Iħjut Test tal-mega tal-bokka sħun modifikat

L-irfinar ta 'fetħa sħuna jintensifika l-gost jew jaħraqha f'cinder? Aħna nieħdu Focus ST sintonizzat, Astra VXR, Megane Renaultsport u Mazda 3 MPS biex insiru nafuCast moħħok lura tużżana snin. Ir-re tat-tfaqqis sħun mhux ikkontestat - il-Peugeot 306 GTI-6 - għadu kemm qabeż bil-kbir fil-parkeġġ il-kbir fis-sema. Bi fizzing 167bhp mill-aspirat naturali tiegħu 2. Magna twin-cam ta '0 litri u sitt gerijiet 'il quddiem, żammet b'mod konvinċenti l-art għolja tal-fetħa sħuna.
Sentejn wara jara l-Ford Focus RS 212bhp u l-210bhp Seat Leon Cupra R, u titwieled razza ġdida kollha ta 'fetħa iper sħuna, li tmut bħal organiżmu skerz maż-żmien fil-ġganti qattiela tal-lum; 250bhp sar ir-rekwiżit minimu f'din il-klassi.
Weve ġabar xi eżempji sintonizzati tar-razza attwali biex janalizzahom kontra l-arloġġ u tul it-toroq B tipikament skomdi.
L-Mk3 Ford Focus ST huwa minn Superchips ibbażati f'Buckingham, kumpanija li ilha teżisti fin-negozju tal-irfinar tal-ġestjoni tal-magna mis-snin 80. Dan l-aġġornament tal-Istadju 2 (li jiswa 1446) fih egżost Miltek sħiħ mit-turbo lura, inkluż qattus sportiv bi fluss għoli u filtru tal-arja ta 'sostituzzjoni. L-immappjar huwa implimentat mid-ditti Kompjuter li jinżamm fl-idejn, li jippermetti lill-klijenti jaqilbu bejn il-mapep infushom u jirċievu aġġornamenti fuq l-internet. Superchips jiddikjara quċċata ta 'enerġija ġdida ta' 292bhp (minn 247bhp) u 332lb pied f'2115rpm biss.
Il-Mazda 3 MPS ġejja minn BBR GTI fi Brackley, iżda minħabba li dimostratur tal-BBRs mhuwiex disponibbli, aħna ġejna mislufa karozza tal-klijenti. Din il-konverżjoni tal-Istadju 2, fiha remap, downpipe tal-egżost bi fluss għoli u qattus sportiv u pompa tal-fjuwil bi fluss ogħla u pajpijiet tad-dħul. Hija l-unika karozza hawn li għandha modifiki għat-turbo. Flimkien mat-2. Karatteristiċi kbar u brawny tal-magna MZR ta '3 litri, l-istqarrijiet huma 350bhp u 368lb pied li jinstema' fis-selvaġġ.
Madankollu, din il-karozza ġiet ibbukkjata għal turbocharger akbar (u aġġornament sħiħ tas-sospensjoni) wara li wed saqha u, fl-opinjoni tal-BBRs, l-intercooler immuntat fuq quddiem (għall-kuntrarju ta 'l-istandard immuntat fuq) mgħammar mis-sid iweġġa' l-outputs iddikjarati u r-rispons tat-throttle meta kkombinat ma 'turbo ta' daqs standard. Ara sew. Kif inhu, il-mods tal-magna jiswew 2890.
K-Tec Racings Renault Megane RS 250 isegwi r-rotta standard ta 'remap flimkien ma' filtru tal-arja ta 'sostituzzjoni u egżost ġdid tad-dahar tal-qtates, iżda fih ukoll intercooler ġdid. It-talbiet huma 295-300bhp u 320lb pied, b'daqs 80lb pied aktar mill-karozza standard f'2600rpm. Il-prezz għal dan, inkluż fitting u sena garanzija, huwa 1691. Sfortunatament, K-Tecs Nitron dimostratur aġġustabbli mgħammar b'coil-over ma kienx disponibbli, għalhekk kienu qed jużaw karozza privata bil-modifiki ta 'hawn fuq flimkien ma' roti tal-liga ta '19-il pulzier u molol li jbaxxu Eibach.
Fl-aħħarnett, hemm it-Thorney Motorsport Vauxhall Astra VXR-R, edizzjoni limitata ta '100, għalkemm partijiet ta' rfinar huma disponibbli separatament. Fuq in-naħa tal-magna, hemm egżost ta 'tliet pulzieri b'qattus sportiv, filtru tal-arja tal-pannell ta' sostituzzjoni u remap, li jagħti 320bhp u 310lb pied.
Thorney żammet id-dampers standard li jistgħu jinqalbu iżda waħħlet il-molol tagħha stess u rranġat il-ġeometrija tas-sospensjoni, u biddlet ir-roti tal-fabbrika ta '20 pulzier għal xi verżjonijiet eħfef. Importanti minn kulħadd, il-VXR-R huwa disponibbli minn kwalunkwe negozjant Vauxhall, b'garanzija tul il-ħajja. Int tħallas 3749 għall-privileġġ.
F'linja dritta
M'hemm l-ebda ċaħda ta 'tnedija ta' 0-60mph tipprovdi barometru ta 'aċċelerazzjoni mifhum universalment. Iżda bi qasma bejn vetturi privati u demos tal-kumpanija, wiċċ tar-runway żejtni u kważi ffriżat, la jidher ġust u lanqas partikolarment żvelat li tipprova rebbiegħa dan il-kwartett minn fuq il-linja kontra l-arloġġ.
Allura aħna ddeċidejna li nimxu 'l bogħod mill-mistrieħ u mbagħad nagħtuh il-lott fit-tieni ger qabel l-20mph. Minn hemm, ikun ċatt mill-gerijiet sat-tmiem tar-runway jinżel kbir, nisperaw għal madwar 150mph. Żid ukoll ġirjiet fil-gear fuq żidiet stabbiliti (30-50mph, 40-60mph, 50-70mph) fit-tielet, ir-raba 'u l-ħames, biex tikseb idea ta' flessibilità tad-dinja reali.
L-ewwel nett huwa l-Fokus. Hemm aktar mill-offbeat snort timla l-kabina, iżda mhux daqshekk raucous tagħha li tkun irritanti. Minkejja tnedija ta 'divertiment, l-introduzzjoni tat-torque kollu fit-tieni ger għandha t-tajers ta' quddiem fuq il-cusp ta 'wheelspin. 30-70mph jintbagħat f'4. 9sec, ftit għaxra fuq iċ-ċifri tat-test tat-triq ta 'Autocar, u huwa kważi nofs sekonda aktar mgħaġġel minn 80-100mph qabel ma jkanta 150mph ġenwin.
Madankollu, iċ-ċifri fil-gear juru l-aktar bidu. Iż-żidiet kollha fit-tielet ger huma kważi nofs sekonda aktar mgħaġġla minn dawk tal-karozza tat-test tat-triq, u l-linearità mhux imqabbla tal-figuri fir-raba' u l-ħames turi li l-ST għandha l-aktar powerband wiesgħa u li tista' tintuża.
Wara li tħoss il-forza tal-aċċelerazzjoni Mazdas mis-sit tas-sewwieqa, huwa xokk li tiskopri li tieħu sa 100mph biex tbiddel mill-ġdid il-Fokus. Dan huwa parzjalment riżultat tal-kunsinna fords brazen low-revs iżda parzjalment kif, bħalissa kkonfigurat, it-3 MPS għandu wisq dewmien turbo.
B'inqas gearchanges meħtieġa b'veloċitajiet ta 'tliet figuri, il-Mazda hija mitfija bħal greyhound u taqbeż b'mod komdu 150mph - kważi ħames sekondi qabel il-Ford li qed tikber. Iż-żidiet fit-tielet ger huma malajr daqs kull ħaġa, iżda gerijiet ogħla juru n-naħa tal-laggy tal-kunsinna, b'mod partikolari l-ħin yawning 30-50mph fil-ħames.
Il-K-Tec Renault hija ħaġa salvaġġa. Il-vuċi unikament nasali tal-magna F4RT tinġieb fuq quddiem hawn kemm jekk tixtieqha kif ukoll jekk le. Huwa l-aktar mgħaġġel għal 100mph, iżda suprisingly jonqos milli jilħaq 150mph. Huwa jikseb ukoll l-inqas ħin ta 'inkrement fil-gerijiet: 2. 3sec għal 30-50mph fit-tielet, li jissarraf bħala potenzjal tal-biża' u ta 'overtaking immedjat. Il-figuri fir-raba' u l-ħames juru li għandu s-saqajn fuq il-Ford fuq spinta sħiħa, iżda mhux l-istess tieqa ta' rispons wiesa' skerz.
Fuq l-Astra VXR-R, li, minħabba li għadha fl-iżvilupp, għadha mhix qed tagħti t-tip ta 'figuri mwiegħda. Huwa qrib il-Ford u Renault sa 60mph, u saħansitra għandu vantaġġ fuq il-Mazda, iżda mbagħad jaqa 'dejjem aktar lura, sempliċement jilħaq 140mph qabel ma jintervjeni l-ibbrejkjar ta' emerġenza tagħna. Għandu wkoll l-iktar ħinijiet bil-mod fil-gerijiet, ikun xi jkun l-inkrement. Madankollu, huwa assolutament iwaqqa 'l-VXR standard li nġiebu flimkien għal paragun.
Fit-triq
Fit-toroq ta 'wara Leicestershires serpentine, fid-dlam u b'temperaturi madwar l-iffriżar, il-Ford huwa maniac. It-tajers mhux tad-ditta tagħha li jċapċpu ċ-ċansijiet tagħha li tipprovdi pass rapidu bejn il-pajjiżi. Irid idur kullimkien, u ċ-ċentri tal-esperjenza dwar kemm int deft b'sieqek il-leminija. L-immappjar il-ġdid jippermetti modulazzjoni preċiża tat-throttle, iżda m'hemm l-ebda ċaħda li t-torque jidħol malajr. Jekk dan l-unruliness jiġix mit-tajers, jew minħabba li m'għandux struts Revoknuckle u diff ta 'żlieq limitat huwa diffiċli li tgħid. Madankollu, l-ST huwa apparat ta 'overtaking imbarazzanti effettiv, kif urew il-ħinijiet fil-gear tagħna.
Il-Mazda hija bl-istess mod, jekk għal raġunijiet differenti. Id-diff ta' żlieq limitat jagħmel minn kollox biex irażżan it-torque, iżda f'dawn il-kundizzjonijiet ix-xamma tiegħu minn xifer għal-linja ċentrali u jeħtieġ id soda. It-3 MPS qatt ma kien il-fetħa sħuna favorita tagħna meta ġdida, iżda dan il-50,000 miler iħossu sponża u vag, iddominat mill-qawwa. Wara li ppruvajt dimostratur tad-dar sħiħa tal-BBRs bid-dampers Koni, naf li huwa titjib enormi fuq l-offerta ta 'Mazdas iżda, kif inhu, dan huwa aktar dwar eċċitament aċċellerattiv.
Ir-Renault hija saħansitra aktar aggressiva mis-soltu b'dan il-grunt immedjat fuq il-vit. Li l-karozza timmaniġġaha rebħet sorpriża lil kull min hu familjari mat-talenti tal-karozzi bażi. Id-ditta tagħha u bla kompromessi, imneħħi tajjeb mit-tip ta 'esperjenza offruta minn Golf GTI. Iżda huwa wkoll l-iktar gost li ssuq madwar Bruntingthorpes ċirkwit sempliċi u effettiv ħafna fit-triq.
L-akbar sorpriża hija l-VXR-R. Waqgħa ta 'sospensjoni ta' 40mm tinstema 'bħall-aħħar ħaġa li teħtieġ l-Astra, iżda r-rati riveduti tar-rebbiegħa jaħdmu tajjeb mad-dampers u anke l-iktar setting sod issa jista' jintuża fit-triq. L-immappjar il-ġdid neħħa r-rispons standard tat-throttle petulant tal-karozzi. Ħalliha f'Normal u l-Astra tgħaddi, u b'hekk tneħħi l-agħar dips f'daqqa fit-triq. Mhux daqshekk qawwi daqs ir-Renault, iżda eżatt hawn, f'dawn il-kundizzjonijiet u biex tidħol id-dar, attraenti ħafna tagħha.
Allura x'tgħallimna? Mazda 3 MPS użata hija bażi ta 'qsim għall-ħolqien ta' fetħa sħuna ta '160mph plus; Twaħħalx tajers naff ma 'karozza li tista' tikser 150mph bil-faċilità; il-Megane RS huwa saħansitra aħjar bi ftit aktar squirt; l-Astra VXR għandha potenzjal. . .
U madankollu, għall-veloċità kollha tagħhom, dan it-tip ta 'fetħa sħuna sejjer f'cul-de-sac ta' żvilupp? Shod umilment, sena-2000 standard Subaru Impreza Turbo kien jaqbeżhom f'dawn il-kundizzjonijiet, u għalkemm huma aktar malajr, mhux neċessarjament joffru d-divertiment ta 'missirijiethom b'nofs il-qawwa.
U issa, bil-wasla tat-30k BMW M135i - li huwa apprezzabbli aktar mgħaġġel minn anke dawn il-karozzi sintonizzati - il-fetħa sħuna ta 'qawwa għolja / spiża għolja tinsab taħt pressjoni sinifikanti minn fuq. Madankollu, tixtri użat u tixgħel b'mod intelliġenti u diffiċli li taqbel mal-pakkett ta 'prestazzjoni u prattiċità offruta hawn.

Does tuning a hot hatch intensify the fun or burn it into a cinder? We take a tuned Focus ST, Astra VXR, Megane Renaultsport and a Mazda 3 MPS to find outCast your mind back a dozen years. The undisputed hot hatch king – the Peugeot 306 GTI-6 – has just deftly oversteered into the great car park in the sky. With a fizzing 167bhp from its naturally aspirated 2. 0-litre twin-cam engine and six forward gears, it convincingly held the hot hatch high ground.
Two years later sees the 212bhp Ford Focus RS and the 210bhp Seat Leon Cupra R, and an all-new breed of hyper hot hatch is born, mutating like a freak organism over time into the giant-killers of today; 250bhp has become the minimum requirement in this class.
Weve gathered some tuned examples of the current breed to analyse them against the clock and along typically awkward B-roads.
The Mk3 Ford Focus ST is from Buckingham-based Superchips, a company that has existed in the engine management tuning business since the 1980s. This Stage 2 upgrade (costing 1446) features a full Miltek exhaust from the turbo back, including a high-flow sports cat and a replacement air filter. The mapping is implemented by the firms Bluefin hand-held computer, which allows customers to switch between maps themselves and receive updates over the internet. Superchips claims a new power peak of 292bhp (up from 247bhp) and 332lb ft at just 2115rpm.
The Mazda 3 MPS hails from BBR GTI in Brackley, but because a BBRs demonstrator isn't available, weve been lent a customers car. This Stage 2 conversion, features a remap, high-flow exhaust downpipe and sports cat and a higher-flow fuel pump and inlet hoses. It is the only car here to have modifications to the turbo. Coupled with the 2. 3-litre MZR engine's big, brawny characteristics, the claims are 350bhp and a wild-sounding 368lb ft.
However, this car was booked in for a larger turbocharger (and full suspension upgrade) after wed driven it and, in BBRs opinion, the front-mounted (as opposed to standard top-mounted) intercooler fitted by the owner hurts the claimed outputs and throttle response when combined with a standard-sized turbo. Well see. As is, the engine mods cost 2890.
K-Tec Racings Renault Megane RS 250 follows the standard route of remap coupled with a replacement air filter and new cat-back exhaust, but also features a new intercooler. The claims are 295-300bhp and 320lb ft, with as much as 80lb ft more than the standard car at 2600rpm. The price for this, including fitting and a years warranty, is 1691. Unfortunately, K-Tecs Nitron adjustable coil-over suspension-equipped demonstrator was unavailable, so were using a privately owned car with the above modifications plus 19-inch alloy wheels and Eibach lowering springs.
Finally, theres the Thorney Motorsport Vauxhall Astra VXR-R, a limited edition of 100, although tuning parts are available separately. On the engine side, theres a three-inch exhaust with sports cat, a replacement panel air filter and a remap, giving 320bhp and 310lb ft.
Thorney has kept the standard switchable dampers but fitted its own springs and tweaked the suspension geometry, changing the factory 20-inch wheels for some lighter versions. Importantly of all, the VXR-R is available from any Vauxhall dealer, with a lifetime warranty. Youll pay 3749 for the privilege.
In a straight line
Theres no denying a 0-60mph launch provides a universally-understood barometer of acceleration. But with a split between privately owned vehicles and company demos, a greasy, near-freezing runway surface, it seems neither fair nor particularly revealing to try to spring this quartet off the line against the clock.
So weve decided to stroll away from rest and then give it the lot in second gear before 20mph. From there, itll be flat out through the gears until the end of the runway looms large, hopefully to about 150mph. Well add in-gear runs over set increments (30-50mph, 40-60mph, 50-70mph) in third, fourth and fifth, to get an idea of real-world flexibility.
First up is the Focus. Theres more of the offbeat snort filling the cabin, but its not so raucous to be irritating. Despite a leisurely launch, introducing all the torque in second gear has the front tyres on the cusp of wheelspin. 30-70mph is dispatched in 4. 9sec, a couple of tenths up on Autocar's road test figures, and it is nearly half a second quicker from 80-100mph before snagging a genuine 150mph.
However, the in-gear figures prove the most startling. All the increments in third gear are nearly half a second quicker than those of the road test car, and the unmatched linearity of the figures across fourth and fifth shows the ST has the widest and most usable powerband.
After feeling the force of the Mazdas acceleration from the drivers seat, its a shock to discover that it takes until 100mph for it to overhaul the Focus. Thats partly a result of the Fords brazen low-revs delivery but partly as, currently configured, the 3 MPS has too much turbo lag.
With fewer gearchanges required at three-figure speeds, the Mazda is off like a greyhound and comfortably exceeds 150mph - almost five seconds before the growling Ford. Third-gear increments are as quick as anything, but higher gears show the laggy side of the delivery, particularly the yawning 30-50mph time in fifth.
The K-Tec Renault is a savage thing. The F4RT engine's uniquely nasally voice is brought to the fore here whether you like it or not. Its the quickest to 100mph, but suprisingly fails to reach 150mph. It also scores the lowest in-gear increment time: 2. 3sec for 30-50mph in third, which translates as awesome and immediate overtaking potential. The figures in fourth and fifth show that it has the legs on the Ford on full boost, but not the same freakishly wide window of response.
On to the Astra VXR-R, which, because its still in development, is not yet giving the sort of figures promised. Its close to the Ford and Renault until 60mph, and even holds a lead over the Mazda, but then falls steadily further behind, just reaching 140mph before our emergency braking intervenes. It also has the slowest in-gear times, whatever the increment. However, it absolutely demolishes the standard VXR weve brought along for comparison.
On the road
On Leicestershires serpentine back roads, in the dark and with temperatures around freezing, the Ford is a maniac. Its non-brand tyres that scupper its chances of providing rapid cross-country pace. It wants to wheelspin everywhere, and the experience centres on how deft you are with your right foot. The new mapping allows accurate modulation of the throttle, but theres no denying that the torque comes in rapidly. Whether this unruliness comes from the tyres, or because it lacks Revoknuckle struts and a limited-slip diff is hard to say. Nevertheless, the ST is an embarrassingly effective overtaking device, as our in-gear times proved.
The Mazda is similarly wayward, if for different reasons. The limited-slip diff does its best to contain the torque, but in these conditions its sniffing from verge to centre line and requires a firm hand. The 3 MPS was never our favourite hot hatch when new, but this 50,000 miler feels spongy and vague, dominated by the power. Having tried BBRs full-house demonstrator with Koni dampers, I know that its a massive improvement on Mazdas offering but, as is, this is more about accelerative thrills.
The Renault is even more aggressive than usual with this immediate grunt on tap. That the car handles it wont surprise anyone familiar with the base cars talents. Its firm and uncompromising, a good deal removed from the kind of experience offered by a Golf GTI. But it's also the most fun to drive around Bruntingthorpes simple circuit and very effective out on the road.
The biggest surprise is the VXR-R. A 40mm suspension drop sounds like the last thing the Astra needs, but the revised spring rates work well with the dampers and even the firmest setting is now usable on the road. The new mapping has removed the standard cars petulant throttle response. Leave it in Normal and the Astra flows, damping out the worst of the sudden dips in the road. Its not as invigorating as the Renault, but right here, in these conditions and to get home in, its very appealing.
So what have we learnt? A used Mazda 3 MPS is a cracking basis for creating a 160mph-plus hot hatch; dont fit naff tyres to a car that can breach 150mph with ease; the Megane RS is even better with a bit more squirt; the Astra VXR has potential. . .
And yet, for all their speed, is this type of hot hatch heading into a developmental cul-de-sac? A humbly shod, year-2000 standard Subaru Impreza Turbo would have outrun them in these conditions, and although theyre faster, they dont necessarily offer the entertainment of their forefathers with half the power.
And now, with the arrival of the 30k BMW M135i – which is appreciably faster than even these tuned cars – the high-power/high-cost hot hatch is under significant pressure from above. Nevertheless, buy used and tune intelligently and its hard to match the package of performance and practicality on offer here.