Gymkhana’s Latest Headliner Arrives in New York
For those who love cars, there’s nothing quite like Gymkhana. It exists in that space beyond daily driving, where car control becomes spectacle, and consequences feel optional. It’s the kind of thing you watch knowing full well you’d never attempt any of it yourself.
The Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo is the newest headliner in the series, and it showed up at the New York International Auto Show. Seeing it in person is a different experience. It’s familiar, but not in the way a showroom car is. It’s more like finally seeing something you’ve only watched online.
It has a real presence, not just because of how it looks, but because of what it stands for. This isn’t just another custom build. It’s part of a line of cars that shaped car culture for people who grew up watching early YouTube videos.
Adam Lynton/Autoblog
A BRAT that Looks Like It Escaped Reality
Up close, the Brataroo looks like a classic Subaru BRAT that’s been turned up to eleven. The shape is still there, but every detail has been exaggerated.
The widebody stance stands out right away. It sits low, with big arches that just manage to cover the motorsport wheels. The paintwork nods to classic Subaru colors, but the gradient and graphics make it look modern, almost like a concept car that made it to the real world.
The aero is hard to miss. The front is packed with layers, louvers, and sharp edges that look built for function, not just for show. It has the kind of organized chaos you find in serious time-attack cars.
At the back, it gets even wilder. The rear wing is huge, even compared to most race cars, and it sits high above what used to be the bed. The bed itself isn’t just for show anymore. It’s now a stripped-down extension of the cockpit, full of carbon fiber and exposed hardware built for racing.
Adam Lynton/Autoblog
Old-School Shell, Modern Gymkhana Weapon
Beneath all the visual upgrades, the mechanicals are just as serious. The Brataroo runs a turbocharged 2.0-liter Subaru boxer engine, tuned for 670 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque, spinning up to 9,500 rpm (hence, the name).
Power goes to all four wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox, paired with proper racing differentials. It’s built to take abuse, which makes sense given what Gymkhana demands.
Most of the body is carbon fiber, which keeps the weight down and lets the designers go more aggressive with the shape. The aero parts are functional. The front louvers can be adjusted to manage airflow and balance, and the rear wings can be swapped out for either more downforce or a looser setup.
On paper, it sounds like an odd mix, but in person, it makes sense. The Brataroo isn’t a restoration or a restomod. It’s a new take that knows what made the original special, then pushes it way past what anyone expected.
Adam Lynton/Autoblog
