“I feel the need… the need for speed!”—Maverick, Top Gun/// RAPTOR DESCENDING /////////SPEED: THE ELUSIVEFEELING, THAT UTTERLYSATISFYING SENSATION OFFASTNESS. It’s the number onereason so many of us are drawn to thisautomotive pastime.You could deny it, sure, but thenyou wouldn’t be entirely honest withyourself, would you? Whether you lustto drive a 500-hp Lamborghini or prefera 50-hp Austin-Healy Sprite, the endgame is usually the same: pursuit ofthat sensation of rapid motion, speed(whether or not you’re actually goingfast is a different matter entirely).There’s just one problem: the postedspeed limit. Given, you don’t have todeal with them if you live on the Isleof Man, the one place on Earth wherethere is no generally accepted speedlimit, or if you’re blessed with access toroughly half the German autobahnenthat remain unrestricted at the top end.Otherwise, you’re a gambling man (orwoman). And speed, as it happens, canbe detrimental to your good standingas a responsible motorist. Don’t ask mehow I know.All things considered, driving a fastcar fast in any one of the fifty UnitedStates of America could be one ofthe more frustrating and frighteningproposals you’re likely to face as anautomotive enthusiast. But what ifyou could, nearly literally, fly under theradar? See speed traps coming beforethey see you? Listen in on big brotheras he attempts to listen in on you?Enter the Performance OutfittersGroup R8 Raptor. This car is purposebuiltto drive fast—really fast—andstay utterly off the radar while doingit. The car’s owner—a shadowyindividual who we’ll call Mr. R—had itassembled for one specific task: takingthe top spot and requisite braggingrights in that exhibition of speed, excessand debauchery known as Bullrun.As I type, with the event still twoweeks hence, we have no idea if he’llbe successful. But given the tools at hisdisposal, I’d say nobody has got a betterchance. And even if it all goes south,Mr. R has certainly stirred things up.The R8 Raptor has become somethingof a legend by now on the East Coast.Performance Outfitters Groupout of Stamford, Conn., got the nodwhen it came time to do the work. Anunknown number of man hours havebeen invested into the project to date.At first glance it may look nothingmore than your basic R8. You’ll notethe lack of a contrasting “sideblade”panel; move in a little closer and you’llnote the paint is a custom matte-finishblack. Outwardly, this car is probablyabout as subtle as an R8 can get.To accomplish the paint job, everyexterior panel was removed and theinterior was gutted. The latter was anecessary step anyway to make roomfor the host of electronics modificationsplanned for the project—moreon that in a minute. The panels wereThis car ispurposebuiltto drivefast—reallyfast—andstay utterlyoff the radarwhile doing it.also stripped of their R8 badging, andthe side markers and all three taillampswere smoked.Reportedly, when the time came todecide on an entry for the 2009 Bullrunrally, Mr. R had narrowed the field totwo vehicles: the R8, and a Ferrari F430Scuderia. While few would doubt the430’s on-track prowess, the R8 won outmainly over comfort and ergonomics,as well as the option of reliably superchargingthe R8’s 4.2-liter FSI powerunit. At the time of the initial teardown,the R8 wore white paint and no otherperformance modifications outside of aMilltek exhaust.Performance Engine Software, <strong>PES</strong>,out of Shouthampton, Penn., wastapped to provide a means of forcedinduction: supercharger assembly withintegrated intake manifold, intercoolingprovisions, and the requisite supportsoftware. <strong>PES</strong> claims, unofficially atthis point, an approximate 103-hpgain over the stock peak power figure.With the free-flowing Milltek pipes inplace, Performance Outfitters Groupestimates this R8, only the second suchsupercharged example in the UnitedStates, to put down around 558 hp58EUROPEANCAR 10.2009www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com
www.storemags.com & www.w.fafantntamamagag.c.comEUROPEANCARWEB.COM 59
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