Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 272: A Fiercer Feline

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 272: A Fiercer Feline

Seeing as this post will be released on Halloween, I have decided to describe a more extreme (and scarier) version of the long-tailed, all-steel Loryx Lynx GT shown in the previous post, this time bearing the LM suffix. Here it is:

Above, from top: Turning the Loryx Lynx (in its definitive all-steel, long-tailed guise) into a fierce track monster didn't just involve fitting a more highly tuned engine, lower and stiffer suspension, wider tires/wheels, and bigger brakes - I had to cut out a lot of weight (almost 200kg of it, in fact) and crank up the downforce as much as possible, with subtle but distinct exterior changes (and an all-Alcantara/carbon-fiber interior) to reflect this.

The end result is no longer a grand tourer with a secondary role of being a sports car; instead, it's an uncompromising out-and-out supercar, with 480 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque (up 105 and 50, respectively, on the original) thanks to individual throttle bodies, lightweight internals, long-tube headers, straight-through mufflers, high-flow catalytic converters, and individual throttle bodies breathing through high-performance intakes. This cuts 0.4 seconds from the 0-60 mph time (4.3 vs. 4.7 seconds) and adds 13 mph (196 vs. 183 mph) to its top speed.

It handles a lot better and stops much sooner, too, thanks to wider tires/wheels (265/40ZR18 front and 305/35ZR18 rear) and brake discs that are an inch larger in diameter at both axles. In addition, the spring/damper and anti-roll bar stiffness have been increased accordingly, and the ride height is 10mm lower. The trade-off for such uncompromising body control, however, is a stiffer ride, but this isn't a problem for its intended demographic, which would rather have preferred a more visceral experience in place of the gentler, more cossetting one found in the donor car. They'll also have had to pay a lot more for the privilege ($60,000 AMU - a 50% increase over the stock variant) - but at least they would've gotten their money's worth.

In short, the Lynx LM would've been a textbook example of an aftermarket package done right - one that takes no prisoners and requires a lot more skill and bravery to extract its full potential (lest you get bitten - hard!), but better equipped to face actual supercars from the era. It may not be for the faint of heart, but it's much more rewarding for those who can handle it.