If you pick up the latest issue of Modified Mag there is an article about a new supercharger by a company in CA called KraftWerks.http://cms.kraftwerksusa.com/ Since I live only 16 miles from the place I was so excited about this new system that I drove over to check it out. I found out that it isn't exactly a new company but a new division of Skunk 2 all in one shop.I was given a full tour of the shop by Oscar Jackson himself. Let me tell you I was very impressed with the high level of quality products being produced.
Unfortunately the first prototype for the Z is now out being tested on a daily driver so I didn't get to see the system installed but did get to handle the Rotrex SC that is the heart of this kit. It is a very compact unit about 6 inches in dia. by 6 inches in length. I got to see a Honda S2000 on a dyno and there is no noise at all from the SC. It has its own self contained oiling system with a special oil.There is an oil pump on one side of the housing that pumps oil to a Setreb cooler and then to about a one quart sized reservoir before being returned to the turbine housing.
One thing Oscar stressed is that all the kits he has ever produced are made to be installed without any cutting or drilling holes in the car to complete an installation.He showed me on a S2000 up on the lift how the intercooler is installed using pre-existing holes in the chassis and the same goes for the Z kit. I didn't ask how much HP the Z put down to the wheels but Oscar told me they were shooting for 400 hp because that is about all that is practical on street tires.Also he feels that is all stock pistons can safely handle. I once took a ride in a G35 with a Jim Wolf TT kit and the owner confirmed the same thing; more than 400 hp and street tires just go up in smoke.
And one of the greatest things for me living in CA is that it will be CARB certified.
The important thing I forgot to ask was, what is the estimated launch date for the Z kit? From what I saw I'm guessing end of this year at the earliest but more likely first part of next year. If you just gotta know now, get the phone # from the web site and give them a call to let them know you are interested.

 

Sounds good!!

 

I was interested in it when i first heard about it, since the Rortex blowers they use are much quieter than the noisy rattly Vortech I currently have...but with the economy the way it is, I don't know if I have the $$ to buy another SC...

 

ya update us in a year when its not vaporware

 

Been in the works for a while... So far there has been no updates about this kit for months...

 

Fixed

 

well at least their testing it. Maybe Kraftwerks and HKS had a "race" to see who could take the longest to get their SC kit on the market.
I am still quite interested in what the kit will look like, and how it will perform compared to the HKS unit.

 

I will add that it will come with Osiris for tuning but if you already have something installed on your car you can get the basic (You Tune) kit for less money.
As you can see from their web site that they already have kits available for Hondas since that is what they specialize in. I think the Z kit had the lowest priority. In fact I was waiting in the parking lot for everyone to get back from lunch and all the workers except the secretary were driving Hondas.

 

isn't HKS much quieter than Vortech?

 

^Hell yes.

But the kraftwerks and HKS units use similar gear designs so i think noise wise they will be almost the same.

If the kit comes with the Osiris then i would be very interested as i will be trying to the the Osiris reflash now, and then upgrade later. Tell them to hurry up!! haha

 

As I understand it, HKS used a Rotrex unit for their supercharger kit, then they had some sort of disgreement with Rotrex and promptly switched to their own clone of the Rotrex unit... Might just be a rumor.

One day I dream to find a old HKS kit with a blown SC for cheap. Then I'll get a new unit from Rotrex through a buddy of mine!