Drag races between rival cars are undoubtedly entertaining. But sometimes, it can be more fun to watch a battle between two cars that only have one common denominator while everything else is worlds apart.
In this case, the common ground between the two rivals is that they're both modified JDM cars. But they hail from different times and have wildly different price points, and the performance of the stock versions could not be further apart.
But if there's one thing JDM cars are popular for, that's just how much they get modified by their owners. And both of these cars have undergone such extensive performance overhauls that they barely have anything in common with the shape they left the factory in anymore.
First up is the R35 Nissan GT-R, a car famous for being pushed to insane horsepower numbers, which in this case is a nice and round 1,000 hp (1014 ps). That's not an easy target to hit, even if we're talking about drag builds, let alone a street-legal car.
And in order to hit such figures, the GT-R boasts a forged VR38DETT engine helped by a hybrid twin-turbo setup with custom suction and intake pipes, a 12-injector inlet manifold setup with an upgraded fuel delivery system, and a remap. The gearbox has also been upgraded for good measure, as it's necessary when handling such power. Other mods are not disclosed, but it's safe to assume some work has also been done to the entire exhaust system judging by the way it sounds.
Its opponent, a DC5 Honda (Acura) Integra Type R, also features a mod list extensive enough to make Assetto Corsa players blush, with the beating heart being a fully built CSS K20A2 engine. On top of that, this car also features upgrades to almost everything, including the camshaft, valve springs, intake and exhaust manifolds, fuel system, driveshafts, and gearbox.
It's also got a huge turbo, an AWD conversion, a fully built billet transfer box, and a remap. The result of all the work done to this Honda is 770 HP (780 ps). So, it's safe to say both cars are monstrously powerful. And the contest between them is closer than it would initially seem, as the GT-R has a power-to-weight ratio of 591 hp per ton while the Honda boasts 611.
And the similarities in performance were reflected on track, starting with the rolling races, which the Nissan won, although by less than two car lengths. Granted, this is a bit misleading, as the actual performance figures show the Nissan going from 62 to 124 mph (100 to 200 kph) in 4.16 seconds, almost half a second quicker than the Honda.
But where the GT-R won both rolling races, the Integra Type R took its revenge in the standing quarter mile, scoring two victories out of three runs. Although that's to be taken with a pinch of salt, as the best time set by the Honda was 10 seconds flat, while the GT-R did manage a 9.97-second run once.
But winning is winning, and it's great to see a four-banger Integra Type R put a 1,000-hp GT-R in its place. And the Honda did take one more victory in the acceleration category, going from 0 to 62 mph (0-100 kph) in a mind-blowing 2.52 seconds, which is firmly in superbike territory. The GT-R was close with 2.68 seconds, but coming in second just means being the first to lose.
As a kid, Bogdan grew up handing his dad the tools needed to work on his old Citroen and asking one too many questions about everything happening inside the engine bay. Naturally, this upbringing led Bogdan to become an engineer, but thanks to Top Gear, The Fast and the Furious series, and racing video games, a passion for automotive entertainment was ignited. Full profile
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