The January 1987 issue is a landmark because it unleashed turbo Hondas on the world. The issue's "Urban Assault Vehicle" article was a tag-team effort, with HKS providing the turbo pressure and Jackson Racing enhancing the handling specs of a new 1987 Acura Integra.
The 1.6-liter engine was pressurized via a Hitachi HT-18-38B turbo with an adjustable integral wastegate. An HKS F-CON computer addressed fuel enrichment while an HKS EGC tweaked timing. The kit flexed a front-mount, air-to-air intercooler. The article stated the flywheel rated 113-hp DOHC four was pushed, by "guess-timate," to 170 hp at 7 psi and 201 hp at 10 psi. The stock car conquered the 60-mph sprint in 8.8 seconds, 7.5 seconds in turbo trim. It would seem no one had the guts to show up at a drag strip in a Honda back in those days.
This issue also contained a review of the new Supra Turbo. The Toyota's 3.0-liter 7M-GTE pumped out 230 hp at 5600 rpm and 245 lbs-ft of torque at 4800 rpm. Turbo magazine said, "Designated 7M-GTE, this engine should permit Supra to pole vault with ease over its high-performance peers." In "From A Humm To A Roar" Everett Steele illustrated how easy it is to get more thrust from the "freshly redesigned" FC RX-7 Turbo. By bolting on an HKS exhaust system, the engine's fuel cut (triggered at 8 psi) would come on line at a mere 4500 rpm. Prior to the exhaust, only 4.5 psi was being generated at the same engine speed. Max boost jumped to 10 psi with no alteration of the wastegate; this performance was attained with the use of an HKS Fuel Cut Defencer that raised the cut-off to 12 psi and an F-CON computer to ensure enrichment under boost. For reliability, the system was set at 10 psi where the rotary belted out 170 horses to the wheels, a 35-horse gain over stock. Pretty stout for an exhaust and some supporting electronics.
Other tidbits included Freon 12 as a booster for air-to-air intercoolers, a Reeves Callaway-turbocharged Mercedes Benz 190E, performance mods for the Mazda 626 Turbo, a look at the Newman-Sharp Nissan race team and tech articles on gas shock design and plug wires.