Powertec RPA
Encyclopedia
RPE RP-V8 is the name of a V8 engine
series developed by Radical Sportscars in Peterborough
, England
for use in the SR8 sportscar. The design is loosely based on the 1.3 litres (79.3 cu in) inline-four engine produced by Suzuki
for their Hayabusa motorcycle
. The company have designed their own cylinder block
and use existing Suzuki cylinder head
s. The two cylinder bank
s are inclined at a 72-degree angle. Lubrication is provided by a dry sump
system. The engine is mated to a purpose-built transaxle
designed by Quaife
.
There are currently two versions of the engine available, which have been updated for 2011. First is the base 2.7 litres (164.6 cu in) model which retains the original bore and stroke of the K8 Hayabusa design and produces 430 hp. Second is the bored and stroked 3.2 litres (195.1 cu in) model which produces up to 500 hp.
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
series developed by Radical Sportscars in Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for use in the SR8 sportscar. The design is loosely based on the 1.3 litres (79.3 cu in) inline-four engine produced by Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
for their Hayabusa motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
. The company have designed their own cylinder block
Cylinder block
A cylinder block is an integrated structure comprising the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and often some or all of their associated surrounding structures...
and use existing Suzuki cylinder head
Cylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket...
s. The two cylinder bank
Cylinder bank
Internal combustion piston engines are usually arranged so that the cylinders are in lines parallel to the crankshaft. Where they are in a single line, this is referred to as an inline or straight engine....
s are inclined at a 72-degree angle. Lubrication is provided by a dry sump
Dry sump
A dry sump is a lubricating motor oil management method for four-stroke and large two-stroke piston internal combustion engines that uses external pumps and a secondary external reservoir for oil, as compared to a conventional wet sump system....
system. The engine is mated to a purpose-built transaxle
Transaxle
In the automotive field, a transaxle is a major mechanical component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential, and associated components of the driven axle into one integrated assembly....
designed by Quaife
Quaife
R.T. Quaife Engineering, Ltd. is a British manufacturer of automotive drivetrain products. It designs and manufactures replacement gearboxes and gear sets, some of which are for four-wheel drive systems....
.
There are currently two versions of the engine available, which have been updated for 2011. First is the base 2.7 litres (164.6 cu in) model which retains the original bore and stroke of the K8 Hayabusa design and produces 430 hp. Second is the bored and stroked 3.2 litres (195.1 cu in) model which produces up to 500 hp.
Engine
- maximum motiveMotive powerIn thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a...
powerPower (physics)In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit...
: 430 bhp - maximum revs: 10,500 revolutions per minuteRevolutions per minuteRevolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
- steel flat-plane crankshaftCrankshaftThe crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
- Twin pump lubrication system
- Four scavenge pump dry sumpDry sumpA dry sump is a lubricating motor oil management method for four-stroke and large two-stroke piston internal combustion engines that uses external pumps and a secondary external reservoir for oil, as compared to a conventional wet sump system....
system - Rotary vane coolant pump
- Pre-engage starter motor
- Belt-driven 45 ampAmpereThe ampere , often shortened to amp, is the SI unit of electric current and is one of the seven SI base units. It is named after André-Marie Ampère , French mathematician and physicist, considered the father of electrodynamics...
alternatorAlternatorAn alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current.Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used... - 45 mm eight-throttle body induction system
Bellhousing and clutch
- Twin-plate dry clutch
- Integral oil tank capacity: 9 litres (19 US pt)
- Integral rear engine mount
- Engine - gearbox spacing: 126 millimetres (5 in)
- Dry weight: 13.7 kilograms (30 lb)
Transaxle
- Six-speed constant mesh manual transmissionManual transmissionA manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
transaxleTransaxleIn the automotive field, a transaxle is a major mechanical component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential, and associated components of the driven axle into one integrated assembly.... - Sequential shift - 6 forward, 1 back
- Torque-biased limited-slip differential
- Integral oil cooling pump
- Pressure fed lubrication system
Dimensions
- Length: 546 millimetres (21.5 in)
- Width: 513 millimetres (20.2 in)
- Height: 440 millimetres (17.3 in)
- Dry weight: 88 kilograms (194 lb)