Currently reading: Subaru 'Brataroo' Gymkhana car brings 670bhp and active aero

Star of the upcoming stunt film is an overhauled version of Subaru’s small 1970s pick-up

Car culture firm Hoonigan and rally driver Travis Pastrana have reinvented the Subaru Brat as a tyre-shredding stunt machine with 670bhp and active aerodynamics.

Built by Vermont Sportscar, the company behind Pastrana’s Subaru WRX rally cars, it swaps the Brat’s original 1.6-litre engine for a turbocharged 2.0-litre flat four.

It has been fettled to put out 670bhp – almost 10 times as much power as the original Brat – and 680lb ft, and it revs to more than 9500rpm.

Its aggressive-looking new bodywork is made from carbonfibre and features several active aerodynamic devices, similar to Pastrana’s previous ‘Family Huckster’ Subaru GL.

These are used to adjust the car’s balance when flying through the air, giving the driver control over its pitch and rotation.

Subaru Brataroo active aero

Inside, the dashboard is replaced by a carbonfibre item, while the Brat’s original wooden accents are retained by way of flax-composite panels. The air-con controls are now used to adjust the car’s active aero.

The Brat will star in the next edition of the long-running Gymkhana video series, which will take place in Australia. With that in mind, the pick-up has been nicknamed the Brataroo.

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Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Staff Writer

As part of Autocar’s news desk, Charlie plays a key role in the title’s coverage of new car launches and industry events. He’s also a regular contributor to its social media channels, creating content for Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitter.

Charlie joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication What Car?, during which he acquired his gold-standard NCTJ diploma with the Press Association.

He is the proud owner of a Mk4 Mazda MX-5 but still feels pangs of guilt over selling his first car, a Fiat Panda 100HP.

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