2023 Subaru Prodrive P25

This remarkable car is number 10 of the 25 P25’s produced and the only silver example in existence. What’s more it is one of a subset of 14 produced in right hand drive. With just 190 miles covered to date this is, make no mistake, a new, if pre-owned and pre-registered, P25. Please excuse your writer as he thumbs his way to “unique” in a well-worn Roget’s Thesaurus.

As we have seen, Prodrive leave nothing to chance and there was absolutely no way the P25 was going to be anything other than astonishing. Prodrive’s laser focus was on achieving the reimaginer’s holy trinity - making the P25 lighter, more powerful and better handling than the original. Nothing less than the best road-going Impreza…….ever. With the benefit of 21st century materials technology Prodrive produced the boot lid, bonnet, roof, sills, door mirror housings, front and rear quarters, bumpers and WRC style rear wing from the latest carbon composites. Lightweight seats, carbon door cards and a lightweight lithium-ion battery helped the Banbury team shave the P25’s weight down to a featherweight 1,200 kg.

In terms of power Prodrive produced a blueprinted and re-engineered version of the legendary EJ25 boxer engine. 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.

Strut suspension was retained by Prodrive, but the machined aluminium uprights are re-tuned for camber and geometry and optimised for the wider track and lowered ride height. Bilstein dampers are adjustable for compression and rebound, while the springs and anti-roll bars are optimised for tarmac handling.

As most probably predicted, the results of Prodrive’s diligence and attention to detail are dramatic. The Subaru uber-fans at Evo magazine summed up the P25 thus: “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.”

NOTE: VAT is payable on top of the hammer.  So, if the winning bid is £500,000.00, there will be £42,000 Buyers Premium on top plus £100,000 VAT to pay (total £642,000.00).

Long time Prodrive collaborator, Peter Stevens, was called upon again to restyle specific aspects of the P25. He successfully walked a fine line between “the same” and “refreshingly different.” The aforementioned composite elements are left exposed in all their high-tech woven glory in places and painted in others. The dark anthracites and blacks of the composites blend perfectly with the Solar Silver paintwork – a unique and deeply appealing feature of this particular P25. We note that the car has then also been covered in a matte satin PPF wrap.

The aerodynamic addenda of this P25 are eye-catching and innately modern looking. The front spoiler is deep, low and peppered with matrix style grills and vents. The carbon composite bonnet features a deep, wide intake flanked by two smaller lipped vents. The wings, fore and aft, are impressively flared with deep body coloured side skirts running beneath the frameless doors. At the rear a large composite WRC97 style rear wing sits atop the boot lid.

The imposing twelve spoke alloys wheels are Prodrive GC-012L 8.5 x 19 inch items front and rear. These are finished in black and shod with the factory specified Bridgestone Potenza 235/35 R 19 tyres. The open wheel architecture allows a tantalising glimpse of AP Racing and Prodrive inscribed callipers and the high specification vented discs against which they act.

Given this P25’s 190 miles and pampered existence to date, talk of condition seems superfluous. Our photographic package hopefully tells you all you need to know about this car’s “factory gate” presentation.

With the P25’s interior Prodrive’s brief was to retain the analogue ambiance of the original car but provide just enough modern technology and driving aids to enhance rather than disrupt the purity of the Impreza DNA. The project was handled by Callum (legendary designer Ian Callum’s design and engineering consultancy) and they hit the brief perfectly. The cabin is impressively swisher than the original, with swathes of quality double-stitched Alcantara upholstery and satin-finished carbon in place of the standard car’s exposed plastics. As for 21st century technology there’s a superb HD widescreen multi page driver display and an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are Bluetooth charging ports and a full electronic power management system, too, and even a reversing camera. Ahead of the passenger is a multi-mode screen in a deep padded and Alcantara finished binnacle with full data logging capabilities.

In terms of driver interfaces and touchpoints the P25 remains superbly analogue by design. A pair of Sparco SPX reclining sports seats grace the front together with four point safety harness. The Alcantara dressed steering wheel is devoid of switches and buttons and perfectly round. To its right is a large, crescent shaped composite gear change paddle. This controls the sequential six speed transmission. The pedals are AP Racing bottom hinged items finished in perforated, black painted alloy. In another superb nod to Subaru’s rally heritage a WRC style fly off hydraulic handbrake is fitted together with a more conventional electronic parking brake. Just like the exterior this is a well-considered, superbly executed cabin melding just the right levels of familiar recognition and innovative novelty. Stunning!

That re-engineered 2.5 litre powerplant is rated at 440 bhp at 6,000 rpm with a robust 457 Ib-ft or torque at 3,000 rpm. With the car weighing in at under 1,200 kg a power to weight ratio of around 379 bhp / tonne is on offer here. Combined with the P25’s WRC-style launch control system; this translates into a sub 3-second 0-60 mph time. The top speed is electronically limited to an ample 150mph. An Akrapovič racing exhaust with active silencer bypass is fitted. Furthermore, the advanced ECU and bespoke controller provide differentiated “Road,” “Sport,” and “Sport+” maps which endow the driver control over progressively increasing boost from the turbo, as well as sharper throttle actuation for quicker engine response. Lastly an Anti-Lag System ensures immediate power delivery out of every corner and electronic control of the differential for optimally precise handling.

The P25’s transmission is equally high specified, of course. A unique 6 speed X-Shift sequential gearbox with helical gears features, feeding that prodigious power via an AP Racing twin plate clutch to all four wheels. An active and adjustable electronic centre differential is present together with plated limited slip differentials front and rear. With all that mechanical and electronic technology focussed on forward momentum, it is reassuring to learn that the braking paraphernalia is equally capable. At the front the P25 boasts manhole cover sized 380mm AP Racing vented discs. These are acted upon by six piston callipers. The rears are hardly less able with 350mm vented discs and four piston callipers.

Given this P25’s mere 190 miles to date, inevitably the paperwork included is confined to the requisite registration documents and original book packs.

A brand new factory roll cage is included which can be fitted, if desired, in place of the rear seats. A bespoke P25 car cover is also on hand.

The “Prodrive Way” is a methodology forged in the white heat of extreme competition. Time and time again it has demonstrated its worth and elevated the Banbury enterprise to the apogee of Subaru expertise. So, when they declared their aim to create the best road going Impreza ever made it was always going to be remarkable, unbeatable and utterly unique. And so it is.

This P25 ticks every box on the collectability checklist, too. It’s one of 14 right hand drive cars, is uniquely finished in Solar Silver and has covered only 190 miles. It also represents the collector’s first opportunity to secure this astounding creation at auction. We are proud to be entrusted with its sale.

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £475,000 - £575,000. And please note that VAT is payable on top of the hammer price. Please also note that the finance on this vehicle will be cleared as soon as the car is sold.

Viewing is encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.