RIDE WITH THE DEVIL
BBC Top Gear UK|July 2023
Ever wondered what the antichrist would drive? Meet the RWB Baphomet... if you dare
MARK RICCIONI
RIDE WITH THE DEVIL

Ever since Jenna Ortega donned an all-black dress as Wednesday Addams it seems the whole world has been on a giant gothic resurgence. Yup, that same aesthetic which otherwise had you outcast and bullied at school is now the latest TikTok trend. And if that doesn't make you feel horribly old and out of touch, your birth year must start with a 2000.

But dicing with the devil shouldn't really be done for likes; nor should it be taken lightly. For certain individuals out there, pledging allegiance to Beelzebub goes far beyond social media cosplay. And even with religion on a global decline, the very notion of his existence will still spark anger and outrage for many.

Which is why - even today - the sight of a wide-arched, fire spitting Porsche 930 Turbo plastered in devilish memorabilia will still cause a sharp inhale through your teeth. Especially when you see it resides in the ultra-conservative society that is Japan. Although this is the same country which allows grown men to wear adult nappies and pet other adults dressed as Furries, so an air-cooled antichrist isn't that controversial.

Its sun strip reads RAUH-Welt, the legendary tuner and Porsche chopper upper from Japan. And while themed RWB Porsches are nothing new - like bossman Akira Nakai's own Stella Artois 930 (built to celebrate his love of the marital strength booze) - the Porsche pictured here is the result of a man curiously nicknamed Dr Void. Welcome them, to RWB Baphomet.

To understand why a car like RWB Baphomet exists requires a little backstory on its owner - Dr. Void otherwise known as Norihide Ensako. And, on first impressions, it doesn't make things any clearer. His jet black hair and spike studded jacket are textbook gothic traits; but his job? Not so much. Ensako-san is a 53-year-old doctor, but he's not stitching people back together... he's delving into their minds as a psychiatrist.

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