Drifting into 2008

For 2008, Solstice Drift fans will have a couple more cars to watch. GM Racing is putting Solstice GXPs with production 2.0L turbo ECOtec (LNF) engines on the Drift circuit.

Rhys Millen’s Solstice GXP Drift has an amazing 2.4L turbo ECOtec race engine. It’s a robust torque-monster, putting out 520 ft-lbs of torque and 500 horsepower, and we love it! But. . . what about the production Solstice GXP engine, the 2.0L turbo ECOtec LNF? It’s an advanced engine design with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing, making 260 horsepower and 260ft-lbs of torque. Can it power the Solstice to achieve drifting prowess?

We say, ‘yes!’ And we’re out to prove it.

Since we’re running our Solstice Drift cars on closed courses only, not driving on public roads, we can make a few tweaks to bump up the power. We made a couple changes in the engine calibration, removed the catalytic converter, and installed a free-flowing 3-inch exhaust. While we may not pass government emissions testing, or meet the longevity requirements for the GM Powertrain warranty, we were able to get 330 horsepower and 425 ft-lbs of torque (those ECOtecs are torque-monsters!) from the production engine. After employing some basic vehicle weight-reduction techniques, you have yourself a darn good power-to-weight ratio. read more...