Despite Subaru discontinuing the WRX STI, enthusiasts of the model continue to customize and modify it. Sam Albert, a stage rally competitor who owns a WRX STI, sought to increase its power and came up with an innovative solution: installing a Ferrari F136 V8 engine under the hood.
Albert explains why he opted for a Ferrari V8 engine. The reason behind this decision is related to regulations – as long as the engine is naturally aspirated and under 4.5 liters, he won’t need to restrict power. Consequently, he purchased a 4.3-liter F136 IB V8 engine from a Ferrari California.
In addition, he notes that the Ferrari engine has a significant advantage over the Subaru flat-four in terms of torque curve. Although the four-cylinder engine from Japan reaches a higher peak torque, it drops rapidly, which may exceed the grip of the gravel tires. On the other hand, the V8 engine from Italy offers a more gradual and consistent power delivery over a longer period.
However, this modification may come with some drawbacks such as a heavier weight distribution towards the front of the car. Since WRX STIs already have a reputation for understeering, the car will need additional tuning to minimize this issue as much as possible. Nonetheless, the sound of the Ferrari V8 on the dyno suggests that the modification is worthwhile.
Albert’s tuning progress seems to be promising as he stated that the car has produced almost identical numbers to a stock Ferrari, which is around 453 horsepower (338 kW) and 358 lb-ft (485 Nm) of torque. In other words, the vehicle should be fast and have an impressive sound once it returns to the rally circuit.
The video below features the Ferrari V8 engine both with a custom exhaust and with the exhaust dumped out at the end of the header. The reason for the difference is due to a mid-tuning session mishap where the custom driveshaft was lost, causing the team to revert back to the stock unit which disrupted the exhaust system.
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