Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hero or Villain? Kiwi bandit filling "boy racer" exhausts with expanding foam]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/hero-or-villian-kiwi-bandit-filling-boy-racer-exhausts-with-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/hero-or-villian-kiwi-bandit-filling-boy-racer-exhausts-with-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/hero-or-villian-kiwi-bandit-filling-boy-racer-exhausts-with-e/#commentsFiled under: , ,

BRRRAAAAP! It's music to the ears of a subset of car nuts. Noisy exhaust setups are hardly a new phenomenon, but the fashion for mufflers that intentionally buzz as much as possible is a more recent development in the pantheon of annoying things others do. Exasperation with the muffler rap has led a New Zealand vigilante to start terrorizing cars equipped with what he or she describes as "boy-racer exhausts" in a written manifesto sent to the Marlborough Express.

Using the handle "Phantom Expander," the self-righteous vandal has taken to filling the tailpipes of offending cars with self-expanding foam. So far, the four-hour set time of the foam has been the saving grace for the Phantom's victims, most of whom have been able to clear the exhausts before the intended plug has dried. Vehicles with fully clogged exhausts will not start, and repairs could get expensive if other components are damaged.

For now, the foam bandit roams free, but it's only a matter of time before someone gets caught with a can of "Great Stuff" in their hand. Will it be the constabulary or a car owner that catches them? For the foamer's sake, it might be best to get nabbed by the police so that they can keep all of their teeth.

[Source: Stuff.co.nz]

Hero or Villain? Kiwi bandit filling "boy racer" exhausts with expanding foam originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aftermarketaftermarket exhaustAftermarketExhaustboy racerboy racer exhaustboy racer new zealandBoyRacerBoyRacerExhaustBoyRacerNewZealandexhaustexhaust vandalismExhaustVandalismfoam banditFoamBanditkiwimodified exhaust new zealandModifiedExhaustNewZealandnew zealandnew zealand foam banditNewZealandNewZealandFoamBanditTue, 03 Feb 2009 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[MINI Cooper S recalled for protruding tailpipes, inadvertent tattoos]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/23/mini-cooper-s-recalled-for-protruding-tailpipes-inadvertent-tat/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/23/mini-cooper-s-recalled-for-protruding-tailpipes-inadvertent-tat/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/23/mini-cooper-s-recalled-for-protruding-tailpipes-inadvertent-tat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 MINI Cooper S

Let's set the scene: You've just returned from a jaunt to pick up Grandma and parked your 2007-2008 MINI Cooper S in the driveway. After leading the sweet lady up your steps and into the house, you return to the car to unload the assorted goodies and gifts that she's brought for you and the fam. You pop open the hatch, reach over to grab a foil-wrapped plate of her legendary baklava and start to feel a burning sensation on your shin. It's official. You've been indoctrinated into the Club of Cooper S owners who now sport a circular prison tat on their legs.

According to the NHTSA, the problem affects some 28,450 2007-08 MINI Cooper S models due to the dual tailpipes that protrude too far from the center of the Cooper's rear bumper. The problem has been documented on several MINI-specific forums, and BMW is stepping up to address the issue and offering Cooper customers a new, shorter exhaust, free of charge. The recall begins in January and owners can contact BMW at 800.831.1117 to schedule a replacement of the offending exhaust.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 MINI Cooper S


[Source: InsideLine | Image: Findude]

MINI Cooper S recalled for protruding tailpipes, inadvertent tattoos originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20072007 mini cooper s recall2007MiniCooperSRecall20082008 mini cooper s recall2008MiniCooperSRecallburncooper sCooperSexhaustexhaust tipsExhaustTipsminimufflerrecalltipsTue, 23 Dec 2008 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Asinine Engineering: Direct Exhaust Injection]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/16/asinine-engineering-direct-exhaust-injection/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/16/asinine-engineering-direct-exhaust-injection/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/16/asinine-engineering-direct-exhaust-injection/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Hang around internet fora dedicated to increasing internal combustion performance long enough and you'll eventually run across this type of perpetual-motion misunderstanding. Seems a Vette 'boarder over at the GMModernMuscle Forum needs to study up on several principles before heading out half-cooked, wrench in hand. The brilliant idea that dawned above the poster's head like a 3-watt bulb was that instead of messing around with those ever so inefficient turbochargers, it'd be a simpler route to just run the exhaust back into the intake manifold to put the intake tract under positive pressure. Reading through the multitudinous pages of fodder, this is either someone with "issues" or just a jokester troll.

If he is serious, let's lay out a few simple things here. Firstly, there's not very much oxygen in the exhaust gas, which would make recombustion rather difficult. Second, it's tremendously hot. Third, his assumption that a turbocharger is driven by high-pressure exhaust gas pulses is incorrect. What drives a turbocharger is the expansion of the exhaust gas as it cools and depressurizes. It's the same way an air conditioner works, and it's really thermodynamic theory when you get right down to it. Sure, the exhaust gas is under pressure, but if you think that a turbine is an inefficient way to compress air, pistons are only more so. There's a lot of mass to swing around, and the poppet valves in an automotive cylinder don't improve airflow versus what a compressor housing of a turbo can do, either. Before you raise the EGR flag, let's note that exhaust gas recirculation is used to control combustion pressure and temperature, and since it takes up space that would otherwise be occupied by oxygen-rich intake charge, it's a performance detriment. Finally, how is the engine going to breathe when you've basically set up an infinite feedback loop? We're sure that these sticky engineering challenges are all easily worked out on a bar napkin, though. Why have automakers been denying us the pleasure of this simple high performance option for so long? They must be in cahoots with turbo manufacturers, that's all there is to it.

Thanks for the tip, Richard

[Source:GMModernMuscle]!

Asinine Engineering: Direct Exhaust Injection originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corvettedirect exhaust injectionDirectExhaustInjectionexhaustinjectionnemesisthe nemesisthe nemesis zr2TheNemesisTheNemesisZr2Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:04:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW USA offering factory performance parts, with full warranty]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/19/bmw-usa-offering-factory-performance-parts-with-full-warranty/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/19/bmw-usa-offering-factory-performance-parts-with-full-warranty/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/19/bmw-usa-offering-factory-performance-parts-with-full-warranty/#commentsFiled under: ,



BMW has officially thrown its hat in the performance parts game here in the U.S., likely rivaling the products available from aftermarket firms and coming complete with a factory-backed warranty.

Beginning with the 3-series and Z4, BMW is offering a host of components, from brake upgrades to engine kits, that will boost performance and not cause owners to fear a trip to the dealer for service. Some of the parts include carbon fiber and aluminum strut braces, 3.07:1 performance diffs, lowering kits, performance exhausts and a engine package for three-liter models that includes new camshafts and a modified ECU that boosts output to 235 HP and 222 lb.-ft. or torque.

All of the wonderful tidbits can be procured after the jump, and we'd suspect good things to come from the Bimmer boys when they release packages designed for the 335i and the upcoming 135i.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW USA offering factory performance parts, with full warranty

BMW USA offering factory performance parts, with full warranty originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3 liter3-liter3-series3.0l3Literaftermarketaluminumbmwbwm 3-seriesBwm3-seriescamshaftscarbon fiberCarbonFiberdifferentialecuengineexhaustperformance partsPerformancePartsstrut bracesStrutBracesthree literthree-literThreeLiterz4Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Massachusetts introduces bill to ban modified exhausts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/10/massachusetts-introduces-bill-to-ban-modified-exhausts/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/10/massachusetts-introduces-bill-to-ban-modified-exhausts/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/10/massachusetts-introduces-bill-to-ban-modified-exhausts/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Legislators in Massachusetts are set to introduce a bill in October that will ban modified exhausts in the land of a certain tea party and the world's best baked beans. The pious patriots over at SEMA have been fighting this day for years, but the politicians have decided they've had enough with the Flowmasters, already. The proposed law doesn't make a whole lot of sense, as Massachusetts already has a noise ordinance in place, and the bill doesn't even have any clear standard for the law to enforce. Lawmakers want to specifically ban any "exhaust system which has been modified in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the exhaust." While we're not all that excited about annoying exhausts that can wake a trauma victim out of a coma, we'd like to see this proposal go the way of the Boston Braves.

[Source: SEMA via Jalopnik]

Massachusetts introduces bill to ban modified exhausts originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ExhaustFlowmasterlawmakerMassachusettsModifiedSEMAFri, 10 Aug 2007 09:31:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Ferrari F40, the dyno-saur of supercars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/25/video-ferrari-f40-the-dyno-saur-of-supercars/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/25/video-ferrari-f40-the-dyno-saur-of-supercars/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/25/video-ferrari-f40-the-dyno-saur-of-supercars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Coming up on nearly twenty years old now, some would be mistaken to consider the legendary Ferrari F40 a bit of a dino - not because it was part of the series named after Enzo's dear departed son, rather because, as far as supercars go, the F40 seems is a bit of a relic, dating back to an age before modern developments like electronic stability control and paddle-shifted transmissions roamed the earth. And yet the F40 can still thoroughly devour almost anything and everything on the road today. What better way, then, to take in the brutal monstrosity of the dinosaur that is the Ferrari F40 than spooling up its turbos on a dyno. Better not let it loose....

This video, which has been floating around the internet, was shot after an F40 was fitted with a custom Tubi exhaust. Check it out after the jump.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ferrari F40, the dyno-saur of supercars

VIDEO: Ferrari F40, the dyno-saur of supercars originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Mar 2007 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customdynodynomameterdynometerexhaustf40ferrarihorsepowerroadrollingtesttubivideoyoutubeSun, 25 Mar 2007 11:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Lotus develops integrated exhaust manifold]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/15/lotus-develops-integrated-exhaust-manifold-tuners-cringe/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/15/lotus-develops-integrated-exhaust-manifold-tuners-cringe/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/15/lotus-develops-integrated-exhaust-manifold-tuners-cringe/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lotus, the company that made its name on "adding lightness" and clever engineering, is at it again. This time, it's the engineering wing of the Group Lotus concern. Lotus's efforts have been directed at banishing seperate exhaust manifolds. We groaned when we heard the news, and assumed it to be a very discouraging development. Then we got to thinking -- with this type of cylinder head, you'll never have leaky manifold gaskets again. That's a big plus for those of us who keep our cars forever and are persnickety about fixing all the little stuff that happens along the way. After a decade of heat cycling, mani gaskets are usually done for, and on today's tightly-packaged powerplants, removing the manifold is no treat. Add in the requesite broken studs and frozen fasteners, and you've got a veritable jamboree weekend. Looking further into it, the integrated manifold makes a good case for itself.

[Source: Lotus via Paul Tan]

Continue reading Lotus develops integrated exhaust manifold

Lotus develops integrated exhaust manifold originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cylinder headCylinderHeadengineeringexhaustgenevaintegrateintegratedlotusmanifoldOEMperformanceThu, 15 Mar 2007 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Making the best better: Hennessey developing custom exhaust for Bugatti Veyron]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/19/making-the-best-better-hennessey-developing-custom-exhaust-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/19/making-the-best-better-hennessey-developing-custom-exhaust-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/19/making-the-best-better-hennessey-developing-custom-exhaust-for/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Enormous sums of money went into the development of the epically fast and extraordinarily powerful Bugatti Veyron. The engineers managed to squeeze out a thousand horses from eight liters, sixteen cylinders, sixty-four valves and four turbochargers. But someone out there thinks there's still more power to be tapped, and that someone is Hennessey.

Hennessey Performance is the monster tuning house that specializes in giving more venom to the Dodge Viper, a car with an engine displacement slightly larger than the Bugatti's, but in stock form, only manages to produce half as much power. So while the Viper is a monstrously fast car, there was plenty more power to be massaged out of its enormous V10, and Hennessey has managed to crank it up past 900 horsepower. But the Bugatti's powerplant is a different story entirely, already the most powerful engine in production.

The company's head honcho, John Hennessey, in correspondence with Autoblog, tells us an American client approached him with the daunting task of improving on his Veyron with a custom exhaust system "to improve the power and sound along with possibly saving some weight". That's a pretty tall order, but Hennessey reckons they're up for the task.

The customer's Bugatti is scheduled to arrive in the workshop this winter, with the new exhaust completed by the spring. At that point Hennessey says they'll have all the numbers along with some multimedia clips for our enjoyment. And we can hardly wait.

[Source: Hennessey Performance]

Making the best better: Hennessey developing custom exhaust for Bugatti Veyron originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Oct 2006 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aftermarketbugatticustomexhausthennesseymodveyronThu, 19 Oct 2006 11:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Insert caption here: Hello Kitty's muff...ler]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/07/insert-caption-here-hello-kittys-muff-ler/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/07/insert-caption-here-hello-kittys-muff-ler/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/07/insert-caption-here-hello-kittys-muff-ler/#commentsFiled under: ,

Here's a caption challenge for you...

Evidently, some fool in Japan is so excited about Hello Kitty that s/he (?) fabricated an exhaust pipe after the fair cat. And we thought excessive tin foil spoilers and shoddily-done window tint was bad.

Here's my caption:

"Sometimes girls embarrass me. Truly."

[Source: BoingBoing via Jalopnik and other various sites]

Insert caption here: Hello Kitty's muff...ler originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Sep 2006 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crazy aftermarketCrazyAftermarketexhausthello kittyhello kitty mufflerHelloKittyHelloKittyMufflerricerThu, 07 Sep 2006 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Project Kahn offers a Facelift for the Audi A8]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/26/project-kahn-offers-a-facelift-for-the-audi-a8/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/26/project-kahn-offers-a-facelift-for-the-audi-a8/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/26/project-kahn-offers-a-facelift-for-the-audi-a8/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If the Audi A8's stock wheels do nothing for you, or if the ride height as delivered from the factory still makes you think of a pickup truck, Project Khan has the fix. The British/Italian tuner starts with its 21" RS-X wheels (9.5" wide in the front and 11" out back), and then fits the vehicle with its TUV-approved electronic lowering module to drop the big sedan by 1.5". Privacy tint is applied to the glass, and to top off the modifications, a bespoke exhaust system with twin bazooka-sized machined 90mm tips is installed. There's no word on what effect the changes have to the performance of Audi's flagship, but we think that the modifications achieve subtle but very pleasing visual results. We also can't speak to the pricing of the package, but you know what they say about having to ask...

There are a couple more shots of the black bullet posted after the jump.

[Source: Project Kahn; a tip of the hat to Fourtitude]

Continue reading Project Kahn offers a Facelift for the Audi A8

Project Kahn offers a Facelift for the Audi A8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jun 2006 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A8AudiexhaustKhanProjectR8RS8tunerwheelsMon, 26 Jun 2006 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Zen and the auditory art of automaking]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/05/zen-and-the-auditory-art-of-automaking/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/05/zen-and-the-auditory-art-of-automaking/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/05/zen-and-the-auditory-art-of-automaking/#commentsFiled under: ,

Beyond sensual sheetmetal and generous performance envelopes, traditionally one of the best things about exotic supercars has been their melliflous engine rumblings and sonorous exhaust notes. For many a gearhead, the piercing shriek of a fine Italian V-12 is auditory mechanized sex.

But the importance of the sounds that a vehicle makes - be it an engine's song, tire thrum, or wind noise has become increasingly critical as manufacturers look to further distinguish their vehicles from competitors.

MSNBC's Roland Jones examines the growing importance of 'sound engineering' in the modern automobile, and how automakers are going to great lengths to create compelling sonic experiences.

What do you think... how important is the way a vehicle sounds in determining how you feel about it?  Make a bit of noise yourself by leaving a note in the 'Comments.'

[Sources: MSNBC; Autodrome-Cannes.com]

Zen and the auditory art of automaking originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 May 2006 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automobile noiseautomobile soundsAutomobileNoiseAutomobileSoundscar soundsCarSoundsengine noiseEngineNoiseexhaustexhaust systemExhaustSystemroad noiseRoadNoisetire noiseTireNoisezenFri, 05 May 2006 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Loud pipes beware - photo enforcement now targeting noise violators]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/19/loud-pipes-beware-photo-enforcement-now-targets-noise-violatio/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/19/loud-pipes-beware-photo-enforcement-now-targets-noise-violatio/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/19/loud-pipes-beware-photo-enforcement-now-targets-noise-violatio/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Pop quiz - when someone says the term "exhaust system", what are the first words that pop into your head? If they happen to be anything like "Flowmaster 40 Series" or "Dynomax Bullet" (the straight-through muffler that makes Cherry Bombs sound civilized in comparison), you may not like the new ticketing system developed by Acoustic Research Laboratories. Using an onboard sound meter, the device detect snoise events that exceed a predetermined sound pressure level. A 10-second audio/video recording is made of the incident, and an onboard hard drive stores the data for future retrieval and prosecution. As the system records other noise events as well, don't go boomin' your twin fifteens past one of their systems and expect to get away with it.

Since certain individuals here at Autoblog have received several "amplified sound" tickets in their younger days and have occasionally taken to the street with open pipes (hey, no one really knows how easy it is to remove the baffles from a Yoshi system until they try), we'll defer commentary on this device to those who can be a bit more objective. With the number of import cars, diesel pickups, and motorcycles on the road sporting sewer-sized exhausts seemingly increasing every day, it would come as no surprise to find a lot of support for such a system -- at least outside of enthusiasts' circles.

Related: Minneapolis judge orders 'lights out' for traffic signal cameras

(Hat tip - Engadget)

[Source: TheNewspaper.com]

Loud pipes beware - photo enforcement now targeting noise violators originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Mar 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Acoustic ResearchAcousticResearchExhaustLoud StereoLoudStereoNoise violationNoiseViolationSun, 19 Mar 2006 14:00:00 EST