The Subaru Crosstrek is a wonderful day by day driver in quite a lot of methods, however it certain is not fast. That is not normally an issue in day by day driving, however at altitude, you are going to have issues as a result of it additionally is not turbocharged. Subaru might, in fact, repair that by providing the WRX’s engine within the Crosstrek, however for causes nobody can totally comprehend, it refuses to try this. If you would like to try this by yourself, although, Motor1 not too long ago spoke with a man who WRX-swapped his Crosstrek and mentioned it is about as near plug-and-play as trendy engine swaps get.
Contemplating the Crosstrek is constructed on the identical platform and carefully associated to the WRX, that might make sense. Then once more, I have not seen almost as many WRX-swapped Crosstreks as I might have anticipated if the method actually was as easy because it seemed like it might be. I simply assumed one thing made swapping the engine extra sophisticated than it might seem, so individuals weren’t as . However nope. As Stephen Ketslen informed Motor1, placing the WRX’s engine within the Crosstrek “required completely no modifications—it simply bolted proper up.”
So in case you ever end up with an additional WRX engine and a Crosstrek that wants mentioned WRX engine, it seems like all you may want is a number of instruments, a little bit dedication, an engine hoist, and a little bit area to carry out the swap. After all, as you have most likely guessed primarily based on the picture, Ketslen did not cease at merely engine-swapping his Crosstrek — he did his finest to construct a real trendy WRX hatchback, and sure, that course of was a bit extra concerned.
Turning a Crosstrek right into a WRX
Working with Mach V Motorsports in Virginia, Ketslen informed Motor1 he began the method of constructing his Crosstrek faster by shopping for a salvaged WRX that also had a superb engine, then set about stripping each vehicles down in his residence’s storage earlier than it got here time to stuff all of the WRX elements into the Crosstrek. As he informed Motor1:
I started by working the inside wiring all all through the cabin, and feeding the bulkhead harness by means of the firewall,” Stephen says. “For essentially the most half, every thing lined up effectively. There have been a number of points towards the rear of the automotive, primarily to do with making techniques designed for a sedan perform in a hatchback. Not having a lot expertise with wiring, I entrusted Mach V with resolving these points.
Then it was time to swap within the rear sub-frame:
I swapped the WRX’s rear subframe onto the Crosstrek. Every little thing bolted up completely, and I used to be capable of carry over many of the suspension modifications that had been already on the Crosstrek earlier than the swap. I acquired each vehicles prepared for transport to Mach V, and after ensuring I had every thing so as, the 2 vehicles had been towed to the store in late August 2025.
After that, swapping within the engine and transmission proved easy sufficient, though they did run into a problem with the Crosstrek’s radiator core assist not working with the WRX’s radiator, however they had been ultimately capable of make that work. Then they bumped into points making the physique panels match:
“The entrance bumper and hood match completely, however the entrance fenders had been a distinct story,” he says.”The mounting factors of the fenders weren’t the identical on each vehicles, so we determined to chop each fenders and re-stitch them again collectively such that they might mount as much as the chassis accurately, however comply with the physique traces of the VB entrance finish.”
VB-swapped Crosstrek
So, now that the construct is formally full, how does it drive? “For now, it behaves similar to a inventory VB WRX,” Ketslen informed Motor1, earlier than including, “However that will not final lengthy.” The best way he defined it, “The objective was all the time extra energy, and whereas the swap almost doubled the Crosstrek’s authentic horsepower determine, I totally intend on including bolt-ons and experiencing for myself what this powertrain is able to.” Seems, Crosstrek house owners are similar to different Subaru house owners. Who might have guessed?
If you wish to comply with the VB Hatch and see how future builds go (or simply inform Stephen how cool you assume his automotive is), you’ll find him and the automotive on Instagram right here. There’s additionally a lot extra to the dialog he had with Motor1, so why not head over right here and give the remainder of the interview a learn? In the meantime, it’s also possible to discover Mach V Motorsports on Instagram right here, , in case you want any assist turning your common, gradual, boring Crosstrek right into a cool, fast, enjoyable Crosstrek WRX. I imply, clearly, they’ve expertise doing it no less than as soon as.
