Prodrive Have Developed The P25 To Show What The Subaru Impreza 22B Could Be Today

25 production Prodrive P25 Subaru Impreza recreations are being built.
Price with UK road registration for £460,000 + VAT
Power is over 400 bhp and over 600 Nm torque
Weight is less than 1200 kg

The two door rally Impreza was introduced by Prodrive 25 years ago as their World Rally Car (WRC) entrant. There were only 424 road going variants produced of the original 22B and it has achieved cult status as the ultimate turbocharged four wheel drive car at the time.

As those 25 years have passed there have been advancements in materials and technology which Prodrive have used in this modern reincarnation. Only 25 cars will be bult and each one uses an original two-door Impreza WRX as its base. The very same base chassis used in the original WRC cars. With some weight reduction, increases in power and improvements in dynamics it is the ultimate incarnation of that very car.

Carbon composites have been used to bring the weight down to less than 1200 kg. The latest 2.5 litre boxer flat four allows for a power increase to over 400 bhp and torque of over 600 Nm. Anti-lag technology means that the car will launch hard and reach 100 km/h, or 62 mph, in under 3.5 seconds.

The weight reduction from the chassis came from manufacturing the boot, bonnet (hood), roof, sills (rockers), door mirrors, front and rear quarters and the WRC style wing in carbon fibre composite. Inside the car there are optional lightweight racing seats and carbon door cars with a lithium-ion battery in place of the original lead acid type.

Subaru’s latest 2.5 litre engine block was used as a base but has been totally re-engineered by Prodrive’s powertrain team with bespoke internal components. New cylinder liners, pistons and con rods with new valve train with variable valve timing. Garret provides the motorsport turbo with a high performance intercooler an airbox, with Akrapovic producing the titanium and stainless exhaust system.

The transmission is a six speed sequential with helical cut gears and semi-automatic shift using a paddle on the steering column allowing for precise gearchanges in as little as 80 milliseconds. The car even has a full WRC stye launch control system which uses a fly by wire throttle and clutch in the floor mounted pedal box which automatically takes the car through first second and third gears to give the optimum acceleration from a standing start without the driver having to intervene.

Power is put down through all four wheels which features an adjustable active centre differential and limited slip diffs front and rear. Suspension is of McPherson strut type as it was original, but new machined uprights which allow for camber tuning and geometry adjustments and also to allow for the wider 1770 mm track. Adjustable Bilstein dampers are fitted at each corner and tarmac spec springs and anti-roll bars are used.

The brakes are AP 380 mm vented discs and six piston calipers at the front and 350 mm and four pistons at the rear. Wheels are machined Prodrive 8.5 x 19 rims fitted with Potenza 235/35/19 tyres which are matched to the dampers.

Inside the car the dashboard is a modern full width high definition display with multiple modes including a data logger. For those who wish to use their P25 on track the driver can select from multiple throttle maps which also includes anti-lag adjustment. There’s even a rally style fly off handbrake which automatically disconnects the centre differential to remove the drive to the rear wheels. There is also an electronic parking brake too.

The interior upgrades extend to the materials used in the cabin, recreating a late 90’s Impreza with leather, alcantara and carbon. Four seats are included, but there is the option to remove the rear and have a partial safety cage fitted.

Peter Stevens styled the original Impreza and has had a hand in the new P25 too. Working with Prodrive and the original technical director from 25 years ago, David Lapworth, who was responsible for developing the first Impreza WRC.

David Richards, Prodrive chairman, said: “The iconic blue Subarus bring back memories of an extraordinary era of the WRC and it was the Impreza 22B that brought this rally car performance to the road. By reimagining this car using the latest technologies and materials the Prodrive P25 pays homage to its roots and there will be little else able to match its performance on the open road. I therefore believe we have achieved our vision of creating our own modern interpretation of the most iconic Subaru Impreza ever.”

The first P25 development car will make several runs up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, before embarking on an extensive test and development programme.

The 25 production cars will be built at Prodrive’s headquarters in Banbury, UK with the first being delivered to customers later this year.

The P25 will be UK road registered and priced at £460,000 + VAT.