It's been some time since I actually "factory tuned" a car, so heres' one for you!
Credit to CPUFreak101 for original car.
1960 AlpenStrasseThe Monaco fiasco took it's toll on Kraft Haus Technik, but it taught the company not to bite off more than they can chew. Next projects were to be less ambitious, but the problem was the company had no engines and too little finance to create a new one. 1958 - 1960 were trying times, with most income being generated by the Kraft Haus Technic repair shop, fixing up other people's cars. It was at this moment glorious Galt motors introduced the Communitasia. Powered by a sinfully slow and inefficient 2.5 liter i4, chugging anything that burns for fuel, made of crude steel and sold for pocket change to the people with less money than they wished for. One of the first cars was bought and driven for a few short months by one of our mechanics. His hatred for the car left him thinking on how he can improve on it to make it at least bearable. Countless nights he spent in the KHT workshop with a small crew of friends modifying his wonder, it is that car that caught the attention of Ralf Hoch, chief designer at KHT, who was walking through the factory's parking lot and saw the curious little car. This got him thinking, and after a little bit of walking the streets with a survey team a verdict was reached - poor people who can't afford fancy cars actually want fancy cars.
4 Galt Communitasias were bought as test mules, and the KHT team set off on a new path for them - performance tuning. Most of the body panels were cut and modified using now common to the company fiberglass, design team inspired by the glory of the booming American car fashion. In a few short months a new front and rear ends were introduced, completed by an elaborate chrome trim. These modifications proved good idea, and allowed for the youngsters who really wanted to feel a bit of the Americana to live out their dreams a little. That was helped by a now available basic radio, which was a very popular option. Naturally the suspension was not changed apart from rear antiroll bar and wider tires, to save cost on heavy and unnecessary modifications, the brakes were also left standard with only brake pads replaced by sportier units. Most work was done under the hood.
As an original concept the car could run on the lowest quality of fuels, and changing that would result in many countries who could run Communitasia not being able to run the KHT modified version, so the low quality 80 petrol was left as a fuel of choice. With some tricky welding and grinding camshaft was changed to a more aggressive unit, with intake now working on dual carburettors, both stock Galt units. With some changes to the fuelling system and ignition, a better flowing exhaust and intake filters power output gained 90hp. The rear differential was also changed to work with the new found power. A resulting tiny runabout was put through it's paces on Germany's famous AlpenStrasse pass, to which it owes it's name now.
Not a single car was sold as a ready package, instead the customers drove in their stock Galt Communitasia's and approximately 2 weeks and $2,000 later left in a KHT AlpenStrasse. This meant that not a single car was left without it's owner sitting in a warehouse waiting for it's lucky day. It proved a sound strategy, as the kits have been sold up to 1975. Surprisingly, while not gaining a cult status, the popularity of the car was somewhat refreshed in early 2010's when modding communities started restomodding these cars, many using KHT kits, which they found second hand for sale. Initially being looked at like a comedy relief car among the Datsun 510's and KPGC Skylines AlpenStrasse held it's own and is still considered a true classic, although not as popular as a Mk1 escort or a Lotus Cortina. What this car however did do is pull KHT through a trying time, which was exactly what it needed to do.
Stats0-100kph Before - 23s / After - 13.4s
Top SpeedBefore - 133kph / After - 144kph
WeightBefore - 1005kg / After - 899kg
Max GBefore - 0.72 / After - 0.87
Lap TimeBefore - 3:20 / After - 3:00
EngineMax powerBefore - 66hp / After - 90hp
Max torqueBefore - 130nm / After - 159nm
ResponsivenessBefore - 11 / After - 19
LoudnessBefore - 65 / After - 74
SmoothnessBefore - 42 / After - 40
ReliabilityBefore - 47 / After - 44
MiscComfortBefore - 9 / After - 9
DriveabilityBefore - 27 / After - 32
SportinessBefore - 1 / After - 8
EconomyBefore - 31L/100km / After - 21L/100km