Aftermarket

VW/Banks Jetta Sidewinder A TDI Cup Racer for the Road

 One of the toys offered for my driving pleasure during a recent Bosch event titled “The Drive to 35.5,” organized to showcase fuel-saving technologies like direct piezo injection for clean diesel power, was this slightly breathed-on VW Jetta TDI that is in the midst of a Gale Banks Engineering makeover. The resulting car isn’t too far off of what VW is running in the Jetta TDI Cup SCCA Pro Racing series.
Modifications to the engine are minor, and start with a cold “Ram Air” intake box with a conical low-restriction air filter. Then there’s a Banks Six-Gun engine controller, which allows drivers to select from various levels of enhanced performance. The higher performance settings alter the fuel injection pulse timing to improve low-end punch and help spool the turbocharger faster for quicker corner exits. There’s also a Banks Visual User Interface, an auxiliary 4.3-inch touch screen that mounts to the windshield and provides graphic representations of various gauges not provided on the vehicle cluster, plus diagnostic info and vehicle and driver performance information gleaned through GPS and the vehicle’s data bus. Naturally there’s a low-restriction exhaust system that completely eliminates the muffler (the diesel particulate filter and lean NOx trap apparently do plenty of muffling, thank you very much). An intercooler will be installed in the near future.

 Other modifications include upsized front and rear anti-roll bars, sport springs that lower the car slightly, further reduce the vehicle roll rate during cornering and combat brake dive. Footwear is upsized to 19-inch wheels wearing V-rated rubber.
The Bosch gang wasn’t talking dyno numbers yet, as the car was fresh off the trailer from Banks for our event, and was heading back for more fettling soon. It’s suspected that the power/torque peaks haven’t moved much, but rather the curves below them have widened. Indeed the car blasts out of the hole noticeably quicker than a base Jetta TDI on hand for comparison, and general responsiveness seemed sprightlier. The lack of mufflers doesn’t seem to place this Sidewinder in any jeopardy with Euro pass-by noise regs, though the sound is a bit more authoritative.

Best news: EPA fuel economy test results are expected to remain unchanged and the car remains 50-state emissions legal. Naturally, your fuel economy results will vary big time when you find yourself burying the throttle at every opportunity to ride that wave of torque, but hey, your carbon footprint is still way smaller than your GTI-flogging neighbor’s. There’s no word yet on parts availability, but keep an eye on www.galebanksengineering.com. With TDI accounting for 81 percent of Jetta Sportwagen sales and 40 percent of Jetta sedan sales, Gale won’t keep these parts to himself for long.

The 2009 season marks the second year of competition for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, which is sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. During the season, young, up-and-coming drivers (between ages 16-26) will compete in 10 events on eight road courses around North America in identical factory-prepared clean diesel Jetta TDI’s powered by Syndiesel(r) B5 blended biodiesel fuel. Each driver competing in the series will earn a Pro Racing license from SCCA at the conclusion of the season. In addition to more than $50,000 in prize money at stake during the season, the series champion will win $100,000.
The Jetta TDI Cup car is powered by a 2.0-liter, 170-hp, four-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine mated to a six-speed, double-clutch, automatic DSG transmission. The car is only slightly modified from stock with Pirelli racing tires, race suspension and brake components, drivers racing safety seat, FIA roll cage and an on-board fire extinguisher system. Series sponsors include: Pirelli, Bosch, ViON, Castrol, Oakley, Red Bull, HYPERFUELS, Aggreko, defNder, Lamin-X, Meguiar’s, Sherwin-Williams, Chicagoland VW, Safety-Kleen, Ringer Gloves, Jim Russell Racing School and Trellis Earth.

Touring the Geneva Tuners

In addition to the standard concept and production car reveals, Geneva also hosts a large number of tuner outfits, primarily well-known companies that specialize in high-end autos such as Brabus, Techart, and Carlsson, most carrying price tags of the “if you must ask, you can’t afford it” variety. However, like what gets served up at SEMA, these tuners are definitely not created equal.

Mercedes-Benz tuner extraordinaire Brabus had the biggest display in Geneva, bringing out its entire portfolio and taking up a stage bigger than that of some automakers. Best known for taking AMG’s wares to another level, the outfit rolled out a trio of modified Benz SUVs, most notably a 690-hp G-Class with a V-12 shoehorned into its engine bay. Despite the G-Wagen’s aerodynamically challenged shape, that sort of power is enough to overcome the laws of physics and propel the SUV from 0-62 mph in just 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 163 mph, though it’s limited to 150 mph for reasons unknown.

The Brabus stand also had a very curious sight: a white Tesla Roadster emitting a V-8 burble-like sound. It’s actually a feature of the Brabus Tesla called the “space sound generator.” In addition to the sound of a V-8, it can be set to emit the sound of a racecar or two ‘futuristic’ sound scapes called “Beam” and “Warp.” Why a Tesla buyer would want his or her car to sound like anything other than an electric car is puzzling, but the last two settings seem to be aimed point blank at Trekkies.

Also from the “absolutely mindblowing numbers” department comes the SPR1, a modified 911 GT2 from Swiss tuner Sportec for those who think the stock GT2 doesn’t get the job done. Boasting a stupefying 858 hp and 649 lb-ft of torque that was somehow coaxed out of the GT2′s 3.6L twin-turbo flat-six without a displacement increase, a custom all-wheel drive system, and a substantially beefed-up drivetrain including custom gearbox ratios, the SPR1 is said to spring from 0-62 mph in three seconds and top out at speeds north of 236 mph, depending on tires. You can have all this for the meager sum of 917,000 Swiss francs, or around $779,000, depending on exchange rates. Or you could just buy four stock GT2s.

One of the few tuners that brought something from outside Germany was Arden, which specializes in Jaguars and Land Rovers. The Jaguars you see here have decidedly different grilles and front fascias that are noticeably different but do not cause undue harm to the vehicle’s aesthetics. The XKR, dubbed the AJ20 WildCat, has had its supercharged 4.2L V-8 expanded to 4.4L and massaged up to 480 hp, while the Arden XF, known as the AJ21 Fast Cat, can be had with a variety of engine upgrades that offer as much as 90 extra hp plus a high-performance supercharger kit that can add another 80 hp.

Last but not least, the winner of the “swing-and-a-miss” contest is the Mansory Chopster, a 710-hp Porsche Cayenne Turbo S fully rebodied in carbon fiber that is anything but pleasing on the eyes. Seemingly more prepared for snow-plowing than canyon-carving duty, it handily beats out the two closest contenders, Techart’s take on the 911 GT2 and Fab Design’s SLR McLaren.

Musclecar Madness at SEMA

 While the Chevy Camaro may be the official car of the 2008 SEMA show, neither Ford nor Dodge seem willing to cede the title of unofficial musclecar of the show without a fight. Dozens of vintage Camaros, like this beautiful SS can be found sprinkled in and around the Las Vegas Convention Center, but if you’re looking for the brand-new 2010 Camaro, a relative handful of tuned versions can only be found in GM’s booth.
They’re stellar examples of the Camaro’s performance potential to be sure, but the current-gen Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger have the advantage of wider show floor distribution and months, if not years, in the hands of the enthusiasts.
Here’s a look at just some of heavy artillery Ford and Mopar tuners brought to this year’s SEMA show to challenge the General.

 2008 Ford Cobra Jet Mustang
Location:  Ford Motor Company booth, Center Hall
Output:   estimated 425 hp
Features:  5.4L Cobra Jet engine, 6-sp manual with SFI-approved bell housing, stainless-steel long tube racing headers, 9-in. rear axle assembly, one piece driveshaft, air-conditioning delete, Cobra Jet/Ford Racing suspension with drag race spring kit, Cobra Jet seats and wheel package (15 x 4-in. fronts, 15 x 10-in. rears), 5-in. pedestal tach, short throw shifter.
Claim: 10-sec quarter mile ET right out of the box
Cost:  $69,900
Availability: Allotment of 50 sold in a week, but Ford is considering another 50 in 2010.

 Mr. Norm’s Super Challenger
Location:  Katzkin Booth, North Hall
Output:  900 hp
Features: Kenne Bell intercooler supercharger, Katzkin leather, Hurst pistol grip shifter, Hotchkis Performance lowering suspension, SSBC 6-piston brakes, Pirelli Scorpions, Corsa Performance exhaust, Mopar liftoff hood, Hulst side scoops and rear spoiler, Mr. Norms 22-in. wheels.
Claim:  It can put down 900 hp on 22-in. wheels.
Cost:  Too much for you, old man.
Availability: One off, not for sale.

NuFormZ 2009 Challenger 426 Supercharged 

Location: Mimaki booth, North Hall

Output: 700 hp, 720 lb-ft of torque

Features: Nuformz custom 426 7.0L stroker motor with ported heads and manifold, air to air intercooler, direct port injection, Paxton Novi 1500 supercharger, OS Giken LSD, Eibach Pro 1 adjustable suspension, Nufromz tuned ECU and TCM, Brembo big brake kit, Nuformz custom carbon graphic chin spoiler grill, headlight assembly, rear deck with spoiler, Lexani wheels and BFGoodrich tires (front 265/35/20, rear 285/35/22).

Claim: When you hit the throttle, the car actually moves (versus immediately roasting the rear tires).

Cost: $100,000

Availability: n/a