Travis Pastrana’s 500kW Subaru Brat: A Wild Revival of Speed, Aero, and Insanity
When you hear the words Subaru Brat, you probably picture a quirky little ‘70s pickup with jump seats in the bed and just enough power to haul a surfboard.
Scientists transformed the Brat into Travis Pastrana's new monster by creating a high-performance car with active aerodynamics and 500 kilowatts of power.
The Brat Reborn
The Subaru Brat received its transformation through a partnership between Vermont SportsCar and Subaru Motorsports USA and Hoonigan. The Subaru Brat underwent a complete transformation at Vermont SportsCar under the partnership between Subaru Motorsports USA and Hoonigan. The retro silhouette stayed the same but the designers rebuilt the entire design to create a total performance disorder.
Nicknamed the “Brataroo 9500 Turbo,” the name says it all. The beast reaches its maximum speed of 9,500 rpm while its Subaru boxer engine produces 500 kW (670 horsepower) and more than 900 Nm of torque. That’s supercar territory, in a pickup from 1978.
Engineering Mayhem
Every part of this car is designed for control, speed, and showmanship. The chassis is a custom rally-spec setup, paired with a six-speed sequential transmission and all-wheel drive. The entire vehicle structure consists of carbon fiber material which provides both lightness and exceptional rigidity and aggressive performance.
The active aerodynamics system distinguishes itself through its implementation of actual moving aero elements. The front fender louvers function as drag management tools through their opening and closing mechanism while the rear wing operates automatically to maintain downforce stability during cornering and drifting and when the car flies through the air. It’s tech straight out of a racing prototype, applied to a 70s Subaru shell.
Built for Gymkhana
his isn’t a concept car for a show floor. The Brataroo was purpose-built for Gymkhana, the stunt and drift series made famous by Ken Block and now carried on by Pastrana. The system functions as a platform which enables content to flow effortlessly through spinning and leaping motions until it reaches viral status despite facing different types of user mistreatment.
Pastrana himself calls it “completely unhinged, in the best way possible.”The vehicle will show its true nature when it loses control and starts to slide while producing flames and struggling to maintain contact with the road. The vehicle combines digital precision with an analog soul which houses a modern supercar engine within a classic design.
The upcoming Gymkhana video titled “Aussie Shred” will premiere online in early December 2025 after filming at the 2025 Bathurst 1000 event. The video will showcase the most extreme stunts ever recorded in Australian history.
Why It Matters
The Brataroo represents more than a new construction project because it demonstrates how performance and technology and creative thinking can create something extraordinary. The vehicle unites traditional design elements with modern engineering advancements while maintaining the rebellious Subaru spirit which continues to endure.
The automotive industry continues to be driven by passion and innovation according to this project. The goal goes beyond numbers and luxury because it involves creating work that affects you deeply in the same way it affects others.
Quick Specs
- Power: 500 kW / 670 hp
- Torque: 921 Nm
- Redline: 9,500 rpm
- Drivetrain: AWD, 6-speed sequential
- Body: Full carbon fiber
- Aero: Active front louvers + adjustable rear wing
- Purpose: Built for Gymkhana and pure chaos
The HypeGeek Take
This is the kind of machine that defines why we love this culture, it’s creative, fearless, and engineered to make noise in every sense of the word. The Subaru Brat has transformed from its first appearance as an unusual vehicle into a contemporary technological achievement.
The world has not experienced a nostalgic period but instead it has undergone a rapid transformation.
Stay tuned for the premiere of “Aussie Shred” this December.
