Car manufacturers like Ford, Toyota, and Mazda spend billions and employ small armies of highly trained engineers to create polished products through years of development and millions of miles of testing. It would be hubris to think that some people on an industrial estate can improve on those cars, wouldn't it?
Well, there are plenty of smaller but well-established companies that disagree, with thousands of customers to back them up.
After all, the car manufacturers always leave something on the table because, while their adverts are populated by suave, well-mannered people, they know some of their cars will end up in the hands of less genteel enthusiasts who don't rate the concepts of mechanical sympathy or regular servicing. Meeting emissions targets and needing to make a profit aren't conducive to making big power, either.
Here to argue the case for tinkering, then, are the Toyota GR Yaris by Litchfield the Mountune Ford Focus ST M365, and a previous-generation Mazda MX-5 2.0-litre with BBR GTi's Stage 1 Supercharger kit.
Now, these three cars were very different propositions when they came out of the factory - we've got a five-door front-wheel-drive hot hatch, a three-door four-wheel-drive one and a two-seat rear-drive roadster modified to different extents.
And while all of them, on a basic level, have been made faster by their respective fettlers, there are actually three rather different philosophies at play here.
Mountune's recipe is ostensibly the simplest: it's a Ford Focus ST, but more so. Mountune is an engine builder, historically, and has designed uprated powerplants for various race series, so a more potent 2.3-litre four-cylinder is clearly what this Focus is all about.
To produce 360bhp instead of a mere 276bhp, Mountune doesn't actually need to touch any of the internals, although it does recommend some breathing mods to keep everything in one piece.
This story is from the August 03, 2022 edition of Autocar UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 03, 2022 edition of Autocar UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Aston to keep ICE for as long as it can; goes all in on PHEV
*There's a lot more hype in EVs than demand, especially at our price,\" says chairman
UK keeps Porsches as EU cyber rules come in
Macan and 718 are just two models forced into European retirement by new tech regulations
US government cracks down on vehicle pollution
THE CAR INDUSTRY'S reaction to the UK's new zero-emission vehicle mandate hasn't been positive, not least as some makers are unable to comply - and here we can hear echoes from early-1970s America.
New face and more range for EQS
Electric luxury saloon gains fresh look and tech makeover that boosts range by 11%
FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION
The Mk3 ST packs a potent but usable hot hatch punch
SKODA KODIAQ
SUV becomes bigger and swisher, offering seven-seat petrols and diesels and, for the first time, a plug-in hybrid
What future for Lotus?
Steve Cropley
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
Capacious estate strives to keep pace with techy newcomers in its ninth generation
AUDI RS E-TRON GT
Claims of a broader operating window and improved EV stats for Taycan sibling
Qashqai follows way of the samurai
Popular crossover dons traditional military helmet and enhances its combat skills