Today's Autocar is reporting that Prodrive is developing an Impreza-based two-seater barely bigger than a Ford Fiesta.

Set to weigh just 1000Kg, performance is slated to match the Gallardo's or Ferrari F430. although top speed will be around 160mph.

Notional purchase price will be in the region of £40k.....

Scanned image below.

 

Handily missing off any clues to the grille design, I see.

 

Hello Toyota Celica

 

Front looks like a Puma to me.

Mid engined? Just looking at the side intakes.

 

Front engined apparently, including AWD drivetrain. About Puma-sized I guess....

 

Yep, looks like the spawn of a Racing Puma raped by a Lambo Diablo

 

'07 WRC Car?

I hope Zapitnas is reading...

 

Oh no!

 

Mmm..... Thought you'd be interested Steve.....

 

How do you think new develoement cars get off the Drawing Board They don't just go from a drawing board and then appear fully made

I would well imagine "any" new Subaru development would involve Provedrive . To ensure it fit's in the big picture and drives straight and effectively

The full running gear/body wieght may have been hidden under a "Lada Shell" or even under a "P1" or "Wagon" etcPerhaps a "Project Classic" 2 door is/was not, all what it seems



Tony

 

Looks like a friggin Ford Cougar, even the same colour !

 

Inside info, Tony...?

 

IIRC the current regulations for WRC cars state they must be 4 seaters?

 

Surprised Subaru have not done this before - Mazda have a great success with RX8 - I nearly bought one, I definitely would have to have had it if it featured the Scooby engine and AWD drive train.
Mazda do a great job with the RX8 with four seats and even four doors.
A Prodrive sports car such as this would also be a good development platform to launch the new much smaller hatch Impreza due in a year or so??
I guess Subaru feel they must go the small hatch root to compete fully with Citroen etc.

 

Tony obviously has a similar source to me...

 

I didn't state 2 seater I said 2 door

Tony

 

Does Autocar come out with a new Subaru Impreza exclusive every week.

 

Does Subaru Uk come out with a new model every week

 

Dear Prodrive,
Please don't make us a "pure" sports car. Thats not a real road car in the vain that has made Impreza's sucessful in the first place. Make us the best damn road car the world has ever seen; a real road car that actually improves on the Impreza's public road capacity.

1. Don't crap up the wheel travel.
2. Do not give us yet more grip!
3. Make the unibody out of a Lotus Elise like super rigid alumiuim tub- with class leading crash worthiness.
4. Give the car top high speed stability- 150mph cruise.
5. Give us ATD
6. Make it easy to see out of- no need for steeply racked windsheild.
7. Make the car handle and super-stable in the wet- ie use smallish wheels/tires, with relaxed spring rates.
8. Mimic the Lancia Integrales miricle- the currently unttainable act of fusing 4WD with great steering feel- eg take most of the rubber bits out of the chasiss.

I think that should do it. Good working at it fellows

 

Very true - the RX-8 is an outstanding car (maybe I'm biased though ). Prodrive have been involved with Mazda too. They are developing a handling and performance kit for the RX-8 that should be available next year (the queue starts behind me )

Chris

 

Well it looks good to me!

Naturally I would have to wait for the Litchfield P25 version

 

Would love to see the RX8 with more Prodrive influence - the twin rota engine was smooth as silk but just (IMHO) lacked the muscle of the Scooby engine - the turbo will be interesting.
The handling again very good I drove one after the other and the WRX was best overall for me bought an STI in the end.
All rubish at MPG!!
However as the dealer told me (he sold Mazda and Scooby's) the RX8 would do better at resale He's very right!!

 

if they release anything that looks like that in the metal, then i will be on the waiting list

 

Tony