|
Pastrana goes maximum attack behind the wheel of the new 670-horsepower active-aero-equipped Subaru "Brataroo," in the latest installment of the iconic Gymkhana film series
BUENA PARK, Calif., Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoonigan and Subaru Motorsports USA have premiered the latest entry in the internet-breaking Gymkhana film franchise, "Aussie Shred." Set Down Under in the land that coined the term "hoon," Travis Pastrana's third Gymkhana film is the wildest in franchise history, featuring the biggest jumps, closest calls and craziest tricks in a Gymkhana film to date.
Pastrana takes on the Outback, Sydney's Harbour and Bathurst's Mount Panorama, among other locales, from behind the wheel of the Subaru "Brataroo" 9500 Turbo, a re-imagining of a 1978 Subaru BRAT engineered as a purpose-built Gymkhana weapon. Subaru of America and technical partner Vermont SportsCar (VSC) crafted the Brataroo to corner, slide and fly well beyond the capabilities of its predecessors, utilizing no shortage of innovative engineering to create the most advanced active aerodynamics on a Gymkhana car to date. The rallycross-derived machine features a fire-spitting turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer engine delivering 670 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque revving to more than 9,500 RPM.
"The Brataroo is hands down the craziest Gymkhana car we've ever built," said Pastrana. "Every part of this car was designed to take the abuse we threw at it while making this film. From hanging two tires off a pier to flying 160 feet across a 10-story deep canyon gap over a road train to skimming across a deep lake and scaring myself every step of the way."
In true Gymkhana fashion, the film features a host of cameos from local motorsport icons, including two-time Dakar Rally champion Toby Price, Subaru WRC driver Chris "Atko" Atkinson, Nitro Circus BMX riders Ryan Williams, Jaie Toohey and Will Brown, alongside a field of V8 Supercars drivers who challenged the Brataroo to a rolling drag race down Mount Panorama's Conrod Straight. The star-studded lineup also includes Moog and Marty of Mighty Car Mods, the last of the V8 Interceptors and the Mad Hueys performing the noblest of Aussie traditions, the shoey.
"Australia had long been at the top of the list of potential Gymkhana film locations," said 321 Action Action Director and Hoonigan Co-Founder Brian Scotto. "Ken Block and I attempted to shoot Gymkhana Nine there, but were met with a resounding no, because of the climate of anti-hoon laws at the time. A decade later, when we reproached the Australian government, we were met with open arms. This combination of the unfinished business we had down under and this being Pastrana's last film in the series not only makes it very special to me, but also puts the pressure on to push the limits of what we could do both in the car and behind the camera."
Aussie Shred explores Australia like no other film before; the juxtaposition of the bustling harbor and the red sands of the Outback created the perfect setting, with due homage to the previous films of Ken Block, whose vision transformed a passion for driving into a global cultural phenomenon with the original "Gymkhana Practice" film. Hoonigan thanks its partners, including Subaru, KMC Wheels, Mercury Marine, Heat Wave Visual, Dixxon Flannel and Yokohama Tire.
Gymkhana Aussie Shred premieres on Dec. 9 at 6 a.m. PT on the Hoonigan YouTube channel. (WATCH NOW)
About Hoonigan Media Machine
Hoonigan is much more than a brand. It's an automotive subculture, fueled on the shared passion of going fast and breaking things... then rebuilding them better than before. The company's signature brand of vehicular savagery is on full display across its network of YouTube channels, serving daily content to a subscription base numbering in the millions. In addition to daily videos and social media content, Hoonigan has long been the production and marketing outfit originally founded by Ken Block and Brian Scotto, and the media machine behind the award-winning series of viral videos, such as Gymkhana, Climbkhana, Terrakhana and Electrikhana. At the heart of it all, however, is a wide-ranging apparel collection that (along with an authentically automotive-obsessed cast of characters) represents the brand's core ethos: Having fun with cars.
About Subaru Motorsports USA
Subaru Motorsports USA is directed by Subaru of America, Inc., managed by Vermont SportsCar and proudly supported by MOTUL, Yokohama Tires, R53 Suspension, Triple-R Lights, DirtFish Rally School and Sparco USA. Follow the team online at www.subaru.com/motorsports.
Follow Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa and on TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.
Contact: Jordan Perri, Hoonigan
jperri@hoonigan.com
Pastrana goes maximum attack behind the wheel of the new 670-horsepower active-aero-equipped Subaru "Brataroo," in the latest installment of the iconic Gymkhana film series
BUENA PARK, Calif., Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoonigan and Subaru Motorsports USA have premiered the latest entry in the internet-breaking Gymkhana film franchise, "Aussie Shred." Set Down Under in the land that coined the term "hoon," Travis Pastrana's third Gymkhana film is the wildest in franchise history, featuring the biggest jumps, closest calls and craziest tricks in a Gymkhana film to date.
Pastrana takes on the Outback, Sydney's Harbour and Bathurst's Mount Panorama, among other locales, from behind the wheel of the Subaru "Brataroo" 9500 Turbo, a re-imagining of a 1978 Subaru BRAT engineered as a purpose-built Gymkhana weapon. Subaru of America and technical partner Vermont SportsCar (VSC) crafted the Brataroo to corner, slide and fly well beyond the capabilities of its predecessors, utilizing no shortage of innovative engineering to create the most advanced active aerodynamics on a Gymkhana car to date. The rallycross-derived machine features a fire-spitting turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer engine delivering 670 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque revving to more than 9,500 RPM.
"The Brataroo is hands down the craziest Gymkhana car we've ever built," said Pastrana. "Every part of this car was designed to take the abuse we threw at it while making this film. From hanging two tires off a pier to flying 160 feet across a 10-story deep canyon gap over a road train to skimming across a deep lake and scaring myself every step of the way."
In true Gymkhana fashion, the film features a host of cameos from local motorsport icons, including two-time Dakar Rally champion Toby Price, Subaru WRC driver Chris "Atko" Atkinson, Nitro Circus BMX riders Ryan Williams, Jaie Toohey and Will Brown, alongside a field of V8 Supercars drivers who challenged the Brataroo to a rolling drag race down Mount Panorama's Conrod Straight. The star-studded lineup also includes Moog and Marty of Mighty Car Mods, the last of the V8 Interceptors and the Mad Hueys performing the noblest of Aussie traditions, the shoey.
"Australia had long been at the top of the list of potential Gymkhana film locations," said 321 Action Action Director and Hoonigan Co-Founder Brian Scotto. "Ken Block and I attempted to shoot Gymkhana Nine there, but were met with a resounding no, because of the climate of anti-hoon laws at the time. A decade later, when we reproached the Australian government, we were met with open arms. This combination of the unfinished business we had down under and this being Pastrana's last film in the series not only makes it very special to me, but also puts the pressure on to push the limits of what we could do both in the car and behind the camera."
Aussie Shred explores Australia like no other film before; the juxtaposition of the bustling harbor and the red sands of the Outback created the perfect setting, with due homage to the previous films of Ken Block, whose vision transformed a passion for driving into a global cultural phenomenon with the original "Gymkhana Practice" film. Hoonigan thanks its partners, including Subaru, KMC Wheels, Mercury Marine, Heat Wave Visual, Dixxon Flannel and Yokohama Tire.
Gymkhana Aussie Shred premieres on Dec. 9 at 6 a.m. PT on the Hoonigan YouTube channel. (WATCH NOW)
About Hoonigan Media Machine
Hoonigan is much more than a brand. It's an automotive subculture, fueled on the shared passion of going fast and breaking things... then rebuilding them better than before. The company's signature brand of vehicular savagery is on full display across its network of YouTube channels, serving daily content to a subscription base numbering in the millions. In addition to daily videos and social media content, Hoonigan has long been the production and marketing outfit originally founded by Ken Block and Brian Scotto, and the media machine behind the award-winning series of viral videos, such as Gymkhana, Climbkhana, Terrakhana and Electrikhana. At the heart of it all, however, is a wide-ranging apparel collection that (along with an authentically automotive-obsessed cast of characters) represents the brand's core ethos: Having fun with cars.
About Subaru Motorsports USA
Subaru Motorsports USA is directed by Subaru of America, Inc., managed by Vermont SportsCar and proudly supported by MOTUL, Yokohama Tires, R53 Suspension, Triple-R Lights, DirtFish Rally School and Sparco USA. Follow the team online at www.subaru.com/motorsports.
Follow Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa and on TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.
Contact: Jordan Perri, Hoonigan
jperri@hoonigan.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
HOONIGAN'S "AUSSIE SHRED" TAKES GYMKHANA TO THE LAND DOWN UNDER FOR TRAVIS PASTRANA'S MOST UNHINGED FILM YET
SHENZHEN, China, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- X Square Robot, an emerging leader in embodied AI and humanoid robotics, announced the successful conclusion of the world's first Embodied AI Developers Conference (EAIDC 2026), the first global gathering dedicated specifically to developers building embodied AI systems.
EAIDC 2026 marks one of the first large-scale industry gatherings dedicated to embodied AI, bringing together leading researchers, developers, and technology companies to accelerate the transition of intelligent systems from laboratory research to real-world applications. The event features live robotic demonstrations, a national-level hackathon, and discussions between academia and industry focused on deployment, commercialization, and ecosystem development.
EAIDC 2026, the world's first embodied intelligence developer competition, is designed to accelerate real-world innovation through hands-on collaboration and deployment-focused challenges.
X Square Robot hosted EAIDC as part of a broader effort to contribute to the global embodied AI ecosystem and expand its role in shaping the future of intelligent systems. The competition also introduced a set of "three firsts" designed to bring embodied AI development closer to real-world conditions, including real-robot task execution, continuous system evaluation, and full end-to-end deployment workflows. Task design focused on four core capability areas — grasping and placement, language understanding, fine manipulation, and long-horizon decision-making — with participants completing challenges such as ring placement, instruction-based fruit sorting, cable plugging, and word spelling. A full-variable evaluation approach required teams to operate without preset parameters, using randomized real-world environments to test true adaptability and model robustness.
The company is operating at a time of growing global momentum around humanoid robotics, as advances in physical AI and vision-language-action (VLA) models begin to unlock more complex, real-world capabilities. The company has raised approximately $280 million to date, with backing from investors including Alibaba, ByteDance, Meituan, HongShan (formerly Sequoia China), and other leading technology and venture firms.
X Square Robot is focused on developing general-purpose humanoid systems capable of operating in dynamic, unstructured environments. Its technology centers on embodied foundation models designed to enable robots to perceive, adapt, and perform tasks across a range of real-world scenarios.
The company has begun generating early revenue from deployments across sectors including education, hospitality, and elder care, and is exploring broader applications in household services through collaborations such as its partnership with 58.com. The company has also been active in advancing technical research and industry engagement, including participation in global AI forums and academic communities such as CVPR, reflecting its commitment to contributing to both the development and commercialization of embodied intelligence.
These efforts reflect a broader industry shift toward applying AI-driven robotics to address labor shortages and operational challenges in both consumer and commercial environments.
By hosting EAIDC 2026, X Square Robot is engaging with a growing global ecosystem of developers and industry stakeholders working to define the next generation of intelligent systems. The company views this as part of a broader strategy to expand its international presence and establish itself as a global innovator in embodied AI.
For more information, visit https://x2robot.com/.
About X Square Robot
X Square Robot is a global innovator in embodied artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous systems. The company develops integrated software and hardware platforms that enable robots to perceive, reason, and act safely in complex environments. Partnering with leading universities and technology institutions, X Square Robot delivers scalable AI infrastructure and establishes open benchmarks to drive worldwide progress in intelligent robotics.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
X Square Robot Hosts Inaugural EAIDC 2026, Advancing Real-World Deployment of Embodied AI
