The Napier Railton Special is powered by Napier Lion XI gasoline aero engine used in the First World War. The engine has 12 cylinders in three banks of four arranged in a ‘W’ or broad arrow configuration. With a total capacity of 24 litres it has a power output of 530 bhp at 2,350rpm. Using double overhead camshafts it has four valves and two spark plugs for every cylinder. We’re talking about an engine used by aircraft for record-setting attempts... in a car. That’s British humor for you!
Too much humor perhaps, as Cummins chose to prove their technological might and replaced the W12 with their own in-line 6 cylinder engine, with 6.7 litre capacity that is designed and built in the UK. The unit usually makes 300bhp for commercial use, but engineers have increased this figure to 500bhp for the one-off project.
Terry Clarke, the creator of the project said: "We have a number of potential plans for the car once it is complete. We certainly hope to have the completed vehicle ready to run up the hill at Goodwood in 2012. Running it against the original Railton car would also be interesting, however we would need to find an alternative location as the Brooklands track is no longer complete".
"When Terry Clarke and his colleague Paul Foulston approached us about this project we saw it as an excellent opportunity to promote diesel power in areas you would not normally associate it with. It allows us to highlight the key product developments that have made our modern diesel into an efficient and ultra clean form of power. Technologies such as advanced combustion with extremely high pressure fuel systems and variable geometry turbo charging will allow us deliver the power demands that will equal those of the original iconic car," said Neil Pattison, Automotive Sales Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
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