Akira Nakai
Akira Nakai (Japanese: 中井 啓, Hepburn: Nakai Akira) is a Japanese automotive tuner, founder of Porsche aftermarket tuning company RAUH-Welt BEGRIFF (RWB), who specializes in the design and installation of custom wide-body kits for classic and modern Porsche models.[1][2] Earlier examples sported a sticker German: "Sekund Entwicklung" on the back which was later changed to German: "Zweite Entwicklung", lit. '"second development"' to fix a German language mistake.[3]
Life and career
[edit]Spark of interest
[edit]Nakai kicked off his career with a drift crew called Rough World, working on a Trueno AE86, stretching the limits of what the car could bear, whilst drinking his preferred beer, Stella Artois. He started to work on Porsches while employed by a body shop when he came across a damaged Porsche 911 Turbo, which he bought off its original owner, with it later becoming the first RWB Porsche, named 'Stella Artois' after his preferred beer in the late 90s.[4] This spark of interest, along with a little personal touch, is what led Nakai to create his Stella Artois inspired Porsche and many similar projects.[5]
Company
[edit]Nakai later started his own company called RAUH Welt BEGRIFF (RWB) and eventually became known for modifying Porsches, giving them oftentimes extreme body alterations.[6] His usual modifications include a new front bumper, rear bumper, side skirts, wheel arches and spoilers. In addition, he offers several options such as new fenders of various widths, suspension adjustments and smaller aesthetic additions, like canards and special rivets. The track width of the "RWB" Porsches is particularly widened.[7] Nakai's and his company's modifications are said to have reached a "cult status" and his aesthetics are described as "singular".[6]
Tribute
[edit]People who admire both cars and video games were pleased when Nakai was featured both in games as well as in live-action cutscenes as the "Build Icon", an idol for other characters and the player himself to follow the footsteps regarding car customization and tuning in the 2015 video game Need for Speed. The widebody kits designed and created by him were available for players to use on select Porsche models and his "Stella Artois" custom Porsche 911 Turbo can be earned in game.[8]
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One of Nakai's completed projects, named RWB Champagne after where it was built in Champagne, France. -
RWB Hoonigan, based on a Porsche 964 and built for Brian Scotto, the co-founder of Hoonigan. -
Another RWB project based on a Porsche 993. -
RWB Porsche 964 with a livery paying tribute to Bob Garretson's Apple Computer-sponsored Kremer 935 K3 that raced in the 1980 World Sportscar Championship.
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References
[edit]
- ^ Ruggieri, Lou (Apr 10, 2023). "What Is an RWB Porsche?". Motortrend.
- ^ "Akira Nakai - Japan's Most Precious Porsche Tuner │Yokogao Magazine". Yokogao Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "RWB • Curves Magazin". www.curves-magazin.com. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "The Porsche Art by RWB - Rauh-Welt Begriff | ColumnM". 2021-02-01. Archived from the original on 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Rauh-Welt Begriff Porsches - Rough-World Concept - Eurotuner Magazine". SuperStreetOnline. 2010-11-09. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
- ^ a b Carbonare, Dino dale. "Rough World: The wild 911s of Rauh Welt". Excellence. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "Rauh Welt Begriff: The Story of Porsche's Most Polarizing Tuner". 2020-11-12. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "'Need For Speed' reboot to feature real-life legends". Top Gear. Retrieved 2024-10-07.