This is ‘Project Midnight’: Subaru Motorsport USA’s 679bhp Impreza

We’re no strangers to souped-up Subies here in the UK. But across the pond, Subaru has officially cooked up something different altogether. Dubbed ‘Project Midnight’, this is a 679bhp, 1.1-tonne hooligan born from the ashes of a former late Ken Block special: the Airslayer.

While its original focus was to go as fast as possible on loose surface conditions, Subaru wanted to find out just how quick the platform could be if it set its sails on tarmac-only competition, and this is what it’s come up with.

The 2.0-litre flat-four boxer unit tops out at 9,500rpm and produces an almost identical torque output to its power. Coupled with the carbon fibre-ised body, strengthened chassis and quite ridiculously oversized rear wing, we’ve yet to find out where Project Midnight will compete, but we think it should be slightly fast wherever it does.

“Subaru Motorsports USA and the team at Vermont Sports Car have delivered an absolute beast,” said Subaru works driver Scott Speed. “When driving the car it clearly has rallycross roots, but the wider tyres, track and geometry give it a unique feel and incredible grip.”

Oh, it also breathes flames through its bonnet. How’s that for a neat party trick for a skunkworks project to put your uncle’s WRX to shame?