Tag Archives: engineer

World’s First AWD Ford S550 Mustang GT Is A Truly Mind-Boggling Build

Tim Roman is a mechanical engineer by commerce and an all-wheel-drive fanatic by alternative. Years in the past, he modified a Merkur Xr4Ti to spin all 4 tires—and later put in a turbocharged Ford V8. He was quickly hooked, and now he is ending up a extra bold challenge: making an AWD 2017 Mustang. Naturally, he selected a Coyote V8-powered GT model.

This was no straightforward activity, and Roman has been at it for a very long time. We’re lastly seeing the ultimate outcomes. After documenting your entire course of on his modest YouTube channel, No Production Value Garage his Mustang is now on the bottom and sending energy to each nook. The components to make this occur got here from all around the automotive world, and the customized fabrication concerned does not intervene with the automobile’s day by day drivability or outward look in any respect. “The whole point of the car is to make it act like an OEM made it,” Roman says. “Completely daily-drivable, smooth, AC, not [crazy].” 

Roman purchased the Mustang within the fall of 2019 and spent the primary few years of possession poking across the automobile’s drivetrain and researching whether or not his concept was even achievable. There has clearly by no means been a manufacturing all-wheel-drive Mustang, so making one might not have even been potential. If the house wasn’t there for all the additional components—or extra room could not be made—then the entire challenge would’ve fallen flat on its face. That, fortunately, is just not what occurred. 

The AWD setup Roman got here up with is mechanically similar to one thing you’ll discover in different longitudinal-engined sedans. There’s a standard transmission with a switch case on the again of it that sends energy as much as a differential mounted subsequent to the oil pan. One axle travels by a tunnel within the pan whereas the opposite goes straight to the spindle. This is the way it’s achieved on autos like xDrive-equipped BMW 3 Series.

Looks Can Be Deceiving: The Fascinating Story Of a Rare Lamborghini Look-Alike

The Cizeta Moroder V16T is the brainchild of Italian car engineer Claudio Zampolli, who previously worked for Lamborghini before venturing out to the United States to establish his own car dealerships and service businesses. The company’s name, Cizeta, is derived from Zampolli’s initials. When he set out to create his own car, he wanted something distinct that would make a statement. In an interview with Car and Driver, Zampolli expressed his passion for powerful cars, leading him to outfit the car with a robust V-16 engine.

For the vehicle’s design, Zampolli turned to renowned Italian designer Marcello Gandini, who had previously contributed to the iconic designs of Lamborghini’s Miura, Diablo, and Countach models. Not only was the Cizeta Moroder V16T influenced by these cars, but it was also designed by the same individual, using his Lamborghini P132 prototype as a design foundation. This created a strong connection to Lamborghini.

The name “Moroder” is attributed to famous Italian composer and synthesizer pioneer Giorgio Moroder, who became a significant financial supporter after having his Lamborghini serviced at Zampolli’s workshop.

[Featured image by Pat Durkin via Wikipedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED]

In Celebration of Veterans Day: Meet Dave Lyons — a Toyota Senior Engineer and former U.S. Army Veteran

Senior Engineer Dave Lyons has been with Toyota for 25 years since leaving the U.S. Army and currently heads the Toyota Veterans Association (TVA) business partnering group. 

Watch the video below to hear Lyons talk about his role with Toyota’s parts supply chain planning team, what he gained from the military, and why more veterans should be hired. 

Originally published November 10, 2023

This Stunning Piper Moto J1 Scooter Packs A KTM 690 Duke Punch Inside

An ex-Formula One engineer, John Piper, has designed a scooter called the Piper Moto J1. It’s not just any scooter, but a “super scooter” according to Piper. This is not just marketing hype when you consider that the scooter is powered by a 690cc KTM LC4 Duke single-cylinder engine, delivering 67 horsepower. It boasts impressive specs such as a zero to 60 time of 4 seconds, a top speed of 120 mph, a dry vehicle weight of 352 pounds, and a perfect 50-50 weight distribution due to the mid-mounted engine positioning.

In addition to its impressive performance, the Piper Moto J1 also features elegant styling. It has seating for two, with two well-positioned solo seats placed one in front of the other. The design is a timeless combination of classic and modern elements, highlighted by the ventilation ducts in the front fairing that surround the cockpit. The frame is made of tubular steel, while the bodywork is composed of carbon and epoxy woven composite.

The J1 is equipped with 17-inch spoked wheels, providing more tire options compared to standard scooter tires which are usually smaller at 12 to 14 inches.

The scooter boasts top-spec components, including a single Brembo four-piston radial mount caliper in the front with a 320mm brake disc, and a Brembo single piston floating caliper in the rear with a 240mm brake disc. It features a 43mm upside-down WP fork in the front and a billet aluminum swingarm setup with a concentric spring and Exe-TC remote two-way damper reservoir in the rear for suspension.

The Piper Moto J1 is equipped with a six-speed gearbox and offers the option to shift it manually. However, the manual shifting is not done through the traditional hand-clutch and foot-shifter arrangement. Instead, it utilizes an electronic shifter activated with a finger switch on the handlebar.

A prototype of the Piper J1 has been built, and if successful, there may be a limited production run of the scooter. To learn more or express interest in purchasing, visit the source link provided.