To become an art director for reputable firm such as Rubin Postaer & Associates requires you to posses a skill that goes well beyond the average Joe Shmoe. Nick Yen of Rosemead, Calif., is one of the few individuals who falls into this category. Using his eclectic styling and visual persona to build this ultra-clean, monster horsepower convertible printed before your eyes. "I've always been into cars my whole life. Even when I graduated the Art Center College of Design, I knew I wanted to work with cars and ended up doing creative work for Honda," Yen said.
That was more than eight years ago when Yen first began working with his firm alongside Honda Co. performing various TV commercial gigs, print work, and even learning about some inside race secrets on the IRL and CART Series that fans were unaware of. With constant bombardment of Honda-inclined material on a day in and day out basis, you might imagine one having a distaste for that certain company over the years, but for Yen, the love of cars never seemed to die.. In the year 2000, it only took one glance for Yen to fall head over heels for the S2000 roadster. The simplistic stylings and decisive exterior shape, along with unparalleled performance were features that were just the motivation he needed when purchasing his own S2K in 2002.
Horsepower is nothing new to Yen as he previously owned vehicles ranging from a built twin- turbo Supra to the luxurious Lexus SC400. With the smell of a new car interior still wafting in the cabin, the team at XS Engineering of Huntington Beach, Calif. began the arduous task of disassembling the factory (F20C) 2.0-liter engine. A battle plan was put to the works with a mindset of delivering unprecedented horsepower without the compromise of engine reliability. Using a set of forged Arias 9.25:1 ratio pistons mated to a set of Crower conrods, the assembly was reinserted into the newly revised short block, built by Cosworth Racing of Torrance, Calif. which now sports a 2.2-liter displacement with an 86.5mm bore and 91mm stroke. Keeping the oil temperature at optimal conditions and temperature, a custom Earl's oil cooler setup was developed and installed by XS Engineering with modifications done to the factory oiling system. A true testament to the engineering marvel of the F20C, the upper cylinder heads ports remain untouched. XS decided on only a minor polish job to the bowls for increased air efficiency.
Within a short week's time, the head was mated to the bottom end using a set of custom XS Engineering head studs and the XS team began fabrication on the soon-to-be-turbocharged power plant. "I challenged the guys at XS Engineering to build me a street-drivable S2000 with a high horsepower output. They couldn't refuse and built the car from the ground up," Yen said.
Comprised of a custom turbo kit, the S2K was fitted with a hush-hush specification T04X turbo, pumping forced induction through a whopping 11x24x3-inch XS Engineering Power intercooler system. Plumbed within the custom intake charge pipes, an XS Engineering BFV blow-off valve eliminates compressor surge while an HKS waste gate implemented on the custom tubular exhaust manifold safeguards from unwanted boost creeps. Spent gas is routed though a custom downpipe and exited out the rear bumper via an RS*R custom straight through EX-Mag 3-inch exhaust.