Ahead of the 2019 Detroit Auto Show next month, the Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan's answer to SEMA, will be held from January 11 to 13. A number of Japanese automakers will have displays, among them Subaru.

While a turbocharged version of the BRZ is unlikely to make an appearance, Subaru has applied the STI badging to two of its other models, the Forester and Impreza hatchback, revealing a pair of images of each to whet our appetites.

But hang on? Isn't the Impreza STI really supposed to be the next WRX? Kind of yes, but these two concepts are just concepts for now. Above all, neither has any performance upgrades.

The Forester STI concept is painted in Fighter Gray and features 19-inch wheels housing Brembo six-piston calipers at the front axle. There are also a number aero bits on the body which, to be completely honest, don't look half bad.

As for the Impreza STI, it's based on the JDM Impreza and comes with a number of customized parts inside and out. Aside from its own aero body kit, there are supposedly a few interior upgrades but, oddly enough, Subaru didn't release any images. Both of these concepts will debut on stage in a couple of weeks' time and we'll hopefully learn more details then.

If these don't rock your boat then just a few days later in Detroit Subaru will reveal the special edition WRX STI, called the S209. Previously exclusive to South Africa, this hardcore WRX STI is said to boast somewhere around 349 hp and will serve as a grand finale of sorts for the current generation before its successor arrives.