In 2023, media outlets were ablaze with headlines covering Subaru trademarking the “STe” badge. Since it followed the announcement of the STi discontinuation, many were hopeful it meant the small-but-mighty automaker was cooking up high-performance EVs. A year later, no one’s seen one.

Yet, somehow the unicorn of a Subaru Solterra STe exists. And it has since the trademark filing went through. We haven’t seen the updated Solterra with 20-inch glossy black wheels, paint-matching fender flares, wheel arching, cool badging, and STe embroidered floor mats because it only exists in Germany.

According to Subaru Europe‘s website, the STe package costs around USD 3,700 and can be added to the Platinum trim. Make no mistake, though: The STe doesn’t mean additional horsepower, suspension upgrades, or anything. It just makes Subaru’s sole EV look a little less tame.

Performance EVs are on the horizon? Maybe?

While the first Subaru to represent the STe moniker is a little underwhelming, the rumor mill is alive and well. According to Carscoops, the 2025 model year of the Solterra is going under the knife for a redesign. Maybe it’ll finally break away from the nearly identical design of the Toyota bZ4X. With a redesign, industry experts expect the little EV to get the sporty treatment.

Especially after the company revealed an STi concept for the Solterra at the Tokyo Auto Salon in 2022. Best Car, a Japanese automotive magazine, reportedly wrote an STi-badge-clad Solterra is due to hit the States next year.

However, no one’s positive it means the EV will be any quicker. In fact, Best Car predicts handling improvements will be the focus. Toyota’s executives have whispered about a collaboration with Gazoo Racing for the bZ4X, though no specifics were given.

As usual, we’ll have to wait and see what Subaru and Toyota have planned for the little EV.