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| 6.6-litre V8 makes 510bhp |
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One brave test driver in South Africa has had one up to 207mph with more to come and when you'll learn what's providing the power, you'll know why. Under the bonnet lies neither a Rover V8 nor a modern four cam Ford engine, such as that used by cars like the Mustang and Lincoln Town Car. It's a Ford V8 engine alright, but it's a pure old style racing motor, with an iron block, ally heads, one camshaft in the middle of the Vee operating two valves per cylinder via long pushrods. Just like the Daytona Coupe. Except this engine has been fettled by ace tuning wizards Roush Engineering. The result is a 6.6-litre powerplant, giving 510bhp and, count 'em, 590lb ft of torque. In a car weighing 1250kgs.
By comparison Ferrari's flagship 575 Maranello has a comparable 515bhp but a fairly measly 434lb ft of torque - and it weighs almost half a tonne more. Which is why Superformance (the same people who build Nobles) claim it will hit 100mph from rest in 8.2sec, despite the traction disadvantages of its front engined/rear drive layout. This is a performance level to make the likes of the 575 and Lamborghini Murcielago look really rather sick. It's closer to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and Porsche Carrera GT ultracar level. Yet the car is less than a third of their price.
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| Roush tuned engine produces 590lb/ft of torque - crickey |
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I haven't even mentioned the noise yet. If you've ever seen Bullitt or even the Dukes of Hazzard you'll have an idea of how a big block American pushrod engine fed by a four-barrel Holley carburettor sounds. But when that engine has forged pistons and rods, is balanced, blueprinted and race tuned, it takes the sound to a whole new level. Impossibly aggressive and hard edged, it emits a blue collar, red neck thunder courtesy not of hours of acoustic tuning in semi-anechoic chambers but a bloody big engine breathing through unimpeded exhausts. It is laden with promise.
Get behind the wheel and the abundance of dials and switches makes you feel more like a 1960s fighter pilot than a mere driver. Turn the key, flick on the ignition, then the fuel pump, hit the starter and wait for the bang.
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