Mercedes test engine megaphone

[Dare]

artificial but a improvement


http://www.auto123.com/en/racing-news/f1-mercedes-amg-tests-engine-megaphone-video?artid=167559&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=racing

[Vince]

Looks a bit silly though, for want of a better word... Reminds me of the boy-racers one sees 'cruising' the high streets with ridiculous (and useless) huge exhausts and spoilers, etc...

[vintly]

According to reports I've read they stopped running them after a while because there was no discernible difference in sound. Personally I think any artificial sound-boost would feel just that, artificial. Let it be, move on, the march of 'progress' isn't always smooth etc etc.

Basically it's hardly the biggest issue with F1, so concentrate on what matters more - good racing for the fans.

[cosworth151]

I wonder if somebody at Merc happened to see a mid-30's MG somewhere. Like maybe this beautiful 1934 MG PA.

The turbos are still a dead end. They'll never work for everyday production cars. People buying daily drivers can't afford to replace the engine every year or so. Scrap 'em and move on.

[Monty]

The turbos are still a dead end. They'll never work for everyday production cars. People buying daily drivers can't afford to replace the engine every year or so. Scrap 'em and move on.

...erm, excuse me but about 40% of cars in the UK are turbos, including my daily driver. I'm not saying you are wrong but I could do without the thought that I am going to have to replace my engine anytime soon, especially as I drive over 30,000 miles per year!   

[Scott]

I haven't owned anything without a turbo for the past 12 years.  Not by preference, just that every car I've wanted to buy has ended up being a turbo (a Peugot, a Volvo and 2 VW's - all of which were turbo and to present, very reliable).

But for the record, my car is too quiet too 

[cosworth151]

The normally aspirated V8 in my E-Series van has over 278,000 miles on the clock and has lived a very hard life. Nothing but routine maintenance. It is on it's second set of spark plugs but still has the original coil packs. Any turbos out there match that?

[Jericoke]

The normally aspirated V8 in my E-Series van has over 278,000 miles on the clock and has lived a very hard life. Nothing but routine maintenance. It is on it's second set of spark plugs but still has the original coil packs. Any turbos out there match that?

All those poor mechanics with nothing to fix!  Engine manufacturers who are producing at half capacity!  No wonder manufacturing is down.  Quality products are irreplaceable!

[lkjohnson1950]

Can't match Cossie yet, but my Subaru 4 cylinder turbo has 97K on it with no problems so far. The reason turbos came to F1 was because most manufacturers see turbos as the future. Audi's RS4 went from a V8 to a twin turbo V6, the nest Lexus IS is a I4 turbo in the base model, as is the next Jag XF I believe. I'm sure Renault and Merc are already learning things that will show up in production a few years down the road.

[cosworth151]

Just a repeat of the turbo fads of the early 60's and 80's. This, too, shall pass.

[Jericoke]

Just a repeat of the turbo fads of the early 60's and 80's. This, too, shall pass.

It will, but I doubt a return to V8s is in the cards.  Electric power units are gaining traction in the marketplace.  At some point it will be absurd for the pinnacle of auto racing to use internal combustion engines at all.

And then the petro states will fall, their tracks rapidly falling into disuse.

Silent e-cars will mean no noise complaints at Spa

And the Belgian Grand Prix will be back!

Surely no one here is is opposed to the Belgian Grand Prix?!

[Irisado]

It was a silly idea to resolve a problem which doesn't exist in the first place.  Time to return to the serious business of proper testing and racing, and not try out gimmicks to enhance engine noise which won't make the racing any better.

[Jericoke]

It was a silly idea to resolve a problem which doesn't exist in the first place.  Time to return to the serious business of proper testing and racing, and not try out gimmicks to enhance engine noise which won't make the racing any better.

I'm pretty sure that Adrian Newey was poised to create an exhaust trumpet that shaved 3/10s of a second off the RBR laptime.

[Irisado]

Is that a trumpet to recycle Helmut Marko's hot air ?  That would be worth more than 0.3s per lap !