The new P25 is an homage to the 22B, which was itself inspired by a Prodrive creation.
Alex KiersteinWriterManufacturerPhotographer
Jun 21, 2022
Prodrive knows Subarus. The British motorsport company has been involved in Subaru’s World Rally Car program for a long time, and the companies are still close. At the height of the company’s work together, Subaru produced what has long been considered the ultimate Subaru Impreza: the 22B, a product of STi, draped in blue and shrouded in myth. Incredibly rare and a superb performer, with very few made and some legit rally magic baked in. It was, and is, very special; when they come up for sale, they command big bucks.
Which is why the Prodrive P25 costs what it does: a cool $565,000 at today’s exchange rates. Just 25 will be built, too, making it far rarer than the original. But it’s more than just a recreation of the 22B, or a straight reinterpretation. In the vein of a lot of factory and aftermarket up-specced specials, this is the 22B reimagined for a new era.
For one, it’s lighter. Much lighter. While the build starts with a real Impreza two-door shell, much is new in the P25. As exotic as the 22B was when new, the P25 takes advantage of the lower cost and greater flexibility of carbon fiber, to drop overall weight to less than 2,650 pounds. Virtually every exterior panel is carbon composite, including the trunklid, hood, roof, quarter panels, and bumpers.
At its heart is Subaru’s most recent 2.5-liter H-4 architecture, but completely reimagined by Prodrive, which fits new cylinder liners, pistons, connecting rods, and a new valvetrain, as well as a Garrett motorsport-spec turbocharger, high-performance intercooler, and an Akrapovic exhaust combining stainless steel and lightweight titanium. The mill is good for more than 400 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, which is a far cry from what the 22B was claimed to produce (and likely a lot more than it actually made, too).
The driveline is competition-spec stuff, with a six-speed sequential gearbox, WRC-style launch control, and helical-cut gears. Big AP Racing brakes help it stop, and the P25 rolls on Prodrive’s own 8.5 x 19 wheels.
While the instrument cluster has been replaced by a large screen with multiple information display options and data logging, Prodrive hasn’t neglected some creature comforts and the flavor of the original, preserving some of the iconic interior style, albeit with improved materials like leather, alcantara, and carbon trim. You can even spec a rear seat, which is removable to fit a partial safety cage if wanted.
Prodrive will show off the prototype at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, which is shaping up to be quite a show. The company expects the first P25 to be available to customers in the U.K. later this year. No word on if the company can or will build any cars for export markets.