Prodrive tech demo

Newswheel staff :: 16 December 2005 :: Filed under Coupe, Four wheel drive, Prodrive, Europe & UK

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Rally and racecar outfit shows off it’s production car credentials

To Brits with an interest in World Rally or chintzed-out Subaru Imprezas, Prodrive is already a household name. What level of awareness the suits at big car companies have of Prodrive’s production car engineering capabilities, however, is another matter. So, the race and rally car preparation specialist has knocked up this “technology demonstrator” with a view to drumming up some business.

The Prodrive P2 two-seater sports car borrows bits from a number of Subaru models, including the scuttle and cabin architecture from the R1 micro car and the Impreza’s 2.0-litre flat four and four-wheel drive transmission. The exterior design is the work of Peter Stevens - he of McLaren F1 fame - while the car’s overall kerb weight is pegged at 1,100kg. the demonstrator’s power-to-weight ratio is expected to be pretty spectacular: in excess of 300bhp pre tonne.

As well as showcasing electronic, aerodynamic and suspension systems, the P2 also demos Prodrive’s anti-lag technology. Anti-lag tech has been widely used by turbo-charged rally cars for several years and involves the burning of unspent fuel in the exhaust manifold in order to keep the turbo spooled-up off-boost. To date, it’s been considered too noisy for implementation on a production car.

The P2 will debut at the Autosport show at the Birmingham NEC on January 12th and presumably will be making the rounds at various auto shows throughout the year.