4-mile Transfagarașan highway.
We know Subaru and Subaru Tecnica International are about to enter a new carbon-neutral era of high-performance sports cars. Subaru Corporation and STI announced they would uncover an all-new electric STI performance car, the STI E-RA Concept, to the world at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 on January 14. Stay tuned.
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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Photo credit: Subaru
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