LUPINIPOWER SHOWS OFF 400KW BAKKIE

Cars In Action magazine publisher Michele Lupini is a lot of things, depending on who you are asking. But anyone who knows him will agree he’s nothing if not highly ambitious. His LupiniPower tuning outfit, unknown to most of us, apparently existed way before this Chevrolet Ute appeared on the scene. Good thing too, because all the experience the Lupinis have in racing, tuning and testing cars has been added to this so-called LupiniPower SuperUte.

Why they chose the Chevrolet bakkie in the first place, I don’t know. I do know that ever since the tailhappy beast was launched in Mzansi, Cars In Action has been totally smitten. This part I understand, having been bitten from the first moment of sight myself and during the subsequent IN4RIDE road test. But still, it’s a bakkie (pickup) for Sarel’s sake!

I guess it’s tempting, given the standard powertrain available, to tune a car like this. Personally I would have chosen
the sedan Lumina instead, just for the passenger and everyday practicality factor.

“Primarily the Ute sells considerably better than the sedan,” explains LupiniPower CEO Michele Lupini, “probably for the same reasons I like it - the Ute is a very unique beast versus just another sedan in a crowded market, so that in itself stands it apart. Then of course I have a personal affinity with the Ute - suppose that shone through in our CIA Performance Car of the Year and Best Bakkie '09 - the normal sedan would have maybe made top 3 in Pcoty, but the bakkie carried it off.”

Ex factory the Ute is already packed with something akin to a mini war chest. Its 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 pushes out 270kW at 5700rpm and maximum torque of 530Nm at 4400rpm. Clearly no Ventersdorp van then. Remember we got 6.6 seconds on our 0 – 100km/h rush when we tested it back in October 2009. And that was at 1600m altitude.

Imagine then, strapping a Magna Charger blower to the thing. What do you think would happen? Magic of course!

The system now kicks out 400kW at 5600rpm and a massive 785Nm at 3400rpm. From a bakkie. The 0 – 100km/h dash is said to go by in only 5 seconds, putting it firmly in lower-end supercar territory. Basically it will outrun (and possibly embarrass) very well-established names from the land of the Huns. In-gear overtaking acceleration is just as impressive; 80 - 120km/h in 3.5 seconds and 120 -160km/h 3.9 seconds. It will not stop for anyone, until those new 320mm ventilated and slotted discs are applied through the brake pedal. Or until the entire weight (pun intended) of JMPD has been dispatched after you.

LupiniPower has included a nice list of options for your money, including a full Bilstein suspension system, a limited slip differential, and 20-inch wheels. I’ve blitzed the standard Ute through a short gymkana before and was gobsmacked with its cozy interaction with the tarmac. These improvements should make it even more fun to handle.

I’ll be taking the SuperUte on a joyride quite soon and will let you know how that goes. The package will apparently be available towards the third quarter of the year at a price currently undisclosed. Warranties and maintenance will be included.

Hopefully LupiniPower will not stop with this Ute. I’ve always been quite partial to the idea of a 400kW-plus Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 myself…