AN INCREDIBLY rare version of an iconic car with a 6-speed gearbox and a super lightweight upgrade is set to go on auction.
The 2023 Subaru Prodrive P25 is expected to attract a hefty price and is a one-of-a-kind re-imagination of the famed Impreza 22B STi.
A 2023 Subaru Prodrive P25 is set to go on auction for £325,000[/caption]
The ultra-rare motor comes with a 6-speed semi automatic gearbox[/caption]
It’s powered by a 2.5L engine that can produce 440bhp[/caption]
The motor is just one of 25 ever produced and is the only example in its standout silver colour.
Adding to its rarity, it is one of a subset of just 14 produced in right-hand drive.
The stunning Subaru has only 190 miles to its name and was designed to be “lighter, more powerful and [have] better handling” than the 22B STi.
Carbon composite materials used for the car’s boot lid, bonnet, roof, sills, door mirror housings, bumpers, and rear wing help make the motor incredibly light, weighing it at just 1,200kg.
The P25 also comes with a re-engineered version of the legendary EJ25 boxer engine, first introduced in 1996.
Its listing reads: “Only the best, bespoke internal components were used to include forged pistons, steel con rods, ported cylinder heads and new valve seats to improve airflow and combustion.
“The advanced valve train offers variable cam timing and a Garrett performance road turbo with a high-performance intercooler and airbox is also utilised.
“This heady mix delivers well over 400bhp.”
The car comes fitted with an Akrapovič exhaust system, a 6-speed X-shift box, helical gears, and a Prodrive Super Lightweight Upgrade Pack, which contribute to its “exceptional driving experience.”
Bonhams Cars is auctioning the ultra-rare lightweight car, which also comes with a rear-view camera and a passenger-side dash.
The motor is US import qualifying and VAT qualifying, making it an “ideal acquisition for international buyers”, its listing reads.
Subaru uber-fans at Evo magazine described the P25 as: “In case you’re in any doubt, this car is something truly remarkable.
“That it would have a scintillating turn of speed was a given.
“What makes it so bewitching is the fact that it generates this pace without relying on a suite of sophisticated electronic aids and delivers it in a way that’s rewarding at any speed.
“This is driving at its most compelling.”
The powerful motor is based on the iconic Impreza 22B STi, which became a legend in rally and performance car circles following its 1998 release.
Used to commemorate both Subaru’s 40th anniversary as well as its third consecutive manufacturer’s title in the FIA World Rally Championship, the car was incredibly popular when it first went to sale.
Some reports claim that on its release, all 400 Japanese units sold out in as little as 30 minutes.
A run of 16 UK specification cars with taller gearing were subsequently built and can today be worth well over £250,000 on the rare occasion that they change hands.
The rally-inspired 22B STi derives from a line of Subaru Imprezas that won multiple World Rally Championships during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The motor is the only known example of a P25 to be painted in Solar Silver[/caption]
Composite materials help make the rally-inspired car fast and lightweight[/caption]
The racing-style driver’s seat in the motor[/caption]
