Even when Motorex brings out one of its more tame Skylines, as was the case in this test, we're always assured of a real show. Maybe it will be the gonzo-abusive dragstrip antics, maybe it'll break our slalom record or maybe Nissan's all-wheel-drive wonder will just bring home respectable numbers across the board. This car chose door number three.
Still, making most any car cover the quarter mile in less than 12 seconds takes some serious underhood work. This R33 received most of its upgrades in the form of off-the-shelf HKS goodies. Air enters the RB26DETT through HKS Super-Mega Flow intakes, then is compressed by twin HKS GT2530 turbos before passing through a Blitz intercooler, more HKS hard piping and through the combustion chambers. From here, spent gases spin the compressor wheels of those same turbos, then blast into an HKS racing downpipe and out an HKS Super Dragger exhaust.
Also responsible for turning loads of fuel and oxygen into forward motion are several electronic bits, including SplitFire coilpacks and an A'PEXi Power FC ECU.
Relatively few upgrades are required to the Skyline's already beefy drivetrain. But Motorex installed a Nismo twin-plate clutch and lightweight flywheel for good measure. GAB coil-overs replace the stock dampers and springs and bring the rates to levels appropriate for our thrashing. However, the Skyine's stock Brembo brakes remain.
Tires, always critical to any test of performance, were appropriately upgraded with 275/40ZR-18 BFGoodrich g-Force KDs all around.
| ACCELERATION |
| Car | 1/4-mile E.T. | Trap speed | 0-60 dry | 0-60 wet |
| Motorex Skyline | 11.9 sec. | 121.4 | 4.1 sec. | 5.9 sec. |
| HPA Motorsport Audi TT | 12.7 sec. | 107.8 | 4.1 sec. | 5.9 sec. |
| XS Engineering Subaru WRX | 12.8 sec. | 105.9 | 4.3 sec. | 6.3 sec. |
| Ziel Motorsport EVO VII | 13.2 sec. | 103.5 | 5.1 sec. | 6.2 sec. |
| EVO VII rally car | 14.3 sec. | 94.3 | 5.7 sec. | 7.8 sec. |
| 700-FT. SLALOM SPEEDS |
| Ziel Motorsports EVO VII | 72.0 mph |
| HPA Motorsports Audi TT | 70.2 mph |
| XS Engineering Subaru WRX | 68.1 mph |
| Motorex R33 Skyline | 66.6 mph |
| EVO VII rally car | 65.1 mph |
HPA Motorsports Audi TTFour hundred and ninety horsepower. That's what HPA claims its twin-turbo conversion makes when coupled with Audi's 2.8-liter 24-valve VR6. Big talk. Big talk backed up by big numbers. The way the TT ripped through the quarter mile in 12.7 seconds at 107 mph gives us reason to believe there's at least some truth to this claim. And that's with major wheelspin on the launch.
HPA's Marcel Horn says similarly modified cars have gone faster with race tires. This car performed all our testing on Toyo Proxes T1S street tires. Even so, they weren't small at 225/40ZR-18 front and 255/35ZR-18 out back. The rubber was mounted on gorgeous HRE 540 wheels sized to match the tire stagger at 18x8.5 in the front and 18x10 in the back.
HPA has become known in VW/Audi circles for its monster power turbo kits and other engine upgrades. In fact, this car is outfitted with the full-tilt boogie 24-valve VR6 kit. However, HPA also offers a kit for the 12-valve version of the engine, which makes less power.