European spec 2015 WRX STI may launch with a monumental engine surprise

Subaru has announced the all-new 2015 WRX STI will make its European show debut in Geneva. It could be coming with a big engine surprise. The big news is that the European spec WRX STI could be coming with the new FA 2.0-liter turbo boxer engine that made it’s global debut in the 2015 WRX. This is unofficial at this point, but it looks like the European market won’t be getting the WRX, but Subaru will only launch a new 2015 WRX STI with the new 2.0-liter turbo.

The U.S. will get the larger 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer powerplant where Subaru felt the buyers would want more power, torque and turbo feel. An unidentified Subaru source told me the 2015 WRX STI would be coming with the new 2.0-liter FA turbo boxer engine in select world markets that would only get the WRX STI and not the WRX. This writer thinks that Subaru will launch the 2015 WRX STI with the smaller 2.0-liter turbo engine in the European market.

Subaru is only bringing the new 2015 WRX STI to the 84th Geneva International Motor Show, which leads me to believe the European market won’t be getting the 2015 WRX. They will very likely get the new 2015 WRX STI with the new 2.0-liter engine that made its debut first in the 2014 Forester XT and then in the 2015 U.S. spec WRX.

How much power will the European WRX STI have? This is the question that we don’t know yet. The new WRX STI with the 2.0-liter FA boxer in the U.S. WRX gets 268 horsepower and 258 lb. ft of torque. We aren’t sure if the European STI will have any more power than that. Subaru may choose to keep the same power output for European spec models to help meet strict emission standards in Europe.

Europe is also a smaller market for Subaru for the performance WRX STI, with U.S. being number one and Australia the number two market. Subaru had at one time decided to drop the performance model altogether from the UK market. It looks like they will bring just one model to Europe and Russia and that will be the STI. Will Europeans be disappointed they won't be getting the 2.5-liter powerplant with more power? With the improvements Subaru and STI made to the chassis and suspension, the new 2.0-liter WRX STI should be a good performer.

We do know the new European spec 2015 WRX STI 2.0-liter engine uses a combination of direct injection, high compression (10.6:1), Subaru Dual Active Valve Control System (D-AVCS), a twin-scroll turbocharger and an intercooler to get improved performance over the Forester XT version. The European WRX STI version will use different cams and higher-rate valve springs and other enhancements to enhance the performance envelope. The WRX 2.0-liter gets a broader torque curve and peaks at 258 lb.-ft. over a 2,000-5,200 rpm engine speed range. Subaru may bump up the hp in the European WRX STI 2.0-liter even more.

Subaru will also debut the new VIZIV 2 Concept in Geneva along with the new 2015 WRX STI Nurburgring 24-hour race car. Both cars are making their European debut along side the new 2015 WRX STI European spec performance car. We will know more details on March 4, 2014 when Subaru uncovers the new WRX STI. Stay tuned to Torque News for the latest WRX STI news.