Did you remember in Gran Turismo #9 : The ASL Garaiya '02

The description from “Gran Tursimo”

Autobacs, Japan’s most popular automobile parts/service store chain, set out on making its own complete car, one that embraced the values of an exotic sports machine that anybody could drive. With the help of Kikuo Kaira, of Tommykaira fame, the company realized its goal under the name Autobacs Sportscar Laboratory and presented the world with the Garaiya at the 2002 Tokyo Auto Salon.

This Garaiya was a compact car, stretching 148.6 inches (377,44 cm) from bumper to bumper and riding on a wheelbase that measured 93.5 inches (237,49 cm). It possessed classic sports car proportions, with a wide, low stance that measured 71.8 inches (182,38 cm) and 46.6 inches (118,36 cm), respectively. ASL incorporated the latest technology in producing the Garaiya. This included using extruded aluminum architecture, with the front and rear subframes composed of square steel tubing.

Mounted amidships was Nissan’s SR20VE, a 2.0-liter DOHC inline-4 that also saw duty in the Nissan Primera and Bluebird. Equipped with variable valve timing, this powerplant pumped out 201 HP and 151.8 ft-lb (206 nm) of torque, sending the power to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The Garaiya was produced in the United Kingdom and scheduled to reach buyers in 2002. However, because of various circumstances, not one car made its way into the hands of ordinary buyers. One car that did make its destination was a race version that has enjoyed success in the JGTC (All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship).

Supplement of me

A fairly light car anyway (794.5 kg or 1750 lbs), the Garaiya is essentialy a “Kit Car” similar to a Lotus Elise. John Phillips : A Motor Trend’s presentator said “the Garaiya is plenty quick, dispatching the quarter-mile, the PR lady swears, in 14 seconds flat. On all other surfaces, it drives like a Caterham…”. One could say that this is the “Lotus Elise” Japanese ? Probably… Its 0-60 mph : 5.2 sec. Maximum speed : 137 mph (220 km/h)

Well, the Garaiya, in weight / power ratio (4 kg/hp), its the equivalent of a 2003 Porsche 911 GT3 (996) (381 hp), a Aston Martin Vanquish SDP (466 hp) or a 2006 Mercedes SLK 55 AMG Black Series (400 hp)

The “Kit Car” appear in GT Cube (2003); GT Pro Series (2006); Kaido Battle: Touge no Densetsu (2005); GT Advance 3: Pro Concept Racing (2003); Kaido Battle 2: Chain Reaction (2004); Enthusia: Professional Racing (2005) and MotorStorm: Apocalypse (2010)

A video on YouTube of this model IRL :

A video on YouTube of this model In a Gran Turismo :