Posts Tagged ‘Exhaust’

Comeback King?

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Those of us that follow all things motorsport will certainly not have missed news this week that a former Formula One World Champion has been settling into his new office – a Lotus F1 seat. Yes, I am of course talking about Kimi Raikkonen’s return to F1 with his new team, Lotus, formerly Renault.

This week he has been blasting around the Valencia test facility whilst he dials himself back into the rhythm of the most demanding motorsport there is. Lotus’ signing of the Finn has excited many of us that follow F1 as we remember him to be an extremely fast talent – one of the quickest over a single lap that I’ve ever seen.

Raikkonen left F1 at the end of the 2009 season, a year where he was driving a Ferrari that was drastically off the pace, yet he still managed to win at Spa, one of the most challenging circuits in the world where the driver can make up for a lack of car performance. Ferrari themselves admitted that 2009’s car was a bit of a dog, however they bounced back with a brilliant machine in 2010 that very nearly won the Drivers’ Championship in the hands of Kimi’s replacement, Fernando Alonso. Maybe Kimi will feel that he could have gone one better than Alonso in that same car?

Well now he is driving for the Enstone based team that Alonso won both his Championships with; will Kimi be able to double up his championship trophies with the newly named and rebranded Lotus F1 Team? It would be a bit of dream story if he did!

When Kimi was at his peak throughout the mid noughties, there were so many occasions where he left the others in a cloud of exhaust gases, and I personally thought Kimi was the most exciting driver on the F1 grid. In 2003, driving for McLaren as a youngster who had replaced the legend that was Mika Hakkinen, Raikkonen went on to win his first race in Malaysia and only lost the World Championship by two points at the final round in Japan.

Then in 2005, still at McLaren, Raikkonen again challenged for the title, this time he went head to head with the aforementioned Spaniard, Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen won seven Grand Prix but still lost out on the title by 21 points due to a dreadfully unreliable McLaren that let him down on so many occasions. He retired from three races, all of which Alonso capitalised on by winning, whereas Alonso only retired from one race that season in what was a consistently strong Renault F1 package.

Raikkonen was rewarded however in 2007 when he finally clinched the World Championship by just one point from his rivals, as Kimi won six Grand Prix in a brilliant debut year for Ferrari.

However, what stands out most for me was Raikkonen’s die hard attitude towards racing – at the Nurburgring in 2005, for example, Raikkonen led the race as the drivers began the final lap, however he was suffering from a serious problem with his front tyres, and as he braked for the first corner on the final lap, his suspension gave way and he ploughed into the tyre wall, and out of the race. He had the option to come into the pit and change his tyres before the problem worsened however that would have cost him the lead of the race and some serious points in the Championship, so instead he stayed out and took a chance – unfortunately for him, on this occasion, it was not a case of “he who dares wins”.

Raikkonen was also extremely entertaining to watch as he pulled off some fine overtaking manoeuvres during an era where overtaking was fairly minimal. Raikkonen’s return to F1 is a much anticipated one and everyone will be looking forward to seeing the Finn back on the track and competing once again.

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Webber Takes First Win of 2011 as F1 Season Comes to an End

Monday, November 28th, 2011

The 2011 F1 season has been dominated by just 1 man; Sebastian Vettel, who has set record after record on his way to the World Championship. This season, Vettel not only won the championship, with barely a hint of a challenge from the other drivers, but he also became the youngest ever Double World Champion, the youngest ever Back to Back World Champion, the record holder for most laps led in a season and the record holder for most starts from the front row in a season.

It has been an unbelievably impressive year from the young German, and after taking pole position in qualifying in Brazil on Saturday, breaking Nigel Mansell’s record for most pole positions in a season, it looked as if he was going to end the championship in the same unstoppable form in which he has performed throughout most of it.

However, after another blistering qualifying performance for pole position, Vettel came unstuck during the race with a gearbox problem, giving Mark Webber the chance to finally drive out of the German’s shadow and take his first win of the season.

It was a rare performance problem for Vettel’s Red Bull car which has been incredibly consistent over the year, only failing to finish 1 race, but it was enough of a chance for Webber to take, after failing to win any of the previous races this season, despite multiple starts on the front row of the grid.

The win is likely to give Webber a great confidence boost before the new season, after spending most of 2011 behind his teammate, yet it is Vettel’s amazing records and dominant performance that will be remembered as teams try to build a new car that can beat the Double World Champion next season.

Although he lost first place to Webber, Vettel finished the Brazilian Grand Prix in second whilst Jenson Button came 3rd, ensuring he finished the 2011 season in 2nd place in the drivers World Championship standings behind Vettel.

However, Vettel, Webber and Button will soon be forgetting any accomplishments from this season as they look towards 2012, during which we will see a new American Grand Prix, more adjustments to DRS zones and a rule change on the way the drivers use their exhaust to aid breaking and down force.

With Vettel dominating all year, it has not been the most exciting F1 season there has ever been but with the last 2 races being won by Hamilton and Webber it looks as if things might get a lot more competitive next season.

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Wealthy Motorists are Encouraged to Check out the Porsche GT3 RS 4.0

Monday, June 27th, 2011

The price of sports vehicles may seem exorbitant to the average road user. However, Porsches often come at a justifiably high price, due to the top quality workmanship which has gone into their production. The mighty GT3 R.S. 4.0 is a fine example, which has an outstanding 911 engine.

The proud project manager Andreas Preuninger has made a point of explaining that the engine is the essential element in the makeup of this impressive new vehicle. The capacity of the Metzeger flat six has been boosted by a major stroke improvement, meaning that it has just as much poke as either the GT3 or RSR performance cars.

“To increase the stroke is not good for a high revving car usually. But this one was better because we changed a lot of other things. There are different rods and heads and we’ve lowered the compression ratio meaning you can use a more aggressive ignition curve.” Mr Preuninger commented.

A naturally aspirated system with 993bhp at 8,250 rpm and 399lb of torque at 5,750rpm has been achieved by the experts who replaced the old GT3 crankshaft with an awesome piece of kit from the Porsche RSR. Wealthy prospective buyers may be interested to hear that the GT3 RS 4.0 zooms from 0-62mph in just under 4 seconds, and will only max out at 193mph. The exhaust will make a satisfying amount of noise within the higher speed ranges.

“The 3.8 isn’t a tractor engine … It’s been maxed out for 10 years. Top speed is not important, it’s about acceleration. This car has a nine-degree angle on the rear spoiler, whereas it’s six degrees on the 3.8, so we have 195kg of down force at top speed. Then we’ve put flics on the front bumper to balance out the extra rear down force,” Preuninger said.

It will come as little surprise to hear that the new Porsche handles very, very well. The driver enjoys feelings of ultimate flexibility and smoothness as they cruise around the track. There is absolutely no lumpiness when the revs are reduced, and motorists will enjoy a particularly tasty kick when pushing the vehicle to 8500rpm.

The drivers who are able to secure the purchase of the last of the 997 GT3’s can count themselves extremely fortunate. Of the 600 which are set to be produced, just 40 will make it across to the UK. It would be fair to say that £128,446 is a fair price for such an attractive motor.

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Posted in Car Manufacturers, Stainless Steel Exhausts | 1 Comment »

Great Expectations Raised Over Citroen DS3 Racing

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

The French vehicle manufacturer’s elegant DS3 has been tasked with climbing its way to the top of the high-end supermini tree. An elegant appearance, top notch cabin and a variety of personalised offerings all play a big part in improving the vehicle’s seductiveness. Moreover, a trendy chassis and turbocharged petrol and diesel engines enhance the driving appeal of this sweet little car.

The DS3 has been kitted out with a set of visually appealing wheels, complete with carbon-fibre wheel arch extensions. Potential purchasers may also be interested to hear that the motor comes with a front splitter and rear diffuser. Admittedly the average motorist will find the basic electric windows switches and hard plastic to be a bit of a let down, but these are only minor issues which don’t really detract from the overall appeal of the French vehicle.

The Citroen comes with a choice of three petrol engines, each developed in partnership with BMW, and already used in the MINI. Basic models are kitted out with a 93bhp 1.4 litre, while more advanced versions include a 1.6 litre unit are available in either a 118bhp naturally aspirated or tuned and turbocharged 148bhp.

This vehicle handles particularly well, in no small part due to its 215/40 R18 Bridgestone Potenza RE50 tyres, which are designed to provide maximum grip around tight bends. The exhaust doesn’t make a great deal of noise at the higher speed ranges, and it doesn’t emit masses of CO2 into the atmosphere. Unfortunately the Citroen won’t be able to compete with the MINI’s outstanding residuals when trade-in time arrives.

The new car on the block can carry one more passenger than the MINI. Plus it has a relatively large 285-litre load bay, which measures out at 980-litres when the back seats are flattened. The cabin of the chic French car is kitted out with some functional storage areas. However, drivers will struggle to make use of the glove compartment, where the fusebox is stored.

Taken as a complete package the Citroen can reasonably be described as a quick, smart, hard-working vehicle with enough special features to make it a hit among fans of the Mini. It is expected that Citroen will make some superb additions to the Racing range in future times, and that this offering will prove immensely popular and well loved.

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BMW Add Improved Exhaust To The M3

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Performance car enthusiasts are often excited by the thought of sporty modifications being made to their all time favourite vehicles. It is generally left to the aftermarket developer to add these exciting new features, but now the BMW performance division have manufactured a super exhaust system for the awe inspiring M3.

This wonderful piece of engineering is fully compatible with the Coupé, Sedan and Convertible versions of the German car. This means that the driver can make optimum use of the new system either when zooming around the local race track, or cruising along the city streets.

The exhaust is made from an amazingly heat-resistant, lightweight alloy material, which goes by the name of Inconel. It doesn’t exert masses amounts of backpressure on the BMW exhaust, so the M3’s 414hp V8 engine is free to make a bone jangling amount of noise.

The special characteristics of the Inconel enabled the manufacturers to cut the thickness of the tubing from 1.5mm to 0.88mm. This equates to a 20lb drop in weight from the M3’s original exhaust system. There is no need to fret about Inconel eroding, and you can be rest assured that it has proved it’s worth for top level sports car teams.

Perforated inner pipes and polished titanium tips have been included as part of the modified exhaust package. This souped-up kit will undoubtedly impress the BMW driver’s friends, as it is engraved with the trademark M logo. The ultimate CAD and FEM technology was put into use in the production of this mean performance modification.

BMW were keen to point out that ‘power, Intensity, and Excitement are the feelings you will experience with the M Performance Exhaust. Made entirely of Inconel, this latest performance-enhancing exhaust component is brought to you by the Performance parts division of BMW.’

You can hear the new system in full action if you type Inconel M3 exhaust into the Youtube search box. We’d advise having your computer speakers turned up to the max for this momentous occasion. It is even possible to purchase this amazing noise as a ringtone via the American BMW website.

Unfortunately the Inconel exhaust isn’t yet available from British BMW centres. However, people with some spare cash might be tempted to satisfy their desire for modifications by investing in the new M3 competition pack.

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Lamborghini Make Maximum Use Of Carbon Fibre In Production Of Sesto-Elemento Concept

Saturday, October 30th, 2010

Lamborghini wowed the crowds at the Paris Motor Show with their amazing concept car, the Sesto Elemento. Performance vehicle enthusiasts will be excited to hear that this carbon fibre fun machine is set to act as the blueprint for future Murcielagos.

The intriguing name was inspired by the periodic table, upon which carbon is the sixth element. The lightweight material has been used for the car’s monocoque, front subframe, wheels, suspension and crumplezones. Just in case that wasn’t enough, Lamborghini have created a carbon-fibre steering system, exhaust and sleek body panels.

This powerful motor is equipped with a mighty V-10 engine. It boasts an astonishing 570 bhp/ton power-to-weight ratio and can zoom from 0.62 mph in just 2.5 seconds, meaning that the Sesto Elemento is the quickest vehicle ever to grace the Lamborghini range. Adrenaline junkies will be able to reach speeds in excess of 200mph in this beautiful lightweight vehicle.

The bodywork has been given a once over with a fresh matt-shimmer clear coat.  As part of the final production phase the carbon fibre panels are coated with a recently developed and patented crystal layer, together with red shimmer.

Lamborghini decided to do away with the conventional seat frame in favour of a composite ‘tub’, as a consequence the cabin and seats are defined in a similar fashion to modern day racing vehicles.

Stephan Winkleman, President and CEO of Automobil Lamborghini, said, ‘the Sesto Elemento shows how the future of the super sports car can look – extreme lightweight engineering, combined with extreme performance results in extreme driving fun’.

‘Systematic lightweight engineering is crucial for future super sports cars: for the most dynamic performance, as well as for low emissions. We will apply this technological advantage right across our model range. Every future Lamborghini will be touched by the spirit of the Sesto Elemento’, he continued.

It may be a number of years until we see the Elemento cruising along British roads. Still, the updated Gallardo, due for release in 2012 looks set to draw upon the exquisite styling of the concept car.  Among the other exciting projects on the Lamborghini pipeline are a four door supercar known by the name of Esoteque and the eagerly anticipated Revention, which will accelerate from 0-60 mph in little more than 3 seconds.

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Porsche Reveal New Speedster 911 At Paris Motor Show

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

Having already begun production of the 911 GTS, Porsche now intend to roll back the years with their 911 Speedster. As performance car enthusiasts may already know, it is 16 years since the original vehicle took its place among the fantastic Porsche range.

As a reminder that the heritage of the 911 stretches back to the 356 Speedster, the leading manufacturers have stated their intention to create just 356 examples of the new vehicle. Prospective buyers are advised to register their interest in the new Porsche early, in order to avoid disappointment.

The Speedster makes use of standard bodywork, but its windscreen is shorter and more weighty than other vehicles in the German car maker’s range. The plastic tonneau cover to the rear of the cabin has been given a double-bubble treatment, similar to that found on the original 911 Speedster. The Porsche team have worked hard on the creation of some attractive widened rear bodywork, complete with 1.7 inch wider wheel housings.

The vehicle is being produced in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of  Porsch Exclusive, their in-house individualization programme. The Speedster is a real looker and has been kitted out with additional chin spoiler, tinted indicator lamps, blackened headlamps and windscreen frame.

The stylish interior has black leather and colour keyed elements, which you can see in the Porsche Exclusive catalogue. Some drivers may prefer to purchase the vehicle in pure blue, while others may choose the smooth Carerra White. The trim accents, seat bolsters and seat inserts will all come in your colour of choice.

The direct-injection flat six cylinder used for the Carerra GTS can also be found in the Speedster However, it has been boosted up to 408 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, meaning that it is almost as powerful as the impressive GT3. Porsche claim that their new offering can shoot from 0-60mph in just 4.2 seconds and can reach the astonishing speed of 190mph. Be rest assured that the sport exhaust will produce an almighty roar at such break neck speeds.

As an added bonus the Porsche team decided to install a fantastic seven-speed PDK dual clutch gearbox, with locking differential, adaptive damping and carbon ceramic brakes. For an outstanding car which is packed with advanced features you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of £95,500.

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