RGM supercharge Toyota 86

With one neatly packaged installation, the Randburg-based tuner took the svelte 2+2 coupe from mild to wild and gave it the performance it always deserved.

And as the sun sets on the year, numbers are heading towards 20 conversions on both automatic and manual versions, with more Vortech kits on the water to meet bookings for the early weeks of 2014.

With headline numbers boosted from 147 to 220 kW and torque from 205 to 315 Nm, it is no surprise that just about everyone who already owns an 86 wants to find a Supercharged one under the Christmas tree. While the compact coupe ticks all the boxes normally associated with sports cars, a very important one is left blank: the one marked Power…

RGM’s solution results in a 50% increase in grunt from a conversion which is relatively simple by RGM’s standards. With many Supercharged conversions a variety of components need to be designed and manufactured from scratch, but the company – famous for such memorable hot cars as the blown FJ Cruiser and a wide-bodied M3 supercharged with all the trimmings – has taken a different approach, which has helped them keep the price down and reduce turnaround time.

Every nut, bolt and washer comes in a box which also contains an intercooler, with fitment taking place at RGM’s workshop by a team of skilled technicians.

Forcing the air into the intercooler is a V-3 H67BC centrifugal supercharger. This unit is designed specifically for the horizontally-opposed FA20 Boxer engine.

The package incorporates a generously-sized airbox and an optimised filter housing, which allows for additional flow while retaining the factory cold air ram intake.

One of the most important parts of the conversion is the work done by RGM’s dynamometer gurus post-installation. A Unichip auxiliary engine management computer is used to remap ignition, air and fuel requirements, ensuring consis-tent power and reliability when running on standard 95 octane pump fuel.

The end result is a car with a top speed just on the naughty side of 270 km/h, which gets to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds, hitting 120 km/h in 8.2 seconds and demolishing a standing ki-lometre in 25.2 seconds at a terminal speed of 211.6 km/h.

To put that into perspective: on the Highveld a stock 86 has a top speed of about 223 km/h and takes 11 seconds to get to 120 km/h.

RGMotorsport’s Rob Green says: “I believe we really hit the sweet spot with this conversion and it works exceptionally well. There are no sacrifices when it comes to smoothness and drivability and the power delivery is fierce without being scary.

“Drive it normally and you wouldn’t actually know it is supercharged – but when you put your foot down it really goes.”

The Toyota 86 RGM Supercharged currently costs R79 000 including an RGM-Techniflow stainless steel exhaust system. It comes with a six month or 20 000 km warranty on all components used in the conversion.