Enkei Racing PF01
The Enkei PF01 is one of two new Racing Series wheels added to Enkei's 2010 wheel lineup. Utilizing Enkei's MAT flow-forming technology, the PF01 is designed as an ultra light-weight wheel that uses a unique roulette-pattern process, grooved on inside flange of the rim to reduce the slippage ratio between tire and rim, achieving the highest performance during extreme acceleration and deceleration. Check it out at SEMA booth #46045.
www.enkei.com

Think of all the places you might find a 1,600whp Supra. We've got three: On a dyno at a TX2K highest-hp pissing contest; at any given drag strip within a 50-mile radius of MSP Racing in the Baltimore area, Titan Motorsports in Orlando, or L.A.'s SP Engineering; or on a trailer en route to said destinations. It wasn't until we met Jamie Carter that we'd expect to find one in Ohio, in the quaint Cleveland suburb of Chagrin Falls . . . at an elementary school soccer practice.inline_mediumwraptextright27116797/features/impp_1001_1998_toyota_supraimpp_1001_20_o+1998_toyota_supra+front_view.jpgTrue

Chances are you've never been to Romania. But if you're from certain parts of America, it would likely remind you of home. Its four distinct seasons render much of the year cool and wet-like that of the American Northwest. Dense vegetation in Romania's Carpathian foothills merges with farmland plains outside cities like Brasov in much the same as our Blue Ridge Mountains meet Appalachian lowlands in western Virginia. Dilapidated, forgotten-about industry in post-Soviet mining towns like Petrosani and Rosia Montana could blend seemlessly into the rural eastern-central Pennsylvania landscape. And while we might not have to deal with crumbling roadways that likely haven't been re-paved since the cold war, motorists in popular parts of Illinois, Arkansas or New York would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Likewise, Romania is just about the last place on Earth you'd expect to find this GT-R treading ground.inline_mediumwraptextright27074920/features/impp_1001_2009_nissan_skyline_gt_rimpp_1001_01_o+2009_nissan_skyline_gt_r+right_side_shot.jpgTrue

Fortunately for BK, show judges don't subscribe to that old fashioned dictum, "blue and green should never been seen", to the point where they have awarded him and his ride Best JDM Aftermarket at Hot Import Nights, Tampa, 2009. "I got the car finished the day before HIN and drove nine hours straight down to Florida with no problems," says BK. Other accolades include Hottest Ultimate Acura.inline_mediumwraptextright31266003/features/impp_1001_2003_acura_rsx_simpp_1001_20_o+2003_acura_rsx_s+front_view.jpgTrue

When it comes to increasing performance, two steps forward often come at the cost of one step back. Decreasing body roll and lowering ride height can come at the cost of a harsh ride and poor streetability; increasing power can decrease fuel economy or driveline longevity, raise engine temps, impact emissions and a whole host of other baddies; even outfitting your ride with higher-friction brake pads likely means you'll be replacing them more often. But can increasing traction through the addition of a limited slip differential (LSD)-a modification long-embraced by tuners for having little to no apparent drawbacks-actually decrease power output and make you slower?

Track Suit
Recently, there's been a trend at shows that's ever-growing: the track look. Cars with roll cages, bucket seats and harnesses, over fenders accommodating wide wheels wrapped with wider tires, big brake kits with umpteen number of pistons, bumpers equipped with canards and diffusers, and engines built to the hilt. To the common passerby, they look like fully-prepped race cars-something out of a Super Lap Battle paddock. But odds are, the only track the car's ever seen is the one that leads to its trailer. How do you know? When's the last time you've seen a race car-let alone a street-driven one-with a front bumper without so much as a scratch? And no, Gran Turismo and Forza doesn't count

The love for Japanese muscle is evident across the globe. Yet again Import Tuner is snagging some of the best shots across the world and printing them right here. Wondering why you never got that reply to your Longshots submission? Because these guys are in your way. Congratulations Dave, Brenton, Daniele, and Andrew! Point, snap, click, and send your photos to longshots@importtuner.com

When I hear the word "cube", thoughts of the geeky sort come to mind. Example: cube, as in dice, as in Dungeons and Dragons. Or cube as in Professor Erno Rubik, as in Rubik's Cube. A geometrical object, as far as shapes go, cubes weren't ever in vogue. Diamonds, stars and octagons have always stolen the show, while cubes, quite frankly, have always been square. And ever since the square peg first met the round hole, cubes have never been the same.

We've all heard the arguments. Fans of drag racing will shout that theirs was here first-that it's the quintessential form of racing: a no-bullshit, mano-a-mano power contest with the clock as the judge. Those of drifting, that drag racing is narrow-minded and boring; drifting is more creative, interesting, and has more character. We're not taking sides. It's all one big shit storm that we'd rather not get caught in, and after a close look at these two S15 Silvias, a baseless one. Love or hate what either car was built for, the quality, craftsmanship and capabilities of each are worth a kidney from any one of us. One car churns out 1,400 hp at 11K rpm, and blasts 7.2-second quarter-mile passes. The other has bested the likes of Yamanaka, Takatori, and Verdier in competition, and has prompted drivers of big-budget, V-8-powered drift machines to re-think the potency of the modified four-cylinder street car that just took them out.inline_mediumwraptextright"Drifting is just a fad."26881837/features/impp_0912_1999_nissan_silvia_s15impp_0912_02_o+1999_nissan_s15+side_shot.jpgTrue

Individuality is very important for those who wish to stand apart from the crowd. It's something that's all but required of public figures, doubly so for any who achieve such status by driving race cars that need to appear as loud, confident and intimidating as their drivers. It's by this quality that Manabu "Max" Orido has become one of the most recognizable Japanese racing drivers of modern times. Despite his respectable repertoire of driving everything from Super GT and Super Taikyu, to NASCAR and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Orido owes this fame to his passion for drifting, and cars like his wildly modified D1GP Toyota Soarer and Aristo you've seen in Hot Version and Best Motoring videos and magazines like this one for years. And for those of you who think Max's stand-out persona and lust for boosted Toyota JZ muscle is just an act, we take you into his personal life this month, to peek at this Ridox JZX161 Toyota Aristo-his daily driver.inline_mediumwraptextright25731434/features/impp_0912_1999_lexus_aristoimpp_0912_01_z+1999_lexus_aristo+side_view.jpgTrue

My Book World Edition II
Now that disk space goes for a song, it's easy to find plenty of room for your collection of adorable kitten photos or Norwegian slasher films. Backing these precious memories up, though-that's a little more difficult. Enter an external hard drive that kills both birds with one stone, providing continuous and mirrored digital archival, readily safeguarding against data corruption and serving as a warehouse for treasured files. Even cooler, content can also be accessed online, ensuring you'll never have to leave precious info behind.
www.wdc.com / $399.99 (2TB); $699.99 (4TB)inline_mediumwraptextright31054593/features/impp_0912_forza_motor_sport_3_widgetimpp_0912_01_z+forza_motor_sport_3+my_book_front_view.jpgTrue

In its current state, the Civic earned Second Place its debut night at HIN Seattle '08, won the title of Best EK at the Nisei Showoff two weeks later, and was voted Third Place Civic at the ultra-elite WekFest earlier this year. Yee plans to compete the Civic at West Coast shows alongside his EK Squad brothers for the rest of the year and continue improvements in the downtime. "The engine is due for a rebuild," he explains, "so I've been toying around the idea of building a K24 block for it . . . possibly for forced induction. That, or I might actually go B-series or something even crazier. The Honda market is still changing, and the options for EKs are endless." No matter the direction he takes his car's next incarnation, it will all be a part of-in his words-"showing the world that Hmongs don't drive riced-out Civics, like in Gran Torino!"inline_mediumwraptextright30824346/features/impp_0912_1998_honda_civic_dximpp_0912_01_z+1998_honda_civic_dx+front_view.jpgTrue

Race Car Vs. Economy Car
The proverbial question, "What came first, the chicken or the egg?" has been highly debated upon, and nearly beaten to death by philosophers and scientists alike for hundreds of years. But in all fairness, who really gives a shit? Personally, I don't care if it's the zygote cell or DNA mutation that makes its presence first . . . neither of the two will help solve my problem of cash bleeding from my wallet.inline_mediumwraptextright30843774/features/impp_0911_2009_honda_fitimpp_0911_01_z+honda_fit+below_the_lift.jpgTrue

There are Skylines and then there are Skylines. Oh sure, the R33 and R34 GT-Rs get all the glory, but some other cars wearing this exalted badge slip under the radar. Here's one. It's a '90 R32 GTS-t Type M coupe: one of the less-celebrated Skylines that Japanese tuning shop Sun Line Racing must have acquired for a song. Right before the tech monkeys started to make sweet music with it.inline_mediumwraptextright26606923/features/impp_0911_1990_nissan_skyline_r32impp_0911_01_z+nissan_skyline+side_view.jpgTrue

And those wheels. Some old-school JDM purists will undoubtedly agree, even more so than its engine, its wheels are what define this car. We've all seen some that look similar, but not quite the same as these. These are real RS Watanabes, sized a ridiculous 14x9.5, -19 offset up front, and 14x10.5, -32 offset in the rear. "The wheels alone were $800 apiece," enlightens Bernard, "and that was the cost for them in rough shape, not including shipping." Why all the trouble? "These wheels are expensive now, because they're hard to find, but back when I was younger, that's what people put on these cars. To me, the car just doesn't look right without them."inline_mediumwraptextright30809868/features/impp_0911_1986_toyota_corolla_gt_simpp_0911_15_z+1986_toyota_corolla_gts+open_hood.jpgTrue

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OK, so maybe this month's winner has a tiny advantage for having submitted a killer pic of our cover car in competition, but that just goes to show how much this car gets around, and how photogenic a properly built-and enjoyed-drift car can be. Much love to the photographers of America's Hat for submitting sick rolling shots. And to Mr. Lauder, for reminding us how mean a GT-R should look.
longshots@importtuner.com

Death Of The Skyline GT-R
Say it ain't so . . .
A few days ago while browsing the Internet, I stumbled upon a disturbing letter written by the U.S. Department of Justice that will undoubtedly affect bootleg Skyline owners throughout the United States. The disheartening letter was sent to an anonymous R33 GT-R owner, ordering him to either surrender ownership of, or export, his Skyline within 60 days or the government would take possession of the vehicle.inline_mediumwraptextright25462904/features/impp_0912_nissan_skyline_gt_rimpp_0912_01_z+nissan_skyline_gt_r+award_shot.jpgTrue

'04 Subaru Impreza WRX

Output 341 whp @ 5,600 rpminline_mediumwraptextright30835419/features/impp_0912_2004_subaru_impreza_wrximpp_0912_08_z+2004_subaru_impreza_wrx+rims.jpgTrue

With the impending launch of Forza Motorsport 3, the 2NR staff, along with Formula D Diaries contributors Chris Forsberg, Dai Yoshihara and Rhys Millen, were invited to Turn 10 studios in Redmond, WA, for a hands-on digital test drive. And what a drive it was.inline_mediumwraptextright30828708/features/impp_0912_forza_motorsport_3impp_0912_02_z+forza_motorsport_3+drifters_shot.jpgTrue

A New Breed Of Tuners
Tough economic times have led many of us to cut back on spending, including buying parts for our cars. While the corporate stiffs in our aftermarket industry see the market as a cup that's half empty, I view things with a more positive attitude. Now, before you send those angry emails telling me I'm some optimist who's blowing smoke up his readers' asses, consider how the value of a dollar has become an important factor into what car parts we purchase.

Behind The Build

'08 Scion XD

Output 350 whp @ 6,400 rpm; 280 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm

I Despise The New GT-R . . .There, I've said it. After months and months of hearing people drool over the R35 and singing its high praises, it's been incredibly hard to hold my tongue. On second thought, maybe "despise" is a bit harsh. "Don't like" is more like it. Yes, I know all about its performance capabilities. Yes, its ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system is ridiculously good. Yes, it's stuffed with a 480 hp 3.8L twin-turbo VR38. Yes, it has the most overly-engineered production Bridgestones on the planet. And yes, its 7:29 lap time at Nurburgring is ridiculously fast. Whoop-dee-freaking-do. None of those facts change my disposition on the GT-R.

Possibly the biggest drawback to modifying a street car for performance is that with every increase in power, comes an increase in emissions. And with nearly every state or county in this great country of ours requiring your street car to meet mandatory maximum levels of emissions for road use, any product that promises to reduce emissions on test day is an attractive one to a tuner. Doubly so, if the product itself claims an additional boatload of advantages with its use.

I'M exhausted. It's 2:18 a.m. and I'm at the ports of Osaka in Japan. I've been up for more than 27 hours-16 hours of which I spent in the confined quarters of a Boeing jet, with a two-hour layover in my native Korea. I should be in bed. Instead, I'm sprinting at full speed for my life. Running is an act that I'm not truly comfortable with, nor great at, but making it exponentially harder is running with my Gitzo tripod, fully extended, and my Canon 5D camera acting as a gravity-fighting counterweight. Think Carl Lewis holding a sledge hammer above his head for a baton, but only slower. Much slower.