It was only a matter of time...
Discussion
Here are the first pictures of the Underground Racing Twin Turbo Ferrari 458 Italia. Ferrari did an incredible job with the 458 platform. We must say we greatly enjoyed driving this 458 Italia around a bit before it went under the knife.
Even though we were extremely impressed with the handling and all the other cool features of the 458, however, we knew there was something missing. Because my brother KC Howeth and I test drive Twin Turbo Lamborghinis and Twin Turbo F430's on a daily basis, we have certain expectations (however warped they may be!) when it comes to power and acceleration. So it was then time for the Underground Racing team to design a 458 Twin Turbo system. As the pictures below show, this is what we came up with.
We will have a Twin Turbo system with a stock engine as Stage 1. The built engine with Twin Turbo system will be stage 2. More photos and videos will be coming soon, along with the release of the performance numbers. Please follow Underground Racing - Twin Turbo Lamborghini Gallardo Performance for updates and details.
Kevin Howeth
Underground Racing
704-361-3443
Even though we were extremely impressed with the handling and all the other cool features of the 458, however, we knew there was something missing. Because my brother KC Howeth and I test drive Twin Turbo Lamborghinis and Twin Turbo F430's on a daily basis, we have certain expectations (however warped they may be!) when it comes to power and acceleration. So it was then time for the Underground Racing team to design a 458 Twin Turbo system. As the pictures below show, this is what we came up with.
We will have a Twin Turbo system with a stock engine as Stage 1. The built engine with Twin Turbo system will be stage 2. More photos and videos will be coming soon, along with the release of the performance numbers. Please follow Underground Racing - Twin Turbo Lamborghini Gallardo Performance for updates and details.
Kevin Howeth
Underground Racing
704-361-3443
Wow I had no idea you guys were on PH! 
Having given my opinion on a test drive I had of a 458, you can read it here about half way down, http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... I do wonder, great bit of engineering that it is, if this car is just a complete waste of time?
If you drive with the electronics engaged they will be constantly reigning in the power to keep the car on the road. If you switch them off the car would just head straight to the scene of the accident.
On the other hand you may just want a very expensive dragster in that case this is your idea car.
If you drive with the electronics engaged they will be constantly reigning in the power to keep the car on the road. If you switch them off the car would just head straight to the scene of the accident.
On the other hand you may just want a very expensive dragster in that case this is your idea car.
Streetrod said:
Having given my opinion on a test drive I had of a 458, you can read it here about half way down, http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... I do wonder, great bit of engineering that it is, if this car is just a complete waste of time?
If you drive with the electronics engaged they will be constantly reigning in the power to keep the car on the road. If you switch them off the car would just head straight to the scene of the accident.
On the other hand you may just want a very expensive dragster in that case this is your idea car.
I think that's a very good point. It may be a bit of silly comparison, but it reminds of when I played Gran Turismo a few years ago on a playstation and "tuned" an MX-5 or something to within an inch of its life. It just made the car completely undriveable in the game and slower than before I'd messed with it. And incidentally, less fun to play the game with. I'm pretty sure the same could be said in this real life case.If you drive with the electronics engaged they will be constantly reigning in the power to keep the car on the road. If you switch them off the car would just head straight to the scene of the accident.
On the other hand you may just want a very expensive dragster in that case this is your idea car.
The other thing that I find slightly disturbing is that giving a 600bhp car say 1200bhp will increase its top speed by a significant amount. We all know how much work went into Bugatti tyres and wheels to ensure they could cope with the stresses of 240mph+. I'm guessing the Underground Racing cars will likely still be on "normal" rubber and rims and the potential for driver to push them past their safety limit on a Vmax type event with his newly discovered extra 600bhp is significant. Not safe for the driver and not good for the company given how litigation-happy the US is.
Streetrod said:
Having given my opinion on a test drive I had of a 458, you can read it here about half way down, http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... I do wonder, great bit of engineering that it is, if this car is just a complete waste of time?
Most probably, but I guess this sort of thing is more 'because we could' than anything else.Stingercut said:
As long as its safe then why not. You would not feel insecure at the lights carrying a 'fat passenger' when someone pulls up in new 911 Turbo. Lets hope it can smash 8 secs for the 1/4 mile.
Unfortunately you probably still would 
0-60 (or to legal speed limit say) times nowadays are pretty much a function of traction rather than power for these carsMario149 said:
Stingercut said:
As long as its safe then why not. You would not feel insecure at the lights carrying a 'fat passenger' when someone pulls up in new 911 Turbo. Lets hope it can smash 8 secs for the 1/4 mile.
Unfortunately you probably still would 0-60 (or to legal speed limit say) times nowadays are pretty much a function of traction rather than power for these carsMario149 said:
Streetrod said:
Having given my opinion on a test drive I had of a 458, you can read it here about half way down, http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... I do wonder, great bit of engineering that it is, if this car is just a complete waste of time?
If you drive with the electronics engaged they will be constantly reigning in the power to keep the car on the road. If you switch them off the car would just head straight to the scene of the accident.
On the other hand you may just want a very expensive dragster in that case this is your idea car.
I think that's a very good point. It may be a bit of silly comparison, but it reminds of when I played Gran Turismo a few years ago on a playstation and "tuned" an MX-5 or something to within an inch of its life. It just made the car completely undriveable in the game and slower than before I'd messed with it. And incidentally, less fun to play the game with. I'm pretty sure the same could be said in this real life case.If you drive with the electronics engaged they will be constantly reigning in the power to keep the car on the road. If you switch them off the car would just head straight to the scene of the accident.
On the other hand you may just want a very expensive dragster in that case this is your idea car.
The other thing that I find slightly disturbing is that giving a 600bhp car say 1200bhp will increase its top speed by a significant amount. We all know how much work went into Bugatti tyres and wheels to ensure they could cope with the stresses of 240mph+. I'm guessing the Underground Racing cars will likely still be on "normal" rubber and rims and the potential for driver to push them past their safety limit on a Vmax type event with his newly discovered extra 600bhp is significant. Not safe for the driver and not good for the company given how litigation-happy the US is.
Yes you'll gain probably about 15-20mph top end because there is significantly more bhp to affect the drag co-efficient but well within the car's capabilities.
This isn't Playstation!!
Mario149 said:
Streetrod said:
Having given my opinion on a test drive I had of a 458, you can read it here about half way down, http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... I do wonder, great bit of engineering that it is, if this car is just a complete waste of time?
If you drive with the electronics engaged they will be constantly reigning in the power to keep the car on the road. If you switch them off the car would just head straight to the scene of the accident.
On the other hand you may just want a very expensive dragster in that case this is your idea car.
I think that's a very good point. It may be a bit of silly comparison, but it reminds of when I played Gran Turismo a few years ago on a playstation and "tuned" an MX-5 or something to within an inch of its life. It just made the car completely undriveable in the game and slower than before I'd messed with it. And incidentally, less fun to play the game with. I'm pretty sure the same could be said in this real life case.If you drive with the electronics engaged they will be constantly reigning in the power to keep the car on the road. If you switch them off the car would just head straight to the scene of the accident.
On the other hand you may just want a very expensive dragster in that case this is your idea car.
The other thing that I find slightly disturbing is that giving a 600bhp car say 1200bhp will increase its top speed by a significant amount. We all know how much work went into Bugatti tyres and wheels to ensure they could cope with the stresses of 240mph+. I'm guessing the Underground Racing cars will likely still be on "normal" rubber and rims and the potential for driver to push them past their safety limit on a Vmax type event with his newly discovered extra 600bhp is significant. Not safe for the driver and not good for the company given how litigation-happy the US is.
Yes you'll gain probably about 15-20mph top end because there is significantly more bhp to affect the drag co-efficient but well within the car's capabilities.
This isn't Playstation!!
jontysafe said:
Mario149 said:
Streetrod said:
Having given my opinion on a test drive I had of a 458, you can read it here about half way down, http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... I do wonder, great bit of engineering that it is, if this car is just a complete waste of time?
If you drive with the electronics engaged they will be constantly reigning in the power to keep the car on the road. If you switch them off the car would just head straight to the scene of the accident.
On the other hand you may just want a very expensive dragster in that case this is your idea car.
I think that's a very good point. It may be a bit of silly comparison, but it reminds of when I played Gran Turismo a few years ago on a playstation and "tuned" an MX-5 or something to within an inch of its life. It just made the car completely undriveable in the game and slower than before I'd messed with it. And incidentally, less fun to play the game with. I'm pretty sure the same could be said in this real life case.If you drive with the electronics engaged they will be constantly reigning in the power to keep the car on the road. If you switch them off the car would just head straight to the scene of the accident.
On the other hand you may just want a very expensive dragster in that case this is your idea car.
The other thing that I find slightly disturbing is that giving a 600bhp car say 1200bhp will increase its top speed by a significant amount. We all know how much work went into Bugatti tyres and wheels to ensure they could cope with the stresses of 240mph+. I'm guessing the Underground Racing cars will likely still be on "normal" rubber and rims and the potential for driver to push them past their safety limit on a Vmax type event with his newly discovered extra 600bhp is significant. Not safe for the driver and not good for the company given how litigation-happy the US is.
Yes you'll gain probably about 15-20mph top end because there is significantly more bhp to affect the drag co-efficient but well within the car's capabilities.
This isn't Playstation!!
I was kind of assuming that they lengthened the gearing (or indeed changed the gearbox so it could deal with the extra torque) to increase top speed. If they haven't, these conversions strike me as even more pointless!Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff