Performance Camshafts

The two important aspects of a camshaft, in terms of engine performance, are camshaft duration, or cam duration, and valve lift. Both cam duration and valve lift are determined by the camshaft lobe. Cam duration is the time that at least one valve of a cylinder remains open, i.e., off its valve seat, measured in degrees rotation of the crankshaft, while valve lift is the maximum distance the valve head travels from the valve seat.

VALVE LIFT

Valve lift is somewhat related to intake valve head diameter. An engine with an intake valve head diameter of 1.400in to 1.500in will generally perform best with a valve lift of 0.395in to 0.475in; an engine with a larger intake valve head diameter of 1.750in to 1.875in will generally perform best with a valve lift of 0.425in to 0.550in; and an engine with a large intake valve head diameter of 2.000in to 2.250in will generally perform best with a valve lift of 0.475in to 0.650in. But these are just rough guidelines; ultimately you will need to take some gas flow readings on a flow bench to determine the best valve lift for your particular engine.

A number of factors influence valve lift. The most important being the gap between the intake and exhaust valves, the piston to valve clearance and the intake charge pressure. These factors also influence cam duration. Another factor influencing valve lift is valve spring compression. Obviously, once the valve springs are fully compressed, it cannot give any more and the valve cannot be pushed further down into the combustion chamber.

CAM DURATION

As I've mentioned earlier, cam duration is measured in degrees rotation of the crankshaft, rather than the camshaft, and the crankshaft completes two full rotations for every rotation of the camshaft. In other words, with a 310 degree camshaft, the valves are open for only 155 degrees of actual camshaft rotation.

A performance camshaft for a naturally aspirated engine will have a duration in the range of 270 degrees to 310 degrees or more, with a 270 degree camshaft described as a 'mild' camshaft and a 310 or more degree camshaft being described as a 'wild' race camshaft. A stock camshaft usually has a duration of around 270 degrees but what differentiates a 270 degree performance camshaft from a stock camshaft is increased valve lift and a much faster rate of valve lift. With a faster valve lift rate, the valve reaches full lift quicker and remains at full lift for longer. This increases Volumetric Efficiency (VE) as more air flow in and out of the engine is possible.

A determining factor, when choosing camshaft duration is the purpose of the vehicle. The longer the duration of the camshaft, the further up the rev range the power band shifts, and the rougher the idle. Obviously, as the power band moves higher up the rev range, bottom end power is lost. Also, as cam duration and valve overlap increases, torque is lost. Fuel efficiency also decreases and exhaust emissions increase as valve overlap increases.

High performance camshafts start at 280 degrees of duration. These camshafts have increased valve overlap but not too much so emissions and fuel economy are not severely affected. These are generally good camshafts for modified street cars and produce good power from 2,500 RPM up to 7,000 RPM but they do not have a smooth idle because of the increased valve overlap.

A 290 degree camshaft requires more cylinder head work in terms of cylinder head porting and gas flowing as they work better when the engine's Volumetric Efficiency (VE) is improved. As you'd expect, these camshafts produce a fairly rough idle. These camshafts are generally good for rally cars and produce power from 3,000 RPM up to 7,500 RPM. A 300 degree camshaft requires even higher levels of VE, reaching the physical gas flowing limitations of a two valve cylinder head with a single camshaft. These camshafts are good for modified race cars and produce good power from 4,000 RPM up to 8,000 RPM. However, they have a very rough idle.

A camshaft with a duration of more than 300 degrees is an out and out race camshaft with a power band in the 4,500 RPM to 9,000 RPM rev range. To make effective use of a 300 degree camshaft, you need to ensure that the engine has a very high VE. You also need to ensure that the engine can rev beyond the red line of most stock engines.

VALVE OVERLAP

The limit for opening the exhaust valve is approximately 80° before bottom dead center (BBDC). Opening the exhaust valve any sooner tends not to increase power production but will shift the power band higher up the rev range and will reduce low end torque as downward pressure on the piston during the power stroke is released. The same applies to closing the intake valve where 80° after bottom dead center (ABDC) is the limit for increased power production.

Doing The Head

A Twin Cam Cylinder Head

When it comes to getting the most power out of a naturally aspirated engine the key area that you must focus your attention on is the cylinder head. This is the one area that will potentially give you the greatest increase in engine power. Why? Well, as Langer explains in engine building and power basics, the key to increasing an engines horse power is to get the engine to ingest more air and be able to expel the resultant increase in exhaust gasses, in other words, getting the engine to pump more air by increasing the air-flow in and out of the engine.

On a motor car engine, there are three areas that can affect air-flow and where you can make improvements. These are:

• The intake system, which includes the air filter, plenum and the intake runners.
• The exhaust system, which includes the exhaust header, catalyst converter and the mufflers.
• The cylinder head, which includes the cylinder head ports, valve area and the camshafts.

We've discussed the intake system and the exhaust system elsewhere on this web site so now it's time for us to turn our attention to modifying the cylinder head. However, in this section we're going to discuss a little bit more than just the cylinder head, we're going to discuss cylinder head porting, gas flowing and power tuning the cylinder head, old school style! We'll also be discussing performance camshafts, cam timing, valve timing and valve overlap.

A word of warning though, cylinder head porting and gas flowing is a rather advanced form of car modification and is not for the novice or for the faint of heart. Cylinder head porting is a skill that must be developed and honed by hours and hours of practice. If you're intent on trying cylinder head porting, the first thing that you need to know is the porting always begins by trial and error so if you're going to do your own cylinder head porting, start on a cylinder head that you can afford to total, in fact, start with a couple that you don't mind loosing. Otherwise you should leave cylinder head porting up to a professional with a flow bench. The other thing to note, is that cylinder head porting requires some rather expensive tools. You'll need a high-speed extended pneumatic die-grinder with carbide and steel grinders, and a high-pressure air compressor (no, we're not talking about turbochargers here) to power the grinder. You could use an electric die-grinder rather than a die-grinder, but electric die-grinders don't operate at a high-speed like pneumatic die-grinders. You could also use an electic drill rather than a die-grinder but you won't get the same results as you would with a longer, more agile and thinner die-grinder. An electric drill also does not operate at the high-speeds that a pneumatic die-grinder does.

A Pneumatic Die Grinder

Right, if you've read all that, bought your air compressor and your die-grinder, and gotten hold of a few spare cylinder heads, despite our warnings, then we can move on and start modifying the cylinder head for extreme power. But remember that we did warn you. Right, we'll begin by looking at the camshaft before moving on to the equipment you'll require to port your cylinder head, the basics of gas flowing and cylinder head porting itself.

The Diesel Engine

The diesel engine was developed by Rudolf Diesel and was patented in 1892. Diesel engines are very similar to petrol or gasoline engines in that both rely on the Otto cycle to convert the chemical energy in fuel into mechanical energy and, in so doing, produce power. The major difference is the way fuel is delivered to the combustion chamber and the way the fuel mixture is ignited. Firstly, in gasoline engines, the fuel is usually fed into the intake manifold or the intake port where it is combined and mixed with the intake air, which is also called the intake charge. In modern diesel engines, the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber. This means that only the intake charge is compressed during the compression stroke and the diesel is only introduced once the intake charge has been compressed. Secondly, in gasoline engines, the fuel mixture is ignited by a sparkplug, while in diesel engines the fuel is ignited by the heat from the compressed air in the combustion chamber. However, diesel requires a much higher temperature than petrol before ignition (not spontaneous ignition) can take place.

These differences has important consequences for the modification of diesel engines, especially when you consider the differences between diesel fuel and gasoline.

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DIESEL AND GASOLINE

For starters, diesel is a heavier fuel than gasoline. In other words, it contains more carbon atoms in longer chains than gasoline (technically, gasoline is typically C₉H₂₀, while diesel fuel is typically C₁₄H₃₀). Because it is heavier, diesel is much more stable that gasoline and vaporizes at a much higher temperature than gasoline. It also vaporizes much slower than gasoline and burns much slower. The result is that diesel requires a much higher temperature to ignite. Gasoline, for example can burn at temperatures of -40° F while diesel requires a temperature of at least 143° F!

The main point, however, is that diesel burns slower than petrol. This means that it will produce a steady pressure on the piston for longer. Consequently, diesel can be ignited at a higher temperature, and indeed can be allowed to reach the point at which it will ignite spontaneously. The interesting thing is that diesel needs a temperature of 410° F to ignite spontaneously but will ignite or burn at a much lower temperature of 143° F. Consequently, diesel cannot be introduced into the combustion chamber until the correct temperature is reached, or else it will pre-ignite. Now, to reach the required temperature, air in the combustion chamber must be compressed much more than in a gasoline engine, and because there is not fuel in the combustion chamber, the intake charge can be safely compressed without the danger of pre-ignition. Thus a gasoline engine will typically have the compressions ratio would of somewhere between 1:9 and 1:12 while a diesel engine will typically a compression ratio of around 1:25! And it is this higher compression ratio, as well as its higher vaporization point and slower burning rate and the fact that diesel has about 17% more energy density than gasoline, that makes diesel much more efficient than gasoline.

Now you're thinking why not use direct injection in a gasoline engine so we can increase the compress without pre-ignition? Indeed some manufacturers to employ direct injection on gasoline engines, but without the higher compression ratio because gasoline will burn too quickly at higher temperatures, hence the need to keep the temperature of the intake charge down in a gasoline engine. Remember, diesel burns at a slower rate than gasoline and therefore can be ignited at higher temperatures.

DIESEL ENGINE MODIFICATIONS

When it comes to modifying a diesel engine, you can apply the same techniques that you would apply to a gasoline engine, except for ignition system obviously as diesel engine has no spark plug. All the basics apply, i.e., increasing the engine displacement, increasing the engine speed, improving and increasing the air intake, and increasing the volumetric efficiency.

Nonetheless, there are a number of things to consider before attempting to modify a diesel engine.

• Firstly, components in the diesel engine are exposed to far higher pressures and temperatures than the components in gasoline engines. Therefore, diesel engines need to be more robust with thicker cylinder walls and stronger pistons. Should you decide to increase the displacement of your diesel engine by boring out the cylinders you should ensure that you improve your cooling system.
• Secondly, diesel burns at a much slower rate than gasoline; therefore a diesel engine will operate at a much lower RPM. This is natural, and getting the diesel engine to operate at higher speed will mean increasing the temperatures in the combustion chamber, which would require thicker cylinder wall and much a better cool system, and improving the cooling system is easier said than done because of diminishing returns!
• Furthermore, increasing the temperatures in the combustion chamber will increase the heat in the intake manifold, and will result in a reduction of air density. Consequently, we're dealing with even more diminishing returns! Still, maximum power will be reached at relatively low RPMs because of the slow rate at which diesel burns and will drop off dramatically at higher RPMs.
• Thirdly, increasing the amount of air ingested by the engine will require a proportionate increase in the amount of fuel injected into the engine. Thus bigger injectors, a higher fuel pressure will be required, or a remapped engine control unit (ECU) would be required. On some turbo-diesel engines, a remapped ECU has led to impressive improvements in power and should be the starting point in your quest to squeeze more power from a diesel engine.

Engine Building for Power and Reliability

If you're planning to do some serious modifications to a four stroke engine, you'd better do it right if you don't want to end up with an expensive pile of scrap metal. It's easy to slap on a turbo and run mild boost on a stock engine or even fitting a bigger turbo to an OEM turbo engine, but if you're looking for serious power, you have to rebuild the subassembly to ensure that it can handle the additional power without disintegrating. Obviously you need to ensure that your drive train can handle the extra engine power as well, but in this section we'll discuss engine building for maximum power, starting with the subassembly.

THE CYLINDER BLOCK

You've got to start by ensuring that your cylinder block is race grade. Even if you're just building a street race car, engine tuning would be senseless if the block is not up to the job. Start by pressure testing the block. If you have an air compressor you can do this yourself. Strip down the engine but leave the Welch plugs and oil gallery plugs in place. Fit the bare cylinder head to the cylinder block using new head gasket or one that's not too worn. Close all water opening off with steel plates. One of the plates must be fitted with an air line fitting that you can connect your air compressor to. Gradually increase the pressure in the block to 40 psi. Don't increase the pressure too quickly as a loose fitting Welch plug or a weak spot in the block could blow out can cause you serious injury. If everything is still in place, gradually increase the pressure to 50 psi. Now spray the block with a mild water/detergent mixture. Carefully check the block for air bubbles. If you see bubbles, either have it repaired or test another block. If you get no bubbles, release the air pressure and remove the cylinder head. Use a plug tap to clean the head stud and main bearing cap threads and chamfer any stud hole that is not already chamfered. This will prevent the thread from pulling up. Grind away any casting sag, especially around the main bearing webs, the sump pan deck, and the valley area of a Vee engine. This will prevent cracks from developing. Now remove all the Welch plugs and oil gallery plugs and have the block boiled and cleaned in a chemical bath. This will remove all rust and scale in the water channels, and the caked oil in the oil galleries.

THE CRANKSHAFT & CON RODS

Chrome-moly forged con rods

The stock crankshaft and con rods are usually cast iron items that can be retained if the engine is not required to handle high boost pressures, high horse power, and high revs. Forged crankshafts and con rods are much stronger and are more suitable for high load, high rev engines. In either event, you should have the crankshaft and con rods Magnafluxed to check for cracks.

If the crankshaft has no cracks, check it for straightness. A crankshaft that is even 0.002in out of straight will increase bearing load and will be the cause of bearing failure. If your crankshaft is out of straight, you have two options – either have the crankshaft straightened or machine the crankshaft's main journals so that crankshaft rotation is true. However, straightening a crankshaft that is to be used for a high boost, high horse power, and high rev engine is a waste of time and money as the combustion pressure and inertia loads will reverse the straightening process. Machining the crankshaft journals will also weaken the crankshaft. Ultimately, replacing a bent crankshaft is your best option.

It goes without saying that all the crankshaft journals should be checked for roundness and size. The same goes for the big end on the con rods. The crankshaft, con rods, and flywheel should then be balanced statically and dynamically to reduce shock loading and vibration.

THE PISTONS

High strength forged pistons

The next thing you need to consider is the pistons. Most OEM engines are fitted with cast aluminum pistons with a slotted oil groove. High performance OEM engines may be fitted with hypereutectic cast aluminum pistons that have a higher silicon content. The higher silicon content makes the cast material much harder and more wear resistant, which allows these pistons to withstand greater temperature and pressure loads. This makes these pistons ideal for street racers. However, the higher silicon content also makes the pistons more brittle and prone to breaking under detonation. Thus, these pistons are not a good choice for forced induction applications where the possibility of detonation in greatly increased.

Forged pistons, on the other hand, have much denser and even harder than hypereutectic cast aluminum pistons but are not as prone to breaking under detonation. Forged pistons also have drilled oil holes round the oil groove rather than a slot in the oil groove. This makes them the best option for high horse power, forced induction engines.

Pistons can also be either full skirt pistons or slipper type. The full skirt pistons are heavier but stronger and less prone to wobble. Needless to say, they would be the best option for any engine modification project.

Maximizing Engine Power

The four stroke engine.

Custom-car.us is all about engine tuning and car performance; so if you want to know about car tuning, how to increase engine power and how to modify your car, then you've come to the right place. However, before we can start talking about engine tuning and increasing engine power and torque, we first need to have a basic understanding of how an internal combustion engine produces power. Therefore, over the next few pages of this section, we'll discuss the various basic concepts and principles of the internal combustion engines and the common terms used to discuss engine modifications, such as volumetric efficiency, engine displacement and air density as all of these influence engine power and performance. We also have a glossary of car modification terms that you can check for the meaning of some of the terms we use on this site. Once we have a clear understanding of how a four stroke engine produces power, we can move on and start make our P.L.A.N.s to increase engine performance.

Although there are two types of internal combustion engines, namely the two stroke engine and the four stroke engine, we're only interested in car performance and since the two-stroke engine is not used on cars, we won't be discussing that engine here. Instead we'll focus out attentions soely on the four-stroke engine because custom-car.us is all about car tuning and because cars use the four-stroke engine and not the two-stoke engine. If you're looking for information about the two-stroke engine, you could try How Stuff Works or Wikipedia.

The Wankel rotary engine.

There are also numerous derivatives of the four stroke engine – diesel engines, petrol engines, four cylinder engines, straight sixes, boxer engines, rotary or wankel engines, turbocharged engines, supercharged engines, etc. With the marked exception of the rotary engine, all four stroke engines have a common basic design – they all consist of individual cylinders with pistons that are connected to a flywheel by a crankshaft, and they all make use of what is known as the Otto Cycle. This makes it fairly easy to discuss basic engine power concepts as we don't need to concern ourselves with V's and straights, boxers and horizontally opposed engines. Instead our discussion can and will be all about the four stroke internal combustion engine. In addition, the diesel engine has had a resurgence in recent years and has become more of a performance engine, especially the turbo-diesel engine. A lot of what we discuss here can be applied to modern diesel engines but there are some aspects of engine modification that are specific to diesel engines; for this reason we'll discuss diesel engines and diesel engine modifications on their own.

So let us begin by looking at the four strokes of the four stroke internal combustion engine otherwise known as the Otto cycle. You can skip this section if you're already familiar with the Otto cycle and head on over to basic engine power or engine building, but this section does tie into most of what we discuss on Custom-car.us. If you're intereseted in modifying diesel engines, hop on over to our page on diesel engines to find out how to apply our discussions to diesel engines.

Concept Car: Alfa Romeo 4C concept 2011

Alfa Romeo has unveiled this gorgeous, mid-engined 4C concept car at the 2011 Geneva motor show, previewing a production vehicle due in 2012.



Is this Alfa Romeo 4C concept the new Spyder?



No, it's not a production version of Pininfarina's 2uettottanta. Instead, it's a two-seat baby supercar, with 8C-inpspired styling. At around four metres long and with a wheelbase of under 2.4 metres, the 4C is a little big bigger than a Lotus Elise. And it's absolutely gorgeous. We'll leave you to drool for a minute.

Is the Alfa 4C's spec as good as the styling?



It's pretty special. The 4C concept is mid-engined and rear-wheel drive, with a turbocharged and direct injected 1742cc '1750TBi pinched from the Brera and Giulietta. Alfa will only say the power output is 'over 200hp' but in the Giulietta Cloverleaf the engine produces 232bhp; it's mated to Alfa's twin-clutch TCT gearbox. The weight distribution is 40:60 rear-biased and there's Alfa's DNA system to tweak the steering, throttle and transmission settings.

It's been rumoured for a while that the Fiat Group has been plotting to use the KTM X-Bow's carbon tub, but Alfa sources we spoke to claim the chassis of 4C isn't related to the Austrian trackday toy. It is carbonfibre though, with aluminium crash boxes and suspension mounts, all of which helps keeps the 4C's kerbweight under 850kg. Mix the lot and you get 0-62mph in under five seconds and a top speed of over 155mph.



The best bit? In Alfa's own words: 'This car is not simply an exercise in style created for the Motor Show; it will be on sale in 2012.'

Cylinder Head Porting

Now that we've got a good understanding of air-flow, we can move on to cylinder head porting. If you haven't yet read our article on the basics of cylinder head porting and air-flow, I'd suggest you do so now as it provides the foundation for understanding what we want to achieve with the actual cylinder head porting.

PREPARING THE CYLINDER HEAD

Before we can get started, we need to strip down the cylinder head; remove the camshafts and camshaft pedestals, then remove the valves, valve springs and valve stem seals. You should also remove all manifold studs. With everything stripped, you need to inspect the cylinder head for cracks. It's no good porting a cracked cylinder head, though a cracked cylinder head may still be good for experimenting on, so don't throw it away! The most likely areas where cracks will appear are between adjacent valve seats, and around the valve seats, especially around the exhaust valve seats. You may need to some emery cloth to remove any carbon deposits to do a thorough check.

If you don't see any cracks, have the cylinder head thoroughly cleaned in a chemical bath. You can dip a cast iron cylinder head in a hot caustic solution but don't dip an aluminum cylinder head in it! Caustic solution will react with the aluminum and give off an explosive gas! For an aluminum cylinder head you should use Trichloroethane. If you don't have access to a chemical bath, you can use engine cleaner and a stiff brush to get oil and gasket pieces off. Once the cylinder head is clean and dry, use a sand blaster or a wire brush to clean off any stubborn carbon deposits. Once that's done, do another thorough check for cracks.

If you don't see any cracks, have the valve seats replaced and the valve guides removed by a reputable engineering shop. Replacing the valve seats are not crucial as long as they're in a good condition. However, you must have the valve guides removed.

WARNING: Take care when working with a grinder. Adhere to the following safety precautions when porting cylinder heads and using a grinder in general:

• Wear eye protection when working with a grinder; goggles are advisable but a full face visor would be better.
• Wear a dust mask or a respirator; inhaling metal filings is harmful.

Subaru releases brand new boxer engine details

Subaru’s new boxer engine details have just been released and the main result is better fuel economy than the existing models whilst maintaining plenty of power and torque.

The new Subaru normally-aspirated (non-turbo) engine is the third generation developed by Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru’s father company, and it’s the first brand new engine since 1989.
Subaru engines have always been robust, fairly powerful and very torquey especially when matched to high-geared ratios within Subaru’s all-wheel drive system. But the engines weak link has always been consumption and economy. It’s not that the engines are bad on fuel, they just consume a little more than the rivals.
Now though, Subaru and Fuji Heavy Industries have improved this area with indications noting a 10 percent increase in fuel economy. This was done through the use of lighter moving parts and an Active Valve Control system for the intake and exhaust.
The new 2.0-litre engine uses undersquare bore and stroke measurements too, meaning the pistons travel further than they are wide; 84mm bore and a 90mm stroke. This helps with torque and reduces the engine’s inclination to want to rev higher for more performance. Figures of 109kW and 196Nm are on offer.
Managing Director, Subaru Australia, Nick Senior said in a recent report,

“This is an exciting engineering development from FHI. They’re renowned for the durability of their engines and this new unit will take the sophistication to a whole new level that we’ll look forward to experiencing in some versions of our best-selling Forester next year.”

Subaru says the new engine will be available in both 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre capacities and will first go into the market with the Subaru Forester model year 2011, which will be launched early next year.

high performance engine modification

high performance engine modification picture

high performance engine modification

Speed Roadster Engine

Speed Roadster Engine

Engine: 2004- 2.4 L (144 c.i. / 4 cyl) Turbo Charged Dodge SRT-4 (F class)
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Estimated HP- 750 on gas and 950+ on fuel (alcohol)
Transmission- Automatic rear wheel drive

Mazda CX 7 (2009)

The Mazda CX-7 is geared toward driving enthusiasts who desire a highly styled, roomy and affordable performance SUV. But do not let its good looks fool you. The CX-7 is powered by a 244-horsepower, 2.3-liter turbocharged engine centered on performance, and, like all Mazdas, has the soul of a sportscar.

The 2009 CX-7 adds minor enhancements to its standard and optional features. All models receive MP3 capability and an auxiliary audio input jack as standard equipment. Sport models add leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The Grand Touring trim adds auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink and side turn signals integrated into the exterior mirror housings. Bluetooth hands-free phone capability and Sirius satellite radio are added to the Technology Package and Moonroof. It features performance worthy of a sportscar, but also offers room and space for five. The four-cylinder CX-7 offers more horsepower and torque than most of its V6-equipped competitors. The 66-degree windshield angle is sleeker than many sportscars. Distinct character lines run through the A-pillars and along the edges of the hood to the front fascia.

The side profile sports an aggressively rising belt line, a curved roof and prominent fender arches, producing Mazda's unique signature. A tapered cabin rests securely on the lower body's broad shoulders. From the rear, the detailed round motif tail lamp and large dual exhaust outlets.

This distinctive overall exterior design is well balanced with the aerodynamics of the vehicle. CX-7's shape is aerodynamically efficient with best-in-class performance for coefficient of drag (0.34 Cd). While it provides outstanding aerodynamic performance, this exterior design does not compromise craftsmanship. Panel and component part-gaps are flush and tight. Wiper arms are configured to match the surrounding cowl design and minimize wind noise.

An advanced and sporty image was pursued in designing the interior. For the two-tone trim, the side surface two-tone graphic reaching from the front doors all the way to the cargo space stylishly harmonizes with the kicked-up beltline of the exterior side view. A high level of craftsmanship completes the interior design. The chief designer mapped out the CX-7 with ample space for five occupants. The lockable center console can swallow a compact laptop computer and space is provided for coins and sunglasses. Front door pockets are handy locations for beverage bottles. Two cup holders in the center console offer a stable place to carry large containers without interfering with shift lever operation. A pocket attached to the front seatback is ideal for maps and brochures. The heart of every Mazda is its spirited powertrain. Under the hood of the CX-7 is a version of the turbocharged and intercooled 2.3-liter four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine, similar to that fitted to the MAZDASPEED3. Engineered to deliver high performance at all speeds, along with low exhaust emissions and excellent fuel economy. Key building blocks are aluminum block and head construction with forged internal components - crankshaft and connecting rods for long-lasting durability. Balance shafts curb noise and vibration. A large air-to-air intercooler and direct fuel injection cools temperature inside the cylinders.

Advanced transmission and drive components pass the engine's power cleanly to the pavement. The six-speed Sport AT automatic transmission provides the full manual control demanded by assertive drivers.

Sensors monitor engine information, individual wheel speeds, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) operation, and the CX-7's standard Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system to optimize torque distribution. Whether the driving conditions are dry and fast or slippery and moderately paced, exceptional handling is assured.

In front, a perimeter frame mounted to the unibody through six rubber isolators supports the powertrain, the engine-speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion power steering and a low friction MacPherson strut suspension system. To minimize cargo-compartment intrusion, the rear spring is positioned between the lower lateral member and the cross member that anchors rear chassis hardware to the unibody. The damper is located between the wheel hub and the unibody to provide excellent motion control with minimal friction. CX-7's rigid unibody uses the Mazda Advanced Impact Energy Distribution and Absorption System to realize high levels of collision safety and helps to protect occupants in various accident situations, including front, side and rear impacts.

A special sensor anticipates a roll-over and inflates the side-curtain air bags early to guard against injury, maintaining inflation for approximately six seconds to help keep limbs out of harm's way. Front occupant restraints have pretensioner and load-limiter mechanisms to maximize their effectiveness. To delight, the Mazda CX-7 offers a wealth of entertainment gear. Another convenient feature available on the Grand Touring model is the Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry & Start System. Without removing the card-shaped device from one's pocket, doors can be unlocked and the engine can be started (or stopped). Also, the front-seat power windows can be operated from outside the car, and the optional moonroof can be opened and closed. Some of the highlights of the standard features on the base Sport model are manual air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, retractable key, cruise control, MP3 capability, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and six air bags. The Touring edition adds leather trim (seats, steering wheel, shift knob), power adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats and a retractable cargo cover. In top-line Grand Touring trim, CX-7 is equipped with features such as leather with a black sport seat stripe, high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, fog lamps, body-color mirrors, chrome door handles, automatic interior climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink and side turn signals integrated into the exterior mirror housing.

Indian Flag Car

Here's the INDIAN FLAG CAR. The Indian Formula One Racing team Force India, while yet to get of the bottom of the pile, came close to winning their first F1 points in Shanghai last week. The team sports the Indian flag as its team colors and has attracted sponsorship from Indian companies Kingfisher, ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries and Kanyan Capital. Force India was formed after Indian businessmen Vijay Mallya and Michiel Mol bought the Spyker F1 team for US$115 million. The team races its own designed cars, powered by Mercedes-Benz, and was able to rise from 18th to as high as sixth with just 5 laps to go.

With Delhi being added to the Grand Prix circuit in 2011, Force India are learning and may well be a team to reckon with by the time the Delhi Grand Prix arrives. The team has just signed a five year agreement with Mercedes for engines, and a partisan Indian crowd in Delhi may make a large impact at the event.

The participation in, and rise to prominence of an Indian team in F1 is in marked contrast to China, which despite having hosted the F1 in Shanghai for the past few years, does not field a competing team. This is somewhat surprising, given that both China and India are poised to be the world’s largest auto markets in the next two to three years, with more vehicles having been sold last year in China than in the United States for the first time.The Chinese logic for hosting the event, but not participating, seems a little skewed. The Chinese government pays Formula One about US$50million each year to host the Shanghai event, yet the country has not followed that up with a competing presence, cars or drivers, in the rest of the series. The prices to attend the Shanghai event also seem bizarre if China wants to use it to promote its auto industry.

Shanghai wages averaging at about US$500 a month, that’s equivalent to the price of the cheapest ticket on offer for the Shanghai F1. You would need to charge US$4,000 to attend the Indianapolis 500 in the United States to achieve a similar disparity. So while Force India prepares the world for Indian cars and trucks Tata having already acquired global brands Jaguar and Land Rover, and about to launch Tata as a brand name in Europe and the United States through the Nano and its trucking division – the Chinese are just not getting on board. It’s a curious state of affairs, especially since F1 have apparently re-signed with Shanghai to host the event for another seven years. US$50 million seems a lot to pay for a one off annual event that the local Chinese cannot generally afford to attend, in which no Chinese team participates, in a 17 race series which is broadcast globally and attracts hundreds of millions of viewers.

Force India meanwhile are pushing forward at the top end the concept of Indian vehicles as reliable, and developing India as a manufacturing brand in auto that will assist its national auto manufacturers integrate into and penetrate international markets.

2010 saab 9-5

The 2010 saab 9-5 skin distinctive styling with a bold front end and a sleek profile. Overall, the project is pretty much what we estimated but there are several interesting touches such as blackened A-pillars and night decrease across the top of the border windows. At the rear, the sloping C-pillars help to give 9-5 a dramatic appearance which extend helped by obvious LED taillights.



Inside, the lodge boasts traditional Saab plan cues such as a “7″ console, phobia air vents, and a midpoint console-mounted ignition. Other styling touches embrace glossy black embellish, aggressively bolstered seats, and a thick-rimmed steering controls. On the options slant, we can think a rear seat entertainment organism, bi-xenon headlights, a Harman Kardon audio order, keyless opening, and a large 8-inch navigation order from Panasonic.



Basing on a sportier account of GM’s Epsilon II platform, the 2010 saab 9-5 rides on a 2.84 gauge (111.8″) wheelbase which should offer masses of span in the passenger compartment. The swell in room also extends to the truck, where goods post trial a healthy 513 liters (18.11 cubic feet).



Engine options will compose a three turbo charged petrol units: a 1.6-liter four cylinder with 160hp, a 2.0-liter four cylinder with 210hp, and a 2.8-liter V6 with 300hp. Diesel brawn will be provided by two 2.0-liter units which will fabricate 160 hp and 190 hp. Eventually a petrol-electric fusion is projected, as is a biofuel paradigm.

2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante

2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante , works on a petrol engine that runs with a speed of 6500 rpm and that has a 6L and 48v petrol capacity.

Fuel consumption of 7.225 kmpl on highways and 4.675 kmpl in city can be achieved with 2010 DBS Volante car that has 6 manual gears.



Following are the parts present in 2010 DBS Volante, Battery Saver, Front Power Outlet, Battery, Traction Control, Rear Limited Slip Differential, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) Vehicle Stability Control System, Brake Assistance, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Hard Drive, In-Glass Radio Antenna, Automatic Climate Control and Analog Clock.



Tachometer, Cruise Control, Tire Pressure Monitor, Engine Start and Stop Button, Electroluminescent Instrumentation, Engine Start and Stop Button, Electroluminescent Instrumentation, Trip Computer, Front Map Lights, Carpet Located In Passenger Cabin and Trunk, Carbon Fiber Trim Located On Doors and Door Handles, Leather Steering Wheel, Front Floor Mats and Power Windows are present.



2010 DBS Volante is made available in the 10 colors of Almond Green, Amethyst Red, Custom Exterior Color, Emerald Green, Fire Red, Glacial Blue, Hammerhead Silver, Hardly Green, Jet Black, Lightning Silver .

Dimensions of 2010 DBS Volante are 1280 mm of height, 4722 mm of length, 1905 mm of width and weight is 1810 kgs with 5 seating capacity and 4 doors.



Technical Specification



* Body

o Two-door convertible body style with 2+2 seating

o Bonded aluminium VH structure

o Aluminium, magnesium alloy and carbon-fibre composite body

o Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams

o High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps (main beam)

o LED rear lamps and side repeaters

* Engine

o All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 5935 cc V12

o Compression ratio 10.9:1

o Front-mid mounted engine, rear-wheel drive

o Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves

o Max power: 380 kW (510 bhp / 517 PS) @ 6500 rpm

o Max torque: 570 Nm (420 lb.ft) @ 5750 rpm

* Performance

o Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.3 seconds

o Max speed: 307 km/h (191 mph)

* Transmission

o Rear-mid mounted, six-speed manual gearbox. Rear-mid mounted 'Touchtronic 2' six-speed gearbox with electronic shift-by-wire control system

o Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft

o Limited-slip differential

o Final-drive ratio 3.71:1 (manual) 3.46:1 (Touchtronic)

o Wheels and Tyres

o Front: 8.5" x 20" Pirelli P Zero 245/35

o Rear: 11" x 20" Pirelli P Zero 295/30

* Steering

o Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-sensitive power-assisted steering, 3.0 turns lock-to-lock

o Column tilt and reach adjustment

* Suspension

o Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers

o Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers

o Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Track mode

* Brakes

o Front: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398 mm diameter with six-piston callipers

o Rear: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 360 mm diameter with four-piston callipers

o Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode

o Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

o Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)

o Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)

o Traction control

* Dimensions

o Length: 4721 mm (185.9")

o Wheelbase: 2740 mm (107.9")

o Width:

+ 1905 mm (75") (exc. Mirrors)

+ 2060 mm (81.1") (inc. Mirrors)

o Fuel tank capacity: 78 litres (17.2 Imp.galls, 20.5 US galls)

o Height: 1280 mm (50.4")

o Weight: 1810 kg

Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 650 Concept (2007)

The GTI W12-650 gives the appearance of having come directly from the racetrack. A Golf that could be the pace car for the 24 hour race at Le Mans.W12 cylinders, 650 PS (477 kW at 6,000 rpm).This transforms the GTI into a classic mid-engine sports car. A six-speed automatic transmission hammers the maximum torque of 750 Newton-meters (at 4,500 rpm) to the rear axle. It catapults the GTI to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. The bi-turbo propels drivers who keep their foot to the gas pedal well beyond the 300 km/h barrier. The speedometer needle does not pause until it reaches 325 km/h. The Golf GTI W12-650 outpaces nearly all other cars of this world.Under the broad 1.88 meter (production: 1.76 meter) width and low 1.42 meter (production: 1.50 Meter) height of its body, engineers and designers have brought together automotive technologies not seen in this combination on any other car.The axles were "pushed" 70 millimeters further into the body.

Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Limousine (1964)

The Mercedes-Benz 600 was a large luxury automobile. It was intended to represent the absolute pinnacle of automobile engineering.The 600 was so heavy that a massive 6.3L V8 engine with overhead camshafts and Bosch mechanical fuel injection was specially developed to move the vehicle. Adjustable air suspension gave the car a smooth ride and good handling over any road surface, although the car's agility was inevitably compromised by its mass.The 600's "M-100" engine and air suspension were fitted to the 300SEL 6.3 model in 1964.

ABT Audi Q7 (2006)

The Audi Q7 is the perfect car for every opportunity, as it not only is suitable for all terrains, but a convincingly comfortable car for travelling long journeys at the same time.The vehicle sides are eye-catching as a result of the lateral white aluminium insets which give the Abt Q7 unmistakeable features and dignified and agile looks at the same time. The sporting impression is highlighted by the double twin-pipe exhaust system with a pipe diameter of 84 millimetres and the one-piece wheels. Abt Sportsline's wheels type AR with diamond-machined surface and exclusive exchange system are already available in the sizes 20 or 22 inch with tyres 275/45 R20 or 295/30 R22 Conti CrossContact. Another wheel option is the 22-inch SP-wheel. The Abt Q7 does not only look husky, it really is. Abt Sportsline's engineers succeeded in clearly enhancing the innately powerful 3.0 TDI power unit. The modified six cylinders V-engine now provides 272 HP instead of the standard 233 and an explosive torque of 580 Nm (standard: 500 Nm).

Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG (2011)

The new Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG's 5.5-liter biturbo engine. Mercedes-AMG is confronting the challenges of the future, and demonstrating that dynamic performance can be perfectly combined with fuel economy. The result: a maximum output (with the optional AMG Performance Package) of up to 563 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque.The 2011 CL63 AMG develops a peak output of 536 hp and maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. In conjunction with the AMG Performance Package these figures increase to 563 hp and 664 lb-ft.The new Mercedes CL63 AMG 5.5-liter V8 biturbo fully lives-up to AMG's brand commitment to "performance": the Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG accelerates from zero to 60mph in 4.4 seconds, and has a top speed of 155 mph (electronically limited). With the AMG Performance package, the highperformance Coupé reaches the 60 mph mark in 4.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 186 mph (electronically limited).

Audi A7 Sportback (2011)

The Audi A7 Sportback is pure high-tech. Its body is very lightweight thanks to numerous aluminum components. The elegant interior shows a craftsman's level of workmanship. The four V6 engines combine refined power with groundbreaking efficiency. The 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) and multitronic has CO2 emissions of just 139 grams per kilometer (223.70 g/mile).The body is comprised primarily of aluminum and high-tech steels, making it extremely lightweight and safe. The large rear hatch opens wide to reveal a large, extremely usable luggage compartment that is very easy to load. Its 535-liter (18.89 cu ft) capacity swells to a volume of 1,390 liters (49.09 cu ft) with the rear seat backrests folded down.Audi is taking up a new design line representing elegance on a grand scale. The five-door coupe is 4.97 meters (16.31 ft) long and 1.91 meters (6.27 ft) wide, but only 1.42 meters (4.66 ft) high. Its long hood, the short front overhang.

Lotus Exige Cup 260 (2008)

The Lutus Exige Cup 260, once again represents Lotus' most radical version of the Exige, with the track environment being its home and for 2008.A direct development of the 2007 Exige Cup Car, this year's car has a revised engine management system to take the maximum power output to 257 hp (260 PS), up by nearly 5 hp (5 PS) over last year.The Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260 is one of the quickest cars around a circuit. Key to this incredible performance is the aerodynamic package, which produces over 40 kg of downforce at 160 kmh increasing grip and stability at higher speeds. With a top speed of 247 kmh (147 mph) and a zero to 160 kmh (100 mph) in circa 9.9 seconds, 0 to 100 kmh in circa 4.1 seconds (0 to 60 mph in circa 4 seconds), the MY2008 Exige Cup 260 is the perfect partner for the serious racer. Combined Fuel Consumption is 9.1 l/100km and the CO2 emissions 216 g/km.