Where the Subaru WRX/STI is Heading; Down

The 2018 Subaru WRX/STI sales have been in a slide downward and it’s not stopping. It’s been a downward trend for the WRX and WRX STI since June of 2017. Subaru of America announced sales and it’s been nine straight months of going backwards for the sport-tuned 2018 Subaru WRX and performance-tuned WRX STI sedans.

The 2018 Subaru WRX/STI finished last year (December) down -5.8 percent and -17.5 YTD, November saw a -8.8 slide, -6.3 percent in October, -11.5 percent in September, they saw their biggest drop in August, down 20.9 percent for the month (likely due to the 2017-2018 model change), and sales of the WRX/STI were also down 10.8 percent in July and slipped 15.2 percent in June 2017.

The 2018 Subaru WRX/STI started the new year down (-10.4 percent) over the same time period last year. Last month, the slide continued with the WRX/STI performance sedans finishing February -10.2 percent. For 2018, WRX and WRX STI have slid -10.3 percent YTD.

Don’t feel too sorry for Subaru of America (SOA). The Camden, N.J. automaker recorded their best February ever, with the all-new Crosstrek up +60.7 percent over the previous time period in 2017. The only other vehicle in SOA’s stable of all-wheel-drive vehicles to post a gain for February was the 2018 Outback. The Forester (-9.2%), Impreza (-12.0%), WRX/STI (-10.2%), Legacy (-15.4%), and BRZ (-21.5%) were all down from the previous February.

What’s next for Subaru WRX/STI

Subaru’s has a five-year “life-cycle”, for most of its models like the Forester, Outback, Crosstrek. Impreza and Legacy, but it may not apply to the performance WRX and WRX STI. Subaru undertakes redesigns less frequently for the STI, every six or seven years. The first-generation WRX lasted six years (2002 through 2007) and the second generation went seven years (2008 through 2014).

Subaru introduced the current generation for 2015 MY, and it received a mid-cycle refresh for 2018. The Japanese automaker is getting ready to give the WRX and WRX STI a complete overhaul, but Subaru has not announced when we will we see that model, perhaps as a 2020 or a 2021 model.

VIZIV Tourer Concept

Subaru will unveil the next version of its VIZIV concept vehicles at the 88th Geneva International Motor Show tomorrow, March 6. Subaru teased the new VIZIV Tourer Concept that could be a 5-door hatchback preview of the next-generation 2020-2021 Subaru WRX STI. This could be what helps Subaru turn sales around for the WRX STI. Stay tuned.

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Photo credit: Subaru CA