Posts Tagged ‘Aftermarket’
The Toyota Volta
I have always been a speed junkie no not drugs but cars and if anyone would have told me I would interested in a economy or ecological car like today’s hybrids I would of said that they were a few cards short of a deck. But thanks to Italdesign-Giugiaro I found that I can have my cake and eat it too.
The Toyota Volta is hot, it not only looks space aged sporty but has the muscle to back it up. At 408Hp this 1250Kg puppy can rocket from 0 to 60 in just 4.0 sec. That’s not too shabby when you consider that took the hemi Supper Bee with 425 Hp 6.3 sec to do the same, but it weighed 1863 Kg. and got about 7MPG opposed to the over 30MPG that the Volta gets.
Common Hybrid Misconceptions
Today new car rage is the Hybrid car, these vehicles powered by a combination of gasoline and electricity has the interest of just about everyone, but what about the tuners and modifiers. Like any new technology, until you get your hands on that steering wheel it might be a little hard to see any potential.
Most tuners and modifiers are having a tough time separating reality from hybrid hype. The popularity of the Hybrid car and the speed at which this new technology has entered our lives and driveways has left most of us a little confused and misinformed. The following is an attempt to clear up some of the myths about Hybrid cars so you might have a better understanding of just what this new technology is all about.
Electronic ignition systems
All gasoline powered engines require a spark to ignite the mixture of gasoline and air. This spark must occur at the right time and in the correct cylinder. This is accomplished by the ignition system.
There are basically three types of ignition system used: the conventional breaker point type ignition systems that were used in vehicle from the early 1900s to the mid 1970s; the electronic ignition systems; and the new distributor-less or wasted spark ignition system that was introduced in the mid 80s and is still used today.
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Camber kits Improve Vihicle Handeling | Reduce Uneven Tire Ware
Camber kits help you control the angle at which your wheel meets the ground as it is observed from the front of the car. This angle can get impacted if you have used lowering springs to lower the suspension of your car. But if the angle at which the car tire meets the ground is not accurate then this will cause uneven tire ware and the life of your car tire will be drastically reduced. Since high performance cars often have very expensive tires uneven tire ware can be a very costly problem to have.
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Ksport Airtech Air Suspension by K Sport
Unlike air bag suspension systems of the past where consumers must piece together a complete kit from scratch, often at a compromise to reliability and performance, KSport’s revolutionary Airtech Suspension System comes as a complete, model specific kit that is 100% bolt-on with no custom modifications needed. Each Airtech Suspension System is fully developed for a particular vehicle with model specific dampers, air compressors, lines, wiring harnesses and instructions. KSport is proud to kiss the incomplete air bag suspension systems of the past, goodbye.
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Engine Management Systems
The Engine Management Systems (EMS) is a microprocessor based systems that controls all major components of the modern internal combustion engine used in vehicles manufactured since the early 80’s It was introduces by General Motors in 1979 as the Electronic Control Unit (EMS)
The original units were a hybrid digital/analog design. This used analog technology to measure and process engine parameters, then used a look-up table stored in Read Only Memory (ROM) to provide precompiled output values. Later systems used a microprocessor to compute more dynamic output values.
Nitrous Injection Systems
Nitrous injection was first used during World War II on the P51 mustang fighter it was referred to as war power. Since then it has been used by auto racing enthuses to gain that last minute extra boost of power.
Nitrous (No2) kits are in fact a performance related product. No2 offers users numerous advantages over other forms of power boost products. They are a low cost and easy to install. Even a greenhorn tuner can install these kits.
Best Car Deals For 2010
There are few attractive discountson small cars this month, but this one stands out. Many auto reviewers say theMazda3 is the most fun-to-drive option in the compact car class. Precisehandling, a choice of two zippy four-cylinder engines and sharp brakes give ita sporty feel that’s hard to match in this price range. Reviewers love thesupportive front seats, too. This month, you can buy a 3 with no interest, andno payments for 90 days. Few manufacturers are discounting their compact cars,so the Mazda may be your best opportunity to negotiate a good deal on a smallcar.
MSRP:$15,295 – $22,800
MPG:25 (Est) City / 33 (Est) Hwy
Turbochargers or Supercharge
Add that extra boost of horsepower to your engine. Both turbochargers and superchargers have their advantages and disadvantages. The following is an effort to explain these technologies so that you can choose which will better meet your needs.
Both the Turbocharger and Supercharger add extra horsepower to your engine through the compression of air in the cylinder. Compressed air is forced into the intake of the engine, causing a more powerful explosion in the cylinder, which translates to more horsepower from your engine.
Acura Integra Still Hot
The Acura was originally introduced by Honda in Japan in 1985 as the Honda Quint Integra. It was later released in the USA in 1986 as part of the new lineup from Honda. Its first model, the Acura Integra, was a sporty hatchback that emphasized Acura’s focus on engineering excellence and build quality. The Integra’s balance of reliability and performance made it an instant hit, especially for those buyers looking for a cheaper alternative to German imports.
Through the years, the Integra developed a large following of consumers. Some were interested in a basic commuter car while others were looking for a solid base for modification with performance parts. The Integra was able to satisfy all. Using its knowledge gained from Formula 1 racing to innovate new technologies for its passenger cars, Acura introduced its VTEC variable valve timing system to the Integra in the early ’90s. The Integra was the first car after the exotic NSX to receive it, and the system helped the car squeeze every drop of power out of its small 4-cylinder engine while maintaining an admirable amount of fuel efficiency.
The Acura Integra was replaced by the RSX in 2002. It is still the same great vehicle as the Integra and still continues to be a solid base for modification for show and track.
The last release of the Acura Integra
The third and final generation of the Acura Integra spanned from 1994 through 2001. It was one of the best front-wheel-drive cars in its class as it was exciting to drive and had a sporty silhouette that seemed designed to cut through the wind.
Acura offered two body styles, a two-door hatchback and a four-door sedan, across all trim levels, including the GS-R performance trim. At first, Acura offered two lower trims, the base RS and LS. Through the years, Acura updated the lineup by adding a GS trim in 1998 and removing the RS in 2000. Except for the GS-R, no matter which Integra you got, it came with the same 142-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission was standard. A four-speed automatic was optional.
The performance-oriented GS-R featured a 170-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that was equipped with VTEC. The GS-R came exclusively with a special close-ratio five-speed manual. In road tests of the ’98 Acura Integra GS-R, our editors found it to be well balanced in terms of being fun to drive and easy to use on a daily basis.
In 1997, the limited-edition Acura Integra Type R debuted. Available only as a coupe and in a single color (Championship White), the Type R focused purely on performance and featured a high-revving 195-hp version of the 1.8-liter engine. Lighter parts and body panels lowered the Type R’s weight by nearly 100 pounds. It came with a tuned suspension system, better brakes, a limited-slip differential and a specially designed close-ratio five-speed manual transmission. In order to further reduce the vehicle’s weight, Acura even made the air-conditioning system optional.
Acura produced the Type R in 1998 and again in 2000. The final time around, the Type R wasn’t nearly as exclusive and raw. Weight reduction was limited to 33 pounds and this time, Acura provided two colors, yellow and black.
In 2001, the Acura Integra Type R won an Edmunds.com Editors’ Most WantedSM award for Best Sports Coupe (FWD/AWD) Under $30,000. Today, these-third generation Integras are still highly regarded as used vehicles. Though certainly reliable, they have become quite popular with young enthusiasts wanting to modify their cars with aftermarket parts. As such, finding an unmolested car, particularly in GS-R trim, can be somewhat of a challengePast Acura Integra Models
The original and first-generation Acura Integra debuted in 1986 and came as a two-door or four-door hatchback. Both styles were available in a base RS or more luxurious LS trim and were powered by a 113-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, and a four-speed automatic was available as an option. In 1988, Acura increased engine output to 118 hp, but most of its power was still too high in the rev band to match the lower torque curves of its sports coupe competition.
In 1990, Acura remedied the problem when it released the second-generation Integra. Again offered in two body styles (this time with a four-door sedan), this Integra was more sophisticated and was powered by a new 1.8-liter four-cylinder that made 130 hp. In addition to the RS and LS trims, Acura added a GS trim. It was a “top of the line” trim with added standard equipment, such as antilock brakes and an upgraded interior. All models came standard with a five-speed manual, with a four-speed automatic being optional.
In 1992, Acura bumped power output up to 140 hp. That same year, Acura introduced the Integra GS-R, a performance-oriented trim that was powered by an all-new 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine making 160 hp. It also was the first time Acura applied its variable valve timing system (VTEC) in a car other than the NSX. The GS-R was designated a pure driver’s car and came exclusively with a close ratio five-speed manual transmission. It was also equipped with a good deal of standard equipment, such as antilock brakes, a moonroof and power locks and windows.
