Subaru Hints at Electrified Rebirth with a Flagship Sports Car
For many, the word Subaru still conjures the image of a blue-and-gold missile tearing through WRC stages, scattering rivals in its wake. Now the Japanese marque suggests the time has come for a new chapter—this time, powered by electricity.
David Dello Stritto, head of Subaru Europe, says electrification opens the door to the kind of models fans have been longing for. At the centre of the plan: a full-fledged sports car that could serve as the brand’s new flagship. Unlike Subaru’s current EVs—crossover projects developed in lockstep with Toyota—this car appears to be a solo effort, free of a twin badge.
Even more tantalising is Stritto’s nod to resurrection. The legend whispered reverently by enthusiasts—the iconic blue-and-gold rally hero—may yet return in electric form. Subaru has been gauging signals from Europe, where the community of performance loyalists may be small, but it is fiercely passionate. That feedback has spurred executives to seriously consider a model that could restore the brand’s emotional, driver-focused image.
Recent U.S. patent filings add fuel to the speculation. Subaru has registered new designations—ACX, VPX and ZPX—all potentially combinable with the storied STI badge. The “X” may hint at rugged all-terrain intent, or perhaps pay homage to the SVX coupé of the 1990s.
One thing is clear: Subaru has no intention of abandoning combustion altogether. Petrol engines will remain in production for as long as buyers demand them and lawmakers allow.
