The Subaru WRX is pretty much on the opposite end of the performance car spectrum from an American muscle car like the Chevy Camaro. Boasting all-wheel drive, a turbocharged, four-cylinder horizontally-opposed boxer engine, and available as either a four-door sedan or wagon, the WRX is not the kind of car we find ourselves writing about too much on these pages.

But Forman Performance, based out of Costa Mesa, California, took a WRX wagon, sponsored by Drive Energy Drink, ripped the engine and all-wheel drive system out, and stuffed an LQ9 V8 under the hood. The resulting “drift wagon” can tear up the track with ease, and even won the Golden Gate Drift ProAm event this past weekend. Let’s hear it for originality!

Forman Performance, owned by David Forman, specializes in Subarus of all kinds, though mostly the performance-centric WRX. While they spend most days working on those boxer motors that can make respectable power, they decided to shake things up by putting a 500-horsepower LQ9 into a Subie.

Normally found on Chevy trucks and SUVs, the LQ9 can be had cheap, and can make lotsa power on a budget. It’s not everyday you see a Subaru growling with the anger of a GM V8, and we love that Forman Performance decided to think outside the box. But if they really want to step up their game (and piss off legions of fanboys), than the next Subie V8-swap they do will be of the BRZ variety…