AutoSpeed.com Performance Car Magazine

Hydroforming - Part 1

Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 2009

If you've looked carefully under a late model car you may have seen an intricately curved engine subframe that is quite unlike previous pressed and welded designs. Or, you may have marvelled at the superb bending of the exhaust header tubes on a BMW M3. Or looked with puzzlement at the inner bumper steel pressing on a Ford Mondeo. How have they formed the steel so seamlessly into such an intricate shapes? The answer is - hydroforming.

RB26 260

Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 2009

When you're a car enthusiast who has owned the same machine for almost 20 years, chances are there isn't much left on the car that remains unmodified. This road/race Datsun 260Z is proof!

To Turbo or Supercharge?

Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 2009

Forced aspiration can achieve incredible things. You can think of it as making an engine variably sized, giving the power of (say) a 4-litre engine with the economy potential of a 2-litre. But it's even better than that, because the power of the 4-litre comes with the weight and size of the smaller engine. So how do you achieve these outcomes? The answer is to fit a turbo or a supercharger.

The NS Savannah

Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 2009

The Savannah had beautiful lines - more resembling a very large yacht than a bulk cargo ship. But what made the ship really significant was her powerplant: the NS Savannah was the world's first nuclear powered merchant ship.

Five Channel USB Data Logger, Part 1

Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 2009

In the past it's been hard to come up with a simple and cheap way of logging engine management signals - but now there's a new product on the market that achieves just that. It's not perfect - it won't log frequency signals like engine revs for example - but the price and ease of use still makes it one very useful product.

Modifying Electronic Car Handling Systems, Part 4

Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 2009

In this final part in our 4-part series we show you the step by step construction of a relay board that will allow you to switch off the traction control while still retaining full stability control.

Pre-Owned Performance - Mitsubishi Starion

Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 2009

Mitsubishi's turbocharged Starion was the hot hi-tech car of the early '80s. With up to 125kW, rear wheel drive handling and a unique coupe design, it also stands up pretty well today. Especially at the current bargain-basement prices!

Tech Basics: Cornering Horsepower

Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 2009

When you can go hard in a straight line it's pretty helpful if you can go around the corners as well. And, if your car is - ahem! - a bit slow, the there's nothing better than being able to waste them on the bendy bits! The answer is to have a car that handles.

Car2go - a new concept in city mobility

Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 2009

The Germany city of Ulm - population 120,000 - is trialling a new way of using cars. A fleet of 200 smart fortwo cdi vehicles is available to all registered residents and visitors to Ulm - and available every day, around the clock, and at low rates.

Chalky, Part 7

Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 2009

Last week I covered the description of the frame and seat, and said at the end of the story that I was about to start some serious testing. So what did that testing involve - and what were the results?

Modifying Electronic Car Handling Systems, Part 3

Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 2009

Here's how to use a bunch of cheap relays to switch off traction control while still leaving the stability control working. It costs nearly nothing but lets you have a lot more on-road fun.

Up Close & Personal

Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 2009

Most sports car enthusiasts have heard of the Lotus Elise. Some may even know of its startling performance.

Cooler Flows

Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 2009

Are you in the market for a secondhand Japanese intercooler for your turbo machine? Well, here's how a typical collection of used cores compare in terms of airflow and potential heat sink capacities...

Going Direct Injected Turbo Ethanol!

Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 2009

Downsizing in combination with boosting and direct injection of a spark ignition engine has benefits, especially when that alternative fuel is ethanol. Technology company Ricardo has been investigating.

Chalky, Part 6

Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 2009

Last week we looked at the development of the rear suspension. Now it’s time to examine the frame, seat and chain path.