Subaru and Hoonigan revealed the Brataroo 9500 Turbo at SEMA 2025, introducing the next hero of the Gymkhana franchise. It’s a 1978 Subaru BRAT that has been reimagined, rebuilt, and completely unhinged. Engineered to live sideways and airborne, it will star in Gymkhana: Aussie Shred, the upcoming film set in Australia with Travis Pastrana behind the wheel.
This machine is not a show car. It is a purpose-built, 670-horsepower, 9,500-RPM turbo boxer beast created by Vermont SportsCar for one job: to go faster, fly higher, and take more abuse than anything that came before it. It channels the rebellious DNA of Subaru’s original BRAT while using modern motorsport technology. Every element is designed for performance, from the carbon-fiber bodywork and sequential gearbox to the all-wheel-drive system and active aero setup that changes shape mid-flight.
That is not an exaggeration. The Brataroo’s active aero system adjusts its balance while airborne. The front fender louvers can pivot forward or back to control the car’s attitude, and two interchangeable rear wings provide stability or agility depending on the stunt. The larger wing even expands as it deploys, increasing surface area for extra control.
Designer Khyzyl Saleem (The Kyza) reshaped the BRAT’s classic lines into something wider and more aggressive while keeping it unmistakably Subaru. The livery mixes 1970s Subaru colors with modern Gymkhana flair, including kangaroos giving thumbs up, Pastrana plaid, and sponsor touches from KMC Wheels, Mercury Marine, Yokohama, Heat Wave, and Dixxon.
Inside, it blends vintage charm with modern function. The carbon dashboard features flax-composite wood accents, the original radio still works, and the HVAC controls now manage the aero system. Every detail was built with a nod to the past and the needs of today’s Gymkhana world.
As Pastrana said, “This BRAT’s completely unhinged, in the best way possible.”
The Brataroo 9500 Turbo is not just another Gymkhana car. It is the next evolution of a series that keeps finding new ways to push limits, and this one is ready to tear across the Outback.
Gymkhana: Aussie Shred premieres this December on the Hoonigan YouTube Channel.