Prodrive P25 sells out at $800,000 each

UPDATE, June 24: Prodrive P25 allocation sells out

British firm Prodrive has confirmed its limited-run P25 has sold out, with all 25 examples snapped up at over $800,000 a piece.

Having revealed the Subaru Impreza WRX 22B STi tribute car earlier this week (see further below), the P25 made its public debut at the opening day of this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, with Prodrive confirming its allocation was accounted for.

It's worth noting the £460,000 (AU$800,000) price tag was before taxes, although if you're considering a heavily modified Subaru, which is over three-quarters of a million dollars, government charges probably aren't too offputting.

The story to here

June 21: Prodrive P25 revealed with an $800,000 price tag

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Less than a month after first teasing its latest creation, Prodrive has unveiled the P25 – its modern interpretation of Subaru's ultimate WRX STi.

Based upon the two-door Subaru Impreza coupe, which made its debut in the World Rally Championship (WRC) 25 years ago, Prodrive's P25 has taken the WRX 22B STi and turned it into something truly special.

Here are some of the headlines: 300kW, 600Nm, a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox, launch control, anti-lag, a kerb weight of under 1200 kilograms and a £460,000 (AU$800,000) price tag.

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Everything about the P25 is upgraded from its Impreza donor, and its level of equipment arguably rivals that of the WRC97 car which inspired it. A carbon composite body has helped bring the weight down, while Bilstein dampers, an adjustable active centre differential and limited-slip differentials at the front and rear help to keep the power under control.

A 0-100km/h sprint time of under 3.5 seconds is achieved thanks to its 2.5-litre, flat-four Subaru engine, which has been majorly overhauled with; new cylinder liners, pistons, conrods, variable cam timing, a Garrett turbo and an Akrapovic titanium and stainless steel racing exhaust system.

AP Racing supplied the P25's brakes, with six-pot calipers and 380 millimetre rotors at the front, while four-pot calipers and 350mm discs hang at the back – hiding behind 19x8.5-inch Prodrive wheels, shod in Bridgestone Potenza 235/35/19 rubber.

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Prodrive chairman and former WRC co-driver David Richards said the P25 is more than just a track weapon, with customers given the option to either keep its four seats or delete the second row in place of a partial roll cage.

"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," said Richards.

"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.”

Prodrive will be sending the P25 up the world-famous Goodwood hillclimb at this weekend's Festival of Speed.

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May 27: Prodrive P25 Subaru WRX 22B STi tribute previewed, 25 to be built

The legendary Subaru Impreza WRX 22B STi is coming up on its 25th birthday, and British firm Prodrive has tapped into its roots to celebrate.

Simply called the P25, Prodive's latest creation is based on a two-door Subaru Impreza WRX GC8 but with inspiration from the limited-run 22B STi which started production in 1998, with just 425 examples built worldwide.

Rather than the 2.2-litre, turbocharged flat-four engine found under the bonnet of the original road car and limited to 206kW, Prodrive says the P25 will be powered by a 300kW-plus, 2.5-litre boxer – now sending drive to all four wheels through a six-speed sequential transmission.

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Subaru's original 22B STi has become a cult classic, with some examples selling for nearly half a million dollars

Despite the 22B STi tipping the scales at a relatively lightweight 1270kg, the P25 promises to shed even more weight, going on a crash diet with a carbon-fibre chassis, promising better handling than ever before.

Prodrive founder and 1981 world championship-winning co-driver David Richards said the P25 is his brainchild, promising it will deliver on expectations to mate classic design with modern tech.

"The original 22B Impreza is considered the most iconic of Subarus and highly sought after," said Richards.

"We wanted to enhance everything that made that car so special by applying the very latest technology to create our own modern interpretation of a car that’s established a place in motoring history.”

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Having run Subaru's World Rally Championship program between 1990 and 2008, Prodrive campaigned the Legacy (or Liberty to us Australians) and the Impreza WRX for just shy of three decades, taking three drivers' titles (1995, 2001 and 2003) and three constructors' championships (1995-1997) in the process.

The P25 project will reform the team of lead designer Peter Stevens and technical director David Lapworth, both of whom worked on the original rally car.

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Colin McRae and Nicky Grist in the usual position: not on the ground

It's not known how much Prodrive is asking for the P25, but given 22B STis have previously fetched over $400,000, it's unlikely the British firm will be letting its creation go cheap.

One example in Wagga Wagga with just under 30,000km on the clock is currently up for sale on Collecting Cars, with bidding already up to $226,500 with less than five days remaining.

Prodrive has said the P25 is set for its public debut at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, while just 25 examples will be built – being delivered to customers in the UK later this year.

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A 22B STi (left) with Subaru's Legacy RS RA (right) and a Version WRX STi Type R (rear)