Posts Tagged ‘Performance Exhaust System’

Honda NSX to Make a Return

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

Last week we blogged about just a handful of the exciting cars to look forward to this year, and today we bring you news that a new, eagerly anticipated, Honda NSX is on the way. The only problem being, who knows when? Certainly not this year, or in the next couple, but maybe in three years time if Honda stick to their timeframe.

However, regardless of that, an NSX concept was revealed at the Detroit Motor Show, however, it wasn’t actually promoted as a Honda, but an Acura (the American version of Honda).

It has to be said that the concept car looks pretty impressive with stylish, angular lines making it look like the ideal futuristic supercar. Furthermore, it probably won’t be another run of the mill supercar as it will, hopefully, follow in the footsteps of the original, which only had around 270bhp.

The beauty and brilliance of the original was the way it drove, the way it cornered and the noise it made. If the new NSX can tick those boxes then it’s happy days for the Honda NSX once again. This is indeed a supercar that doesn’t need to be filled with X-trillion horsepower, all it needs is to be designed with the same attitude as the previous model and bingo, it will likely be a fantastic car that will put a very large smile on your face.

It’s been well documented that Formula One icon, Ayrton Senna, had a helping hand in the development of the original NSX as he advised Honda, who were the engine manufacturers of all three of his World Championship winning cars, that the chassis needed to be stiffened, and Honda admiring, respecting and trusting Senna’s word, did just that! And it paid off as the NSX notoriously became one of the best handling cars on the market.

Now back to this new NSX, apparently it will come with a high-revving (good stuff) V6 engine, much like the original, so it is almost certain that the noise that will come out the back of the performance exhaust system will be truly awesome, however the new NSX has a twist…it’s a hybrid. Honda’s boss is adamant though that it will not get in the way of petrol head heaven, as he says: “The NSX will enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.”

The hybrid nature of the car goes thus far: there will be two small electric motors at the front of the car which will allow independent drive to each wheel and the ability to tighten or loosen the car’s cornering line for some effective torque vectoring, whilst another electric motor will be embedded in the gearbox to enhance the V6’s power. This is one clever concept that is sure to be fuel efficient also as the car will reclaim braking energy whilst also having added performance and some thrilling cornering capabilities.

With Honda again thinking about how best to utilise their tasty V6, the new NSX is sure to be a winner!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Hybrid Car, New Cars | 1 Comment »

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!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Car Manufacturers, Exhausts, New Cars | No Comments »

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!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Car Manufacturers, Exhausts | No Comments »

Toyota and Subaru Join Forces

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Toyota and Subaru’s joint ventures are set to be revealed at next month’s Tokyo Motor Show. The Toyota FT-86 and Subaru BRZ are set to be unveiled after a long time in the pipeline.

They are both being launched in the UK next summer, and are designed in an attempt to salvage the rather dull reputations of both companies.

So far we know that they will both come equipped with a Subaru-derived flat four engine and a six speed manual gearbox, with the option of taking an automatic ‘box if preferred. The power output however will differ between the two cars. The Toyota is said to come with around 200bhp, whilst the Subaru will have an extra 100bhp or so.

The two cars will be identical underneath. They will both get limited-slip differentials and independent suspension. On the outside, however, they will look slightly different from one another thanks to the specific grills, badges and wheels of each car.

The FT-86 is said to be designed to appeal to the drifting community. The car has a very clever stability control system that will allow you to get the tail out before it then cuts in and stops you from too much sideways tomfoolery. Savvy drifters will of course know how to tinkle with such a system in order to get the most out of the car however.

The Toyota will also have some intricate suspension refinements, along with top-spec dampers and Euro-biased handling. The car will reportedly cost around £20,000, which is very reasonable for something that sounds so tasty!

The FT-86 currently looks like it could be every modifiers dream! It will be interesting to see how the drifters and modifiers out there take to the Toyota. Of course, if it is a hit, then there will be large numbers of people investing in a performance exhaust system for their shiny new motor!

Meanwhile, the details on the Subaru are, currently, a little hazier. All we know is it will not be four wheel drive, and will be a touch more expensive, around £25,000. And, it will be more powerful. So, a rear wheel drive Subaru boasting around 300bhp…perhaps the Scooby will appeal more to the drifting community then, however, this will be revealed in due course when more details are made available to us.

One thing is for sure, both cars are set to be very exciting editions to what have become rather stale production lines for the two companies.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in New Cars | No Comments »

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.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Car Manufacturers, Car Modifying, Exhausts, New Cars | No Comments »

Audi RS3 Unveiled

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Audi have launched a new pocket rocket, the RS3. At first glance it is in keeping with most other performance Audi’s: stylish and elegant, yet brutish. And that is exactly what you get, a stylish and elegant appearance, with brutish performance!

Audi have taken the standard A3, which is already a reasonably nippy car, and shoved a 2.5 litre, five-cylinder, turbocharged monster of an engine under the bonnet. The RS3, consequently, boots out an exhilarating 335bhp, and will go from 0-62mph (100kph) in just a measly 4.6 seconds before completing the 0-125mph sprint in 17.5 seconds.

Audi have also added four wheel drive, and an impressive fast-shifting seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox to help deliver that ferocious power.

It quickly becomes apparent that Audi have created a machine that harks back to the legendary Quattro of the 80s that dominated the World Rally Championship for so many years.

The RS3, when tested on challenging roads in the Austrian Alps, allowed the power to arrive smoothly whilst thrusting the driver in the back all the same. It was reported that the drive was smooth, and that the driver felt in total control at all times.

Audi have enabled the gearbox to work either manually, or if the driver prefers, automatically, although on more challenging roads the paddle shifts will give a sportier, more responsive feel, whilst also making the driver feel like Jenson Button!

The RS3 sports a subtle spoiler, a rear diffuser and a very tasty looking performance exhaust system that will no doubt burble on tick over, and scream at top revs. Just what you want from a performance car then!

The RS3 also boasts quite reasonable fuel efficiency and Audi state that it will be able to achieve a very respectable 31mpg.

Furthermore, Audi’s latest creation is a complete sell out already here in Britain with all 500 models already having been snapped up by lucky owners, and at £39,930, the Audi is somewhat a bargain when you consider that it will be able to compete with Porsche 911’s whilst carrying your kids in the back at the same time!

The latest RS model to come out of the German manufacturer’s design and make booklet is, undoubtedly, a great addition to their current line of performance vehicles, and if you ever have the chance to drive one, it is sure to leave you in a sweat!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in New Cars | No Comments »