Subaru STI E-RA Concept: a car with an electric circuit, due to appear at the 2022 Tokyo Motor Show.

Subaru will unveil the STI E-RA concept at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon next month.

Subaru describes the concept as a study of a carbon-neutral motorsports vehicle, suggesting that it will feature an electric powertrain.

The "E" in the name also refers to an electric powertrain, and "RA" is known to be Subaru's designation for a vehicle that specializes in circuit driving. It stands for "Record Attempt" and has been applied to a variety of Subaru performance models, the 2018 Subaru WRX STI Type RA being the latest.

The teaser photos show the face of the STI E-RA, pointing to the fact that this concept is designed exclusively for the STI; there is no Subaru badge to be seen; the STI E-RA is a Subaru STI, and the STI E-RA is a Subaru STI.

Subaru may be preparing for a future in which electric vehicles will be the norm, including in motorsports, and the STI E-RA not only represents Subaru's future in motorsports, but may also serve as a test bed for future EV technology.

For Subaru fans who still have gas left in their tanks, Subaru will unveil the Levorg STI and WRX S4 STI concepts at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Various STI performance parts developed for the latest Levorg and WRX will be on display. The production version of a special edition model for Subaru's home country will also be previewed.

We will have more details soon as the annual Japanese tuner extravaganza takes place January 14-16. For more coverage, head to our dedicated hub.