Saker RapX

Saker RapX

2012 is a big year for AET because we will be buying and transforming a Saker into an awesome vehicle. Don't get us wrong, the Saker is already spectacular. Like the bird of prey that it is named after, it is swift and very manoeuvrable and is designed for outright performance. What's more, it's a beautiful-looking car. The manufacturers have a slogan for it: more adrenaline than you can handle. But they ain't seen nothing yet. There are a number of reasons why the Saker is the perfect racecar for us. It's lightweight and has a minimum frontal area and drag; it has the capacity for high downforce; it has a low centre of gravity and its main weight mass is in a central position; and it has endurance race capabilities. It also has a Subaru engine. A 2.0 litre Flat 4 Turbo to be precise. This is of particular interest because we have a wealth of experience working with Subaru engines and this is an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate just how far AET can push it. Sakers have a limited horsepower of 270bhp. We'll be upping that to the 4-500bhp mark with a series of upgrades, including:

  • Turbo: Fitting a customised hybrid Borg Warner EFR Turbo, the manufacturer's first ball bearing model.
  • Internal work: Forging the engine with bespoke internals designed to AET specifications.
  • Tuning: Installing a MoTeC M800 ECU and using the Dynapack so that we can map it under controlled conditions.
  • Collaboration: We will also be working closely with our partners to upgrade the vehicle dynamics in order to achieve the optimum level.

The Saker Project is about showing off what we're capable of at AET. With so much engineering expertise and talent here, seeing how far we can take a vehicle like the Saker will be beneficial for us and our customers. If all goes to plan, and we have every reason to expect it will do, we'll have a racecar that's going to turn heads; and when it's driving past, it'll turn them quickly! When the project is completed we will race it at events like Brit Car, and, as it's a two seater, we'll take clients out in it too. However, the underlying objective is simple: to see how fast we can make the Saker complete a circuit of the Nürburgring. You can keep up to date with our progress on the news page.

Project Zed

In 2009, AET were invited by Abby Motorsport to work with John Bradshaw at Brahms Racing on a Nissan Skyline GTsT (Project GTsT). We produced a GT45/47R hybrid turbo for the vehicle and in 2010 it became the fastest Skyline on the planet with a time of 7.45 seconds at 187mph. So when we were asked to take part in the next venture, a Nissan 350Z drag car, we jumped at the opportunity. Working closely with the team, we designed and produced a pair of hybrid S400 turbos, with bespoke V-Band turbine housings. Then we collaborated with Turbosmart to produce the external wastegate. And, of course, as the engine development of Project Zed is a continual process, our job is far from over. Right now, Project Zed is Europe's first 6-second Japanese car. That also makes it Europe's fastest Japanese car. However, the ultimate aim is to make it the fastest Japanese car in the world. It's a high ambition, but the right people and expertise are in place. And we think that it's only a matter of time.

Project Zed's performance figures based on the car running at just over 1800 bhp:

Highest speed: 211.8 mph in 6.74 seconds on 18th September 2011.
NEW EUROPEAN RECORD

Fastest quarter mile: 6.63 seconds at 209 mph on 18th September 2011.
NEW EUROPEAN RECORD