THREE-TON THRILLER - APS PHASE III Review

Enough of the tech specs. Chuck us the keys. Luxon is happy to oblige, but like any dangerous goods should, these come with a warning.

“Just be a little careful on the throttle,” he says, leaning in the window. “It tends to want to break traction fairly easily.”

Those expecting the whoofle and sneeze of a blow-off valve or a lumping part-throttle soundtrack are going to be disappointed. Your nanna could drive this car. It has the typical creamy XR turbo response down low and a remarkably smooth, cough-free idle. By the time you read this, APS will very likely have the Phase III though ADR emission and noise testing and ready to fit as a road-legal accessory.

Big-power turbo cars are all about wide throttle openings and with a broad, vacant track at our disposal, nothing more need be said.

Off the basement, the Phase III feels like any other lightly tuned XR turbo, pulling progressively up to 3000rpm, with only a hint of audible menace through the cold air induction system. At about this rev point, substantial gobs of boost build and you need to tighten the hands around the tiller.

Nothing hits as hard as the APS Phase III. The integrated boost control system unleashes torque that belts the rear tyres, twists up the driveline and gives you a reverse bungee effect into the scenery.

The tacho rips so fast it’s as if the clutch is slipping, but you know instinctively that it’s the physics of tyre versus ground being overcome.

But it’s the searing top-end delivery that impresses the most. Rather than having a typical production turbo mid-range torque hump that falls away slowing progress at high revs, the Phase III just keeps building grunt, seeming to accelerate harder with each gear change. There is no weak point, flat spot or chance to catch your breath. Even with the taller gearing (3.23:1 versus 3.45:1) of an XR8 on board, the acceleration is mind-numbing.