{"id":145830,"date":"2026-03-03T15:31:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T21:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=145830"},"modified":"2026-03-03T15:31:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T21:31:22","slug":"vw-bug-with-a-480-whp-subaru-ej25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=145830","title":{"rendered":"VW Bug with a 480 whp Subaru EJ25"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?attachment_id=145836\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-145836\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"145836\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?attachment_id=145836\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/VW-Bug-Beetle-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ25-01.jpg?fit=2048%2C1536&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1536\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"VW Bug Beetle with a turbocharged Subaru EJ25 01\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;VW Bug with a turbocharged Subaru EJ25 flat-four&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/VW-Bug-Beetle-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ25-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/VW-Bug-Beetle-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ25-01-600x450.jpg?resize=600%2C450&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"VW Bug with a turbocharged Subaru EJ25 flat-four\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-145836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/VW-Bug-Beetle-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ25-01.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/VW-Bug-Beetle-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ25-01.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/VW-Bug-Beetle-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ25-01.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/VW-Bug-Beetle-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ25-01.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/VW-Bug-Beetle-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ25-01.jpg?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Rodney Adams and his company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RADesignsinfo\">RADesigns<\/a> specializes in Volkswagen air-cooled engines, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.radesignsperformance.com\/collections\/turbo-kits\">air-cooled turbo kits<\/a>, and classic car performance. One of their projects is a VW Bug with a turbocharged Subaru EJ25 (SOHC) flat-four. The motor features RADesigns&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.radesignsperformance.com\/collections\/turbos-acc\/products\/x30-660-770\">X30-660 turbocharger<\/a>, custom camshafts, and custom stainless steel exhaust headers. It produces 480 hp (353 kW) to the wheels on 26 psi of boost and E85 fuel. The motor is paired to a 091 manual transaxle from a VW Type 2 bug (T25) using a <a href=\"https:\/\/rjes.com\/bell-housing-kits-subaru-powered-vw-conversion\/\">RJ Engineered Solutions bellhousing<\/a>. The transaxle features a Weddle gearset and Quaife differential. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=338&#038;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRADesignsinfo%2Fvideos%2F882802010697214%2F&#038;show_text=false&#038;width=600&#038;t=0\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowFullScreen=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=338&#038;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRADesignsinfo%2Fvideos%2F1081112859617103%2F&#038;show_text=false&#038;width=600&#038;t=0\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowFullScreen=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RADesignsinfo\">RADesigns FB page<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rodney Adams and his company RADesigns specializes in Volkswagen air-cooled engines, air-cooled turbo kits, and classic car performance. One of their projects is a VW Bug with a turbocharged Subaru EJ25 (SOHC) flat-four. The motor features RADesigns&#8217; X30-660 turbocharger, custom camshafts, and custom stainless steel exhaust headers. It produces 480 hp (353 kW) to the&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=145830\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">VW Bug with a 480 whp Subaru EJ25<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":145836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":70,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[352,84],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-145830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beetle","category-bug"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":111481,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=111481","url_meta":{"origin":145830,"position":0},"title":"1963 Beetle with a Turbo EJ25","author":"swaptastic","date":"February 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"This 1963 VW Beetle originally came with an air-cooled flat-four producing around 40 hp. It is now powered by a turbocharged 2.5 L Subaru EJ25 flat-four. The motor features a semi-closed-deck block, forged crankshaft, forged rods, JDM STI EJ20 heads, and a Turbonetics turbocharger. It is paired to a 6-rib\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Beetle&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Beetle","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=352"},"img":{"alt_text":"1963 Beetle with a turbo Subaru EJ25 flat-four","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1963-Beetle-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ25-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1963-Beetle-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ25-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1963-Beetle-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ25-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1963-Beetle-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ25-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1963-Beetle-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ25-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":142165,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=142165","url_meta":{"origin":145830,"position":1},"title":"VW 1303 with a Turbo Subaru EJ20","author":"swaptastic","date":"December 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Knepper Bugs & More is a company in Rahden, Germany specializing in Volkswagen Beetles. The company built this VW 1303 without an air-cooled flat-four. Instead they swapped a turbocharged 2.0 L Subaru EJ20 flat-four. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Porsche 915 five-speed manual transaxle. Knepper Bugs\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Beetle&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Beetle","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=352"},"img":{"alt_text":"VW 1303 with a turbocharged Subaru EJ20 flat-four","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VW-1303-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VW-1303-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VW-1303-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VW-1303-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VW-1303-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":148514,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=148514","url_meta":{"origin":145830,"position":2},"title":"1970 VW Bay Window with a 2.5L Subaru Motor","author":"swaptastic","date":"May 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Fellows Speed Shop specializes in swapping Subaru motors in VW Type 2s and Beetles. This 1970 VW Early Bay Window Bus (T2a) is no longer powered by an air-cooled 1.6 L flat-four. It is now powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.5 L EJ25 flat-four producing 180 hp (132 kW). In front\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Bus&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Bus","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=85"},"img":{"alt_text":"front of a 1970 VW Bay Window Bus with a 2.5 L Subaru flat-four","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1970-VW-Bay-Window-Bus-with-a-2.5-L-Subaru-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1970-VW-Bay-Window-Bus-with-a-2.5-L-Subaru-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1970-VW-Bay-Window-Bus-with-a-2.5-L-Subaru-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1970-VW-Bay-Window-Bus-with-a-2.5-L-Subaru-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1970-VW-Bay-Window-Bus-with-a-2.5-L-Subaru-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65136,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=65136","url_meta":{"origin":145830,"position":3},"title":"1973 Super Beetle with a Turbo Subaru EJ25","author":"swaptastic","date":"December 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"John Reynolds spent two years and a lot of work creating his \"Supersleeper\" 1973 Volkswagen Super Beetle. The car is powered by a turbocharged 2.5 L EJ25 flat-four making 517 horsepower to the wheels on E85 fuel. The motor features a custom exhaust manifold, water-to-air intercooler, and Garrett G25-660 turbocharger.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Beetle&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Beetle","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=352"},"img":{"alt_text":"1973 Super Beetle with a turbo Subaru EJ25 flat-four","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/1973-Super-Beetle-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ25-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/1973-Super-Beetle-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ25-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/1973-Super-Beetle-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ25-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/1973-Super-Beetle-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ25-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/1973-Super-Beetle-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ25-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":133939,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=133939","url_meta":{"origin":145830,"position":4},"title":"VW Golf with a Subaru Powertrain","author":"swaptastic","date":"July 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Adam Beard from Twin Engine Corsa interviewed Anphernee about his unique Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk2. The car's factory FWD powertrain is swapped for a Subaru Impreza WRX powertrain. It was previously powered by a turbocharged 2.5 EJ25 flat-four but now has a turbocharged 2.0 L EJ20 flat-four making 300 hp\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Golf&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Golf","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=133"},"img":{"alt_text":"VW Golf with a Subaru EJ20 and Impreza powertrain","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VW-Golf-with-a-Subaru-EJ20-and-Impreza-powertrain-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VW-Golf-with-a-Subaru-EJ20-and-Impreza-powertrain-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VW-Golf-with-a-Subaru-EJ20-and-Impreza-powertrain-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VW-Golf-with-a-Subaru-EJ20-and-Impreza-powertrain-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VW-Golf-with-a-Subaru-EJ20-and-Impreza-powertrain-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":101512,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=101512","url_meta":{"origin":145830,"position":5},"title":"VW Beetle Race Car with a 900 hp Turbo Subaru Flat-Four","author":"swaptastic","date":"June 13, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Dave Crowhurst and his Black Wanger Racing VW Beetle returned to Santa Pod Raceway in the UK for Doorslammers 2023. VeeDubRacing reports that Dave ran an event best of 9.56 sec at 143 mph coming close to his personal best of 9.51 sec at 146 mph. Since last year Dave\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Beetle&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Beetle","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=352"},"img":{"alt_text":"VW Beetle Race Car with a turbo Subaru EJ20 flat-four","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/VW-Beetle-Race-Car-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-05.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/VW-Beetle-Race-Car-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-05.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/VW-Beetle-Race-Car-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-05.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/VW-Beetle-Race-Car-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-05.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/VW-Beetle-Race-Car-with-a-turbo-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-05.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/VW-Bug-Beetle-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ25-01.jpg?fit=2048%2C1536&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=145830"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":145838,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145830\/revisions\/145838"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/145836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=145830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=145830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=145830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}