Sung Kang Returns For New ‘Drifter’ Movie, With A Surprising Hero Car
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Best known for his role as Han Lue in The Fast & The Furious franchise, Sung Kang is set to return with a new sideways action movie he co-wrote and directed – Drifter.
Instead of the Mazda RX-7 he’s best known for, Kang decided his car for this movie, ‘Lola’ (derived from the USDM ‘Corolla’ naming), needed to be a Toyota AE86, and Hypebeast gives an insight into the build.
You may already be familiar with the hero car
The AE86 is arguably the most recognizable car in drifting history. It’s been the weapon of choice from the likes of the ‘Drift King’ Keiichi Tsuchiya, to Initial D’s Takumi Fujiwara, and Kang once again decided nothing was better suited for the role than the humble Hachiroku.
Sung states, “For Drifter, it was the only choice for our hero car.” It’ll likely come as a surprise that it’s not just any old AE86, though. It’s Formula DRIFT legend Dai Yoshihara’s SEMA ‘AE86R’ project car.
In the movie, the ’86 starts life as a humble stock 1986 Toyota Corolla GT-S and evolves throughout the film, beginning as a simple drift beater before being transformed into the familiar drift weapon.
It’s far from a stock Corolla
Thankfully, unlike most Hollywood movie cars, this AE86 is actually built for the task at hand.
However, there’s no 4A-GE engine lurking under the hood, unfortunately. They’ve instead opted for a controversial V8 swap, pairing a Chevrolet LS3 V8 with a GForce GSR gearbox. Dai admits, “Personally, I prefer keeping 86s four-cylinder, but this setup does exactly what we needed for filming.”
Sung explained, “The LS3 comes into the story because a mentor character donates the motor from his daughter’s Corvette to help the car compete professionally. It’s a symbolic gesture about passing on passion and potential.”
That wasn’t the only reason they opted for the V8. “We needed more torque and reliability for the drift sequences,” explained Dai.
Under the widebody chassis lies a Toyota Supra/Celica rear end paired with KW suspension. We can also see a Sparco bucket seat and classic Watanabe Wheels with Yokohama Tires.
What to expect from ‘Drifter’
In the upcoming movie, Sung Kang plays the main character who “discovers his passion and skill in the art of drifting while working at his local race circuit.”
Alongside Dai Yoshihara, who plays Kang’s stunt double (peep the amusing wig!), plenty of other huge names from the drift scene are on board the project, including Adam LZ, Ryan Tuerck, and Chelsea DeNofa.
They join the likes of Brian Scotto from HOONIGAN, who directed the stunt driving scenes, James Pumphrey, and many others.
“Drifter isn’t just about drifting,” Kang explains. “It’s about finding hope. It’s a hero’s journey about someone lost in life who finds purpose through the car community.”
“I want audiences to walk away feeling that when you find something you love, and surround yourself with people who share that passion, anything is possible.”
It’s likely a relatable story for many car enthusiasts, and something that’s definitely got us interested.
Further details of the movie are set to be released soon, but it’s certainly one that we recommend keeping an eye out for.
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Bill is a writer and photographer who has been part of the Drifted team since 2015. His work extends to various print and online publications, including Wangan Warriors.
As part of the King of Nations team, he traveled extensively for several years, capturing top-tier international drift events worldwide. His hands-on experience, including rebuilding his own Nissan Silvia S15 drift car, gives him unique insights into drift car building and global drift culture.
When not behind the lens or keyboard, Bill can be found browsing classifieds for his next JDM project or shredding virtual tires on popular simulators like Assetto Corsa, CarX, and Forza.
You can learn more about Bill’s story here or follow his socials on X (formerly Twitter), Flickr, Facebook, and Instagram.
