While cruising the Tokyo Auto Salon, we did a quick double-take when we passed the Blitz booth. A silver RX-7 grabbed our attention and a video of the car running at the strip drew us like bees to honey. In the clip, the car squatted nice, but the nose dropped too soon after launch. We waited for the tape to loop around and turned up the sound. It seemed the turbo wasn't pre-spooled at the line, so the engine bogged quickly after the flash of the green, which explains the nose dip. The car sounded healthy motoring down the strip and despite its bucking start, the scoreboard flashed a 9.8-second e.t. We asked some of the Blitz USA guys in the booth if we could crack open the hood and got the thumbs-up.
We were a bit floored when Blitz personnel revealed the 13B, which was producing 598 hp and blasting single-digit e.t.s at will, relied on stock apex seals to contain the boost. The car is owned by a Blitz distributor in Japan, Scorch. The 13B is pressurized by a Blitz K6 850R turbo, which is regulated by a Blitz SBC i-D boost controller and Blitz Type E56 wastegate. Scorch custom-fabricated a stainless-steel exhaust manifold to position the turbo. Prior to entering the engine, charge air is cooled by a generously sized air-to-air Blitz Type-C chiller. Once in the combustion chamber, the charge air is mixed with high-octane juice via four 1,000cc Blitz injectors. From the hot side of the turbo, spent fumes are exited through a custom 90mm Scorch titanium exhaust system. Another surprising aspect of the engine is its engine management system, which consists of only a Blitz Access Special programmed stock ECU. There are no stand-alone systems or piggyback computers. With only the stock number of injectors, the ECU was deemed more than capable of shelling out the fuel and spark.
Here we see the fire system's...
Here we see the fire system's main extinguisher and the air tank for the Jerico transmission.
Putting power to the pavement is just as important as making it. The RX-7 relies on red-blooded American technology- a Jerico five-speed, clutchless and air-shifted gearbox. The Jerico feeds torque to a locked rear diff and finally to Goodyear gumballs. The suspension consists of Sachs SP7 dampers and Eibach ERS springs and the crew plans to play with shock settings and spring rates to further dial in the Mazda's traction. The car runs the aforementioned slicks in the rear and Dunlop 235/40-18s in front, wrapped around Blitz Technospeed Z-1 aluminum
The cockpit has a decidedly race-inspired aura. A custom dash has been infiltrated by an array of Blitz meters. Readouts for boost, oil pressure, water temperature, oil temperature, exhaust pressure and fuel pressure dominate the cabin. A Blitz GT-1 racing seat secures the pilot while he works the air shifter and guides the Mazda down the track with the aid of a trick Momo steering wheel.
The 7's best effort in its current trim is an impressive 9.49. Blitz USA intends to export a set of 3mm apex seals to Japan and the Scorch crew plans to fortify the rotary and pump up the volume. If the car responds well to these mods, there is a good possibility that Blitz Japan will ship the car to the States. That's something we'd love to see.