Overfender Magic: The Rocket Bunny RZ34

It’s a humorous world we stay in. Regardless of just about each automaker saying that EVs are our future and that we’ll quickly all be residing in an ideal, sustainable society the place CO2 emissions from automobiles are a factor of the previous, the great outdated inner combustion engine (ICE) continues to energy the vast majority of new vehicles.

Particularly the ones which might be of particular curiosity to us right here at Speedhunters, like the brand new RZ34 Nissan Z.

There’s nonetheless no scarcity of hype round EVs, however is the world prepared for the electrical automobile revolution when the charging infrastructure in just about each nation – Japan included – can proper now solely (simply) assist the early adopters? The continuing struggle in Ukraine has elevated the price of power 5 fold or extra, and renewable power sources are of their infancy at greatest. And that’s all earlier than we even get into the talk on Lithium-ion battery manufacturing…

Then in fact there may be charging. Sure, it might look and appear ‘clear’ if you’re sitting in your EV ready for a battery top-up, however that electrical energy must be produced someplace, and with that comes extra emissions.

So the place am I going with all of this? Effectively, I’m simply making an attempt to say that on this trendy world stuffed with uncertainties and unrealistic visions of the close to future, there may be one factor you and I can rely on. Gasoline. Petrol. No matter you wish to name it.

Gasoline, when utilized in mixture with a candy motor just like the VR30DETT that powers the Z, equals an entire lot of enjoyable. Your senses can be tickled and you realize precisely how a lot air pollution is coming out of your tailpipes. And within the case of the RZ34, your rear tires too.

Then there’s the tuning side. We are able to – fairly simply nowadays – tweak, improve and ideal our ICE engines in order that they reply with extra urgency and produce larger energy and torque output. Are you able to do this with an EV?

The RZ34 might nicely be the final actual Nissan Z. Very like the following GT-R, which might come as a hybrid – like the brand new Lamborghini Revuelto – and even absolutely electrical, the following Z will comply with swimsuit. Which actually means we should always embrace this era whereas we’ve received it.

These have been the ideas going by way of my mine whereas capturing the Rocket Bunny Pandem-kitted, Belief-built Z that was unveiled in January on the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon.

That is by far my favourite aftermarket physique equipment for the brand new gen Z-car, and it additionally occurs to be the wildest conversion available on the market proper now.

Kei Miura, the visionary behind Rocket Bunny, hasn’t simply massaged a number of of the Z’s traces right here and there – he’s completely disrupted what the Nissan designers got here up, leading to an aesthetic transformation with perspective.

The design is on par with Miura-san’s common Toyota 86 conversion, working extra angular profiles into the wheel arches. However that is like ‘Overfenders 2.0′, a extra refined remedy which seems modern however on the similar time brings aggression by way of the additional width.

To tie all of it collectively, the inventory bumper and rectangular air dam have been ditched in favor of a much more elongated and pointy snout. It’s far more in line with the traces of the unique S30 Z, easily tying in with the OEM hood.

For me, the true magic is on the rear, the place Miura-san has designed a easy fender transition that kicks up at a 45-degree angle alongside the door and wraps itself across the complete fender in a single singular piece.

There aren’t any seen bolts or screws which makes it look virtually – dare I say it – OEM.

Whereas absorbing all the main points, I couldn’t assist however assume again to the unique Scion FR-S that Miura-san constructed over 10 years in the past to launch the Rocket Bunny line-up. Immediately, that equipment virtually seems crude compared to what has been finished with this new fashion.

It simply elevates the whole automobile and the custom-offset Work Meister wheels full the look so nicely.

We are able to’t neglect this signature Miura-touch both, the deck lid ducktail spoiler that wraps across the rear finish.

As is the case with almost all vehicles fitted with aftermarket overfenders, the impact is simply actually realised when the suspension is dropped. On this case, it’s achieved by way of Air Lift Performance‘s new RZ34 air ride kit.

The white Z that I shot late final yr at Belief continues to function their R&D automobile. There are some attention-grabbing issues coming from GReddy this yr, and loads of homeowners who wish to understand the entire RZ34’s efficiency potential.

This blue (wrapped) present automobile is a collaboration between a number of manufacturers, constructed to showcase a number of the preliminary aftermarket merchandise on supply. For now, the VR30DETT stays inventory, helped solely by a cat-back Belief exhaust to enable the twin-turbo V6 to actually sing.

The result’s virtually delicate in its extremeness.

The Z’s cabin feels contemporary sufficient to make homeowners really feel like they’re certainly getting a completely new automobile, although a lot of the chassis beneath is sort of an identical to that of the Z34.

I like how the Air Raise Efficiency digital controller completely shade co-ordinates with the inside trim.

Belief have fitted a pair of edrib (Bride) seats with GReddy harness belts to raise the feel and appear of the inside.

Whereas most new Z homeowners is not going to even toy with the thought of reducing their automobile’s inventory fenders, it’s nonetheless good to see that Miura-san presents the choice. And if you’ll do one thing so drastic, you would possibly as nicely go all the best way and do it correctly, one thing this Pandem conversion does relatively nicely.

Now that the aesthetics are on level, I believe it’s time to get enthusiastic about what’s approaching the engine tuning aspect of issues. Am I the one one eager to check out a 650hp RZ34?

Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
[email protected]