REDLINE MAGAZINE
Redline Magazine was the performance-tuned, more serious sibling to Max Power and Fast Car. Launched in the late '90s, it focused heavily on engine builds, dyno-tested upgrades, and real performance mods.
While other magazines covered the style and scene, Redline prioritized horsepower, torque, and lap times – earning respect among serious tuners and track day enthusiasts. It had all the excitement of the Max scene, but with less neon and more horsepower.
For nearly a decade, Redline set the standard for performance journalism in the UK modified car scene, offering readers a no-nonsense approach to building serious street and strip machines.
REDLINE MAGAZINE TIMELINE
Redline Launches
- Positioned as a high-performance mod mag
- Targeted at enthusiasts building real street and strip cars
- Early issues featured hot hatches, RS Turbos, Integras, GT-Fours
Redline burst onto the scene as a magazine for enthusiasts who valued performance over aesthetics. While acknowledging the importance of style, the magazine differentiated itself by focusing on measurable results – horsepower figures, quarter-mile times, and lap records that gave readers concrete benchmarks for their builds.
Performance First
- Heavy focus on dyno results, quarter-mile times, track days
- Tech features included turbo installs, nitrous guides, brake upgrades, diff swaps
- Known for "Redline Rippers" – reader cars with brutal setups
- Popular builds: stripped track Saxos, high-boost RS Cosworths, drag Golfs
This period established Redline's reputation for serious technical journalism. The magazine's "Redline Rippers" feature highlighted reader cars that delivered exceptional performance, often built on modest budgets. Detailed dyno tests and track day reports gave the magazine credibility among performance enthusiasts who wanted real-world data rather than just visual impact.
Turbo Era
- Japanese imports take over: Skylines, 200SXs, Evos, and Imprezas
- Engine rebuilds, forged blocks, boost controllers featured
- Covered Time Attack, Santa Pod RWYB events, and hill climb specials
The early 2000s saw the rise of Japanese performance imports in the UK, and Redline was at the forefront of covering this trend. The magazine's in-depth technical features on engine builds and turbo setups provided enthusiasts with the knowledge to safely extract serious power from these platforms. Coverage of grassroots motorsport events like "Run What Ya Brung" drag racing days connected readers with the competitive side of car culture.
Scene Tightens
- Focus on clean performance builds (less ICE, more torque)
- Sponsored project cars: Civic VTi Turbo, Focus RS, Subaru STI builds
- Final years included more lifestyle integration but stayed hardcore
In its final years, Redline reflected the maturing modified car scene by featuring cleaner, more integrated builds that balanced aesthetics with performance. The magazine maintained its technical focus while acknowledging the lifestyle aspects of car culture. Despite pressure to broaden its appeal, Redline remained committed to its core values of genuine performance and measurable results until its closure in 2006.
Sample Feature Builds
400bhp Sierra Cosworth
Purpose-built drag car with fully forged internals, massive turbo, and stripped interior – showcasing Redline's focus on all-out performance machines.
Integra Type R
Track-focused build with Spoon & Mugen parts, showcasing the magazine's appreciation for high-revving naturally aspirated performance.
Toyota GT-Four Rally Replica
Full rally spec with cage and coilovers – representing Redline's coverage of motorsport-inspired street builds.
200SX S14 With Garrett Turbo
Full HKS tuning package with front-mount intercooler – highlighting the magazine's detailed coverage of the rising drift scene.
Nova GSi With Nitrous
Custom ECU remap and nitrous oxide system – demonstrating that Redline covered accessible performance for readers with more modest budgets.
Tech Content Focus
Redline's technical features set it apart from other magazines with their depth and attention to detail:
Clutch & Drivetrain Upgrades
Step-by-step guides for performance clutch swaps, fueling upgrades, and ECU mapping to handle increased power.
Boost Management
Detailed explanations of turbo boost control, anti-lag systems, and heat management for reliable performance.
Chassis Tuning
Comprehensive coverage of limited-slip differential installations, big brake kits, and race pad selection for track use.
Dyno Testing
Regular dyno sessions with before/after comparisons, demonstrating real-world gains from specific modifications.
Performance Metrics
Data-driven analysis using bhp-per-ton figures, trap speeds, and lap times to quantify performance improvements.
Models & Culture
Performance Over Glamour
Few traditional model shoots, with editorial focus instead on drivers, builders, and track day enthusiasts.
Garage Life
Features highlighting the dedication and technical expertise of the people behind the builds, showing the process rather than just the results.
Pit Lane Action
Coverage of the competitive side of modified car culture, from professional teams to grassroots racers making their mark.
Dyno Room Drama
The tension and excitement of dyno days, capturing moments when builders discovered just how successful their modifications had been.
Covers & Media Style
Distinctive Design
Sleek black/red/white themes with clean car photography that emphasized the technical aspects of featured vehicles.
Performance Messaging
Cover lines that hyped "real performance," "dyno-proven," and "street-legal beasts" – reflecting the magazine's focus on measurable results.
Technical Detail
Inside pages were spec-heavy with high-resolution engine bay and under-chassis shots that satisfied technically-minded readers.
Data Visualization
Extensive use of dyno graphs, performance charts, and comparison tables to communicate complex technical information.
DVD/Video Content
Dyno Sessions
Raw footage of engine testing, capturing the sound and fury of high-performance builds pushing their limits.
Drag Racing
Action from Santa Pod Raceway, showing featured cars putting their power down in real-world quarter-mile runs.
Technical Interviews
Conversations with builders who explained their technical choices and shared insights about their development process.
Track Day POV
In-car footage that gave readers a driver's-eye view of what it was like to pilot these high-performance machines at the limit.
Cultural Highlights
Track-Ready Culture
Redline spotlighted builders who ran their cars hard, celebrating those who used their vehicles as intended rather than just for show.
No-Nonsense Tuning
The magazine prioritized power and performance over flash, creating a culture where results were valued more than appearance.
Garage-Built Heroes
Readers could relate to the bolt-on builds with real-world goals, inspiring a generation of enthusiasts to focus on function alongside form.
Data-Driven Modding
Redline fostered an evidence-based approach to car modification, encouraging readers to quantify their improvements.
REDLINE vs. MAX POWER
MAX POWER
REDLINE
The Redline Legacy
Though its run was shorter than some contemporaries, Redline Magazine left an indelible mark on UK performance car culture. By prioritizing measurable results over style points, it helped establish a more technical, data-driven approach to car modification that continues to influence enthusiasts today.
The magazine's no-nonsense coverage of engine builds, dyno testing, and track performance created a community of knowledgeable builders who valued function over form – though many achieved both. Redline readers learned to think critically about modifications, considering power-to-weight ratios, thermal management, and chassis balance alongside visual impact.
Though the magazine ceased publication in 2006, its spirit lives on in today's online performance communities, where dyno graphs, lap times, and technical specifications remain the currency of credibility among serious enthusiasts.
