Hoonigan and Subaru Motorsports USA Introduce Brataroo 9500 Turbo at SEMA 2025
Hoonigan and Subaru Motorsports USA unveiled a purpose-built 1978 Subaru BRAT at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The vehicle, designated the Brataroo 9500 Turbo, will serve as the primary machine for the upcoming Gymkhana film series entry titled “Aussie Shred,” which follows Gymkhana activities staged across various Australian locations.
Vehicle Specifications and Engineering
The Brataroo represents a comprehensive engineering undertaking completed through collaboration between Subaru of America and technical partner Vermont SportsCar. The platform utilizes a turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer-configuration engine delivering 670 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque. Engine speed capabilities extend beyond 9,500 RPM, establishing it as the highest-revving engine fitted to any Gymkhana vehicle to date.
Mechanical components include a six-speed sequential SADEV gearbox, all-wheel-drive distribution, and motorsport-grade differential systems. The engine construction incorporated rallycross-derived engineering techniques and high-pressure turbocharging systems. The complete powertrain assembly was engineered and assembled by Vermont SportsCar technical personnel.
Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo
Structural and Material Modifications
The vehicle’s bodywork consists entirely of carbon fiber composite materials. Vermont SportsCar engineered the underlying chassis architecture. The structural framework includes a roll cage assembly meeting current World Rally Championship safety standards. Overall vehicle weight was minimized through material selection and construction methodology.
The 1978 BRAT platform underwent substantial dimensional modifications. Bodywork received widebody treatment, expanding the vehicle’s overall proportions while maintaining the original BRAT silhouette. Designer Khyzyl Saleem directed aesthetic modifications that reimagined the vehicle’s angular lines and proportions while preserving design heritage elements.
Active Aerodynamic Systems
The Brataroo incorporates advanced active aerodynamic components not previously featured on competing Gymkhana vehicles. Front-end fender louvers feature adjustable mechanisms allowing real-time modification of front-end aerodynamic balance. These louvers pivot forward or backward, altering airflow patterns and aerodynamic load distribution during both grounded and airborne vehicle attitudes.
The rear section incorporates two interchangeable wing assemblies. A larger wing configuration provides elevated downforce and aerodynamic stability during high-speed operations. A smaller wing facilitates tire-oriented maneuvers and general course operations. Both wing assemblies feature adjustable angle-of-attack mechanisms and vertical articulation capacity.
The larger rear wing incorporates an expansion mechanism. As the wing assembly actuates upward during operation, its width increases substantially, expanding aerodynamic surface area and total stability parameters. This design allows adjustment of vehicle pitch and rotational characteristics during sustained airborne sequences.
Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo
Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo
Wheel and Tire Selection
The vehicle rides on one-off forged monobloc wheels manufactured by KMC Wheels. The wheel design references late-1970s rally-sport aesthetics while incorporating contemporary engineering standards. The 18-inch wheels maintain a four-spoke configuration aligned with the original BRAT design language.
Tire specifications vary according to operational requirements. The Bretaroo utilizes Yokohama ADVAN A052 or APEX tire compounds, with selection based on intended maneuver type and road surface conditions. Tire choice modification enables optimization for both aerial stunt performance and ground-based course work.
Interior Architecture and Controls
The cockpit design incorporates both heritage and contemporary technological elements. A carbon-fiber dashboard construction acknowledges original 1978 BRAT interior design language. Flax-composite wood-grain accents reference the vehicle’s utilitarian aesthetic heritage. Original-equipment-manufactured radio components underwent restoration and integration into the modern dashboard assembly.
HVAC control systems from the original platform have been repurposed. These controls now operate the active aerodynamic systems rather than climate functions. A period-correct Uniden CB radio unit provides communication capability alongside modern integrated control systems. Dashboard and interior design treatment respects Subaru design heritage while addressing Gymkhana operational requirements.
Livery treatment incorporates Subaru branding from the 1970s era, alongside graphics referencing Outback imagery, kangaroo motifs, and sponsor brand integrations. The design includes plaid-pattern elements consistent with previous Gymkhana vehicle liveries and reflects sponsorship relationships with Dixxon Flannel, KMC Wheels, Mercury Marine, Yokohama, Heat Wave, and additional partners.
Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo
Operational Context and Production Timeline
The Brataroo represents the third fully custom-engineered Subaru platform developed for Gymkhana franchise productions. Development incorporated input from driver Travis Pastrana, who operates the vehicle during filming sequences. The vehicle underwent its initial public exhibition at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas on November 4-7.
The upcoming Gymkhana film, titled “Aussie Shred,” incorporates filming sequences across Australian geographic locations and landmarks. Production scheduling indicates a premiere date in early December on the Hoonigan YouTube channel. The film represents a continuation of the Gymkhana franchise, which originated from earlier productions directed toward viral social media distribution.
The Brataroo development project extends the creative tradition established by previous Gymkhana projects, originally conceptualized by automotive personality Ken Block. The franchise has maintained emphasis on practical stunt performance, purposeful vehicle engineering, and high-production-value content distribution through digital platforms.
Vehicle Performance Characteristics
No specifications regarding 0-60 acceleration, top speed, or track lap times have been disclosed by manufacturers. Performance characteristics are documented through intended applications: extended airborne sequences, sustained sliding maneuvers, and multi-surface terrain transitions. The vehicle’s design parameters—elevated horsepower output, active aerodynamic controls, and light construction—prioritize stunt performance capability rather than conventional speed metrics.
The all-wheel-drive system enables traction control across variable surface conditions encountered during filming. Differential systems facilitate controlled tire slippage during intentional lateral maneuvers. Sequential transmission architecture enables rapid gear selection and engine braking capacity during complex driving sequences.
Production Details and Availability
Subaru of America and Hoonigan have not disclosed information regarding production quantities beyond the single Brataroo 9500 Turbo unit. The vehicle remains under the operational control of Hoonigan for content production purposes. No sales, lease, or private ownership pathways have been announced by either organization.
