BLOG CATEGORIES

turbocharged

  1. Civilized Pipelines: Intercooler Piping R&D, Part 3: The Fruit of our Labors

    Civilized Pipelines: Intercooler Piping R&D, Part 3: The Fruit of our Labors

    This is truly the age of forced induction. A clear indication of the trend came with the release of Honda's 10th generation Civic. After decades of abstaining from giving the intake manifold any extra assistance, we've been delivered a lifetime of naturally aspirated 4 and 6-cylinder engines, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The turbo-less times lead to some truly remarkable engines from the Japanese giant, but enthusiasts craving the extra boost and whine from a turbo or supercharger were left to their own devices.

    While this might not be a 10th Gen, the 8th Gen is a popular platform for aftermarket forced induction kits. Owner Ian Palmeri wanted to ensure that what was going on under the hood matched the outward appearance of his FG2.
    While this
    Continue Reading »
  2. Hot-Hatch Renaissance - 2007-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Direct Fit Catch Can R&D Part 2 - Blow-By Verified

    Hot-Hatch Renaissance - 2007-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Direct Fit Catch Can R&D Part 2 - Blow-By Verified

    It's been a long time since we saw the first iteration of Mazda's return to hot hatches, over a decade in fact. A lot has changed since then. The first difference you might notice is that the Mazdaspeed division is nowhere to be found, and instead, the MZR Turbo lives on as the Ford EcoBoost. For the MS3's that are still on the road racking up the miles, they might be seeing all sorts of replacement parts, but also a decade's worth of carbon buildup.

    110617_NLT_MS3_BCC_WEB_2

    If you recall from our last installment, the Speed 3 challenged the seasoned hatchback veteran, VW, with their own version of the turbocharged, direct-injected 4-cylinder that boasts more power and equipment than just about all  its competitors. However, if you are knowledgeable on the first wave of this combination of

    Continue Reading »
  3. Bring a Jacket- 2016+ Honda Civic 1.5T Performance Intercooler R&D Part 3 - Production Sample

    Bring a Jacket- 2016+ Honda Civic 1.5T Performance Intercooler R&D Part 3 - Production Sample

    It's autumn and, more importantly, it's the start of prime boosting season.  The cool, dense air that's characteristic of the changing seasons is much easier to compress and cram into the cylinders, while the lower ambient temperatures help the intercooler. Even with the stock set up, your tenth generation Civic has a little extra pep in its step. But there's no reason to settle for just a little pep when you can get more.

    Dan's new intercooler design brought to life, and fresh our of the box from our factory.
    Our new intercooler design brought to life, and fresh out of the box from our factory.

    Continue Reading »
  4. Defending the King - 2017 Honda Civic Type R Direct Fit Catch Can R&D Part 1 - Stock Review

    Defending the King - 2017 Honda Civic Type R Direct Fit Catch Can R&D Part 1 - Stock Review

    It's finally here. After 20 years, and a few extra months of waiting, the Civic Type R has made its way to the States. I have to say, if the standard Civic wasn't striking enough, the Type R has the qualities to make it one scalding hot hatchback. While some of the components carried over from the last generation, including some of the aerodynamics and the return of the mighty K20C1, the FK8 actually went on a bit of a diet and received not only a cosmetic makeover, but also a suspension overhaul fit for the new king of the Nürburgring. It's easy to see why so many are willing to pay thousands over MSRP for the chance to call this new Civic their own.

    Something about that wing lets you know that the CTR means business.
    Something about that wing lets
    Continue Reading »
  5. Intercooler Sandwich - 2015+ VW MK7 GTI/Golf R, Audi A/S3 Intercooler R&D Part 1 - Stock Review

    Intercooler Sandwich - 2015+ VW MK7 GTI/Golf R, Audi A/S3 Intercooler R&D Part 1 - Stock Review

    The Golf GTI has been one of the most revered hot hatchbacks since its inception in the mid-1970s. While it was immediately a hit in Europe, and especially the UK, we didn't get the chance to experience Volkswagen's ingenious combination of efficiency and speed until the early 80's with the "Rabbit" GTI. The MK1's screaming 98 horsepower engine boasting Bosch's latest fuel injection technology, combined with crisp and responsive suspension, was enough to draw in a huge following. With that following came an explosion in aftermarket parts for these vehicles, from wheels to lowering kits, and just about any other trick to squeeze every drop of performance from the naturally aspirated motors equipped through the next two generations.

    Continue Reading »
  6. Cooler Than Winterfell - Intercooler R&D, Part 3: Does It Perform?

    Cooler Than Winterfell - Intercooler R&D, Part 3: Does It Perform?

    We've noticed that the 2013+ Ford Focus ST has little wiggle room when it comes to gaining power strictly from bolt-on parts. Even with stage 3 tunes, not many ST's out there see horsepower numbers beyond 300-350hp. That barrier can be surpassed with the use of ethanol or a bigger turbo, but on a stock turbo and pump gas, those numbers aren't going too far north.

    With our intercooler, we wanted to bring on some positive effects for the power in this stubborn 2.0L engine. While power is important, we also needed to monitor the outlet temperatures with a visual analysis of heat transfer across the core.

    Setting up our prototype for some dyno runs
    Setting up our prototype for some dyno runs

    One of our newer pieces of equipment is a neat little

    Continue Reading »
  7. Bring A Jacket: Intercooler R&D, Part 2: Core Framework

    Bring A Jacket: Intercooler R&D, Part 2: Core Framework

    Bigger is better. This is the American ideal that has been the foundation of many in the automotive world. However, in modern times, it's all about consolidation; next-level vehicle technology comes in smaller packages, but broadens the ranges of performance potential. Our engineers shared the modern vision when designing an intercooler for the 2016 Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo. You can't just throw a huge core on this car and call it a day. With a cramped engine bay and the factory intercooler, radiator, and air conditioning condenser tightly bundled together, it's vital we get crafty. It's time to take the road less traveled with the core design to properly surge the maximum amount of cooled air into your Earth Dreams motor.

    Comparison of our core frame vs. the factory intercooler unit
    Continue Reading »
  8. Cooler Than Winterfell - Intercooler R&D, Part 2: Prototype Core

    Cooler Than Winterfell - Intercooler R&D, Part 2: Prototype Core

    It looks like mother nature is giving the tell-tale signs to us gearheads that it's time to get ready for track season. The weather is getting warmer and tracks all around the country have kicked off calendar seasons with maiden 2017 events already in full swing. A common mod many of us who are boosted, especially ST owners, want during this time of year is the intercooler. The 2013+ Ford Focus ST features quality design for its the factory intercooler, but improved efficiency is something we like to target. In the last update, we talked about the shortcomings of the factory core and how we plan to make an even more efficient intercooler. Now that we have received our production samples for the first time, we can get into the details of the design plan and what our goals are to improve performance.

    Continue Reading »
  9. Ultimate Cooling - 2012-2016 BMW F2X/F3X Intercooler R&D Part 1 - Stock Review

    Ultimate Cooling - 2012-2016 BMW F2X/F3X Intercooler R&D Part 1 - Stock Review

    Mishimoto prides itself on the ability to improve the cooling systems on just about any vehicle that rolls through the garage door. Intercoolers have become our bread and butter at this point. That being said, BMW's are notoriously over-engineered, so improving on the meticulous German design isn't going to be an easy task.

    It seems that the engineers at BMW wanted to make sure they provided the best equipment on their "Ultimate Driving Machine," which means tight spacing. Peeling the front bumper cover from our loaner 2014 335i M Sport reveals a space no bigger than a toaster oven. A tricky intercooler project lies ahead, but that's OK, because we're up to the challenge.

    The front fascia is secured on tight, but our engineer Steve, left, and project manager, Rob, make</body> " width="600" height="459">
    Continue Reading »
  10. ReSpiration Focal Point - Performance Intake R&D, Part 5: C'est Fini

    ReSpiration Focal Point - Performance Intake R&D, Part 5: C'est Fini

    This 2016+ Ford Focus RS Performance Air Intake is now available! Click here to check it out!

    Here it is, the final hoorah. The production sample of our intake kit for the 2016 Ford Focus RS is here at last. In the last update, we took you guys through what this intake sounds like with the help of some dyno runs; it sounds awesome and it made 11hp and 15ft-lbs of torque! I'm happy that you guys have stuck with me through the long development process, but there is a light at the end of this R&D tunnel. I know you guys want to see what the finished product looks like, so let's check it out.

    Continue Reading »
Page