It has been a year since Subaru confirmed there won’t be an STI-badged model with a combustion engine based on the current WRX generation, making the old car the last of its kind. Speaking of which, the automaker published an anime video of the old WRX STI, while announcing a new website with upgrades for the model.
The video is made with the classic Initial D style of animation, sparking nostalgia among fans of Japanese vehicles. It is a follow-up to the previous animation videos from last year, featuring the new WRX S4 STi Sport and the BRZ sportscar. Similarly, it shows the vehicle driving on twisty roads in the dark, highlighting the special components which justify the Subaru Tecnica International emblems.
Read: Subaru Files ‘STe’ Trademark Hinting At Electrified STI Successor
While it is easy to assume that this video is a farewell to the series, it actually serves the purpose of advertising Subaru’s new website. The company invites owners to “Re-Complete” their vehicles, taking them to the next level in terms of looks, handling, and performance. This is made possible through the several available parts and upgrades for the now-discontinued VA (WRX STI / WRX S4) and VM (previous-gen Levorg) models which debuted back in 2014. As a reminder, the VA-body WRX went out of production in 2021, one year after the closely-related VM Levorg.
Fans of the series might be disappointed that there won’t be a full-blown STI based on the current generation of the WRX performance sedan, which only gets a red badge on the grille in the lesser STI Sport flavor. Still, Subaru might reportedly already be working on a successor that is expected to embrace electrification. This was hinted at by the “STe” trademark filing quite recently, suggesting that the next chapter of Subaru performance will be either hybrid or fully electric.
Until that time arrives, you can enjoy the animation videos of non-electrified Subaru vehicles below. As a side note, it is nice to see that automakers are paying attention to owners of their older models, offering them a chance to keep them in top form for years to come.
