New Subaru Brat ‘Brataroo 9500 Turbo’ Unveiled for Next Gymkhana
A radically modified 1980s Subaru Brat, dubbed the “Brataroo 9500 Turbo,” has been revealed as the vehicle for the next installment of the popular Gymkhana series.
Built by Vermont SportsCar (VSC), the Brataroo boasts a 2.0-liter boxer engine producing 670 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque, paired with a Sadev gearbox and all-wheel drive. The vehicle’s body is entirely carbon fiber and features active aerodynamic elements, including pivoting front fender louvers and an adjustable rear wing available in high-downforce and standard configurations. The widebody design is the work of Khyzyl Saleem, known online as The Kyza.
Beyond its performance upgrades, the Brataroo incorporates unique interior details, such as a restored factory radio and repurposed HVAC controls now used to adjust the active aero. Gymkhana driver Travis Pastrana described the vehicle as “completely unhinged—in the best way possible,” adding, “It’s got the soul of a vintage Subaru with the tech to do things no Gymkhana car has ever done.” This level of engineering and design pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in stunt driving, potentially influencing future vehicle builds in the motorsports world. Fans can learn more about the history of Subaru’s rally heritage on the automaker’s website.
The next Gymkhana, titled “Aussie Shred,” was filmed in Australia and is scheduled to premiere in early December. Pastrana hinted at “life-defying stunts and lots of risky driving” in the upcoming video, continuing the series’ tradition of pushing the limits of automotive performance and driver skill. You can find more information about the Gymkhana series here.
Officials say the premiere date for “Aussie Shred” will be announced shortly.
Gymkhana is back for its latest iteration. That means there’s a crazy new Gymkhana build to go with it. We all remember the Family Huckster—Travis Pastrana’s active aero Subaru GL built for Gymkhana 12. Now there’s an even crazier “Brataroo 9500 Turbo,” a 9,500 rpm, carbon-bodied, active aero lunatic Subaru Brat that just debuted at the 2025 SEMA show.
Per usual, the vehicle is built by Vermont SportsCar (VSC) with a serious specs sheet to go with it. First, the 2.0-liter boxer engine (built in-house by VSC) is now good for 670 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque. Surely, it’s boosted to hell, but precise details are unknown, nor is it known if it’s a Subaru EJ or FA-based engine. Regardless, all of its power is transmitted through a Sadev gearbox to all four wheels.
The body is custom-made and constructed entirely from carbon fiber, featuring similar active aero elements to the Huckster. Both front fenders have louvers that pivot forward or back to control front aero balance in flight.
The rear wing is also fully adjustable mid-flight and comes in two variants: a larger high-downforce wing and a smaller wing for “general tire-shredding antics.” Khyzyl Saleem, known as The Kyza on social media, is responsible for the overall design of the widebody kit.
Even more details are hidden inside the custom Brat, like a restored factory radio and HVAC stack repurposed to fit the Brataroo’s singular purpose. Now, the HVAC controls are used to adjust the active aero. The radio and a Uniden CB radio are just in there for the vibes. Travis Pastrana describes it best:
‘This Brat’s completely unhinged—in the best way possible. It’s got the soul of a vintage Subaru with the tech to do things no Gymkhana car has ever done. Every part of it is designed to take abuse, fly big, and come back for more. It’s hands down the craziest Gymkhana car we’ve ever built.’
The new Gymkhana featuring the Brataroo, called Aussie Shred, will premiere in early December and was filmed in, you guessed it, Australia. Knowing Pastrana, it will surely be crazier than ever, with life-defying stunts and lots of risky driving.
For now, we’ll just have to wait to hear what a 9,500 rpm boxer engine sounds like mid-flight.
