Will Subaru bring back the BRAT? There is no confirmed new BRAT or production pickup. In February 2026, Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence said a ute had been discussed, but he did not announce a vehicle, a name, a launch date or a demand threshold that would trigger production.
What Subaru has actually said about a ute
In an interview reported by Road & Track in February 2026, Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence described a ute as “a conversation” and said, “There have been discussions of a ute … ute is a conversation and I can’t share much now.” He also said, “I can’t share much now, but it’s never a no.”
That wording leaves the idea open; it is not confirmation that Subaru has approved a production vehicle. The report identifies no development decision, model name, specification or timing. Nor does it say that Subaru would proceed if a particular number of buyers placed orders or expressed interest. No specific demand threshold was given.
Is Subaru making a new BRAT pickup?
Not according to the reported comments. Lawrence discussed a possible ute, but the report does not connect it to the BRAT name. Calling a future Subaru pickup a “modern BRAT” is speculation, not an announced product plan.
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The construction and intended market of any possible ute are also unsettled. The 2026 report mentions unibody versus ladder-frame construction as part of the discussion, but does not establish which Subaru might choose or whether a road-going model will be built.
Why the Brataroo is not a new consumer BRAT
Subaru Motorsports USA and Vermont SportsCar introduced the Brataroo 9500 Turbo in November 2025. It is a purpose-built Gymkhana competition car based on a 1978 BRAT, not an announced customer pickup. Subaru Motorsports USA lists its specifications as a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer engine, 670 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque; those figures apply to this motorsport build only.
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Driver Travis Pastrana described it as having “the soul of a vintage Subaru with the tech to do things no Gymkhana car has ever done.” The statement is about the Brataroo project, not a prospective production vehicle.
The BRAT’s place in Subaru’s pickup history
The BRAT is a discontinued part of Subaru’s pickup history, not a model Subaru has said it will revive. MotorTrend’s retrospective says U.S. BRAT sales ended in 1987 and also discusses the Baja as a past Subaru pickup. That history provides context for the current interest, but it is not evidence of present-day buyer demand or a new product decision.
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What would confirm a modern Subaru pickup?
A reported conversation is a long way from a vehicle customers can order. Confirmation would require a Subaru announcement or similarly clear statement establishing that a production model has been approved. Until then, the useful distinctions are:
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![Matchbox 1978 Subaru Brat, Moving Parts 44/54 70 Years [Blue]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SSV+gkZcL._SL160_.jpg)
- Brand: Matchbox
- Batteries required: False
- Batteries included: False
- Discussed: Subaru Australia’s general manager said a ute had been a topic of discussion.
- Not confirmed: production approval, a BRAT nameplate, a launch date, specifications, pricing or a sales threshold.
- Separate project: the Brataroo 9500 Turbo is a competition car based on a 1978 BRAT.
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