When Subaru axed the WRX STI, it ended manufacturing of what had change into an iconic halo mannequin for the model in addition to one of many world’s most prized efficiency automobiles.
The query stays: will Subaru do one other WRX STI?
“It’s completely a risk”, Subaru Australia managing director Blair Learn informed CarExpert.
“What I’ve stated to a variety of STI house owners who usually ask the query and are extraordinarily enthusiastic about STI, is that the engineering staff and all of that STI information, folks, amenities and knowhow are nonetheless there and dealing on future product.
“It’s a part of Subaru’s motorsport division and efficiency engineering however the tough resolution was made to cease growth on this technology of WRX as a way to get forward and deal with the next-generation model given the present fee of change happening with powertrains.
“We’d like to see it, as there’s such ardour for STI badge, to not point out its halo standing which has such historical past, so why would you not need that to proceed?
“When you concentrate on the older WRX and STI variations – a few of them 25 years in the past and what these engineers achieved again then, think about what they might do now with the expertise accessible right this moment. That will get me excited”, Learn added.
The present-generation WRX nonetheless has a number of years left in it however the next-generation mannequin may not find yourself being petrol-powered. It’s extra probably going to be a fully-electric mannequin, in accordance with Mr Learn.
“What I can level you in the direction of is the STI E-RA, an idea automobile Subaru introduced initially of 2022, which was a totally electrical prototype efficiency automobile that appeared like a Le Mans prototype for testing – the STI staff is unquestionably working in that space,” he stated.
It incorporates a carbon-fibre monocoque, utilizing expertise from STI’s BRZ GT300 automobile that competed in Japan’s Tremendous GT collection.
Like each different Subaru on sale right this moment, the STI-E-RA idea featured all-wheel drive, however as a substitute of petrol energy it options one electrical motor for every wheel.
This permits for torque vectoring, with every motor producing 200kW of energy for a complete system output of 800kW and 1100Nm of torque.
Curiously, the traction motors have been developed by Yamaha, which introduced in April 21 it was accepting orders for its “Hyper-EV” traction motor, which produces 350kW per motor.
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