Front and Center Celica

A front-wheel-drive performance milestone was reached last October when HKS' Drag Celica, piloted by the late Masao Saito, an editor of Japan's Option 2 magazine, became the first front-wheel-drive import into the 9s.

Saito and the crew of HKS were overjoyed when the lights at Sendai Highland Dragway showed 9.72/148.96. Getting a FF (front engine,front wheel-drive) into that territory isn't easy, as physics conspires against traction. Acceleration transfers weight off the drive wheels whenever the hammer is dropped.

HKS is understandably tight-lipped about how they set the benchmark but Turbo Magazine was able to glean some significant insights. The builders yanked the stock five-speed transmission and swapped in an X Track sequential unit that features an AP 5.5-inch diameter triple-plate clutch. The X Track, used in Super Touring cars, allows an array of different gear ratios. The set-up allows the HKS Drag Celica to ideally make the 1-2 shift after the 60-foot mark and cross the finish line just before redline in top gear.

Naturally, a full complement of HKS components is used to generate 560 horsepower from the Toyota 3S-GTE four-banger. These include 9.3:1 forged pistons, connecting rods, metal head gasket, 273-degree intake and exhaust cams, adjustable sprockets, F-CON V fuel computer, wastegate and GT3240 ball-bearing turbo and stainless-steel 4-into-1 exhaust manifold.

HKS USA hopes to have the FF Drag Celica compete on U.S. soil against some of the quickest FWD's America has to offer.

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