Car Parts 2011

For many, the chance to see an insane, high-revving, Formula 1 car is coming to an end.  The current 18,000 rpm 2.4 liter V8s will show their full fury for the 2011 and 2012 seasons then go the way of the Mastodon and Saber-toothed tiger.  With the FIA's focus on greener technologies in racing, smaller displacement engines have constantly supplanted the previous generation.  The 3.0 liter V10s gave way to the current 2.4 liter V8s and they will, in turn, fade away in favor of 1.6 liter four cylinders.  However, for the first time in the modern era of F1, the consumer can truly boast about having F1 technology in their daily driver.

RB7 at adamcooperf1.com

First, let's talk about the outgoing motors.  The main reasons for dropping cylinders from the V10 era to the V8 era were fuel consumption and to make the sport safer by curbing the astronomical amounts of power that were being produced.  In 2004, Ferrari was claiming 940 horsepower out of their V10 while redlining over 19,000 rpm.  Now, with 3.0 liters of displacement that V10 is burning .3 liters per cylinder which is exactly the same amount as the 2.4 liter V8.  So it stands to reason, assuming the majority of engine rules are adhered, that power would drop by about 20% (2 of 10 cylinders) from V10 to V8.  That is exactly what happened.

F2004 at seriouswheels.com

Since the 2.4 liter V8 is still in use, power figures aren't exactly made public.  However, the 2006 motor used by Toyota is reported to have made 740 horsepower at 19,000 rpm.  The 2007 season saw a reduction in the rpm ceiling by 1000 rpm to 18,000.  As most gearheads know, horsepower is simply a byproduct of a mathematical formula with the only variables being torque and rpm.

Juke at sportcarbuzz.com

So what's all this have to do with consumer automobiles?  Consider the current list of engine suppliers in F1.  They are Ferrari, Mercedes, Cosworth, and Renault.  All except Ferrari have a good handle on small, powerful motors for both street and track applications.  Also, Honda, a dominant engine supplier in the past, is reportedly readying a 1.6 liter four-cylinder turbo for its CR-Z.  The most recent addition to the list of motor's throwing punches above its weight class is Nissan's MR16DDT, found in the Juke which Eric Hsu covers extensively.  Remember that Nissan owns part of Renault and vice versa.  Additionally, Infiniti just sponsored Red Bull in the form of "technical collaboration with Red Bull racing."  This isn't to say that the motor in the Juke will power a Formula 1 car in the future but there hasn't been a smaller divide in recent memory between the applications.  With the current world economy and a focus on smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient power plants, there is no reason the F1 motors can't go through the R&D process next to production motors.  Sharing costs across the production and motorsport platforms would help everyone. 

Lola B08/80 at ultimatecarpage.com

A good example of this would be the Lola B08/80 in the LMP2 class of the American LeMans series which is powered by a highly tuned Mazda MZR four-cylinder.  This motor in its most basic form powers the Mazda 3.  In race trim, it puts out somewhere around 500 horsepower at a fraction of the cost of F1 motors.  It's almost unfathomable what would be possible with Formula 1 money.  Hypothetically, the necessity for lightweight and a low center of gravity could even yield V4s.

While many will mourn the death of Formula 1, changes like this are nothing new.  The sport is constantly trying to reinvent itself whether its in reaction to global or political concerns or simply to improve "the show."  It's time to embrace the sport for its practical engineering prowess and technological advances.  Imagine the possibilities.

When looking at an open-wheel race car as a piece of art, there are many differing opinions on its physical beauty.  To most people, modern cars possess little to no inspiration in their design.  They are just an amalgamation of airfoils, winglets, and scoops.  To others, that is the beauty of the design, the process by which all those little pieces unify to create a blisteringly fast car that seems to cheat fluid dynamics and defy the laws of physics.

grandprix.com

Still, nothing can ever compare to the classics...

The mid-engined cigar-shaped race cars of the 60s have always looked absolutely brilliant.  The flowing, uninterrupted lines of the Lotus 38 and 49 have brought casual fans as well as tech nerds to their knees.  From Colin Chapman's mind came the finest examples of grace, elegance, and raw power.

carguychronicles.com

The 38 caused a complete shift in thinking for what an Indy car should be.  In 1965, this monocoque, mid-engined rocket produced 500hp from its Ford V8 and carried Jim Clark to victory in the Indy 500.  Lotus went on to replace the 38 with the forgettable 43 but redeemed itself in 1967 with the Lotus 49.

carpictures.com

The Lotus 49 used its Ford-sourced Cosworth V8 as a stressed member, much like the 43 did.  This meant that there was no need for a cradle in which the engine sat.  It was a part of the chassis itself with the front being bolted to the monocoque chassis and the suspension directly attached to the rear.  Without a traditional frame or chassis for the motor, precious pounds were saved.  Developed and refined in 1967, Graham Hill won the '68 Formula One championship with it after Clark suffered a fatal accident in an F2 race.

Ever have that dream where you're a leper who has a weird craving for Sunchips while sailing the globe in a catamaran and can't get internet service on your laptop's wireless card?  No?  Just me? Anyways, I wake up and wonder why I'm looking for an internet connection.  Knowing me, I'd probably be searching for my perfect sports car to drive to a high-end leper colony to get some damn Sunchips finally!

Then as I keep thinking about it, it hits me!  There are so many niche segments in the automotive world that anybody can find the perfect car for them.  Now, I don't know what kind of car would be perfect for a rich, junk food-eating leper but I'm sure there's one out there.  As for the enthusiasts in the United States, we have a plethora of options but Europe and Japan still tempt us with forbidden fruit.

zerotohundred.com

Recently, I've been doing a good deal of research on Nissan Skyline GTRs from the 90s.  They are the cream of the crop for imported JDM hardware.  I'm not ashamed to say that I am indeed a fanboy of Godzilla.  I've wanted one ever since I was a child and that was before the Fast and the Furious franchise put the car into mainstream media.  The only hold up to not owning one at this very moment is the fact that Nissan never imported the car (or a similar model) to the US.  A few companies like Motorex and Kaizo have tried to come to the aid of the enthusiast and import these cars with varying success and levels of legality.  However, they have since been closed by "The Man" and cars have been seized not only from the companies but also from owners who have already taken delivery and paid these companies.

Seized Nissan Skyline GTR on autonewspaper.com

With the Feds in the know about the whole Skyline importation business, I figured importing a car, any foreign car, legally sounds like the most prudent course of action.  The place to start is the NHTSA's list of eligible non-conforming vehicles.  If a car isn't on this list, it can't be imported for normal street use.  There are other loopholes like "off-road use" and "show and display" cars but we're enthusiasts and want to be able to drive our dream car whenever we want. The list is populated with a lot of boring cars and most of the interesting ones already have US equivalents.  That's what I kept thinking until I noticed this:


I'll give you a minute to collect yourselves...

autonews.fr

Previous to finding this buried treasure, I thought the closest thing to a Cossie in the US was the Merkur XR4Ti which seems like a distant cousin who was plagued with asthma.  Granted, the Merkur has similar looks to the Escort but it's missing that crucial piece of the puzzle that is so coveted by enthusiasts...performance.  While the XR4Ti (try to keep saying that while telling an anecdote) packs 145 horsepower out of its 2.3 liter turbo four, the Ford can brag about its 227 horsepower, smaller 2.0 liter turbocharged four-pot, and sub-3000 pound curb weight.  That 227 horsepower makes its way to the pavement via a WRC-like all-wheel drive system unlike the XR's rear-wheel drive.  Add in the pedigree of a homologated race special and we have a rolling piece of history that any enthusiast would love to just catch a glimpse of.

wrc-cosworth.org

Now, I'm not about to claim that I know everything about importing one of these gems but here is the little bit that I have uncovered.  The government works in coordination with a few specifically chosen Registered Importers, or RIs.  These guys are allowed to bring the car over and legalize it with proper emissions and crash paraphernalia.  You should be able to find a list of these shops with a Google search.  What I don't know is who's in charge of shipping the car, the cost of everything, or what kinds of documentation is needed.

Ya, I know.  That's not much to work with but it's a place to start.  As for myself, I'm going to wait and pray that the Skyline can somehow make it into this country.  Much like that leper, I'd give an arm and a leg for one.