Table of contents for No 316 September - October 2025 in NZ Performance Car

Some cars just have a way of finding you again. Years back, I used to always spot this issue’s cover car on display at shows or hammering around the track in one of its many iterations. Back then, I was still lugging around a DSLR and shooting in JPEG (yeah, I can feel the photographers cringing from here). Fast forward to now, and I’m pointing the lens at the same machine, only this time, it’s for the cover of a magazine. It’s one of my personal favourite Evos in the country: a 20-year build, built for both show and street, loaded with history, and pieced together by some of the top names in the country. And honestly, this build’s been way overdue for the cover spotlight. On a personal note,…

Is it the best-sounding drift car engine in New Zealand? Many would argue so — and the Aussie fans love hearing it scream through the night under lights. Olivecrona Drift Motorsport (ODM) returns to Australia to take on the International Drift Challenge with the now–naturally aspirated (NA) engine package. The team never stops refining and has just completed a new custom exhaust system with an even better note. With Jaron Olivecrona really coming to life last year in the pool battle format, the team is looking forward to once again showcasing the Parts Trader Lexus RCF on an international stage.…

In huge news for southern competitors and fans, the national series has locked in a return to the South Island in late November, with what is anticipated to be a brand-new show format. With its high speed and flow, Teretonga is seen as the perfect place to kick off the season, and series organisers are looking forward to seeing some new faces and names getting amongst the action and making the most of local knowledge. As we go to print, details are still being locked in, but this promises to be an exciting and welcome development for all involved.…

“Yeah, I guess you could say I’m a bit of a perfectionist,” laughs Sanil Nadan, the 20-year-plus owner of this instantly recognisable Auckland icon that has undergone its own evolution to be in the state it sits today. Sanil explains: “This was my first Evo and one of the original Boost Like This cars, but over the years, I’ve owned around 10 other early Evos alongside this one. Each time, there would be something I liked or found better, so, gradually, all the best bits have ended up in this one OG chassis. In a way, it may never truly be finished, but for now I am happy where it’s at.” Having also owned later-model variants, Sanil says that it’s the raw and driver-focused feel of the early Evo that…

While the X100 range of Chasers, Mark IIs, and Crestas might be the most popular flavour of X-chassis right now, most people I’ve talked to over the years have a soft spot for a well-executed X90 too. You just don’t often see them done up nicely, especially in their JZX90 1JZ-GTE–engined Tourer V form. But why is that? They’re typically a bit cheaper than their X100 counterparts, both models come with very similar running gear, both bear some resemblance to a Camry (or in the Mark II X90’s case, an AE101 Levin), and both look staunch with a big body kit, so who knows why? But for Luke Chilvers, the choice between X90 and X100 wasn’t really even an option when he acquired his Mark II Tourer V JZX90 about…

Winter gives many automotive lovers pause. The thought of icy windscreens, bleak weather, rain and cold is enough of a reason to deter most from enjoying a spot of car culture, right? Wrong! This weird preconception that we can only enjoy our cars in summer is total bullsh*t, and to prove it, Tui’s latest winter edition of Mangatainoka Motors lured out 250-plus cars to its annual Japanese Car Day. This was the perfect excuse to grab a few mates, throw on a jacket, and head off to celebrate everything JDM for a morning. We think there’s nothing better than melting away the winter blues with a bit of a convoy, takeaway coffee, and some ‘sharns’ while checking out cars. Summer still seems an age away, and we can’t remember what…

Established officially in 2021 with humble origins rooted in a ‘people before cars’ philosophy, founder Eddie says, “Zoku’s members find their seat at the club’s table because they’re looking for something human beyond the machine, and that’s what makes Zoku so different.” They might eat around an open engine bay, but cars are just a vehicle for people to find their tribe, a place where they’re accepted for who they are, not what they drive. With Eddie and Becca, aka Mum, at the helm, Project Zoku’s membership is eclectic and diverse — the club’s youngest member is Kobi, 11, and their oldest is Colin, 72. Zoku’s core crew members stretch from as far north as Taihape down to Wellington, with a couple of members currently living in Christchurch. With such…

HERO CONTRIBUTOR ISAAC WESTERN Why do you like cars? What is it that draws you back, again and again, regardless of the frustrations and costs that come with this hobby? Everyone has different reasons, and often it’s not just one, but a mix of many. For some, it’s the speed, the excitement, and adrenaline of driving fast; for others, it’s the sense of community, time with close mates, and memories you can make. You have the mechanical and technical side, as well as the aesthetic side — both providing great creative outlets in different ways. There’s the status that comes with having a cool car, too; although those fully focused on this side tend to come and go. Then there’s the nostalgia factor, whether that’s nostalgia for your own childhood…

MADLAB TV has landed and Mad Mike’s cranked it right up. This isn’t your usual drip-feed of social media clips, we’re talking full drifting masterclasses, live streams from the MADLAB itself, and first dibs on limited-release gear. There’s also giveaways, exclusive partner discounts, VIP event perks, and you become part of a private community built for true motorsport nuts. No sugar-coating and no ads — just the raw, unfiltered chaos Mad Mike’s famous for. Whether you’re into cars, building projects, drifting, or just want to get closer to the action, MADLAB TV’s got it covered. It’s all wrapped up in one app so you can stream anywhere, online or off, and never miss a moment.…

Ladies first, or is it happy wife, happy life? In what we’re pretty sure is a first for the World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC), New Zealand has a husband-and-wife team as part of the International Drift Cup and YTG! Drift Squad, with the Thorley family hitting the track. Kim forms part of the YTG squad, and not wanting to let his wife have all the fun, Mike promptly set about arranging a few sets of GT Radial tyres to line up his own first campaign on Australian soil. You might have seen the couple and their fun ‘get back in the kitchen’ series of videos online as Kim prepared for her D1NZ debut earlier in the year, and Mike can often be found online debating why JZs make better boat…

If it makes noise and goes fast, it’s here. Rotors, four-bangers, V8s, and even supercars — Chrome has it all. It’s a staple in the NZ car scene and a full-send weekend where all that hard mahi in garages and sheds finally gets its time to shine, both in the sun and out on the track. And speaking of the sun, the weather played ball this year. Clear skies and just enough of a breeze to make the tyre smoke hang around longer than it should. The crowd turned up in force, filling Hampton Downs to the brim. Even the spectator car park felt like a mini car show, stacked with hidden gems for anyone willing to go for a geez. With hundreds of cars bearing entrants’ stickers, there was…

K-swaps are everywhere these days. Civics, Integras, hell, we even featured a Prelude and a BMW E30 not long ago. But a boosted K-swapped CRX? Now that’s something you don’t see every day. It’s almost guaranteed that if you mention those three letters around any Honda fan, you’ll see their eyes light up. The CRX is arguably one of Honda’s cult-status heroes of the ’80s, the boxy little wedge that punched well above its weight with the flagship EF8 SiR. B16A, VTEC, lightweight chassis and the unmistakable ‘DOHC VTEC’ factory decals running down the sides — it’s still the kind of car that makes Honda heads weak at the knees. For 40-year-old Aucklander Van Nguyen, the CRX has always held a special place in his heart. He’s been deep in…

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SILVER; IT’S THE COLOUR THAT GLUES THEM TOGETHER Let’s rewind the clock to 2015 — back when genuine parts were kinda affordable, cheap manual rear-wheel-drive turbos weren’t yet extinct, and the scene wasn’t completely addicted to Facebook Marketplace. The origins of Team Gusto! can be traced back to a chance encounter at a Drift South round, when Dylan from Oamaru and Sheldon from Ashburton crossed paths trackside. Like all good bromances, it kicked off with a bit of friendly shit talk on social media — swapping war stories and arguing over who had the superior gear knob. But beneath the banter was a shared vision: to build a grass-roots drift crew, taking inspiration from the Japanese teams that we all drool over. But every good duo…

SUSPENSION One of the best and most important mods you can do to any car is lowering it. It instantly sharpens the look and improves handling. But what are your options? Springs or coilovers? It’s the age-old debate. Springs are simple, affordable, easy to fit, and don’t require certification. But they rarely go as low as customers want, and cheaper sets can ride harshly, since the factory shocks aren’t tuned for the stiffer rates. If the budget allows, adjustable coilovers are the better all-rounder. They give you full height adjustability, often come with rebound and compression settings, and are designed as a matched unit for performance and comfort. For this build, we went with an entry-level set of MTS Street coilovers, very similar to what the fastest Golf in New…

SAM ROPER AGE: 32 //LOCATION: CHRISTCHURCH //OCCUPATION: STUDENT PILOT //BUILD TIME: FIVE YEARS //LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: FIVE YEARS THANKS: LARS AND THE BOYS AT VINNY FAB, BIG DADDY REUBEN AT R’S GARAGE, MATTY AT DRIVE BY WRAPS, NATHAN AT TYRE OWL, NICK AND SCOTTY AT TYRECARE NZ, GEOFF AND CONNOR AT FLAME PERFORMANCE AND JESSE STREETER FOR IMPORTING PARTS NZPC: Hey, Sam — that’s a pretty unique RX-7 you’ve built yourself! How did you get into the world of performance cars in the first place, and what else have you owned before this? Sam: I’ve been into cars ever since I was a kid. One of my best mates in high school had a Mk3 Supra, and that pretty much sealed the deal. From there, I started picking up all…

CHOICE EVENTS PACKED SCHEDULE Wheels will keep on turning around the central north over the colder months, with August seeing the Driftwars event hitting Manfeild for the first time, followed by Carnival back at Taupō, and then another Driftwars round. We know the drivers love this format —with around 80 battles over a weekend, it’s the perfect chance to hone those skills. Plus, the last-chance qualifier means that it’s still possible to fight back from an early loss.…

“Are you like me and just have a whole heap of bits you never got round to getting rid of?” That’s how organiser Jo has explained the swap meet taking place this November at Kumeū Showgrounds. Aimed at cleaning out those sheds of all the pesky little bits you just can’t be bothered fighting online over — and with a car show and, perhaps more important, food trucks — there’s already been uptake of over half of the expected stands. So get in the shed, see what you can find, and make some pocket money for summer cruising!…

Built not for clout or clichés but for the sheer love of the platform, Elise’s Silvia is a jet-black, RB25-powered, Spirit Rei widebody street car dripping in JDM heritage and New Zealand ingenuity. And while it might’ve taken just under a year to piece together, the reality is that this build was a decade in the making. Elise’s history with cars runs deep — deeper than most. “I grew up in a motorsport-mad family, spending most weekends away at a track somewhere around the country,” she recalls. And on the family farm, her first driving lessons weren’t in a tidy Corolla but a “rusted-out Land Rover that had dodgy brakes and jumped out of gear”. Her dad reckoned that “if I could drive that, I could drive anything”. Turns out,…

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When working for NZPC, there are certain cars in the build that you come across that you end up feeling compelled to not let out of your sight. While sometimes those builds never eventuate, with others, you feel like a borderline stalker, constantly asking the owner if they’re done yet. ‘DAM LO’ was one such car for the NZPC team around 2004–2005. The car’s owner and creator, Clint Draper, was a drainlayer by day, but at night, he was in the shed chipping away at what would become the country’s most standout Nissan Navara. His good friend — and well known drifter at the time — Darren MacDonald was a large part of the build, helping out throughout the whole process. What set the Navara apart from the rest —…

GLEN DEO AGE: 26 // LOCATION: CENTRAL AUCKLAND // OCCUPATION: AUTOMOTIVE SPRAY PAINTER //BUILD TIME: EIGHT YEARS //LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: EIGHT YEARS THANKS: MASSIVE THANKS TO HARRY SWITZER-CORBETT, JAKE MACKENZIE, ZAC TATE, WYATT VERMAAK, ANGUS WANG, ALEX BERRY, MICHAEL KEANE, DANIEL WILLIAMSON, ETHANSEAGAR, DANIELLEONARD, WILLKIRK, NATHANMALMO, NICKFONG, AND EVERYONEELSEWHOHASCONTRIBUTED //FAVOURITE DRIFT TRACK: MEIHAN AND BIHOKU NZPC: Hey, Glen. Your R32 is one tidy street car. How did it all start for you — what got you into modifying cars, and what else has been in the garage over the years? Glen: I’ve always been into cars, since a young age; but I didn’t really start modifying them until after high school. A few of my mates were already into it, and hanging around them got me hooked; it just looked…

With all the electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids dominating the roads these days, only a handful of Japanese manufacturers are still pumping out internal-combustion performance cars — and even fewer are sticking to the sought-after formula: turbocharged, manual gear-box, and made to be properly driven. Subaru is still one of them, holding it down since 1992 when the first WRX dropped in Japan. It quickly made its mark worldwide, solidifying its legacy in rally and the street tuner scene. The WRX tS Spec B lands for 2025 as a limited-run, enthusiast-spec model — with a badge that nods to its STi roots, staying true to the classic WRX recipe: flat-four, turbo, all-wheel drive, and a face that looks happiest caked in gravel and dirt. While the STi was retired at…

H&R SPRINGS Suspension plays a major role in a vehicle’s day-to-day drivability, and the first step in tuning is upgrading the stock springs. Quality suspension components improve handling and reduce body roll, while still providing comfort. H&R Special Springs deliver excellent ride comfort, enhanced driving convenience, and long-term durability — they won’t set or sag. Made from high-grade (hf) 54SiCr6 spring steel, they are shot-peened for over 200% longer life. Production is carried out entirely in-house, with every spring 100% tested before leaving H&R’s ISO9001-certified facility in Germany. Available from your nearest Mount Shop branch or call for more info on 0508 86 66 86 MEGUIAR’S HYBRID CERAMIC WATERLESS WASH & WAX For those with limited access to water, busy schedules, or car enthusiasts who need a quick shine before…