In collaboration with Toyo Tires, Bulletproof Automotive creates the ultimate 86.
In a relatively short lifespan the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S/ZN6/ZC6 chassis has received a lot of attention.
Held up by tuners and modifiers as a benchmark for their prowess on the spanners, the 86 is used as a reference point for aesthetic trends – an accessible halo car that wears modification happily.
Major car shows see new contenders regularly claiming the title of the ‘ultimate’ 86. This week, for example, Japanese tuners JUN unveiled their take on the BRZ.
The noticeably stock bodied, 86 features a diminutive 2.4L V8 motor. Screaming 370 horsepower at 11,000rpm, the mill was grafted by New Zealand’s Synergy Power from two 1200cc Kawasaki Ninja motors. The patent lemon painted car is the latest to grab the blogosphere’s attention.
First showcased in late 2013, Bulletproof Automotive’s Concept-One was built for more than just Facebook shares.
An international collaboration between tuning monoliths Bulletproof Automotive and Powerhouse Amuse, the intention of the Concept-One is best summarised by Powerhouse Amuse president Hitoshi Matsui.
“You can race it at the circuit all day and then jump in and drive it like any other car,” explains Matsui San.
“Our approach to the manufacture of tuning parts here at Amuse is that adding parts for the sake of adding parts isn’t worthwhile: the parts have to make a noticeable difference that can be felt by the driver.”
Borrowing from Porsche 911 artisans Singer, the ethos taken in creating the Concept-One was simple: everything matters.
The donor Scion FR-S leaves behind only its glass and original chassis frame, the Concept-One is nothing less than a super car.
Magnifying the balance and legacy of the 86 intensely and diminishing the standard model’s shortfalls, the car harkens to forebear AE86’s legacy of driver involvement on a new scale. Concept-One offers plush daily driven comfort with genuine on-track, or canyon carving performance.
Heralded by journalists as the LF-A’s baby brother, the Concept-One’s FA20 has had its factory-equipped asthma treated by a Powerhouse Amuse turbo kit. Supporting the 6758 is a full gamut of Amuse breathing apparatus, with ethanol and air inhaled and expelled by a snarling, forged race engine.
Putting down 500 horsepower through a proper clutch operated six-speed manual, the significantly lightened 1.36-tonne 86’s power to weight ratio exceeds that of the LF A. While serious figures, dyno readings are far from the only goal of the project.
19x9.5 front and 19x10.5 rear Rays Volk G25s are shod with sticky Toyo Proxes R888 (or full slick Toyo Proxes RR for when the going gets tough), with fast warm up times and consistent temperature/pressure making the semi-slick perfect for the application.
Bespoke Runduce racing suspension and Runduce brakes work with Cusco arms and bracing to keep the car planted and ensure the 86 meets Keiichi Tsuchiya’s edict: ‘Power is nothing, without control.’
Dipped head to toe with in Lamborgihini Balloon White, with curves swollen by the aerodynamically proven Varis widebody Spec D kit, the centrepiece of the car is a full replacement dry carbon roof by Esprit.
Inside, the occupants of the Recaro RS-G sit in the caged carbon fibre and red alcantara interior. No detail was spared the plush and purposeful Bulletproof Automotive treatment.
At the home of time attack in Japan, Tsukuba, in full street trim and driven on Proxes R888, the Concept-One laid down a 1:02.2 – equalling the time of a Ferrari 458 Italia.
Here is the list of the other cars that Concept-One beats around the famous track.
- Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
- Lamborghini Gallardo LP550 Balboni
- Porsche GT3 RS
- Honda NSX-R
- Nissan R34 V-Spec II
- BMW E46 M3 CSL
Presumably, the Concept-One was then comfortably street driven from Tsukuba, across the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line to Powerhouse Amuse headquarters in Kisazaru.
Check out this video of the car and of its supercar beating lap, produced by Maiham Media:
SPECS
Exterior/Wheels/Tyres
Volk Racing G25 wheels (19x9.5 front / 19x10.5 rear)
Toyo R888 tyres (265/30ZR19 front / 295/20ZR19 rear)
Authentic Lamborghini Balloon White full paint conversion
Varis Widebody Kit Spec D – VSDC semi dry carbon
Varis Cooling Hood System 2 with NACA duct (carbon fibre)
Varis Lightweight Trunk (extra reinforcement option – carbon fibre)
Varis GT Wing Centre Mount Type (Euro edition – all carbon fibre)
Esprit dry carbon roof replacement
Bulletproof Automotive one-off custom dual HID projector headlights with black housing & gold accents
Bulletproof Automotive one-off front bumper – custom carbon fibre accents
Bulletproof Automotive one-off mirrors – custom carbon fibre accents
Crystal Eye LED taillights (red)
Interior
Bulletproof one-off full red Alcantara interior conversion
Bulletproof one-off custom steering wheel (carbon fibre & Alcantara)
Bulletproof one-off custom shift knob (carbon fibre)
Bulletproof one-off 36 additional interior pieces converted to carbon fibre
Recaro RS-G seats with custom Bulletproof red Alcantara refinishing
P3 digital gauge
Cusco 8 point roll cage (custom gold paint)
Willans 4 point racing harness set w/ cam lock
Engine/Transmission/Differential
Powerhouse Amuse turbo kit w/ Borg Warner EFR 6758 turbocharger
Powerhouse Amuse R1000 STTI titanium turbo downpipe
Powerhouse Amuse R1000 Straight STTI titanium front pipe
Powerhouse Amuse R1 Titan Extra STTI exhaust system
EcuTek Race ROM tune (91 octane & E85)
Bulletproof Automotive Race Spec engine
86.5mm overbore pistons
Upgraded connecting rods
ACL bearings
Deatschwerks 900cc fuel injectors
Deatschwerks DW65C fuel pump
Cusco metal clutch set
Cusco engine mount kit
Cusco RS Spec F 1.5 way limited slip differential
Chassis/Suspension/Brakes
Original Runduce Racing suspension with external tanks
12kg front spring rate
12kg rear spring rate
Original Runduce Racing 6 piston front big brake kit (356mm rotors)
Original Runduce Racing 4 piston rear big brake kit (330mm rotors)
Cusco rear lateral arm kit
Cusco front strut tower bar (custom gold paint)
Cusco rear strut tower bar (custom gold paint)
Cusco engine reinforcement bracing (custom gold paint)
Motul RBF 650 brake fluid
Project KICS 15mm spacer with PCD converter to 5x114.3
