"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
10/07/2014 at 12:16 • Filed to: Daily Turismo, Blog
3
14|
"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
10/07/2014 at 12:16 • Filed to: Daily Turismo, Blog | 3
| 14 |
This is the Velocity Exo-Contour. It is a mid-engine tube-frame track-day special that weighs less than a Miata. It is powered by a 2.8 liter VW Passat V6 mated to a slushbox automatic....wait...what?
Imagine that you are a pre-med straight A student at a major university and you aren't doing so well in your organic chemistry class. You will certainly pass, but probably get a B+ instead of another A and the deadline to drop is tomorrow. You decide to buckle down and try to ace the final instead of retaking the class...and of course you get a B. Med school is now out of the picture, but there are plenty of dental schools that will take your 3.9 GPA all day long. You go to dental school and spend the next 20 years leaning into peoples mouths and enjoying the medium dollar and low stress hours. The mid life crisis urge hits and you decide you need a track toy. This !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! currently bidding for $9,100 reserve-not-met on eBay with a few days to go, located in Arvada, CO will do nicely.
The Velocity Exo-Contour is an Ariel Atom-esque tube frame track rat that looks like a show winner at the next mad max reunion, but this one has been set up with the easy knob turned to Dentist. Many type-A over-achievers would have selected a boosted VW 1.8T hooked up to a 5-speed manual or the mighty 2.0T mated to a DSG...but not Mr Tuck-in-Shirt-Dentist...nope, try a 2.8 liter V6 from the VW Passat mated to a 5 speed automatic. Those 190 horsepower won't sound like a dentist's drill, and but the slushbox transmission will remind you of the placid waiting room with its oatmeal speed shifts.
A chipped 1.8T will easily make as much power as the V6, but the V6 adds some confidence inspiring mass to the rear end, as well as being basically free to replace. Most pick-a-part yards will give you a free 2.8l ACK/APR engine with any purchase of 4 hub caps. It is about as sexy as a post menopausal midwife, but it'll keep your garage floor clean. You won't need to worry about bad behavior from this beast, because the Passat was never available with a limited slip diff, and any over eagerness on the throttle pedal will be met swiftly with a flashing amber warning light.
Whoa, slow down there speedy, this isn't the Mule Tic 100!
Remember kids, stay in school...and don't get any Bs. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Originally published as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
HammerheadFistpunch
> DailyTurismo
10/07/2014 at 12:21 |
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because noise.
Jonathan Harper
> DailyTurismo
10/07/2014 at 12:23 |
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Ah man. Such fail. I would be interested to drive it on track though, to see if there is any performance to speak of.
Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/07/2014 at 12:26 |
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The above engine is the narrow angle VR6 engine. I have a 2.8 24v version in my DD. With a close ratio (but fragile) 6spd, it is wonderful. The 3.2 is what powers the R32s. Killer engine.
But this is not the engine that is in Velocity Exo-Contour.
Goshen, formerly Darkcode
> DailyTurismo
10/07/2014 at 12:31 |
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Those seats belong in a Passat.
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DailyTurismo
> Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
10/07/2014 at 12:31 |
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Yup. The VR6 is a cool engine, the 2.8 V6...
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DailyTurismo
> Jonathan Harper
10/07/2014 at 12:32 |
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It is probably fun to drive on a track, but it is like building luxury ocean cruise ship and instead of swimming pools you put sand boxes on the decks.
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Jonathan Harper
> DailyTurismo
10/07/2014 at 12:33 |
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hahah such a perfect analogy.
Eddie Brannan
> DailyTurismo
10/07/2014 at 12:35 |
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Looks identical to the 2.8 V6 in my 1999 Audi A6, and when I say identical I mean absolutely the same motor, down to the plastics, the typography, everything. Wonder if it was a shared unit. It actually revs up really wonderfully, and I've wondered in the past if anyone had ever thrown it in something small and light, so here I am with my question thoroughly answered! God knows why not a stick though!
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Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
> DailyTurismo
10/07/2014 at 12:43 |
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The VR6, especially the 24v version is a engineering masterpiece, IMHO. More of an "offset inline 6" with the single cylinder head casting. I would LOVE to see a mid engine car with this powerplant as a base. The engine note is just incredible. I put it up there with Alfa's Hall of Fame V6.
Sn210
> DailyTurismo
10/07/2014 at 12:43 |
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...Son?
T5Killer
> DailyTurismo
10/07/2014 at 12:48 |
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I am so disappointed that the Exo Contour lists SBC as an engine option but not SBF. The lighter SBF would be the best choice if you want to but a iron v8 in this thing.
Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
> DailyTurismo
10/07/2014 at 12:50 |
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I'm jelly of this Mustang though.
RallyWrench
> DailyTurismo
10/07/2014 at 15:28 |
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... is actually very reliable, and is good for over 250k if maintained properly. Timing belts & water pumps kind of suck, and they tend to leak a bit of oil, but generally a very tough engine. That said, I believe the VR is one of the greatest engines VWAG has ever produced. I put 160k on my '04 GTI with the 24V, and it was just a great car. I'd still have it or a Mk4 R32 if it had 5 doors.
HiramJahoovafatJr
> HammerheadFistpunch
12/08/2014 at 16:20 |
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Here's the sound clip you were thinking of in regards to the Atom-esque framed Audi V6 engine/slushbox sound...
http://www.hark.com/clips/sdgzbvrc…