Anyone actually got any of the Prodrive upgrades ?

[bogie]

Just wondering if anyone has got any of the Prodrive upgrades yet?. I did see a V8 Vantage with them all on parked outside Grange in Brentwood a few weeks back...but it was stickered up Prodrive so may have been a demo car.

Also, does anyone else find it a little odd that they claim +45bhp to 425bhp from just sports cats, back box and a remap...when Aston Martin themselves have to rework the heads + balance/lighten all components etc + sports cats and remap etc on the new N24 ...just to get 410bhp ?...am I missing something here ?

[Pugsey]

bogie said:

Just wondering if anyone has got any of the Prodrive upgrades yet?. I did see a V8 Vantage with them all on parked outside Grange in Brentwood a few weeks back...but it was stickered up Prodrive so may have been a demo car.

Also, does anyone else find it a little odd that they claim +45bhp to 425bhp from just sports cats, back box and a remap...when Aston Martin themselves have to rework the heads + balance/lighten all components etc + sports cats and remap etc on the new N24 ...just to get 410bhp ?...am I missing something here ?

I think you'll find that prodrive are being honest about the INCREASE in bhp they achieve and then adding it to AM's CLAIMED standard bhp.However I believe that the standard car makes, shall we say, a little less than the 380ish claimed. Hence Aston may now be being accurate re. the final figure they are achieving in the N24 but getting there by adding the increase to a figure somewhat below 380. The N24 certainly feels a lot quicker than 30bhp more powerful than standard - even allowing for substantial lightening of the car.

[bogie]

Interesting...I guess that could be an explanation. I may have to have a trip to my local rolling road and see what my std car is putting out

[DaveB101]

I emailed Prodrive about the upgrades last week - from their reply, the uprades seem to have been delayed, and won't actually be availble in the UK until the end of May, with the suspension upgrade not availble till August. So in theory, no one outside of Prodrive has a V8 with the mods on yet....

[Pugsey]

Have a hunt around on this Forum for a bit. Both Grant3 and myself have driven the Prodrive car and posted on here about it.

Edited by Pugsey on Wednesday 2nd May 08:27

[jeremyc]

bogie said:

Also, does anyone else find it a little odd that they claim +45bhp to 425bhp from just sports cats, back box and a remap...when Aston Martin themselves have to rework the heads + balance/lighten all components etc + sports cats and remap etc on the new N24 ...just to get 410bhp ?...am I missing something here ?

Presumably Prodrive aren't constrained by the emissions and other requirements (such as the ability to cope with lower grade fuels) placed on manufacturers, so they can be a little more aggressive with their mapping.

The standard state of tune of many production cars is pretty conservative - witness the gains that aftermarket remapping can liberate if compromises are accepted (running solely on high grade fuel, different emissions compliant and performance maps etc.).

I could believe that Prodrive manage a real 425bhp whereas AM have to work harder to achieve a compliant figure close to it.

[Pugsey]

jeremyc said:

bogie said:

Also, does anyone else find it a little odd that they claim +45bhp to 425bhp from just sports cats, back box and a remap...when Aston Martin themselves have to rework the heads + balance/lighten all components etc + sports cats and remap etc on the new N24 ...just to get 410bhp ?...am I missing something here ?

Presumably Prodrive aren't constrained by the emissions and other requirements (such as the ability to cope with lower grade fuels) placed on manufacturers, so they can be a little more aggressive with their mapping.

The standard state of tune of many production cars is pretty conservative - witness the gains that aftermarket remapping can liberate if compromises are accepted (running solely on high grade fuel, different emissions compliant and performance maps etc.).

I could believe that Prodrive manage a real 425bhp whereas AM have to work harder to achieve a compliant figure close to it.

Having spent time with the Prodrive guys yes you are right, that is part of it.

[flat-over-crest]

The N24 has a standard engine, just all the components checked so they were exactly nominal. The heads havent been reworked, or any parts lightened.

[bogie]

Is the Aston Martin website incorrect then ?

"The Vantage N24 is based on a European specification V8 Vantage, with modifications to prepare the car for the racing environment. The engine is modified to enhance throttle response and performance. The crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons are lightened and balanced. Cylinder heads are re-profiled with inlet and exhaust ports smoothed and compression ratio optimised and the engine management system is calibrated for race use. The car also benefits from a free flow exhaust system and air filters. The standard V8 dry sump lubrication system is retained, helping to prevent oil surge during extreme cornering. The result is 305 kW (410 bhp) at 7500 rpm – a 22 kW (30 bhp) increase over the standard car."

[chumley-warner]

Pugsey said:

bogie said:

Just wondering if anyone has got any of the Prodrive upgrades yet?. I did see a V8 Vantage with them all on parked outside Grange in Brentwood a few weeks back...but it was stickered up Prodrive so may have been a demo car.

Also, does anyone else find it a little odd that they claim +45bhp to 425bhp from just sports cats, back box and a remap...when Aston Martin themselves have to rework the heads + balance/lighten all components etc + sports cats and remap etc on the new N24 ...just to get 410bhp ?...am I missing something here ?

I think you'll find that prodrive are being honest about the INCREASE in bhp they achieve and then adding it to AM's CLAIMED standard bhp.However I believe that the standard car makes, shall we say, a little less than the 380ish claimed. Hence Aston may now be being accurate re. the final figure they are achieving in the N24 but getting there by adding the increase to a figure somewhat below 380. The N24 certainly feels a lot quicker than 30bhp more powerful than standard - even allowing for substantial lightening of the car.

I think there is more than an element of truth in this. I have a 997S (355bhp) and a stock AMv8 - allegedly both 180mph+ cars. The 997 feels like it would easily make it's numbers, not so for the AMv8.

I've ben told to wait to do 4/5k miles before the upgrade, and given that I have done 1k miles in 6 motnhs, don't hold your breath for my report!

[Murph7355]

chumley-warner said:

...I think there is more than an element of truth in this. I have a 997S (355bhp) and a stock AMv8 - allegedly both 180mph+ cars. The 997 feels like it would easily make it's numbers, not so for the AMv8....

The AMV8 is allegedly a 175mph car.

And judging by the way it gets to 155mph, I suspect it would meet this claim.

[Pugsey]

Murph7355 said:

chumley-warner said:

...I think there is more than an element of truth in this. I have a 997S (355bhp) and a stock AMv8 - allegedly both 180mph+ cars. The 997 feels like it would easily make it's numbers, not so for the AMv8....

The AMV8 is allegedly a 175mph car.

And judging by the way it gets to 155mph, I suspect it would meet this claim.

I suspect by 'making it's numbers' chumley-w. meant a bit more than purely top speed and there is no doubt that the 997S is slightly more accelerative than the Aston right across the rev. range. IMO this is down to several reasons, not least that the AM may not actually produce it's claimed 380bhp whereas the 997S will be producing at least it's claimed 355bhp and maybe more, and that the V8 weighs 1570kg against 1420kg. Crucially although claiming a fraction less torque the Porsche produces it's max. nearly 1000rpm early than the AM. In other words it's got more go off the line and less weight to get moving. With regards top speed I've seen over 180mph indicated in both cars. I have no idea what the actual corrected speeds were - it just seemed fast! The Aston was fractionally more stable than the Porker.