Yesterday

Cosworth explains 'very special' Singer flat-six

There's a limit to what you can do with Porsche's M64 motor; Singer asked Cosworth to help it get there

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When Singer launched the Carrera Coupe and Cabriolet this time last year, its mission statement - celebrating the ‘80s Super Sport models - suggested that the firm would need to take its naturally aspirated engine (based on the M64) to a place it had not previously been. “At the heart of the car, we wanted a remarkable flat-six, with optimized throttle response, the reward of thrilling horsepower at high revs, and prodigious torque throughout the rev range for maximum real-world driver engagement,” said Rob Dickinson. 

It told us the engine would receive numerous enhancements in order for it to deliver 420hp at 8,000rpm, and that it had partnered with Cosworth to make it all happen. Well, courtesy of a new video presented by Singer’s Chief Test Driver, Marino Franchitti and Cosworth MD, Bruce Wood, we get some meat on those bones. An improbable amount, in fact, courtesy of the 28-minute runtime - but we’re certainly not complaining, not when it’s a work of art under discussion. 

Singer, you’ll hardly need reminding, has been continuously optimising the basic M64 since day one, and (with the introduction of the DLS Turbo) had already introduced a four-valve cylinder head. But its new 4.0-litre Carrera engine adds variable valve timing to help even out the torque curve, and is the first naturally aspirated unit to combine its water-cooled cylinder heads with air-cooled cylinders. 

Cosworth, as Wood makes clear, received this ball and ran with it in several directions. This includes incorporating the ultra-low-friction coatings used in motorsport and machining all manner of high-end solutions, not least the combustion chambers - all while adhering to Singer’s aesthetic requirements. It’s quite the trip, one that ends (as you’d hope) on a dyno. Sadly, all the Coupes are now spoken for, though apparently there is still ‘limited availability’ on the Cabrios. When it sounds this good, how could anyone resist? 

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• Singer announces 420hp 911 Carrera Coupe
• Singer 'Sorcerer' DLS Turbo here to blow minds

[markyb000]

Utterly fascinating and an absolute work of art and engineering

[bigmowley]

markyb000 said:

Utterly fascinating and an absolute work of art and engineering

+1 lovely.

[650S]

The Mezger flat six remains a good development base, and Cosworth know their way around a combustion chamber.
The 959 was the first air cooled flat six with water cooled heads, and interestingly in that pre variable-valve-timing era, the twin turbos were sequential (unequal size) providing a crude but similar spread of torque.

The 964 is an outdated old heap to be putting this effort into, just go to McLaren and get a car with fully developed aero, balance, brakes, steering, engine / power-train and a rigid structure?

[Maccmike8]

But McLarens have zero soul and character (F1 excluded). Id. take a Singer over any McLaren road car bar the F1.

[NGK210]

650S said:

The Mezger flat six remains a good development base, and Cosworth know their way around a combustion chamber.
The 959 was the first air cooled flat six with water cooled heads, and interestingly in that pre variable-valve-timing era, the twin turbos were sequential (unequal size) providing a crude but similar spread of torque.

The 964 is an outdated old heap to be putting this effort into, just go to McLaren and get a car with fully developed aero, balance, brakes, steering, engine / power-train and a rigid structure?

You missed out reliability and good looks.
Only joking
Meanwhile, speaking of YouTube vids of Scots exploring iconic engines:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VEUaKrOk7Ew&pp=y...

[GTRene]

bigmowley said:

markyb000 said:

Utterly fascinating and an absolute work of art and engineering

+1 lovely.

its pure car porn, luckily I'm 18+++ and am aloud to look at this.

[ManyMotors]

Obviously, many enjoy this exercise - be happy if you do. But 420 hp? That's not much. There's a reason Porsche itself began putting turbochargers on their flat sixes in 1975. And General Motors did that in 1962.

Make sure the car parkers at Somni or Providence know how to drive a stick.

[Dusty964]

650S said:

The 959 was the first air cooled flat six with water cooled heads

Other than the 936 nearly a decade earlier.

[Mr Tidy]

I'd much rather have the V12 Cosworth developed for the GMA cars!

Just need to win the Euromillions.

[Boxhiller]

Hmm...I was wondering what Timmy Mallet was doing these days.

[griffdude]

I’d rather a Tuthill 911K. 🙂

[E-numbers]

I could listen to Bruce Wood talk about engines all day long. What a brilliant guy- you know someone knows their stuff when they can explain complex things simply. That was a very interesting video.

[smilo996]

Looks like an art deco Dyson.
Good for Singer though getting Cosworth involved.
Perhaps they can sort out the absurd design idea of putting in in the boot like a Beetle.

[Robertb]

ManyMotors said:

Obviously, many enjoy this exercise - be happy if you do. But 420 hp? That's not much. There's a reason Porsche itself began putting turbochargers on their flat sixes in 1975. And General Motors did that in 1962.

Make sure the car parkers at Somni or Providence know how to drive a stick.

320bhp is more than enough for road use in a lightweight body like that (coincidentally around the same output as the 930).

420bhp of naturally aspirated goodness wrapped up in that widebody Carrera shell is pretty much close to motoring nirvana for me.

[Wab1974uk]

Will it have a Cosworth badge on the back?

[86wasagoodyear]

ManyMotors said:

420 hp? That's not much.

It is quite a lot for most purposes

[WPA]

markyb000 said:

Utterly fascinating and an absolute work of art and engineering

Agreed