Home-Made 2022 WRX “STI” Gets Ex-Gen Wing, Is a Protest Build Aimed at Subaru

Back in March, Subaru took enthusiasts by surprise when announcing that the current VB-generation WRX would not get an STI big brother. JDM enthusiasts are still not comfortable with the carmaker’s choice and certain 2022 WRX owners have started home-brewing their cars into STIs. Sure, this might’ve happened anyway, but now it almost seems like a necessity. Case in point with the Ingnition Red VB-generation example seen here, which recently got an ex-gen (VA) STI rear wing installed.

If you’re not familiar with these Subarus (more on this below), it may be easy to label such builds as, say, inter-generation OEM+ creations and move on. However, given the rich, rally-bred bloodline of the WRX and WRX STI, such machines are more than that. They represent a way to show Subaru that the people who actually buy these vehicles—as opposed to those who simply discuss them online—do care about the AWD cult car that is the STI.

The said rear wing installation isn’t complicated, even though you do need a set of basic tools and at least entry-level mechanical skills for the operation. Otherwise, this operation is best left to professionals. And Jeff, the owner of this 2022 WRX, does just that, taking his AWD sedan to a specialist to have the wing installed.

VA STI wing on VB WRX

The enthusiast talks about the duration and cost of the operation (in America). He states that putting a VA STI wing on a VB WRX should take around three hours and set one back around $300. The video below shows a quick tutorial (do it at your own risk!).

And, as with other such vids we found online, it seems that most people forego the extra-security clips, sticking to the three main bolts on each side, which means less drilling into the boot lid.

Now, since the VA trunk lid has a slight angle at the top and the VB deck is flat, you’ll be left with a small gap. In this clip, the owner recommends some Home Depot rubber seal—hey, this Datsun Z driver modded his whole sports car using parts from the said provider. Of course, you can find weather strips in many places.

While we’re talking about the newfound look of this 2022 Subaru WRX, it’s worth noting that the aficionado has also installed other entry-level mods on the vehicle—they’re all detailed in this YouTube video from back in May, costs included.

It all started with addressing the biggest gripe people seem to have with the current WRX. That would be the black plastic wheel arches and rear valance, which have been painted on this car. Next up, the vehicle received lowering coilovers, custom wheels (these are replicas), and some add-on lower body aero, along with the tinting of various elements. Of course, a custom exhaust, in this case with a resonator delete, couldn’t be left aside.

Naturally, a proper STI treatment would have to go even deeper, from powertrain hardware updates to the overall tweaking of the vehicle.

The WRX and the WRX STI go back to the early ’90s

Following the Japanese brand’s rallying wins in the early 1990s, the carmaker introduced the OG Impreza WRX (World Rally Experimental) back in 1992. Two years later, the company released the first Impreza WRX STI, which was named after its Subaru Tecnica International motorsport arm. Note that the U.S. missed out on these models, which are now highly collectible—so is the 1998 STI 22B.

Fast-forwarding to 2014 when the ex-gen VA models were released, Subaru removed the WRX and WRX STI from the base Impreza in America. While the overall shape of the regular vehicle and the performance duo was still the same, the latter came with dedicated front and rear quarters, along with fascia changes and many other bits. More importantly, while the STI continued the EJ engine family tradition, the WRX introduced an all-new FA-range 2.0L turbocharged boxer engine.

And, despite the hatchback iterations of the WRX and WRX STI accounting for around half the U.S. sales, the newcomer was only offered as a sedan—perhaps a sign of the fact that things were starting to fade away.

Last year, the automotive producer released the current VB WRX, which continues the said Impreza distancing. Nevertheless, as with most of the company’s modern range (the gen II BRZ is a notable exception), the performance sedan rides on a new Subaru Global Platform.

With Subaru having left the World Rally Championship at the end of the 2008 season, a result of the global financial downturn, fans had feared the demise of the WRX/WRX STI for years. And fears started amplifying after Mitsubishi retired the STI’s arch nemesis, the Lancer Evolution, in 2016.

Subaru may revive the STI

As for what the future holds, Subaru spoke to Road & Track back in March, explaining that the lack of a new STI is owed to emission regulations potentially forcing a short life cycle, an aspect that has seen many carmakers from around the world cutting their Internal Combustion Engine operations.

If we designed [a new STI] now, it would have a very limited shelf life,” Subaru Director of Corporate Communications Dominick Infante explained. “The regulations are changing so quickly that it kind of wouldn’t make any sense,

The executive added that the company is considering an STI return, with electrification appearing likely. However, if the legend does come back, it’s not clear if this will get a hybrid powertrain or will come as an all-electric model.

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