Any current or prospective owners of a Toyota GR86 and/or a Subaru BRZ reading this that are also trying to find some additional performance on-track during track days are in luck, as aftermarket specialist A’PEXi has recently introduced a new shroud that helps channel cooling air to the front brakes without affecting handling and at a cost that won’t make your wallet whinge.
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- Base Trim Engine
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2.4-Liter Flat-4
- Base Trim Transmission
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6-Speed Manual/6-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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228 HP @ 7,000 RPM
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- Base Trim Engine
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2.4L H-4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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6-speed manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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228 HP @7000 RPM
The new Brake Air Shroud from Japan’s A’PEXi, purveyor of aftermarket exhausts, brakes, suspension, et al., that first went into business in 1992, consists of two specially developed ducts that can be bolted to the Toyota / Subaru’s factory-spec lower control arm. As the vehicle is on the move, the ducting channels airflow directly to the brakes, dissipating heat build-up, and, as a result, improves the performance, extends the life of the pads and the rotors, and allows the driver to carry more speed through the turns.
Available now on A’PEXi’s US store for $450 (minus shipping costs), the Brake Air Shroud can be fitted to a first-generation GR86 and/or BRZ dating back to 2013, as well as the second-generation GR86 and BRZ launched for 2022. Even the short-lived Scion FR-S is eligible.
No Suspension Or Bodywork Modification Required
Unlike traditional tubing-style ducting, A’PEXi’s ‘N1’ Brake Air Shroud can be mounted to the lower control arm without the need to alter or cut the front bumper, the surrounding body panels, or any of the suspension componentry. Airflow collected in the lower duct beneath the control arm is then funneled via the vehicle’s forward motion to the upper duct, where it is then fed directly to the rotors. Simple, and very clever.
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Moreover, given that the ducting has been made from lightweight polypropylene and that both the upper and lower ducts have also been developed to “maximize aerodynamic efficiency,” mounting N1 to the control arm shouldn’t affect front-end mass or handling too dramatically either.
Inspired By Toyota’s One-Make Racing Series In Japan
The genesis of the Brake Air Shroud came through A’PEXI’s direct involvement in Toyota Gazoo Racing’s GR86/BRZ Cup (first held in Japan in 2012), and was vetted by Japanese racers Takuto Iguchi and Rintaro Kubo. Speaking with The Drive, A’PEXi’s Takuya TK Akiyama explains the duct was inspired by the Cup’s technical regulations, which limit modifications to race-spec cars by teams.
“Within the limitations of the Cup series regulations,” Akiyama explains, “we sought solutions that could deliver genuine performance gains without extensive modification. Drawing inspiration from our past JGTC (Super GT) race machines, where brake cooling duct systems were crucial for sustaining optimal braking performance under extreme loads, we engineered a street-friendly, motorsport-derived solution.”
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Though the effectiveness of the brake air shroud “will vary depending on brake compound and rotor type,” data accrued by A’PEXi confirms the kit offers “noticeable improvements in braking stability, shorter braking distances, and enhanced trail braking capability.”
Sources: A’PEXi USA, The Drive
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