Gray Wolf

Said to deliver 710 horsepower, this twin turbo Supra is an awesome reminder of Japan's strides in automotive technology

by Dan Barnes

Among an elite group of tuners in Japan, one name clearly stands near the top of the list, Veilside.  Afterall, they have been tuning some of Japan's most exotic sportscars since 1991, and are considered by many to be among the best in the Land of the Rising Sun when it comes to offering go-fast products--from aerodynamics to engine accessories.  But to continue to compete in the exploding performance car market here in the United States and Japan, Veilside needed a vehicle that would best show off their plastic-shaping prowess.  A car that would look like it was breaking the sound barrier while sitting on a -->

stand at the Tokyo Auto Salon.  And of course, one that would go fast when let loose on the open road, too.  For the job, Veilside went with the Toyota Supra Turbo. 

To bring the car up to speed, Veilside equipped the car with a set of HKS cams featuring 272 degrees of advertised duration and 9.35mm lift on the intake and exhaust lobes, and then everything associated with turbocharging the engine was upgraded. An APEX super intake system feeds air to a pair of Th-05H 18G turbos, which send it to Veilside intercooler through their custom aluminum plumbing. The intake manifold is stock, but the exhaust was changed to Veilside equal-length stainless steel manifold with HKS racing wastegates.  Surprisingly, considering the extreme hard ware upgrades elsewhere, Veilside's Type IV emissions-legal (in Japan) exhaust system

Veilside needed a vehicle that would best show off their plastic-shaping prowess. A car that would look like it was breaking the sound barrier while sitting on a stand at the Tokyo Auto Salon

was installed downstream from the turbos. The hardware was in place to make some serious ponies, but it needed to be controlled. The injectors were upgraded, and a pair of Bosch pumps delivers fuel. An HKS F-CON V and GCC II were piggvbacked onto the original injection system, which was itself upgraded with a Veilside ROM chip. Sharing space with the intercooler in the front of the engine compartment are an Earl's oil cooler and Veilside high-capacity aluminum radiator. Veilside claims 710 hp at 6900 rpm and 644 ft-lbs of torque at 6500 rpm. That's a lot more than, for example, HKS claims for their top-end Supra Setup, hut the HKS parts list doesn't include a lot of

the hardware that Veilside's does. We compared specific outputs between this 3.0-liter Supra and the 2-liter Project MR2 Turbo, which made 345 hp at the wheels with similar modifications but stock cams, and decided that with the 20 percent rule, 710 hp at the flywheel might not be an unbelievable figure

Such high power levels, however; required further drivetrain strengthening. An OS triple-plate clutch delivers torque to the six-speed tranny, and a TRD limited-slip unit replaces the stock differential. As well, the chassis setup had to be changed if it was to remain a match for the engine, so the suspension was upgraded with Veilside's suspension kit featuring Veilside shocks and Eibach dual-rate springs. Front brakes feature Alcon rotors, calipers and pads, while Brembos replace the rear pads. Body roll was checked with ARC tubular anti-roll bars mounted in nylon bushings. Veilside's own 18-inch Andrew Racing V wheels (nine inches in front, 10 out back) were combined with performance tires from Nitto Tire.

With performance more than a match for the claims made by any exterior additions short of a set of wings from an F-16, Veilside turned to enhancing appearance with the installation of their Combat Version II kit. The kit consists of a front bumper with a huge intake for cooling air, side skirts, aerodynamic side mirrors, a rear under-spoiler, and a rear wing, which might actually be large enough for a small tactical fighter biplane. The exterior was completed with a fresh quart of silver paint before turning attention to interior details. The original front bucket seats were replaced with

But enough about looks. 
While it's cool, this Supra is for more than cruising the Display stands at auto shows. Horsepower is for going fast, and this car is fast indeed

Veilside's own composite seats, and the steering wheel with their own COMBAT wheel. The stock speedometer was replaced with a 360-km/h (225 mph) model, and some extra gauges were added on the panel below the passenger-side glovebox. In addition, many small details such as the shift knob, and carbon fiber inserts abound.

Now that we've got your mouth watering for more on Veilside's stealth Supra, here's the bad news.  Veilside performance parts are only marketed in Japan for the time being. Unless of course, you have some inside contacts in the Orient and a bank full of U.S. greenbacks waiting to be exchanged for Yen..