|
||
![]() |
![]() |
|
This stunning Toyota Celica was engineered by Rod Millen Motorsports and Toyota Racing Development and not only does it look mean, it is mean. The factory 1.8 liter, 180-hp powerplant has been replaced with the 3S-GTE 2.0L four-banger found in the old MR2 and Celica All-Trac. Engine internals were replaced with high strength forgings to withstand turbocharged duty, allowing the engine to wind out 500 hp @ 8,000 RPM and 340 ft-lbs of torque @ 5,500 RPM. RMM custom-built a set of Iconel headers as well as a stainless-steel center-exit exhaust system. The turbo is an electronic waste-gate controlled Garrett T04 ball-bearing unit that pushes up to 22 PSI and is cooled via an A'PEXi liquid-to-air intercooler. We mentioned the All-Trac powerplant and another swap into the Ultimate was the entire All-Trac powertrain! but the GT4 powertrain is anything but standard - it's from Toyota's all-wheel drive rally car and has the required bulletproofing to allow the engine to punish the single-lugnut 19x8.5 BBS forged alloy wheels. The suspension also allowed the track to be increased by 2.3 inches up front and 2.7 inches out back. And no, it's not an optical illusion - the front end of the body kit portrudes 4.4 inches longer than the stock snout for superior aerodynamics. The entire body treatment was penned, applied and painted at Toyota's Calty Design Research Center. The Ultimate will romp to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and the quarter will come up in 13.3 @ 108 mph. Top speed is estimated to be over 185 mph. . . . |
Comparison
Test: Yankee Boomer Dodge
Viper GTS
ACR
Chevrolet Corvette ZO6
Ford
Mustang SVT Cobra R