Wednesday 10 November 2010

LUPINIPOWER REVEALS OWN FIESTA ST


LupiniPower is now in full business. This according to the founder of this burgeoning tuning house Michele (pronounced Me-kelly) Lupini. A previous story related how Lupini had taken a stock Chevrolet Ute and turned it into a super car slayer using a few technical tricks such as a supercharger. That car has become the poster boy of LupiniPower; it is said to run from 0 – 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds (about as quick as a Jaguar XFR) and still handle as well as the stock car.


One might view it as going downmarket but LupiniPower sees it as taking power back to the masses, as it starts tuning lesser, even more affordable mortals. The first is a Ford Fiesta-based 110kW hatch whose maximum output matches the previous-generation Fiesta ST’s. It’s being developed with franchisor and retailer Lazarus Ford. Standard 1.6-litre motor makes 88kW at 6000rpm. Torque is also on the up, now rated at 175Nm at 4250rpm, and its 0 – 100km/h time of 8.5 seconds is quicker in Gauteng than the old Fiesta ST which I tested back in 2004 at 9.1 seconds.

Lupini claims fuel consumption is down to 5.7 litres per 100km and C02 emissions are 137g/km. The fiesta is tuned to run on 17-inch wheels surrounded by 205/40x17 tyres. Suspension improvements include the use of progressive rate coils which replace the stock springs. A free-flow exhaust system is also fitted.

For R233 950 you will be able to get your bum into the seat of a Lupini Fiesta, complete with a 3 year/ unlimited km warranty (upgradable to 5 years). 

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