Subaru Plans Seven New Models Including Performance EV Revival

The earlier model, offered as a saloon, estate, coupe and later a hatchback, is adored by many for its rallying pedigree. Japanese manufacturer Subaru is aiming to “rekindle old passions” that once made it one of the most desirable car marques worldwide in the 1990s and 2000s.

According to Auto Express, part of the strategy is to introduce a “halo model” intended to evoke some of the nostalgia and excitement associated with Subaru’s historic performance cars – notably the Impreza. With drivers like Colin McRae and Richard Burns behind the wheel, Subaru dominated the World Rally Championship between 1995 and 2003 – cementing the blue-and-gold Impreza WRX STI as an emblem.

That meant the brand’s high-performance Impreza variant – later rebadged the WRX STI – became hugely popular and stayed in production in various guises until 2021, before Subaru officially withdrew it from sale in Europe, the UK, and North America.

Nowadays, the Japanese marque is best known for its practical SUVs and estates such as the Crosstrek, Forester and Outback, although it still commands legendary status among enthusiasts. Indeed, the company has faced calls from fans in recent years to return to performance-focused cars – a segment it largely stepped away from.

That’s where electrification comes into play, as the electric era appears to give Subaru a chance to reintroduce dynamic, high-performance models – even though insiders concede that EVs struggle to replicate the emotional draw of cars like the Impreza, particularly because of the absence of engine sound.

David Dello Stritto, Subaru’s general manager for Europe, said:

“EVs are coming and they’re making things that we’ve been dreaming of possible again, so we’re seeing almost a rebirth of that sort of blue car with the yellow paint on it. It’s becoming possible again. This is very exciting, they’re not the biggest group of Subaru buyers in Europe, but they’re very vocal and keep pushing us.”

He added: “Now we’ve got electric powertrains allowing us to do that, maybe at some point in the future we could start playing with that.”

A Subaru insider said:

“There’s a recognition that Subaru has been out of the game for a long time and it would be good to get back into it, although it’s a bit early to say how that would look. It’s about a product that reignites old passion, which is more difficult [with an EV] because a lot of the love for the Impreza was the noise. If you don’t concentrate on range too much, you can get good performance, but the fun factor is more difficult.”

Subaru is currently collaborating with fellow Japanese marque Toyota on most of its forthcoming EVs, but the halo car is expected to be developed in-house to make sure it retains Subaru’s unique character. The brand is working to make its EVs feel distinctive – even pointing to differences between its Solterra SUV and Toyota’s similar bZ4X as evidence of attempts to preserve individuality.

New models, such as the wonderfully rugged e-Outback and Uncharted SUV are due to reach the UK in the coming years, while the company has even hinted at bringing back the Justy hatchback. In the meantime, Subaru plans to continue offering petrol models as long as there is demand – especially in markets like the US, where petrol cars dominate sales and Subaru remain hugely popular. This approach will continue until legislation forces a change, such as the UK’s 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.

Back in June, Subaru sent fans into a frenzy by hinting at the Impreza’s return with a short design sketch shown to an audience, sparking speculation that the WRX STI – or perhaps a spiritual successor – could be making a comeback.