Key Takeaways
- Subaru unveils new WRX-based build called Project Midnight.
- Described as the “quickest and fastest” WRX ever made, Project Midnight will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
- 2.0-liter flat-four develops 670 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque.
Subaru Motorsports USA has unveiled an incredible new build called Project Midnight, a race car the automaker describes as “the quickest and fastest” WRX it has ever made. Set to debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, Project Midnight was built for neck-breaking speed and achieves this with a powerful boxer engine and lightweight body.
Despite the modest 2.0-liter capacity, the flat-four produces a potent 670 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque courtesy of loads of turbocharged boost. The engine revs all the way up to 9,500 r/min, spitting flames from the hood-exit exhaust – a feature that will undoubtedly please gearheads. There are no performance figures, but Subaru notes that the powerplant is an evolution of its rallycross engine.
2024 Subaru WRX Sedan
- Horsepower
- 271 HP
- Torque
- 258 LB-FT
- Transmission
- 6-Speed Manual/CVT
- 0-60 MPH
- 5.4 Seconds
- Top Speed
- 134 MPH
Massively Powerful, Lightweight Body, Aero Enhancements
We can’t wait to see Project Midnight in motion. It weighs less than 2,500 lbs, which is 1,000 lbs lighter than a road-going WRX and 300 lbs lighter than the Airslayer WRX STI Travis Pastrana used to break records at the 2021 Mt. Washington Hillclimb. The Project Midnight build uses specially developed suspension geometry for tarmac use. In place of Airslayer’s 17-inch rallycross wheels, Project Midnight wears 18-inch OZ Racing Superturismo LMP wheels (made from magnesium) wrapped in sticky 280/650R18 Yokohama Advan slicks.
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It’s a sinister-looking thing, with matte black paintwork, black-painted wheels, and gloss black Subaru logo decals. The widened body is covered in aerodynamic components, including a prominent front splitter, large canards that guide air over the wheel arches, and a massive rear wing, all working to keep Project Midnight glued to the road. That featherweight mass comes courtesy of carbon fiber panels and a lightened chassis.
“Subaru Motorsports USA and the team at Vermont SportsCar have delivered an absolute beast. When driving the car, it clearly has rallycross roots, but the wider tires, track, and geometry give it a very unique feel and incredible grip. The ultimate driving machine; half RX, half sports car – a true joy to drive.”
– Scott Speed, race car driver
Goodwood Festival Of Speed Run Is The First Of Many
Scott Speed, ex-F1 racer and rallycross extraordinaire, will pilot Project Midnight on its debut run at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. The automaker hasn’t shared additional information on the car or future endeavors but notes that Speed and the hardcore WRX will take on new challenges together and attempt to set new records. That means we can expect to see more tarmac-based hillclimb runs, lap times, and more in the near future. This beast deserves an STI badge, in our opinion, and we hope this project gets the kind of reception that encourages Subaru to offer just such a thing to the public.
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It replaces the TR and adds some more performance and technology goodies.
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