A New Trademark Filed in the US
In case you missed it, Subaru already confirmed that the Performance-B STI Concept gets the green light for production. As expected, details are still locked away, but a recent US trademark filing might just give us a sneak peek at what badge this hot hatch will wear.
Filed on June 9, Subaru’s latest paperwork with the US Patent and Trademark Office is for the name “IMPREZA TX.” It’s an intent-to-use application, so Subaru is basically calling dibs on the name for now – no promises that it’ll actually show up on a production car just yet.
Whether the trademark application is intended for the upcoming hatchback remains unconfirmed, but the timing certainly makes it an interesting development.
USPTO
Why “TX” Could Make Sense
If Subaru does slap the “TX” badge on the new hatch, it wouldn’t be the first time the brand has played with those letters.
Subaru fans will remember the XT badge from models like the Forester, as well as the current Outback Limited XT, where “T” meant turbo and “X” stood for all-wheel drive. Subaru never spelled out what “TX” is supposed to mean, but flipping the letters could just be a new spin on a familiar formula.
Sure, automakers love to trademark names that never see the light of day. But with Subaru already promising a new manual hatchback, it’s hard not to connect the dots when “Impreza TX” pops up right now.
Subaru is still playing its cards close, but with a production plan confirmed and a fresh name lurking in the background, we’re starting to get a clearer idea of what the next performance hatch might look like.
Jacob Oliva/Autoblog
A Production Hatchback Is Officially on the Way
Subaru already dropped the biggest hint in the concept, though. The automaker insists this hatchback won’t just be a WRX or BRZ clone. The company says it’s cooking up “a new personality” for the car, hinting that it’ll carve out its own spot in the lineup.
Specs are still a mystery, but the concept car didn’t exactly hide Subaru’s intentions. We’re talking turbo boxer engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, wild aero, a hood scoop you could spot from space, flared fenders, side skirts, twin pipes, and a massive rear wing.
The whole package looked less like a pie-in-the-sky concept and more like a real rival for the Toyota GR Corolla or Honda Civic Type R. If Subaru keeps most of that attitude for the production car, probably wearing a TX badge, it’s an exciting development we’re holding our breath for.
Jacob Oliva/Autoblog
