Meet Lady Vixen — Project Subaru WRX STI 2016
After many successful years running the North Wales Scooby Club and creating some fantastic memories, Sharon and I decided to step back. Now, after a few years away, we realised how much we missed the social, family side that a club brings. That’s why we decided to launch the Fflat Four Performance member group in July this year — and we’re officially back!
To mark our return, there’s no better way than with a brand-new project build. This one is especially close to home because it’s not just any Subaru… it’s my wife’s pride and joy: a 2016 Subaru WRX STI, affectionately named Lady Vixen (LV). The name couldn’t be more fitting — sly, seductive, and dangerous at speed.
A Return to Subaru Roots
For years, Sharon loved her BRZ, which gave us countless memories on the road. When life called for an automatic, she moved over to a Range Rover (which she still adores, and rightly so). But when we decided to fire Fflat Four back up, I knew the only way forward was to bring another Subaru into the family — and make it something truly special.
So, Lady Vixen arrived… minus an engine. A challenge, yes, but also the perfect blank canvas.
The Work So Far
Over the past weeks, I’ve been stripping, cleaning, and rebuilding piece by piece to bring LV back to life. Here’s what’s been tackled so far:
Wheel liners stripped and cleaned
Shock absorbers removed, serviced, cleaned, and painted
Metal arches cleaned and painted
Brakes stripped and serviced
And then came the milestone moment — the new engine landed.
Engine Specification
Here’s what’s going into Lady Vixen’s heart:
EJ257 VA model
2.5 closed deck conversion
11mm ARP headstuds
Bridgeway Billet EN40B Crank (83mm)
H-beam rods with ARP bolts
King race bearings
Fuji Racing 1.5mm steel headgaskets
Fuji Racing 2.6 stroker pistons
Subaru 11mm oil pump with modified valve
RCM Motorsport baffle plate & windage plate
Machined and skimmed heads with full rebuild
New 2.5 oil pickup pipe
RCM alloy metal end plates & blanking caps
Cosworth air pump delete kit
Daco high grip timing belt kit with modified tensioner
New dipstick tube
Plated block bolts
This setup is being built not just for strength, but for character — to give LV the sharp, responsive personality she deserves.
What’s Next
The transformation is only just beginning. Over the coming months, we’ll be fitting plenty of finishing touches — including a few bold pink accents to give Lady Vixen her own unique flair.
This project is more than just a rebuild — it’s a celebration of what we love most at Fflat Four Performance: passion, precision, and bringing Subarus back to their best. Lady Vixen is already proving she’s going to be something fierce, and I can’t wait to share the next stages of her journey with you all.
