Subaru nonetheless refuses to construct one other WRX wagon/hatchback for the US, and we are able to’t determine why. The outdated five-door was vastly widespread amongst fans earlier than it disappeared for good in 2012. Since then, we’ve solely gotten more and more worse variations of the sedan—with no trace of a returning hatchback (until you reside in Europe).
One WRX fan, although, determined to take issues into his personal palms.
Stephen Ketelsen—who goes by @vb_hatch on Instagram—remodeled his inventory Crosstrek into a correct WRX hatchback. And we don’t imply a lookalike physique equipment; this can be a true FA24-swapped Crosstrek with items ripped straight from a contemporary WRX. And it completely guidelines.
We reached out to Stephen by way of electronic mail, and he was gracious sufficient to share particulars and photographs of the construct—and clarify precisely how the mission got here to life.
Picture by: Stephen Ketslen (@vb_hatch)
The mission began with a inventory Crosstrek, which Stephen purchased new in 2020. He shortly realized that the manufacturing unit 150 horsepower wasn’t precisely what he wished. It did have a guide, a minimum of, however he instantly went to work on determining methods to make his in any other case ho-hum crossover into one thing extra intently resembling a sporty Subaru.
After doing a little analysis, Stephen obtained in touch with Dan Hurwitz, proprietor of Mach V Motorsports, a Subaru specialty store in Sterling, Virginia. Stephen pitched the thought of doing a WRX-swapped Crosstrek. After some pondering, the duo set to work on determining if it was even attainable.
“With my automobile up on one elevate and Dan’s VB on one other, we measured the subframes to see in the event that they have been comparable,” Stephen explains to Motor1 by way of electronic mail. “Dan was additionally gracious sufficient to let me peer across the inside of his automobile to try to eyeball what, if something, is likely to be the identical.”
“There have been certainly similarities, however nothing that gave me absolute certainty,” Stephen says. “In the end, I had reached the restrict of what analysis alone may inform me, so I needed to decide whether or not or to not take the chance and go for it.”
Picture by: Stephen Ketslen (@vb_hatch)
‘In the end, I had reached the restrict of what analysis alone may inform me, so I needed to decide whether or not or to not take the chance and go for it.’
After a couple of weeks of pondering and a fast take a look at drive in a brand new VB WRX, Stephen was satisfied: He would undergo the method of remodeling his Crosstrek into a contemporary WRX hatchback. After all, it wasn’t practically so simple as slapping in a brand new engine and calling it a day.
“I instantly started to scour salvage auctions for potential donors,” he says. “In early October 2024, I gained an public sale for a 2022 Subaru WRX Premium, with the promising FA24 and six-speed guide transmission. Not lengthy after the automobile arrived, I started tearing it down in my tiny one-car storage at my house. I did not actually have a sport plan; I simply began pulling elements off and setting them apart.”
In tiny house garages over the span of some weeks—and with some assist from his associates at Mach V Motorsports for heavier components just like the engine and transmission—Stephen stripped his Crosstrek and newly owned salvaged WRX right down to the necessities, meticulously labeling and organizing each piece in preparation for the swap.
Then got here the enjoyable half: Putting in WRX items onto the Crosstrek.
“I started by operating the inside wiring all all through the cabin, and feeding the bulkhead harness by way of the firewall,” Stephen says. “For probably the most half, every part lined up nicely. There have been a couple of points towards the rear of the automobile, 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.”
As soon as the cabin was largely reassembled, Stephen went to work on swapping the WRX’s rear subframe onto the Crosstrek.
Picture by: Stephen Ketslen (@vb_hatch)
‘For probably the most half, every part lined up nicely. There have been a couple of points towards the rear of the automobile, primarily to do with making techniques designed for a sedan perform in a hatchback.’
“I swapped the WRX’s rear subframe onto the Crosstrek. All the pieces bolted up completely, and I used to be in a position to carry over many of the suspension modifications that have been already on the Crosstrek earlier than the swap. I obtained each vehicles prepared for transport to Mach V, and after ensuring I had every part so as, the 2 vehicles have been towed to the store in late August 2025.”
From there, Stephen introduced each vehicles to Mach V’s store for the ultimate mechanical work: Putting in the WRX’s VB engine and six-speed transmission into the Crosstrek. Over the subsequent few weeks, he shuttled elements backwards and forwards as Dan and his group labored on the swap. In accordance with Stephen, the engine “required completely no modifications—it simply bolted proper up.”
However the group did hit one minor snag earlier than the automobile was absolutely drivable.
In accordance with Stephen, the Crosstrek’s radiator core assist wasn’t appropriate with the WRX’s radiator and equipment. That meant they must transplant the WRX’s core assist and swap your entire entrance finish of the Crosstrek to make it work.
Each vehicles have been then transported to Marc Gomez, proprietor of Unbiased Automobile Collision in Sterling, Virginia, who was in a position to get the core assist swapped over comparatively merely. After some fast assessments to see how the physique panels would line up, although, Stephen shortly realized that the entrance fenders could be a little bit of a difficulty.
“The entrance bumper and hood match completely, however the entrance fenders have been a unique 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 appropriately, however observe the physique strains of the VB entrance finish.”
As soon as these minor fitment points have been resolved, the vehicles went again to Mach V for the ultimate upgrades. With a couple of tweaks to the powertrain and inside, Stephen’s VB WRX wagon was lastly prepared for the highway. With only a few months of laborious work and assist from guys like Dan Hurwitz and Marc Gomez, Stephen’s dream of a contemporary WRX hatchback was absolutely realized.
However in accordance with Stephen, the swap is just the start.
“For now, it behaves similar to a inventory VB WRX, however that will not final lengthy,” he says. “The aim was all the time extra energy, and whereas the swap practically doubled the Crosstrek’s authentic horsepower determine, I absolutely intend on including bolt-ons and experiencing for myself what this powertrain is able to.”
Stephen plans to proceed upgrading his WRX Crosstrek (or no matter you need to name it) with extra elements, items, and energy. We will not wait to see what the ultimate type seems like. You’ll be able to observe his progress on his Instagram web page: @vb_hatch.
