Prodrive P25 is an Impreza 22B for 2022 | GRR
One of the most beloved Japanese performance cars and one of the coolest Japanese racing cars, is the two-door Subaru Impreza, which spawned the 22B homologation special in 1997. Today, the originals sell for around £100,000 and are bonafide showstoppers. Prodrive fully aware of and in fact, instrumental in, that titanic status, have decided to celebrate it, with a resto-mod it says is a 22B for the 2020s. This is the Prodrive P25, getting its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard.
To appearances, it’s an Impreza 22B that’s had its body panel tolerances finely tightened, before being chucked into a Need for Speed-style auto sculpt system, its existing proportions engorged almost to absurdity. It’s all arches, wheels and inimitable stance. Of course, this is Prodrive, so it’s no show pony. It’s a hopped-up Grand National winner disqualified for substance abuse.
Powering it is a tuned 2.5-litre flat-four turbocharged engine with just under 400PS. The quarters, bumpers, boot lid, wing and bonnet are carbon fibre. The inside is all carbon and alcantara, with a rally-style shift paddle for the sequential transmission. All told the P25 is a featherweight at under 1,200kg, which is very good going given the weight penalties of all-wheel-drive and turbocharging.
Speaking of the AWD system, it’s about as trick as they come short of unlimited electric motor torque vectoring. An active centre diff plays twin limited-slippers at the front and back, for near-perfect power distribution. “By reimagining the 22B using the latest technologies and materials the Prodrive P25 pays homage to its roots. We have achieved our vision of creating our own modern interpretation of the most iconic Subaru Impreza ever.”
Is over £500,000 too much for a tricked-out Subaru? Some might think so. But those people who aren't the ones that sold it out within days of its reveal and who wanted to buy one but couldn't. Build it and they will come and indeed, for many, the Impreza two-door is more desirable than the most exotic of supercars.
There's plenty more action still to come from the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Click here to catch every moment on our live stream.
Photography by Phil Hay