MINE'S

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MINE'S is an automotive tuning company based in Yokosuka, Japan. MINE'S was started by Michizo Niikura, in 1985. They initially gained their popularity around 1988, by being among the first Japanese companies to sell re-programmed ECU systems for popular Japanese sportscars. Today they sell many products, ranging from Injectors to Complete Engines.

MINE'S currently makes software upgrades for hundreds of Japanese cars, but they only make hardware upgrades for a select few cars. They tend to concentrate on cars that have high potential, and good platforms to expand from. Their performance upgrades include (among other things) exhaust systems, engine computers, camshafts, suspension parts, brake systems, and lightweight body parts. Their body parts are almost always made of lightweight carbon fiber.

Since the early 1990s, they have been best known for their work on the Nissan Skyline GT-R. Their most popular example of this is their MINE'S R34 Skyline GT-R N1 demo car. It is usually demonstrated running at 600ps (590hp). This demo car is the successor to their earlier R33 and R32 GT-R demo cars. Both of these were making similar peak power, but the newer R34 had more work done to the engine to improve response, and efficiency.

Aside from the Skyline GT-R, MINE'S also develops upgrades for cars such as the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, the Subaru Impreza WRX, and the Nissan Fairlady Z. The Fairlady Z being among the only non-turbocharged vehicles they develop for. While most tuners in Japan turbocharge the Fairlady Z to increase power, the MINE'S Fairlady demo car remains naturally aspirated, and makes 350ps.

Over the years MINE'S has competed in many magazine track battles. Japanese magazines such as Option and Rev Speed frequently put demo cars from some of the top tuning companies in Japan against each other in a battle for fastest laptime on a given track. MINE'S tends to perform best on the famous Tsukuba track.

In 1997, Rev Speed magazine recorded a laptime of 59.1 seconds, in the MINE'S R32 Skyline GT-R. A few months later they recorded a laptime of 59.8 seconds in the newer MINE'S R33 Skyline GT-R (this GT-R was heavier than the R32). Later in 2002, Best Motoring recorded a laptime of 57.7 seconds in the current MINE'S R34 Skyline GT-R demo car. For a comparison, the McLaren F1 does a lap on this track in 1:04 seconds.

Their current R34 Demo car is powered by the MINE'S Stage-II RB26DETT engine. It is based on the OEM Nissan RB26 N1 block, but it is further strengthened and balanced. The cylinder head is modified to flow the air, fuel, and exhaust more efficiently. Moving parts were lightened where they could be, and rotating parts were balanced. MINE'S also makes a Stage-I package, it is similar to the Stage-II but it does not have the extensive cylinder head modifications. On the R34 N1 demo car, the engine is equipped with two HKS GT2530 turbochargers. In some cases they demonstrate the car at 640ps (this is the highest level of power the GT2530 turbochargers can support).

When modifying a car, MINE'S tries to focus mainly on the performance aspects of the vehicle. They tend to stay away from the styling and decorative side of the tuning industry. MINE'S CEO and founder Michizo Niikura, said in a 2002 Best Motoring interview, "If we try to do too many things, we will lose focus as a company". Although their demo cars are never without a bit of style, they say they want their customers to be able to choose their own style. They would rather let the performance of their cars speak for their company.