Porsche 911 GT3 RS - What Downforce Is All About

Born On Racetrack:

Porsche is a name that goes hand in hand with motorsports and racing. With the inception of the new 911 GT3 RS, Porsche has upped the ante when it comes to building race cars for the road. The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is the ultimate expression of 911, built solely for track. Porsche incorporates the same 4.0L naturally flat 6 engine based on the 911 GT3 but with a slight power bump from 510 horsepower to 525 horsepower making it the most powerful GT3 RS to date. 

King Of Downforce:

The crowning glory, however, is the maximum use of every aerodynamic trick in the book, resulting in 860 kg of downforce at 177 mph which can only mean one thing, setting fiery lap times on every track possible, thanks to the huge rear spoiler with Drag reduction system. It even holds a staggering lap time of 6.49.328, quicker than most supercars that cost twice as much. That said, it incorporates a high revving naturally aspirated 4.0 flat 6 engine which screams all the way upto 9000 rpm redline and is capable of rocketing from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds and takes only about 10.9 seconds to cover a quarter mile run, quite a serious weapon on tracks. The top speed, however, is restricted to 177 mph due to the huge F1 style rear wing. Porsche also offers carbon ceramic brakes as an option for impeccable braking abilities. 

Downforce Is The Key:

Moving on to design, the GT3 RS is unmistakably a race car from every angle. Every part, every duct and every shape is designed to generate maximum downforce at any given time. Porsche absolutely knows how it’s done when it comes to aerodynamics. It gets quite a significant makeover compared to the GT3. The front profile looks more aggressive with huge vents to create optimum downforce at the front. The vents on the front fenders help release high pressure air created on the wheels at high speed, therefore, reduces drag and creates a low pressure zone around the car and also helps with effective brake cooling. Inside, it is all pretty much bare bones for a Porsche because of it’s race worthy credentials. However, there is a lot of carbon fiber and alcantara bits on the dash, centre console and the doors to make it as light as possible. 

Overall, the 911 GT3 RS is Porsche’s answer to the more elusive supercars like the McLaren 750S, Lamborghini Huracan STO, and the Ferrari 488 Pista but only better. Despite short on power, the GT3 RS still dominate every state of the art supercars on tracks, owing to the colossal downforce, delivering precision handling and uncompromising lateral grip on any track. It is undeniably the greatest 911 ever made and the engineers in Stuttgart have taken the downforce game to a whole new level. Let’s not beat around the bush, this 911 GT3 RS is like the final boss when it comes to downforce game.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV - A Force Of Nature

 

Automobili Lamborghini is all about howling V12s and blowing people’s minds with their otherworldly design and looks. The perfect interpretation of it is the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV. The Murcielago was introduced in an era when supercars were all about drama, driving thrill and most importantly engines. Ever since its launch in 2003, it has been the pinnacle of V12 cars and this SV is the finest version of the Murcielago. What makes it even more special is its name SV (Super Veloce). The SV in its nameplate stands for “Superfast”. It is the ultimate track version of the standard Murcielago LP640. Only Lamborghini’s V12 track special cars are worthy of receiving this nameplate, and we think the Murcielago is the best SV ever known to man kind. 

On the design front, the front fascia looks like an angry bull that wants to charge right at you, so mean and angry. It also flaunts a clean side profile with the coolest rear end of any Lamborghini owing to it’s huge rear spoiler. All these design changes in the Murcielago SV makes it more aggressive and raging than the standard Murcielago LP640. Looks like it absolutely belongs in the bat cave. That said, the SV flaunts a naturally aspirated V12 motor just over your shoulder which not just produces colossal power figures but also a sound that would even make monsters run for their life. Only 350 units were planned to roll out of the factory but Lamborghini actually managed to build only 186 examples of the SV due to recession.

The beating heart of the Murcielago SV is a 6.5L Naturally aspirated V12 engine pumps out 661 horsepower and 660 Nm of torque at rpm. It is paired to a 6 speed automatic paddle shifter transmission. The cherry on top, however, is the fact a handful of examples came attached to the ultra rare 6 speed manual transmission which goes for a price that could even wipe out your bank balance. Speaking of performance, the SV is capable of rocketing from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds and maxes out at a staggering 210 mph. That said, this V12 motor is the final evolution of Lamborghini's original V12 configuration that started its life with the mighty Miura.

Lamborghini took the standard Murcielago, stripped out the interior, added more carbon inside out and a lighter exhaust to make the SV 100 kilograms lighter than the regular Murcielago, allowing for razor sharp handling and more definitive driving experience on tracks. Like every other Lamborghini, it is a nightmare to drive in traffic but absolutely comes alive on tracks and twisties. To sum things up, the SV is nothing but a pure automotive art with one of the best sounding V12s strapped on behind to make every nerve in your body dance with its raw and mental performance. From the moment you hold the steering wheel, it’s just you, the car and the roads in front, nothing else matters. We definitely think that it is Lamborghini in its purest form. Lamborghini simply wouldn’t have been what it is without this brute force of a car.

Ferrari 430 Scuderia : Why Naturally Aspirated V8 Engines Still Matter

Ferrari is a name born on race tracks and dominated the motorsports scene for the most part, there’s no wonder they make some of the finest track special lightweight cars ever to exist. The car in question, however, is the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. A track focused, stripped out version of the F430 produced between 2005 to 2010. It is an overlooked model in it’s lineage. Some say it lives in the shadow of Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale and Ferrari 458 Speciale. However, we reckon it strikes the perfect balance between the past and the present. It’s got the unfiltered V8 madness of the 360CS but sort of civilized like the 458 Speciale too, owing to its electronics which was state of the art tech for its time.

The engineers at Maranello took the standard F430 and gave it a whole new makeover. A more aggressive front fascia designed to channel more air which allows for less drag and more downforce at the front , while larger side air intakes feed more air to the savagery V8. A lightweight aluminum body paired with carbon fiber components for weight reduction, and the massive rear diffuser ensures maximum downforce at any given time. Interior gets a carbon fiber treatment as well to reduce max weight possible. It doesn’t even come with a stereo system, who would need one when you have an Italian V8 singing for you. With razor-sharp lines, wide intakes, and a stance that leaves you speechless, the 430 Scuderia is indeed a neck breaker. Every shape and detail is designed and crafted to make the 430 Scuderia sharper, lighter, and faster on track — and boy, oh boy, it can’t get any better. 

Although modern hybrid Ferraris are more sophisticated and clinical, the naturally aspirated V8 engine could stir emotions a hybrid powertrain can still only dream of. The 4.3L naturally aspirated V8 engine in the Scuderia sounds more like Led Zeppelin unplugged. Screaming all the way up to 8600 rpm and paired to a 6 speed F1- SuperFast2 automated manual transmission that shifts as quick as 60 milliseconds, the Scuderia is a wild animal on the prowl. Being the lightweight version of the F430, the Scuderia sheds upto 100 kg weighing just 1250 kg which allows for a knife edge handling on tracks. Ferrari made it so good that it even beat their flagship hypercar Ferrari Enzo by 0.1 second in their own track, Fiorano. From standstill, the 430 Scuderia is capable of rocketing to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, flat out it will do a nerve racking 200 mph.  

All in all, the high revving V8 engine, sharper chassis tuning and the standard carbon ceramic brakes that could even stop time, making the 430 Scuderia an unforgettable motoring experience everytime you drive it. You can never feel more alive doing anything else. Cars like these are a testament to why naturally aspirated V8 still matter. In a world where electrification of cars has become a basic expectation, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia rages against the dying light. Well, it’s obvious that naturally aspirated V8 engines are on the verge of extinction and these factors make the Ferrari 430 Scuderia one of the most adrenaline packed and intoxicating cars of all time.

Nissan Skyline GTR R34: Supercar Slayer of the 90s.

In the late 90s, European supercars like the Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini ruled the supercar world until Japan dropped their latest version of the Nissan Skyline GTR and named it R34. What Nissan have created as a counterblow was, take a regular Nissan Skyline, modify the hell out of the car and it absolutely worked. Nissan took its revered RB25DE engine, threw in twin turbochargers, called it the RB26DETT and managed to extract 276 horsepower and 392 Nm of torque. Skyline maxed out at only 180 km/h due to the gentlemen's agreement of the 90s Japan domestic market. However,  what Skylines are good at is the fact the RB26 engines can be tuned to churn out colossal powerfigures.

This legendary motor is capable of handling north of 1000 horsepower with the right tune and a sophisticated ATTESA E-TS four-wheel-drive wizardry and, rear wheel steering working in conjunction, the GTR is indeed a slingshot when you put your right foot down and also while hitting the corners in a racetrack. The explosion of power hits you hard, pushing your guts all the way to the seat back. Not only does this engine has a sublime performance but also sounds absolutely nuts, especially the whooshes from the turbochargers. 

Speaking of looks, even today, any modern car you come across feels cute to look at next to a GTR. A fully modded GTR looks as aggressive as its motor underneath especially in its iconic bayside blue or midnight purple shade.The sinister front profile with a hunkered down stance and the iconic headlights gives it so much character. The rear end,on the other hand, flaunts the signature quad round taillights and a huge spoiler making it a view to die for. Some notable special versions include V-spec II Nur, R-tune and Z-tune, of which, the Z tune is the holy grail of the R34s.

 The Z-tune was built to celebrate the success of Skyline GTR. “A final goodbye to the R34 in the best way possible”. Nissan’s racing division Nismo hand picked 19 V-spec models and turned it to a 500 horsepower lunacy on wheels, making it the ultimate Japanese car the whole world would crave for. As per some reports, the Z tune sells for over 1.5 million USD. The name and fame for this machine is not just because it was featured as the hero car in fast and furious films and the legendary Gran Turismo game but for the fact it slayed supercars like it was nothing. At some point, the GTR devoured Bugatti Veyrons on drag strips for fun, no wonder why they call it the Godzilla.

Ferrari F40- Legends Never Die

Ferrari is an automaker celebrated for its unparalleled legacy in Formula 1 and their luxury supercars. Nonetheless, what they are even more special for is their classic cars especially the mighty F40. The F40 is an untamed track weapon which also happens to be the last car inspected by the man himself, Mr.Enzo Ferrari. Introduced in 1987, it was the first ever supercar to hit the 200 mph barrier, making it the fastest car of its era. It’s most likely to be the poster car of every car kid back then, may be even today. A total of 1311 units have ever been made, selling for 2-3 million USD in the current market. 

Speaking of design, no doubts whatsoever, F40 is the best looking supercar to ever exist, period. The boxy design language, the famous pop-up headlights, the huge otherworldly rear wing in the 80s was something new to the supercar kind. Not only does the F40 look stunning from outside but also flaunts a 2.9L tipo twin turbocharged V8 placed right behind you which embodies everything you’d love about screaming V8s. This motor churns out 478 horsepower and 577 Nm which were mental figures for it’s time. 

It was never short on handling too. The tubular steel frame weighing just 1254 kilograms, made the F40 a rocket powered go kart for the road. In a world where supercars are becoming smarter, faster and more clinical, the F40 is a pure nirvana to drive, handsdown.  The feather like chassis, the turbo spool, the visceral shifts from the 5 speed manual gearbox, everything about the F40 is nothing short of “Magical” . That said, it is a revelation on four wheels and a true living legend.