Your Projects: Why Not Build a TDI-Powered Subaru Forester?

If you've ever wanted more torque from your Subaru flat-four, forum member newrider3 has a solution, although it might be a little more complicated than, say, adding a turbocharger.

The plan is to take a 1.9-liter TDI diesel engine from this 2002 New Beetle...

...and put it in this 2003 Subaru Forester...

...using this adapter plate:

Naturally, actually getting the engine to fit and making it run takes a little more work than slapping on an adapter plate, but we can certainly appreciate an odd build like this.

The build has progressed already, too, as both engines have been freed from their original homes and a few adaptations have been made to the Forester's engine bay.

Make sure you don't miss out on what may be one of the first TDI-powered Subarus by heading over to the Builds and Project Cars forum now.

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Subaru has/had? the same idea.  It will never be sold in the U.S. market but Subaru has offered a diesel boxer in other markets.  And if that doesn't make you a bit angry...until recently, Honda offered a diesel powered CR-V. I don't remember exactly when it was discontinued, but the diesel Honda was available up until about a generation ago.  It is/was? also available with a manual transmission. 

In reply to Carsandbikes :

Yeah, unfortunately, we have to create for ourselves the things that the mainstream automakers refuse to offer in the US. Hey, if we lived in the UK, I could have gone out and bought a diesel manual wagon from several brands.
I could have imported the Subaru EE20 diesel, but as I touched on in my thread, it's an expensive venture. I hope to keep progress in this build going and not end up half baked like so many of my other projects :)

I appreciate the recognition from GRM staff!