Power Enterprises developing twin-charger system for Nissan GT-R

If your 478 hp Nissan GT-R just isn't powerful enough for you, have no fear. The tuners at Power Enterprises are working on a solution for you. PE has two kits available, and a third coming to the Tokyo Auto Salon in January. The 35GTR 560 (as in 560 hp) kit features a PE P-Map ECU, PWR Air Impulse II air filters and an upgraded intake kit. The 35GTR 600 kit has the above upgrades, plus upgraded wastegate actuators and a Supersonic Titanium 89 mm exhaust.



And if that isn't enough power for you, Power Enterprises is also working on a twin-charger setup (as in twin superchargers). A pair of Rotrex C30-94 superchargers to bump the power quotient to 650 ponies. More importantly, the superchargers should provide nearly limitless mid-range torque, making turbo lag a non-issue.

Zenvo ST1, a Danish 1,104 horsepower twin charged machine

In spite of the dwindling economy and rising gas prices, supercar upstarts are seemingly coming out of the woodwork. Lamborghini posted record sales and profit this past year, so those wealthy executives must be compelled to spend nonetheless.



The latest company to trot out a 1000+ horsepower super ride is Danish based Zenvo Automotive, with it's new ST1. The car features a mid-mounted turbocharged and supercharged 7.0 liter V8, pumping out an amazing 1,104 horsepower complete with a six speed transmission.



The project was started back in 2004, with the first cars being planned for sale in 2009. The initial performance tests were completed in October and the car ran from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds (with no traction, we can imagine). The run to 120 mph was done in under nine seconds and top speed is an electronically limited 233 miles per hour.



The Zenvo ST1 is a unique looking ride that is sure to separate you from the run of the mill average supercar. After all, who wants to drive a boring old Lambo or Ferrari?

2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost

More power, coupled with more fuel economy. That's the simple premise behind Ford's EcoBoost engines. Few can argue with the concept, as it pretty much pleases everyone. Except those who yearn for the sound of a V-8, in this case.



Real truck owners need the towing power and the practicality of a truck. Not everyone can drive a small and economical car. Not to mention that small cars bring high insurance premiums with them, that all but relegate fuel costs when gas prices are as low as they are right now.



The obvious solution has been for automakers to put diesel engines in their trucks, but with diesel prices being roughly a dollar a gallon more than regular gas, the thinking has changed for now. Instead, Ford has been developing a direct injected, turbocharged V-6, targeted to be more powerful than a V-8 but return better gas mileage.



Such engines are cheaper to develop than diesels, and less than a $1000 more than the cost of a comparable V-8. That thousand bucks buys you more power, expected to top the targets of 340 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque from the 3.5-liter turbo V-6, compared with the 320 and 390 for today's 5.4-liter Triton V-8.



It will also return 15-20 percent better mileage, Ford engineers predict. That extrapolates to 16 mpg city/23 highway for the EcoBoost engine, compared with 13 and 18 for the V-8 today.



Towing and other hard work won't tax the EcoBoost engine, even though conventional wisdom would suggest that a smaller-displacement engine would have to work harder and that a turbocharged engine could be stressed by heavy loads. The direct injection of gasoline has the effect of cooling the combustion chamber, as the fuel absorbs heat when it evaporates. According to an engineer who is developing the EcoBoost F-150, "cooling has not been an issue."



One challenge will be the sound characteristics of a turbo six-cylinder, which will be different from the familiar mellow rumble of a V-8. The company is looking at solutions, including a simplified active sound-cancellation system that will mold the sound waves that emerge from the exhaust pipe, but without a complex closed-loop system using microphones to monitor and adapt to the sounds being produced. The system would instead use a simple data map to know what it should do under different circumstances.



EcoBoost-powered F-150s will arrive in showrooms in 2010 for the 2011 model year.

STS Twin Turbo C6 Corvette

Looking absolutely menacing in matte black, the The Squires Turbo Systems twin-turbo C6 Z06 gives the former most-powerful Vette model a boost to 700 horsepower. All this power is achieved at a very reasonable 7 pounds of boost, which, depending on how sorted the Bilstein-shocked suspension is, could give it a good shot at sticking with a stock ZR-1.



The most unique thing about this car is that STS mounts the turbos remotely, at the rear of the car. That placement keeps the engine bay freer and adds a host of technical perks like lower temps under the hood and cooler oil going to the turbo. And according to STS, some customers have even gotten better gas mileage. Strangely, though, for all of that new performance, the brakes look untouched. But who cares about brakes when you have earth moving torque?

Twin Turbo Saleen Parnelli Jones Mustang on Ebay

While Ebay in general can be a helpful shopping tool and present some great deals, sometimes it is just a tease that has us all thinking wishfully. In this case, seeing a Parnelli Jones Mustang that has been twin turbocharged by it's owner, said editor has feelings to the latter.



With it's Trans Am inspired looks and super exclusivity thanks to only 500 being built, the Parnelli Jones edition trumps pretty much all of the other thousands of Mustang special edition variants. Most owners figure to have put their copies of the car in a hermetically sealed chamber to preserve it's value.



But not this particular owner. He added dual 57mm Precision turbos, upgraded forged pistons, aluminum heads, a full three-inch exhaust system, and much, much more. In total, the motor produces 768 horsepower and 769 lb-ft torque -- at the wheels! The exterior remains stock, providing as much of a sleeper look as possible when one's car is painted grabber orange.



As of this writing, the car is up to $41,000, which isn't a bad deal at all considering. So if you have the funds and the driving ability to handle this one, here's the link.

2009 Chevy Cobalt Turbo SS

The first generation Cobalt SS sported a supercharged 205 hp four cylinder and became a car that has developed a decent enthusiast following. The car is a good all around performer, but still showed it's econo car roots. For 2009, Chevy has reworked the car, swapping a a turbo, upgrading the rest of the mechanicals, and testing and tuning the car on the famed Nürburgring in Germany.



The turbocharged, direct injected engine is the same 2.0l Ecotec in the first generation Cobalt SS that now produces 260hp and 260lbft of torque. Available since 2008 in the Cobalt SS Turbo and HHR SS, and also in the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Red Line, the turbo DI Ecotec does now what Ford promises its EcoBoost engines will do in a few years. That is, produce V6 power with four-cylinder fuel economy. Case in point, the Cobalt SS Turbo returns 30 mpg on the highway.



Peak torque arrives early at 2000 rpm. Turbo lag is scant, and power builds early and linear until the redline is reached at 6,250rpm. Chevy claims the SS runs to 60 in 5.7 seconds.



The turbo SS gets a much revised suspension that doesn't feel like one lifted from an economy car. Clutch feel is firm, and the five speed shifts with precision and authority.



The new SS Turbo also gets wider P225/40ZR18 tires mounted on a set of flattering 18-inch, Corvette-inspired wheels with five split-spokes and larger brakes wearing one of the biggest names in the business of battling inertia: Brembo. The front stoppers are 12.4 inches in diameter and clamped by four-piston calipers while the rears are 11.5-inches large and get single-piston pressure.



All of this adds up to quite a well performing machine. Car and Driver ran a massive performance car comparison test in a recent issue, with each car making laps around Virginia International Speedway. The list of cars that were slower than the SS is astounding:



Mitsubishi Lancer EVO MR

Lexus IS-F

Audi S5

Honda S2000 CR

Dodge Challenger SRT-8

Lotus Elise SC

Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Dodge Caliber SRT-4

Volkswagen R32

Honda Civic Mugen Si



The Cobalt SS Turbo is clearly outgunned in the engine department by a few of these vehicles, besting only the Civic Mugen Si, R32, S2000 CR and the Elise SC with its 260-hp engine. But c'mon, is the Cobalt SS Turbo really quicker than the legendary Lancer, the 416-hp IS-F, and the 425-hp Challenger SRT-8 around VIR's 4.2-mile track? Apparently so says C&D, who were just as stunned as were by the Chevy's particular brand of canned whoopass.



Of course, the best part of this performance in an unsuspecting package is price. The Cobalt SS starts at $22,775. Depending on options, the price can be jacked up a little bit. But we've seen several selling for less than $20,000 new, given the poor market conditions right now.



The Chevy Cruze will be rolling off assembly lines before long to take the place of the Cobalt, but at least the little econo car will go out with a bang.

2008 Mercedes Brabus Bullit Black Arrow

Just how fast is too fast? Most humans barely ever experience 150 mph in a car, let alone 200 mph. Can anyone really tell the difference between 195 mph and 200 mph? Once you experience speed in this elite range, it can be hard to tell the difference.



"It's not so much the actual experience that counts, but the imagination of what it might be like to do 200, 210, or 220 mph," says a grinning Ulrich Gauffrés, the head honcho of Brabus's R&D department. "With the long axle ratio, the Mercedes Brabus Bullit Black Arrow could theoretically exceed 230 mph. But because of the extreme mix of power, torque, and load, we pull the plug at 350 kph [217 mph]. Incidentally, all our customers so far have opted for the more explosive but ultimately less dramatic shorter final-drive ratio."



Four of these uber sedans have been built to date, none have exceeded 196 mph as of yet. That's fast by any one's standards except for maybe the firm that builds them, Brabus, who has a long history of building fast Mercs. Plant your foot on the gas pedal and general mayhem ensues. Tires spin uncontrollably, the rear tries to take over the front. But when your punishing the rear axle with 974 lb ft of torque, that can be expected. As a matter of fact, the bad Brabus has to be chip restricted to 811 lb ft to somewhat protect the rest of the drivetrain.



Masochists can opt for the total package by opting for the matte black finish for an extra $6200.



Powering this freight train is a 6.2-liter twin-turbo V-12 that musters 720 hp at 5100 rpm and serves up 811 lb-ft of torque from 2100 rpm. Compared with the twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter unit that it's based on (the one that powers Mercedes-Benz's S600, CL600, and SL600 models), the uprated engine features a longer-stroke crankshaft, bigger-bore cylinders, special pistons and connecting rods, high-performance camshafts, and a free-flow exhaust that's brutal enough to crack an egg from a mile away.



The transmission is a five speed automatic, which is reasonable since it's recommended that you keep both hands on the wheel to prevent being embarrassed. Traction and stability control help, too, as do the 285/30YR-19 rear Yokohamas, which are a little fatter than the 265/30YR-19 footwear on the front wheels. Other chassis upgrades include beefier antiroll bars, a wider track, high-performance brakes, and a specially prepared ten-way-adjustable spring and damper setup. Extra money buys carbon-ceramic brake discs, but the standard setup is better-suited for everyday use. Combining twelve-pot fixed calipers and 15.0-inch rotors in the front with six-piston calipers and 14.2-inch discs in the back, the Bullit decelerates with vigor.



the 4079-pound Bullit will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds, according to Brabus. After 10.5 seconds, the Bullit reaches 124 mph. Give it fourteen more seconds, and it will thunder past 186 mph, still gaining momentum. While lesser cars like the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG or the BMW M5 start to run out of steam at 155 mph, the monster from Brabus keeps charging ahead. To save stress and fuel, fifth gear is summoned relatively early, but there is still so much oomph on tap that this maximum Merc doesn't run into an invisible wall until an indicated 202 mph, which is all the relatively short 2.65:1 axle permits.



Unfortunately, no Bullits will be officially sold in the U.S. For those who are so inclined, the asking price will be around $587,000 and up. But if you're a millionaire looking for an outrageously fun toy, this car's for you.

Ford hits 1 million miles on EcoBoost test engines

Word has recently come out of Dearborn that Ford has racked up over a million test miles on it's soon to be released EcoBoost engines, in combined real world driving and in lab testing.



So far, a group of EcoBoost engines have logged over 12,000 hours on the dyno which represents 500,000 miles of consumer driving, according to Ford. The engines have gone through 20 different tests at maximum loads and speeds to test the reliability during simulated real-world conditions. The engines endured a thousand cold starts and many wide open throttle runs to test their durability, and Ford believes they performed exceptionally well



"EcoBoost is undergoing the durability and reliability tests that we put all Ford engines through, and the performance we are seeing shows that the 3.5L EcoBoost engine is a high-quality, top-performing engine that meets or exceeds all our reliability targets and is deserving of Ford's five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty," said Ford's Advanced Engine Design and Development manager Brett Hinds.



Ford engineers have spent a great deal of time using computer models to simulate wear and tear on the engines and components, as well as model the exact operations of the twin turbos and direct injection to maximize efficiency.



"Because the 3.5L EcoBoost employs the latest in injection and turbocharger thermal management technologies, our tests have shown that we have effectively eliminated the legacy concerns sometimes associated with these systems, including high-mileage combustion deposits on the injectors and turbo bearing coking," said Hinds.



Out on the roads of the real world, Ford has been running a fleet of EcoBoosted Flexs and Lincoln MKS' at their Michigan Proving Grounds in Romeo, Michigan, performing on-road tests including towing tests to determine the new power plant's actual in-car performance.



Ford has also run them around at high altitude in Denver, through the Arizona deserts and in the deep south to test the engine's performance in extreme conditions. The test fleet racked up another 500,000 miles of driving, bringing the tests to over one million combined miles.



"With the extensive dynamometer and vehicle-level durability testing we are subjecting this engine to, we are confident that the 3.5L EcoBoost engine is going to further strengthen Ford Motor Company's reputation for delivering reliable, high-quality engines," said Hinds.



It's comforting to hear that Ford is doing it's homework and ensuring that the EcoBoosted engines will not only be powerful and efficient, but reliable as well.



Now let's take one for a test drive already!

702 Horsepower Audi RS6 R Station Wagon

Station wagons typically get a bad wrap. A popular option for hauling families back in the 70's, they were replaced with minivans in the 80's and SUV's in the 90's. The first image that pops into most people's heads when they think of a station wagon is a wood panel hippie-mobile.

Ok, so the Dodge Magnum changed that perspective a little bit. However, it will soon join it's brethren in the boneyard when it is discontinued next year.

Wagons are still the rage in Europe, however. With ten dollar a gallon gas most folks can't afford to drive a large vehicle. And for those with a little more money to burn? Enter the Audi RS6.

Devoid of giant spoilers and junky body cladding. The RS6 in normal clothing is an autobahn burner in it's own right. Sporting a twin turbo V-10 spouting out 580hp and 480lb-ft of torque, it's quite capable from the factory.

However, if you want to have the distinct pleasure of gobbling up supercars with a few passengers in tow, MGM has just the package for you. Engineers on the RS6 R project first looked to tweak V-10's computer element. After a remapping of the stock ECU system, MTM's initial step towards creating the ultimate grocery-getter produced 656 horsepower and a staggering 578 lb-ft of torque. A little too much perhaps for grandma to handle.

MTM wasn't satisfied yet, however, with an output that exceeds the Lamborghini LP640. They proceeded by adding a free-flowing stainless steel exhaust, ECU reflash and a reworked air intake system to the package. The end result is a ridiculous 702 horsepower capable of propelling the car to 100 km/h in a claimed 3.9 seconds. MTM can set up the car to easily hit 192 mph.

Keeping the power in check up front are available 15.9-inch six-piston grooved brakes sitting behind 21-inch forged Bimoto wheels. Exterior additions are conservative. They include a carbon fiber front splitter and rear diffuser and a more aggressive stance thanks to adjustable coilovers not only lowers the car, but also increases traction significantly.

The MTM RS6 R package with engine, suspension, and body mods can be had for a cool $24,000 on top of the purchase price of a donor RS6. The looks on that Ferrari owner's face when you blow his doors off in a station wagon : priceless.