Auto Performance Racing Blog

StrikeEngine Links-Performance Exhaust Manufacturers, Performance
Performance Exhaust Links - Manufacturers and UK Dealers of Performance Exhaust Systems, Back boxes, Manifolds/Headers….

by: Colin R. Hogue
Here are some easy tips that can be done to generate improved performance for your Subaru WRX next time it appears to be running a bit sluggish. Enjoy.

CHANGE YOUR OIL

This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised at how easy it is to forget or overlook. The owner’s manual for the Subaru WRX suggests changing the oil every 7,500 miles under normal driving conditions. Under normal driving conditions? Seriously, who really drives a Subaru WRX normally? The owner’s manual also suggests an oil change every 3,750 if you drive ir hard. Enough said. I think we all know which of these recommendations to follow.

PROPERLY GAPPED SPARK PLUGS

The proper spacing for a 2002 - 2003 Subaru WRX is 0.028″-0.031″ (0.7-0.8 mm). If you have a different year of Subaru WRX, refer to your owner’s manual for proper specs. This tip may seem a bit petty, but any extra power that can be had for free is worth the time and effort.

CLEAN YOUR AIR FILTER

The manufacturer/stock Subaru WRX air filter leaves somthing to be desired, but if you don’t have the extra cash to purchase an aftermarket air filter, please make sure your stock filter is clean. The more air that gets to the engine, the more power you have. Seems simple so far, right?

USE PREMIUM GASOLINE

With gas prices being what they are at present, I know that this is a hard-to-swallow tip at this time. Gas is not cheap, and premium gas can never be purchased at a price that makes it a deal, but you are driving a Subaru WRX, afterall. So, spring for the good stuff! Your Subaru WRX deserves nothing less than the best.

The next few tips are more involved; however, we are dealing with the Subaru WRX. Extra time and effort results in improved driving performance so it is well worth it.

TRY INSULATING YOUR FUEL LINES

Insulating the fuel lines of your Subaru WRX permits the temperature of your fuel to remain cooler which allows more fuel to enter the combustion chamber in addition to permitting more airflow through the chamber as well. Consequently, the more fuel and air that you have moving through the chamber of your Subaru WRX, the more power you will have to work with.

The simplest way to accomplish this is with air conditioning / refrigerator insulation which you can get from any hardware store.

YOUR SUBARU WRX NEEDS TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT

This is a matter of basic physics. Less weight + more power = better performance. The less weight your WRX has to lug around, the better it will perform in every category. So, take an inventory of what has accumulated in your trunk from time to time and make sure to empty it every so often!

Well that’s all I can think of for now. Stay tuned for more tips to improve your Subaru WRX.

Source: www.articlecity.com

AAA Cautions Against ‘Hypermiling’
With gas prices now officially in the stratosphere, many motorists are taking extreme measures to squeeze more MPGs out of their petrol-starved cars and trucks.

California Adopts Green Labels for New Cars
All new cars and trucks sold in California beginning January 1st, 2009, must display window stickers that rate their environmental performance.

Super Car Show, 2007 at Mosport
Super Car Show 2007 at Mosport for 1980 and Older Classic Cars, Trucks and Antiques, Customized and 1981 and Newer North American Manufactured Sports Cars, Customized, Modified and….

Rio Prestige : Sports, Exotic and Supercar Car Hire
Rio Prestige Performance - a unique high-performance car hire company offering a wide selection of the highest performance sports car in the world….

by Fei Lim
Looking for a small but sporty car that looks great and offers excellent performance? If so, then you may want to take a close look at the 2008 Brabus Ultimate 112 and all it has to offer. The first thing that will let you know that this car is a cut above the rest is the unique paint job a beautiful orange and mother of pearl color that almost looks like it is flaming. Take a closer look on the inside of the car and then you’ll find beautiful black Brabus leather on the seats with seams that are done in orange. Of course not only does this car look great, but it has plenty of power under that hood as well. This car is truly a sports car for the city, and it brings together a great combination of excellent equipment, handling that is agile, as well as great performance. Not only does the 2008 Smart Brabus Ultimate 112 come with a great custom paint job, but it also has a very muscular body kit as well. This kit includes rocker panels, a front spoiler, as well as special Brabus widestar fender flares, both in the back and the front.

You’ll notice that this car has very large wheel houses that offer plenty of space available for a very unique tire and wheel combination, which is quite unusual for cars that are this size. The wheels are glossy black and they are special Brabus monoblock VI wheels that are double spoke, and these are mounted on the front axle. In the front the wheels are 7Jx18 and they have 205/35 R 18 tires designed for high performance, and in the back are 8.5Jx18 wheels with tires that are 235/30 R 18 tires. These tires are designed to help make sure there is plenty of grip on the road to take the power of the engine and put it on the road.

Along with these unique tires is a special coil over suspension, which is height adjustable. This helps to make sure that you get sporty handling, safe handling, and a ride that is very comfortable as well. With all of the modifications, this offers a great platform for the engine in the car a Brabus three cylinder engine that is turbo charged. This engine does a great job and provides plenty of power out there on the road. You can either let the transmission of the car shift automatically for you, or you can use the paddles that are mounted on the steering wheel, which are much like the paddles used in Formula 1 racing. When you really put your foot in it, you’ll find that you can go from 0-62mph in just 9.5 seconds and the car has a top speed of 106 mph as well. There is a convertible option too that offers excellent performance.

Along with the exceptional performance you’ll get out of the engine, a nice stainless steel sport exhaust that has dual tailpipes accompanies the car as well. Of course the interior has a variety of great highlights as well, with the luxurious leather that is breathable and soft. There are special Brabus emblems embossed on the interior as well in the 2008 Smart Brabus Ultimate 112. There is a special instrument panel, door handles, a clock, turn signal lever, and more that is all designed to match the exterior of the car. It also comes with foot pedals that are stainless steel, and the emergency brake lever and shifter made of aluminum give it a bit of a racing look. A climate control system cones standard as well as a navigation system and a radio.

This is a limited edition of cars that are being made. In fact, there are only 112 cars being made, each having a placard in the interior with the cars number on it. You can purchase this car for just 45,900 Euros, which is a hefty price. However, many people feel it reasonable to have such a small and sporty car that is designed to drive in the city. So, with a luxurious and comfortable interior, as well as a flashy and sporty exterior, this is a car that is fun to drive and that looks great out there on the streets.

Source: www.goarticles.com

The V12 Vantage RS concept is based on Aston Martin’s critically acclaimed V8 Vantage coupe, but the company’s design and engineering team have fully exploited the design flexibility of their unique VH architecture and the motor sport development of their 6.0 litre V12 engine to create a dramatic and production feasible concept car focussed on extreme performance and dynamics. In a speech to the …

Stop rubbing your eyes, you’re not seeing double. This is not a reprint of our April 2008 “Pony Expressed” tuner Mustang shootout or a flashback from 1965.

Yes, this Mustang looks exactly like the winner of that comparison test, the Shelby GT-California — same Grabber Orange/silver-striped uniform, same finishing school (Shelby Automobiles, Inc., of Las Vegas, Nevada), and all the same upgrades. But while that GT-C graduated with only a dash-mounted Shelby diploma, this Shelby GT/SC got full honors.

Underhood is a Paxton high-output centrifugal supercharger system, complete with an air-to-water intercooler and exclusive Shelby/NOVI 1200 compressor that cranks out 462 horses and 419 pound-feet of torque. That’s 143 horses and 89 pound-feet more than the naturally aspirated GT-C and a difference that’s immediately noticeable.

While both Shelbys can reduce their rear tires to clouds of white smoke and piles of black filings, doing so is positively effortless in the GT/SC. The GT-C requires concentration to lay a fat stripe of rubber; the GT/SC requires concentration not to. Of course, there are slightly more practical advantages to all those extra ponies. At 4.6 seconds, the GT/SC sprints to 60 mph a half second faster than the GT-C and runs the quarter mile eight-tenths quicker (13.0 seconds at 110.2 mph).

Despite the similar, 14-inch six-piston front brakes and 20-inch wheel packages, the GT/SC’s cornering and stopping performance is worse than the GT-C’s: 0.92 g versus 0.98 on the skidpad, 122 feet versus 117 from 60 mph, respectively. Could be the tire size and type. Standard GT-Cs run 255/35 and 275/35 profile Pirelli PZeros front and back, while the GT/SC has 265/35 Nitto NT555 tires all around.

Want one? Shelby Mustang GT/SCs are being sold in limited quantities via a nationwide network of Shelby Mod Shops, including SoCal’s Galpin Ford, the guys responsible for this $55,963 one. Musclecar fans should recognize the Galpin, Paxton, and Shelby connection. In 1965, Galpin Ford became the first Shelby dealer in California, carrying the GT350 and Cobra. Paxton blowers were offered through Galpin as an option on the 1966 and 1967 GT350.