Fans of the Subaru WRX hatchback->ke304 weren’t exactly happy when Subaru->ke86 announced that the new WRX->ke4657 would only come to the U.S. as a sedan.->ke142 Then Subaru announced the 2015 Subaru Levorg, which was essentially a WRX wagon->ke143 and one of the best-looking Subies in a long, long time. It, of course, was another forbidden fruit for those of us in the U.S. Now, Subaru is sticking it to U.S. Subie fans one more time with the Subaru Levorg STI – a model based on the Levorg S concept that debuted at the Tokyo Auto Salon->ke1834 in 2015.

So far we don’t know a whole lot about the new Levorg STI, but Subaru has released a couple of images and a couple of videos to tease us before is debut this summer. At this point, we’re not sure if the Levorg STI will make it anywhere outside of the Japanese market, but considering the standard Levorg hasn’t traveled this far, it’s not likely the Levorg STI will either. So, don’t get your hopes up of ever seeing one on U.S. shores anytime soon.

Even though we have very little official information to go by right now, we can look back on the Levorg S concept->ke169 to get an idea of what the Levorg will be like with the full STI treatment. So, with that said, let’s dive on in a speculate a little on what is bound to be Japan’s hottest wagon come summer of 2016.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Subaru Levorg STI.

Exterior

Note: Subaru Levorg Concept pictured here.

We already knoa that the standard Levorg looks quite a bit like a Subaru WRX with a big booty, but what will the STI package bring to the table. First off, expect to see more aggressive styling on the front fascia – similar to the design of the Levorg S concept. There will likely be a large air intake on each side of the fascia with a taller air dam in the middle. Looking at the teasers, the radiator grille should get chrome outlines with three chrome, horizontal louvers running from side to side. Naturally, the car will sport an STI badge on the grille. There should also be an LED light strip in each corner air intake as well as fog lights.

Looking to the sides, expect to see a larger set of alloy wheels and more aggressive side skirts. The side view mirrors may take on a sleeker or sportier shape compared to the standard Levorg. More importantly, the car will have a more aggressive stance as the suspension should get the STI treatment, effectively lowering the car’s overall height by maybe a half inch. Since the Levorg STI will likely have wider wheels, it will also have a wider stance with the front fenders and rear quarters more flared around the wheel arches.

In the rear, I would expect to see a larger overhang on the hatch to improve downforce in the rear and a more aggressive rear fascia. A diffuser will likely make an appearance, but it could be something less dramatic like the unit we saw on the Levorg STI. I wouldn’t put it past Subaru to throw in some taillights that have a different, sportier lens layout that the standard model.

Interior

At this point, it’s hard to say what Subaru might do to the interior. I would expect to see billet aluminum pedals and a flat-bottom steering wheel. There will likely be some Alcantara treatment to the wheel, shifter and handbrake boots, as well as the center console lid. I would expect to see the seats come with more aggressive bolsters to help keep the front passengers planted during extreme maneuvers. It could be possible that Subaru will upgrade the instrument cluster to a digital unit, but cluster in the standard Levorg isn’t too bad, so it wouldn’t be a big disappointment if that stayed the same.

Look for other little goodies like a large infotainment display screen, and accenting on the doors, dash, seats, and floor mats. It is also likely that the car will benefit from a sportier gear knob and plenty of STI logos to help anyone who is entering know exactly what they are getting into.

Drivetrain

So far, information on the drivetrain is non-existent. We know that the Levorg Concept S had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that mated to a six-speed manual transmission, but Subaru never announced how much power it produced. For now, some sources are indicating that the Levorg STI will come with the same 2.0-liter from the Japan-only Subaru WRX S4. If so, the car would deliver around 304 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Then again, there is also the 2.0-liter from the WRX STI S207 that delivers 328 horsepower, so Subaru may give the Levorg STI the beefier option.

In addition to a 300+ horsepower drivetrain, expect to see a six-speed manual transmission, STI-specific suspension, STI-specific wheels and possibly an STI-specific driving mode to give the car a sportier edge when needed. Surely, Subaru will announce more information closer to the car’s debut, so stay tuned for updates.

Prices

We have little to go on as far as pricing for the Levorg STI but in the U.K., the base-model Levorg goes for £27,495 or $39,448 at current exchange rates. That said, expect the Levorg STI to go for significantly more, probably in the $45,000 to $47,000 range before options, taxes, and delivery.

Competition

Mercedes-AMG CLA45 Shooting Brake

If there is any wagon out there that will give the Subaru Levorg STI a run for its money, it’s the Mercedes-AMG CLA45 Shooting Brake. It is powered by a 2.0-liter engine that delivers 381 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. It might be a little more powerful than we expect the Levorg STI to be, but the two should run pretty close to each other on the track. The CLA45 can hit the 62-mph sprint in 4.3 seconds on the way to its electronically limited speed of 155 mph. For that extra power, you’ll be paying a premium, as the CLA45 retails for £43,515 or $62,474 at current exchange rates. Of course, if that seems like too much to make the CLA45 a competing model, you could go for the CLA180. It’s more in the same price bracket at just shy of $40,000. For that kind of money, you get the CLA shooting brake with a 1.5-liter engine and a disappointing 122 horsepower. In that case, you’re better off going with the Subaru any day.

Read our full review on the Mercedes-AMG CLA45 Shooting Brake here.

Conclusion

I’m still mad that we’re not getting the WRX in hatchback form here in the U.S., so you can imagine how I feel about an STI variant of the Levorg. At this point, wagons are starting to make a slow comeback here in the states, so Subaru might want to consider bringing the Levorg to U.S. soil, especially in STI form. Considering we can’t get the WRX hatchback, a lot of fanboys may be willing to go for a Levorg STI. Plus it would make a viable option to the luxury wagons that we do currently have in the market. That said, the Levorg STI is still a few months away from its official debut, so check back with us soon for new updates.