• Subaru debuted the track-only HiPerfX2 hatchback racecar in Japan.
  • It replaces the WRX-based sedan previously used in Super Taikyu.
  • This “rolling lab” could preview a production STI hatch for 2027.

Subaru enthusiasts have been waiting a long time for the return of a proper WRX STI hatchback. The last one disappeared in 2014 when the third-generation model bowed out, leaving the lineup without a hot five-door ever since. Today’s WRX range sticks to sedans and wagons, but Subaru might finally be edging back toward the idea, even if the first step happens on a racetrack.

The strongest hint yet comes in the form of the Subaru High Performance X Version II, or HiPerfX2. It will run in the ST-Q class of Japan’s 2026 Super Taikyu Series, effectively taking over from the WRX-based sedan that Subaru campaigned during the 2024 season.

More: Subaru Says STI Is “Not Dead”, But Its Boxer May Be

The track-only machine made its public debut at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon. It builds on the earlier Performance-B STI Concept from the Japan Mobility Show 2025, and the family resemblance is clear. Both appear to start with the Impreza as a foundation, though the similarities end quickly. Wide fender extensions, bespoke front and rear bumpers, a vented hood, and a towering rear wing make sure of that.

Widebody Looks

Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street

Subaru High Performance X Version II

The racecar stands out visually thanks to its bolt-on fenders, subtly revised aero, and the colorful Team SDA Engineering livery. It measures 4,514 mm (177.7 inches) in length, making it 24 mm (1 inch) longer than a regular Impreza, while its 2,675 mm (105.3-inch) wheelbase matches that of the production WRX sedan.

Subaru says the car came together by pulling from “existing assets” already sitting in its parts catalog. Much of the hardware is carried over from the earlier HiPerfX sedan, including the engine, suspension setup, brakes, and differential. Underneath, the structure appears to rely on a reinforced version of the familiar Subaru Global Platform.

More: WRX Gets A Throwback AWD Club Spec Evo Edition, But What You Care About Didn’t Change

Rather than starting with a production model and stripping away unnecessary components, Team SDA Engineering received a body in white from the outset, which simplified the process considerably. For the design of the custom aero components and the underbody, Subaru enlisted engineers from both the automotive and aerospace sectors.

Tuned Boxer Engine Paired To A Manual

Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street

The racing machine is powered by a motorsports-tuned version of Subaru’s turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder. In this specification it produces 359 hp (268 kW / 364 PS) and 350 lb-ft (475 Nm) of torque. As with earlier entries in the program, the engine runs on carbon-neutral E20 fuel developed together with ENEOS. A six-speed manual gearbox sends power to all four wheels through a revised all-wheel-drive system.

Early track running suggests the project is off to a solid start. During an official shakedown at Mobility Resort Motegi on March 1, the hatch completed 54 laps without issue. Subaru also made its intentions clear for the upcoming campaign, saying the team will be “more focused on winning than ever before” during the 2026 season.

Could It Evolve Into A Production Offering?

Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street
Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street

Subaru Performance-B STI Concept

Subaru officially describes the racecar as a “development vehicle that will be honed in the field of motorsport in order to further evolve into an even better car”. Subaru’s product timeline adds another interesting layer here, as the company will soon stop taking orders for the current WRX sedan in Japan.

More: Subaru Will Soon Stop Taking Orders For Current WRX And Two Wagons In Japan

If the WRX STI does return around 2027, the shape of it may look quite different from today’s car. The clues point toward a widebody five-door hatchback rather than another, more aggressive take on the existing WRX sedan.

By running the platform through the punishment of the Super Taikyu series, Subaru may be refining the mechanical package for a future road-going hot hatch. If that happens, the Toyota GR Corolla and Honda Civic Type R could soon have another serious rival to keep an eye on.

Subaru’s WRX STI Hatch Is Back On Track, Just Not On The Street

Subaru