The Five Best Mods for Your Subaru WRX

Getting top performance out of your favourite car might require the use of Subaru WRX mods. If you’re excited to power up your Subaru WRX and make it the best it can be, you need to know what modifications are the most important. The good news is that the Subaru WRX has excellent, versatile aftermarket parts that can make it blow down a racetrack with ease.

The Subaru cars from 2015 to the present come with a FA20F engine, also known as a FA20DIT. This is a direct-injected 2.0-litre, twin-scroll flat-four turbo engine. It offers 258-lb-ft of torque and 268 horsepower which is a great amount of power for the small engine it comes from.

The good news for those looking at Subaru WRX mods is that adding a few things can get you to 300 or higher horsepower without a lot of work. This guide will look at the five best mods for the Subaru WRX that can give you the performance you’re hoping for.

1. Cold Air Intake
One of the best Subaru WRX mods you can add to your ride is a cold air intake. The point of this is to ensure more air moves into the engine. That means more petrol can be added for a better level of combustion. The issue is that standard intakes are restrictive so the engine can only be pushed so far.

Choosing an aftermarket cold air intake will give you a more efficient and larger filter. The additional surface area improves filtration, so air moves more freely and creates better power.

It’s important to consider the quality of the air intake you choose. An airbox should be included that separates the filter from the engine bay. Without this, hot air will be pulled in instead of cold.

2. Aftermarket Exhaust
For the Subaru WRX, unequal-length headers are used. This means that the exhaust pulses are uneven, which can lead to a small drop in potential horsepower. However, it can create a might roar which some enthusiasts love to hear. When you want the most power, go for equal-length headers. However, the iconic sound can only be found when you select uneven-length headers.

An aftermarket exhaust lets gases move more freely for better flow that lets the engine spin and spool faster. This increases throttle response, torque, and horsepower, for a more exciting and powerful driving experience. Aftermarket options from suppliers like Empire Performance are essential if you upgrade to a larger supercharged where the limited flow can lead to less power.

Keep in mind you can choose a cat-back system for better sound, power, and fuel efficiency. The standard downpipe is more restrictive and cuts down on throttle response. Adding an aftermarket downpipe of a larger diameter in a race or cat version ensures the maximum possible flow.

3. Front Mount Intercooler
Another of the best Subaru WRX mods is an intercooler. On this vehicle, the hood scoops feed into the intercooler. This creates additional space at the front which improves the performance of the radiator. However, a top-mount intercooler can cause heat soak while this is less of an issue with a front-mount component.

Lowering the intercooler might sound complicated but it’s quite simple. Most kits with intercoolers have all the parts you need to do the job. Once you have a front-mount intercooler, you’ll reduce charge temperatures for better power and cut down on the possibility of detonations.

While you’re upgrading the intercooler, another of the many Subaru WRX mods can come in handy. This is the perfect time to upgrade the piping. This increases flow and can add a boost to performance. While the performance change isn’t massive, it’s an easy project to do at the same time as swapping the intercooler.

4. Coil-Overs
The Subaru WRX is known for decent handling and performance, but it can be limiting in some cases. Choosing aftermarket coil-overs can help in this case. You can make various suspension adjustments for spring rate, camber, ride height, damping, caster, and more. Making these alterations lets you match the suspension with your driving style and other modifications you choose to make.

With coil-overs, you get better handling and height adjustability. Plus, it can make your car look even more intimidating than it does now. Keep in mind that not all coil-overs are the same. Some are for track cars, others are for the streets, and some are for rally performance. Think about how you use the car and choose coil-overs based on that knowledge.

When choosing Subaru WRX mods that include coil-overs, be aware that the performance change will not be substantial unless you also choose high-performance tyres. The included tyres aren’t going to overpower the stock suspension. However, when you move to aftermarket coil-overs, high-performance tyres get you ultimate performance.

5. High-Performance Tyres
If you think about it, the tyres are what keep your car steady on the road, which makes them more important than you may know. Some choose to update their wheels but forget to do the same with the tyres. While this can make the car look more pleasing, it might make it slower than you expect.

Tyres are important for a variety of reasons, including the safety, performance, and ride quality of your Subaru. While you’re looking at Subaru WRX mods, consider a new pair of good tyres. Neglecting or overlooking them is a good way to ensure you never get the speed or performance that you hope out of your vehicle.

For the best performance, consider a sticky tyre. These are made to be used for tracks and canyon driving. If you use your vehicle as a daily driver for the work commute, you can choose something with a high treadwear rating, so they last longer than the standard tyres on your car.

Adding a handful of Subaru WRX mods is a great way to gain horsepower and many of the changes and adaptations aren’t overly expensive. New tyres, coil-overs, exhausts, intercoolers, and cold air intake can take your vehicle to new heights. When choosing new components, make sure to choose a reputable supplier you can trust. Check out Empire Performance in Australia for a great example.