Subaru WRX VB 2022+ exhaust: the voice of the turbo boxer, the complete guide

The Subaru flat-4: a turbo boxer, signature of a rally legend

The turbocharged flat-four in your WRX VB 2022+ comes from a cult lineage, the WRC stages of the Colin McRae years. The famous boxer rumble came from the unequal-length headers of the older EJ engines: the VB's FA24 has equal-length headers and a smoother, more even sound. Its factory exhaust smooths that character even further, and many owners want to give it more voice.

The Rog exhaust gives it depth: a deeper bass at idle, the raspy pull under load, the crackles on the overrun. It is the sound of rallying, with valves for Monday mornings.

How the exhaust on your Subaru WRX VB Turbo is put together

An exhaust system is best understood in two parts. Here is what each one does, and what Rog replaces.

The figures for your Subaru WRX VB Turbo

An exhaust system is judged first by ear and on the scales. The extra horsepower comes from an ECU remap.

Published manufacturer and Stage 2 figures, converted from US units.

The Rog exhaust works with or without an ECU remap. To get the full potential out of your Subaru WRX VB Turbo, we recommend taking it to an approved tuning centre afterwards.

Let's be frank: the exhaust alone brings a moderate gain. The turbo boxer, on the other hand, is a tuning legend: with an ECU remap at an approved tuning centre, the figures above are documented by twenty years of the WRX and STI community.

Configuring your exhaust, step by step

4 choices, in the same order as the product page configurator.

1. 1

   Step 1 of 4: Material: stainless steel or titanium

   Titanium costs more than stainless steel; the price of each version is shown on the product page, in your currency.

   304 stainless steel

   Weight

   Baseline

   Sound

   Full and rounded

   The safe bet: strong, corrosion-proof, with a full, rounded sound. The best value for money.

   Titanium

   Weight

   Around 40% lighter

   Sound

   Metallic, crystal-clear

   It makes the exhaust around 40% lighter for the same design. Its note is more metallic and clearer higher up the rev range, and its finish ranges from brushed to blued.

   No worries on durability: 304 stainless steel shrugs off winter road salt and titanium does not rust. Stainless steel or titanium: what really changes.

2. 2

   Step 2 of 4: Front section: downpipe and catalytic converter

   Optional: the downpipe on your Subaru WRX VB Turbo, with its catalytic converter. Each option is placed on our sound scale of 0 to 10, valves open, with the factory exhaust at 3.

   Cat-back only

   Included

   7/10

   Factory emissions control

   The factory front section stays in place. It is already a complete transformation, and the choice of many of our customers.

   200-cell sports catalytic converter

   8/10

   Road use and inspection

   More flow, emissions control retained: the right option for road use.

   100-cell sports catalytic converter

   9/10

   Inspection: depends on local rules

   More open than the 200-cell: the sound hardens at high revs and emissions control is reduced.

   Decat

   10/10

   Track use

   Flow with no filter at all: the rawest sound and the sharpest response.

   Sound intensity, on a scale of 0 to 10

   1. 10/10Decat downpipe + Rog cat-back
   2. 9/10100-cell sports catalytic converter + Rog cat-back
   3. 8/10200-cell sports catalytic converter + Rog cat-back
   4. 7/10Rog cat-back only, factory catalytic converter retained
   5. 3/10Factory exhaust, for comparison

   Valves open. With the valves closed, every configuration becomes discreet again.

   What about the engine warning light? With a sports cat, it can come on with some engines: the sensor placed after the catalytic converter measures a different level of emissions control from the original. It is not a mechanical failure, but a warning light should never be masked or cleared without dealing with its cause: the right answer is a catalytic converter suited to the engine, with a map by a tuner who takes it into account. The decat version, for track use only, almost always triggers it. If this happens to you, write to us and we will point you in the right direction. Passing vehicle inspection with a sports exhaust.

3. 3

   Step 3 of 4: Valves: Rog remote or factory control

   Two ways to control the valves on your Subaru WRX VB Turbo.

   Rog remote

   

   A discreet control unit in the boot and a two-button remote: you open and close whenever you like, independently of the drive modes. For fitting, we support you by email.

   Factory control

   • Only for vehicles fitted with factory valves
   • Controlled by the drive modes

   For vehicles fitted with factory valves: the exhaust connects to their control and the drive modes stay in charge, with no extra control unit.

   At 130 km/h, many sports exhausts drone. Here, with the valves closed, the exhaust flows through the silencer and stays composed when cruising; open, it makes itself heard when you choose. More about exhaust drone.

4. 4

   Step 4 of 4: Tips: the visual signature

   Match the tips to the style of your Subaru WRX VB Turbo, understated or bold. A particular finish in mind? Send us a photo and we will look at it together.

   • Chrome
   • Gloss black
   • Blued titanium

   

The Rog sound signature on the boxer

Our exhaust gives the turbo boxer a deeper, more textured voice: a deep growl at idle, the raspy pull under load, and crackles on the overrun with the valves open. Close your eyes: you are on a WRC special stage. Open the valves and it gets even better. With the valves closed, back to calm for the office run.

On this model, two characters at the same price: the straight pipe for the raw sound of your engine, unfiltered, or the resonator for a rounder and slightly softer voice. Either way, the exhaust stays fully sporty.

From order to fitting

1. Configuration

   You configure the exhaust and enter the VIN from box E of your registration document or from the base of the windscreen.

2. Check

   Your VIN is checked before any manufacturing begins.

3. Manufacturing

   The exhaust is produced to order, for your vehicle.

4. Delivery

   Free, insured parcel, tracking number from dispatch.

5. Fitting

   Around two hours in the workshop, with no welding or cutting.

20 working days from order confirmation to delivery

Warranty

3 years, parts and workmanship, from the date of purchase

Payment

Card, PayPal or bank transfer

Installation

At the garage of your choice

Is your Subaru WRX VB Turbo still under the manufacturer's warranty? In Europe, the manufacturer cannot refuse cover simply because a part from another brand has been fitted: it is up to the manufacturer to prove that the fault came from that part. Our article on the manufacturer's warranty.

Our recommendations for your Subaru WRX VB Turbo

• Daily driving

  • Stainless
  • Cat-back only
  • Rog remote

  Your Subaru WRX VB Turbo stays easy to live with, the factory emissions control is retained, and you open the valves whenever you decide.

  View this configuration

• Fast road

  • Titanium
  • 200-cell downpipe
  • ECU remap

  The best of both worlds: character and breathing, with emissions control retained.

  View this configuration

• Track

  • Titanium
  • Decat downpipe
  • Stage 2

  The most extreme configuration, for track use only.

  View this configuration

Every Subaru WRX VB Turbo has its own story and its own use: if none of these profiles sounds like you, let's talk.

Subaru WRX VB Turbo: your questions

Further reading

• All Subaru exhaust systems
• Subaru Impreza WRX STI GD saloon 2.5 EJ257
• Subaru WRX VA 2.0 Turbo 6-speed manual
• How to pass vehicle inspection with a modified exhaust
• Pop & Bang: how it works, and is it risky?
• Exhaust resonator: what does it do?
• Stainless steel or titanium: what really changes
• The 28 brands we cover