Joining the top end of the power race is Chrysler, now operating as an independent company again, after being sold off by Daimler-Benz. As a show of its independence, Chrysler has developed a new SRT-10 Viper with an even larger version of the V-10 engine that has always powered the car.
It now has a capacity of 8.4 liters, and a power output of 600 bhp. Torque, which was not exactly lacking in the old engine, is up to 560 lb ft (760 Nm). Actually, 8 liters seemed as large an engine as anyone would want in the Viper, but maybe not. To improve low-speed running, variable valve timing is adopted. The engine is coupled to a new Tremec six-speed manual gearbox.
The new Viper has been restyled, but retains the bold front grille, now with an air intake for the engine above, and air outlets in the hood. As before, an ACR version, tuned for racing will be introduced. It has fully-adjustable race-tuned suspension and aerodynamic aids to reduce lift and drag. The engine is the same as the road car.
Hyundai Previews Big Coupe
With the preview of the Genesis Coupe, Hyundai is getting serious about sporty cars. It has already shown a Genesis sedan concept car, which is aimed at middle America, but now comes the coupe version, which not only looks throughly with it, but also has the right ingredients for a fast car.
The Genesis models have rear-wheel drive, which is what is needed for the size of engine the coupe will have – it is a 3.8 liter V-6 with an output of over 300 bhp, whereas a V-8 is intended for the Genesis sedan.
The body takes on from the Tiburon with a smooth fastback, but gets more sculptured sides, and an unusual window line. The front end has a new corporate grille, but the main grilles are low down at the sides, joined by a shallow center section. The sporty look is accentuated by the air outlets in the hood. It all looks a bit exaggerated in the concept car, which is what you expect.
The new car looks as if it is a genuine 2+2, being quite large at 184 x 75 x 54.5 in (4,666 x 1,902 x 1,386 mm), and has a 111 in (2,820 mm) wheelbase. It is the same size as the Nissan GT-R, or Audi S5, but quite a bit bigger than the Nissan 350Z, and should be around by the end of 2007.
Toyota Hybrid wins race - and so it should
I missed this one, but a Toyota hybrid won a race. The car was not a lowly Prius, but a Toyota Supra GT modified with the addition to electric motors and drive system.
The 4.4 liter V-8 engine develops 470 bhp at 6,800 rpm, with maximum torque of 376 lb ft (510 Nm) at 5,600 rpm. What you might call a high-powered high-revving engine, no doubt with little at the bottom end.
So the guys at Toyota added a pair of small electric motors in the hubs of the front wheels - instantly converting the car to four-wheel drive - and one large electric motor connected to the final drive unit at the back wheels. The two small motors develop only 13 bhp, which is not much but bear in mind that they give maximum torque at any speed.
Then, the motor at the back turns out 200 bhp, which is a not inconsiderable amount of power, with massive torque. Of course, you cannot run these motors all the time, only when there is some power available, in small batteries in this case. The car generates electricity when braking and this is then enough to give the car a real boost out of the corners.
You can see why I said that the car should have won - it had a lot of power in a light car!
Even so, the use of electric motors in the front hubs is a good way of adding a hybrid effect to a sporty car. And you don't need electricity to produce a hybrid.
Meanwhile, a group of three British companies have combined to produced a hybrid flywheel motor, which is more efficient than electric motors in storing and releasing energy - storing it during braking and releasing it during acceleration - which will be used in Grand Prix racing.
Hybrids of various sorts could be the answer to making supercars environmentally friendly - especially when running on a gasoline-ethanol mix.
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John Hartley, Editor, Fast-Autos
