RSS RSS Twitter Twitter
Leftlane - news, reviews, and info for the auto-industry
 
 

TopGear tests the Prodrive P2

06/05/2006, 3:59 PM

By admin

The U.K.’s TopGear took a look at the impressive Prodrive P2 this weekend. Based on a Subaru architecture, the P2 features a stunning body and some very high-tech features that give it incredible performance. It can reach 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 174 mph. Presenter Jeremy Clarkson also demonstrates the car’s computer-controlled differentials, and how these systems vastly improve handling. Lastly, ‘The Stig’ takes the P2 around the Top Gear track. See the full video after the jump…

New car price quote

Zero obligation price quote from a trusted local dealer.
 
 

06/05, 4:25 PM

posted by:

doug

ill take this over an elise anyday

06/05, 4:36 PM

posted by:

Adam

Sweet ride. Too bad it will never be made.

06/05, 5:35 PM

posted by:

Fellate Me

MG Rover went bankrupt because the guy that styled this was allowed to style those cars. Peter Stevens may have styled the McLaren F1 but he is still a crap car designer.

06/05, 7:15 PM

posted by:

Anonymous

Awesome car. Great styling.

06/05, 7:17 PM

posted by:

Top Gear’s Puts The Prodrive P2 On The Track » Doocie

[...] Source: Left Lane News [...]

06/05, 7:35 PM

posted by:

キコ

nice car but its just a much better looking evo.

06/05, 8:10 PM

posted by:

Peter

howis it an evo if its based om subaru

06/05, 9:27 PM

posted by:

Mlevit

#6 This is like #7 said is based on a Subaru.

This car is so technologically advanced that hardly any features of it can be explained. This would rip the Evo appart, and its got less horsepower.

This car would be so sweet if they would be bothered to release it. Damn bastards.

06/05, 10:04 PM

posted by:

キコ

it performs more like an evo. it was based on a pos subaru. it doesnt mean much what its based on.

06/06, 12:09 AM

posted by:

BMW850

nice car, too bad they won’t mass produce these :( I’d take this baby over the apparently much slower m3 any day

06/06, 1:01 AM

posted by:

xmnr

sweet jesus, they cut it off right before they pointed out the lap time with the active diff on! CRAP!

I can’t believe they don’t bother to tell us the specs. I enjoy a fun review free from too much tech, but when the car weighs under 2500 lbs and has 4wd…. that’s just a revelation…. but of course you didn’t know that…

06/06, 1:04 AM

posted by:

xmnr

and hold off on the peter stevens thrashing. the rovers were styled way before he got there. He had the unhealthy task of turning the bland MG x80 concept(based on the defunct detomaso/qvale mangusta) into the shocking MG SV! I also think an MG ZT was a distinctly hornier car than the rover 75, so shut it! it’s damn hard to sell a midsize car that was a sales loser into a winner just by restyling and ditching wood trim!

06/06, 1:43 AM

posted by:

jit

He also played a part in styling the Lamborgini Marcielago and Subaru Impreza Facelift (after the bug eyes and before current).

06/06, 1:53 AM

posted by:

Akia

OMG, I’d so get one of these…I wish they were going to make them. I love the styling, I love the performance, and I love the sound of the engine. It looks so sweet in the light gunmetal-ish silver color. It’s such a complex car, and it looks like it should cost a LOT. I wonder if they would keep the styling like that if they went into production…

06/06, 1:58 AM

posted by:

Craig

So Prodrive won’t be producing the P2….. hrm… well, okay…

But I can’t wait until it goes on sale internationally! :)

06/06, 4:53 AM

posted by:

james

Topgear said it would cost £40k if it went into production. Great shame it’s not.

06/06, 8:10 AM

posted by:

Mlevit

The car did 1:24 when anti-diff on. Which is close to 5 seconds off the previous time. Which was a second or so faster then the Evo.

06/06, 9:07 AM

posted by:

Shut Up

That evo had 60 more hp.

06/06, 9:25 AM

posted by:

Jon

Just because they won’t build THAT car doesn’t mean that other manufacturers won’t use the technology. Top Gear did mention that they build and maintain Aston’s racing cars, and possibly Aston might adapt this technology for use in their road cars.

Jon.

06/06, 9:53 AM

posted by:

James

I am disappointed in Jeremy, that noise when you lift off the throttle is not the waste gate; it’s called a blow off valve.

I expected better from you.

06/06, 10:08 AM

posted by:

Jon

Actually, the car uses an anti-lag, which, well…I’ll let top gear explain:

“Right, now bear with me on this one, I think I’ve got it. First of all, the anti-lag. A normal turbo works by using the exhaust fumes exiting the engine to spin a little sort of propeller thing that drives another little propeller thing in the engine air intake which then spins round very fast and forces more oxygen into the engine. But, at low revs there aren’t enough exhaust fumes to drive the little propellers and give the engine its oxygen boost. So, you press the accelerator and have to wait a second or more until there are enough fumes to get the turbo propellers spinning, at which point you go from no power to lots of power. This moment of delay is called ‘turbo lag’, although another phrase for it is ‘bloody inconvenient’, especially if you’re trying to overtake another car. So, the Prodrive anti-lag system works by keeping the little propellers spinning and forcing lots of lovely oxygen into the engine even when there aren’t enough exhaust fumes to turn them normally. And it does this by dumping petrol into the exhaust, just before the little propeller. As soon as the petrol touches the very hot exhaust pipe it explodes and this explosion keeps the propeller turning so when you step on the accelerator there’s no irritating wait for it to for it to get spinning and instead you have an instant dollop of big fat power. Or something like that.â€?

Jon.

06/06, 11:02 AM

posted by:

Mikey Mike

It looks like a retarded Focus from the front and a Mitsubishi eclipse from the rear. I have never liked anything Peter Stevens designed, ts all a little bit bland. William Towns and Marcello Gandini were overated too.

06/06, 11:47 AM

posted by:

Jon

I would like to add that an anti-lag system drastically reduced the life of the turbo blades and most rally cars normally change their turbo blades every 2-3 races, if not every race.

Jon.

06/06, 2:32 PM

posted by:

Scoobfan

Well as an Impreza owner I know how they go and grip.

It’s a crying shame it’s not going to be made available.

Rob

06/06, 3:32 PM

posted by:

Dee’s-Planet! » Road Test: Prodrive P2

[...] LeftLaneNews | TecheBlog [...]

06/06, 9:00 PM

posted by:

AutomoBlog.net

Prodrive P2: The Evil Subaru

Have you ever wondered what a Subaru would look like if the Devil redesigned it? Well, neither have I, but now we know. In the spirit of today (6/6/6,) I bring you the Prodrive P2. Ignore the “ehâ€? name which sounds like a Playstation 2 peripheral; …

06/07, 6:24 AM

posted by:

Steve

The EVO is an awesomely fast car but lacks real excitement. Most of what you do in an EVO is controlled by computers, i.e. Yaw control, Active centre diff, etc, make if faster than a Subaru but it lacks the raw feel of a well setup Subaru. This P2 is just a Subaru that has had EVO technolgy fitted to it in a super light body. Fast but I doubt its an overly involving drive.

06/09, 8:31 PM

posted by:

John

You at number 20, wastegate = BOV. boot = trunk bonnet = hood.

not that wastegates are british, but theres different names for the same thing.

06/10, 3:41 AM

posted by:

s

#27 a wastegate is on the exhaust side of a turbo and does’nt make a sound when operating a bov is on the compressor side ,it releases the compressed air when the throttle is lifted giving a whoosh sound

06/10, 6:41 AM

posted by:

MaTi

Awesome car. But i like EVO X with Subrau egine tuned by Prodrive.
Wastegate and Blow Off Vavle it is not the same part!

06/11, 7:37 PM

posted by:

Splinter

John, number 28

Wastegate is on the turbo exhaust side, it allows air to bypass the turbine so you dont overboost and blow the engine.

The BOV is on the intake side, which vents or recirculates intake air when the throttle plate is snapped shut so that the pressure doesnt backspin the turbo.

The wastegate is silent, the BOV is not.

06/16, 11:31 AM

posted by:

UnrealGecko

31. You are also wrong. I have a open(external dump) waste gate and it is no where quiet. You are correct on everything else besides that.

07/06, 8:48 AM

posted by:

Mike

So what component is it that makes the “chirp”, as heard from the P2, is it the wastegate or does it have some sort of BOV? I always thought the “chirp” from a wastegate was a bad thing.

09/20, 8:48 PM

posted by:

AlexSub

Hi there! For a moment I’m creating a blog about Subaru and people for whom Subaru is much more than just a car. Subarumania exists in many countries and in every country this mania has its peculiarities. My goal is to collect as much as possible information about subarumaniacs throughout the world. This site is NOT commercial. Mail to Alex (subamaniac@gmail.com ) if you have any information about people who have such passion for Subaru. Any information will be very much appreciated. And welcome to my site!

 
 
You need to log in with your user name and password before you can leave comments.

    

Forgot your Password?


Don't have a user name yet? Simply fill in the form below and click the link provided in the
confirmation email. You must supply a valid email address to complete the registration process.

  
 
 
 
 
  • Login
  • About
  • Contact
Please note that you need to log in with your user name and password before you can leave comments.
  

login
cancel
Forgot your Password?
Don't have a user name yet? Click here to register now.

Simply fill in the form below and click the link provided in the confirmation email. You must supply a valid email address to complete the registration process.

  
submit
cancel
Leftlane is the leading source for automotive industry and vehicle news, new car research, future vehicle information, and reviews. Read by car shoppers, driving enthusiasts, autoworkers, executives, and investors, the website is updated throughout the day with the very latest auto news - as it happens.

Leftlane also provides consumers with accurate and media-rich information on every car currently on the market. In-market shoppers can review specs, read overviews, view high-resolution images, watch videos, and estimate pricing. No other automotive publication brings together the same degree of timeliness, thoroughness and accuracy as Leftlane.
 
submit
cancel