It seems as though every day, we are hearing news of automakers announcing plans to phase out gasoline-powered cars. In the last week, General Motors revealed that they would end gasoline and diesel cars by 2035. Because of a broader agreement to become carbon neutral in 2040.
These goals appear to encompass most automakers with Volvo, for example, announcing it will end gasoline sales by 2025 and aims to be carbon neutral by 2040. In its Ambition 2039 initiative, Mercedes Benz also plans to offer a CO2 neutral new car fleet by 2039. In contrast, Toyota aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 90% by 2050 compared to 2010 levels.
Subaru, however, announced last year that it plans to become carbon neutral by 2050. Okay, all of these carbon-neutral goals are well and good, but what does this mean in the real world.
Subaru’s case means that the next WRX STI, due to land in showrooms in spring 2022, will be the last pure gasoline-powered — and turbocharged, of course — the car the brand makes. Forever! That’s it.
Similarly, the new 400 hp Z car will be the last purely gasoline car made by Nissan before it switches to full electrification mode (by that, I mean hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EVs!). The next-generation WRX STI will be the last purely gasoline-powered car made by Subaru before it converts to electrification.
Rumoured to generate upwards of 400 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque, the last WRX STI will employ the same 2.4-litre boxer engine found in the 8-seater Ascent SUV but considerably tweaked to produce the extra horses. The previous “REX” will also incorporate the brand’s signature Subaru Global Platform. Also symmetrical 4WD system, which will allow it to handle better than any Subaru before it.
