Browsing: Features

Taniguchi’s 700 HP 2JZ Swapped GT86

If you haven’t heard of HKS, Daigo Saito and Nobuteru “NOB” Taniguchi, then you must be very new to the import performance scene. HKS has been Japan’s premiere full-line performance parts manufacturer since the 1970s. Today, HKS has reestablished a US presence and we expect big things in the coming years. Daigo Saito is the D1GP and Formula D championship driver that we followed in our DSPORT Full Lock video series the season that he took the championship. He’s well known for his aggressive driving style and big-power drift machines. He is also the proprietor of Fat Five Racing, a…

Big Boost Supra Making Over 1,500 WHP

Producing big horsepower at higher elevations may seem like magic, but it’s actually a matter of making best use of the amount of oxygen that is available. Since the oxygen density is reduced at elevation, improvements and adjustments must be made in order for significant horsepower to be produced reliably. To many people living at higher elevations, producing high-horsepower builds can be both a challenge and an adventure. Text and Photos by Richard Fong Happenstance Fan When Jeremy Hepburn started car shopping, he wasn’t totally sure what he wanted. Just out of high school, he was drawn to the NSX,…

RS-R’s Turbocharged VQ Swapped Nissan S15

When drifting began, the pioneers of the sport favored several real wheels drive platforms for power, weight distribution and handling traits. Nissan’s Silvia platform proved itself on the touge of Japan as well as in drifting competitions around the world. With the turbocharged SR20DET engine capable of producing over 400 horsepower with bolt-on parts and tuning, the affordable S-chassis made its way to the top of various podiums through the mid 2000’s. But in the USA, the Formula Drift Pro Championship started to get the attention of domestic manufacturers, and soon Dodge Vipers, Ford Mustangs and Chevy Camaros joined the…

Wide and Justified 335 WHP Toyota MR2

Behind the wide fenders and glossy paint is more than your average show car. Andrew Dryden of Orange County, California, has inadvertently constructed a powerful and eye-catching 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo and this project is proof that dreams do come true. You see, Andrew is only 19 years old, juggling school and work. However, his passion for road racing and Toyotas drove him to build an MR2 that could crush the competition not only on the racetrack but in the aesthetics department as well. Andrew is well aware of the quality products available for imports in the states and wasted…

No Frills, All Thrills, 605 WHP Honda S2000

Once upon a time, Honda built serious performance automobiles. Although drag-racing enthusiasts didn’t embrace the Acura NSX or Honda S2000 in great numbers, both machines provided worry-free driving enjoyment and possessed the DNA to serve as weekend racers. Hong Kong native and owner of PFabrications, Pang Cheung, knew from the beginning of his project that he wanted to build a badass rear-wheel-drive Honda. Since Honda has dedicated itself to pandering solely to suburban mothers and commute warriors, Pang was left with few options. He settled on an AP1 S2000 and set his mind on creating the “cleanest S2000 with the…

Half Mile Heroes | This EVO and GT-R Beg the Question, Is the Half the new Quarter?

Roll racing isn’t real racing. It’s a glorified street race that lacks the sophistication of a race with proper start/finish equipment. In 2003, the Texas Mile event showed us an alternative to traditional 1/8th mile and 1/4-mile acceleration contests. The standing mile was created to give vehicles a competitive venue where there was enough pavement to safely measure top speeds. But for organizers, finding an accessible strip of pavement over a mile long proved to be a challenge. Text by Richard Fong // Photos by Larry Chen From Rolling to Standing Traction had always been a challenge for streetcars, which…

Island Fever | Top Secret 400+ WHP Twin Turbo Wide-Body G35

It is 3:00AM. There is no one in sight and the roads are completely empty. Far in the distance there is a faint flicker of white light coming towards you. It is hard to make out what the light is, but the sound waves from an angry exhaust system pierce the night’s sky. Text by Robert Choo // Photos by Michael Ferrara The gold car blows by and the sound waves push you back and within a few moments the car is already too small to see in the far off distance. Piloting any car at over 200 MPH takes…

Tomei Powered’s Vintage Datsun Sunny Dominates

There’s no greater sense of nostalgia than to recapture a moment from a fond memory. For Kazumasa Hirota, it was an opportunity to relive the experience of owning his first car, a 1970 Datsun Sunny B110 GX. He purchased this Sunny in 1996 for only 150,000 Yen (approximately US$1400 at the time). Admittedly, it was in poor condition and in need of restoration. Hirota reminisced, “I chose the Sunny not only because it was my first car, but I also remember seeing them at Fuji Speedway in the minor touring car racing series. They were really fast and an inspiration…

603 Horsepower Turbocharged Acura Integra

Sony and Ericsson. Apple and Intel. Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. Former rivals turned staunch allies have formed some of the most powerful collaborations in the world. When determination and a competitive spirit drive two competing companies, it’s no wonder that their combined strength grows exponentially when they form a partnership. Text and Photos by Richard Fong Forging An Alliance Anthony Le and Doug Jenkins of Power Pros were bitter opponents at the track and anywhere else they interacted since the infancy of import racing. Every encounter was a test to see whose latest upgrades made more power. As time passed,…

The World is Not Enough | 1,359 HP Drift Dominating Soarer

Some champions never rest. While capturing a D1 Grand Prix and a Formula Drift Asia championship would be enough to satisfy nearly anyone’s competitive nature, Daigo Saito isn’t nearly anyone. After winning the 2008 D1 Grand Prix championship in Japan and the Formula Drift Asia series in 2011, Daigo set his sights on the Formula Drift series in the States. While no one questioned that Daigo was a capable driver, no one predicted that he would take home a Formula D championship in his rookie year. Text by Richard Fong // Photos by Michael Ferrara Bridging The Gap To compete…

Aerodynamic Advantage | An EVO VII Takes Functionality to the Extreme

The driving force behind the true competitor is the insatiable hunger for victory. The spirit of competition brings out the best in any competitor. Those lucky enough to witness a demonstration of this spirit are inevitably moved. For a group of enthusiasts from Queensland, Australia, watching the world’s greatest compete at the 2010 World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC) served as a great inspiration for them to enter the competition. Text by Richard Fong // Photos by Stefan Knoeckel and Chris Sorgsepp Finding NEMO This group of enthusiasts from Queensland pooled their resources and ideas together and focused on running with…

400 WHP SW20 Toyota MR2 | Demo Car for Business, Track Star on Weekends

The 90s were an incredible time for Japanese sports cars. Nearly every Japanese automaker incorporated at least one sports car in its lineup and Toyota was no different. The automaker offered FF, FR, and MR platforms to cater to a broad audience of enthusiasts. While most of its models may pale in comparison to the JZA80 Supra, Toyota’s often forgotten second-generation SW20 MR2 carries a cult-like following. With its turbocharged 3S-GTE mounted transversely behind the passenger cabin and a striking resemblance to Ferrari’s 348, the SW20 attracted enthusiasts who enjoyed taking the road less traveled. To this day, there’s a…

G-Force Subaru STI Spec-C Type RA-R | A Showroom Quality Build Aims for Quicker Lap Times

Rally-bred, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive with four doors and seating for five. Whether that’s Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution or Subaru’s WRX STI, the underlying recipe for practicality and performance has brought us a car that can be driven to, on, and from the track. This duality shared by the EVO and STI ultimately made both vehicles very attractive in the eyes of performance enthusiasts who could only have one car. Text by Jun Chen // Photos by Rob Shaw / BackFromLeave Known specifically for its 4G63 performance, Garage G- Force of Aomori, Japan has put together some of the quickest time attack Mitsubishi’s…

Garage Built EVO VII Wrecking Records

THE UNDERDOG. THE UNDERFUNDED. THE “LIVING ON CREDIT BECAUSE I’M between jobs.” Such is the plight of average Joes everywhere that are bitten by the racing bug. When Daniel O’Donnell was first exposed to time trial competition, he was instantly hooked but his daily-driven EM1 Honda Civic Si and supercharged BMW M3 would require more than he could justify or afford to be a competitive racer. Text and Photos by Richard Fong Gotta Be Different In his quest to stand out from the norm, O’Donnell’s search for a new vehicle had him searching high and low.“I always have to have…

From Old to New | Infinite Motorsports R32 & R35 GT-R’s

GT-R fans across the world appreciate the three letter marque for a number of different reasons. Whether it’s a love for the early RB26-powered cars or a fascination with the latest R35 and its massive power output capabilities, there’s a multitude of different tuning styles cultivated around Nissan’s sports car-turned-supercar. One of the latest tuning trends surrounding the GT-R includes wide body kits and air suspension. Some may argue that many of these “fast-fashion” styles are simply a product of the latest fads and won’t stand the test of time. Others may uphold the current trends as what they prefer…

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