Performance engineering

Performance engineering /per-for-muhns en-juh-neer-ing/ noun (uncountable)

Performance engineering is the art of making a car faster than its creators ever intended, often at the expense of its warranty, fuel economy, and general civility. It is a philosophy that views a standard engine not as a finished product, but as a lump of raw potential waiting to be awoken by bigger carburettors and lumpier camshafts. In Britain, this was a cottage industry of tuning wizards and shed-based sorcerers who could coax astonishing power from the most humble of engines. It is the science of the uncompromising, a world where lap times are more important than luggage space and a rough idle is a badge of honour.

The Full Story of Performance Engineering

To the uninitiated, making a car go faster is simply a matter of adding more power. This is a brutish and incomplete view. True performance engineering is a far more nuanced craft, treating the car as a complete system. There is no point fitting a fire-breathing engine if the chassis has all the torsional rigidity of a wet flannel and the brakes have the stopping power of a hopeful prayer. The goal is to create a balanced machine, where the engine, handling, and braking are all persuaded to work together in a new, far more exciting harmony.

The most celebrated discipline has always been engine tuning. In post-war Britain, a thriving industry grew around taking perfectly sensible, mass-produced engines and turning them into high-revving monsters. The humble BMC A-Series engine, which in standard form powered a Morris Minor with all the urgency of a tectonic plate, was transformed by companies like Downton into a powerplant capable of winning the Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini. The simple Ford Kent engine, in the hands of the newly-formed Cosworth, became the basis for a dynasty of world-beating racing engines. The process was a mixture of science and sheer craft. Cylinder heads were "gas-flowed" by hand, a skilled job of grinding and polishing the ports to improve airflow. Standard camshafts were replaced with more aggressive versions, and a pair of sonorous Weber carburettors would be bolted on to provide the necessary fuel and a glorious induction roar.

This quest for power was matched by a deep understanding of chassis dynamics. The greatest British performance engineer, Colin Chapman of Lotus, focused his energy almost entirely on the chassis. His philosophy of "adding lightness" was a recognition that a lighter car needed less power to go fast and less braking power to stop. This spawned its own ecosystem of specialists, producing adjustable shock absorbers and stiff polyurethane bushes to replace the soft, quiet rubber ones fitted at the factory. It was the automotive equivalent of swapping a plush armchair for a hard wooden stool: less comfortable, but you could feel exactly what was happening underneath you.

This approach, combining engine, chassis, and braking expertise, was the hallmark of the great British performance firms. In motorsport, teams like McLaren and Williams integrated every aspect of the car into a single, optimised weapon. On the road, companies like TVR grew from the tuning scene to become manufacturers, building cars where every decision was dictated by the pursuit of a raw driving experience. The radio was an afterthought and the boot was a happy accident. In the modern era, the methods have changed from spanners to software, with the "remap" of an engine's computer replacing the art of tuning a carburettor. The fundamental goal, however, remains the same.

For The Record

Is tuning the same as performance engineering?

Tuning is a key part of performance engineering, but it's not the whole story. Tuning usually refers specifically to modifying the engine for more power. Performance engineering is a broader discipline that also includes optimising the chassis, suspension, brakes, and aerodynamics to create a complete, balanced package.

Who are Cosworth?

Cosworth is a legendary British performance engineering company, founded in 1958. They built their name tuning Ford engines and went on to design and build some of the most successful engines in motorsport history, including the DFV, which dominated Formula One for over a decade.

How has performance engineering changed with modern cars?

The fundamentals are the same, but the methods are different. The mechanical art of setting up carburettors and distributors has been replaced by the digital science of reprogramming the engine's ECU. Aerodynamic downforce and sophisticated tyre technology have become as important as raw horsepower in the quest for lower lap times.