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Subaru Impreza WRX STI “Subarute” Pickup Conversion Is Real and It's Awesome

You may have heard of Smyth Performance for Tiverton, Rhode Island before. Founded by Mark Smith, this company is specialized in turning passenger cars into trucks as well as conversion kits for the likes of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Charger.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI “Subarute” Pickup Conversion by Smyth Performance 9 photos
Photo: Smyth Performance
Subaru Impreza WRX STI “Subarute” Pickup Conversion by Smyth PerformanceSubaru Impreza WRX STI “Subarute” Pickup Conversion by Smyth PerformanceSubaru Impreza WRX STI “Subarute” Pickup Conversion by Smyth PerformanceSubaru Impreza WRX STI “Subarute” Pickup Conversion by Smyth PerformanceSubaru Impreza WRX STI “Subarute” Pickup Conversion by Smyth PerformanceSubaru Impreza WRX STI “Subarute” Pickup Conversion by Smyth PerformanceSubaru Impreza WRX STI “Subarute” Pickup Conversion by Smyth PerformanceSubaru Impreza WRX STI “Subarute” Pickup Conversion by Smyth Performance
One of the shop’s most recent builds is this Subie here, nicknamed Subarute for obvious reasons. Based on the second facelift of the second-generation Impreza in WRX specification, the Japanese trucklet hides the EJ255 under the scooped hood. The STI badge on the driver’s part of the grille should translate to 293 horsepower (297 PS) at 6k rpm and 290 pound-feet (393 Nm) of torque at 4,400 revolutions per minute.

Even though the gold wheels are painted black nowadays, the gold calipers are still there. Excluding the single-cab body style and cargo box in the back, something else that looks a little curious about this fellow is the absence of the big rear spoiler/rear wing.

Care to guess how much Smyth Performance asks for the conversion kit? That'll be $2,990, and the conversion is compatible with the 2002 to 2007 sedan. "The Impreza Wagon can probably be used but we have not confirmed final fit and details."

Smyth Performance further highlights that they've put "more research and development time into this kit than any other we have done before to make sure it's strong enough for the off-road warriors and racers that have made this car a track favorite." Why did Mark need more R&D considering that he has so much experience already?

Well, this kit differs from the others with the help of rear struts that combine the spring perch and the shock in one unit. An outer brace is added to the aluminum bed structure, and also worthy of note, the company includes a bar that bolts onto a custom steel strut tower top plate just under the inner fender for a cleaner look.

It’s also possible to lift the WRX and WRX STI suspension by using bone-stock components from the Forester while retaining the Impreza’s braking system. Of course, a roof-mounted light bar and four fender flares wouldn’t look out of place either.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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