/ 24 January 2007

Supercars still too slow at 300kph?

Many a motoring fan will swoon at the looks of a Porsche 911 Turbo, Bentley Continental GT or Ferrari F430 which come with performance figures closely matching those of a Formula One racing car.

For some owners of such cars, however, a top speed of 300kph is still not enough with some tuning firms specialising in suping-up such supercars.

The TechArt tuning firm, based near Stuttgart, for instance presented their version of a Porsche 911 Turbo with a modified 3,6 litre boxer motor with an output of 427kW/580 hp at the recent Essen Motor Show in Germany. This is 74kW/100 hp more than the factory version. The top speed has been increased from 310kph to 339kph with the sprint from zero to 100kph in 3,4 instead of 3,9 seconds.

TechArt lists the price of such a Porsche at anything from €185 000 ($239 000) upward.

A team describing itself as Motortuning RS Tuning is working on an even more powerful Porsche version under the project name Mission 400 Plus Concept. The target is a performance figure of 775kW/1054 hp and a top speed of more than 400kph. The plan is to boost the six cylinder motor from 3,6 to 3,8 litres and to fit it with new cylinder heads and high performance camshafts. A lowered roof and angled A-pillars are to provide more aerodynamics.

The project target is to achieve a new top speed world record for road car. Currently the record is being held by the Brabus Rocket which is based on the Mercedes CLS. The CLS is driven by a V12 engine with a top speed of 366kph and an output boosted from 380kW/517 hp to 537kW/730 hp. The asking price for the vehicle starts at €348 000 ($450 000).

Not quite as fast is the suped up Bentley Continental GT. The top speed of 330kph is only hampered by the aerodynamics of the car, according to Tuner Mansory. Modifications to the six-litre engine boosts performance to 478kW/650 hp. From the exterior the Le Mansory differs only slightly from the works Bentley Coupe. It is painted in racy black and orange livery and black 55cm alloys.

A more individual exterior including an aerodynamics package and performance boost is offered by the Tuners Novitec Rosso in Bavaria for the Ferrari F430. Front and rear wings are designed to boost more grip to the front and rear axles. A bi-compressor raises the output of the V8 engine from 360kW/490 hp to 468kW/636 hp and the top speed from 315kph to 348kph.

But what makes buyers of such vehicles want to boost performance to such dizzying speeds?

”It is all linked to self-esteem and representation,” says Nick Margetts from the market research company Jato Dynamics.

”Drivers of such super sports cars want to own something unique that nobody else possesses, irrespective of the price. It gives them a good feeling,” he says.

Hans-Joerg Koeninger from the Association of German Car Tuners (VDAT) argues that ”it is the kick to know that you could drive at 350kph”.

Most of the customers buying such cars come from countries with strict speed limits and even in Germany — where there are no speed limits on the motorways — traffic congestion, even at night, prevent drivers from going over 300kph.

Such suped up sports cars are often constructed for image reasons by tuning firms, according to Koeninger, with the companies making most of their money by selling spoilers, alloys or other sporty additions for standard VW Golfs or Opel/Vauxhall Astras. – Sapa-DPA