This is one of the first detailed reviews of a car that everyone has already seen. Such is the power of the Internet, where the news immediately spreads, and becomes old the very next day. However, there is nothing old about this car. It's the freshest yet most extreme aesthetic upgrade the new '86 has received. In truth, this is a Scion FR-S, the car that Kei Miura of TRA Kyoto imported to Japan...
…to make your instantly recognizable Widebody whale that everyone wants to get their hands on now. This is not the first body kit, as Miura has already provided a body kit for Frederick Aasboe's GT86, for its first appearance this summer at the Gatebil Festival. Frederick's car, by the way, wears a master version of the body kit ...
…sent to Norway, just in time for paint and wrap for debut. The turbocharged Japanese FR-S by GReddy is also seen in this kit, as is Imai-san's Bee-Racing Subaru BRZ. Although we have seen all these cars before, it was Miura's own car that everyone, including me, wanted to see.
So when he showed up at the Slammed Society show held at Fuji Speedway last weekend. I was convinced that I could immortalize her ...
...because, simply put, she's amazing. If you own an 86/GT86/FR-S/BRZ, this is what your city car should look like. It's not a fully trained drift car, not an extreme demo car, but the wild, street car that she was in Miura's mind.
Work on the car is still in progress, but it's so close to being finished that it's been described as more than show-ready, so Enkei put it on their booth.
After spending some time with the car, looking at the lines and details, I can definitely say that the first thing that catches my eye is their simplicity. Instead of going against the original design, Miura focused on what was already there. An analogy is a bodybuilder working on his muscles instead of inserting synthetic implants. There is a certain continuity of lines in the car ...
… right down to the rear end, where the mother of all fenders sits, it's obvious that the inspiration for this shelf was taken from the BenSopra GT-R R35.
A set of tasty, old school BBSs, which by the way really suited the car, were replaced with the new RS05RR from Enkei - “sparkle silver” on the driver's side and “matte gunmetal” on the passenger side. And while they change the look of the car a lot, they are a great choice for an FR-S with a Rocket Bunny kit that suits a variety of styles.
Attention to detail, Enkei branded wheel nuts
The rims are 18×10.5J +22 and are shod with Nankang Ultra Sport tires, 255/35R18 up front and Achilles ATR Sport 265/35R18 rear. It was hard to decide which color the wheels looked better in, silver or gunmetal.
Miura is highly respected among Japanese aero kit makers as he is one of the few who uses CAD to create designs. Before choosing the final option, he renders in different colors and with different disks. Once a design is chosen, it is sent to a milling machine that creates molds from compressed polystyrene. That's why his whales stand up like family...
...for the same reason he made a name for himself. Believe it or not, his brands Rocket Bunny, 6666 Customs, Number 6 only take up a fraction of his time as he also builds kits for other Japanese brands. Aside from the obvious wing pads, the kit consists of a more aggressive front end with a lip…
…to help create a first impression upon inspection.
The profile is given volume by the skirts, which, at the point of contact with the rear arches, create the same bends as in the front.
There is no overlay smoothing, which would be the exact opposite of Rocket Bunny's flashy style.
And what could be more extreme than a GT-style wing...
... screwed, using a set of FRP corners, following the lines of the stock trunk lid. And again, a bunch of visible bolts.
Kit Rocket Bunny continues...
...that's the structure of the lower bumper, done to inject some supercar DNA. The Miura currently has a straight exhaust with a split end that adds a bit of agility to the 4-cylinder boxer engine...and makes it sound like a tuned 4AG rather than a boxer.
Thanks to a set of stanchions from KW, the FR-S sits just right. Low enough that it looks good, but not so low that it's impossible to ride.
Since most of the time the car was at the TRA Kyoto headquarters, where work on the aero kit was carried out, Miura did not have time to properly deal with the interior.
So along with a two-DIN head...
... he managed to put only a new, slightly more sporty steering wheel.
Sparkle silver or matte gunmetal, hmm...hard choice!
Aside from the exhaust, the engine was left stock, and by the looks of it hadn't been washed since the car arrived in Japan. There you can see a decent amount of white dust, which remained from the work on the body kit. Just like RWB cars, a bit of roughness suits Miura's cars.
Miura isn't the type to keep cars looking pretty for long. He loves driving, hard driving, so as soon as he has a free moment he can be seen driving sideways on a track like Meihan.
For the track, the beautiful Enkei wheels will have to give way to 15-inch BBS, because the smaller tires are cheaper.
Riding through the driveways of Fuji Speedway, this FR-S was amazing. I don't think I'm the only one who will say that looking at these photos I want one of them! Although, forget about it, rather, I passionately desire it!
Rocket bunny is an original body kit from Kei Miura. Style is an amazing thing. Many people make an effort to develop it, others have it effortlessly. The hardest part, however, is applying your style to creating things and generating new ideas. It's not easy to get recognition, but Miura-San of TRA Kyoto achieved recognition in a very short period of time. While Rocket Bunny seems to be on everyone's lips right now, I thought I'd dig a little deeper and show you the underside of what makes Kei Miura and his Rocket Bunny brands revered around the world.
text translation Batykov R.V. photo: Dino Dalle Carbonare
And it is much more than it seems at first glance. Even though Miura-San has gained worldwide fame over the past few years, not many people realize the contribution he made to the tuning industry in the Japanese domestic market. He drives Tra Kyoto and creates those cool Rocket Bunny body kits that every 86s, FR-Ss and BRZ car owner dreams of, but he has his own style that sets him apart from everyone else. However, before I begin, let's take a look at the workshop itself, which is located on the outskirts of Kyoto.
If not for the eye-catching cars that are usually parked outside…
... you probably wouldn't even know it existed. There are no bright signs telling you that these are "Kyoto's finest racing arts" - just a bunch of parts, lots of cars and pieces of Styrofoam.
Miura's demo car is usually parked right in front and half looks out onto the street that runs through this workshop.
The first thing that caught my eye was an old Nissan Cedric standing on the bridge with customs number 6666…
... as well as a few simple inscriptions. In fact, it was the first car that Miura prepared for the Tokyo Motor Show in the late 90s, about eight years after he started his business. Since then, Nissan has been standing outside the workshop.
Looking around, you begin to understand what this workshop specializes in. Fiberglass, fenders and other little things can be found everywhere, along with a half-empty Marlboro package.
Most people often call the company by the name Rocket Bunny, after the name of such popular and well-known aerodynamic body kits for Rocket Bunny cars, but this, of course, is not entirely correct. Rocket Bunny is just one line of aerodynamic body kits for vehicles manufactured by Kei Miura. Rocket Bunny body kits first appeared on Japanese minicars - kei cars such as the Suzuki Wagon, and later there were body kit options for sports cars such as the S13, RPS13 and S14.
Right outside the entrance to the main workshop was an abandoned 6666 Kanjo race car, a car I photographed a long time ago on one of my first visits to Tra Kyoto. It was a bit sad to see the EF Honda Civic look like this, but ultimately Miura has her own plans for refurbishing it.
When you see a large number of processed polystyrene parts lying around, you are sorted out by curiosity. But before entering the workshop, there was something else I wanted to see.
Seeing the popularity of Rocket Bunny's aero design, Miura decided to use it for the 86.
By the way, what do you think I saw thrown in the garbage at the entrance? One of the rear fender prototypes for the 86 is something so cool I just couldn't leave it there. I asked Miura-san if I could take it, Miura agreed and even signed it for me. Now it hangs on the wall of my office!
Under a canopy next to parked cars, I spotted a specimen of the very famous aero whale. Can anyone guess what it is?
Miura has always taken inspiration from old school and classic designs, so he surrounds himself with a wide variety of retro items.
However, until you enter his workshop, you will not guess about it ...
How much has he accumulated over the years. The best word I can use to describe it is a lair where the décor is a direct reflection of the owner's mindset.
The collection includes everything from vintage wheels…
… to vintage video games, everything fits into a pretty small space. Much like Nakai-San from RWB, Miura loves to surround himself with items that inspire him. I think great minds think alike.
He keeps a collection of leather biker boots in his workshop...
… along with a bunch of other stuff. In confirmation - s13 R / C drift car!
I even spotted some of Jason's masks from the movie of the famous horror series - "Friday the 13th."
Miura loves old wheels and old cars, so I'm sure he'll be starting on a vintage project soon. His love for wheels has led to his own designs in the past…
…and this is where Miura's personality begins to shine. He may still look like a biker barefoot or a unkempt-looking guy...
…but he certainly doesn't live in the past. Next to the packed parts of the aerokit is a 3D printer. Miura is always playing with ideas with this technique, and this is where he originally prototyped his FOUR SPOKE "DRAG 4" racing wheels in the past. He still has some of those discs lying around in the workshop...
… I even noticed one in the box!
And it's only after talking to Miura that you really start to understand what kind of place Tra Kyoto really is and why it has received so many awards in the Japanese domestic market.
Miura stands out in that he is also a computer genius. Together with friends at Kyoto University, he developed his own hardware and software that allows him to quickly and accurately scan laser cars and create 3D digital renderings on his powerful mobile CAD workstation.
Here, Miura designs and models cars in CG, designing her own aero kits. I got a quick demo of how quickly and easily he can render his finished cars in Rhino. I can't show you exactly how it scans cars, but I assure you - my mind was blown!
Yes, cigarettes are always at hand here.
KEI MIURA'S WORKSHOP - ROCKET BUNY
But how does Miura manage to turn these 3D renderings into reality, I hear you ask. Well, for that, you need to follow me to the workshop, where mind-blowing things happen.
This is a special place for Miura - it is here that he made his name and continues to be one of the best specialists in the industry for many years. While almost all Japanese aircraft makers still design their parts by hand using sculpted clay, Miura can quickly prototype full-scale parts in a matter of days.
Once the design is finished, he sends the data to the CNC, a computerized control system, with which he transfers the matrix negatives to these blocks of polystyrene, which we previously saw on the street in front of the workshop.
It seems that computers are everywhere.
Depending on the complexity of the design, it usually takes a little over a day for the CNC to complete its work, all the while the LCD screen is transmitting X, Y, Z coordinates ...
… where the cutter is at this second.
The machine starts with the largest drill...
...to outline the main figure...
… if necessary, automatically changes the tip to complete and smooth surfaces and curved lines.
That is why it seems that there is always a snow storm!
Here Miura creates the samples from which the fiberglass parts will be made. It takes him about a month to go from 3D scanning a car, to creating a design, making a sample, and eventually a finished product. With the pace at which it operates, Tra Kyoto has secured a niche for Japan's tuning industry to enter in the aero parts industry. This is also the reason why Miura is one of the busiest people I have ever met. His client list is impressive to say the least. To top it off, his method results in the production of an aerokit with a perfect shape and symmetry that fits perfectly.
Many years ago, Miura took a big step by investing in a line of work that no one had done before. With this decision, his styling business flourishes, bringing much-needed quality and speed to the aftermarket industry. And this is really just the beginning for Tra Kyoto (Rocket Bunny), I'm sure we'll see many more Miura designs set trends in the future.
VIDEO - KEI MIURA'S ROCKET BUNY'S WORKSHOP
is a real art, which at the same time acts as a profitable business. If you talk to a car owner who has been in a special workshop and has gone through a series of improvements, you will be very surprised.
Almost every such respondent will assure that tuning for him is a means of self-expression, through which he feels personal freedom. Interesting, isn't it? However, the Japanese think this way: external charm and a sense of modernity are more significant for them than comfort or a standard set of amplifiers.
Local tuners still try to take a holistic approach when modifying cars. What does it mean? It's simple: the car is sent for an initial inspection, after which the specialists and the owner decide what exactly will be changed. Don't expect it to be just about the engine. Masters will definitely talk about design, electronics and other things. Please note that local companies also produce some parts themselves. 
This article will focus on a brand such as "Rocket bunny". An interesting name confirms the specific direction in tuning. The company's specialists prepare sports cars for street racing! Do you remember computer games? Of course, there is nothing illegal here, but feel the very atmosphere of a unique project that will make you interested in the brand's projects again and again! 
Rocket bunny history: development dynamics
It is unlikely that anyone will say that the company easily passed its starting path. Indeed, "Rocket bunny" is rather a well-planned financial project, but, nevertheless, it was not without painstaking work and a great contribution of creative Japanese engineers. 
Founded in the early 2000s, the company has reached the top three Japanese tuning houses, according to buyers. Such a move, as the construction of its own plant, completed in a few years, made it clear to the entire Asian region: this car brand will compete for the top positions in the ranking of companies.
The dynamics of the market made it possible to establish cooperation with many well-known companies in the automotive industry. By individual order, any parts and mechanisms were mass-produced at the Rocket bunny factory. This is happening today, moreover, the engineers will definitely be able to come up with something suitable for you. 
It was scientific research and the use of innovative technologies that allowed the company to patent several significant developments. Each of these has made the Rocket bunny a true industry leader. 
There have been serious crises in the history of the company. Of course, it is always unpleasant when, as a result of a decline in production, one has to reduce industrial power, expect a decrease in customer activity, dismiss staff and take other anti-crisis measures. 
The objectives of surviving and making a profit in acute periods were achieved thanks to two criteria: effective management, growth of innovative research. As a result of prudent management, the company's costs have been reduced, while high-tech developments have increased revenues. 
Modern achievements
During the early years of its existence, the Rocket bunny was able to achieve some prestigious awards, especially in the direction of "modern design". Such awards are well deserved, because the company positions itself as a creative studio for the creation of individual private projects. 
Indeed, there is the possibility of individual design. To do this, you will have to issue all requests in advance and indicate what exactly you would like to change. After the request is approved, at a convenient time, it is necessary to provide the car for examination by the masters. Next comes the work of engineers and designers who together plan a new version of your car. 
All options are developed solely on the basis of the wishes of the owner himself. Further changes are discussed only with him. Of course, the price for such services is not small, but you get a full-scale option for decorating your own car. 
"Rocket bunny" offers a high level of work related to electronics. Even at an early stage of work, mutually beneficial contracts were concluded with well-known Japanese and South Korean corporations. It is they who provide innovative equipment that is masterfully installed in the car.
What's in the future?
The Japanese market is quite large, and Rocket bunny's immediate goals should be to conquer it directly. However, do not forget about the sales that are carried out on all continents. Today, brand products can be found not only in Japan, but also in the USA, China, European countries, Russia and so on.
It's a paradox, but most Rocket Bunny body kits don't produce great results in aerodynamics. To help, they help to improve it, but they do not give the full effect. But we can definitely say that, with body kits from the rocket bunny, the car becomes more beautiful.
If you look at body kits from the point of view of aerodynamics, then real aerodynamic body kits do not add beauty to the car, but they give an effect in aerodynamics. In addition, aerodynamic body kits are not suitable for all types of car bodies.
A complete car kit costs a lot of money. However, professionally and competently designed aerodynamic body kits often exceed the expectations of car owners. Having accelerated to “hundreds”, you will immediately feel that all these “bells and whistles” are not made for beauty.
To understand how aerodynamic body kits work, you need to understand a little physics and aerodynamics. Downforce and lift forces act on a moving car. Their effect depends on the shape of the car. However, most often the shape of the car contributes to its separation from the road. Aerodynamic body kits are made and placed so that the car is pressed to the ground.
Swiss scientist Bernoulli proved that the faster air molecules move around an object, the more pressure they exert on it. In general, the faster you go, the car with body kits presses harder to the ground. But without body kits, he tends to take off.
Consequently, aerodynamic body kits at high speed increase downforce for which they, in fact, were created. Note that sports cars have body kits almost to the ground. That's right: at high speed, the movement of molecules under the bottom is low, so the car "tryes" to take off above the road. Body kits won't let her do that.
aerodynamic body kits - rocket bunny If the vehicle has a front-wheel drive and front-engine layout (FF), then all the load and power is concentrated on the front axle. The back is empty. So, to increase downforce, a spoiler is placed at the back, and a splitter will not be superfluous in front (popularly “lip” or “skirt”). This improves the grip of the wheels with the road, and power losses are minimized.
A car with a rear-wheel drive FR (engine in front) will not be superfluous with a spoiler on the trunk or a wing. It will be important to reduce power losses at the rear wheels.
However, aerotuning options are most available to owners of cars with a mid-engined layout (MR). Since they have the motor in the middle, then the center of gravity is in the same place. Here, for the best result, aerodynamic body kits are needed both in front and behind.
aerodynamic body kits - rocket bunny Rocket Bunny — Video
Who came up with the Rocket Bunny body kit?
Rocket Bunny (Rocket Bunny) is unique in style and performance aerodynamic body kit for cars produced by a small Japanese company Tops Racing Arts Kyoto namely the Japanese Kei Miura.
Rocket Bunny body kit design was developed by Japanese Kei Miura. Body kits Rocket Bunny almost immediately became a cult, creating a whole direction of styling. Original Japanese Rocket Bunny body kits are of high quality and precision, which allows you to perfectly fit the body kit to the car body. Accuracy is achieved through laser scanning of the car model in the development of the Rocket Bunny aerokit.
Rocket Bunny aerodynamic body kits - rocket bunny Miura invented the hardware and software for laser scanning on his own while still a college student. Aerokit is a set of fender extensions of the original form, as well as spoilers and splitters. The “calling card” of Rocket Bunny is precisely the arch extensions.
Rocket Bunny aerodynamic body kits - rocket bunny There are two types of mounting arches to the body:
Hidden fastener.
The arch from the outside remains absolutely smooth, the place of articulation with the body is not visible.
Open fixture.
Fastening by means of open bolts located along the perimeter of the arch from the outside.
For the first time, Rocket Bunny body kits appeared on Japanese minicars - kei cars, and later body kit options for sports cars appeared. There are many replicas and copies of Rocket Bunny body kits, but the accuracy of their manufacture and the quality of materials are often much inferior to the original.
Rocket Bunny aerodynamic body kits - rocket bunny When installing a Rocket Bunny body kit, as a rule, they widen the track with spacers or install wider wheels with a smaller offset. In this case, it should be remembered that the load on the suspension increases.
Production of body kit replica Rocket Bunny to order from 80.000
The Artfg workshop specializes in the production of a variety of fiberglass products.
Fiberglass is a unique material and allows you to create as many diverse objects and products as you can imagine. Fiberglass has a huge number of advantages. He is not afraid of any natural disasters and abnormal temperatures. It is able to withstand -60 degrees and even +80. Unlike plastic, it is more obedient, and as a result, much stronger.
Difficulties often arise when working with this material. In order to be able to subdue it, not only knowledge about the material and theory is necessary, but also specialized equipment (including tools and equipment).
Most of the author's body kits and various tuning elements are made of fiberglass. Ordinary plastic does not allow you to create such works of art. So is the Rocket Bunny body kit. In principle, it can be ordered from Japan or China, and it will be plastic. But the quality can fail beyond that. Each element must stand exclusively in its place. In this case, there should not be a single gap. Without preliminary measurements, you risk throwing money away. Ultimately, you will be very long and hard to customize. But in qualitative terms, the outcome can be very deplorable. And the original body kit costs crazy, sky-high money.
Let's figure out what kind of body kit this is. Rocket Bath is the development of one Japanese. The purpose of the body kit is to improve the aerodynamic properties of the car. Aerokit RB consists of these components (extenders for arches, spoilers and splitters). Ideally, each aerokit should be produced by laser scanning a vehicle. But what about those who do not have the opportunity to roll to Japan. But we will share the solution to this problem a little later.
Why do you need a body kit on the car.
In fact, in Japan, everyone is obsessed with not just the perfect appearance and technical condition of cars, but we can say that there is a car tuning hysteria.
Each owner of a car of different age groups, when buying a new one, immediately goes to a tuning studio. The Japanese believe that the car is the face of the owner. And it is the car that first creates the impression of the owner.
There is another very interesting factor influencing the development of this industry. Due to the fact that the roads in Japan are ideal, and cars are becoming more versatile, powerful, smarter and more capable every year, it is simply impossible not to arrange races there. This is another reason that is closely related to the first, but explains the purpose itself and the growing industry of tuning - ateliers.
The fact is that the aerokit, in fact, is designed to press the car with air flow to the road surface, respectively increasing the speed and stability on the road. True, few people know that the spoiler functions correctly only at speeds above 200 km / h. Only then does the downforce allow the car to walk along the roadway at speed as if rooted to the spot. Inflated arches are a common thing in Japan. This is usually done in order to install wider tires. But at the same time, you need to know that tires of different widths cannot be used on all-wheel drive cars (breaking the bridge in this case is as easy as shelling pears, and you won’t have to go far). Wide tires provide better grip on the road. But in our country, roads on which even narrow rubber grip will be perfect only on the track or on the runway. Air intakes are necessary in order to cool the wheel mechanism and the assembly as a whole.
But there is another side of this body kit. Cars with it look chic and stunning. And each is unique in its own way.
Our workshop offers the possibility of making this body kit to order.
What are the advantages of a custom made body kit.
- It will be much better quality than ordered somewhere,
- If you wish, you can watch the moment of its manufacture,
- Absolutely your every desire will be taken into account, while you can order additional accessories that are not included in the standard kit.
- The end result is stunning. It is achieved due to the presence of the car in the workshop and direct fitting on the car.
- Installation, painting, polishing is carried out by highly qualified specialists. You will not notice the difference in paintwork.
Our workshop is ready to make your dream come true with superior quality.
