Toyota Vitz GS Supercharged: A Build Born of Circumstance and Style

In the vibrant car scene of Antigua, where creativity often meets necessity, one Toyota Vitz GS with 21 wins and 1 loss stands out for its unique supercharged engine and the story behind it. Owned by Total9070 for the past 5 years, this compact hatchback wasn’t supposed to be a long-term project. It was meant to be a quick flip. But as fate would have it, COVID-19 had other plans.

“I imported the car to flip,” the owner explains. “But COVID hit before I could clear it, and car sales dropped. I was basically stuck with it.” What started as a stalled transaction turned into a passion project. Late-night browsing led to impulse buys such as accessories, upgrades, and eventually, a full-on transformation.

The build wasn’t planned, but it was undeniably fun. Piece by piece, the Vitz evolved from a basic commuter to a street-ready showpiece.

The decision to go supercharged wasn’t about chasing horsepower or clout. It was about style. “Someone imported a Vitz from Japan for rental use. It came with a supercharger kit, which they removed. I heard they had it and bought it for engine bay looks.”

That’s right, the supercharger was installed not for performance, but for visual impact. But it didn’t stay cosmetic for long.

While the car has never seen a dyno, it’s no slouch. With a full interior and a 5 psi pulley, the Vitz clocked a 15.1-second quarter mile and held a record of 21 wins to 1 loss. Not bad for a build that started as a flip

Recently, the pulley was upgraded again, pushing boost to 10 psi. “I never had a gauge when I first installed the kit,” the owner admits. “Now I’m finally seeing what it can do.”

Though built for show, the Vitz has seen its share of street action. “I only timed it once. I don’t race on the track. But the other Vitz guys started street racing, so I bought the parts to get involved.”.

That meant adding an LSD, clutch, AFC, throttle controller, and more. The car transformed from a visual build to a functional one, ready to hold its own.

Would you recommend the supercharger route to other Vitz owners? “The supercharger is safer for the engine, but turbo gives performance. Cost-wise, a supercharger kit is 2–3 times more expensive than a turbo kit.”

It’s a trade-off between reliability, raw power and, up to the preference of the owner. In this case, the build leaned toward reliability with flair.

Build Sheet:

- Rotrex Supercharger

- Recaro bucket seats

- OBX Headers

- Greddy Exhaust

- Tein coilovers

- P1 Wheels

- Silicone Hose

- Glow Shift Gauges (6)

- Auxiliary gauges: AEM Wide Band, boost pressure, oil temperature, water temperature, voltage, fuel pressure and air fuel ratio.

- Sick Speed light shift knob

- Noblesse Wing, front lip and Eyelids

- Pivot Throttle Controller

- Apexi AFC Neo

- Tanabe, front and rear strut bars

- TRD LSD

- Stage 2 Clutch

Right now the future of the car hangs in the balance. “Someone wants to buy it, so I’m on pause. If they don’t come through and I decide to keep it, I’m going to get a FuelTech and give it a proper tune.” Whether the car is sold or not, the car’s journey is far from over.

This Vitz GS isn’t your everyday build. It’s a story of improvisation, style, and community. No matter if it ends up sold or tuned, it’s already made its mark on Antigua’s streets.

Photos by: Hollowpoint_media

Photos by: Hollowpoint_media

First day of ownership

First supercharger set up

interior