Specialty Car Products Improve Performance and Efficiency

It wasn’t that long ago when performance enhancements meant just one thing: more power. Induction and exhaust improvements were geared toward horsepower. Ignition upgrades – wires, coils, and spark plugs – aimed at the same. The story has been similar with engine oils, additives, and, in fact, a great array of aftermarket products.

But guess what? Efficiencies achieved in the name of performance can also serve to decrease tailpipe emissions and improve fuel economy. That’s a big plus these days, and there’s a growing recognition that better acceleration and overall performance are just part of the aftermarket equation. Drastically higher prices at the pump, continuing air quality issues in our cities, and a growing unease about our dependence on imported oil are changing the game.

In the midst of this, the auto industry’s focus on fuel efficiency, advanced fuels and engines, and environmental performance is growing. Accessories and other specialty automotive products are following this trend. Here are just a few notable examples.

VOLANT COLD AIR INTAKE
Colder air is denser than warmer air. Since engines generally make more power with greater volumes of air in the combustion chamber, feeding an engine cooler air means you get more power for every drop of gasoline burned. That’s the idea behind Volant’s line of Cool Air Intakes. Constructed from heat-resistant polyethylene, the sealed air intakes maintain a consistent air inlet temperature that is as close to ambient as possible. In addition to increased horsepower and torque, the Cold Air Intakes are claimed to improve fuel economy by one to two mpg. The kits offer easy installation and are CARB certified for use in all 50 states.

BRIDGESTONE B381
According to scientists, only about 20 percent of the energy stored in a car’s gas tank is avail able to propel the vehicle, after taking into account thermal losses, friction, and other losses in the engine and exhaust. To make the most of this remaining energy, some tires are designed to reduce their rolling resistance as they travel over the road, improving efficiency. One such tire is Bridgestone’s B381, which was developed specifically with fuel economy in mind. The steel-belted radial tire uses a symmetric tread and all-season compound for good traction year-round. Limited sizes are available.

HYPERTECH POWER PROGRAMMER III
Modern vehicles’ Electronic Control Units (ECU) control engine functions such as air-fuel mixture, spark timing, maximum rpm, and other functions such as trans mission shift points and top speed. Automakers set these variables to allow for a wide range of driving styles – in other words, less than optimal from a performance perspective. Hypertech’s Power Programmer III aims to correct this for select GM, Ford, and Chrysler vehicles. The programmer plugs into the ECU’s diagnostic port and replaces the stock settings with a Hypertech Power Program that improves power, torque, and reportedly fuel economy. Certain models can even be optimized for both 87 and 93 octane fuel. No tools are necessary, and the stock settings can easily be restored.