Chevrolet Kalos WRT (Factory Photos)

[deltamotor]

"This just in from the UK:

November, 2005 - Chevrolet announced a new variant in the highly popular Kalos line, the WRT. Initially, the new model will only be available in the Netherlands as Chevrolet is required to produce a small number of production cars in order to compete in the rally races there next year. The number of WRT's produced is likely to climb in the next year as Chevrolet enters the full race version in rally's throughout the continent of Europe.

My contact at Chevrolet UK tells me that there will be a Stage I and Stage IV version of the WRT with horsepower ratings at 72 and 140 respectively. The Stage IV is still based on the smaller 1.4L 16V motor and is neither turbocharged or supercharged - I am curious to know what all they did to double the horsepower. Manufacturers are not required to use the same motor in the actual race car so bet the competition WRT will be in the 250HP range.

Even with the Stage IV's increased horsepower, it seems the WRT is more of an appearance option. Furthermore, the lack of WRT badges tells me that Chevy is simply producing the car to comply with Rally rules - nothing more.

My verdict: I'm not a big fan of the two-door Kalos, (the C-pillar is oddly shaped and they ruined Giugiaro's lines by changing the beltline creases and adding a rubber protector. Still it would be nice to have 140HP to play with.)

- Siggy

[AveoSam]

i wanna know y they cant just make the god shucks doors flat with out and lines or ripple or any other crap like that....and i doubt they can double the hp like that i dont even think u could do that with a fuel managment system

[deltamotor]

You must be joking. Of course horsepower can be doubled and in some cases even tripled. Simply polishing and porting the cylinder head can yield 60+ horsepower in a motor this size - not to mention adding a less restrictive intake and exhaust manifold, mandrel bent exhaust, larger injectors, revised computer, etc.

All this can mean an increase of 100+ horsepower and you haven't even changed the displacement or bolted on a turbo.

- Siggy

[AveoSam]

it could really double just like that? even with the 1.4L..... i mean if its possible to double that what the heck do we have to do to double our horse power

[AveoSam]

what up with that left tail light?

[deltamotor]

aveosam said:

it could really double just like that? even with the 1.4L..... i mean if its possible to double that what the heck do we have to do to double our horse power

Exactly what I just described. Most people start with replacing the exhaust or upgrading the computer. Since there are no "hot" chips or mandrel bent catback systems on the market yet, you would need to find a "reprogrammer" familiar with Daewoo IFE systems and an exhaust shop that has a mandrel bender.

By simply "uncorking" the stock exhaust with the addition of a custom 2.5" mandrel bent system and hi-flow muffler, you could easily net another 20-30HP.

If you want to play with the top end, remove the cylinder head and find a good high performance machine shop. Depending on how deep your pockets are, they could spend days porting and polishing the intake and exhaust ports, etc.

To my knowledge, there are no aftermarket intake and exhaust manifolds but the same shop could address those pieces as well. All of this could easily add 60+ HP.

If any of this sounds scary, you can always drive into a full service performance shop like Top End Performance (www.racetep.com) and say "go to work boys". These type of places are in every state and they specialize in safely getting the maximum performance out of any car. They can even fabricate their own parts. It's expensive but I would not be surprised if a reputable shop would find a way of getting 300+ horsepower out of the 1.6L - and they would even guarantee their numbers by dyno testing.

- Siggy

[lyncher]

the front of the kalos reminds me of the new jettas.

[AveoSam]

deltamotor said:

By simply "uncorking" the stock exhaust with the addition of a custom 2.5" mandrel bent system and hi-flow muffler, you could easily net another 20-30HP.

If you want to play with the top end, remove the cylinder head and find a good high performance machine shop. Depending on how deep your pockets are, they could spend days porting and polishing the intake and exhaust ports, etc.

To my knowledge, there are no aftermarket intake and exhaust manifolds but the same shop could address those pieces as well. All of this could easily add 60+ HP.

If any of this sounds scary, you can always drive into a full service performance shop like Top End Performance (www.racetep.com) and say "go to work boys". These type of places are in every state and they specialize in safely getting the maximum performance out of any car. They can even fabricate their own parts. It's expensive but I would not be surprised if a reputable shop would find a way of getting 300+ horsepower out of the 1.6L - and they would even guarantee their numbers by dyno testing.

- Siggy

ehh....i believe it when i see it done lol but i should be getting my entire exhausted replaced some...my family knows people who do exhausts

[EnigmaM4n]

you can't get 20-30HP just from an exaust! maybe 4-7Hp but thats it. I work for the Gm proving grounds in Michigan and we just got permission to use an Aveo as a R&D car for a manderal Bent 2.5in exaust. and on the Aveo you can only port and polish the Exaust ports on the block, if you did the intake side you would get turbulance, seeing that the Intake manifold is plastic you could'nt match it to the ports that you ported and polished..

thats my $.02

[AveoSam]

yea delta where were u getting ur numbers from? exhaust doesnt give u that much hp.

[deltamotor]

You guys need to do some research. Do you know what Mandrel bent means? Do you know that simply removing our restrictive factory mufflers and adding a high-flow straight-through design by Borla, Hooker, etc. can add 15HP?

Dyno's do not lie. Countless times, I have seen gains of 30-40HP in bone stock normally aspirated 4-cylinders cars that were given completely new mandrel bent exhaust systems with high performance mufflers & cats. This isn't new information guys. Ask around.

I know there are alot of newbie teens on this forum but I'd expect more from experienced car guys.

[AveoSam]

wats ur credentials? even with a mandrel bent one you wont get as much hp as u said and where are these dyno runs u speak of??? and its only a 1.6L

[deltamotor]

Mandrel bent means "bent by a machine"? What's your source - the bullsh!t dictionary?

Question: When you bend a pipe, is the circumference of the bent section the same as the straight section?

If your answer is "no", then you are on your way to learning why nearly every professional racecar built in the last twenty years has had a "mandrel bent" exhaust system.

Oh and my credentials? I am the Hydrogen Technology Development Manager for the Department of Energy - currently stationed in Thousand Palms, CA.

...any more questions children? lol

- Siggy G

[Nemasys]

owned! lol!!

[AveoSam]

i understand that mandrel bent is better. im glad u do some energy crap but i was kinda meaning like wat is your association with cars how r we suppose to believe those numbers....especially for our car since no one has done this or atleast shown dyno numbers for our cars with this kinda of exhaust. i really dont believe youll get 15 or more hp out of an exhaust on this car....especially if its cat-back