Continue reading »]]> Even though we owned the required technology for many years, it is only recently that electric cars have finally magically made their apparition. Most major manufacturers are also eager to have their electric car. With most models for prices ranging around $40,000, some questions arise. About the autonomy, reliability, etc. Here is a summary of the best models currently available.

1. Chevrolet Volt

Electric + gas mileage: 93 MPGe(Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent)
Electric mileage: 37 MPGe
Base price: $39,145

The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. What makes the Chevy Volt unique is the fact that it’s an electric car, but it is also a gas-powered car. With a fully charged battery you can travel on electricity for 35-40 miles, and after that, it will use gas and return about 37 mpg hence the two mileage ratings. The Volt supports the same charging as the Nissan Leaf. But unlike the Leaf the Volt has an on-board 4-cylinder gasoline motor, displacing 1.4L that works to keep the electric drivetrain going when the battery is dead.

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookDigg ThisSubmit to redditSave on Delicious

2. Nissan Leaf

Mileage: 99 MPGe
Base price: $38,395

Nissan claims that the Leaf can get about 100 miles off of a full charge, based on the EPA electric vehicle cycle. They also proudly proclaims a 7 hour charge time using a 240-volt outlet as well as a special quick charger than can boost the car’s battery to 80 percent in just 30 minutes. Using the supplied trickle-charger it takes over 20 hours. The Nissan Leaf is a fantastic step towards electric vehicles entering the mainstream. It has enough power, cargo room and passenger space to accomplish all the usual day-to-day tasks, but issues of range and re-charging will for now prevent the Leaf and EVs from becoming a mainstream option. Nissan should be proud of being the first to bring a true EV to the mass market.

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookDigg ThisSubmit to redditSave on Delicious

3. Ford Focus Electric

Mileage: 100 MPGe
Base price: $39,995

Like the Nissan Leaf, the Focus Electric has about a 161km range and does not have a gas engine. The main differences compared to the Leaf, though, is that the Focus uses an innovative liquid-cooling battery system that utilizes heated and cooled liquid to help maximize battery life and gas-free driving range. While air-cooling methods work well for many of today’s smaller car battery systems, the larger, more complex lithium-ion battery technology powering Ford’s all-electric vehicles calls for an aggressive thermal management system.

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookDigg ThisSubmit to redditSave on Delicious

4. Honda Fit EV (Electric)

Mileage: 116 MPGe
Base price: $36,625

Honda Fit electric motor is derived from the one installed in Honda’s FCX Clarity fuel-cell EV and pumps out 123 hp and 189 lb-ft of torque. The motor is fed by a 20-kWh, air-cooled lithium-ion battery pack made by Toshiba. Range on the unadjusted, highly optimistic LA4 driving loop is 123 miles, but the adjusted EPA range on the window sticker should be closer to 76 miles. The Fit EV has three drive modes: econ, normal, and sport. In sport mode.

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookDigg ThisSubmit to redditSave on Delicious

Continue reading »]]> The brand new 2013 Ford Mustang has just been revealed at the LA Auto Show. What is the most exciting about this news is that the 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500 has been proclaimed to be the most powerful Mustang that was ever built and it is also the least expensive 650 horsepower car available on the market right now.

A year following the first appearance of the Boss 302, the listing remains the same: the V6, the GT 5.0, the Boss and the GT500. They’re all getting a new design for 2013, expressing a more determined design in the front, some high intensity diodes (HID) headlights and three-bar LED taillights signals that flash consecutively.

The famous GT model is now equipped with LED fog lights and is beneficing an increase of 8 horsepower for a total of 420 hp. The 8 hp is obtained from reduced frictions internally in the engine. The six-speed automatic Select Shift is now permitting the drivers a complete manual control. The superb cloth and leather Recaro seats are going to be offered for the entire 2013 Mustang family. There are also some new performance kits available crowned by a boosted audio system and an accelerometer. The cherry on the top is the Track Apps option. With Track Apps you may now record and see your lap times, ¼ miles times and g-force. That will make the drag enthusiasts happy. It is also supplying several engine telemetry options and various temperature sensors even down the cylinder heads. All of these will be displayed on a new 4.2” LCD.

And finally for the 2013 Mustang GT500, Ford promises 650 hp. That is 100 hp moreover if we compare it with the current GT500. The top speed is around 200 miles per hour. It is important to say that the 650 hp engine specified above is not just a blown edition of the recent 5.0 Coyote block that we can see in the GT and the Boss 302. It is the supercharged Ford GT motor that has been upgraded from 5.4 l to 5.8 l of displacement. With a Redline at 7,000 rpm that mean awesome piston speeds for a long-stroke engine. For the price, we are still under $65,000. At this price range, we can’t find anything that is offering even close to 650 hp from any car delivered with originally manufactured equipments.

2013 Ford Mustang GT review

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookDigg ThisSubmit to redditSave on Delicious

Continue reading »]]> Last weekend I went to the Napierville Dragway to do a first drag test run with the car. The best time I did yet is 10.80s on 1/4 mile run. The guy who was recording the videos for me unfortunately missed the fastest run. I uploaded this video even though it wasn’t my fastest run. That run was something in the 11s.

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookDigg ThisSubmit to redditSave on Delicious

Continue reading »]]> At the present time I’m only at 10 pounds of boost and it gives 667 RWHP which is near 800HP to the engine. I am pleased with the results but if I feel the need for more power I will change the pulley to a 3 ¼” which is going to give around 850 RWHP (1000 HP) of strength to the engine.

Car modifications build sheet:

-Pulley 3¾ and ATI 17% Overdrive Balancer
-10 PSI of boost
-Tensioner upgrade
-148m t-body
-80lb injectors
-Headers ARH no cat Ceramic coated
-Wot Box
-Paramount tranny and drive shaft
-Flexplate, 2800 torque converter
-Block – Billet main caps, ARP main and head studs used. Bored to 4.064″ Dia.
-Crank – Callies 4.050 stroke
-Bearings – mains were ACL H type and rods are Clevite H type. Set for 0.0021 to 0.0025 clearance on the mains and 0.002-0.0024 clearance on the rods
-Rods – Crower 93 series billet rods – 6 weight
-Pistons – CP custom for 9.25 compression with stock gasket with Phuzion gasket will yield 9.0, used with 9310 alloy wrist pins and steel gas nitrided top ring and napier second. 1.2/1.2/3.0 thickness gapped for 0.028 top and 0.032 second. Fit with 0.005″ clearance in block
-Cam – Custom turbo grind – 230/238 duration with 114 LSA. 0.556/0.556 lift
-Heads – Big chamber with, PAC springs
-Pushrods – Trend 6.7/7.9

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookDigg ThisSubmit to redditSave on Delicious

Continue reading »]]> My initial modification was the installation of an Arizona Speed & Marine Supercharger. I was satisfied with that Supercharger for a while. But as you can see in the most recent posts, I felt the need for more power.

You can read the Press release from the president of AZ Speed about that Supercharger here.

This is what the Supercharger kit looks like once unpackaged.

Some pictures during the installation

The result of the installation of the Supercharger

I made some corrections on the kit. I changed the injectors for SRT4 injectors 04891574AD 49.4@58PSI and reprogrammed the chip.

The result on the dyno for the Dodge Charger SRT8 with AZ Speed Supercharger was 512.4 HP to the wheels, multiplied per 1.20 giving to the engine 614.80 forces HP that is 189.88 HP forces moreover than stock.

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookDigg ThisSubmit to redditSave on Delicious

Continue reading »]]> Jim Shofner announced today that ASM has introduced a kit single (supercharger) for the 5.7L HEMI engine and equipped with the 6.1 Dodge Charger, Magnum and Chrysler 300C in 2005/2006.

In a recent interview, Mr. Shofner said, “those who test our demo back with a big smile. The increase in performance is astonishing and exhilarating. “We have taken a different approach for the HEMI motor because of the way of the air intake is designed. The vent is a tube that extends halfway into the pipe flange valve throttle. This design does not lend itself to simply install the auxiliary fuel injectors directly behind the valve for controlling power in the air like other supercharger kits.

On the HEMI, the tubing is designed to enter the air to move and not to mix with fuel and the auxiliary injector design was not an option.

Our design removes the option of using standard auxiliary injectors, and includes the places eight larger injectors fuel to replace the current factory.

The ASM has a longstanding reputation technology side, this approach is a little more expensive, but necessary for the HEMI engine to get the fuel distribution and engine reliability.

In addition, our design included a unit (after-cooler) to maintain an inflow of cold air and to reduce restrictions in the system of air intake (which reduces the temperature in most of the intake system). The media engines are machined aluminum (billet) and polished to match the supercharger, (the after-cooler) and lines for admission. The ASM kit includes all parts required for conversion.

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookDigg ThisSubmit to redditSave on Delicious

Continue reading »]]> I have been very busy lately installing a Corsa Performance Exhaust kit but it wasn’t silent enough for me.

The Dynomax mufflers are so effective that they makes my car sounds like it was still stock. There is also a valve that automatically opens (becoming straight pipe) for when I push the pedal to the floor.

I’m very satisfied and I think my neighbors also appreciate that upgrade :).

I also got the exhaust cutouts installed. It’s wonderful for the drag, the performance and amusement. Now when I pass beside an Harley Davidson I can easily bury their sound and then pass beside some cops without drawing their attention.

If everything goes well I will be able to go on the dyno soon and I will record the runs and post them here. If you would like a Dynomax exhaust system for yourself contact “OkGo” on the forum. He can get them rapidly for you. Price: $180.00 per kit.

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookDigg ThisSubmit to redditSave on Delicious