Signal Auto EK9
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The pinnacle of performance and style, what is Signal Auto. Their Maziora paint and potency on track has left Signal Auto as a staple of Japanese car culture. No other shop captivates more eyes than they do. If you haven’t laid eyes on one of their demo cars then I’m sorry but you’re life must suck. Signal Auto was a titan in the Japanese car culture, but unfortunately have taken a step back from the light in recent years. Most likely known for their BNR34 demo car that did anything and everything, they built more than just that car. The next car that comes to mind when I think of Signal Auto isn’t their twin 180SX but their EK9 Civic Type R. This car was featured in Rev Speed No. 155 during a Tsukuba Time Attack event!
TRANSLATION:
VTEC is sturdy and it comes with a high cam, so we recommend turning it into a turbo!
Signal, which specializes in turbo tuning Honda cars, is taking revenge on the Civic that they ran in last year’s Tsukuba Super Lap Battle. This sports-style Civic was originally a vehicle that participated in drag races, and although you wouldn’t guess it from the outside, it was said to achieved 700ps at the time with a T88-33d turbine, which is quite impressive. The turbine was simply downsized from that specification and modified to a circuit specification, so it has a lot of capacity for high power. And, until now, the exhaust was exhasuted from the side of the front bumper in pursuit of exhaust efficiency, but this time, they have returned to the normal layout to gain mid-low speed torque for the Tsukuba Circuit.
Also, due to the unexpectedly large power, the front tires barely eat the load, and in order to gain fround contact even at the expense of cornering performance, the camber of the front tires is steep, something that is unique to this machine. The body is fully spot welded and features a one-off roll cage, and the interior has been completely stripped to reduce weight, making this a machine with incredible acceleration potential. Therefore, if the accelerator work is not done carefully, the machine will shake every time you shift gears. It is easy to see why they say, “The target is definitely the GT-R!”
TRANSLATION
Opening the hood reveals a completely different 1.8-liter B16. Equipped with a T67 turbine, it produces 400ps with 1.7kg of boost. The 1000cc injectors are controlled by V Pro. A big throttle is fitted to a huge surge tank and original suction pipe, making is possible to produce 900ps. The Trust two-layer intercooler, 13-row oil cooler, and original three-layer radiator provide thorough cooling, and the generous tuning makes it possible to run around the circuit.
TRANSLATION:
The suspension is Tanabe Sustec Pro (F 22kg / R 20kg) with Endless 4POT calipers and rotors, which provide more than enough stopping power. The tires are A048, F 225/45-16, R 195/55-15, but it seems that wheel spin is common in 4th gear.
TRANSLATION:
Racing Driver: Nakatani Muneaki-san
I want to get to 1 minute flat. It’s crowded at an early stage, but I’ve been running a lot in my hometown of Kansai
Signal Auto: Koyama-san
I think the owners have high expectations. I want to improve my Civic. If I can get a satisfactory time by modifying the specifications, I will try again.
