In its 50 years, RAYS has designed and produced among the world’s most recognizable aftermarket wheels.

In truth, I’d go as far as to say that legendary fashions just like the Volk Racing TE37 and CE28 symbolize way over simply unique wheel designs; they’re visible representations of the JDM tuning and racing scenes.

As a result of nothing screams ‘Japan’ extra than a automotive operating a set of cast Volk Racing wheels.

The CE28N was launched in 1999, and since then has maintained its standing because the lightest wheel within the Volk Racing vary. I took a more in-depth have a look at this iconic wheel again in 2018, however to summarize the naming, the ‘CE’ half stands for ‘Competitors Skilled’ and the ’28’ represents the 2.8kg weight of the entry-level wheel (14×5-inch).

Quick ahead 24 years, and RAYS have determined to revitalize this much-loved mannequin.

RAYS have been engaged on the CE28 renewal challenge for a while, however took an enormous step ahead earlier within the 12 months with a prototype wheel, which you’ll be able to see right here completed in matte bronze.

The concept was to include parts of earlier replace variations, just like the CE28SL (Tremendous Lap), the place the hub portion was cleaned up, eliminating the extra drilled holes across the lugs.

Should you forgot what these seemed like, here’s a first-generation CE28N.

The principle drive behind modernizing the mannequin was to keep in mind the substantial enhance in efficiency that automobiles have gone by way of within the final 20 years or so.

Extra engine energy, extra tire grip, extra weight and stronger braking – all traits of recent efficiency automobiles that outcome in larger forces for wheels to maintain. This has known as for a refined design that takes into consideration the far superior alloys and manufacturing capabilities accessible as we speak.

As Shigeru Mine, the president of RAYS, touched on, there’s all the time a necessity for the corporate to evolve their wheels, particularly in relation to the Volk Racing line up, which represents their top-tier merchandise.

Hiroshi Tamura of Nissan was additionally invited alongside to speak concerning the lengthy partnership that RAYS has loved with the OEM, supplying cast wheels for the GT-R and Z for many years now – to not point out all of the Nismo variants. The now retired Mr. GT-R emphasised how necessary it was to have RAYS assist his imaginative and prescient for every iteration of the R35 that he oversaw whereas at Nissan.

And that is the ultimate manufacturing product – the Volk Racing CE28N-Plus.

You’ll seen that there are profiled sections on the rim portion between every spoke. The world the place the spokes hook up with the rim have additionally been widened, rising rigidity, however it nonetheless maintains a skinny profile. Materials has been carved out in between the thicker part of the spokes across the hub space, and the dimples on the internal part – which have all the time been a CE28 trademark – have been made extra evident. Of their ongoing battle in opposition to knock-off wheels, RAYS now machines all marking on the edges, together with the mannequin denomination.

For the rest of 2023, solely 18-inch fitments of the CE28N-Plus shall be accessible for buy. Subsequent 12 months, 17-inch sizes will be part of the road up, with 19-inch CE28N-Plus wheels coming in 2025. The wheels shall be accessible in a brand new shiny bronze or darkish metallic silver end as commonplace choices; the long-lasting matte bronze end is not going to be supplied.

RAYS held the CE28N-Plus launch occasion at Fuji Speedway – and for good purpose. After the morning’s formalities, everybody headed over to the Quick Course, the place some automobiles have been ready.

Yamano-san, a veteran ex-JGTC driver, introduced out the Exedy Alpine A110 he competes within the All Japan Gymkhana Championship with, Belief attended of their GR86 demo automotive and RAYS had its personal RZ34 on web site.

The concept was to have two professional drivers – Yamano-san being certainly one of them – take every automotive out for a number of sizzling laps, after which come again into the pits the place a set of CE28N-Plus wheels can be fitted. They’d then head again out on observe to see how the much more inflexible building of the brand new wheel felt.

So, there was a lot of wheel swapping occurring.

It was then over to the professionals to inform us what they thought.

Yamano-san speaks nice English, so I had somewhat chat with him whereas we took the brand new Z for three laborious laps. He mentioned the elevated rigidity of the wheel does come throughout within the steering and the way the automotive strikes round, permitting the tires to actually do the most effective job they will.

Given the best way Yamano-san drives, I wager it’s noticeable. I used to be amazed by simply how laborious he threw the automated Z round Fuji Quick; we have been actually bouncing from rumble strip to rumble strip, and every part simply took the abuse.

Varis had their GR Yaris on show, and I beloved the darkish inexperienced TE37s it was sitting on. The Prova Impreza S was additionally sporting a Varis equipment. YR-Advance introduced out their Impreza too.

I by no means bought to exit within the J’s Racing FL5 Honda Civic Sort R, however boy did this factor sound good. And right here’s why – a twin-exit titanium exhaust.

As quickly because the GReddy GR86 was fitted with the new wheels, it seemed so significantly better.

The RZ34 is a automotive that can positively profit from the 19-inch model of those new CEs, however I’ve to say I fairly appreciated the chunky sidewall on the Michelin Pilot Sport 5s. I had 10 minutes with this automotive, and was impressed by how progressive the breakaway level was. The sidewalls felt extra forgiving, which is a pleasant change from low-profile tires that we get on new automobiles lately that make every part so fidgety and overly sharp.

I like the look of the brand new Volk Racing CE28N-Plus. RAYS have accomplished an superior job cleansing up the design, making it less complicated, upping the efficiency and even dropping the burden. This is the way you revitalize a legendary wheel.

Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com