Listen up Suby fans!  HKS just launched their ES Premium exhaust for the new WRX STi sedan.  This is is an ES Premium model I’d look for this unit to be more about the sound than a massive jump in horsepower.  There should be a few more horses on tap but this exhaust is more about the look and the sound, deep without being obnoxious is the way to go!

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Its really easy to make power in an STi but most people fail to realize that whenever you significantly increase engine power its also a good idea to increase stopping power too.  No one wants to drive a 500hp car that can’t stop!  If you’re rocking an 08+ Subaru STi and you are looking to increase braking power up front then the sport brake kit from Cosworth USA may be a good option.  The kit comes with 6-piston calipers and 2-piece slotted rotors that have a 10-30% higher airflow through them than the stock rotors.

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If you happen to have a Subaru WRX, a shortage of time, and about $22k burning a hole in your wallet Crawford Performance has a quick way for you to turn your Suby into the “Ultimate Street Car“.  By dropping in their turn key engine Crawford says you’ll have perfect balance between daily driving and weekend racing.  You are pretty much getting a rebuilt EJ engine with a slew of off the shelf Crawford parts.  When you think of it that way $22k isn’t such a bad price!

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Crawford Performance is the shop that built the Subaru’sKen Blocked hoon’d in both of his Gymkhana videos.  Most of the work they did one the cars were custom one-off pieces but they did save a few bits and decided to mass produce them for regular joes like you and me.  Once such item is their “Gymkhana Exhaust“.  This is the very same exhaust design used on the Gymkhana TWO car.  This thing literally has two megaphones for exhaust tips and is meant to make tons of noise.  There isn’t much of a power gain with this exhaust but you wont lose any power.  However, you will lose about 20lbs of weight over the stock unit.

C-West is working on casting their aerodynamic sourcery on the current Subaru WRX GRB model.  This rendering is a sneak peek on what the end result should look like.  I love the kit but I hate that grill scoop!  What is with the J-aero guys and that blasted grill scoop?!  Maybe you’re into it, we all have our preferences right?  Anyway keep an eye out for this one in the near future.  Hopefully that grill scoop will be more of an option instead of a “feature.”

At the tail end of yesterday I let you guys know that I was going to try and ninja my way into a super tight private event for the premiere of Ken Block’s Gymkhana TWO video.  Well I’m here to tell you….MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!  I actually mean it too! I’m not pulling a “Dubbya” on you.  Thanks to our good friend Bill Wood I was able to make my way in.

It all went down at a secret location in the Port Of Los Angeles that looked like the kind of place where mafiosos would “tie up loose ends” if you know what I mean.

But instead of someone getting fitted for some cement shoes there was a DJ, an open bar, excellent food, and a big movie screen.  Oh and one more thing…Ken Block giving ride alongs in his new Gymkhana battle machine. 

It was an awesome event and at 8pm I was included in a small group that got to see the new Gymkhana TWO project video before anyone else.  According to Block what we saw was a “draft” that was “80% done” but you wouldn’t know it by watching.  I’ll tell you right now the new flick is FRESH!  I saw some things that I didn’t think anyone would dare to try and pull off in a vehicle.

Another note to add is that this time around Ken and DC Shoes decided to use this opportunity to introduce the world to their new “Teamworks Collection.”  As such, Ken and his crew have referred to this new video as “The Best Informercial Ever.”

Despite the absense of the oxy clean guy it really does live up to the title of best infomercial ever!  I wish I could tell you more but we promised Ken to keep mum on the video until it makes its debut on June 1st.  Trust me it will be worth the wait!

Check it out, Cosworth sent us information on their brand new Subaru EJ257 inlet manifold just before it goes on sale to the public.  They’ve been working on this for a while and they’ve finally perfected a high flow inlet manifold with a plenum designed to work with any Subaru EJ257 engine that has a front mount intercooler.  If you have a front mount intercooler kit that is made to work with the stock Subaru plenum it will work fine with Cosworth’s new manifold.  Look at how serious it is sitting in the engine bay!  FRESH!

Press Release:

The Cosworth Subaru High Volume Inlet Manifold is cast from aluminum featuring large tapered runners with radiused inlets for improved air flow. Plenum volume has been substantially increased and tuned for power. Engineered for easy installation and is the key to making big power. The Cosworth EJ257 plenum is designed for use with the 2004-2009 STI engines equipped with electronic throttle control.

The Cosworth High Volume Inlet Manifold replaces the factory Subaru plenum in vehicles equipped with an aftermarket front-mounted intercooler (FMIC) kit. Throttle body position remains stock, ensuring fitment with any brand FMIC kit designed for the stock throttle body and intake manifold. For 2008-2009 Subaru STIs the Cosworth FMIC kit (p/n 20005378) is highly recommended.

• Substantially increased plenum volume
• Large, tapered runners with radius inlets
• Tuned plenum volume and runner length/taper
• Over 10% increase in flow
• Integral vacuum manifold for connection of brake booster, boost gauge, MAP sensor, boost controller, etc.
• Will work with standard or forward mount electronic throttle body configurations
• Stock throttle body location for compatibility with most aftermarket FMIC kits

MSRP $999.00

Radiator cooling plates look fresh, but the benefits are all the greater if you buy one that actually works instead of the POS plate you found on ebay.  If you rock a WRX, STi or not Mishimoto makes a quality plate that will actually help with cooling but still look cool too.

This slipped under my radar but Cobb Tuning has this special edition shift knob specifically for the 2004-2009 WRX and STi.  This is the first contrasting color shift knob I’ve ever seen and I dig it.  Flat black with a blue colar was definately the right way to go Cobb!

What do you do for fun when you’re a the co-founder of DC Shoes and a successful rally car driver? If your name is Ken Block you have your crew build you a 530HP STi and turn an abandoned air field into one giant gymkhana course.  Oh you also get a professional film crew to direct and cut a short flick of the entire thing and give it to 0-60 mag to put it on the internet.  The video you are about to watch will blow your mind…no foolin’…