Autoblog

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]!

We don't know where it's from or when it was shot, but this in-car vid of a driver chasing a rival in a Mustang on a closed track is one of the funniest things we've seen all week. It starts off pretty normally, then the driver we're riding with channels his inner Satan, taunting the car in front of him. Somehow, it ultimately pays off, and it's pretty hilarious to hear our guy's reaction. Clearly, he's insane.

UPDATE: Many thanks to all the commenters, who filled in the blanks we didn't look to Google Video for. The facts (as we understand them), for new arrivals:

• The track is Mid-America Motorplex in Pacific Junction, IA.
• The camera car is a 1980 Porsche 911SC powered by a 3.6L from a 964.
• The 'Stang he's chasing is a Saleen. Its driver calls it "Nemesis," explaining the nature of the taunts.
  
• The Mustang driver is Melissen's brother.
• It is one of our favorite videos ever.

Enjoy your weekends.
Follow the jump to watch.

[Source: VideoSift]

Click to enlarge

Mazda UK has revealed its third special-edition RX-8. Dubbed "Nemesis," it follows in the footsteps of the RX-8 Evolve (translated) and the Prodrive-tuned RX-8 PZ.

Unlike the cars that preceded it, which used the 231 PS RX-8 as a starting point, Nemesis is based on the 192 PS car. Only 350 will be available -- 200 in Copper Red and the remaining 150 in a Stormy Blue finish. In addition to the two Nemesis-specific paint colors, the Rotary crest in the air dam and the vents in the front wheel arches get a polished aluminum finish. Exclusive badging and a Rotary logo on the B-pillar complete the exterior detail enhancements.

Open the door and you'll find aluminum scuff plates, stone leather seating, and Nemesis-embroidered floormats. Those are in addition to the RX-8's standard equipment list, which includes niceties like Bose audio, headed seats, foglights, and climate control.

On-the-road pricing is £22,995, which also gets the customer a free Prodrive experience day.

(More pictures, press release after the jump)

[Source: Mazda Europe]