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Equipment Tests > Safari Turbochargers
Safari Turbochargers
Words by Mathieu Raudonikis
After reading the claims made by engine enhancement workshops in our 'Power Play' feature last issue the staff at Overlander were very keen to get behind the wheel of some of the modified 4WD vehicles featured. That opportunity soon came with an invite from Safari 4x4 Engineering's Peter Luxon to come down and drive the turbocharged 100 Series LandCruiser 4.5 litre that was in the feature.
In the feature article Safari claimed improvements in both power and torque of around 40 percent with useable torque from low down in the engine's rev range - just the sort of tractable power you want in a 4WD wagon. The dyno chart supplied by Safari showed vastly different power and torque curves between the standard and turbocharged engines with 192kW recorded at the tyres of the modified vehicle compared to 118kW in standard trim. The torque curve of the turbocharged vehicle not only started higher than standard but climbed rapidly and plateaued between 2500 and 4000rpm. It was going to be interesting to see just how these specifications transformed to the road going vehicle.
It didn't take long to appreciate the improvements of the enhanced LandCruiser. Shortly after being picked up at Melbourne Airport in what appeared to be a stock appearing 4.5-litre petrol powered manual LandCruiser GXL we were casually chatting while motoring down the Tullamarine Freeway when Peter realised he was in the wrong lane to take the next exit as we needed to do. No problem for the blown 'Cruiser. Peter left the gearbox in top gear and simply pressed his right foot to the floor and the vehicle quickly accelerated from the 100kph freeway speed to 130kph without a gear change to speak of and powered back in to the left lane to easily make the freeway off-ramp. It's this sort of instant response that makes the more powerful 'Cruiser a safer vehicle than standard as it allows quicker and easier overtaking resulting in less time spent on the wrong side of the road. Felt from the passenger's seat the acceleration was instant. To get a similar rush of acceleration in a normally aspirated vehicle would have required shifting back to third gear and revving the clappers out of the engine. To do it so smoothly and effortlessly in top cog was impressive to say the least and only heightened the anticipation of a drive.
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That opportunity came soon enough when Peter handed over the keys before we headed off into the hills north-east of Melbourne. The first thing that becomes apparent when driving the Safari turbocharged LandCruiser is how low in the rev-range the extra power is felt. From as low as 1200rpm in any gear the added torque is evident. This allows the driver to drive along in a higher gear than would normally be necessary thus not needing to rev the engine as hard as usual and reducing fuel use. The torque delivery is so tractable that when driving through a 50kph country town you are able to leave the vehicle in top gear and idle through and then pull away on the other side of town without needing to shift back any ratios. On the tight switchbacks of the Black and Reefton Spurs the 'Cruiser could be driven like an automatic with the five-speed gearbox left in fourth gear and the ample torque pulling the heavy vehicle through the twists and bends. The added power not only makes the petrol-powered 'Cruiser a safer vehicle, but also an easier and more relaxing vehicle to drive with less use of the gear shift required.
You can also add exciting to safer, easier and more relaxing. As you would expect the additional power from the turbocharged mill is a hoon's delight. No longer is your 4WD the slowest vehicle away from the lights as V8 powered sedans and some sports cars are easy prey for the blown Toyota. Delivering 192kW to all four wheels puts you ahead of the latest V8 Commodores in acceleration despite the weight penalty and if the road is wet or slippery you'll always be in front. Likewise, the extra power and torque are a huge benefit off-road. The torque coming in at lower revs means less wheelspin on loose surfaces and more useable power where you need it most.
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After reading the claims made by engine enhancement workshops in our 'Power Play' feature last issue the staff at Overlander were very keen to get behind the wheel of some of the modified 4WD vehicles featured. That opportunity soon came with an invite from Safari 4x4 Engineering's Peter Luxon to come down and drive the turbocharged 100 Series LandCruiser 4.5 litre that was in the feature.
In the feature article Safari claimed improvements in both power and torque of around 40 percent with useable torque from low down in the engine's rev range - just the sort of tractable power you want in a 4WD wagon. The dyno chart supplied by Safari showed vastly different power and torque curves between the standard and turbocharged engines with 192kW recorded at the tyres of the modified vehicle compared to 118kW in standard trim. The torque curve of the turbocharged vehicle not only started higher than standard but climbed rapidly and plateaued between 2500 and 4000rpm. It was going to be interesting to see just how these specifications transformed to the road going vehicle.
It didn't take long to appreciate the improvements of the enhanced LandCruiser. Shortly after being picked up at Melbourne Airport in what appeared to be a stock appearing 4.5-litre petrol powered manual LandCruiser GXL we were casually chatting while motoring down the Tullamarine Freeway when Peter realised he was in the wrong lane to take the next exit as we needed to do. No problem for the blown 'Cruiser. Peter left the gearbox in top gear and simply pressed his right foot to the floor and the vehicle quickly accelerated from the 100kph freeway speed to 130kph without a gear change to speak of and powered back in to the left lane to easily make the freeway off-ramp. It's this sort of instant response that makes the more powerful 'Cruiser a safer vehicle than standard as it allows quicker and easier overtaking resulting in less time spent on the wrong side of the road. Felt from the passenger's seat the acceleration was instant. To get a similar rush of acceleration in a normally aspirated vehicle would have required shifting back to third gear and revving the clappers out of the engine. To do it so smoothly and effortlessly in top cog was impressive to say the least and only heightened the anticipation of a drive.
read on below advertisement
That opportunity came soon enough when Peter handed over the keys before we headed off into the hills north-east of Melbourne. The first thing that becomes apparent when driving the Safari turbocharged LandCruiser is how low in the rev-range the extra power is felt. From as low as 1200rpm in any gear the added torque is evident. This allows the driver to drive along in a higher gear than would normally be necessary thus not needing to rev the engine as hard as usual and reducing fuel use. The torque delivery is so tractable that when driving through a 50kph country town you are able to leave the vehicle in top gear and idle through and then pull away on the other side of town without needing to shift back any ratios. On the tight switchbacks of the Black and Reefton Spurs the 'Cruiser could be driven like an automatic with the five-speed gearbox left in fourth gear and the ample torque pulling the heavy vehicle through the twists and bends. The added power not only makes the petrol-powered 'Cruiser a safer vehicle, but also an easier and more relaxing vehicle to drive with less use of the gear shift required.
You can also add exciting to safer, easier and more relaxing. As you would expect the additional power from the turbocharged mill is a hoon's delight. No longer is your 4WD the slowest vehicle away from the lights as V8 powered sedans and some sports cars are easy prey for the blown Toyota. Delivering 192kW to all four wheels puts you ahead of the latest V8 Commodores in acceleration despite the weight penalty and if the road is wet or slippery you'll always be in front. Likewise, the extra power and torque are a huge benefit off-road. The torque coming in at lower revs means less wheelspin on loose surfaces and more useable power where you need it most.
next page »
