| Shop Tour - 5Zigen
In a world of VTEC-popping, turbocharged Japanese super beasts, function, performance, efficiency, style, and heritage are all ingredients that must work together to produce the most powerful street, drag, and circuit products available. There are so many companies to choose from, all claiming that they have the best of each world to offer. I have personally come to learn that the best are the ones who speak the least and let their accomplishments, history, innovation, experience, and results speak for themselves. 5Zigen of Dijon Cars Japan has done just that. With active participation on every level of Japanese Circuit racing, their direct race participation and experience has produced a line of products derived directly from the circuit.
A lush history of motorsports accomplishment surrounds 5Zigen on all fronts. In January of 1987 Dijon Cars opened its doors for business as a wholesaler of automotive parts. Four months later, the 5Zigen name was born when Dijon opened a factory to produce the 5Zigen line of sport type mufflers. Research, development, and tuning began on products using a Bosch dynamometer; it was chosen for its accurate measurement of power increases. A brief two years later, the company started the 5Zigen racing team and began its racing endeavors at the Suzuki RS circuit race. From there it entered into the challenges of the All Japan F-3 Championship and N1 Endurance races. Next was the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship Group, a race that they would later contest to build a complete race car maintenance facility. The team then moved on to greater heights to participate in the Formula Nippon Championship, where the drivers and teams train for and hopefully move on to Formula One. Also, a huge and expensive challenge for the team was to enter the All Japan GT Championship in 1997. As the company progressed in motorsports, so did its knowledge of racing, part fabrication and production. Through years of grueling challenges, dedication, hard work, and engineering, the 5Zigen race team has blueprinted and developed true race spec performance products. Due to their fundamental understanding of race technology, they have the capability of translating those developments into street applications using race car acquired data.
5Zigen has recently acquired a new facility in the city of Osaka, Japan. As you enter the main door at the manufacturing plant you walk directly into the R & D testing area. Here, all parts are fitted for alignment and then undergo final dyno testing for maximum performance and output.
During my visit they had the new Subaru Impreza WRX STI on a lift, where it was being fitted with a prototype exhaust unit. As soon as the car was released from Subaru, the 5Zigen designers were finishing up last minute details on the exhaust. Our next stop was the welding department. Here, 5Zigen workers jigged and connected the piping for exhaust systems with strict attention to detail and consistency. The welding process and level of expertise these workers demonstrated was of the highest grade. 5Zigen has chosen the best in the field for their products.
5Zigen takes a unique approach to fabrication and exhaust fitting. They do not copy other ideas or designs for setups on new exhaust systems. The first step is to fit the prototype. Then they begin testing and modifying the bends to create the most effective combination of flow, efficiency, power output, and fitment. From there the final preparation is completed and painted. It is hard to visualize the sheer size of the establishment. All piping and materials are stored in house, so witnessing an operation of this magnitude is very special.
My last and most exciting destination at the 5Zigen facility was the racing factory. As I entered the doors, a bright but soft light filled the hallway and the facility that housed the N1 racing Integra. The race-spec Integra sat fully prepped and poised for circuit battle. The car has been stripped of all possible weight, and completely gutted. Where the interior used to reside, a full roll cage now sits protectively around a cockpit full of purpose-built race gauges and controls. The suspension is a coil-over type with separate reservoir tanks. It sits on lightweight rims that house oversized brakes necessary for punishing high-temperature circuit braking.
As impressive as the Integra is, though, the open-wheel F-3 racecar was the most interesting creation in the room. It was equipped with the most advanced parts and systems of all the race cars there. If a part could be crafted out of carbon fiber, it was; no expense was spared. There are many things that go through your mind at a time like this. I wanted to know what the vibration of a full race-tuned engine felt like in the race seat as I engaged the clutch and slipped the car out onto the circuit. I wanted to drive it so bad! Of course, this was a 5Zigen purpose-built race vehicle, and they wouldn't have me burning all of their race fuel on the local streets in Osaka, but it would be fun, right?
Currently Team 5Zigen is aiming to win the Formula Nippon Championship. They have had a great start, already winning the first round at Suzuka Circuit! Also the Integra that I had the privilege of seeing was released to the N1 circuit in June. Through the balance of hard work, dedication, passion for motorsports, and race-proven engineering, Team 5Zigen has produced an entire line of complete race and street version exhaust systems for almost every import make and model. Check out the website at www.5zigen.co.jpfor all the up-to-date information on Team 5Zigen, and visit their U.S. distributor at www.aktusa.com for a complete lineup of systems currently available in the United States from 5Zigen.