The door to a new Subaru WRX STI has officially cracked open, as Subaru has revealed a Japan-only WRX STI S210 Prototype at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon. Yes, it’s only for the Japanese market, but remember that Subaru flat-out said there would be no STI at all for this latest-generation WRX.

Last year, we got the chance to drive the Subaru WRX tS, and with an upgraded suspension and brakes, it proved to be pretty darn fun to drive, as well as track-capable. At the time, we said it was as close to a new STI as we were going to get,

The prospect of a new Subaru WRX STI, based on the current-generation VB WRX Sedan, seems like a pipe dream, to the point that some countries have devised ways to keep the sacred rally-born nameplate alive.

The WRX STI S210 is the most powerful version of the current-generation model with 296 hp from the upgraded 2.4-liter boxer engine

The latest Subaru WRX doesn’t live up to the lofty standards set by its Impreza WRX forebears, not least because it’s been missing a truly driver-focused version in the mould of the old 22B or RB5. But with the new WRX S210 STI,

The Subaru BRZ, WRX, and Forester STI Packages, set to be launched at the Singapore Motor Show, are yet another Charlie Brown football pull from Subaru, smashing our forest road dreams once again. The starting point for this STI Forester isn't even the latest generation of the model.

Limited to just 500 units, the Subaru WRX S210 STI gets so close to being the performance sedan we've been waiting for, but it doesn't quite get there.