The STi name of Subaru lands on the Forester and Impreza bodies in the form of a concept car for the Tokyo Motor Show

Many surnames have earned a reputation through hard work, but few have done so with as much force as the STi badge, which has graced the rear of numerous iconic Subaru models. The Japanese brand has always enjoyed an enviable track record in motorsport, where its all-wheel drive and tuning delivered countless victories. Over time, we have seen Subaru apply that experience to its road cars, something that could happen again with the Forester and Impreza, two models that have been given the STi designation to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show as concept cars.

Both models are enjoying considerable success within the brand, yet everything points to a sporty variant of each one, based on these prototypes, not being far-fetched. It is true that both the Forester and Impreza STi show styling very close to that of the production vehicles, but for now the intentions of Subaru with the presentation of these two concepts remain unknown.

First up is the Forester STi, a model that stays faithful to its clear purpose of tackling the toughest terrain, but is seasoned with certain features of the WRX STi that everyone knows. For one, its look is far more aggressive than the production model’s, made possible by a new grille that carries the STi badge.

This is complemented by a new, imposing splitter, framed by a series of yellow accents that contrast perfectly with the grey finish of the Forester’s bodywork. Model-specific wheels house Brembo brake calipers, which hint at high power output that will need to be brought to a halt. Finally, we can see more prominent sill covers and a diffuser that accommodates a single exhaust outlet.

A very similar formula has been applied to the Impreza, a model with a package seasoned by new bumpers, wheels and a diffuser with a central twin exhaust outlet that gives us an idea of what Subaru is cooking up with these two creations. On the mechanical side we don’t know which elements have been improved over the production variants, but it won’t be long before the Japanese firm reveals more details.

In less than a month the Tokyo Motor Show will open its doors to welcome all its visitors, who will receive a warm welcome in the form of the Subaru Forester STi and Impreza STi. In this way, the Japanese brand could be about to take a new step and expand its performance range, which so far is represented by the WRX STi and the BRZ.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverSubaru Forester7 versions · from 39,900 €