HOTstuff C+ #109 | Page 61

drag and track prowess, but also saying that it does not impact daily driving severely. Of course, such sterling performance is not solely due to the engine, but has also got to be credited to the suspension set-up. Stiffening up the chassis is a Cusco front strut bar, while the handling has been taken to another level, with little detriment to the ride, thanks to the use of HKS Hipermax coilovers. Any car enthusiast would know that quality tyres are needed to make the most of any performance car, and Nicholas is no exception, having chosen Hankook’s Ventus S1 EVO high performance tyres, and complementing them with the handsome Volk Racing RE30 wheels in 19-inch sizing. A final touch of style was added with the 20mm wheel spacers all round, giving this car a stanced look. By now, it seems kind of ironic that for all the attention we have lavished on this Evo X’s abilities, we have spent so little time on the very place which the driver spends all of his time in, the interior! Thankfully, the sporting theme has largely been retained, with Recaro SPG sports buckets and a Keys Racing steering wheel among some of the key additions. Possibly helping with performance, Nicholas gets to keep an eye on his car’s operating condition with the help of an array of Defi gauges, while a Blitz boost controller lets him change the amount of boost required on the fly. To keep the turbo in good health after some intense drives, an Apexi turbo timer is fitted. 61