Demographics and geography play into Japan’s tuning philosophy, which differs from the way that American tuners conduct themselves in the quest for greater performance. The priorities of consumers also influence the style of tuning employed on either side of the Pacific, yielding builds that showcase the differences between them. Text […]
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Twincharged Power on a Carbon-fiber Widebody Exige
“Superchargers are parasites.” “Turbochargers are lags.” The forced-induction community has debated the methods of power adding with a clear divide. Turbocharging enthusiasts point out that positive-displacement superchargers use less-efficient compressors that steal horsepower from the crankshaft like a parasite. On the flipside, supercharging enthusiasts complain that any turbocharger large enough […]
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Scion tC Mixes Aerodynamics and Horsepower To Set Records
At first sight, the thought that comes to mind is, “WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT?” The enormous and unorthodox plane suspended above the hood of the wide-body Scion tC seems to defy some of the principles of aerodynamics and challenges the mainstream idea of good taste. But there’s no […]
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NA Is Best? | J’s Racing’s Honda S2000 Tackles The Touge Without Boost
In a world without boost, Honda’s engines would dominate. Honda’s four-cylinder engines were the first to offer variable valve timing and lift technology to the masses. Honda’s VTEC technology allows the company to produce engines with incredible specific output. While many have found that VTEC is even better with boost, […]
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900 WHP Converted Street Toyota Supra Turbo
“Second hand” implies used, sometimes abused, and usually far from perfect. Few of us enjoy the good fortune of being the first owner of a tuner car. When a car “sold in relatively low volume, as was the case with Toyota’s JZA80 Supra, finding a clean second or even third […]
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Daily-Driven Top Secret R34 GT-R Delivers Maximum Response and 641whp
One can never fully anticipate where a career path will lead them, especially when it’s a career in the military. When Paul Castillo graduated high school in 1995 and enlisted in the Air Force, he couldn’t have guessed where his duties would take him. When assigned to Yokota Air Base, […]
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693 WHP EVO VIII Street Assassin
A strange thing happens to one’s mind and soul after driving a mega-horsepower car on the streets. The mind rationalizes the need for the power while the soul feeds on the performance. For Todd Allen, dominating the streets has become the norm. Recognized by some for his 1,300 horsepower twin-turbocharged […]
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Autobanh’s “Big Red” Supra Sports Big Turbos For 1645 WHP
Few of today’s sportscars can challenge the performance potential of Toyota’s JZA80 Supra Turbo. The fourth-generation Supra is arguably one of Japan’s top sportscars ever built. Much of the vehicle’s popularity is due to the incredible 2JZ-GTE engine design. No other Japanese engine has ever challenged the 2JZ in terms […]
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732 WHP Street-Legal R32 Skyline Gets Loose On U.S Shores
The original Godzilla, Nissan’s R32 Skyline GT-R, is steeped in motorsports history. It hails from a performance lineage and marks the beginning of a series of technologically-advanced successors that would each respectively advance to the pinnacle of street-car performance. When the R32 was released in Japan in 1989, it set […]
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Wide Body Mazda RX-7 Still Catching Glances | Restored to Glory
Show car builds are meant to be eye candy. Some of the lengths that builders will go to in order to satisfy judging requirements would even make Liberace cringe. On the other hand, manufacturers work with tuning shops to build demo vehicles that take the “Best of Show” cars and […]
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SR-Powered AE86 Makes An Impact In Formula Drift’s Arena
The banked turn that seemed a fair distance away closes rapidly as the engine roars to redline. In an instant, a clutch kick, yank of the hand brake and full lock counter steer makes the bank viewable through the side window instead of the windshield. Today, a lack of restrictions […]
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407 WHP Turbocharged NSX Under Pressure | Highway to the Danger Zone
Aircraft pilots live for thrills on a different level. Some individuals like Bob Fahnestock enjoy flight both on and off the ground. Fahnestock has logged numerous hours in the air and has taken his passion for flying to another level. He’s been involved with aviation for over three decades, establishing […]
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Innovation Delivers a Tame Infiniti G35 that Turns into a Monster on Command
Show cars rarely demonstrate mechanical creativity delivering both form and function. Engineering innovation is traditionally bred within motorsports in the name of edging out the competition. Street car tuners typically adapt, rather than pioneer, racing equipment for enthusiast use. However, some “show cars” that actually see time on the street […]
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HAIL TO THE KING | The Super GT 2009 GT300 Champion is a Lexus IS350?!
“Challenge to the world.” This loose Japanese translation embodies the mission statement of the Super GT racing series. For those unfamiliar with Super GT, it’s practically the national motorsport of Japan. It started as the All- Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) in 1993. Like America’s NASCAR, Super GT captivates […]
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Supercharging Takes BMW M3 Power To The Next Level
Inspiration and aspiration can be drawn from a variety of sources. How many would cite Jeremy Clarkson, Jason Dawe, Richard Hammond, James May and “The Stig” are an entirely different situation. For Ricky Kwan, these entertaining and talented drivers who star in the popular television program Top Gear UK made […]
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