We concentrate purely on driveability. The VX220 NA is not an easy car to get large amounts of power out of and the mid engine configuration means that smooth power delivery is essential. We have developed all the different stages of power to increase both the power and enhanced driveabilty for the car.
Power
Thorney Motorsport VX220 NAPower Pack 1 - £250 fitted Engine ECU re-map +12 to 18bhp and 20llb torque
We attach a Tech2 diagnostic computer to you cars OBD port and drive it on an extensive test route. During this time, we log the cars ECU output and check for any irregularities or error codes from the ECU. Once we are happy that the car is performing as it should, we re-map the cars ECU with enhanced engine management code via the on board diagnostic port.
Our enhanced engine management code is the result of hundreds of hours of testing on road and track to gain the optimum performance for the car whilst still well within the realms of safety and longevity for the engine.
Power Pack 1 power at wheels
Proper Vauxhall diagnostic equipment
Specifically for the VX220 NA, we have raised the rev limit to 6800 rpm (from 6250) which allows greater use of the wider power band (and you can get to 60mph in 2nd rather than 3rd if you like to measure your car that way). Each gear ratio has been specifically mapped to generate maximum torque throughout the rev range and as much linear power delivery as possible. The difference to a standard car is dramatic.
Your car is again connected to a Tech2 and test driven and all the data logged to ensure a perfect upgrade. Time required in workshop - 2 hours
Thorney Motorsport VX220 NA Power Pack 2 - £1550 fitted ECU re-map, full Milltek Sport exhaust system +18 to 20bhp and 20llb torque
We designed and developed the Milltek Sport exhaust system with Milltek directly. Our design aims were to gain more power throughout the rev range, lighter weight and much more aggressive sporty noise.
Proper Vauxhall diagnostic equipment
The Milltek Sport system comprises a precat replacement pipe, 200 cell high-flow cat and a high-flow rear silencer. The deletion of the pre-cat and replacement of the 400 cell standard cat with an HJS motorsport specification 200 cell version, along with a more efficient rear silencer, means airflow is maximised from the engine generating significant power gains. The addition of the exhaust on its own will add 6-10bhp to the car.
To take full advantage of this power gain we have developed a specific ECU re-map which allows the system to be fully utilised and maximise power output and delivery. Torque especially is increased.
Full Milltek Sport exhaust
Milltek tail trims
Full 100 cell HJS race cat
As usual, your car is fully tested before and after the modifications with a Tech2 to ensure perfect installation.
Time in workshop - 1 full day
Thorney Motorsport VX220 NA Power Pack 2 Plus - £1999 ECU remap, Milltek exhaust, ITG induction cold air induction kit +20 to 25 bhp and 25 lbs
We're not big buyers of the induction concept that induction kits add masses of power but after testing all the kits available for the 2.2 VX220 we've come to the conclusion that the ITG kit really is worth the extra money. Testing has shown that the car is able to run with greater fueling and allows us to enhance the remap to take advantage of this. The ITG is excellently well made and sounds great as well. We also offer the cheaper alternative using the Viper Induction kit, gains are not as solid but the cost is reduced to £1750.
Power Pack 2 Power at wheels
Proper Vauxhall diagnostic equipment
Power Pack 2 Power at Flywheel
The Milltek Sport exhaust system comprises a precat replacement pipe, 200 cell high flow cat and a high flow rear silencer. The deletion of the pre-cat and replacement of the 400 cell standard cat with an HJS motorsport specification 200 cell version, along with a more efficient rear silencer means airflow is maximised from the engine generating significant power gains. Combined with the Piper Cross Viper and enhanced ECU re-map, stage 3 represents the highest level of tune you can obtain on the 2.2 engine before moving to higher stages with extensive engine work.
Full Milltek Sport exhaust
Time in workshop - 1 full day
Thorney Motorsport VX220 NA Power Pack 3 - £3499 fitted ECU remap, Milltek exhaust, ITG Induction kit, Schrick racing cams, gas flowed head +25-30 bhp and 35 lbs
The next stage for the NA VX220 is minor engine work. By fitting higher duration/higher lift cams along with a gas flowed head the engine is transformed. It spins up much, much faster and revs far more easily. The good news that this kind of tuning is still relatively straight forward and is relatively un-invasive for the engine and associated parts. Both torque and peak power are increased extensively but not at the loss of engine durability or driveability.
Proper Vauxhall diagnostic equipment
We only use the full Schrick top engine kit which includes racing cams, double valve springs, caps and collets as the performance gains are a clear improvement over a simple cam swap (which we used to do).
The addition of the double valve springs and complete re-build allows us to run a higher rev limit without fear of buzzing the engine (which we found to happen with just cam upgrades). Whilst the addition of the full top end does increase the cost, it also increases the longevity and reliability of the conversion. We can still do this conversion without this kit but would advise against it. Time in workshop – 4 days.
Thorney Motorsport VX220 NA Power Pack 4 - £2749 Thorney Motorsport Throttle Body Conversion +25 to 30bhp and 40llbs
Developed over two years in conjunction with Webcon this is the ultimate progression to enhance power from the 2.2 engine and still keep the perfect power delivery that only normally aspirated engines can give. Replacing the single throttle body assembly with separate throttle bodies is the time honoured way of increasing power without affecting natural normally aspirated power delivery. The car is literally transformed, low and mid range torque and power remain similar to the standard car but 4500rpm (where the standard car starts to tail off) the throttle bodies literally drive the power ever further; driving a throttle body car is a very different experience to a standard VX220.
Throttle Body Stage 1 power at flywheel
Throttle Body stage 1 Power at wheels
Being blunt, if low down grunt and lazy power is your aim then look elsewhere, the throttle body conversion is about high revving stupidity, if you thrash your car then this conversion is aimed exactly at you. The electronic throttle is removed and replaced with a cable throttle and mirrors identically the throttle feel and travel of the Elise (it should do, we borrowed the design) so former Elise owners will be well versed in the feel. The cars ECU is retained (to run the rev counter) but otherwise is completely replaced by the Alpha N unit which comes complete with its own loom and is 'plug and play'.
Of course there is also the noise, nothing sounds like a throttle body car, at low rpm the car barks and rumbles like a pure race car and you'll find yourself blippig the throttle everywhere just to hear it. At high rpm the sound is simply intoxicating and you'll be holding higher gears just to hear it (let alone the linear power delivery). THe cars rev limit is programable but we raise it to 6800rpm (with a hard cut at 7000) so basically you can finally say you got the car off the clock as the VX220 rev counter only goes round to 7000 anyway!
Installation typically takes 3 days but we like to have the car for a week to make sure, however the kit is also available as a self instalation with complete fitting instructions, a decent home mechanic could fit it in a a weekend.
Thorney Motorsport VX220 NA Power Pack 5 - £4999 Thorney Motorsport Throttle Body conversion, gas flowed head, Schrick racing cams
Simple really, throttle body conversions gain power at the upper revs so why not add a decent set of cams and gas flow/port the head to take advantage of this extra power.
The Schrick racing cams are well proven in the excellent power increase and driveability and whilst the 2.2 head is hardly poor a propoer gas flowing and decent porting will exploit every available hose power. The combination of these two attributes already grace our stage 3 conversion so add the throttle body kit makes a tremendous difference.
The Schrick cams are a complete top engine re-build with double valve springs, caps and collets so we're able to raise the rev limit further to 7400rpm and even then power is still climbing all the way over 8000 (where frankly we bottled it). Driving one of these conversions is like sailing, you don't get the harsh push that you get with forced induction as akin to a motorboat it's more a wave of effortless drive that feels endless and encourages you just to keep going and going.
Oh yes, they also sound stunning, think of the nicest sounding Caterham and you're about right - thats throttle bodies.
Thorney Motorsport VX220 NA Power Pack 6 - £TBC Thorney Motorsport Throttle Body Conversion, gas flowed head, Schrick racing cams, high compression head, TMS equal length, 4 into 1 four branch manifold
Currently our ultimate level of tuning for the VX220 NA and still in testing. All we're doing now is strangthening the bottom end and we'll be going for 275-300bhp - whatever is possible.
The four branch manifold is a work of art and on its own generates 8-10bhp on even a bog standard car. Developed in conjunction with Primary Designs who are best known for their work on F1, F3000 and GP2 cars the design brief was simple. The 2.2 already had decent torque levels (it was designed with torque in mind) but to gain upper end power more akin to a sports car a 4 into 1 manifold is needed. The crucial concept is that each branch must be of identical length to maximise power and airflow which is no easy feat considering the lack of space to work in.
The design is perfect, it bolts straight onto a Milltek cat section without modification, requires no cutting to the clam in any way and has shown to be one of the best ways to gain power on any configuration of VX220 NA, in fact we're kicking ourselves we didn't do this earlier! On a standard NA it gain 12bhp, on a stage 2 it gained 10bhp on a stage 3 it gained 8bhp - this is one of the most consistent methods of gaining power we've ever seen.
The four branch manifold is available separately for £1175.
