If you thought the cars from the first part of the Tuning Powers coverage were wild, take a look at the line-up I have put together here, starting off with the SS Work's CRX, a car that for years has been putting far more powerful machinery to shame at the Super Lap Battle in Tsukuba.  Since the last time I saw it it seems to have gained an F-1 style front spoiler, no doubt there to increase downforce and help those front wheels gain more grip around corners.

The Daihatsu Copen from Bliss was one car I instantly noticed at the beginning of the show. It was the Maziora color that grabbed my attention at first, also applied to the tiny Panasport wheels! It runs a very serious track-spec series of modifications which have boosted power of the stock 660 cc JB-DET from 64 PS to 140 PS thanks to an IHI RHF4 turbo upgrade.

A serious dose of stripping has helped shed weight to 800 kg, giving a very nice power to weight ratio. 

T&E's front end Lexus GS conversion might make this Aristo look more "show" than "go," but under that hood is a rebuilt 650 PS 2JZ running an HKS T04Z turbine! The automatic gearbox has been relegated to the trash and in its place a 6-speed Getrag tranny from a JXZ80 has been fitted.  The ORC twin plate clutch joins the ATS Drift Force LSD to create one of the most luxurious drift cars I have come across!  The 20-inch rubber might not be the most economical way to go drifting however…

This JZX90 Cresta Tourer V had stance, and lots of it!

Under the hood the stock 1JZ has been fitted with a low-mount HKS GT2835 turbine helping it develop 500 PS. 

All looks normal with this W124 E-class, a Benz any proud member of the Yakuza would happily drive around in…

…but a quick glance at the engine reveals a rather interesting swap! Gone is the smooth Mercedes V8, replaced by a 3.2L 2JZ, boosted by a Trust T78 turbine. Power is rated at 500 PS, not a bad number for an automatic autobahn cruiser!

Here is a rear view of the crazy SS Work's EF7, the car the guys at Car Boy and Bomex have to try and beat with their GT300 Levin we saw in Part 1, because this is the fastest FF car in Japan, lapping Tsukuba in 59.1 seconds!

Taking center stage in the engine bay is the tuned B16A. Its internals are all upgraded starting with the B18C-R crank, JUN connecting rods and Cosworth pistons. With a 13.5:1 compression ratio and wild 295º cams on the intake (285º on the exhaust side) it manages to develop 230 PS, not bad for a naturally aspirated 1,850 cc 4-cylinder. Remember, lightness is the key, and there is plenty here as the little CRX weighs only 720 kg. 

Someone wanted to see more shots of that "wedge" FC built by Racing Sports Active. Here is one from the rear…

…and one of the interior. Notice how the dash had to be custom made since the raked windscreen didn't allow the stock one to fit properly.

Another customized FC, widebody and vertical opening doors.

An all black 13B!

Ever wondered what a top of the line ATS carbon limited slip differential looks like inside? You can also see the friction plates with the carbon material. I wonder where all that carbon dust goes though? In a regular metal LSD the metal particles/shavings are collected by the magnetic oil drain plug, but carbon? Uhm, I'm not convinced.

I present to you the hachiroku of the future. There is no 4AG powering this Levin…

…it has been replaced with an electric motor by the guys at the Chiba Automobile University CATS. Not sure how it would drive, but there is a good chance it will have more torque than those asthmatic 4AG's! Hehe

I quite liked Prostock's new 370Z but what I wanted to know is what ever happened to that crazy red R34 GT-R time attack cars they built with Garage Ito! Forget the Z34, we want to see the BNR34 at the Tsukuba Super Lap Battle this year!

Lovely pair of manifolds for the VQ37 from Prostock, and free-flowing sports catalysts.

The Prime Garage 5AG complete engine sporting Escort pistons, 300º and 10.7 mm lift camshafts, JUN conrods and a balanced Prime Garage crankshaft.  Good for over 200 PS!

This 318i by OSP Racing looked very stock…

…until I spotted the individual throttle bodies fitted to its M42 engine. Thanks to some heavy tuning the 1,881 cc motor now develops 194 PS, up from the stock 140 PS. Must sound amazing at full rpm!

There is something so right about a drag-tuned BNR32. Check out the chunky Mickey Thompson drag radials on the 16-inch TE37s! Built by Art Tech it develops 800 PS thanks to 2.7L stroked RB and twin Trust TD06S turbochargers. OS Giken sequential guarantees lightening quick changes, all good for a best pass of 9.529 sec.

You guys spotted the Rauh Welt 993 sitting next to Nakai-san's 964, so thought I better post a picture!  

And the 964 again, just look at this thing! There is one more post coming up from Tuning Powers with yet more extreme machines from one of the most technical shows of the year! 

- Dino Dalle Carbonare