When you think of turbocharged engines and all wheel drive, Subaru should come to mind. Alright, maybe Mitsubishi as well but for us, Subaru is definitely the first thing to come to mind. It’s no secret that Subaru’s horizontally opposed turbocharged engine is nothing to laugh it. Gabriel Ang’s 1996 Subaru Impreza Brighton Coupe is no exception.
Gabriel calls Millbrae, CA home. He is the proud owner of this 1996 Brighton Coupe edition Impreza. Equipped with a JDM V7 STI EJ207 from Japan, equipped with AVCS. A JDM STI intake manifold feeds air into the cylinders along with pin injectors. JDM UEL headers spool the turbo while a Mishimoto 3in turbo inlet feeds the engine the boost it needs. An AEM fuel pump ensures the 2.0L turbocharged boxer engine has all the fuel it needs. A Turbo XS 3in exhaust helps this engine flow efficiently along with the CNT Bellmouth Catless downpipe. The engine bay is clean which makes detecting leaks early a lot easier, which is important for track cars. You can quickly identify the JDM exterior pieces which give this Brighton Coupe a sleek and clean look. It's difficult to beat the look of clean factory lines. Prior to this Brighton Coupe running the EJ207 Gabriel had installed an EJ205. Just four days into the swap a valve and piston gave each other a high five, blowing the engine. Gabriel had the beast up and running again in no time thanks to @P_garage. The car was then tuned by Travis Barnes at Snail Performance.
This 96 Brighton Coupe has seen the track at Thunderhill West and Sonoma. Gabriel will also be pushing this beast to its limits at Buttonwillow this month. He learned to drive in a 1997 EK Hatchback, which had a big influence on his beginning addiction to motorsports along with Best Motoring. Gabriel picked up an Ebay exhaust for his hatch, which quickly turned into a full K20a2 swap. When we asked Gabriel about his passion for modifying cars he replied
"My passion modifying cars is the fact we make every build our own. I’ve driven out of the box fast cars, but nothing beats that feeling of driving your car, your build. You know every bolt that has been touched, every fluid that has been changed. When you do laps or even just a road trip in that car, you are proud."
Check out more of Gabriel and his 96 Brighton Coupe on Instagram @desertsage_96brighton. Also check out @dailydrivengarage, @P_garage, @snailperformance.
JDM V7 EJ207 Single AVCS
WRX 5 speed transmission and STI short throw shifter
Tuned at Snail Performance on carBerry Rom
301 whp & 274 wtq (Mustang Dyno)
CNT 3in downpipe
3in Turbo XS cat back exhaust
K&N Typhoon intake
Mishimoto 3in turbo inlet
Koyo R1819 Race spec aluminum radiator
Stock STI TMIC
Stock vf30 turbo
Killer B oil pick up
Killer B oil pan
Tomei oil baffle
Adjustable KYB AGX struts
Ground Control coilover sleeves/Eibach springs 250lb/in front 225 lb/in rear
Entire GD subframe suspension components with +10mm wider track
Whiteline pitch stop
Group N engine mounts
Kein fender braces
Nameless rear strut bar
Carbing Motorsports front strut bar
JDM lightweight bumper beam front and rear
RPF1 17x8 +45 5x100
Federal 595 rs-rr 235/40/17
JDM v3 sti front bumper
JDM OEM 3 piece v3 STI type r front lip
JDM rear bumper
JDM rear spats
JDM front and rear aero guards
JDM 4 piece side skirts
JDM v5/6 Aluminum hood
RS coupe wing with custom gurney
JDM v3/4 STI steering wheel
JDM v3 STI carbon fiber OEM option gauge cluster
JDM v3/4 STI front and rear seats
AEM AFR gauge
AEM Oil pressure
AEM oil temp
Limited Edition Peter Solberg Shift knob
DIY red suede inserts
When you think of turbocharged engines and all wheel drive, Subaru should come to mind. Alright, maybe Mitsubishi as well but for us, Subaru is definitely the first thing to come to mind. It’s no secret that Subaru’s horizontally opposed turbocharged engine is nothing to laugh it. Gabriel Ang’s 1996 Subaru Impreza Brighton Coupe is no exception.
Gabriel calls Millbrae, CA home. He is the proud owner of this 1996 Brighton Coupe edition Impreza. Equipped with a JDM V7 STI EJ207 from Japan, equipped with AVCS. A JDM STI intake manifold feeds air into the cylinders along with pin injectors. JDM UEL headers spool the turbo while a Mishimoto 3in turbo inlet feeds the engine the boost it needs. An AEM fuel pump ensures the 2.0L turbocharged boxer engine has all the fuel it needs. A Turbo XS 3in exhaust helps this engine flow efficiently along with the CNT Bellmouth Catless downpipe. The engine bay is clean which makes detecting leaks early a lot easier, which is important for track cars. You can quickly identify the JDM exterior pieces which give this Brighton Coupe a sleek and clean look. It's difficult to beat the look of clean factory lines. Prior to this Brighton Coupe running the EJ207 Gabriel had installed an EJ205. Just four days into the swap a valve and piston gave each other a high five, blowing the engine. Gabriel had the beast up and running again in no time thanks to @P_garage. The car was then tuned by Travis Barnes at Snail Performance.
This 96 Brighton Coupe has seen the track at Thunderhill West and Sonoma. Gabriel will also be pushing this beast to its limits at Buttonwillow this month. He learned to drive in a 1997 EK Hatchback, which had a big influence on his beginning addiction to motorsports along with Best Motoring. Gabriel picked up an Ebay exhaust for his hatch, which quickly turned into a full K20a2 swap. When we asked Gabriel about his passion for modifying cars he replied
"My passion modifying cars is the fact we make every build our own. I’ve driven out of the box fast cars, but nothing beats that feeling of driving your car, your build. You know every bolt that has been touched, every fluid that has been changed. When you do laps or even just a road trip in that car, you are proud."
Check out more of Gabriel and his 96 Brighton Coupe on Instagram @desertsage_96brighton. Also check out @dailydrivengarage, @P_garage, @snailperformance.
JDM V7 EJ207 Single AVCS
WRX 5 speed transmission and STI short throw shifter
Tuned at Snail Performance on carBerry Rom
301 whp & 274 wtq (Mustang Dyno)
CNT 3in downpipe
3in Turbo XS cat back exhaust
K&N Typhoon intake
Mishimoto 3in turbo inlet
Koyo R1819 Race spec aluminum radiator
Stock STI TMIC
Stock vf30 turbo
Killer B oil pick up
Killer B oil pan
Tomei oil baffle
Adjustable KYB AGX struts
Ground Control coilover sleeves/Eibach springs 250lb/in front 225 lb/in rear
Entire GD subframe suspension components with +10mm wider track
Whiteline pitch stop
Group N engine mounts
Kein fender braces
Nameless rear strut bar
Carbing Motorsports front strut bar
JDM lightweight bumper beam front and rear
RPF1 17x8 +45 5x100
Federal 595 rs-rr 235/40/17
JDM v3 sti front bumper
JDM OEM 3 piece v3 STI type r front lip
JDM rear bumper
JDM rear spats
JDM front and rear aero guards
JDM 4 piece side skirts
JDM v5/6 Aluminum hood
RS coupe wing with custom gurney
JDM v3/4 STI steering wheel
JDM v3 STI carbon fiber OEM option gauge cluster
JDM v3/4 STI front and rear seats
AEM AFR gauge
AEM Oil pressure
AEM oil temp
Limited Edition Peter Solberg Shift knob
DIY red suede inserts