i forgot to mention, the other option(s) for turbo would be either boring the cylinders, or getting a longer stroking crank. the whole reason for revving so high would be for the massive turbo to get and stay fully spooled (with 1.8l having so little exhaust pressure), hence the consideration of boring/stroking.
we were discussing an increase in displacement a little while back, and i think tim (owner) had said that he saw a stroker kit that was a little under $1k that would increase his engine to 2 or 2.1
why do dsm stroker kits have to be so expensive?