Cars

So i figured i might give a little information about the cars used in the Anime, as well as some of the mods and maybe a couple mistakes made in the manga. IM sorry but the people who translated the manga didnt know jack about cars an it REALLLLLLY shows through on a couple MAJOR places.

So lets start with Fujiwara Bunta and later Fujiwara Takumi's car. the AE86 Chassis Toyota Sprinter Trueno.

The AE86 model was the fifth generation in the Toyota Sprinter Line. Specifically the AE86 was the two door coupe and the three door hatchback, the AE80 and AE82 being the Front Wheel Drive 4 door Sedan and 5 door liftback. This was the last generation of Corolla that would have a RWD model and remains as one of the most popular drift platforms in racing today.

Specifically AE86 represents A being the engine code, the 4A, the E represents the Corolla, 8 for the 5th Generation, E80, and the 6 representing the specific variant. Commonly called the "Hachi Roku, or Hachi" standing for 8 - 6, this model carried athe 4A-GE, 1.6 litre inline four engine, one shared with the first generation (AW11) Toyota MR2. With a maximum output of about 130 horsepower, the engine lacked the power of later cars in the Sprinter/Corolla Range. With an optional Limited Slip Differential, the AE86 was a good car for racing.

In the anime, Takumi drives the AE86 Trueno, while his friend and "rival" Itsuki drives a AE85 Levin, the lower spec AE model running a Single Overhead Cam 4A-U engine making about 87 horsepower.

The main difference between the Levin and Trueno are in the lights, the Levin have set bar lights, and the Trueno with flip ups.

Now onto the specific models used.

Takumi's car is a GT-Apex, the highest spec model released, known as the GT-S in the US. With Vented disc brakes front and rear, with MacPherson Strut suspension the car is an able performer. While the specific mods for Takumi's car is unknown, it atleast uses a sports style exhaust system.

Later, during a race with Sudo Kyoichi of Team Emperor, Takumi's Hachiroku blows its engine. Noting that its engine had had its day, Bunta opts to swap in a better engine. This engine, found through a mechanic friend, is an engine from the defunct Group A race series. Based on the AE101 Silvertop engine, this is a potent racing engine. Possesing a redline over 11,000 rpm, and boasting some 240 crank horsepower, the engine is a monster. With the unique drone of the Individual Throttle Bodies, the new Hachi Roku dominates the road again, winning against Sudo Kyoichi.

There are a couple distinct mistranslations with the manga, specifically the first, during the match between Takumi and Keisuke. Ryosuke gives an estimate of the car seeing about 150 whp from it, which is about correct, however, he notes that the car as a "cross mission" used in rally, which is the wrong term. The actual term used is Kurosu Mishun, meaning "close mission", or close ratio transmission, which is a type of gearing thats beneficial to rally where low speed power is more needed than top speed runs. As such, the gearing is perfectly suited to Akina's hairpins, which allows Takumi to exit corners at higher speed than the longer gearing of other cars.

Now a little background on Takumi himself. His father, Fujiwara Bunta, and his friend, and later owner of a gas station and Takumi's boss, used to be "Hashiriya" Street Racers, quoting from the Manga, back more than 20 years. (if true, that would put their racing days around 1976 or earlier, as the manga begins in 1996) Takumi is a loner, quiet and reserved, tending to shy away from attention. He tends to miss the obvious and stares listlessly into the sky. At a young age, his father began having him deliver Tofu from their shop to the hotels along the shores of Lake Akina. This "Touge" mountain pass, was scary for the young boy, but eventually he began to get over his fear. Learning to slide the car through corners, to keep himself entertained, his father put a cup of water in the cup holder, telling him to keep the water from spilling in the cup, would keep the water in the tofu containers from spilling as well. After several years of this, Takumi perfected this technique, although his need of such perfect driving was to keep him entertained as well as getting him home quickly. His skill behind the wheel is noted by every famous racer in the prefecture, including the RedSuns leader Takahashi Ryosuke, Team Emperor's Sudo Kyoichi, and others, such as the Todo School, and even the famous Purple Shadow's.


Takumi's Hachi Roku as it originally appeared


Takumi's Hachi Roku, after recieving the Group A Engine. During his time with Project D, Matsumoto, Takumi's Project D mechanic, installed a carbon fibre hood, in order to lose some weight.

 

Todays car is Iketani Koichiro's Nissan Silvia.

Based on the long sucessful S chassis from Nissan, the S13 was the 5th generation of Silvia released in Japan. First offered with the high revving CA18DET, for the 1991 model year, the new, more powerful SR20DET was released. As one of the first of Nissan's cars to use its multilink suspension set up, it also recieved an optional LSD rear and optional all wheel steering known as HICAS-II. The 1991 revision also brought with it a single colour paintjob, instead of the dual colour paint job used in the 88 - 90 Nissan Silvia's.

The CA18DET engine, first used in earlier variants of the Silvia, featured a aluminium head with 16 valves. Using a Garret T25 Turbocharger and a small sidemount intercooler, it managed a good 170 horsepower. Using a nearly square piston ratio 83 bore and an 83.3 stroke, allow the CA18DET to spin to over 8000 rpm, even when stock.

CA - engine code
18 - displacement, 1.8 litres
D - Dual Overhead Cams
E - Electronic Multiport Fuel Injection
T - Turbocharged

Mid 1990 brought a change of engine to the Silvia, in the form of the SR20DET. This 2.0 turbocharged powerplant developed roughly 200 horsepower, a 30 horsepower gain over the older CA18DET. With a larger displacement and an upgraded turbo, the SR20DET had more low end power over the CA allowing for more power and ultimately a more stable platform for modification.

SR - Engine code
20 - displacement, 2.0 litres
D - Dual Overhead Cams
E - Electronic Multiport Fuel Injection
T- Turbocharged

The Silvia featured several trim levels. Named from the face cards of a deck of english playing cards, the trim levels were J, Q, and K. THe J was the base model, recieving the CA18DE or SR20DE, having non power options such as windows and locks. The Q's version recieved power options that the J's lacked, but kept the CA18DE or SR20DE engine. The K's was the highest trim level available, combining the options of the Q's with the Turbocharged engine, either the CA18DET or SR20DET. Options like an LSD or HICAS - II, were also available.

Iketani's specific car is featured a few times, although no real information about its mods or specific output are mentioned. It seems to have an aftermarket exhaust, and lowered suspension, whether that be from cutting the springs or going with a full suspension set up, its never mentioned. In the beginning of the Manga and anime, his car seems to be an earlier generation Silvia, although later in the series, its depicted as a later generation Silvia.

Iketani Koichiro, known as Cole in the american translations, is the leader of the Akina Racing Team, the Speed Stars. His job is working at the same gas station as Itsuki and Takumi, hes three years older than both of them. Hes a decent racer, although, his lack of skill becomes apparent when compared with Takumi or the RedSuns racers.


Iketani's Silvia K's as it appears during the first stage

 

The next car to talk about is the FD3S Mazda RX-7.

The year was 1986, with the release of the new FC3S Mazda RX-7, a decision was made to begin the design work on the next generation RX-7. Takaharu Kobayashi, the project manager was determined to see the third generation RX-7 become a true sports car, instead of the Zevolution, that had been seen with Nissan's Z-cars. Weighed down with more and more technology the Fairlady Z had gotten bigger and slower. in 1987, the final deisngs were chosen. One from Mazda of Irvine California, and one from Mazda Hiroshima. The Irvine design was a sleek long hood, short rear deck design, while the Hiroshima design was a futuristic short hood long deck design. Despite the superior aerodynamics of the Hiroshima design, the Irvine design was picked.

Takaharu was given the choice to choose any engine he deemed worthy to fit the car. Takaharu decided to stick with the Rotary engine that had popularized the RX-7 in past generations. The compact and light weight rotary engine allowed the designers to sit the engine further down to give better weight distribution. Utilizing an upgraded version of the 13B-RE used in the Eunos Cosmo Sports Coupe, the new 13B-REW utliized the same sequential twin turbos. Using a smaller primary turbo and a larger secondary turbo, the delivery of power was near lagless, making the operation extremely smooth. The 13B is the same basic engine used in the FC3S, a small 1.3 litre rotary engine. The 13B-REW made a maximum of 255 horsepower, in stock trim.

In North America, the Mazda RX-7 was sold from 1978 to 1995. The SA22C and FB first generation sold from 1978 to 1985, the FC3S sold from 1986 to 1992, with the FD3S selling from 1993 to 1995. Poor sales in the US doomed the FD, while in Japan it would go on to sell until 2002, including several special edition and track bred models.

Takahashi Keisuke's FD is a 1992 Efini RX-7 A-spec in Competition Yellow Mica. Again, like most of the cars in the series, the particular modifications are limited. Keisuke's A-spec model, is a bit of a mix and match, as both the anime and manga show different cars. The beginning of the series shows Keisuke's FD utlizing the standard FD3S bumper and the A-spec rear spoiler, while a couple chapters later, and a few episodes later, it shows the car using the A-spec front bumper. Considered to be one of the best drift cars in the world at the time, several other RedSuns are shown to use it.

During a particular race against a team of cheaters only out to make money. Keisukes FD is crashed into a gaurdrail, after they pour motoroil over the road. After the races were over, Keisuke's FD was given a serious make over. Using a RE-Amemiya body kit, and heavily upgraded engine, his FD was given new life and he learned to dominate all who raced him.

Takahashi Keisuke, was once a bosozoku, a lightning tribe member, leading a notorious gang. Finally, Ryosuke, his older brother took him for a run in his heavily modified FC3S. The run scared him but also exhilerated him and he left the gang life, buying a band new FD3S. Ryosuke had a goal with his race team, the RedSuns, to dominate the Japanese motorsport world, and beat every local race team in Gunma. Keisuke quickly became an excellent driver under his brothers tuteledge and soon became the number 2 in the RedSuns.


Keisuke's FD from the first stage.


Keisuke's FD during the beginning of the fourth stage with the A-spec bumper


the final incarnation of Keisuke's FD, following the accident.


my own 1994 Mazda RX-7

In the anime, during the first race against Takumi, Keisuke questions if his secondary turbo has stopped working, as he begins to lose. This was actually a notorious problem with the Sequential Twin Turbo set up used by the FD. There are no less than 12 solenoids and more than 50 feet of vacuum line under the intake manifold, to properly have the turbo set up to function. With so many solenoids and lines, often times the secondary turbo would fail to spool, or spool completely, resulting in a drop of power. The main issue found was that Rotary engines produce much more heat that a normal engine due to the design. This heat and the rubber/silicon hoses were a bad combination. Often these hoses would harden more or less solid, resulting in a loss of pressure through out the system. In later years, a simplified system was come up with, using better quality solenoids which made the system much more reliable and much easier to diagnose.


The stock solenoid set up, used in the USDM 1993 - 1995 Mazda RX-7, the same as used in the Series 6 RX-7 throughout the world

 

Todays car is the BNR-32 Nissan Skyline GT-R driven by Nakazato Takeshi.

With the debut of the 1989 Nissan Skyline, Nissan Japan had decided to bring back its famous GT-R badge. Originally applied to the 1969 Nissan Skyline, the GT-R badge represents the pinnicle of Nissan's performance cars. Standing for Gran Turismo - Racer, the GT-R has historically been a stripped out street driven race car.

After two generations of GT-R, from 1969 to 1977, Nissan dropped the GT-R plate. In 1989 with the new Skyline BNR32, the GT-R Name was brought back. With Nissan racing in the Japan Group A racing series, with the R31 GTS-R, they had decided that it was time to retire the aging GTS-R, in favour for a more competitive car. This came in the form of the new BNR-32 Skyline. Utilizing several of the RB series of engines, the new GT-R was developed.

WIth new technology at its disposal, Nissan deicded to make the car AWD. Using the highly advanced ATTESA-ETS, Nissan had found its drivetrain. This system, standing for Advanced Total Traction Engineering for All - Terrain, Electronic Torque Split, used wheel sensors that would take measurements, every 1/10th of a second. This measurement took measure of wheel slip at each of the four wheels, and would metre power to the front and rear wheels. Unlike a "constant AWD" system, this system worked over a mostly normal RWD setup, with constant power going to the rear wheels. A transfer case, somewhat like is used in modern 4WD pickup trucks, this case contained a clutch set up. When the ECU took measure of slip at the rear wheels, the clutch was engaged sending some power to the front wheels in order to sort out the slip.

Upgraded versions of this system, used in later generation Skylines would also split the power between the left and right sides, as well as front and back, further helping to truly allow for an extreme road gripping system.

Also included on the BNR32 Skyline was the Super HICAS system. This is an All Wheel Steering system, like what had been used with older cars, such as the Nissan Silvia and Nissan Fairlady Z. This upgraded version used electronic control, rather than the older hydraulic system in past systems. This system takes a measurement at the steering rack, to determine the amount of turn, using its own computer control system, it turns the rear wheel to a maximum of 1 degree. This small degree of turn from the rear wheels helps the Skyline to feel extremely agile in the corners. Unlike most AWS systems, this system was designed specifically for handling rather than parking aid.

Finally came the engine. The RB series engine had been used in early Skylines. For the new GT-R Nissan had developed the RB26DETT. Originally planned to have a 2.4 litre engine utilizing twin turbos, Nissan eventually bumped the displacement to 2.6 litre. Using the T28 Turbo from Garrett, the engine put out the maximum of 276 horsepower. Under testing from outside sources, revealed that the RB26 was seen to put down more in the range of 320 horsepower. The RB26 is a strong preformer, with up to 600 horsepower being seen without internal modification, and well over 1000 seen with modification.

All these technologies combined, would see one of the greatest Japanese Sports Cars in the history of the company. Nicknamed Godzilla by the Australian Motor Press, this car would go to dominate the racing world. In its racing life, it would see 29 wins, from 29 starts, up to the year 1993, then go on, in its sucessor as the R33 Skyline, for 50 wins of 50 starts to 1997.

Takeshi's GT-R, as with most cars in the series, its never fully elaborated on. However, several times its mentioned to have 380 horsepower, both by Takahashi Ryosuke, and its owner Nakazato Takeshi. It can be assumed that he has some sort of sport suspension, and a sports style exhaust. A boost controller to up the pressure put out can also be assumed.

Takeshi is an experienced racer. He leads the Myogi Night Kids, and was once behind the wheel of a S13 Silvia, using a drift technique. However, at the defeat of an unnamed white Skyline GT-R, he decided to go to a grip technique, and abandoned his Silvia for an R32 Skyline GT-R. Since then he has dominated the racing world, and tends to look down on the drift trend thats spread throughout Japan. He is a careful driver, but his anger tends to get the best of him, and he fails to notice tyre wear. During his race with Takumi, he attempts to accelerate through a corner, to find his front tyres worn. This makes his car understeer and he crashes into a gaurdrail. Again in a later race against Seiji Iwaki, he wrecks his GT-R.


Takeshi's GT-R


a 1991 Nissan Skyline GT-R in gunmetal gray metallic

 

Its cool that you find the actual images of the car but Shigeno does a very good job. thanks for the extra info on the rides.