The Baja ST-X was a…
The Baja ST-X was a supercharged 2.5, no turbo. In 04, it released the 2.5 turbo trim based on the 2.5 out of the upcoming Outback XT/Legacy GT.
The Baja should have been built with the H6 in it from the generation shared H6 Outback. I've built one of these for a customer and the process was a simple conversion with a donor and a rear harness merge.
If a new one should be built today, Subaru needs to ditch the CVT. Hands down that will be the number one downfall of any new Baja. They need to develop a new 6 or 8 speed heavy duty automatic transmission like they did with the 5 speed Autos found in the Outback XTs, Legacy GTs, and the Tribeca.
Base it on the Ascent platform, give it some upgraded brakes, throw in the FA24 with driver selectable tuning options based on usage, and you'll have a truck that will rival Toyota and Ford, who are currently dominating the midsized and compact truck market.
The largest problem with this plan is Toyota. Toyota's ownership of Subaru will ensure that Subaru won't compete in that segment. They don't want anything stepping on the toes of the number one selling Tacoma nor the upcoming Stout.
The second problem with this plan is Fuel Economy. The flat motors don't make any respectable MPG numbers unless they're combined with the CVT and detuned. No one will buy a truck with less than 300 hp that can only tow 2500lbs and gets 15mpg