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Tuner Cars at SEMA
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We charged down the aisles of the massive Las Vegas Convention Center to track down the top tuner cars, and the eclectic group we have assembled illustrates all that is good about the import scene. During our tour, we were happily surprised by the number and quality of Nissan GT-Rs in attendance at the show, just a few months after going on sale. Further, many of the Nissans had substantial performance enhancements, which many thought to be a serious challenge due to the car’s complex and new ECU. We’re salivating in a big way and expect to see some outlandish GT-R horsepower numbers in the coming months. But there were more than GT-Rs perched on the pedestals at SEMA – here were our favorites.
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Green With Envy?
Vivid Racing’s 2008 Evo X is the victim of a full frontal assault by Agency Power, a Japanese-based performance parts manufacturer with an affinity for turbo systems. Vivid Racing, an Arizona-based tuning shop and exclusive Agency Power distributor, has coaxed 650 horsepower from the Evo’s 2.0-liter 4B11 powerplant. The star of the show is an Agency Power turbo upgrade kit featuring a twin-scroll Garrett GT35-R turbo and twin waste gates. The engine also features larger injectors, a high-flow intake, upgraded front-mount intercooler, a 3-inch downpipe and a 3-inch exhaust, all from Agency Power. Body tuning was addressed with a Valdi Sport Test & Service aero package consisting of front and rear bumpers and sideskirts. An APR carbon fiber wing completes the look. Since the mean green Mitsubishi was chillin’ in the Toyo Tires booth, it is no surprise to see Toyo Proxes R1Rs wrapped around AME Tracers filling the fender wells.
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Godzilla Version 2.0—The GT-R Arrives
The original GT-R, the Skyline GT-R R32, was so dominant in Japanese road racing it was dubbed Godzilla by its competitors. More than two dozen of the new R-35 GT-Rs were on the scene at SEMA. The ASR Engineering GT-R caught our eye because it has more than snazzy shoes going for it. Dressed in Nitto’s all-new NT05 tires, the Nissan gets our props for its tuning parts. The Nissan’s 3.7-liter twin-turbo V6 is in full boost-up mode, with a 3-inch cat-less downpipe leading to a massive 4-inch exhaust system. ASR’s Abid Siddiqi says the car has a fully upgraded fuel system and he was able to complete only some base tuning before packing the Nissan up for its trip from Miami to the SEMA show in Las Vegas. At its current 20-psi the car is a handful, but Siddiqi plans to really wake the beast when he turns up the boost and uses his Procede engine management system to maximize performance.
The original GT-R, the Skyline GT-R R32, was so dominant in Japanese road racing it was dubbed Godzilla by its competitors. More than two dozen of the new R-35 GT-Rs were on the scene at SEMA. The ASR Engineering GT-R caught our eye because it has more than snazzy shoes going for it. Dressed in Nitto’s all-new NT05 tires, the Nissan gets our props for its tuning parts. The Nissan’s 3.7-liter twin-turbo V6 is in full boost-up mode, with a 3-inch cat-less downpipe leading to a massive 4-inch exhaust system. ASR’s Abid Siddiqi says the car has a fully upgraded fuel system and he was able to complete only some base tuning before packing the Nissan up for its trip from Miami to the SEMA show in Las Vegas. At its current 20-psi the car is a handful, but Siddiqi plans to really wake the beast when he turns up the boost and uses his Procede engine management system to maximize performance.
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JDM Mustang?
APR Performance, a high-profile player in the Japanese tuner market, made an impression with import and domestic fans alike with its radically sensuous wide-body Ford Mustang. In fact, bulging eyeballs were the norm, in some cases competing with the bulging fenders that are part of APR’s nine-piece aero package for Ford’s pony car. In addition to the kit, the Mustang is running an APR carbon-fiber hood, wide-body Mustang-spec carbon-fiber wing and various air splitters, canards and diffusers. More than a pretty face, APR enlisted SP Engineering out of City of Industry, Calif., to install a Turbonetics T4 60-1 turbo kit that includes a Raptor blow-off valve, Evolution external waste gate and Spearco front-mount intercooler. The boost kit pushes output from 300 horsepower to 550 at 8.5 psi.
APR Performance, a high-profile player in the Japanese tuner market, made an impression with import and domestic fans alike with its radically sensuous wide-body Ford Mustang. In fact, bulging eyeballs were the norm, in some cases competing with the bulging fenders that are part of APR’s nine-piece aero package for Ford’s pony car. In addition to the kit, the Mustang is running an APR carbon-fiber hood, wide-body Mustang-spec carbon-fiber wing and various air splitters, canards and diffusers. More than a pretty face, APR enlisted SP Engineering out of City of Industry, Calif., to install a Turbonetics T4 60-1 turbo kit that includes a Raptor blow-off valve, Evolution external waste gate and Spearco front-mount intercooler. The boost kit pushes output from 300 horsepower to 550 at 8.5 psi.
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Supra Powered 350Z
Tech2 Motorsports made a notable impact at the show with a gaggle of wild, engine-swapped powerhouses. In addition to this Nissan 350Z with a 3.0-liter Supra 2JZ-GTE engine, we spied a 350Z with a Skyline RB26DETT engine and a Mazda RX-7 with a Supra engine. Through its Web site and a forum at 2JZswap.com, swap kits, shift linkage extensions, bell housing adapters and a cornucopia of swap-related details can be gleaned. The innovative car was promoting Enkei Wheels’ new L-SR design, and the 20-inch variant looked sweet on the black-over-orange Nissan.
Tech2 Motorsports made a notable impact at the show with a gaggle of wild, engine-swapped powerhouses. In addition to this Nissan 350Z with a 3.0-liter Supra 2JZ-GTE engine, we spied a 350Z with a Skyline RB26DETT engine and a Mazda RX-7 with a Supra engine. Through its Web site and a forum at 2JZswap.com, swap kits, shift linkage extensions, bell housing adapters and a cornucopia of swap-related details can be gleaned. The innovative car was promoting Enkei Wheels’ new L-SR design, and the 20-inch variant looked sweet on the black-over-orange Nissan.
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Serious Supra
Hey, a Supra motor in a Supra, how refreshing. When it comes to handling big boost and a heavy right foot the Toyota 2JZ-GTE is head and shoulders above the competition. Boost Logic crafted this seductive 1995 hardtop. It features a 3.4-liter stroker kit, race-prepped head and a Boost Logic T6 turbo kit featuring a huge Garrett GT55. Tuned by Justine Nenni at Tuning Concepts via an AEM EMS, this car has blasted an 8.47 at 177 mph in the quarter-mile (claimed as the record for a 6-speed Supra) and 241 mph in the standing mile. Beyond its potency, we have to call out Boost Logic’s attention to detail, which permeates the under-hood and interior of this wild ride.
Hey, a Supra motor in a Supra, how refreshing. When it comes to handling big boost and a heavy right foot the Toyota 2JZ-GTE is head and shoulders above the competition. Boost Logic crafted this seductive 1995 hardtop. It features a 3.4-liter stroker kit, race-prepped head and a Boost Logic T6 turbo kit featuring a huge Garrett GT55. Tuned by Justine Nenni at Tuning Concepts via an AEM EMS, this car has blasted an 8.47 at 177 mph in the quarter-mile (claimed as the record for a 6-speed Supra) and 241 mph in the standing mile. Beyond its potency, we have to call out Boost Logic’s attention to detail, which permeates the under-hood and interior of this wild ride.
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Boosted Open Air Fun
The AFI Honda S2000 illustrates some savvy craftsmanship. The S2K’s engine sits far back in the engine bay, so AFI routed its turbo header to position the turbo in front of the block. The intercooler is positioned in a V-mount configuration where the cooler and the radiator make a V. The S2000 is an intoxicating cruiser in its 240-horsepower stock trim, but infuse boost and drop the top and the driving experience becomes all the more intimate.
The AFI Honda S2000 illustrates some savvy craftsmanship. The S2K’s engine sits far back in the engine bay, so AFI routed its turbo header to position the turbo in front of the block. The intercooler is positioned in a V-mount configuration where the cooler and the radiator make a V. The S2000 is an intoxicating cruiser in its 240-horsepower stock trim, but infuse boost and drop the top and the driving experience becomes all the more intimate.
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Plush Meets Rush
Fox Marketing and Artisan Performance teamed to create this subtle yet aggressive makeover of the already aggressive IS-F. The subtle part involves the numerous bodywork changes, which enhance rather than rethink the lines of the IS-F, making it look even more muscular in the process. “Aggressive” can be applied to the engine, which gets the full twin-turbo treatment. Space limitations required the turbos to be mounted in the rear of the car, where the mufflers normally reside. Powerwise, the crew expects something north of 600 horsepower.
Fox Marketing and Artisan Performance teamed to create this subtle yet aggressive makeover of the already aggressive IS-F. The subtle part involves the numerous bodywork changes, which enhance rather than rethink the lines of the IS-F, making it look even more muscular in the process. “Aggressive” can be applied to the engine, which gets the full twin-turbo treatment. Space limitations required the turbos to be mounted in the rear of the car, where the mufflers normally reside. Powerwise, the crew expects something north of 600 horsepower.
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Mines GT-R
Mines is an accomplished Japanese tuning house that specializes in ECU tuning. In recent years it has expanded its operation to encompass carbon-fiber trim and hard engine tuning parts. Being in Japan, Mines got a head start on U.S.-based tuners because the GT-R hit the streets in Tokyo well before debuting here. This car features the company’s VX ECU ROM tune, VX air filter system and VX titanium exhaust, but the big news is Mines coming to America to attend the show and sell its wares.
Mines is an accomplished Japanese tuning house that specializes in ECU tuning. In recent years it has expanded its operation to encompass carbon-fiber trim and hard engine tuning parts. Being in Japan, Mines got a head start on U.S.-based tuners because the GT-R hit the streets in Tokyo well before debuting here. This car features the company’s VX ECU ROM tune, VX air filter system and VX titanium exhaust, but the big news is Mines coming to America to attend the show and sell its wares.
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Red Rider
The JUN Auto Evo X is a rolling business car for the company’s line on go-fast parts developed for Japanese performance cars. It flexes a stroker kit that expands displacement from 2.0 liters to 2.3 using a custom crankshaft, forged rods and forged pistons. The 4B11’s head is infested with JUN cams and JUN titanium retainers. This car was just one of the many trick Evo Xs at the show joining the GT-R as the most popular import platforms at the show.
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Drift Spec Swap
For years high-profile Japanese performance cars were excluded from the American market, making them all the more desirable here. The R32, R33 and R34 series Skyline GT-Rs are the most famous, but it’s the Nissan Silvia that has been the most copied. The Silvia is what we know as a 240SX, but in Japan the car was offered with a potent turbocharged engine, the SR20DET. The 240-SR20DET swap is common, but well-executed on this early S13 model from the Mishimoto booth. A sweet custom Artisan tubular exhaust and impressive large-plenum intake manifold set the stage. Mishimoto is responsible for the intercooler, piping, radiator, oil cooler, catch cans and a number of other cool parts.
For years high-profile Japanese performance cars were excluded from the American market, making them all the more desirable here. The R32, R33 and R34 series Skyline GT-Rs are the most famous, but it’s the Nissan Silvia that has been the most copied. The Silvia is what we know as a 240SX, but in Japan the car was offered with a potent turbocharged engine, the SR20DET. The 240-SR20DET swap is common, but well-executed on this early S13 model from the Mishimoto booth. A sweet custom Artisan tubular exhaust and impressive large-plenum intake manifold set the stage. Mishimoto is responsible for the intercooler, piping, radiator, oil cooler, catch cans and a number of other cool parts.
