HKS Rotrex Supercharger

The heart of the HKS supercharger kit is a Rotrex centrifugal supercharger unit. Longtime Turbo readers will realize we debuted this technology to the world eight years ago. It was an Emerging Technology piece in our December 1996 issue. We later featured a few cars, mainly European cars from EIP Tuning, sporting Rotrex induction.

The Rotrex unit is a belt-driven centrifugal supercharger that utilizes fixed-ratio planetary rollers to increase the efficiency and reliability of the system. The two biggest advantages of the Rotrex design are its compact size and the fact that turbo components are used on the compressor side. This allows HKS to tap into its vast data pool of wheel trim and housing combinations to tailor each supercharger application to the engine/vehicle in question.

Durability was addressed in overkill fashion as the Rotrex unit incorporates an enclosed lubricating and cooling system with a front-mount oil cooler. To further increase the efficiency, reliability and performance of the supercharger kit, HKS employs a front-mount intercooler that was R&D'd on the more-than-deserving Nissan 350Z.

For fuel delivery, a piggy-back engine management unit with a direct plug-in harness controls two additional 525cc injectors plumbed directly into the intake piping. To maintain proper fuel pressure, a high-flow in-tank fuel pump is included in the kit. Since the Rotrex unit sits where the stock air box normally would be, a Super Mega Flow intake is now in charge of gulping air before being compressed by the supercharger.

There would be no use talking about the HKS supercharger kit if we didn't show you what it is capable of. On the Dynojet, our stock Z tester, owned by BRS Autodesign, checked in with 237.4 hp and 232.8 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. With boost set at 7 psi, the HKS Rotrex-enhanced 350Z peaked out at 325.4 hp and 296.5 lb-ft of torque. That's an increase of 88 hp and 63.7 lb-ft of torque to the wheels! Power is realized throughout the rpm range, peaking out at 6500 rpm. Currently, the HKS Rotrex supercharger kit is pending CARB approval so it should be 50-state legal by the time you read this.

Serious situations call for serious measures. If you want to hang with the big boys you have to pay the price. Even with the extra you would have to fork out for the supercharger kit you can still laugh your way to the bank compared to the price tag of an M3. The HKS R&D department is working to morph the Z kit to fit the G35 Coupe and Infiniti FX35 SUV. We foresee them busting serious ass and coming out with new applications soon so keep your eyes peeled.

HKS Rotrex Supercharger

FMIC

Engine Management Computer w/ Harness

Oil Cooler

Cast-Aluminum Mounting Bracketry

Secondary 525cc Injectors (2)

Fuel Pump Upgrade

Super Mega Flow Intake

Bypass Valve