The 2001 Nissan Skyline and 1988 Honda CRX may seem like an odd pairing for drag racing, but the latest Hoonigan video is full of surprises. Neither car was available, with Honda arriving with substantial upgrades by comparison, and the two going head-to-head in a pair of drag races with a special bonus round at the end for some fun.
Powering the Honda is a modified 2.0-liter B20 four-cylinder engine. It has a B16 head, and the factory produces about 250 horsepower (186 kilowatts). Power is sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. It’s less powerful than the Nissan, but also the lighter of the two, weighing in at just 1,850 pounds (839 kilograms). It has a seat, three pedals, a shifter, and not much else in this boneless runabout.
Nissan makes a little more power from its turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-six engine. It is turbocharged, delivering 300 hp (223 kW) exclusively to the rear wheels. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, and the car is much heavier, weighing in at 3,100 lbs (1,406 kg). This gave Honda a huge advantage.
The two cars compete in a pair of drag races, two best of three. The first race saw the CRX launch from the starting line, leaving Nissan in the rearview mirror. Unfortunately, Skyline couldn’t close the gap, with Honda winning the first race. The second race gave Skyline an advantage, but it still wasn’t enough, with Honda going past it and still winning.
The two competed in the final rolling race for fun, with Nissan setting the pace. Both skyrocketed on the tarmac, with the Honda able to cross the Skyline before crossing the finish line. However, this is the closest race of the three.
Honda crushed Nissan in all three races. It just darted away, quickly catching and passing Nissan in every lap, the lighter front-wheel-drive hatchback outperforming the rear-wheel-drive Nissan.
