The Subaru WRX STI is something special. It has been a rally monster and sports sedan that has been trusted for some hardcore fun and active driving for two decades.

The STI wasn’t just another fast car – it was THE rally-bred beast that could launch off snow banks and still get you to work on Monday. For over 20 years, it was the scrappy underdog that embarrassed supercars at track days while looking like your accountant’s daily driver. Now that Subaru killed it off, enthusiasts are left wondering if the regular WRX can even come close to filling those big turbo shoes. Spoiler alert: most think it can’t.

But could it be coming back?

The waiting game begins

Do you remember how long we had to wait for Toyota to bring back the Supra name? Hopefully, that won’t be the case with the Subaru WRX STI. The first model appeared in 1994 in Japan, but didn’t make its way to the United States for a decade. The final version left us wanting more in 2021 and now we miss it. Its already been four model years and still, no STI variant. How long will we need to wait for the next STI model?

Is the tS good enough?

The WRX isn’t without a performance variant. This sporty Subaru sedan can be had with the tS badge on it, which gives it some sporty features. This model features large Brembo brakes and Recaro seats, but doesn’t have the reputation or draw of an STI model. We’re waiting for the next versions wearing the venerable sporty badge, but we might not have to wait as long as we did for the Toyota Supra to return to the market.

The tS in this name means “tuned by STI,” which kind of tells us this is a replacement for the WRX STI. With 271 horsepower on tap, this incredible car can rocket down the line and reach 60 MPH in only 5.6 seconds while finishing a quarter-mile sprint in 14.0 seconds at 99 MPH. The WRX tS is a lot of fun to drive wherever you want to go, and the brake-based torque-vectoring system increases control and confidence through the corners.

The Japan Mobility Show will be the place to be

Racing series events are great stages for automakers to hint at upcoming models and debut what’s next for their lineup. During the Super Taikyu racing series, Subaru’s chief technical officer confirmed a new performance model that will likely be unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show. Subaru competes mid-pack in this racing series, which features several classes, from GT3 Mercedes and Ferrari models to cars with engines that are 1500 CC or less.

The Japan Mobility Show is the new name for the Tokyo Auto Show, and its held every two years, giving automakers a fantastic place to show off their new models in Japan. It usually features several cool concept models. Before the bean counters and production restraints are put on these vehicles, they are presented at this show, giving automakers a great place to show off what’s new, along with some amazing ideas.

Could the hinting be nothing but disappointment?

We might not see the Subaru WRX STI return to the market anytime soon, but it’s hard to say. A teaser image surfaced that shows a blurred car that looks like a station wagon. That could be the Levorg, which sells in markets outside the United States. In fact, it comes with the WRX’s turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four in Australia and New Zealand markets. It’s expected to arrive in Japan with this engine soon, which might be the version that was hinted at.

Of course, the desire is to see a new STI version of the WRX at the show, which would be exciting and huge news for the US market. This would put the right name back on this car, returning the rally heritage to its rightful place on the market.

What might a new STI offer?

In the world of electrification, it seems that whenever a new version or returned name is mentioned, the idea of that vehicle being an electric model is tossed out there. Sure, an electrified STI would be fun and aggressive, but its not expected that Subaru will do that to the venerable car yet.

Instead of an electric model, maybe the new WRX STI will have boosted horsepower to put it somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 horsepower for driving pleasure. This power can be achieved by using the current 2.4-liter engine and turbocharging.

Does Subaru need to challenge Toyota?

The rally-bred Subaru WRX STI is something drivers want to see back on the market. Currently, the Toyota GR Corolla is the top dog in terms of rally heritage, but that’s really not enough to get anyone excited. Sure, the GR Corolla is fun and hardcore, but there’ simply something special and interesting about the STI version of the WRX.

This new model might be exactly what Subaru has been hinting at, but we won’t know for sure until October when the auto show opens. When that happens, we’ll have a much better idea of what to expect from Subaru.