JMS 2025: Subaru Performance-B & Performance-E STI Concepts Unveiled

Subaru’s new Performance-B and Performance-E STI concept duo preview the brand’s future ICE & EV WRX STIs.

Besides its popular SUVs and crossovers, it appears that Subaru isn’t abandoning its sportscar roots entirely, as the Japanese automaker recently unveiled two concepts carrying its high-performance STI badge at the ongoing Japan Mobility Show 2025 (JMS 2025), the Subaru Performance-B STI and Performance-E STI.

Subaru Performance-E STI Concept

We’ll start with the Performance-E, which is a fully electric model that Subaru described as “spearheading Subaru’s new generation,” thus hinting that it could evolve into an actual production EV hot hatch, judging by its aggressive looks.

The concept features sharp design elements, with its front face featuring slim LED headlights with massive air intakes—one at the centre, and two vertical ones on the side. The sharp front end is accompanied by a sleek roofline that gives it a sporty estate silhouette rather than a hatchback.

The sloping roofline leads to a unique ducktail spoiler with two fins instead of a conventional rear wing, while a large diffuser with an F1-style central brake light and sharp LED taillights completes the aggressive look on this concept. Staying true to its STI roots, the concept even rides on sporty alloy wheels with gold-hued aero covers and red-hued brake callipers hiding behind them.

While no performance figures were given for now, Subaru promises that the concept will deliver a “driver-friendly layout and a comfortable, spacious interior,” while incorporating “various innovative technologies” for “intuitive, exhilarating driving experiences.” That said, the automaker did confirm that the Performance-E will rock a dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup with a sporty suspension setup.

Subaru Performance-B STI Concept

But in case a fully electric STI is too ‘woke’ for your liking, then the Performance-B STI concept is definitely your cup of tea. Sticking to a combustion powertrain setup, this STI concept looks much closer to production than its all-electric twin, and it does look like a high-performance version of the current five-door Impreza hatchback.

For starters, it wears an aggressive front bumper with a wider front grille and larger intakes, while the wide fenders come with integrated air vents for maximum airflow. There’s also the rally-style hood scoop, while the rear part is dominated by the large rear wing and an equally aggressive rear diffuser, although no tailpipes can be seen from here.

Not to forget, the Performance-B concept also rides on stylish 18-inch dual five-spoke BBS alloy wheels shod in high-profile Bridgestone Potenza semi-slick tyres.

On the powertrain front, the Performance-B concept stays true to its STI origin, as it hides a ‘Boxer’ engine paired with Subaru’s proprietary Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

As of now, Subaru has yet to confirm any plans to put this hot-hatch concept into production, but given how close it looks to being an actual production model, we sure hope the automaker can make it into reality. Should this happen, the Performance-B STI could go neck-to-neck against other AWD hot hatches like the Toyota GR Corolla and Volkswagen Golf R, to name a few.