Subaru WRX STI TRAX: 400hp Snow Tank for SEMA [Video]

Santa must be jealous...

By Michael Gauthier
November 3, 2009 12:34 PM
Filed Under: Concept Car, Japanese, SEMA, Subaru, Tuners

Subaru has unveiled a 400 horsepower WRX STI with snow tracks at the SEMA Motor Show.

Based on a rally-prepped 2009 WRX STI, the TRAX was built by Vermont SportsCar for SRT USA driver Ken Block. Despite the Mattracks rubber track system, the car is virtually identical to Block's #43 SRT USA competition STI.

Vermont SportsCar started with a stock Impreza WRX STI and then gutted the interior, "lightened the shell and then fully seam-welded it for added strength", and installed a multipoint steel roll cage. After this was completed, the company added RECARO SPA ProRacer competition sport seats, carbon fiber door panels, and an onboard fire suppression system. Other goodies include a Yakima FatCat 4 Snowboard Rack, a Yakima Landing Pad rack base, and DC Shoes XFB-C Snowboards.

Power comes from a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (with a MOTEC M800 ECU) that produces approximately 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Besides the enhanced engine, Vermont installed a KAPS five-speed close-ratio 'dog-engagement' gearbox, a Subaru programmable DCCD (Driver Controlled Center Differential) all-wheel drive system, custom machined hubs, and Group N competition rally dampers by EXE-TC.

The TRAX also comes with a custom carbon fiber sleigh, which can accommodate four passengers. Riding on steel skis and a torsion bar suspension, the sleigh boasts heated leather RECARO seats, a marine-grade Alpine stereo system, LED lighting, and carbon fiber trim.

Source: Subaru

Press Release (Click to expand)

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.

 

Comments

madness
November 3, 2009 12:41 PM
That is an absolute animal... I wonder can i order one from my local subaru dealer? haha

kenta
November 3, 2009 12:51 PM
INSANE !!! It's just beautiful. You can even drift it on the icy road.

However, I think the man is so mean. He drives his monster out to ruin someone's holiday and come back home with all the evil pleasure :-D. (look how the others need to keep away from his way, and the way he destroys those ski line)


Edited by user on November 3, 2009 at 12:54 PM
hunkeers87
November 3, 2009 1:01 PM
and? whats the point?

3Iceman
November 3, 2009 1:09 PM
Have you ever heard of a word marketing?

nederina
November 3, 2009 1:07 PM
pretty cool, but i'll have snow tires instead because it is too slow for my likings. how bout do it on an audi r8?

Kepe
November 3, 2009 4:13 PM
With snow tires you'd sink in to the snow and get stuck. The idea of the tracks is to distribute the weight of the car on a larger area of snow so that the car stays on top of it.

nederina
November 3, 2009 5:18 PM
sorry, i'll take back my words

lefterov
November 3, 2009 3:14 PM
wow,this is the best thing for the snow,keep it up like that.

Renegade
November 3, 2009 4:34 PM
That's what I call a car for having fun in the snow. Awesome.

chris25
November 3, 2009 5:57 PM
This guy knows how to tune a car & loads of fun, this is just INSANE!! Awesome stuff.

N20_Purge
November 3, 2009 6:00 PM
That is crazy. I'd love to see Gymkhana 3 in the snow!

radmeister
November 3, 2009 7:00 PM
I'll take a Merc G55 with TRAX plz :)

Dolomight 74-86
November 5, 2009 12:17 AM
That's soooo f***ing cool!!!! I hope they come from the factory like this.

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