1,000+ Horsepower Lexus IS300 Tuned Into Suave Savage

By S.J. Bryan - April 23, 2021

KMP Speed Shop boosted a Lexus IS300 to record-breaking levels in a masterpiece of high-performance.

Sometimes you come across a car so amazing you just have to stop and take it in. Maybe it is at a car show, or on the road, even in a parking lot. That was our reaction when we came across this Lexus IS300. To be fair, when we first spotted this Lexus IS300 it was pumping out over 1,000 horses in a dyno-melting test. We needed to know more about the Lexus and its set up, so we headed down the rabbit hole. There we discovered an innovative speed shop, a determined Lexus owner, and their dauntless quest for maximum performance.

Quebec-based KMP Speed Shop is the team behind the transformation. The performance shop specializes in Toyota and Lexus, as well as Nissan, Mazda, Honda and other platforms. KMP had the crew, experience and a proven track record for taking cars from stock to shock.

And then along came Guillaume. In 2015, after a lot of looking, he found and purchased his dream car, a used Lexus IS300. After using the IS300 for a year as his daily driver, he wanted to take the performance higher. “The car was just too clean not to do anything with it,” he told KMP.

Swapping seemed the best choice, and they went with a 2JZ-GTE VVTI platform paired with a manual swap. Yes, a Supra-powered Lexus, pretty much a dream pairing. The 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six would give Guillaume all the power and propulsion he wanted on the street and the track.

Over the next few months, KMP stripped down the car repainted engine bay, refreshed the 2JZ-GTE, built a custom manifold, 4″ exhaust and custom intake with a custom methanol injection kit. They added a Borg Warner turbo system, added GSC cams, and built a complete engine harness with a MS3 standalone, and added a front mount intercooler.

The set up produced 780 whp on just the stock Supra engine. But, a few years later, Guilluame overrevved on the track and the engine was subsequently busted. He had already planned on another 2JZ build, so call it serendipity. Now they had just another reason to get in there and boost that power.

The engine was swapped again. Now, the 2JZ-GTE was being built with the goal of hitting 1000 whp on pump gas (94) and meth. To that end, the team added in more mods including:

CNC ported head
Fully built block including pistons, rods, billet mains and ACL bearings
Tomei oil pan baffle kit
Borg Warner EFR9280
New harness with an Ecumaster
Addition of more and new sensors
Revised fuel system with 3 fuel pumps
Complete T56 Magnum F Grannas Racing kit

And then the moment of truth.

Not only did they meet their goal, they exceeded it!

Big congratulations to KMP Speed Shot and Guillaume for making multiple pulls over 1,000 hp. They have reached a staggering 1,012 whp and 744 torque @ 32 psi! And KMP is correct, they currently hold the record for most powerful Lexus IS300 with 2JZ-GTE on 94 Octane. It is an accomplishment not just because of the numbers, however. Although those numbers are incredible. This Lexus is powerful, high-performance, and proves its savagery on the road and the track. Just listen to that is a soundtrack–that means business. We love it.

Thankfully, Guillaume has documented the project and often posts his car in action on Instagram. Definitely give him a follow.

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Lexus has always excelled in form meeting function. But KMP masterfully built this Lexus IS300 with the spirit of sheer fun and no lack of adrenaline. Their boosted Lexus is seamless, from the mechanics to the fitment. And above all else it demonstrates the level of performance that can be reached with the right powertrain and big turbocharged dreams.