Car Sport

The Best Sports Car in the World?

With the return of the legendary 'GTO' badge to a Ferrari for 2010, the question being asked by most people familiar with sports cars and Ferrari in particular is, 'is this the best sports car in the world?'

The model lucky enough to get the GTO treatment and wear the badge is Ferrari's two seat flagship the 599 GTB Fiorano. The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano was introduced in 2006 to replace the 575 Maranello. In it's first year the 599 won the Evo car of the year, Evo being the premiere Magazine in Britain focusing on driver oriented cars and a global authority on performance cars.

So the 599 GTB was already a great supercar when it first appeared in 2006, featuring a 5999cc V12 positioned at the front of the car longitudinally. It develops 611bhp and 448lb ft of torque and all of that power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 6 speed manual transmission or Ferrari's 6 speed 'F1 Superfast' automated manual transmission with paddle shifters.

The 599 GTB also features magnetorheological dampers which are dampers filled with magnetorheological fluid and controlled by a magnetic field. So by varying the strength of the electromagnet emitting the magnetic field you can adapt individual dampers to continuously altering conditions. This semi active suspension is critical on the 599 GTB in compensating for the basic physics of having the engine out in front of you feeding the driving wheels behind you.

The 599 GTB Fiorano is capable of reaching 60mph from rest in 3.5 seconds and can go on to reach 100mph 2.9 secs later, so from 0 to 100mph in 7.4 secs. It also has a top speed of 205mph.

The only 2 other cars to wear the GTO badge were the race bred 250 GTO in 1962 band the 288 GTO in 1984, both of which are rare and extremely sought after these days. GTO stands for Gran Turismo Omologata and derives from the 2 previous models which were built as homologation specials to allow Ferrari to race them.

The 599 GTO gets the detuned version of the race car spec 599XX 722bhp engine but still produces 670bhp with 457 lb ft of torque. The transmission is a 6 speed paddle shift auto manual with an uprated 60 millisecond gear change time. This will allow the car to hit 60mph in 3.35 secs and will probably be able to hit 100mph from standstill in 6.5 secs and will go on to hit 208mph.

The 599 GTO has a bespoke 6 into 1 exhaust manifold and no doubt will sound fantastic. The underside of the car has also seen some changes to allow the maximum amount of down force to be generated with the minimum amount of drag, so there are no overt or obvious racetrack addenda such as a high rear wing but still the car can generate 144kg of down force at 120mph.

In order to extract the maximum performance from all areas of the car, the Ferrari relies heavily on its VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system and it's F1-Trac traction control to exploit the chassis's razor sharp responses. The car relies on the constant adjustments being made its electronic systems to keep everything in check and pointing forward (or sideways if you are a particularly talented driver).

The result of all of this refinement is a lap time set by the 599 GTO around the Ferrari test track of Fiorano that is 0.9 secs faster than that of the Ferrari Enzo which is a proper mid engined hypercar. So the performance of the 599 GTO is astounding but the real test will be whether that performance can be translated into a truly great driving experience given that there is so much electronic wizardry going on. Only time will tell.

The 599 GTO does however deliver breathtaking performance both on and off of the track but is it enough to become the best sports car in the world?

Car Engine Modification

In order to get every last bit of performance and horsepower from your vehicle, you'll require investing in some modifications. As modifications like wing spoilers, body kits, aftermarket breaks, and performance wheels all of these gives performance benefits to your car; merely setting up your car engine to the fullest will assist you to produce the horsepower required to increase your car over the rivalry down the strip or the street. The following are several well-known ways in how to modify the engine of your car and obtain the performance that you want badly:

• High Performance Radiators - An engine with high performance gives added power, and, as a result, added warmth. This radiator will be required to maintain its coolness. These radiators are made to manage a lot of pressure ranges and higher temperatures compared to OEM radiators. These will assist in keeping your engine performance protected from running smoothly and overheating regardless of anywhere you run your vehicle.

• Cold Air Intake - This can increase and boost the performance of your car engine by a considerable amount. OEM intakes pull in warm air from just about the engine bay, which reduces the capabilities of the performance of your car engine. By supplying a cold stable stream of thick air, the intake of cold air can provide you improved ignition, which provides additional power per stroke, zooming you down the street with superior pleasure.

Turbos and Superchargers -These could boost the performance of your car's engine to a deliberately superior level. Each method provides unlike benefits, and so it will require choosing the one that is right for your requirements. For example, a supercharger provides enhancements in the performance across a broad array of the power band. A turbo, alternatively, offers a performance greater at superior ranges on the RPM (on the whole, a supercharger is immense for the street, while a turbocharger is perfect for the track).

• Custom Ignition System - This can work wonders for your engine. High-tension wires and spark plugs performance could put in horsepower into your engine. Additionally, timing that is advanced could also give you a push that is greater. Performance wires and plugs give more sparks; this is what drives the pistons and ignites the fuel inside your engine. When put together with the intake of cold air benefits, this system of custom ignition will provide you enormous boost in performance.

These are only a small number of car engine modifications that you'll be capable of doing consecutively to make the most of performance and power. Having the exact tools and a bit of assistance, you can increase the performance of your engine to unbelievable heights.

The Chevrolet Aveo RS Show Car

The Chevrolet Aveo RS show car makes its Washington, D.C. debut this week at the 2010 Washington Auto Show. It features a European-inspired hot hatch look designed to appeal to young enthusiasts, and hints at the next-generation Aveo.

Longer, wider and more spacious than the current production Aveo, the Aveo RS showcases the car’s upscale-looking design cues both inside and out, and presents the many personalisation options potentially available on the next-generation car. Its 1.4L I-4 Ecotec turbo engine delivers exceptional fuel economy with performance when it’s needed.

“We hope the Aveo RS show car will demonstrate that we are as serious about redefining the Aveo and its place in the small-car segment as we were about reinventing the Malibu,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet general manager.

First impressions
The Aveo RS show car, finished in electric Boracay Blue, wears global Chevrolet design cues such as the dual element grille, round taillamps and fender flares, but designers turned up the attitude on the show car with low openings and a lower mouth trimmed in a combination of brushed and polished aluminium. Outboard fog lamps are integrated into an exaggerated brake-cooling inlet that flows into the front fender flares, creating an aggressive-looking face.

Exposed headlamps, with their brushed aluminium structural surround, are inspired by the designers’ affection for motorcycles. The sleek side profile is characterised by uninterrupted body side lines, a high beltline and low roofline. The side mirrors with amber-coloured turn signal indicators carry the same shape as the car and seemingly disappear into the profile. At first glance, the car actually looks like a three-door hatch because the rear door handles are discreetly located in the “C”-pillar area.

“The Aveo RS show car demonstrates how progressive design can inject personality into a small car,” said Michael Simcoe, executive director, North American Exterior Design. “We want customers to see it and have an emotional reaction to it.”

No performance-minded car earns its street cred without large wheels and tyres. The Aveo RS show car’s wheels are 19-inch, five-spoke with a gun metal metallic finish Chevrolet logo. The wheel openings reveal large Boracay Blue brake callipers.

The rear of the show car continues the sport theme, with an integrated spoiler that flows from the roof, a centre-mounted exhaust and chrome exhaust tips. The exposed motorcycle-inspired rear taillamps feature tinted aluminium housings and a discreet Bowtie logo.

Efficient performer
The Aveo RS show car is powered by the same highly efficient 138-horsepower (103 kW) 1.4L I-4 Ecotec turbocharged engine that will be available in the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze.

A six-speed manual transmission is designed to ensure the car will provide a spirited driving experience.

For the show car, designers created a special engine cover in graphite silver with a brushed aluminium insert. The coolant and power steering fluid fill caps are rimmed in ice blue, and the honeycomb vents flanking the centre of the cover are matte-finished in shadow chrome and designed to match the wheel colour.

Chevrolet has previously announced the new Aveo will be built at Orion Assembly in Orion Township, Michigan, in 2011, a move that will restore 1,200 jobs to Southeast Michigan. Timing for retooling Orion Assembly for Aveo production is anticipated to begin in late 2010.

The Aveo is an important member of Chevrolet’s family of small cars, positioned between the upcoming Cruze compact sedan and the Spark five-door mini car in size.