MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Z-tune - 2004

(Main Text)

Located in the southeast of Hong Kong Island, Shek O is a popular beach destination, offering a unique blend of charming fishing village activities against a backdrop of lush green mountains. This distinctive scenery, evoking a sense of nostalgia, stands in stark contrast to the skyscraper-dense central area of Hong Kong Island, known as Central. To get to Shek O from Central, one must navigate the tight, elevation-challenged winding roads of the Shek O Country Park. This is reportedly the only mountain pass on Hong Kong Island, making it a precious environment for local driving enthusiasts.

During the morning rush hour, minibuses connecting Shek O with the central area frequently zoom through this mountain pass at high speeds. Most of these minibuses are Toyota Coasters. This sight reminds me of the Hong Kong streets I saw in Jackie Chan movies as a child, featuring Coaster buses and Crown taxis. It reaffirms that Japanese cars have long been a part of daily life in Hong Kong.

Two R34 GT-Rs pulled into the parking space near the summit where I was waiting. Both cars were silver, but the depth and gloss of their paint were unlike that of a "normal" R34. The body kits and wheels were NISMO, and the engine sounds were distinct. The deeply resonant roar typical of a finely tuned RB26 engine filled the air.

These two cars were none other than the legendary "Z-tune." It’s no surprise that in Hong Kong, where unicorn cars easily worth over a million US dollars, two such Z-tunes would appear simultaneously on a tight, winding road shared with packed minibuses racing through the morning commute.

Eight years after the success of the NISMO 400R, in December 2004, the NISMO R34 GT-R Z-tune was introduced, conceptualized as "the world's strongest road-going car." Unlike the 400R, the Z-tune was not built as a complete car from new; instead, it was crafted from high-quality approved cars (with less than 30,000 km on the odometer). These cars met NISMO's stringent standards for body condition and were disassembled, meticulously reinforced (with spot welding at door openings and CFRP molded parts attached to areas prone to body distortion from welding heat), repainted, and reassembled.

The powertrain, centered around the engine, and the entire chassis were upgraded for precision and performance. The engine, known as "Z2," was a special 2.8L unit producing 500 hp, incorporating GT500 engine technology. It used GT500 crankshafts and connecting rods and lightweight, high-rigidity forged pistons. The turbochargers were optimized IHI units, similar to those used in GT500 cars and the R34 N1 that participated in the 2004 Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race.

Other components included suspension and braking systems developed in collaboration with renowned suppliers like SACHS and Brembo, the "SUPER COPPRMIX TWIN clutch" designed for easy handling, CFRP propeller shafts, and dedicated differential oil coolers. This represented the "ultimate (Z) tuning" by the manufacturer’s works division. The exterior also featured unique CFRP "aerodynamic parts," including a large finned air duct on the hood for increased air intake at high speeds and 15mm wider blister fenders on the front with air vents for engine heat dissipation. These aerodynamic parts, designed with the lessons learned from motorsports, underscored NISMO's commitment to performance.

Painted in a deep, glossy silver exclusive to the Z-tune, only 20 units were produced, with 19 sold. Priced at 17 million yen, this car stood on par with the world's top-class complete cars, reflecting NISMO's confidence in its potential.

"I prefer the Z-tune above all," says Kevin Tse, who also owns NISMO’s CRS (Clubman Race Spec) as part of his collection. "The modern ride quality is indeed impressive, with much less turbo lag compared to the Z-tune's Z2 engine, and the brakes derived from the R35 provide assurance on race tracks. Many of my friends drive high-performance European cars and they hold the NISMO CRS in high regard. Still, I unequivocally prefer the Z-tune. The reason is simple: the Z-tune represents the original complete car crafted by NISMO as a manufacturer’s works vehicle. I believe that nothing surpasses the original."

Kevin Tse, based in Kowloon, is the head of Contempo Concept, a dealership for prestigious and rare vehicles (including Singer 911s and Alphaholics). He is also a current clubman racer in the British GT Championship, competing with an AMG GT3 Evo. Additionally, Kevin is recognized as one of Hong Kong's foremost collectors of Japanese cars.

"I grew up with Gran Turismo, Best Motoring, Option, and Initial D. Japanese cars from the late '80s to the '00s are my heroes. My first car was an AE86 Trueno, influenced heavily by Initial D and Drift King (Keiichi Tsuchiya). My deep admiration for Japanese cars was solidified when I watched Masahiro Hasemi's R32 Group A beat BMW M3s and Mercedes 190 Evos at the 1990 Macau GP. Seeing a Japanese car outperform European cars on the Macau road course was thrilling. Since then, I've been completely captivated by Japanese cars, especially the GT-R."

Kevin's private garage is located in a building in Kowloon. Ascending by car lift to an upper floor reveals an ideal "man cave" with a high-quality wood floor housing rare limited-edition cars such as the S2000, RX-7 (FD), Impreza, and Lancer Evo. On the opposite side are an LFA Nürburgring Package, R35 GT-R NISMO, NISMO 400R, R32 GT-R NISMO, and R34 Z-tune, all meticulously arranged. The walls are adorned with numerous trophies Kevin has won in various races, and the glass-enclosed office space features well-appointed sofas, Kevin’s work desk, and a bookshelf filled with car-related literature.

"Many car collectors in Hong Kong set up garages in buildings due to limited land. This is a traditional and clever use of space. I started focusing on Japanese car collections around 2019. To be a great collector, you must clearly define your collection focus. For example, if you focus on Ferraris, how much would F40s and F50s cost? Not to mention a 250 GTO, which costs astronomical sums, far beyond what one might budget for a hobby. Similarly, Porsches have become prohibitively expensive over the past decade. Fortunately, when I started collecting, the market for Japanese cars was still reasonable. Although prices have surged since then, I was lucky to begin before the spike."

With his collection of Japanese cars from the late '80s to '00s complete, Kevin is now extending his interests to older generations, including Japanese rare vintage cars like the Hakosuka and 2000GT. He has already secured a well-conditioned KPGC10 (2000GT-R).

"Despite my expanding collection, the second-generation GT-R remains my favorite. Today, my friend brought his Z-tune for the shoot, and many of them, including 400Rs, reside in Hong Kong. The top-end NISMO complete cars are immensely popular here. While Singer’s 911 is a phenomenal restomod, it’s not built by Porsche itself. NISMO, on the other hand, is a direct extension of Nissan, incorporating their motorsport expertise into these road cars. Whether it’s the CRS or restored cars, NISMO has continuously evolved since the Z-tune. Even if someone offered me 10 million US dollars (about 1.5 billion yen) for my Z-tune, I wouldn’t sell it. That’s how unique and special the Z-tune is."

(Catchphrases)

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"Astonishing Hong Kong—Two unicorns worth over a million dollars each appear simultaneously."

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"The ultimate (Z) tuning, representing the prestige of a manufacturer's works."

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"The Z-tune is the origin of the R34 complete car. I believe that nothing surpasses the original."

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"I wouldn't sell it even for 10 million. The Z-tune is that unique and special."

(Captions)

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Contempo Concept
Kevin Tse
Kevin Tse, who kindly agreed to the rare Z-tune shoot, is a businessman running a long-established textile trading company, fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a race car driver. He also manages "Contempo Concept," a shop dealing in rare cars from around the world. His dream is to race in endurance events with his two sons. Kevin embodies the perfect blend of passionate enthusiasm and cool intellect.

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Kevin's garage is an ideal "man cave." Located on a floor of his building in Kowloon, it houses a collection of Japanese cars centered around the second-generation GT-R. In addition to the Z-tune, the collection includes a 400R, R32 NISMO, and R35 NISMO, reflecting his strong affinity for NISMO. He holds great respect for Omori Factory, NISMO’s direct shop, and actively supports their sales in Hong Kong. During the interview, he had two R34 GT-R CRS (Clubman Race Spec) in stock. When asked which car is his favorite, he responded, "I have a deep attachment to all of them, so it's hard to pick a favorite. But the Z-tune is certainly special. It best embodies NISMO's passion and balance. For driving, the R32 is the best. Its size and unity make it exceptional."