Maxxd.com – Modified and Performance Car News

  • The Bugatti Bolide’s air scoop was designed like a golf ball

    The Bugatti Bolide track car has some radical design features, including a massive roof-mounted air scoop with an unusual design inspiration. It turns out the engineers borrowed an aerodynamic trick from the humble golf ball.

    Golf balls are remarkably aerodynamic. Their dimpled surface allows them to travel about twice as far as a smooth ball, according to Bugatti. That’s because the dimples create turbulence on the surface of the ball, allowing air to adhere better and as a result reduce drag. One of Bugatti’s engineers decided to apply the same principle to a car.

    Bugatti Bolide dimpled roof scoop

    Bugatti Bolide dimpled roof scoop

    This engineer began experimenting with dimpled surfaces as part of a master’s thesis, adding dimples to the cooling channels of a 3D-printed titanium brake caliper Bugatti developed. For the Bolide, a “morphable outer skin” was used on the scoop. It stays smooth at low speeds, but grows dimples at higher speeds. It includes 60 individual elements that can move up to 10 millimeters, and achieves its maximum effectiveness at speeds above 74 mph.

    The result is 10% less drag and 17% less lift, the automaker said. As with any track car, though, aerodynamics aren’t just about reducing drag. The Bolide’s rear wing generates 3,968 pounds of downforce at 198 mph, while the front wing generates 1,764 pounds of downforce at that speed.

    Bugatti Bolide

    Bugatti Bolide

    While not based on any previous Bugatti, the Bolide uses the 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W-16 engine, 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, and all-wheel-drive system from the Chiron. In the Bolide, the W-16 delivers 1,824 horsepower and 1,365 pound-feet of torque on 110-octane racing fuel.

    Based on Bugatti’s estimates, the Bolide could top 310 mph and also lap Le Mans’ Circuit de la Sarthe racetrack in 3:07.1, or about 10 seconds quicker than the current race record set by the Toyota TS050 Hybrid at the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans. Bugatti also claims the Bolide would lap the Nürburgring in 5:23.1—not far off the 5:19.55 lap record set by the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo in 2018—thanks in part to golf balls.

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  • Deep dive: Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar

    It’s hard to imagine a modern supercar competing in the Paris-Dakar Rally, but that’s exactly what the Porsche 959 did back in the 1980s. This video from Porsche’s “Top Five” YouTube series explains how the 959 morphed from supercar to rally car.

    The all-wheel-drive 959 was designed with an eye toward Group B rallying, but the category was eliminated before the car was ready. Instead, Porsche shifted focus to the grueling Dakar Rally.

    After some success with all-wheel-drive versions of the 911 in the Dakar Rally, Porsche entered three prototype 959s in the 1985 running. These cars had similar bodywork to the road car (which didn’t start production until 1986), and a simplified version of its all-wheel-drive system, but with 911-spec engines. All three failed to finish.

    In 1986, Porsche returned to the Dakar with upgraded 959 rally cars. They sported a more sophisticated all-wheel-drive system with multiple modes, while a 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 similar to the 959 road-car engine replaced the previous naturally aspirated 3.2-liter flat-6.

    1985 Paris-Dakar Porsche 959 to be sold at auction

    1985 Paris-Dakar Porsche 959 to be sold at auction

    The Dakar-spec engine made about 400 horsepower, down from the road car’s 444 hp. This was done to account for the unavailability of high-octane fuel along the desert race course, according to Porsche. The automaker also fitted larger fuel tanks, and reinforced suspension.

    Porsche once again entered three cars for the 1986 Paris-Dakar Rally, which finished first, second and sixth. That was enough for the automaker which decided to then retire from desert rallying.

    With its emphasis on electronics and lightweight materials, the 959 road car helped set the template for the modern supercar. Meanwhile, the Paris-Dakar rally cars are now likely too valuable to ever see dirt and sand again. Even one of the unsuccessful 1985 cars sold for nearly $6 million at auction in 2018.

    If you want to delve further into Porsche history, check out the automaker’s “Top Five” videos for rally cars and secret prototypes.

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  • MODIFIED AUDI A3: LORD OF THE STANCE – FC THROWBACK

    Welcome to this week’s FC Throwback, where we take a look back at some of our favourite previous feature cars. This week it’s Jason Allen’s modified Audi A3 from 2014…

    Feature taken from Fast Car magazine. Words Nick Turner

    MODIFIED AUDI A3 8P

    The term wheel whore used to describe someone who has a severe addiction to hoarding, buying, selling or swapping seriously awesome hoopage. Attracted to shiny round-shaped objects, sometimes in a sexual manner. Based on this, we can safely say that our mate Jason Allen is the king of the wheel whores, and lord of the stance!

    MODIFIED AUDI A3 8P

    He’s not shy about showing off his motor either. This modified A3 swaggers around the show scene like a dirty little slut-hoe for all to see! This isn’t the first time we’ve had a go on the Audi. Not so long ago it was featured with its black coat and pink Rotiform TMB rims, now it’s back for seconds!

    MODIFIED AUDI A3 8P

    Jason had the Audi back down with the lads at Reflex before our snapper even had chance to pack away his camera. Mr Allen isn’t one to do things by halves either, it was all or nothing for this modified Audi A3! The standard bumpers were taken off and replaced with Audi S3 parts, but not before a touch of smoothing. To complete the kit, they added a set of skirts and an RS3 front grille.

    With plans to fit an even wider set of rims, the front and rear arches have both been flared out. The real transformation came by way of a complete colour change to grey. “I’ve always been a fan of grey cars and I wanted something similar to Abarth grey that Matt at Reflex has on his Lupo, it went from there,” Jason tells us.

    MODIFIED AUDI A3 8P

    Filling out those flared arches are a set of staggered 9x19in and 9x10in Rotiform Race TMBs with plenty of dish! These are the 14th set of wheels to grace the Audi and when you consider he’s only owned it for two years, that’s pretty impressive whoring!

    MODIFIED AUDI A3 8P

    It doesn’t stop at an exterior overhaul either! Luke at Plush has once again worked the shit out of that needle and thread to create one of the most beautiful interiors we’ve ever seen! Up front sit a pair of Recaro CS Sportster seats finished in bright pink with matching door cards, gear gaitor and centre console.

    MODIFIED AUDI A3 8P

    The real change is in the back though. The rear seats have made way for a killer install! A pair of five-gallon air tanks have been mounted on custom frames just behind the front seats. Feeding the tanks are a collection stainless steel hard lines that add even more detail to the build. Beneath the air tanks sits a top-of-the range Audison Thesis amp that’s been sunk into the false floor. The install continues on right up to the boot with an Audison bit-one processor and iPad mounted onto more framework, perfect for Jason’s regular Facebook updates! The whole lot sits on a bed of black Alcantara. Smashing.

    MODIFIED AUDI A3 8P

    So there you have it. It’s not easy to bag yourself a second feature on the same car but, Jason has reinvented his Audi, making it even bigger and better than before. For that we doff our caps and wish Jason and his glorious chariot farewell, until next time – because it will be back!

    MODIFIED AUDI A3 8P

    TECH SPEC AUDI A3 8P

    styling
    Audi S3 bumper, sideskirts & rear bumper, RS3 front grille, smoothed off aerial, shortened rear plate recess, flared front and rear arches, full re-spray in grey

    chassis
    Staggered 9x19in and 9x10in Rotiform Race TMBs, Airlift Superslam bags, Tarox 6-pot brake upgrade

    tuning
    1.6-litre TDI, remap

    interior
    TT RS steering wheel, Recaro CS Sportster seats, rear seats removed, iPad 4 integrated into air install, Dakota digital gauge mounted into vent, full re-trim in bright pink and Alcantara, Plush Automotive custom air install, colour-coded 5-gallon air tanks, Accuair E-level management with custom illumination, stainless steel hard lines, twin 480cc compressors

    audio
    iPad mini integrated into front dashboard, Audison Thesis amp and sub, Voce speakers, bit one processor

    thanks
    Plush Automotive – they always give 110% effort into making my car the best it can be and always make the silly deadlines possible, Brian and all the boys at Rotiform for all the custom splits they’ve made for my car, Dooka Detailing for all the endless hours he’s put into the car, Matt and Jonny at Reflex Auto Design for doing a stunning job on the re-spray and all the other work, Specialist Tyres in Letchworth who supply & fit my tyres for me!

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