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Old 02-07-2011, 06:30 PM   #19 (permalink)
Jim-Bob
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New Port Richey, Florida
Posts: 167

Super-Metro! - '92 Geo Metro Base

$250 Pizza Delivery Car - '91 Geo Metro Base
Team Metro
90 day: 43.75 mpg (US)

Fronty the wonder truck - '98 Nissan Frontier XE
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For an engine, the Prius uses an engine that is in the same family as that used by the Yaris and the original Scion XA/XB (albeit with a camshaft grind intended to give it Atkinson cycle characteristics). The European Yaris is available with a larger 1.8 liter engine too, which could be an option if you could source one. There are also supercharger and turbocharger kits for the Yaris and Prius engines from companies like TRD and all the typical Japanese tuner companies. I do however think that you will have a lot of difficulty fitting any of these engines to a Boxter because the original engine was flat. Plus, there is no topside engine access and the factory required everything to be serviced from underneath. If memory serves, above the engine is a cargo space that could be converted into an engine bay if you went through with the swap. It could also be used for batteries in the case of a pure EV, but it would likely throw off the center of gravity, weight distribution and handling.
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(Note: the car sees 100% city driving and is EPA rated at 37 mpg city)
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