Honda Civic SI – the Type R’s less-liked brother. Think of the SI as the first child. It may not be as cute or funny as the new kid, but secretly, the SI hides a few tricks up its sleeves. It may not have the red badge or the crazy spoiler, but like Abel should’ve kept an eye out for Cain, the Type R needs to watch its back. For 10 generations straight, the Honda Civic SI has been one of the go-to budget compact sports cars in America. If you think the Type R can finally grace the United…
Well before the Fast and the Furious franchise turned everyone into an enthusiast, the hardcore fans were in-touch with the Japanese performance scene through Option Magazine. Option Magazine was founded by Daijiro Inada in 1981 to open the gates for the aftermarket automotive performance market. The magazine gained readership around the world and started the tuner trend in Japan. Amongst the millions of readers around the globe, Andy Lin was a true fan. Inspired by Inada’s handy work, Andy dove deep into the world of RX-7. Text by Bassem Girgis // Photos by Khiem Pham RX-7 FD Originally debuted in…
During a turbulent era in American history, Hippies were protesting the Vietnam war. President Nixon was about to resign. While the tragic events at the 1972 Munich Olympics were unfolding on new color TV sets, the oil crisis had officially killed off American muscle cars. Through it all, the Honda Civic was born as the much needed compact car that can operate on both leaded and unleaded fuel. With the oil shortage and the EPA emission standards, the Civic became an instant hit in America. Text by Bassem Girgis // Photos by Orry Perce EP3 Honda Civic Si For 45…
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback XSE When you see fashionable clothes, modern scarves, fancy billboards, and pedestrians in a rush, you know you’re in the city. Toyota recognized that the city knows what’s cool and introduced the 2019 Corolla Hatchback XSE: the ultimate city car. Stylish, compact, modern, and a tad crazy, this car is far from boring. Although the Corolla was never on DSPORT’s radar, seeing Formula Drift’s driver Fredric Aasbo shred the tires off of his Corolla Hatchback was enough motivation for us to explore what the factory version can do. We had to give this sharp-looking 2019 Toyota…
There was once a time when people were shocked to see a humble-looking four-door sedan destroy supercars on twisty roads. Today, this car has evolved into an enthusiast favorite that is capable of achieving great power. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has been a force to be reckoned with since its debut in 1992. A 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with an all-wheel drive drivetrain, what’s not to love? The 4G63 engine powered every single generation of the Evo until the very last generation that debuted in 2007. If you asked for the best of all worlds, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution was your…
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a Mitsubishi Starion. When it comes to the ‘80s, we think of wide-fenders, pop-up headlights, and hard-lines. The Starion was exactly what that era represented. When the Mitsubishi Starion debuted in 1983, it hit the roads running as a performance competitor to the Mazda RX-7, the Toyota Supra, and some even described it as a budget rival to the Porsche 944. Originally equipped with a 2.6-liter motor that delivered 145 horsepower, Mitsubishi’s original advertisement read, “It ain’t the one you learn on.” Aesthetically, the Starion was offered in a widebody configuration that quickly…
You may recognize the Civic as one of the most popular cars in the world, but the story of Honda wasn’t always as smooth as its sales numbers today. Founded by Soichiro Honda, he started his first company named Tokai Seiki in 1937. He began crafting piston rings for a familiar company called Toyota. After giving up all control to the War Ministry, the destruction of one factory during World War II, and another factory tragedy courtesy of the Mikawa earthquake, the beginning years were nothing short of a struggle for the Japanese founder. In 1963, Honda began the production…
At some point in your project building career, you are likely to come to a realization that having a tow vehicle is a good idea. Back in 2005, DSPORT purchased a RAM 3500 pickup with a Cummins diesel. This vehicle proved to be an excellent choice for hauling merchandise to trade shows and events or trailering a project car. However, it’s only during those outings that we really use “the truck.” Since it doesn’t make sense for everyone to have such a specialized-use vehicle in their stable, we started thinking about the concept of a budget-oriented, luxury vehicle that could…
Lightweight, beautiful, and timeless, the Mazda RX-7 is arguably Japan’s purest sports car. The RX-7 FD has won over many fans with its cutting edge design that features few straight lines. Its rigid chassis and capable suspension provide sharp handling. Its 2,800 pound curb weight and 255 horsepower sequentially turbocharged rotary engine delivered impressive performance. Yet, as with all things rotary, the FD does have its critics. The rotary engine showed many flaws, from a lack of torque to failing seals, and even catching on fire at times. Text by Bassem Girgis // Photos by Khiem Pham Long Life Dream…
The tires will only go so far, but the memories will last forever. Building a car is a dream for many, but for David Crowchild, it was simply a mission. For many years David’s older sister, Tina Crowchild, told him to always follow his heart. In November of 2014, tragedy struck when Tina passed away. Filled with sadness and grief, her famous advice to him kept nagging on him and left him wanting to deliver the promise he once made her. To keep her memory alive, he revisited an old dream he’s had since he was a child: building a…
One thousand horsepower. Only an elite few can claim to this performance milestone. Even fewer can make this claim from behind the wheel of a fully-streetable Nissan 350Z. While a number of “pure drag” cars have achieved the “1KWHP” figure, most sacrifice the response needed to make the car fun to drive on the street. Chris Shively’s plan for his project 350Z didn’t include compromise. Instead, this second-generation car fanatic would set out to build a Z33 that would impress performance, show and car audio enthusiasts. By Richard Fong // Photos by Michael Ferrara Since purchasing the 350Z in 2003,…
When LA Sleeve tasked us with building a company demo car that would have broad appeal, the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 platform was the obvious choice. The aftermarket support for these models is second to none. It’s a great platform that can be made to do just about anything. When LA Sleeve also asked us to make the project both unique and impressive, that’s when things got interesting. Text by Michael Ferrara / Photos by Joe Singleton Let’s Force It While we could have explored building an all motor FA20 engine, a great deal of effort and expense may have…
While many have encountered challenges with FA20D development, we’ve experienced the exact opposite. Our Club DSPORT FA21D (2.1-liter stroker variant) engines are thriving with turbocharged examples delivering over 560 horsepower to the wheels on E85 or Japanese premium pump gas (98 RON). In fact, Phoenix’s Power recently used one of the Club DSPORT FA21D short blocks in a street car to set the top speed record for an 86/BRZ in Japan. While the Club DSPORT FA21D engines use the original 86mm bore size (and no sleeves), Club DSPORT concurrently developed its FA225D engine program that features a sleeved 89mm bore…
The smell of burnt rubber and the high-pitch squeal of tires sliding through the turns accompany the roar of four turbocharged cylinders. Through the smoke, a sleek, bold and aggressive statement could be seen and heard as a fiery-red Silvia drifts by. Its driver, Nobuteru “NOB” Taniguchi, is a skilled pilot navigating the course with surgical precision in the HKS Silvia S15. Text and Photos by Richard Fong High-profile builds like the HKS Silvia fueled America’s faith in Nissan’s “S” chassis at a time when few had any interest in the US-spec 240SX. While Japanese versions of the “S” chassis came…
Manufacturers may label their performance vehicles as “sports cars,” but 99-percent of the time these cars are hardly ready for a performance driving environment. What does everyone tell you to do before you take any car to the track? They give you a checklist, usually suggesting at minimum to replace the brake fluid and brake pads, then swap out wheels and tires, then suspension, and the list goes on. When the receipts start adding up, no one can blame you for feeling cheated that your sports car required so much money and effort to just survive a track day. Very…
