Next-Gen Subaru WRX Sales Look Dismal Because There’s No STI

The next-generation 2022 Subaru WRX arrived in May, and we began to see if the all-new performance sedan was a hit or a miss. Subaru Corporation brought the new performance sedan with a new 2.4-liter turbocharged engine and suspension upgrades, but it's not enough.

In June, the next-generation WRX saw another significant drop in sales, down 37.8 percent. Subaru reports 1,465 2022 WRX models delivered to customers last month compared with 2.354 in June 2021.

Subaru of America has only sold 6,212 WRX sports cars through the first six months of 2022, down from the 14,272 sold through six months of 2021. That's a drop of 56.5 percent.

Is the 2022 WRX a bad design, or is it another issue with the new sports sedan? While there are some issues with the new WRX, the significant drop in sales is due to Subaru dropping the next-generation WRX STI. Subaru of America is selling around the same number of the WRX sports car as last year, but Subaru also included the STI in sales numbers.

Performance enthusiasts are buying the next-gen WRX

With no new WRX STI for Subaru of America retailers to sell, the WRX sales look dismal. It's because STI fans aren't buying the tamer WRX for a good reason.

The next-generation STI would have produced close to 400 horsepower if reports were accurate before Subaru decided to drop the new performance-tuned STI. The WRX is a good value for sports car buyers, but it only comes with a three-horsepower gain to 271-hp and the same torque.

Will Subaru bring back the STI?

Performance fans want the STI but will have to wait. A recent report says the next-generation Subaru WRX STI will be back. A report from CarSales says a replacement for the STI is still in the works. Three different powertrains are under consideration by Subaru Corporation and performance partner Subaru Tecnica International.

In the interview, Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read said the powertrain options they are working on include full-electric, hybrid technology, and internal combustion engines that run on new fuel technologies. Subaru and Subaru Tecnica International and testing new models now.

When will Subaru launch the new STI?

Unfortunately, Subaru likely won't revive the WRX STI performance car until the sixth-generation WRX launches, but that won't happen until 2030. The Subaru WRX typically has a longer life cycle between model changes, and eight years is a reasonable estimate.

Until then, the 2022 Subaru WRX is the only model available for performance customers who aren't buying it.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru USA