Subaru Showcases the Ultimate Snow-Ready Performance Car at 2009 SEMA Show

Just in Time for the Holidays, a 400-Horse (-powered) Sleigh

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Nov. 2 -- The Subaru WRX STI, when equipped with proper tires, is capable of impressive all-weather performance. But when even snow tires are not enough, Subaru offers a solution - a 400-hp WRX STI equipped with a snow tracks system, as showcased at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 3-6.

Starting with a rally-prepared 2009 WRX STI, Subaru Rally Team USA's technical partner, Vermont SportsCar, built the one-off 400-hp TRAX STI envisioned by, and built for, DC Shoes co-founder and SRT USA driver Ken Block. The WRX STI TRAX is ready for the half-pipe, with a Yakima FatCat 4 Snowboard Rack up top, a Yakima Landing Pad rack base and DC Shoes XFB-C Snowboards. Naturally, there is a custom matching sleigh to go with it.

With the exception of the Mattracks rubber track system, the car is rally-prepared and similar in specification Block's #43 SRT USA competition STI. Starting with a stock 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Vermont SportsCar stripped the car's interior bare, lightened the shell and then fully seam-welded it for added strength, also installing a multipoint roll cage manufactured from T45 steel. Major differences from the stock STI include the addition of lightweight carbon/Kevlar RECARO SPA ProRacer competition seats with the Head and Neck Restraint System (HANS), carbon fiber door panels and an onboard fire suppression system.

Under the hood, the ultimate Subaru snow machine sports a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder, turbocharged and intercooled STI engine tuned with a MOTEC M800 ECU. The engine, which kicks out approximately 400 hp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque, is teamed with a KAPS 5-speed close-ratio dog-engagement gearbox and the Subaru programmable DCCD (Driver Controlled Center Differential) all-wheel drive system. Employing custom machined hubs, the drivetrain - which has been dropped three inches - is mated to Mattracks 105M1-A1 rubber track conversion. The car also features Group N competition rally dampers made by EXE-TC.

And Now for Something Completely Different

The WRX STI TRAX can bring four more friends along for the fun with its one-of-a-kind custom sleigh. Constructed with hand-laid fiberglass using sandwich-core construction, the sleigh runs on custom built steel skis with torsion bar suspension. Yakima FatCat 4 snowboard racks carry Qty 2 DC XFB Snowboards.

Protected beneath the padded roll bars are four heated and embroidered leather RECARO Speed seats with Sabelt 4-point harnesses. For music on the slopes, a marine grade water resistant Alpine digital media receiver is coupled with marine grade Kicker speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer. The rear of the sleigh features a large cooler and a grab-bar for towing snowboarders. Cup holders and LED lighting finish off the interior.

The sleigh also features a carbon fiber dashboard, center tunnel cover and rear-cooler cover. Tucked into a glovebox within the carbon fiber covered dashboard are two Viosport POV.1 camera systems. One camera lens is flush-mounted within the dashboard to film passengers, and the other is mounted high on the roll bar to record action around the sleigh.


YouTube - KEN BLOCK'S TRAX STI CAR


The Subaru Legacy GTk is a unique vehicle created for the 2009 SEMA. It is based on the Legacy wagon which is only available in Outback trim in North America. The "k" in GTk standing for kart is touted as the perfect family racing car thanks to a number of alterations done both inside and out.

Starting with the exterior, contractor Specialized Vehicles, Inc. (SVI) worked with other suppliers to construct systems and pieces for the car. It did the black on red paintwork and also provided parts like the front air dam with fog lights, the custom window tint and the rear diffuser. JAC Products was roped in to work on the roof cargo management hardware while the liftgate spoiler, the midgate spoiler and the blackout-style HID headlights came from a Japanese domestic market (JDM) Legacy.

The chassis was upgraded and lowered using parts such as a front SPT strut tower brace and Bilstein struts, suspension calibration and STI springs. The car is fitted with 19-inch Comp wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich P245/50 R19 Force-KDW 2 tyres.

The interior's main selling point is the custom-fitted Coyote Motorsports XP kart found in the cargo area. It is ready to race in SCCA Solo racing so GTk drivers can actually race against their teenage children on the same track. Other additions include a Harman/Kardon sound system, STI aluminium pedals and a 7-inch touch screen.

The GTk has the same 2.5-litre turbo engine from the 2010 Legacy 2.5GT sedan but modified to make 221kW (300hp) and 475Nm (350 lb-ft) of torque.

 

Just saw this on a local board today. This thing is awesome. Not as exciting as his other videos but badass for sure. He has the money and the means to build the toys we all want, no matter how unpractical they seem haha