FD3S Mazda RX7 - Japanese Fusion

I hate to sound totally unpatriotic, because I'm not. After all, I just wasted my entire economic stimulus package of $600 on a couple of Bathing Ape shoes and matching BAPE New Era cap that shouldn't have cost me more than two digits-but did. Thank you, Dubya, by the way, go America! If my unnecessary purchases of Japanese boutique clothing didn't stimulate the economy, I don't know what will. If I could just make a suggestion, though, since I already brought out the Alan Greenspan in me, can we ease up on the strict emissions laws? I know the polar bears are drowning, the glaciers are melting, and a volcano is about to go postal under Yosemite Park, but with a decrease on emission regulations, we can possibly get back all that we've missed because of it-like the Toyota Supra, Acura NSX, and of course, vehicular artwork like this Mazda RX-7.

Now, back to me sounding unpatriotic because again, really, I'm not. The Japanese seem to be one-upping the hell out of the U.S. since the launch of the first PlayStation. Not that they're better than us; it just seems like they're creating better things, especially when it comes to cars...and boutique street gear, for that matter. When the RX-7 came off the production line in 1979, it was an instant hit with its sleek styling, FR layout, lightweight chassis, and surprising twin-rotor Wankel rotary engine-a machine entirely unknown to the automotive community at the time. It was so popular, Mazda made generation after generation, landing on the FD version, where its worth took off into supercar territory. It garnered double takes on the road, accepted roles on various films, and heroically took its call as Mazda's most legendary ride. Until, of course, the aforementioned emission laws caused it to vamoose.

The FD RX-7 was an engineering marvel, too, heralded by many publications and revered for its vanguard design, pure sports car feel, and its technologically advanced 1.3L twin-turbocharged rotary engine that helped push the FD 255 hp out of the box and onto many an enthusiast's garage floors. It featured a 0-60 sprint within the 5-second range, limited-slip differential, antilock brakes on all four corners, and extra-tight suspension. If the Supra was too much money, or the NSX was too futuristic, the RX-7 was the car to go with in the '90s.

Alas, we're living in the latter half of the 2000s, where the gas prices are so are high, along with the unemployment rates, that the government is giving each and every one of us cash to stimulate the economy. More importantly, the RX-7 is nowhere to be found, save for obscure areas like mall parking lots driven by old people, and of course, car shows, where they're so roided out that they're being implicated in the BALCO case. Nowhere is there a place where we can just enjoy the FD for its whole being, without all the nonsense, and with just an added cup of tuning goodness, except for the land of the rising sun and the Mecca of tuning, Japan.

Meet Auto Craft's FD3S, a slight blend of extravagance and athleticism with a full pop of downright preeminence. Underhood is a 13B-REW motor, which was also the first mass-produced sequential twin-turbocharger setup exported from Japan. In stock form, it runs as high as 276 hp. In Auto Craft's case, they've managed to get 443 hp out of that rotary by upgrading to a single turbo and the use of a GReddy front-mount intercooler. The high horsepower number is an impressive feat, considering they built the car for the street, but not surprising since Auto Craft refuses to half-ass anything, especially RX-7s. In Japan, Auto Craft is a leading RX-7 expert, with original parts and the unbeatable passion to make any FD the best it can be.