The Subaru Crosstrek WRX Looks Ready For Action

斯巴鲁was once a brand that enthusiasts could always look to for something cool, but as the Japanese brand began seeking manistream success, it seems to have lost a bit of that fun factor. Sure, there are cars like theBRZthat are great fun to drive and have almost limitless tuning potential, but what else is there? The automaker has justrevealed a new WRX Wagonafter the sedan debuted a few weeks back, but aside from a new WRX STI sedan, it's unlikely that we'll see anything really performance-focused for some time. Instead, we have things like theCrosstrek, a pretty good crossover but nothing to write home about. But did you know that the Crosstrek and the WRX use the same platform? And that the drivetrain can be almost directly swapped to create a Crosstrek WRX?

In years gone by, we've seen a crazy madman create his own Crosstrek WRX from the previous generation of both the Crosstrek and the WRX sedan, but we think it could be a gold mine that Subaru is sitting on and envisioned how it might look.

We've given the Crosstrek some WRX-inspired upgrades as seen on therecently revealed sport sedan. Among these are larger wheels with low-profile rubber, a massive rear diffuser with a quad-exit exhaust, vented fender flares, meatier fenders, and of course, a large hood scoop to feed the turbocharged Boxer motor. Naturally, the new 2.4-liter turbo unit with 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque would be a direct fit. As usual, this would feed the brand's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, and the platform would accommodate both the six-speed manual gearbox and a CVT option.