Subaru Concept B, STI Sport Sharp, and the Signs Everyone Missed

What’s up everybody, Art and Doug here from Overtake. If you’ve been following our YouTube channel, you probably remember the video we posted a couple months ago covering Subaru’s Concept B. That video did extremely well, so after the news coming out of Tokyo Auto Salon, we wanted to share our impressions and highlight a few important details that seem to have been overlooked in the broader media coverage.

A lot of attention has been focused on what Subaru showed, but not nearly enough attention has been paid to what it actually means. Let’s break it down.

The STI Sport Sharp, What Subaru Just Revealed

At Tokyo Auto Salon, Subaru unveiled what they are calling the WRX STI Sport Sharp prototype. At first glance, it looks like a VB WRX with STI badging and cherry blossom red accents on the front lip, side skirts, and rear bumper.

It does include Brembo brakes, which is a welcome sight, but that’s where the traditional STI elements largely stop.

There is no STI wing.
There is no proprietary STI engine.
There is no DCCD.

These are the exact things enthusiasts immediately noticed and questioned. While the Sport Sharp name implies STI heritage, this car is functionally very similar to what we already have in the US market with the WRX tS or previous TR trims. With a lip kit and brakes, you could build something very close to this yourself.

For true STI enthusiasts, this was understandably disappointing. It also doesn’t help that this appears to be a Japan-only offering, which further limits excitement globally.

Why Enthusiasts Felt Let Down

Subaru teased this car weeks ago with brief images and videos, showing it driving by without revealing details. Enthusiasts assumed a proper VB-generation STI was finally on the way.

Instead, what we got was a trim-level evolution, not the full STI revival many were hoping for. That initial disappointment is valid, but focusing only on the Sport Sharp misses the bigger picture.

The Car That Actually Matters

While most eyes were on the Sport Sharp, Subaru quietly revealed something far more important, the Super Taikyu endurance race car.

This is the key piece that many people missed.

When placed side by side with the previously shown Concept B, the similarities are impossible to ignore.

• Hood vents and scoop

• Large front and rear overfenders

• Aggressive aerodynamic elements

• Similar side vent orientation

• Nearly identical body proportions

What we are likely looking at is Subaru using endurance racing as a real-world test bed for what eventually becomes the production STI.

Revisiting the Concept B

When Subaru first showed Concept B at the Japan Mobility Show, it immediately sparked excitement. It featured aggressive styling, a massive wing, center exhaust, and proportions that hinted strongly at an STI hatchback revival based on the Impreza and Crosstrek platform.

At the time, rumors suggested Subaru would reuse proven STI components, including a six-speed manual with DCCD and large Brembo brakes, to keep costs reasonable while delivering what enthusiasts have been asking for over the past decade.

After that reveal, things went quiet, which caused concern.

Now, with the Super Taikyu race car on track, this silence starts to make sense.

Why the Race Car Changes Everything

Subaru doesn’t build endurance race cars without purpose.

This car exists to validate an idea. It allows Subaru to test drivetrain durability, engine performance, aerodynamics, cooling, and bodywork under extreme conditions. If the platform survives a multi-hour endurance race with multiple drivers and harsh conditions, it becomes a proven foundation for a production vehicle.

This is how manufacturers develop halo cars.

The Engine, The Biggest Clue Yet

One of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding Concept B was the engine. Subaru never showed it.

The race car finally gives us that answer.

Under the hood is a 2.4-liter engine, the same displacement as the current VB WRX. That alone is significant. Even more telling is the use of a red STI-style metal intake manifold, reminiscent of classic STI engines.

While the layout is clearly race-focused, several details stand out:

• Cast metal intake manifold finished in STI red

• Bracketry closely resembling the VB WRX

• No plastic intercooler end tanks

• Purpose-built cooling and catch can systems

This looks less like a one-off race engine and more like a development platform to see how far the FA24 architecture can be pushed.

That choice speaks volumes.

What This Likely Means for a Future STI

Reading between the lines, it’s reasonable to expect Subaru is developing a higher-output FA24-based STI engine. With upgraded internals, a more aggressive factory tune, improved intake and intercooling, and STI-specific calibration, a production STI could realistically land in the 340 to 350 horsepower range.

That would be enough to restore credibility to the STI badge and give enthusiasts a compelling reason to buy back in.

Interior and Drivetrain Observations

As expected, the interior of the race car is stripped and purpose-built, but one thing stood out, a traditional six-speed manual transmission.

This matters.

Subaru chose a conventional H-pattern manual for endurance racing, not a sequential gearbox. That strongly suggests they are validating a drivetrain layout suitable for production, not just competition.

Stay Focused on the Bigger Picture

It’s easy to be disappointed by the STI Sport Sharp, but that should not be the takeaway from Tokyo Auto Salon.

The real story is that Subaru is actively developing and testing what looks like the foundation for a proper next-generation STI. The endurance race car is proof that Subaru is investing in performance again and doing so in a methodical, engineering-driven way.

If Subaru didn’t intend to build something real from this platform, they wouldn’t be racing it.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a Subaru enthusiast, this is a moment to stay optimistic. Subaru is clearly laying the groundwork for what could become the next STI hatchback, and all signs point to meaningful development happening behind the scenes.

We may still be guessing, but these are educated guesses, and the pieces are finally starting to align.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Are we reading this correctly, or are we reaching? Either way, we want to hear your thoughts.

And as always, if you like the content we’re putting out, make sure to follow us on social media @OvertakeUSA and subscribe to the channel. We’ll see you in the next one.