This WRX-Swapped Crosstrek Is the Modern Hatch We Never Got. Heres How It Happened

Subaru still refuses to build another WRX wagon/hatchback for the US, and we can’t figure out why. The old five-door was hugely popular among enthusiasts before it disappeared for good in 2012. Since then, we’ve only been getting worse and worse versions of the sedan—with no sign of a returning hatchback (unless you live in Europe). One WRX fan, however, decided to take matters into his own hands. Stephen Ketelsen—known as @vb_hatch on Instagram—turned his standard Crosstrek into a real WRX hatchback. And we’re not talking about just a lookalike body kit; this is a genuine FA24-swapped Crosstrek with parts taken directly from a modern WRX. And it’s absolutely awesome. We contacted Stephen by email, and he kindly shared details and photos of the project, explaining exactly how it came together. The project began with a standard Crosstrek, which Stephen purchased new in 2020. He soon realized that the factory 150 horsepower wasn’t quite enough for his liking. It did have a manual transmission, at least, but he immediately set to work on transforming his otherwise ordinary crossover into something that more closely resembled a sporty Subaru. After doing some research, Stephen reached out to Dan Hurwitz, the owner of Mach V Motorsports, a Subaru specialty shop in Sterling, Virginia. Stephen proposed the idea of a WRX-swapped Crosstrek. After giving it some thought, the two of them began working on figuring out if it was even possible. "With my car on one lift and Dan’s VB on another, we measured the subframes to see if they were similar," Stephen explains to Motor1 via email. "Dan was also kind enough to let me look around the interior of his car to try to eyeball what, if anything, might be the same." "There were indeed similarities, but nothing that gave me absolute certainty," Stephen says. "Ultimately, I had reached the limit of what research alone could tell me, so I had to decide whether or not to take the risk and go for it." After a few weeks of thinking and a quick test drive in a new VB WRX, Stephen was convinced:He would go through the process of turning his Crosstrek into a modern WRX hatchback. Of course, it wasnt nearly as simple as just putting in a new engine and calling it a day. "I immediately began searching salvage auctions for potential donors," he says. "In early October 2024, I won an auction for a 2022 Subaru WRX Premium, which had the promising FA24 engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Not long after the car arrived, I started taking it apart in my tiny one-car garage at my apartment. I didnt really have a plan; I just began removing parts and putting them aside." In small apartment garages over the course of a few weeks—and with some assistance from his friends at Mach V Motorsports for heavier parts like the engine and transmission—Stephen took his Crosstrek and his newly acquired salvaged WRX apart to the essentials, carefully labeling and organizing every single piece in preparation for the swap. Then came the fun part:Installing WRX parts onto the Crosstrek. "I started by running the interior wiring throughout the cabin and feeding the bulkhead harness through the firewall," Stephen says. "For the most part, everything fit together well. There were a few problems toward the back of the car, mostly related to adapting systems designed for a sedan to work in a hatchback. Since I didnt have much experience with wiring, I left it to Mach V to solve those issues." Once the cabin was mostly reassembled, Stephen started working on swapping the WRX’s rear subframe onto the Crosstrek. I swapped the WRXs rear subframe onto the Crosstrek. Everything bolted up perfectly, and I was able to carry over most of the suspension modifications that were already on the Crosstrek before the swap. I got both cars ready for transport to Mach V, and after making sure I had everything in order, the two cars were towed to the shop in late August 2025. From there, Stephen took both cars to Mach V’s shop for the final mechanical work:Installing the WRX’s VB engine and six-speed transmission into the Crosstrek. Over the next few weeks, he moved parts back and forth as Dan and his team worked on the swap. According to Stephen, the engine “required absolutely no modifications—it just bolted right up. But the team ran into a minor issue before the car was fully drivable. According to Stephen, the Crosstreks radiator core support didnt fit with the WRXs radiator and accessories. This meant they would need to transplant the WRXs core support and replace the entire front end of the Crosstrek to make it work. Both cars were then taken to Marc Gomez, the owner of Independent Car Collision in Sterling, Virginia, who was able to switch the core support over fairly easily. After doing a few quick tests to check how the body panels would fit, Stephen soon realized that the front fenders would be somewhat problematic. "The front bumper and hood fit perfectly, but the front fenders were another story," he says. "The mounting points on the fenders weren’t the same on both cars, so we decided to cut both fenders and reassemble them so they would fit the chassis correctly while still matching the body lines of the VB front end." Once those minor fitment issues were resolved, the cars returned to Mach V for the final upgrades. With a few adjustments to the powertrain and interior, Stephen’s VB WRX wagon was finally ready for the road. After just a few months of hard work and assistance from people like Dan Hurwitz and Marc Gomez, Stephen’s dream of a modern WRX hatchback was completely realized. But according to Stephen, the swap is just the beginning. "For now, it drives just like a standard VB WRX, but that wont stay the same for long," he says. "The goal has always been more power, and while the swap nearly doubled the Crosstreks original horsepower, I fully plan to add bolt-ons and see for myself what this powertrain can do." Stephen plans to keep upgrading his WRX Crosstrek (or whatever you want to call it) with more parts, pieces, and power. We cant wait to see what it looks like when its finished. You can follow his progress on his Instagram page.:@vb_hatch.