The Genesis EJ25 being tested...
The Genesis EJ25 being tested inside Tomei's engine bench dungeon room. Here, the engineers can make precise adjustments without the engine being inside a cramped space. They can recreate any environmental factors like temperature and load.
It's amazing how much can be accomplished when it doesn't matter who gets the credit. In this second segment of Tarzan Yamada's dream team collaboration, the project is finally shaping into a tangible reality. Team Tarzan's quest to tear a new one for the American time attack scene is expected to put pressure on the rest of the contenders and current record holders. When the most famous time attack and drifting personality assembles an all-star team of the biggest and baddest engine, chassis, and aero maker from Japan, the result is nothing less than stupendous.
For Tomei Powered, Cusco, and Voltex, the most rewarding form of product exposure is to construct the ultimate race car. There can't be a better method of marketing than having these respected manufacturers display to the end users their products installed onto a race machine and having it rip through some turns.
As the follow up to the prelude article of this big-name collaboration, the project raises an important question that is burning inside our minds: What makes this car different from a U.S.-built time attack machine? The most straightforward conclusion that can be reached by most industry experts is a simple one: money. Thinking further, these corporations are all based overseas, so it may be difficult for the American eye to judge how much yearly capital one group generates to afford such a project. The truth is, many enthusiasts will startlingly discover, contrary to their speculation, that just because they are well known doesn't indicate that they are a tremendously wealthy business. It's debatable that independently each of these corporations will stand a chance against Japan's biggest aftermarket product manufacturer-in terms of budget and lack of specialization in different areas of the automobile. Lets take a look at an in-depth technical analysis that coincides with company philosophies of what crucial methods they have employed when building a serious time attack machine.
Tomei Powered is known for its ability to construct high-performance race engines while still maintaining great reliability for every level of motorsports. Subaru's horizontally opposed EJ25 boxer engine has been their prime candidate ever since Tomei acquired a huge victory with this engine at the '07 Hyper Meeting Battle at Tsukuba Circuit. This experience led the Tomei engineers to discover how durable a boxer engine really is, especially because it produces less fiction, vibration, and noise. The lightweight EJ25 sits relatively deep inside the engine bay for a lower center of gravity, and the weight balance is near perfection. Inside the rotating assembly, the pistons move left to right instead of the conventional up and down, putting less gravitational stress on the bearings and crankshaft. Tomei's lineup of EJ products, like their oil baffle stiffener, strengthened timing belt, and belt guide, are just a few of the components that are seen on the race car and can be purchased for any daily driven EJ engine.
The timely process of planning a Tomei crate motor all begins when Tomei Powered begins developing high-performance engine internals, usually starting with the camshafts. When enough components to make up a complete long-block are developed, the Genesis crate engine can be assembled and released to the public. Upon close inspection of the Impreza race engine, OEM components are found in the setup, like the valve guides, head bolts, fuel pressure regulator, water pump, and even the oil pump. The chief engineer, Akitaka Tomita, who embodies Tomei's profound engine tuning philosophies, reasons that the automobile manufacturers spend millions developing these OEM parts and therefore are yet unmatched by any aftermarket manufacturer of their quality, efficiency, and durability. Having great trust in OEM, Tomei still utilizes stock parts in their race engines simply because it works. This relates to their theory of: A great tuning shop will make their client's vehicle very fast by spending as little and with the fewest modifications as possible.
This is Tomei's equal-length...
This is Tomei's equal-length Expreme exhaust manifold. The equal length is targeted toward peak power and somewhat minimizes that distinct "boxer" rumble for a cleaner exhaust tone.
The Garrett 3076R glows luminously...
The Garrett 3076R glows luminously next to the custom Tomei external wastegate heat shield. These tests are performed countless times but never past the point where things start to break.
The initial tuning process...
The initial tuning process required an all-wheel-drive dynamometer, so the Impreza was brought to Garage G-Force in Yokohama. There, Chief Engineer Tomita, from Tomei Powered, set several base maps on the MoTeC M600 ECU.
Tomei's trademark blue powdercoat...
Tomei's trademark blue powdercoat paint is available only once the Genesis complete engine is revealed. A horizontally opposed engine sits deeply inside the engine bay, benefiting a low center of gravity of the vehicle.
A plethora of Cusco suspension...
A plethora of Cusco suspension products with the Pianetto air jack system seen under the vehicle.
Cusco increased the diameter...
Cusco increased the diameter of the wheel wells to accommodate the 18x9.5 Volk racing TE37 wheels. Black traces of the Hankook Ventus Z214 tires are evident in the wheel wells, which is a familiar sight commonly seen on the GT cars.
The spring rates, as well...
The spring rates, as well as the camber and toe specifications, will be manually tuned when the vehicle is tested in U.S. track conditions. As of now, it is set at 0 toe and minus 3 degrees camber front and rear.