INCREASE YOUR VEHICLE’S PERFORMANCE
Top products that can improve your vehicle’s performance
Whether it’s the economy or simply because today’s vehicles are more durable, an increasing number of vehicle people of are driving their cars and trucks longer. In fact, a recent study from RL Polk found that the median age of both cars and light trucks is at an record high at 9.4 and 7.5 years, respectively.
Those looking to reenergize their vehicles with a bit more power might want to consider purchasing performance-enhancing aftermarket products. Thousands of such products are available to bring renewed life to a tired car or truck, and many are designed to elevate the vehicle’s performance beyond what it was capable of when it was new. Here are several ideas:
- Bolt-On Power: A carefully designed cold air intake system combined with a high-flow air filter can add significant power to almost any car or truck. Combined with a high flow exhaust system, gains can be as high as 25 horsepower or more on some engines. Because these changes offer a good return for relatively small investment, they are among the most frequent bolt-on upgrades on a used car or truck.
- Lighten Up: Another easy way to enhance performance is to replace heavy original parts with lighter specialty products. Replacement decks and body parts made from carbon fiber and other light-weight materials are options for almost any vehicle, as are wheels that weigh less than the ones from the OE supplier.
- Suspension Products: Improving car handling dynamics is an often overlooked form of performance. It’s uncommon to find a car that came with OE supplied high-performance shocks or struts, and after a few years, the original suspension can degrade significantly. By upgrading with new, specially-tuned shocks, bushings and springs, a vehicle can handle better than it did when it was new. Another simple way to enhance handling is by adding more powerful brakes. Brake kits are widely available in bolt-on form, which facilitate upgrading older cars to disc brakes, or adding specially designed brake pads, stronger calipers, and longer, better vented discs.
- Turbochargers and Superchargers: For owners who are committed to improving power, turbo kits that force more air into the engine cylinders can add 50 or 100 more horsepower. It’s also possible to replace the original turbo with a larger or more efficient one, or add a turbo where no turbo was offered. Charger kits, another forced air option, are often offered by manufacturers in their specialty high-performance cars and trucks. Most people don’t know that the same parts are available for sale to the public, often offered by the same companies that supply them to the automakers.
- For Trucks and 4x4s: Replacing an easily-clogged air filter with a high-flow, reusable one can save a lot on a truck that sees extreme duty. There is also a wide variety of electric fans and auxiliary coolers that allow trucks to pull more and work harder without overheating. For trucks and 4x4s, stronger axles, lower gears and better suspension equipment are available for models dating all the way back to World War II.
Automotive performance parts come in kit form, usually with instructions and an customer support line to call for advice, so many can be installed by the average backyard mechanic. That said, most complex performance enhancements are best handled by a professional service tech who has all the right tools, including a lift and service bay and experience with the type of job at hand.
Visit www.enjoythedrive.com for information on the latest aftermarket performance parts and installers. The website is presented by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a trade association that represents specialty parts manufacturers, retailers, installers and other professionals in the aftermarket industry. In addition to compiling authoritative data on market trends and sales growth, SEMA provides the website as a comprehensive source on specialty automotive parts for improving performance, appearance and functionality in cars, trucks, and recreational vehicles.
To locate performance parts for almost any kind of vehicle, go to www.enjoythedrive.com.
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