Insane Viper Gives Sport Bikes A Run For Their Money

Few would deny that the Dodge Viper caught the world’s attention when it was launched. Even though it had its origins in a truck motor, the Viper’s 8-liter V10 engine provided enough power and torque to scare even the most jaded drivers.

But the owner of this Viper wanted to scare not his passengers but big bikes, which is a territory where even very fast cars are humbled. If you calculate the power to weight ratios of modern sport bikes, which come in at less than 5 pounds per horsepower, that challenge can only be met by a car with a massive power output.

Entrusting the Viper to Underground Racing, the owner allowed the shop to rise to the challenge by having it reassemble the engine with CP Pistons, billet main caps, Oliver connecting rods and Hellfire piston rings, in the process also increasing displacement to 8.4 liters. A turbo compatible camshaft was used and the heads were ported and polished. Twin Precision TE PT76 turbochargers are fed by the opposing five-cylinder engine banks. 96 lb/hr injectors are used, which are controlled by a standalone AEM ECU. Depending on the car’s speed, the engine management system allows up to 29 psi of boost for the turbo system. On the dyno, the tuners saw almost 1550 horsepower, using race gas. Interestingly, the Viper’s stock transmission only needed a twin-disc setup to handle all that power.

Some would say that having a car this fast is too much. The owner of this insane Viper would retort that it is just right. It would be very interesting to have a performance calculator on hand to see the figures this kind of car would generate.

Underground Racing Viper at the drag strip.

Source article is at this page.

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IND M3 Shows Possibilities By Bucking Stereotype Modifications

If you had a BMW M3 and wanted to modify it, you’d naturally think of European brands and tuners like BBS, AC Schnitzer and Alpina, right? In the case of this M3 owner, he’d say wrong. Wanting something different, the owner of this M3 wanted a JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) look for his 420 horsepower German bruiser. So he went to IND to work out this concept for his car. The result speaks for itself.

The highlights of the modifications include an ESS Tuning VT2-600 Supercharger kit with custom painted intake manifold, KW ClubSport coilovers, Brembo GT-R brake kit with slotted disks, Volk TE37 wheels in 18×9.5 +22 front and 18×10.5 +22 rear, custom finished in Porsche Guards red with 275/35/18 front and 315/30/18 rear Falken RT615K tires, Challenge Race X pipe and Kreisseig Japan valve actuated exhaust system. IND also did some tweaking to the ECU to delete the EDC, seat fault codes and seat belt pusher. The factory back seats were also removed and replaced with a rollcage.

Far from being complete, the list above shows the international nature of the source of parts to create this stunningly individual M3. And because of the suspension and chassis mods, it can also take to the track with confidence and gusto. IND says that the owner, “Martin contacted us and his love for cars was clear in every telephone call conversation we had. Martin loved all things automotive and had previously owned many amazing cars from Europe and Japan. His tastes enveloped the entire spectrum of performance cars, and allowed us to create a car that was designed purely for his enjoyment. We did not have to pay any attention to current trends, to what is popular or what could be seen as unacceptable, but only to Martin’s own passions as a seasoned automotive enthusiast.”

This is a true driver's car. Notice that in the extensive modifications list, there is no mention of an aftermarket sound system. Although no horsepower figures were mentioned, it's an easy job of estimating the engine's output and the car's performance by using a performance calculator.

A portfolio of the IND M3.

Here’s a video of another IND M3 with the VT2-600 supercharger installed.

See the source article here.

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Lingenfelter Gives Staid Cadillac Image A Sledgehammer To Swing

Mention the word Cadillac and the image that comes to mind is grandpas in their twilight years going off to the golf club. And it would not be an unfair image because for decades, that was Cadillac’s target market and their luxury cars were coveted products. In recent years though, Cadillac has sought to tap newer and younger markets and the CTS was one of the products that aimed to tap into new market segments.

This particular Cadillac CTS-V has been given serious attention by renowned American tuner Lingenfelter and the spec list of this special CTS is worthy of any enthusiast’s attention. Stock, the CTS-V has a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with an output of 556HP and 551 lb.-ft of torque. Not a bad stock spec to start with. However, Lingenfelter did not become famous for tame engine outputs and a host of mods boost this stock 556 horsepower engine to a calculated and dyno-proven 700 horsepower.

For starters, the tuner replaced the camshaft, replaced the valves, ported the head and replaced the supercharger pulley. Other tweaks include a supercharger isolator coupling, a 10% overdrive harmonic balancer, 63 lbs/hour fuel injectors, intake tract airflow optimization, and ECM tuning. Even more detail tweaks improve driveability and reliability.

See the Cadillac CTS-V in a video here.

If American muscle packaged in a business suit is your thing, then this car is for you. The fact that Lingenfelter offers a 2 year/24,000 mile warranty if proof enough that you are getting a professionally executed installation.

Original article can be found here.

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Porsche Hybrid Racer Sets The Tone For Future Racing Cars

With the steady proliferation of hybrids all over the world, can the arena of motor racing be far behind, specially with manufacturers like GM, Ford, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche coming out with hybrid production cars? That question has been answered by no other than Porsche, with its 911 GT3 R Hybrid. Introduced last year, this hybrid race car has proven itself to be very competitive and would in fact have won a 24-hour race had another part of the car not broken down after 23 hours.

The Porsche hybrid racer has a conventional 480 horsepower flat six at the back but the front axles are each driven by a 60 kW electric motor. Instead of batteries, the regenerative braking system charges an electrical flywheel power generator placed beside the driver. The power generator can be recharged in one long and hard braking maneuver (e.g. cornering) and when the road opens up into a straight, a paddle on the steering wheel releases the stored energy to the front wheels.

Depending on racing conditions, the hybrid drive is used not only for extra power but also for fuel savings. This increases the efficiency and performance of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid and it is calculated to be able to reduce the weight of fuel in the tank or make less pitstops, prolonging time on the track. With the success of its introduction to the racing world, it will only be a matter of time before hybrid racers become a fact of life in the motorsports world and in everyday life.

See the Porsche Hybrid racer in action here.

Original article can be found here.

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Mk1 Transit Supervan Gave Public Vivid Memories Of GT40 Greatness

Mention the word van and the images that come to mind are soccer moms, construction services and florists. When Ford introduced the Transit Van in Europe, it was a big hit. To further ignite the public’s consciousness on this staid commercial product, Ford opted to build the Transit Mark 1 Supervan.

Except for its wide tires, the windowless Supervan looked like any other Transit van, until the driver started the engine and anyone standing near would realize that this was no ordinary plumber’s van. Inside, in a mid-engine configuration, was a five-liter Gurney Westlake Ford V8 racing engine lifted from the legendary Ford GT40s which won LeMans. This competition motor boasted four Weber carbs producing over 400 horsepower and it was coupled to a five-speed ZF competition gearbox.

Other modifications included GT40-style wheels, tires and suspension. These were essential modification so that the Transit Supervan could turn as well as go. In its attendances around various racetracks and motorsport events, the Supervan showed what it could do with its racing components and 150 mph top speed. Considering that they had rudimentary performance calculators in those days, it's amazing that the Supervan could do 50 mph in first gear!

Here's a video of the Supervan in action.

Original article can be found here.

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Lancia Delta S4 Is Forerunner Of VW Twincharged Engine

A lot of talk has been going around the web lately of the possibility of Volkswagen axing their twincharged 1.4 TSI powerplant. This is a mass production engine used in models like the Mark 6 Golf that is both supercharged and turbocharged. It is a very interesting powerplant that probably had, as one of its inspirations, the car featured here.

In the heydays of Group B rallying, cars were being produced that had engines with 400-500 hp outputs from four to six cylinders. Lancia was a dominant manufacturer in the World Rally Championship then and to retain their edge, they came up with the Lancia Delta S4. This car was a tube-framed mid-engine all wheel drive monster that had both a Volumex Supercharger and a KKK turbo. Fed by a Weber Marelli injection system, the official output of this twin-cam 16-valve 1.8-liter engine was 250 bhp. However, if you factor in the acknowledged 0-100 km/h time of less than 2 seconds, the actual calculated output of the engine should be much higher.

See a Lancia Delta S4 tribute

The Group B category was banned soon after the Delta S4s and some other Group B cars were involved in a couple of accidents that killed drivers and spectators alike. The FIA deemed that these cars were too powerful to be controlled by even the best drivers. It was replaced by the Group A category which now limits engine outputs to 300 hp.

See more info on the Lancia Delta S4 here.

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10th Anniversary Atom Mugen Is A Very Rare Breed

The Ariel Atom made waves several years ago for combining (very) minimalist styling with pure driving experience and function. It was a small two-seater that had no bodywork, a supercharged Honda Type R engine with 290 hp and driving dynamics and performance that surpassed a big bike.

For its10th anniversary, Ariel celebrates its association with Honda by coming up with the Atom Ariel Mugen. Only 10 will ever be hand-built, each costing $80,000 and each will bear a numbered plague. Each engine will also be hand-built and blueprinted, taking 7 days to build, and will be signed off only when the technician is satisfied with his work. The same procedure will hold true for the assembly of the rest of the car at Ariel’s facility in England.

This little rocket will be powered by the K20Z Type R engine,tuned to deliver 270 hp in Mugen trim. Being naturally aspirated, it will have an 8,700 rpm redline and a power delivery that only normally aspirated engines can give. This will give the Atom Mugen a 2.9 time to 100 km/h and a top speed of 240 km/h. This is supercar territory for a 4-cylinder track car. Adjustable suspension and sport brakes ensure impeccable track manners. Quotes Simon Saunders, head of Ariel, "We found that both ourselves and Mugen had the same meticulous attention to detail in the build of our cars and their engines. One Ariel technician makes a car, one Mugen technician builds an engine. The result is a truly hand made car with a hand made engine."

See the Ariel Atom’s performance here.

Although the Atom shown in the video is not the type Mugen, it has the same performance as both are powered by Honda Type R engines with approximately the same output. Using a performance calculator, the power to weight ratios of the Ariel Atom in the video and the Atom Mugen will be practically the same.

Original article can be found here.

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Tiny Toyota iQ Becomes A Capable Track Toy

The Toyota iQ is an evolution of the microcar concept pioneered by the Smart car currently being sold by Mercedes-Benz. Unlike the Smart though, the iQ can seat four people although it is only 12 inches longer than the Smart. Toyota introduced a limited edition iQ GRMN in Japan a year ago, with a supercharger placed atop the tiny car’s 1300cc 4-cylinder to produce 116-hp. GRMN (a special car line from Gazoo Racing in Japan) has released a racing concept car based on the tiny iQ.

The car has a wide body (almost the width of a Corolla) and by fitting 17-inch wheels and 205 mm width tires, the car looks the part of being track ready. Carbon fiber body parts, racing seats and a roll cage make the car up to spec for the track.

The engine is a Toyota type 1NR-FE with the bolt-on supercharger, which has added about 20% more power and torque. The car’s weight is a mere 980 kilos so even with the meager power, it has a good power-to-weight ratio.

Here is Gazoo Racing’s presentation of their iQ concept.

Driving the car around a small course.

You can hear the tires breaking loose from the track surface when the car shifts so the engine is making enough power to throw the car forward. It would be interesting to use a performance calculator to see what other mods can be done to make this car a little monster.

Source article can be found here.

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Bolt-on Mods Give 5.0 Liter Mustang 900+ Horsepower

JPC Racing is a Mustang tuner who have made a name for themselves in competition. They build consistently quick cars in different drag racing classes and the combination of a new motor design from Ford plus a 2011 Mustang was a combination they had to try out.

Without touching the engine internals, JPC installed a Paxton NOVI-series supercharger on the 5.0 liter V8 engine. Using 12 pounds of boost, JPC was able to generate 802 wheel horsepower on what is basically a bolt-on modification. Some have calculated that, compensating for drivetrain loss, the car makes about 930 horsepower at the flywheel. Not bad for a stock engine.

To put that power to the ground, an Eibach suspension, 4:56 final drive gearing and drag slicks from Mickey Thompson complement the drivetrain. Full-length exhaust headers handle the spent combustion gasses. Here's a video of the car on the dyno:

The engine does not idle like a stock engine so it’s possible that the cams are different. It would be interesting to use a performance calculator to get the engine’s power output and other performance data.

Watch the car make a pass down the track here:

Original posting here.

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Best Of The Breed BMW M5 CSL Will Never Be Duplicated

You are looking at the one and only E60-series BMW M5 CSL in existence. This particular car was made on the occasion of the M5’s anniversary in October 2009. The M5 moniker started in 1985, with the release of the first M5 based on the BMW E28 4-door sedan. Since then, every 5-series BMW has had an M5 big brother produced beside it.

This particular M5 uses the base engine from the current series, which is a 40-valve V10 with variable valve timing and individual throttle bodies. While the stock engine is rated at 507 horsepower, the powerplant on this anniversary prototype has been stroked to 5.5 liters.The engine was further enhanced by a carbon fiber manifold, increased capacity air box and secondary oil cooler. To feed the more powerful engine, the front bumper was cut out (in the license plate area) to provide an extra air duct. The transmission was replaced with a 7 speed DCT unit from an M3. No official figures were released but some have calculated the output to be near 600 horsepower.

50 kilos were shaved from the body’s weight by using a carbon fiber roof, carbon fiber driver’s and passenger’s seats and a stripped interior, including removal of the back seats. This results in a 0-100 km/h time of less than 4 seconds. Not bad for a 4-door weighing more than 1,700 kilos. Top speed should be more than a delimited M5’s 300 km/h capability. If we use a performance calculator, we can more accurately predict this figure.

Slideshow of the one-off M5 CSL at the track. 

It’s a pity that the next generation M5 will revert to a V8 and twin turbos. The naturally-aspirated V10’s wail at full throttle cannot be duplicated by a turbocharged powerplant.

Source article can be found here.

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Dallas Performance Corvette Practically Rips Dyno With 1,250 Horsepower

From the state where everything is big comes this modifed 2005 Corvette C6 ZO6 with twin turbochargers fitted to its engine. Tuner Dallas Performance has managed to wring 1,250 horsepower from this five-year old Corvette C6. Compare these figure with the stock output of the original package of 400 hp (298 kW) at 6000 rpm and 400 lb·ft (542 N·m) of torque at 4400 rpm.

To get that kind of performance from the engine, Dallas Performance used a 434 cubic inch LSX engine block and Performance Induction LS3 Heads as the foundation for the powertrain. Onto this base were installed a single plane intake with RC 120 injectors and the custom-made twin turbocharger system. Total output is 1,250 bhp (932 kW / 1267 PS) and 1178 lb-ft of torque (1595 Nm). Undoubtedly, the tuner would have used a performance calculator to estimate the output the intended modifications would make.

As if having that monster engine were not enough, the owner of this beast also opted for carbon fiber wheels from 360° Forged shod with Nitto NT-OSR speed adpative tires and 6-piston brake calipers from Wilwood to bring the entire package to a safe stop. For those with serious intent, Dallas Performance offers six tuning packages for the Corvette, starting with a 590hp kit costing $3,280 to a king of the hill package with over 1,000hp and a $51,000 dollar price tag to match.

It is amazing how tuners nowadays can produce so much horsepower from production-based engines. One wonders where this horsepower race will end.

Source article can be found here.

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