- 1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
- 2. Subaru WRX STI
- 3. Toyota GR Yaris
- 4. Toyota GR Corolla
- 5. Porsche 911 Dakar
- 6. Prodrive P25
- 7. Kimera Automobili EVO37 “Martini 7”
These aren't homologation specials, but they are all inspired by WRC madness and are better for it.
Read in this article:
- 1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
- 2. Subaru WRX STI
- 3. Toyota GR Yaris
- 4. Toyota GR Corolla
- 5. Porsche 911 Dakar
- 6. Prodrive P25
- 7. Kimera Automobili EVO37 “Martini 7”
Last week the CarBuzz staff wasted an entire day watching and listening to the Kimera Automobili EVO37 getting spanked by Henry Catchpole. It may not be the fastest car in the world, but it looks and sounds sensational and made us all nostalgic about the infamous Group B era of rallying.
What would rallying have been like if Group B were allowed to flourish? Well, a lot like rallying like now. The current batch of hybrid WRC cars is actually faster than the Group B machines were.
Still, it got us thinking about all the best rally-inspired cars you can buy today, ranging from the semi-affordable to the outrageous. Note the words “rally-inspired,” though, as we're not talking about homologation specials, of which there were many. Instead, we're focusing on cars inspired by the stupidly fast machines that competed in various forms of rallying.
1. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
Mitsubishi officially pulled out of WRC in 2010, but the Lancer Evolution X lived on until the end of 2015.
Soon after leaving the WRC, there were rumors about the Evo being discontinued. Some execs said it needed to stop producing the car, while the company's president told reporters it was already working on a hybrid successor. Not even Mitsubishi knew what it was doing.
The Evo didn't die, nor did it become a hybrid; it soldiered on with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 291 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, and it had all the turbo lag. But very few cars (including supercars) could keep up if you kept it in the power band. It wasn't a homologation special, but it covered ground like a WRC car should.
Near the end of its life, it became a bit of a joke compared to those around it, but it was an incredibly charming vehicle nonetheless. People seem to miss the good old days because a 2015 Evo X in good condition is worth more than it initially cost; low-mileage examples in good condition now cost circa $40,000.
2. Subaru WRX STI
Subaru completed its final WRC event in 2008, but it kept on flogging that dead horse long after that. There can't be much left of that metaphorical horse corpse because even today, Subaru keeps going at it. The WRX remains a thing, but the STI brand has been reduced to a cosmetic package. The new WRX won't even have an STI version. Colin McRae is spinning so hard in his grave that you could use him to power a WRC car to victory.
Subaru moved away from homologation cars long ago, and the 2.5-liter engine used in most STIs wasn't even legal for rally homologation. Eventually, Subaru ditched the “Impreza” part of the name, and the 2015 model was simply known as the 2015 WRX STI. The new WRX debuted for 2022, but it's fallen so far from grace we don't even want to talk about it.
The old WRX STI is where it's at anyway, and while it may be down on power and lack the straight-line speed of various AMGs and Audi RS models, it had the characterful burble of a Boxer-four and a chassis that danced with the driver. Plus, it had a batshit crazy wing, and the world needs more cars with crazy wings.
3. Toyota GR Yaris
In a cruel turn of events, the one car on this page that's affordable and a riot to drive is unavailable in the USA.
The GR Yaris started its life as a homologation car, but the rules changed during development, leaving Toyota with a new 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with no car to call home. So what did the brand do? It built a road car around that engine and gave us the GR Yaris. The standard car produces 268 hp, but we've seen this little turbocharged three-pot tuned up to 550 horses, and that's only the beginning of its insanity.
The Japanese brand is known for penny-pinching, but it spent millions on the way to possibly becoming the most fun manufacturer of all. One example is the body: the XP210 hatchback the GR Yaris is loosely based on is only available as a five-door, so Toyota spent millions developing a three-door because it looked cooler and was more aerodynamic.
Then there's the all-wheel-drive system, with multiple diffs and a variable torque split that would make a Subaru blush.
Even though the WRC has now moved on to its hybrid era, the GR Yaris shows no sign of slowing down, with constant updates keeping it fresh and the hot hatch participating in customer racing globally.
4. Toyota GR Corolla
Maybe it's a good thing WRC's rules changed and the GR Yaris road car was born. After all, if the GR Yaris didn't exist, neither would the GR Corolla. After the international success of the GR Yaris and Americans clamoring for this forbidden fruit, Toyota figured it would be a waste to leave that engine for just a single model, so it crammed it, and the exceptional 4WD system, under the hood of a Corolla Hatchback.
Thankfully, the GR Corolla wasn't a half-assed job. Toyota tested the 300-hp version of the engine in plain sight on the track, and that engine tune eventually found its way into the GR Corolla, giving us rally DNA in a larger package.
The one you want is the Morizo Edition, the ultimate road-legal rally racer, designed to Toyota's former CEO's specifications. It comes standard with more torque (295 lb-ft), a more rigid body, shorter gear ratios, and no rear seats. But who needs practicality anyway?
Only 200 Morizos were built, so they go for a premium with most to be found at $70k, while a base Core model costs roughly $50,000. That's a massive premium over Toyota's suggested MSRP but nowhere near what dealers once demanded.
5. Porsche 911 Dakar
Up until now, we've focused on the World Rally Championship. With the 911 Dakar, we move on to another FIA-sanctioned event known as the Dakar Rally.
The 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar can trace its roots back to the 1984 Paris-Dakar rally, which Porsche won. Back then, the 911 faced multiple off-road obstacles, getting lost, terrorists, and wild spectators as it raced between Paris, France and Dakar, Senegal. To pay homage to these feats, Porsche gave the world the first true off-road sports car. Porsche could have just lifted the standard Carrera S to fit in with the Safari 911 trend, but it built a proper limited-edition special instead.
The 2023 911 Dakar has the 473-horsepower twin-turbocharged boxer-six from the GTS, rear-axle steering, a loose-surface launch control, and a Rallye Mode.
Porsche will only build 2,500 units, but they're not sold out yet. Earlier this year, it added even more race-inspired liveries, further adding to the rally connection.
The German brand has also hinted that the 911 Dakar will continue into the next generation, but this first-gen model will always be a little more special.
6. Prodrive P25
The Prodrive P25 is a restomod Subaru 22B STI. As many of you may know, the original 22B wasn't a homologation special, but rather a celebratory model for Subie's 40th birthday. The 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four was bored-out to 2.2 liters and, according to Subaru, it produced 276 hp. But this was when all Japanese performance cars produced 276 hp because of a gentleman's agreement, which meant it had way more power than the spec sheet suggested. It was an epic machine that instantly achieved collector status, which means they seldom ever come up for sale.
Then last year, Prodrive announced it would build 25 restomodded 22Bs called the P25, sticking with the original styling, but using carbon composites for every panel to reduce the car's weight to 2,645 pounds.
Prodrive used the latest 2.5-liter engine with re-engineered bespoke components and a Garrett turbocharger, resulting in 400 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 0-60 mph sprint time of 3.5 seconds.
Instead of a five-speed manual, the P25 has a six-speed sequential with helical cut gears, an active center differential, and limited-slip differentials on both axles. Out of all the cars here, this is the closest you'll get to an actual WRC vehicle.
The only downside is the $700k asking price.
7. Kimera Automobili EVO37 “Martini 7”
Like the Prodrive P25, the Kimera Automobili EVO37 is a restomod based on a rally icon – the Lancia 037 – with the first ultra-exclusive cars arriving in the US last year, a beauty named Ella. But an even more special version has now been revealed, the “Martini 7.” It's Kimera's way of commemorating the Lancia Martini Racing Team, which started racing in 1983 with the famous Martini colors flanked by the Italian tricolor.
The 037 famously won the 1983 championship, after which Lancia won another six championships with the Delta S4 and the Delta Integrale. The Deltas had special commemorative editions called the Delta Martini 5 and Martini 6, but with seven titles to the automaker's name, those numbers seemed one short. So Kimera fixed the egregious wrong.
Only 37 Martini 7s will be built in partnership with Martini and two-time WRC Champion Miki Biasion. Compared to the standard EVO37, the Martini 7 produces an extra 50 hp, totaling 550 hp from a twincharged 2.1-liter four-cylinder, with only 2,425 lbs to haul around. Shorter gear ratios make it even more exciting, too.
The interior is also finished in naked carbon fiber, while the seats are finished in blue perforated Alcantara with red stitching. The dashboard uses the same orange luminescence as the racing cars, which is another neat throwback. And it has rally-style light pods up front. Win.
Keyword: 7 Of The Best Rally-Inspired Road Cars Ever Built