Every once in awhile you get surprised by something in this business. Like legitimately surprised. That was the case when Toyota asked me if I would hop on a flight to Los Angeles, pick up a loaner car and drive a few hours out into the desert. I had a sense of what I was going to see, apparently some lunatic named Dan Gardner, through his tuning company DG-Spec, built a 600 horsepower Toyota C-HR. Called the R-Tuned, it’s properly mad. And Toyota said I could come out and check it out. On a race track! You can read through the extensive build sheet down below, but the key facts are as follows.
Gardner took a run-of-the-mill 2.4-liter Toyota 2AZ-FE and went to work adding forged internals, reinforced valve-train, and a custom DG-Spec Garrett turbo system that pushes power output over 600 horsepower at around 23 psi of boost. This is linked to an off-the-shelf five-speed Toyota E-Series manual transmission replacing the stock CVT. Oh, did I mention it’s still front wheel drive and also set a blistering 1:25.22 second lap time around the big track at Willow Springs? Take a look at the lap times via fastestlaps.com to see where it ranks. It’s fast. Faster than supercars fast.
OK, enough chit-chat, check out the video to get the full R-Tuned experience on a lap of Willow Springs International Raceway and then take a look at the mega-gallery and build sheet below. All photos by William Byrd of RFD and Toyota/DG-Spec.
Special thanks to James McKeone for the footage of the pass from inside the Nissan. Check out his site at www.nobraking.com!
Gallery
Build Sheet
Here is the full build sheet in case you want to geek out!
BUILD GROUP
- Dan Gardner Spec (DG-Spec)
GENERAL
- Estimated Power /Torque: 600 hp / 550 ft.-lbs. › Curb Weight: 2,960 lbs.
ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN
- DG-Spec/Hasport custom engine swap to 2.4L 2AZ-FE
- DG-Spec/Hasport custom transmission swap to Toyota E-Series 5-speed manual
- DG-Spec/Hasport custom motor mount kit
- DG-Spec/Garrett Custom Turbo System: GTX3076R Gen II turbo with 1.06 A/R turbine housing
- DG-Spec custom intercooler with Garrett core
- Dezod Motorsports-supplied forged connecting rods, 9.0:1 forged pistons, stainless steel intake valves, Inconel exhaust valves, racing valve springs, titanium retainers, and race bearings
- DG-Spec/Dezod Motorsports custom wiring harness
- AEM Series 2 Engine Management System
- AEM sensors and adjustable fuel pressure regulator
- Church Automotive Testing dyno tuning
- DG-Spec Custom Downpipe
- DG-Spec/Burns Stainless R-Tuned
- Performance 3” Cat-Back Exhaust
- External water-cooled wastegate
- DG-Spec Custom 4” Cold Air Intake
- OS Giken Super Lock LSD
- Centerforce custom clutch and flywheel
- Stock transmission internals with cryo, super polishing treatments and WPC Metal Surface Treatment
- Hose Techniques custom radiator hoses and couplers
- Twin oil coolers with custom Motorsports Technical Center ducting
- Transmission cooler with fan
- Custom racing radiator
- High-capacity motorsports fuel pump with high
- G-Load capable pickup
SUSPENSION
- Front: DG-Spec/Motion Control Suspension triple-adjustable remote reservoir racing coilovers
- Rear: DG-Spec/Motion Control Suspension triple-adjustable remote reservoir racing aluminum body shocks
- Motion Control Suspension shock canister quick disconnects
- DG-Spec custom rear ride-height adjust system
- DG-Spec/Progress Technology adjustable rear camber arms
- DG-Spec/Progress Technology 3-way adjustable rear sway bar
- Vogtland racing springs
- DG-Spec custom front alignment and corner balancing
BODY AND INTERIOR
- DG-Spec custom adjustable rear wing with gurney flap
- DG-Spec custom adjustable front splitter
- DG-Spec custom air dam and side dams
- Kaminari custom vented carbon fiber hood
- DG-Spec/Backstreet Graphics custom livery
- Cabe Toyota and Motorsports Technical Center finishing work
- Motorsports Technical Center custom hatch bracing
WHEELS AND TIRES
- 18×9 wheels front and rear
- Toyo Proxes RR 275/35R18 DOT radial tires BRAKES
- Front: Brembo 4-piston billet aluminum monobloc racing calipers with 355mm rotors with full-floating aluminum hats
- Front: G-LOC R12 racing pads (>1,850 deg F) › Rear: G-LOC R10 racing pads (>1,475 deg F)
- Stainless steel brake lines
SAFETY
- DG-Spec/Motorsports Technical Center custom 8-point roll cage
- G-Force Pro Series 6-point harnesses
GAUGES AND ACCESSORIES
- Racepak IQ3 logger-dash and VNET sensors
