Few things beat the thrill of rapid acceleration to high speed. It provides an adrenaline rush that can be hard to match elsewhere.
The increasing availability and affordability of track days have given the everyday driver access to supercars that can sate their desire for speed, but it might be insufficient for those wanting it on a more regular basis.
If you can’t afford a supercar, your best bet is to fine-tune your current vehicle. Here are a few ways you can extract more power from your engine.
Weight reduction
You don’t need to be a genius to understand that lighter objects can move faster than heavier ones—the same applies to cars.
Switching out heavier parts for lighter alternatives is one of the easiest ways to improve your car’s performance.
It doesn’t have to happen in the engine block, either. There are plenty of options to consider, such as replacing metal panels with carbon fiber, removing unnecessary seating, replacing glass windows with plastic, or even stripping back the dashboard.
Performance chips
Several aspects of modern cars are controlled by an onboard computer and overriding that can unlock additional performance without excessive modifications.
A chip can give your car a 30% performance upgrade with minimal work, giving you more power and torque, stronger acceleration, and quicker response.
Air intake kits
Cars tend to regulate the temperature of the air entering the engine, providing warm air when the engine is cold and cool air when the engine is hot.
Cool air is denser than hot air, though, so introducing a cold air intake system can help improve performance by allowing more oxygen to enter the combustion engine.
If you are confident working on cars and want to fit a cold air intake system, you might find it easiest to do in conjunction with an engine hoist.
Air filters
Another way to increase the amount of air flowing into the engine is to introduce an aftermarket filter.
Manufacturers tend to only fit basic air filters when selling cars, so replacing them can improve the efficiency of your engine by allowing it to breathe better. They can also block contaminants from entering the engine.
This is a cheap and easy way to upgrade your car, though the filters will likely need cleaning and replacing regularly to maintain maximum performance.
Turbochargers
You guessed it – it’s another way of getting more air into the engine to supply that power boost you crave.
If your vehicle already has a turbocharger you may be able to extract more from it by adjusting the wastegate to open at higher pressures. However, it’s probably a good idea to get the help of a professional for this.
When considering adding a turbocharger to your engine, do some research to ensure it is safe.
