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PRODRIVE P2
The Prodrive P2 is the best manifestation of what happens when our inspirational thinking combines with our innovative approach.
The car was the idea of Prodrive chairman and chief executive, David Richards, who wanted to create something that used the skills of every part of the business and demonstrated the company’s capabilities.
P2 is a fully working two-seater sports car featuring some of our latest technology and which has been entirely designed, engineered and built at our operations in Banbury and Warwick in just nine months.
Our philosophy behind the design of the car was practical performance – a sports car which could be used everyday. With a power to weight ratio of more than 300 PS/tonne, P2 reaches 100 kph from standstill in four seconds and tops 280 kph.
P2 uses a modified two-litre flat-four Subaru engine and Subaru all wheel drivetrain, which incorporate two of our innovative technologies to enhance performance – ALS and ATD™.
ALS has been derived from the same system found on the Prodrive-designed Subaru World Rally Car, but modified for use on the road. ALS can keep the turbo on full boost at low engine speeds, giving the car immediate throttle response and improved performance by using more of the engine’s torque throughout the rev range.
Our ATD™ system uses active centre and rear differentials to control the torque split between the front and rear of the car and across the rear axle to optimise the car’s handling characteristics by helping to correct over or understeer.
The P2 chassis was originally based on a Subaru R1 (a four seat mini car), which was completely re-engineered to give P2 its coupe styling and to accommodate the new engine and drivetrain.
The body was styled by Peter Stevens, who has worked with us on numerous road car and motorsport projects. His team produced a full scale clay model of the car and from this, P2’s composite body panels were formed.
Every part of the company was involved in the development of the car, with our chassis, engine, transmission and electronics departments working with our in-house manufacturing operation to produce the specialist parts and electronic systems.
