Insane Naturally Aspirated V8-Powered S15 Shreds!
Over 450ci (7.3L) on an LSX block makes right around 850 WHP for this New Zealand-based drift car. You’ve never heard an LS like this.
Most people seem to agree that a car is only as good as the engine powering it. We are sure that pro drifter Carl Thompson shares the same opinion. Thompson has been known to put together some of the most badass drift cars ever built. He is also no stranger to high-horsepower. Considering he once built a quad-rotor single-turbo Lexus GS300 family sedan drift car, the man enjoys unique builds as well. He has now finished his car for this year’s competition season back home.
We are lucky enough that he brought it out to the Hoonigan Burnyard to give us a breakdown of this sweet race car. Obviously, it is an S15 Nissan Silvia, the one of last of the great classic JDM sports cars. While we never got the S15 stateside, the folks over in New Zealand did. And thanks to Hoonigan on YouTube, we get to see this rare gem in action.
Thompson starts by letting us know that this car was built in just around “6 months”. That sounds like an awfully quick time to put together a competition vehicle in any circumstance. However, you’ll see that there hasn’t been a single corner cut with this build. It’s as clean as can be. Obviously, the most important part is the LSX engine powering this Nissan. It has been bored and stroked to 450ci or 7.3 liters. That’s insane displacement for an LS-based engine and the power figures don’t lie.
As it sits, it makes 850 WHP with no nitrous or boost. Considering he begins his run at the Hoonigan Burnyard in third gear from a dead standstill, the car has plenty of power. It is incredible how quickly the car is able to rev up, it almost sounds like a motorcycle. Considering most of us have heard hundreds of LS-based builds in our lifetime, it is amazing how unique this one sounds. Probably one of the most sweet-sounding V8s ever. Full send without a doubt.
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