Archive for the ‘Exhausts’ Category

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Autosport 2012

Monday, November 28th, 2011

The Autosport and PistonHeads show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, is considered in the motor racing industry to be THE show to exhibit at if you are serious about attracting high quality customers to your business, so it’s with great excitement in the office here at Longlife that we can say we’ll be there again next year with a new and larger stand.

Last year’s show was our first time at the show so we were slightly nervous as to whether the substantial investment would be returned.  The number of things to consider when exhibiting is huge, ranging from what products to take with us to car insurance for the vehicles on the stand.  The planning for how we lay the stand out, design for graphics boards, booking of hotels and filling out the many forms for the organisers is a lengthy job that takes quite some time.

As a result of our attendance at last years show, we met a business owner who was later to become one of our franchisees and also many people who have now had Longlife Stainless Steel Exhausts on their cars.  As a result of the success, this year’s stand will be almost twice as large and will show off our fantastic range of exotic car exhausts for Porsche, Lamborgini, Ferrari and more.  This is of course in addition to the custom build exhausts that we build for almost any vehicle.

If you are interested in seeing the best that the British motor industry has to offer, the best racing cars and of course some of the best after-market products for your car, then make a note in your diary to go to the show in January 14th and 15th next year.  Tickets are available either online at the Autosport website or on the door.

Posted in Exhausts | 2 Comments »

Subaru S206 Announced

Friday, November 25th, 2011

Japanese car giant, Subaru, announced a harder, faster, superior upgrade to their Impreza WRX STI range; the S206. However, unfortunately, it will not be available here in the UK. Your only way of getting your hands on this particular Scooby is to have it imported.

This hardcore version of the Impreza will receive a power boost to 316bhp, with 318 lb-ft torque. This added performance comes in the shape of a new twin-scroll turbo, an upgraded ECU, a sports exhaust system, a larger intercooler, and an air filter that has been redesigned. This has all been added to the standard flat-four engine that we are all familiar with.

Subaru has not yet released any performance figures, however it is expected that new Subaru will benefit from a “heightened” accelerator response and extra low-to-mid range torque. The current Impreza we can buy over here in the UK has 297bhp and will hit 62mph (100kph) in 5.2 seconds whilst propelling its self all the way to 155mph. So, with that in mind, we can have a guess at what the new Impreza performance figures will look like. Expect 0-62 to be sub five seconds, and the top speed, if unrestricted, should be plus 160mph.

The chassis has been tightened also with STI-specific Bilstein struts, coils and dampers. When it comes to making a great chassis, Subaru certainly know what they’re doing thanks to their World Rally Championship experience and expertise. The new car will also have massive 18in Brembo brakes fitted, which it will no doubt need to reign in all that power and performance!

The new Subaru is also expected to be fantastic in the corners; after all, it shares the same DNA as the rally monsters that thunder around tight hairpins and asphalt spaghetti the world over.

In terms of visual updates, the S206 will have new front and rear spoilers, Recaro bucket seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel for added grip and comfort.

Subaru have announced that there will be just 300 models of the S206 made and that 100 of these will be special ‘NBR Challenge Package’ models. This is to celebrate Subaru’s class victory at this year’s 24 hour Nürburgring event. The NBR Challenge models will come fitted with a carbon fibre roof and a carbon fibre rear spoiler; all in the name of saving weight, and increasing raw performance of course. There is some bad news however: they are all sold out already; which will make it even harder for us over here to ever get our hands on one!

Come on Subaru – release this incredible instrument of speed over here in the UK, it’s sure to go down an absolute treat!

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Drifty Gallardo is one for Purists

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

It has been announced that a new rear wheel drive Lamborghini Gallardo is on its way! Lamborghini bosses claim that it is for the “purists” among us. Whilst the first shots of the car look incredible, it also sounds incredible on paper. The previous rear wheel drive Lambo was the Balboni, and that was an exciting piece of machinery!

This new Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, it seems, is therefore one for the wealthy drifters out there. Lambo have decided to ditch the standard four-wheel drive setup for this model, and instead have had to tweak the car’s dynamics in order to deal with its new-found sideways lunacy. To emphasise this fact, Lamborghini have fitted the real axle with a 45% locking differential and programmed the “Corsa” setting to enable “larger drift angles” – Lamborghini themselves have said this, I kid you not!

The new Gallardo is also fitted with a very similar engine to the one in the previous Gallardo, however it is ever so slightly down on power. Still, the 5.2 litre V10 is no wimp! It kicks out 550bhp and 398 lb-ft torque, whilst simultaneously etching a very large smile across your face – it’s a clever car.

The Lambo will scream its way from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and will continuing blaring all the way up to 198mph. That V10 is an absolutely exquisite engine, and coupled with Lamborghini’s performance exhaust system, produces one of the greatest sounds in the automotive world – if you are lucky enough to hear, or drive one, then you will indeed know exactly what I mean.

The standard six-speed manual gearbox remains in place with the option to use the paddle shifters that tempt the driver behind the wheel. Although, if this car really is meant for purists, surely the proper stick shift manual is the only way to go!

The CEO of Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann, has been quoted saying: “With the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, we are expanding the Lamborghini line-up with a purist model that adds yet another dimension of driving fun.”

He has also stated that this particular Gallardo will “appeal to a very special group of customers that enjoy a spirited driving style and also like to experience the sheer pleasure of open-air driving”. Roughly translated, that means it will get sideways and make you giggle like a small child on Christmas Eve!

This new Gallardo is on its way in the New Year and will likely set buyers back a fair wad of cash, however, with all the ingredients considered the new Lambo is, so far, looking more than worth it. Now I’ve just got to find a spare couple of hundred grand from somewhere to satisfy my “purist” needs!

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Nissan to Launch Upgraded 2012 GT-R

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

We are absolutely delighted to bring you news that the new Nissan GT-R is set to launch in 2012. On the face of it, the new model does not look much different to the current GT-R, with the only exterior change coming in the form of a rear view camera, so it is even hard to call this an exterior change in all honesty. There are a couple of interior changes however, including an enhanced Bose audio system, which sounds tasty indeed!

Under the bonnet, things get a bit more interesting as there have been some very exciting new additions and improvements all aimed at one thing; performance!

The 530bhp 3.8 litre V6 engine has been boosted to 550bhp, and the 0-62mph time has reduced from 3.0 seconds to 2.8. That is the sort of performance you expect from hyper machines such as the Lamborghini Aventador, or the Bugatti Veyron.

The added speed comes thanks to some very important refinements and upgrades. Improvements include better heads, an improved intercooler, an upgraded performance exhaust system, and a better intake system. Such upgrades have generously contributed to the responsiveness of the engine and torque at low rev ranges, as well as improved power at high revolutions.

The GT-R has also benefited from some very welcome fuel efficiency improvements. The Nissan can achieve, they claim, 20mpg. If this is true in the real world then that is mighty impressive from a 550bhp machine.

Nissan have never been the most exciting car company, it must be said. However, the Skyline has always sparked a little excitement inside the majority of petrol heads, especially tuners! When Nissan released the first GT-R, it was, frankly, hard to believe how incredibly quick it was. Especially due to the fact that it had a Nissan badge stuck on the front. It’s important to remember that even the top of the line Skyline’s would come out of the factory with around 276bhp. So when the GT-R was released with over 500bhp, it was quite astonishing, and surprising! I constantly found myself questioning whether it really was a Nissan!

Well, yes it is, and the new model looks, on paper, to be even more of a thrill ride! Hats off to Nissan and keep it coming!

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The Latest Power Trained Ford Set to Arrive

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

The latest in the line of fast Ford’s has already been announced: the 2012 Focus ST. This will be available, worldwide, at some point in the new year. The new ST was revealed as early as the 2010 Paris Motor Show, and has since toured the majority of motor shows. The Frankfurt Motor Show, however, saw the first production version of the car which is already shaping up to be a popular choice for many.

The ST will be powered by a 2.0 litre twin-cam 16-valve turbocharged engine that will produce 247bhp and 260lb-ft of torque. The car will also come with a six speed manual, or Ford’s all new six speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Ford themselves have stressed that the car will drive well, and will also sound special thanks to a specially modified performance exhaust system, similar to what was seen on the Focus RS and the exhilarating Focus RS500. Ford’s very own Jost Capito has stated: “People loved the sound of the previous Focus ST. The physics and acoustics of a five cylinder engine compared to a four cylinder are very different, but like Beethoven and Mozart – both of whom created fantastic yet very different music – we believe the engine note of the new Focus ST will delight enthusiasts in the same way.”

Ford have been producing powerful and exciting, yet affordable, cars for a number of years now. If we go as far back as the 1960s, Ford were producing the first Escort’s, and then in the 70s we saw the Escort Mexico models and further Mark II Escort’s. Of course in the 1980s we then saw the Sierra RS Cosworth, which came with fully fledged motorsport potential thanks to its race-going counterpart that was winning nearly every touring and rally car competition under the sun.

Then in the 1990s came the even more powerful, even more exciting, and my personal favourite of the affordable, iconic, performance Ford’s, the Escort RS Cosworth. It came fitted with a Cosworth YBT, turbocharged 2.0 litre engine that was highly tune-able, and produced around 220bhp. Although in most cases, owners would boost this power through various modifications.

This just gives us an example of the potential and pedigree the new ST has. With the factory model already starting with more power than the tuner-friendly Cosworth beasts of the 80s and 90s, it seems that Ford Focus ST owners may be keen to tinkle with the performance of their shiny new engine.

Ford has stated that they will be targeting the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the Mazda 3, and the Honda Civic Si as competition; however, if Focus ST owners follow the path of previous fast Ford owners, then we could be seeing a number of Focus ST’s challenging automotive royalty instead.

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Vauxhall Monaro Exhaust system rebuild

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

Getting more power out of an already powerful car is something that we’re often asked about at Longlife and when our Franchisee in Southend joined the HSV owners forum at www.hsv-owners.com it was one of the first subjects they were asked about.  Keith and Jamie took up the challenge and requested that someone let them have a standard Vauxhall Monaro VXR to see what could be achieved.  Forum member Pete duely obliged and let his pride and joy out for Keith and Jamie to do their thing.

It was decided that the best way to go would be to build a complete system, including new headers, downpipes, sports cats, center section and rear boxes.  Before they did this, the vehicle was taken to Atspeed Racing’s rolling road to be tested as a benchmark.  Peak power was found to be 287.1 bhp at 5500 with peak torque of 274.2 ft-lb.

A number of late nights later, Keith and Jamie had the system finished and drove the car back to the rolling road to see what their work would produce.

“You won’t get much from just an exhaust system so don’t expect much” were the words from the technician operating the rolling road.  A thumbs up and a smile however when the run was finished looked promising.  The final results can be seen on the graph below which show peak power now to be 333.2 bhp and 315.5 lb-ft of torque.  A hugely impressive 46bhp increase!

Pete reports that his enjoyment off the car has reached a whole new level which is exactly the result Keith and Jamie were hoping for.

The whole project proves the point that a well manufactured performance exhaust system can hugely improve a vehicles performance and also improve the looks and sound of the car as well.  As a video becomes available, we’ll update this post so you can hear the results as well as see them!

Posted in Car Modifying, Exhausts, Stainless Steel Exhausts, Tuning | 1 Comment »

Diesel Particulate Filters

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

A diesel particulate filter (DPF) pretty much does what it says. Particles and matter disposed of by the diesel engine in your vehicle will be filtered out through the device. This will result in a reduction of a sooty matter being expelled through the exhaust gases of the vehicle. However, diesel particulate filters can significantly increase fuel consumption, and they also need to be cleaned, or replaced, regularly which can be a very expensive ordeal. The reason why fuel consumption is increased by a DPF is because the ash, which is the sooty matter referred to previously, builds up on the surface of the filter and will eventually block the pores. This will increase the pressure drop over the filter, and when the pressure reaches 55kPa or higher, it will cause a significant increase in nitrogen oxide emissions, and also as a consequence, fuel consumption.

A DPF will also require the vehicles ECU to be programmed into a periodical regeneration cycle. This will increase the exhaust temperature through delayed fuel injection. This can also increase fuel consumption. If DPF’s are not properly managed and maintained, for example if the regeneration cycle is not run soon enough, then they can also result in premature engine damage, and thus reduce the life of your vehicle.

At Longlife we offer the service of permanently removing the DPF. This is a much more cost effective solution, and it will also mean you will not have to constantly worry about having to have your DPF replaced over and over again in the future. Longlife will also remap your vehicle so that the DPF regeneration sequence is removed from the vehicle’s ECU. The DPF will also be replaced by a Stainless Steel Exhaust pipe which will guarantee better performance, and will last a lifetime. This is a much more professional solution than just having an old filter casing emptied which can lead to uncertain gas flow and consequently poor performance.

Therefore, through removing a DPF, your vehicle will perform considerably better, and the fuel efficiency will be greatly improved. You will also never have to worry about having the DPF replaced again. If, however, you do indeed wish to keep your DPF, we at Longlife also offer a supply and fit service. The expertise we have with DPF’s and their installation will ensure that the job is done properly first time!

So, no matter if you are looking to have your DPF removed for good, or you would rather keep it on your vehicle, then we at Longlife have the answers!

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Posted in Diesel Particulate Filters, Exhausts, Stainless Steel Exhausts | 2 Comments »

Hybrid Hypercar Spotted

Monday, July 18th, 2011

One of the world’s greatest, most prestigious car manufacturers has been spotted with a secret hybrid prowling around the streets of Germany. Ferrari, since the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, has been considering the possibilities of designing a hybrid version of an already existing supercar, and now the chance of the world’s first hybrid supercar is genuinely on the cards. At the Geneva Motor Show last year they unveiled the Hybrid Concept, based on a normal 599. The firm has said that their goal is to reduce its fleet average CO2 emissions to around 240g/km by 2018. This would be a significant reduction from last year’s figure of 310g/km.

So, the new secret hybrid machine was seen in Germany, and at the moment, it appears to be a 599 GTO shell; however what is underneath that familiar exterior will indeed be rather unfamiliar. Ferrari are probably using the 599 GTO shell as an attempt to throw spy photographers off the scent, however all the evidence points to this being a hybrid prototype. Firstly, the car is wearing red-on-white German “pre-registration” plates; normally Ferrari prototypes don the Italian “Prova” plates. Secondly, there is an “S” printed on the plates which suggests that the car is registered in Stuttgart, which is coincidentally the home of German supply giant Bosch, who are rumoured to be helping Ferrari with the engineering and software set-up of the car.

Whilst the shell appears to be a 599 GTO, the car is running the California’s headlamps, wheels, chromed-wheel nuts and folding metal roof shutlines, while the brake calliper position and distinctive instrument binnacle can all be seen to resemble that of a California. However, the revised arrangement of the exhaust pipes is a significant new detail that may be linked to new routings for the exhausts, of course as a result of the hybrid powertrain, and a rather large new battery.

Ferrari are attempting to incorporate an all new traction control system that will work by reversing the electric motor’s torque rather than cutting engine power. While they are also working on an “electronic torque shaping” system, that feeds in small torque inputs from the electric motor during acceleration.

It seems that Ferrari are approaching the idea of a hybrid supercar with performance very much in mind. After all, it would no longer be a supercar if it was no longer supercar fast. The message to petrol-head-hybrid-sceptics must be to not worry about the future of supercars. As long as companies such as Ferrari are still in business, we will still have bare-knuckle, thrill rides available to us.

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Posted in Car Manufacturers, Exhausts, Hybrid Car | 1 Comment »

Vauxhall Astra GTC Set to be showcased at Goodwood

Monday, June 13th, 2011

Vauxhall are planning on unveiling their snazzy new GTC at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, over two months before it is shown off at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Reports have only just started emerging of the specs of this vehicle, which first caught people’s attention at the Paris Motor Show in 2010.

It would be hard to fault the appearance of the GTC, and we firmly believe that it stands a good chance in the car market battle against the VW Scirroco and the Renault Megane Coupé. The price tag of £18,495 is also more reasonable than that of its main rivals.

Mark Adams, Vice President of the Vauxhall/Opel design team, said, “We wanted the Astra GTC to be the ultimate expression of Vauxhall’s design language, and to embody our passion for the motor car … sculptural artistry meets German precision and to embody our passion for the automobile.

“But we didn’t want emotion to get in the way of functionality: the Astra GTC still needed to be clever, affordable and practical.”

Potential buyers may be interested to hear that rear suspension differs in no way from that of the hatchback. The manufacturers have also opted to kit the GTC out with flexible adaptive damping and unique lightweight panels.

There is plenty of room inside the new car, which should mean that it proves a popular choice for the average driver. It also handles very nicely and is capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in just under 9 seconds. The exhaust might be making a fair bit of noise when the GTC reaches its top speed of 130mph.

Environmentally friendly motorists may be interested to hear that the Vauxhall achieves a combined mpg of 57.6mpg and shells out CO2 emissions of just under 130g/km. People who are prepared to spend a little extra on a GTC with a 1.6 litre engine will be doing slightly less to help the green cause.

The cheapest of the new Vauxhalls comes complete with a fairly basic assortment of hi-tech equipment. There’s an electric parking brake and DAB radio with USB-In. Those people who purchase the sleek SRI will enjoy access to an on-board computer, leather trimmed steering wheel and fog lights.

We will have to wait until next year for the release of a high performance VXR version, which features a splendid selection of visual and dynamic kit.

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BMW Hommage Is the Latest in a Long Line of Outstanding Motors

Friday, May 27th, 2011

BMW went back to their roots during the production of a vehicle based largely upon the original 328 sports car.

They have opted to show this luxury vehicle off at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este event in Italy, where the classic car broke the outright speed record. Performance car enthusiasts may remember seeing the 328 win the historic revival challenge in this area recently.

The German team have delivered an aesthetically pleasing vehicle, complete with leather bonnet straps, trademark wheels and the ever popular vertical kidney grille. There are no doors, so drivers will have to climb as gracefully as possible into the cockpit.

Once behind the wheel they will have to adjust to looking through a split windscreen, just like that found on the 1930s motor.

Drivers may remember that the original 328 team used lightweight construction methods. Indeed, fellow car manufacturers must have looked on in wonder as BMW produced a high performance vehicle which weighed just 780kg.

In keeping with the streamlined approach BMW have fitted the Hommage out with parts made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). It is clear that no expense has been spared on the new offering, which also comes complete with exquisite leather upholstery.

Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW Design Chief, said, “Even 75 years ago, the BMW 328 stood for sportiness and agility through lightweight construction. The BMW 328 Hommage car pays tribute to this past and shows how BMW lightweight construction will develop. Carbon is the material of the future.”

“With the BMW 328 Hommage, we wish to pay homage to the passion and inventiveness of the fathers of the BMW 328” Karl Bäumer, CEO of BMW Group Classic, added.

“They created an icon, which is considered a milestone in the history of the automobile.” he continued.

Whether the Hommage will have quite the same impact on the motoring world is doubtful. However, it is difficult to think of another manufacturer who could have seamlessly blended the old and new styles.

Those people who are lucky enough to drive this vehicle will be able to make use of the various retro instruments while listening to their favourite tunes via the inbuilt iPhones. They will have fun pushing the straight six engine to the max and listening to the warble of the sports exhaust.

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