The legendary Subaru Impreza 22B – essentially a road version of the car that won the company’s title at the 1997 World Rally Championship – has returned as an updated, ultra-exclusive and heavily charged restomod.
Named the P25, the new arrival is the work of Banbury-based Prodrive motorcycle clothing, which successfully led Subaru’s working rally team from 1990 to 2008.
It arrives 25 years after the introduction of the Impreza 22B, designed by Prodrive, of which only 424 units were produced.
The British company says it has “rethought what this car would be like today”. As such, while the style is left largely intact, the construction and supports of the two-door sedan have been almost completely redesigned.
Only 25 copies will be produced, each of which will use the original Mk1 Impreza WRX with two doors as a basis and, although dramatically improved, remains true to the ethos of the favorite original of the fans.
Each will be provided with a registration number in the UK and at a cost of £ 460,000 before taxes – so £ 552,000 with VAT. About a year ago one of only 16 original 22Bs officially imported into the UK in 1999 sold for £ 171,000 with 49,000 miles per watch.
So the new model retains its charismatic, bubbling flat four-box engine – but with an increased capacity of 2.2 to 2.5 liters and power increased to more than 400 hp. and 443 lb ft.
It drives both axles via a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox with helical gears, which Prodrive claims can shift gears in just 80 milliseconds.
The engine is basically the latest generation of the Subaru box unit – as used by the atmospheric coupe Subaru BRZ and its brother Toyota GR86 – but for this application is combined with a monstrous turbocharger Garrett for motor sports, productive intercooler and titanium and stainless steel -steel muffler supplied by Akrapovič.
Cylinder linings for the engine, pistons, connecting rod and valve system are also available on request.
Prodrive kept the P25’s own weight at less than 1,200 kg (the Alpine A110 weighs just over 1,100 kg for context) and says the WRC’s “turbocharged” and anti-turbo lag control systems help it sprint from 0- 62 miles per hour. only 3.5 sec.
The low curb weight is mainly due to the use of replacement carbon composite panels for the boot, bonnet, roof, sills, sash mirrors and quarter panels. Prodrive also installs carbon door cards and a lighter lithium-ion battery. Less bulky racing seats are an option.
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