After plenty of speculation, Subaru has officially confirmed that it’s building an STi-badged version of its Levorg estate after releasing a new teaser video.
Showing off the car’s front end with the iconic STi badge set on the grille, the teaser video states that the high-performance version of the Levorg will launch in Japan this summer.
Although the video is in Japanese, Subaru’s designers say that the Levorg STi will maintain all the sportiness of the WRX STi but at the same time move towards a more premium feel.
High performance with a premium feel
In other words, this might be the first sign that the STi badge is growing up, which may come as welcome news to fans given the current WRX STi is considered a little rough around the edges.
So far, there are no hard and fast dates or mention of availability outside its domestic market, but it’s widely believed that an official full announcement will be made in the next couple of weeks.
Likewise, specifications are still under wraps but it’s likely that it’ll come powered by the same 296bhp turbocharged 2.5-litre boxer engine used in the existing WRX STi and four-wheel drive.
Levorg S Concept
A hot version of the Levorg has been rumoured since last year’s Tokyo Auto Salon when Subaru unveiled its Levorg S Concept, which made heavy use of STi-style parts.
Fitted with new, more aggressive bumpers and a different grille, the Levorg S also got a carbon fibre roof, 19-inch BBS alloys and sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres for the full hot wagon treatment.
Introduced last year, the Levorg is Subaru’s first entry back into the sports estate segment since the Legacy was discontinued, and is built on the same platform as the current Impreza.
