Car modification has evolved from the performance-driven vehicles of the 1930s to the sophisticated performance cars of the 21st century. Modern technology has brought a new dimension to the scene.
The goal of tuning is to customise a car’s performance, comfort, and design for a specific purpose. At the start, during the transition from horse to motorised carriages, carriage-makers would make the frame (chassis); a motor company, the motor; and coachbuilder, the body. Thereafter, different craftsmen would provide accessories like the indicators and instruments.
After 1915, horses and carriages were overtaken by cars as the main mode of transport. In 1930, Mr. Battista “Pinin” Farina, founded Pininfarina S.p.A., an Italian automotive and engineering design company. Perninfarina has its roots as coachbuilders, and continues to work with many car manufactures. Their clients include, Honda, Ferrari, Peugeot, and even SBS buses.
Most car manufacturers produce both family and performance ‘tuned’ cars. Some have internal departments developing performance cars, while others collaborate with external partners. The goal remains the same, to develop, customise, and build components to allow for peak, specific, and balance performance for a desired style of driving. It could be for quarter mile sprints, track, or carpark racing.
Japanese tuning houses include:
- Honda: Type-R (“Racing” Honda performance division), while Mugen and Spoon Sports are external tuning houses.
- Mitsubishi: Ralliart (performance division, Mitsubishi Motors).
- Nissan: Nismo (performance division, Nissan Motorsports).
- Subaru: STi (performance division, Subaru Tecnica International).
- Toyota: GR (performance division, Gazoo Racing).
European tuning houses include:
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- Alfa Romeo: Alfaholics (independent tuning house).
- Audi: ABT Sportline (independent tuning house).
- BMW: M-series (BMW Motor Sports, subsidiary) and Alpine (independent tuning house).
- Fiat: Abarth (independent tuning house).
- Mercedes: AMG (Mercedes subsidiary) and Brabus (independent tuning house).
Porsche Type 64 wind tunnel tested (left) and Engine ECU diagnostics (right)
During the American Muscle car era, although some models came tuned by manufacturers, tuning was still a popular DIY affair. A notable tuner was Carroll Hall Shelby, who surrounded himself with a team of experienced tuners, and built the AC Cobra. Later, with Ford Motor Company, his team tuned the Ford GT40 that won at Le Mans in 1966.
After the 1973 Global Oil Crisis, manufacturers were developing smaller engines without sacrificing power. To reduce weight, lighter materials such as aluminium, plastics, and fibreglass were used to build engines, engine components, sub-frames, and body.
Body designs incorporated more aerodynamics with body kits for better down-force. Development of suspension and braking systems made for improved handling and controlled stopping.
All these were done in the quest to find the perfect balance of power, handling, and braking. For example, from mid-1955, Alfa Romeo started building aluminium engine blocks and used twin-camshafts. The 1980s saw the use of variable valve timing. Around the 2000s, this marque introduced the use of sequential gearshift and direct injection. Soon after, other car manufacturers and tuners followed and improved these engineering technologies for current use.
Nurburgring Nordschleife track (left) and Mercedes-Benz AMG Project One (right)Post-2010s saw developments moving towards AI reliance and hybrid engines. At the same time, further developments were made on earlier suspension designs, like MacPherson struts, double-wishbone and multi-link suspensions; improved braking systems like ABS and four wheels disc brakes; and, traction control systems like electronic stability control and limited slip differential.
These developments saw Singapore car culture grow from the 1980s. Both Japanese and European cars could be seen racing in local rallies, a safe and approved platform where enthusiasts were able to test their professional and DIY tuning capabilities. Manufacturers also offered approved tuned cars, such as the Subaru Impreza WRX STi, BMW M-series, and Honda Type-R series.
Track-times are the current standard used for measuring balanced performance. Using the Nurburgring Nordschleife (22.85km) in Germany. The current benchmark of the fastest lap-time, supercar Mercedes AMG Project One, timed at 6:30:70.
Honda Civic Type-R EP3 (left) and Honda Civic Type-R FK8 (right)Comparison for past and current tuning improvements, using the 2001-2005 Honda EP3 Civic Type-R, which has a 2-litre engine with 158kW/212bhp of power and 202Nm of torque, clocked at 8:46:00. While the 2024 Civic FK8, which has a 2-litre turbocharged engine with 235kW/316bhp and 400Nm of torque, clocked at 7:44.88.
Between the Type-R EP3 and FK8, the time difference was 1:02:12. Achieved 20 years and three generations later, the FK8 also came with advanced aerodynamics, suspensions, and braking systems.
BMW M3 E30 (left) and BMW M3 G80 CS (right)The European representation, the 1986-1991 BMW M3 E30 Sport Evolution has a 2.5-litre engine with 175kW/235bhp of power and 240Nm of torque, clocked at 8:50:00. The 2020 BMW M3 G80 CS has a 3-litre twin-turbocharged engine with 405kW/543bhp of power and 649Nm of torque, and clocked at 07:28.76.
The M3 E30 in-line 4 was already a marvel, but 30 years later, the M3 G80 CS came with the famed BMW in-line 6 engine, and is 1:22:24 quicker. The latter is also built with lighter materials; has AWD; and adaptive suspension.
With current cars managed by AI, to reduce human error, tuning is limited. They are mostly confined to re-mapping of the ECU with basic modifications to air intake, suspension, and body-kits. The same goes for EVs, but with an option to fit higher capacity batteries.
In Singapore, tuned performance cars imported direct from factory and approved by LTA are legal. However, any tuning modifications, thereafter, must comply to guidelines and approved by LTA. Otherwise, modifications are considered as not roadworthy and unsafe, and complementing penalties and fines apply.
