If you didn't already know, Bridgestone Tires has a chain of auto parts stores called Cockpit. Rather than just buying a few performance parts for his Impreza, Ryo Suda worked with the Cockpit store in Saitama, to build a car that was show-worthy, track- worthy and still streetable. "My car is easy to drive on the street as well as on the race track", Ryo says.
From the inside out, they worked together and made sure to not go overboard on the modifications, but still do everything necessary to have a all-around built GDB. Having the last revision of the GD chassis, the GDB-F has possibly the best looking headlights. To keep the lines flowing smoothly, a Charge Speed body kit took the place of factory bumpers. With no half-stepping, the optional Charge Speed front fenders and hood were also added, keeping engine bay temperatures down, and allowing for wider front wheels. Going to the rear, you'll find more weight savings in the form of a carbon trunk lid. Atop that rest the huge GP Sports carbon wing. Yes, a track car is just naked without an enormous wing keeping the rear end down. Rather than having the lower half of the rear bumper just break off at every driveway, Ryo left off the bottom half and even cut vents out of the rear bumper. It sounds odd, but the rear bumper actually looks better without the lower half, and I can definitely sympathize with having a car way too low. With those large ass fenders, Ryo stuffs huge 19x10 Work Schwert SC1 rims in all four corners of this all-wheel-drive rollercoaster. Rims are wrapped in none other than Bridgestone's latest and greatest street tire, the RE01R. This wheel and tire combo is something most VIP car builders can't even afford to stunt in.
But don't let the machined-face 19" wheels fool you; this all-wheel-drive car means business. Under the skin, lies an HKS turbo upgrade mated to a Tomei manifold. To keep the new levels of boost cool, a Trust Type-R intercooler completely fills the opening of the Charge Speed front bumper. Tuning comes via an HKS F-CON ECU, singing to the song of 380ps. And for quick tuning at the track or streets, the ECU is mounted in the center console for easy access; the less important Pioneer Carrozzeria head unit gets moved to the glove box. Covering the rest of the dash and console are what seems like the entire Defi guage collection. Behind the front seats, everything is taken out for more weight reduction. (Ryo obviously doesn't know how we Americans make use of the backseats on Saturday nights.) In place of the rear seats, is now a Cusco 7-point roll cage, helping increase the body rigidity. Losing more weight, the driver's seat is replaced with a lightweight Recaro SPG shell, strapped down with a Sabelt restraint harness. And the most badass part of all, he has two NOS bottles mounted to the rear decklid to let anyone and everyone know that they do not want to try to pass him on the track.
Ryo Suda, with the help of Cockpit, has put together a lean and mean street car cable of some hot lap times. Everything from the exterior, to the engine, to the interior is modified without going overboard or broke. Well, the wheels are a bit overboard, but machined-face wheels are never a bad thing. And although the side graphics scare me, I can see how a sponsored car must rep it's shop colors and scheme. Good work Ryo. Thumb up from us, as well as the big ass green turtle-dinosaur looking thing.