Ever since Subaru said goodbye to the five-door option for the WRX almost a decade ago, there’s been a performance-hatchback-shaped void in the car world that’s never quite been filled. Enter the Subaru High Performance X Version II:—the brand’s latest entry in the 2026 Super Taikyu Series. It also serves as a glimmer of hope for the five-door’s comeback.
Building upon the Performance-B STI Concept seen at the Japan Mobility Show, the car was developed using existing Subaru components. It then made its public debut at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, prepped to get it ready to compete at the racetrack soon after. It’s slated to compete at Motegi next week in the ST-2 class.
The High Performance X Version II—HiPerfX2 in short—carries over the 2.4-liter turbo boxer engine making 359hp and 475Nm of torque, as well as the modified Symmetrical AWD from the previous High Performance X Future Concept. Both cars appear to be based on the WRX, with the outgoing prototype being based on the available sedan body.
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In contrast, the HiPerfX2 was built with a dedicated monocoque body made from scratch. This made developing the car easier. Team Principal Masato Motoi for Team SDA Engineering (the team running the HiPerfX2) shares that the purpose-built body helped avoid limitations they would have run into if they just stripped down a production car like before.
Initial results during shakedowns have been promising, with the car performing among the ST-2 class’s best. Its top lap time during the March 1 test in Motegi came within just 0.009sec of the fastest in the class, and encountered no hitches in the total of 2.5 hours and 54 laps of testing conducted. The HiPerfX2 is set to have its maiden race at the Motegi 4-Hour Race, this year’s opener for the Super Taikyu season, on March 21 and March 22.
As it stands, no official plans have been made to produce a hatchback based on the current generation of the WRX, despite all the hints Subaru seems to be dropping. Still, that hasn’t stopped fans from hoping against hope that the HiPerfX2 is a sign of things to come. Are you one of the faithful holding out for the five door’s return? We’ll stay tuned for any future signs that point toward a comeback.
More photos of the WRX STI Hatchback racecar:
