Subaru Motorsports USA has unveiled Project Midnight, the fastest-ever WRX. This vehicle has one purpose — to break records with outright speed.
The heart of this monster is a 670-horsepower turbocharged BOXER engine that produces 680 lb-ft of torque and revs to 9,500 rpm. This engine also spits flames from the hood-exit exhaust.
The inspiration for Project Midnight is Airslayer, a 2020 Subaru WRX STI. This is the vehicle that starred in the video, “Gymkhana 2020” while performing a variety of stunts.
However, Project Midnight is nearly 300 pounds lighter than Airslayer due to a carbon fiber body and a significantly lightened chassis.
Project Midnight is an all-wheel drive machine. It rides on 18×11-inch OZ Racing Superturismo LMP magnesium wheels with 280/650R18 Yokohama ADVAN slicks.
A racing veteran remains heavily involved in Project Midnight
The goal of Project Midnight is to test the boundaries of performance and break records. Subaru Motorsports needed a driver who could help develop the program and achieve these goals.
Enter Scott Speed, a veteran driver with experience across Rallycross, F1, and NASCAR. Speed, a four-time rallycross champion, has long been an important figure in developing Subaru’s rallycross cars. This trend will continue as he focuses on Project Midnight.
Speed will showcase this new creation during the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 11-14. He will race up the hill in the WRX while fellow Subaru driver Travis Pastrana showcases his Subaru Family Huckster.
Speed already has experience with one version of the Project Midnight engine. He used an early version of this engine to win the Nitro Rallycross Teams Championship for Subaru in 2021.
“Subaru Motorsports USA and the team at Vermont SportsCar have delivered an absolute beast,” Speed said in a statement.
“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.”