2006 Subaru MYSTIQUE Review

Specifications

Anti-Lag and Active Torque Dynamics Systems Highlight Prodrives First Car

If youre familiar with the name Prodrive, youve probably heard it in reference to motorsports. Theyve worked on Ferraris 550 GTS FIA-GT race car, and most famously are known for their affiliation with the Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT). And while Prodrive specialized in components such as differentials, gearboxes and other mechanical bits for racing cars, their know-how has trickled down to aftermarket components for multiple vehicles, including the Subaru Impreza.

During the spring of last year, we reported that Prodrive, the Banbury, UK-based engineering firm was working on a compact, mid-engined supercar designed and built in house in order to promote its R&D and product innovations. The project was the idea of David Richards, company chairman and CEO, who pushed the product in order to show the motoring industry the companys abilities as an innovator. As such, the P2 highlights two new rally-inspired technologies yet to be seen on any production car.

In our initial report, we speculated that the car would be based off of the Subaru Impreza, however, Prodrive chose the Subaru R1, a Japanese-market kei (micro) car as a base and the smallest car Subaru makes. Prodrive completely reworked the tiny, van-like upright four-seater, front-engined vehicle into a low-slung, dynamic, mid-engined two-seater. Wedged into a vehicle no longer than a Mazda MX-5 is UK/Japan-spec Impreza WRX STI running gear, which includes the 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed Boxer four and six-speed manual gearbox.

Power has been boosted from the standard 300 to 345 horsepower and torque is up to 425 lb-ft, improved mainly by boosting the turbos pressure and remapping the engine management system. The amazing part is that Prodrive was able to do this while reducing lag, due to their innovative Anti-Lag System (ALS). Developed for use on the Subaru WRC rally car, ALS works to keep the turbos boost up, igniting unburnt fuel in the exhaust manifold to keep the turbine spinning at high boost. Think of it as the automotive equivalent of a jets after burners. As such, the P2 has nearly zero turbo lag, making it as responsive as a naturally aspirated engine, while retaining its torque through a wide band.

Subarus famous symmetrical all-wheel drive system, however impressive it is at harnessing power, has nothing on Prodrives Active Torque Dynamics system. This technology, also derived from Prodrives rally expertise, uses two active differentials in order to constantly shift power from front to back. ATD not only equally distributes power to all four wheels, but acts as an aid in cornering, by reducing understeer by shifting power to the rear wheels, and oversteer by shifting directing power to the front wheels. The system shines by providing the driver with truly neutral handling in all circumstances.

The man responsible for giving the P2 its exterior and interior is Peter Stevens, of MG SV, Jaguar XJR-15 and McLaren F1 fame. Stevens and Prodrive first created a full-size mockup, which was used as a mold to develop the lightweight composite body panels. The P2 is an extremely aggressive looking vehicle; stout, wide and low to the ground, with an assortment of vents, bulges, flares, and intakes to feed the engine, and cool such vitals as the STI-sourced brakes. In terms of its looks theres definitely a bit of MG SV, but its blunt, wide nose recalls the original Mk.I Impreza.

Peer inside, and youll find a solid relationship between the WRX STI and the P2. To cut costs, Prodrive has used the STIs perfectly good blue and black Recaro seats, steering wheel, switchgear, instrument cluster and shift knob, all of which rest inside the cozy two-seat cabin. Despite being on a strict weight-limiting regime, Prodrive managed to squeeze in such amenities as power steering, xenon headlamps, electric windows, and a six-speaker CD system.

With a curb weight of just 2,420 lbs, and a power to weight ratio of 350-hp per metric tonne (1 tonne equals 1.102 U.S. tons), the P2 is capable of running with the best supercars. Laughing? Wait till you hear the ratings - 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, and a top speed of 175 mph. And though Prodrive hasnt released any numbers relating to the cars cornering abilities, rest assured, its unlikely that theres a faster way of getting round curves.

While Prodrive was able to engineer, develop and build the P2 as a fully functioning automobile over the course of nine months, its chances of production are very slim. In the event that a manufacturer does approach Prodrive, its expected that it would have a pricetag of approximately £40,000 (equal to $70,500 USD), which is like getting Porsche Carrera GT performance for Cayman S money. For the time being, the P2 will remain true to its purpose as a technology demonstrator - a demonstrator that Prodrive hopes will catch the eye of automakers from across the globe.