However, despite those drag strip figures quoted at the top of the story, the car has been designed as a multi-purpose vehicle, equally at home on the strip, circuit, or even the public road: amazingly it's still road legal-well, technically. "I can't justify spending that amount of money on a car and just have it as a one-trick pony," he points out. In fact he says that he couldn't even justify the extra expense of weight-saving items such as carbon fiber doors and seats.
So what sort of money are we talking? He claims not to have added it all up but if you were a customer and wanted a similar spec car, bank on spending around 100,000 ($186,000), depending on exactly what spec engine you wanted.
This car is so hot out of the workshop that it's not been completely finished; for instance the lights don't work, which means that going cruising at night is not currently an option. However, he has managed to fit in one track day, albeit short lived. He ran the car at 1.6bar (23psi), and combined with his limited experience in the car and an unfamiliar track there was a massive learning curve, resulting in several high-speed spins. He also managed to blow the rear diff while launching it-a problem explained by the fact it was his old RS diff from his VII which was well past its sell-by date; that's since been re-placed. Despite a limited amount of laps, did he reach any conclusions about his latest monster creation?
"Yes, it's [rhymes with ucking] difficult tom drive." No kidding.
OWNER Simon Norris
HOMETOWN Wiltshire, England
DAILY GRIND Soccer Hooligan/Tuning Terror
POWER 841 hp; 635 lb-ft of torque (on 118 octane race fuel)
UNDER THE HOOD ND-processed engine block, 2.3L forged steel crankshaft, baffled sump and modified pickup, uprated engine bearing set and oil pump; Crower forged steel connecting rods; Garrett GT42R roller bearing turbo; HKS 60mm racing wastegate; ND custom tubular exhaust manifold and intercooler with 3.5-inch piping, 2.5-inch externally venting screamer pipe; HKS cam pulleys; ND-spec camshafts and JE pistons; ND gas-flowed race cylinder head, valve spring kit, oversize stainless inlet and exhaust valves, Ti retainers, dash-12 custom engine breather system, custom radiator and pressurized water system, 25-row oil cooler kit, custom low mounted fuel tank, coil on plug CDi ignition system; K&N air filter with 5-inch inlet; Bosch 044 fuel pump (x2), post dash-8 fuel filter (x2), dash-8 fuel feed line (x2); SARD twin feed fuel rail, dash-8 racing fuel regulator, and 1000cc injectors; Anderson battery boost system; electric power steering; ND 4-inch WRC-style custom exhaust system with side exit
DRIVETRAIN Nd triple plate push clutch kit; Holinger dog engagement straight cut gear kit; Ikeya sequential shifter with digital gear indicator; MoTeC strain gauge gear knob and controlled gear change ram; shortened RS prop shaft; uprated front viscous differential; Evo IX RS rear differential setup
BRAINS MoTeC M800 Pro ECU, 4-bar map sensor, closed loop lambda control, exhaust gas temperature loopback, and boost control with GReddy 3-port solenoid; ND custom engine speed timing discs & sensors
STIFF STUFF Intrax remote canister coilover suspension, custom air jack tire changing system, uprated front and rear antiroll bars
ROLLERS 18x9.5 (Drag: 17x9) Volk Racing CE28N wheels; 265/35R18 Avon ZZR (Drag: 275/45R17 Nitto NT-555R Extreme Drag Radial) tires
STOPPERS Brembo eight-piston metal matrix calipers with 322mm slotted rotors; Ferodo DS400 pads; twin master cylinders; stainless steel lines; electronic line lock
OUTSIDE acid-dipped custom 2-door short wheelbase low roof Evolution IX shell with flared steel rear arches; custom carbon rear diffuser, aluminum front panel, and single wiper conversion; Raceon USA carbon hood and "MR Style" carbon rear spoiler; Carbontrix carbon front bumper; GT Fabrications carbon wide front wings
INSIDE custom T45 full weld-in load-bearing roll cage; Sparco steering wheel and racing bucket seats; carbon fiber door panels, front floor panels, trunk floor and infill panels, fuel tank cover, headliner, and dashboard infill panels; custom lexan windows and windshield; Stack 8170p dashboard with carbon surround; ND custom full wiring loom and shift light, HKS 2.5 bar boost gauge; race battery
ICE The oohs and aaahs of the adoring masses