Waldersee, the German brand purchased and thus saved by Arlington back in 1952, is responsible for most of the advances in suspension and electronics tech that propelled Arlignton to the forefront of the automotive world in the 1980s. Research sharing between Arlington’s American brands and Waldersee paid off immensely when the Americans realized they needed independent suspension, electronic fuel injection, insight on how to handle miniaturization and so forth. Despite this, however, the Americans and Europeans maintain a healthy distance when it comes to actual development, with only several engines and a couple platforms shared between the continents.
The 2nd-Gen Arlington Airacruiser (full dispatch of that coming soon) arrived to the market in 1996, a whole 11 years after the original. Despite the time it spent in development hell, it still offered an engine-over-transaxle longitudinal layout. Two years later, in 1998, Arlington rolled out its revolutionary liner-less, 3-valve alloy V8 that they slated to replace all OHC V8s in existing models. You can see where this is going, can’t you?
The Airacruiser SRR, released in 2001, is a limited-production variant of Arlington’s 4-door premium compact liftback. It features larger and wider wheels, a sports suspension with adaptive damping and a stiffer rear sway bar, an innovative electronic differential, revised bodywork, and a sporty interior with lightweight materials and no fifth seat. Did we mention it’s powered by a 4.3-liter, 314-horsepower V8?
The official reason the Arlington press department gave for making the car was as a demonstration of its engineering prowess: “We can build a true sportscar out of a front-drive compact”. And a true sportscar it was: Sold fitted with Arlington’s first series production e-diff and performance tires, the roided-out 'Cruiser managed a 5.1 0-60 time, above-1g skidpad performance, and a mean exhaust note. (Also an in-game Nordschleife time of 8:18.22)
Extra Lore for Nerds
The main challenge to the Airacruiser is obviously weight distribution: Not only is the car obviously front-heavy due it its front-drive layout, but it’s also pretty top-heavy due to the fact that the rather large V8 engine is located directly above the transaxle. Combatting the body roll and understeer necessitated a super-stiff rear sway bar, wide unstaggered wheels and numerous other remedies, basically amounting to the inverse of what one would do to a 911 or Corvair to control its understeer.
The engine under the hood is a tuned version of the standard 4.3/264 engine. Compared to the regular mill it has a different cam profile, forged connecting rods, a lightweight performance intake manifold, tubular exhaust headers, and a retune - but the crank, bore and stroke are bone-stock. Horsepower is up 37 hp from the standard dual-exhaust 4.3 and a whole 58 hp from the single-exhaust to 314@6400, with torque topping out at 292@4200 lb-ft.
Much of the car’s adult-sized price point can be traced back to the difficulty of making the FWD setup work with the engine’s comparatively enormous torque output: This required the single most complex differential in the company’s history and a new traction control system, on top of the already torque steer-negating effect of having a longitudinal FWD layout. Still, it apparently ended up being a cheaper solution than putting a torque-sensing AWD system under the car.
The SRR was produced in somewhat limited numbers, with around 11000 produced between the car’s 2001 release and 2005 discontinuation. The SRR cemented the Airacruiser as a serious compact-performance vehicle.
Specifications
Model Year.................................................................................................2001
Make.................................................................................................Arlington
Engine.............................................................264 CID V8 SOHC 24v MPFI
Transmission................................................5-speed manual console-shifted
Drivetrain................................................................FWD 3.93:1 Final Drive
Chassis................................................................................Unibody 105.12 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................181.37in/73.39 in
Weight..................................................................................................3115 lbs
Front Suspension..............................................................MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension............................................................................Multi-Link
Wheels.......................................Alloy 18-inch; R245/45 front and rear tires
Brakes................................................................3-piston front, 2-piston rear
Retail Price...............................................................................$35,500 (2001)
Performance
0-62 Acceleration.....................................................................................5.2 s
Top Speed..........................................................................................168 mph
62-0 braking..........................................................................................109 ft
Skidpad grip..........................................................................................1.09 g
1/4 mile time...........................................................................................13.5 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA)...................................................19.7 mpg
Gallery
This brings to mind the Pontiac Grand Prix GXP of the mid-00s in terms of drivetrain layout. By the way, is that engine transversely mounted (as was the case with said GXP) or longitudinally mounted, as it is in some Audis?
Longitudinal, like all 1st and second gen Airacruisers. Says so in the post. In the lore, it’s mounted over the transaxle, but sadly the game’s idea of LongiFWD is Audi based.
The GXP and Impala SS were my assurances that this is only a mildly unsettling idea and not an outright bad one. The C&D review on the Impala complained it didn’t have the sportiness to handle the engine… Not a problem here
You have no idea. I had an absolute blast making it and I’m pretty sure my giddiness about it has managed to annoy the entire Discord. Want the car file?
A 2001+ AC2 Airacruiser LF, consistent with the below specs
The first-generation Airacruiser started seriously showing its age in the early 1990s: Old safety features, headlights that still fit in ex-sealed beam slots, and a somewhat off-putting boxiness overall. The successor’s design and body shape were penned and frozen as early as 1993, however management difficulties marred the engineering process of the car, with many executives pushing to adopt the (logical) transverse engine layout. Furthermore, with Arlington’s budget Callahan marque in full volume production, it was unclear if the Airacruiser’s compact-family niche even needed to be filled anymore. In the end, it was determined that the most popular nameplate in Arlington’s arsenal would be reimagined as a light midsize, with a full range of solely i5 powertrains and a new, multi-link rear suspension, while the engine layout would stay as in the previous model: engine-over-transaxle longitudinal.
The second-generation car finally overcame production delays and released in 1996. Noted for its unrestrained styling and high component quality, the AC2 'Cruiser was available with either a 140 hp 2.3, 157 hp 2.5 or sporty 214hp 2.8 i5 engine and a choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions. The engines correspond to the standard (LF/EF), premium (LT/ET) and special sports (SR) trims, and are all part of the same three-valve family, and have a single camshaft, variable valve timing and an iron-liner aluminum block. The L and E in trim names correspons to Liftback and Estate, the only two body styles available.
This iteration of the Airacruiser was a serious success once again, praised for its high-strength steel unibody, impressive practicality and brisk engines. The design received much more mixed reviews, though, the large headlights feeling like something from the late 1980s.
In 2001, the 'Cruiser received a mid-cycle refresh with more modern amenities, and all i5 engines received direct injection; the base 2.3 and 2.5 were uprated to 156 and 172 hp respectively, whereas the SR’s 2.8 was replaced by a 2.7 variable-lift engine capable of 228 horsepower. The ludicrous, 314 hp V8 SRR made its debut that year, as well. Electronic stability control became an option. Finally, the 2002 model year saw the introduction of a V6 AWD estate-exclusive trim, the EX, which functioned as a soft-roader.
The specs below are for a 2001 LF.
Specifications
Model Year.................................................................................................2001
Make.................................................................................................Arlington
Engine...................................................................139 CID V8 SOHC 20v DI
Transmission................................................5-speed manual console-shifted
Drivetrain.................................................................FWD 4.70:1 Final Drive
Chassis................................................................................Unibody 105.12 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................181.37in/72.20 in
Weight..................................................................................................2861 lbs
Front Suspension...............................................................MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension.............................................................................Multi-Link
Wheels.......................................Alloy 16-inch; R195/60 front and rear tires
Brakes................................................................2-piston front, 2-piston rear
Retail Price..........................................................................................$22,200
Performance
0-62 Acceleration.....................................................................................8.5 s
Top Speed..........................................................................................149 mph
62-0 braking..........................................................................................128 ft
Skidpad grip.........................................................................................0.89 g
1/4 mile time.........................................................................................16.4 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA).................................................30.2 mpg
Gallery
A pre-facelift LF Airacruiser; note the undersized wheels and large headlights.
A facelifted ET. This one would likely have had a 2.5l engine.
The Arlington CamTech V8 used in the first-generation 1983 Foxhound muscle car was little more than the company’s small-block V8 with an overhead camshaft swap - not as a fully-fledged advancement but as a mere performance modification. The same iron casting for the block was used, so these early engines still have their cam journals and pushrod channels - now unused. Chain-driven overhead cams are responsible for keeping the simple, 2-valve-per-cylinder system going. Only after the engine’s successful debut in the Foxhound did AA management commit to developing and refining the overhead-cam design for use for ordinary vehicles, a practice that began in earnest with certain light-duty Bowie trucks.
The Waldersee Ritter started out in 1967 as the German company’s sedan in the 100-inch-wheelbase class. The car accumulated many ‘firsts’ - first car in class to have a six-cylinder engine, for instance. The fifth generation, launched in 1992, was both a beginning and an end in some ways: It was the last strut/trailing arm Ritter, keeping a lengthy tradition set by the second generation, but also the first one not to top the range with a six-cylinder.
The DW5 Ritter initially used 4-, 5- and 6-cylinder SOHC inline 3-valve engines; the former two were shared all over Arlington and were a new aluminum-block design; The i6 was a Waldersee exclusive, and used an iron block that had already picked up some mileage with the German firm. The engine range consisted of a 2-liter i4, a 2.3-liter i5, and a 3-liter i6. For the customary performance 30R, a supercharger was used for the first time instead of making a high-revving version, resulting in 300 horsepower dead. A choice of sedan, coupe and wagon was available for each engine option; The five-cylinder and NA six-cylinder were both available with all-wheel drive.
In 1996, a facelift resulted in new top-of-the-range engines being introduced. The NA 3-liter engine was replaced by a new, aluminum-block 3.2l i6 with twin cams, producing 223 hp over the old mill’s 195; the 30R model’s iron supercharged engine received a bump to 320. Most significantly, however, a Coupe-only C40R variant was introduced, a limited-production track beast with a 385-hp 4.0 V8 engine based on an Arlington unit but enhanced with quad cams, individual throttles and forged internals - and capable of rocketing the car to 62 in just 4.7 seconds. The C40R was, bar none, the fastest compact executive car of its time.
The DW5 Ritter might not have been technologically or culturally revolutionary, but it was a versatile platform that satisfied many buyers in Europe. The next generation, the DW6, would move to newer components and direct-injection engines.
The specs below are for a 1996 L32.
Specifications
Model Year.................................................................................................1996
Make.................................................................................................Waldersee
Engine.....................................................................194 CID i6 DOHC 24v DI
Transmission............................................5-speed automatic console-shifted
Drivetrain.................................................................RWD 3.90:1 Final Drive
Chassis................................................................................Unibody 107.87 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................182.62in/68.82 in
Weight...................................................................................................3252 lb
Front Suspension..............................................................MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension..............................................................Semi-Trailing Arm
Wheels......................................Alloy 17-inch; R205/55 front and rear tires
Brakes................................................................2-piston front, 2-piston rear
Retail Price..........................................................................................$33,800
Performance
0-62 Acceleration.....................................................................................7.0 s
Top Speed..........................................................................................149 mph
62-0 braking..........................................................................................127 ft
Skidpad grip.........................................................................................0.90 g
1/4 mile time.........................................................................................15.3 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA).................................................23 mpg
Sharing many of its underpinnings with the Airacruiser and preceding it by 2 years, the Foxhound was envisioned as a modern, forward-thinking pony car. Aerodynamic, relatively practical and featuring an independent rear suspension design derived from Arlington’s German subsidiary, it was not as cheap or as simple as its contemporaries, instead bridging the gap between those ordinary American cars and expensive, unattainable imported sports cars - a similar role to that filled by the Airacruiser in the compact segment.
To avoid overrunning on costs, all three engines available for the car were variations of Arlington’s small-block V8: Namely, a 3.7-liter OHV 2-bbl V6 rated for 131 horsepower, the ‘303’ 5-liter throttle-body small-block itself rated for 176, and a ‘jury-rigged’ overhead-cam engine with dual throttle-body injection. This engine reused the same 5.0 block of the OHV small block, but had a chain-driven 2-valve SOHC valvetrain that necessitated new heads; It produced 221 horsepower, making the SR version of the car deadly fast for its time - but more importantly, it kicked off a series of developments at Arlington that permitted the creation of a true overhead-cam small block replacement.
The Foxhound achieved considerable sales success and was a powerful performance halo for the company at a time when most manufacturers were struggling with their cars’ credibility; the newcomer quickly demonstrated the advantages of even a simple (semi-trailing arm) independent suspension. By 1986, higher-powered port-injected versions of the engines entered production, but these were an interim measure until the introduction of the 1988-1989 line of true SOHC 2-valve engines, now simplified to one 3.7 V6 and one 5.0 V8 and equipped with aluminum heads. By 1991, the engines were capable of 186 and 257 horsepower, respectively, making them among the best in class. 1991, the penultimate year for the Foxhound, saw the advent of one last performance model - the SR348, a version with a magnificent 5.7-liter, 320-horsepower engine using forged internals. A hardened pack called the ‘Disintegrator’ was also produced, shedding weight and adding harder suspension along with sports tires.
The specs below are for the 1991 Disintegrator.
Specifications
Model Year..................................................................................................1991
Make.................................................................................................Waldersee
Engine.....................................................................348 CID V8 SOHC 16v MPFI
Transmission............................................5-speed manual console-shifted
Drivetrain.................................................................RWD 3.41:1 Final Drive
Chassis................................................................................Unibody 103.94 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................182.81in/72.21 in
Weight...................................................................................................3165 lb
Front Suspension..............................................................MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension..............................................................Semi-Trailing Arm
Wheels......................................Alloy 17-inch; R255/45 front and rear tires
Brakes................................................................2-piston front, 2-piston rear
Retail Price..........................................................................................$25,800
Performance
0-62 Acceleration.....................................................................................5.1 s
Top Speed..........................................................................................168 mph
62-0 braking..........................................................................................109 ft
Skidpad grip.........................................................................................1.08 g
1/4 mile time.........................................................................................13.4 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA).................................................14.6 mpg
Publicity photo of the limited-edition Disintegrator in its 3 available colors: Retribution Red, Hell Green, Sabbath Black.
Engines (Big tab, open with care)
1983-1985 3.7 "High Efficiency"
Model Year...............................................................................................1983
Layout........................................................................................................V-6
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................228 ci
Compression................................................................................................7.5
Valvetrain.........................................................................................OHV 2v/c
Intake....................................................................................Single-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................145 hp@5000
Torque@RPM........................................................................191 ft-lb@2700
Weight.....................................................................................................522 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1983-1985 5.0 "303 Small-Block"
Model Year...............................................................................................1983
Layout........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression................................................................................................7.7
Valvetrain.........................................................................................OHV 2v/c
Intake...................................................................................4-bbl Carburetor
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................178 hp@4900
Torque@RPM........................................................................253 ft-lb@2500
Weight.....................................................................................................641 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1983-1984 5.0 "303 CamTech"
Model Year...............................................................................................1983
Layout........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.0
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake....................................................................................Single-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................221 hp@5600
Torque@RPM........................................................................267 ft-lb@2800
Weight.....................................................................................................647 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1986-1989 3.7 "DPI"
Model Year...............................................................................................1986
Layout........................................................................................................V-6
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................228 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.0
Valvetrain.........................................................................................OHV 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................157 hp@5000
Torque@RPM........................................................................199 ft-lb@2700
Weight.....................................................................................................521 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1986-1998 5.0 "303 Small-Block DPI"
Model Year...............................................................................................1986
Layout........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.5
Valvetrain.........................................................................................OHV 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................204 hp@5200
Torque@RPM........................................................................265 ft-lb@2900
Weight.....................................................................................................647 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1985-1988 5.0 "303 CamTech DPI"
Model Year...............................................................................................1985
Layout........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Iron
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.5
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................260 hp@5600
Torque@RPM........................................................................276 ft-lb@3500
Weight.....................................................................................................651 lb
Fuel Type..............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1990-1992 3.7 "V6 CamTech"
Model Year................................................................................................1990
Layout.........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................228 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.5
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................180 hp@5500
Torque@RPM........................................................................211 ft-lb@2400
Weight.....................................................................................................451 lb
Fuel Type.............................................................................................Regular
Specials.......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1989-1992 5.0 "265 CamTech II"
Model Year................................................................................................1989
Layout.........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.54/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................265 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.7
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................216 hp@5500
Torque@RPM........................................................................248 ft-lb@2900
Weight.....................................................................................................566 lb
Fuel Type.............................................................................................Regular
Specials.......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1989-1992 5.0 "303 CamTech II"
Model Year................................................................................................1989
Layout.........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression................................................................................................9.5
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake.....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................280 hp@5700
Torque@RPM........................................................................301 ft-lb@3000
Weight.....................................................................................................585 lb
Fuel Type...........................................................................................Midgrade
Specials.......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1991-1992 5.7 "348 CamTech SR"
Model Year................................................................................................1991
Layout.........................................................................................................V-8
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.79/3.85 in
Displacement..........................................................................................303 ci
Compression..............................................................................................10.0
Valvetrain.......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................329 hp@5900
Torque@RPM........................................................................361 ft-lb@2800
Weight.....................................................................................................590 lb
Fuel Type..........................................................................................Midgrade
Specials.......................................................................................................N/A
Arlington is one of a short list of companies to adopt longitudinal front-wheel drive en masse, with the mainstream Arlington marque pretty much exclusively using it. Such systems are marketed under the 1970s marketing name of “Integrated PowerTrain”, or IPT.
When Arlington modified the Foxhound muscle car’s Advanced Compact architecture for a front-drive application - the Airacruiser - the transmission was mounted just as far back as in the former car, but slightly higher up and to the right (passenger side), coupled to a slanted inline engine.
The transmission drove a driveshaft along the side of the engine’s sump, concluding with a differential - u-joint on the left side, and a rigid shaft through the sump leading to another u-joint on the other side. This resulted in two half-shafts of equal length and greatly reduced torque steer.
The setup had both serious advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, Airacruisers had great handling characteristics due to a more favorable weight distribution and less torque steer; steering radii were tighter, and incorporating double wishbones into certain designs was easy. On the other hand, the transmission was not as efficient, required an elongated hood (though this was a feature to some) and was somewhat difficult to maintain, even after painstaking efforts by Arlington engineers to make all components of the IPT as non-integrated (heh) as possible.
$1.20 ddrivel.porg......................................................................................................................August 13, 1995
THE DAILY DRIVEL
You Are Not Immune To Propaganda
The SR348 Disintegrator, a 1991 high-performance track version of the Foxhound muscle car, was notorious for its frightening speed and grip, as well as what tended to happen once said grip expired. With a manual transmission, no traction control and a semi-trailing arm rear suspension, the automobile required tremendous precision to drive at the limit, while still being more affordable than even significantly less powerful German models.
Automotive journos in glasses decidedly disapproved, and so did families, Congressmen, and cheap newspapers. Even as SR348s (both Disintegrators and regular ones) were only bought up by enthusiasts and power maniacs, the public pressure to tame the beast was immense, and a traction control system did make its way onto the 1992 model.
However, with or without TC, the SR348s - and by extension all 1st-generation Foxhounds - garnered a very particular image among enthusiasts. Out of the 250 Disintegrators (allegedly the handling package) produced, 19 were totaled, and 2 of them killed - but the people who kept taking them out became Alexander, and the Disintegrators were their Bucephalus.
So then, a trim level that enthusiasts were awed by and everybody else feared, easily recognizable due to its iconic wing. When this teaser photo showed up 13 years later, everybody had something to say.
“When you create a car platform to underpin half your models, it better be good” - this was the mantra behind the creation of the AC1 chassis.
During the frantic downsizing craze of the 1970s, Arlington made the Analog, a midsize family car available as a sedan or kammback hatch. Like most cars of the period, the Analog did not substantially differ from its predecessor, with one exception: Arlington’s engineers routed power to the front. The better drivability, extra floor space and somewhat lower weight proved good selling points, and the car was a boon for the Texan manufacturer’s coffers. However, by the turn of the 1980s, it was becoming increasingly clear that a replacement was needed.
The new compact car platform would have a proper semitrailing arm IRS, longitudinal engine placement, and support for both front and rear-drive - the latter being the basis for Arlington’s upcoming muscle car, the Foxhound. The front-drive compact, meanwhile, was dubbed the Airacruiser - and became the biggest unqualified success in Arlington Automotive’s history.
The Airacruiser came in 1985 for the 1986 model year, 3 years behind its RWD brother. This time was spent finalizing the new ergonomic exterior, second only to the midsize Taurus in its convenience, and the powertrain - unlike the Analog, power was routed through the engine sump. Two engine options were available, a 2.3l 4-cylinder and a 2.8l 5-cylinder, both derived from the European (Waldersee) straight-six; The engines had an iron block and an aluminum head, and used a SOHC valvetrain with 2 direct-actuated intake valves and a single large rocker-actuated exhaust valve per cylinder.
The Airacruiser was initially offered as a liftback or a wagon (“Touring”), available with either engine option; starting in 1989, there was also a badge-engineered Somervell version called the Sinclair, which came only as a 4-door sedan and featured a 3.2 SOHC V6 in either a lazy or high-performance flavor.
This was also the first appearance of the ‘Foxbat’ nameplate; this coupe version was only available with the 5-bangers.
The picture above depicts an Airacruiser outfitted with the Sport trim: inline-5, leather seats, standard ABS, rear anti-roll bar, 15-inch alloy wheels, four-wheel disc brakes.
Specifications
Model Year...............................................................................................1986
Make................................................................................................Arlington
Engine..............................................................175 CID i5 SOHC 15v MPFI
Transmission...........................................4-speed automatic console-shifted
Drivetrain................................................................FWD 3:55:1 Final Drive
Chassis................................................................................Unibody 103.94 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................183.27in/69.09 in
Weight..................................................................................................2721 lbs
Front Suspension...............................................................MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension...............................................................Semi-Trailing Arm
Wheels.........................................................Alloy 15-inch with R195/65 tires
Brakes..................................................................2-piston front, 1-piston rear
Retail Price............................................................................................$10,830
Performance
0-62 Acceleration........................................................................................9.3 s
Top Speed.............................................................................................130 mph
62-0 braking..............................................................................................131 ft
Skidpad grip.............................................................................................0.85 g
1/4 mile time..............................................................................................17.0 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA)......................................................22.4 mpg
1992 Foxbat SR and a V6 Foxhound: It’s often said that the existence of the base-model Foxhound, which was cheaper and prettier than the (albeit slightly faster) SR Foxbat, was the biggest problem with the latter.
Engines (Big tab, open with care)
1986-1991 2.3 "140 12v"
Model Year...............................................................................................1986
Layout.................................................................................................Inline-4
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.40/3.85 in
Displacement..........................................................................................140 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.5
Valvetrain......................................................................................SOHC 3v/c
Intake....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................110 hp@5400
Torque@RPM........................................................................127 ft-lb@2800
Weight.....................................................................................................327 lb
Fuel Type.............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1986-1991 2.8 "175 15v"
Model Year...............................................................................................1986
Layout.................................................................................................Inline-5
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.40/3.85 in
Displacement..........................................................................................170 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.5
Valvetrain......................................................................................SOHC 3v/c
Intake....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................144 hp@5400
Torque@RPM........................................................................168 ft-lb@2700
Weight.....................................................................................................378 lb
Fuel Type.............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1989-1995 3.3 "CamTech High Efficiency"
Model Year...............................................................................................1989
Layout........................................................................................................V-6
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.54/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................199 ci
Compression................................................................................................8.5
Valvetrain......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................152 hp@5400
Torque@RPM........................................................................184 ft-lb@2400
Weight.....................................................................................................439 lb
Fuel Type.............................................................................................Regular
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1989-1995 3.3 "200 Special"
Model Year...............................................................................................1989
Layout........................................................................................................V-6
Material(B/H)....................................................................................Iron/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.54/3.36 in
Displacement..........................................................................................198 ci
Compression................................................................................................9.5
Valvetrain......................................................................................SOHC 2v/c
Intake....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................201 hp@5400
Torque@RPM........................................................................204 ft-lb@2400
Weight.....................................................................................................442 lb
Fuel Type..........................................................................................Midgrade
Specials......................................................................................................N/A
- - -
1992-1995 2.5 "2.5 OCT"
Model Year...............................................................................................1992
Layout.................................................................................................Inline-5
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Alu/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.40/3.41 in
Displacement..........................................................................................155 ci
Compression................................................................................................9.0
Valvetrain......................................................................................SOHC 3v/c
Intake....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................145 hp@5800
Torque@RPM........................................................................155 ft-lb@3500
Weight.....................................................................................................321 lb
Fuel Type.............................................................................................Regular
Specials...............................................................................Cam-Phaser VVT
- - -
1992-1995 2.0 "2.0 OCT"
Model Year...............................................................................................1992
Layout.................................................................................................Inline-4
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Alu/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.40/3.41 in
Displacement..........................................................................................124 ci
Compression................................................................................................9.0
Valvetrain......................................................................................SOHC 3v/c
Intake....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................115 hp@5800
Torque@RPM........................................................................121 ft-lb@3500
Weight.....................................................................................................264 lb
Fuel Type.............................................................................................Regular
Specials...............................................................................Cam-Phaser VVT
- - -
1992-1995 2.8 "SR175"
Model Year...............................................................................................1992
Layout.................................................................................................Inline-4
Material(B/H).....................................................................................Alu/Alu
Bore/Stroke...................................................................................3.40/3.85 in
Displacement..........................................................................................175 ci
Compression..............................................................................................10.0
Valvetrain......................................................................................SOHC 3v/c
Intake....................................................................................Multi-Point EFI
Aspiration..................................................................................................N/A
Power@RPM............................................................................202 hp@6500
Torque@RPM........................................................................189 ft-lb@3500
Weight.....................................................................................................295 lb
Fuel Type..........................................................................................Midgrade
Specials...........................Cam-Phaser VVT, 5 throttle plates, 5-2-1 header
Some say that all of the good luck Arlington has had with its 70s and 80s models was a result of Somervell, the premium sports brand, being robbed of its own luck. Indeed, the Kentucky-based brand, despite releasing numerous enthusiast favorites, led a precarious and troubled existence from their late-40s acquisition up until the marque’s overdue death in 2009. And is there any better an example of Somervell’s misery and mismanagement than the last Bayonet, understood by many to be the last true, unabridged Somervell model?
The Bayonet nameplate had been running since 1959, when the Glider - the company’s personal luxury vehicle - was first outfitted with a 4-bbl V8 and given a hardtop. A performance car not quite for the masses but certainly friendly to the uninitiated, the Bayonet was able to carve out its own niche, never quite reaching the Corvette but never quite commanding its price tag either.
The all-new 1974 model - the third generation - was given a downsized steel body, completely redesigned for the gloomy decade; with weight savings being the focus of the day. With wide horizontal taillights, four hidden (pop-up) headlights and a laconic, angular profile, the car was a definite looker, and a rack-and-pinion system ensured good turning performance; however, the beancounters at Arlington refused to give the model a V8, insisting that a V6 was better suited to the car’s weight. So in went the odd-fire V6 from Arlington’s cars and entry-level trucks, stroked to 4 liters and given a competent if not spectacular 2-barrel. An entry-level 3-liter version was also available.
While reception towards the car was warm in general, the 120-hp 4.0 V6 was hated by pretty much everybody, with car journals complaining about its unbearable rattling and underwhelming exhaust note. People were actually encouraged to downgrade to the 3-liter mill, sacrificing 20 horsepower to get some peace and smoothness. To correct the situation, Somervell’s engineers were allowed to work with the Germans at Waldersee to bring the 3-liter engine to respectable power levels and replace the 4-liter, primarily relying on fuel injection to get the job done. Starting in 1976 and onward, the 3.0i Bayonet sold better, but as the 1974 crisis’ effects waned, customers once again demanded more power.
The 1978 release of the car was perhaps the most significant one. Apart from the rollout of better catalytic converters that freed up the cars’ breathing somewhat across the range, Somervell also introduced the flagship Bayonet Turbo Coupe, which introduced a turbocharged, non-intercooled 3.0 V6 making a whopping 180 horsepower. In addition, the pop-up headlights were updated to the newly-permitted square sealed beams. The Turbo Coupe was the closest the Bayonet had ever come to humiliating the Corvette (and had arguably even succeeded due to a lower price tag), but sales couldn’t gain traction before the 1979 crisis. Crippled by there interruptions, bad management decisions and the unproven status of the turbo system, the Bayonet finally ended production in 1982 with no replacement in sight, save for the far heavier, Arlington-branded Foxhound.
The specs below are for a 1978 Turbo Coupe.
Specifications
Model Year..................................................................................................1978
Make...................................................................................................Somervell
Engine....................................................................185 CID V8 OHV 12v MFI
Transmission..................................................4-speed manual console-shifted
Drivetrain...................................................................RWD 3.50:1 Final Drive
Chassis....................................................................................Unibody 98.82 in
Dimensions (L/W)..................................................................166.55in/67.36 in
Weight......................................................................................................2561 lb
Front Suspension....................................................................Short/Long Arm
Rear Suspension..........................................................Coil-Sprung Solid Axle
Wheels..........................................Alloy 15-inch; R195/60 front and rear tires
Brakes...................................................................2-piston front, 1-piston rear
Retail Price...................................................................................................$idk
Performance
0-62 Acceleration..........................................................................................6.9 s
Top Speed...............................................................................................130 mph
62-0 braking................................................................................................120 ft
Skidpad grip...............................................................................................0.99 g
1/4 mile time................................................................................................15.2 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA)........................................................16.0 mpg
Hood cutout on a sedan, because you’re stupid and positive displacement rules.
The Airacruiser, though a successful model generally, was never a particularly successful subject of SR modifications. Sure, they tried dropping a V8 in one once, but the drivetrain and general vehicle were not that receptive to the change. The other models were just kind of unremarkable, with the tame approach to supercharging at the time preventing the creation of a compelling compact sports car.
This looked to still be the case on the fourth-generation Airacruiser: though the car was modified with a supercharged version of the contemporary 2.7l i5 and the usual performance suite, and though it had the perfect form-factor (RWD liftback with E46 proportions in the 2010s), there was simply not enough power and aggression.
Luckily, when it came time to facelift the 4th-generation Airacruiser as a whole, Arlington rolled out a brand new Staggered-Inline 5 engine. Larger in displacement than the old mill (with a max factory displacement of 3 liters), the engine - sometimes branded a V5 - came in 2 flavors: a naturally-aspirated version with fancy variable valve lift and a supercharged one without, and sporting a much beefier block.
SR latched onto the latter to make the heart of the new performance Airacruiser - now to be its own limited-production submodel called the Supercruiser - beginning development in 2017. A twin-screw, 1.5-liter supercharger producing 16.6 pounds of boost was mated to the engine instead of the standard lower-boost 1.2-liter. With forged internals, the new mill revs to 8000 rpm and produces 445 horsepower, or 465 in the later, scarier SRR trim. To maintain some fuel economy, the engine is still equipped with variable timing and can thus operate on the Miller cycle under low loads.
A bespoke sport interior is present on the Supercruiser, but there are still 5 full seats and a contemporary infotainment system with optional HUD. There is some SR-unique sheet metal and the semi-spaceframe of the car is bolstered considerably; the front suspension is of double-wishbone type, replacing the regular model’s struts. There is an electronic differential, an active suspension with magnetic damping and a crisp six-speed manual. Some safety features had to be omitted, but it’s no death trap.
So there it is: a 4.1-to-62 mile-eating machine (in base form), based on the stubbiest and meanest RWD sedan on the market. Are you brave enough?
Specifications
Model Year.................................................................................................2019
Make..................................................................................................Arlington
Engine.............................................................183 CID V5 DOHC 20v DI-SC
Transmission................................................6-speed manual console-shifted
Drivetrain................................................................RWD 4.30:1 Final Drive
Chassis......................................................................Semi-Unibody 103.94 in
Dimensions (L/W)................................................................174.87in/71.89 in
Weight..................................................................................................3660 lbs
Front Suspension................................................................Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension............................................................................Multi-Link
Wheels.........................................................Alloy 19-inch with R255/65 tires
Brakes..........................................Vented Steel: 4-piston front, 2-piston rear
Retail Price......................................................................................$like 49000
Performance
0-62 Acceleration.........................................................................................4.1 s
Top Speed.............................................................................................168 mph
62-0 braking..............................................................................................106 ft
Skidpad grip.............................................................................................1.16 g
1/4 mile time..............................................................................................12.5 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA)........................................................21.1 mpg
Engine (lore, only output figures and dimensions accurate at the moment)
2019- 3.0 "Supercruiser"
Model Year...................................................................................................2019
Layout....................................................................................Staggered (VR)-5
Material(B/H).................................................................................Alusil/Alusil
Bore/Stroke.......................................................................................3.60/3.60 in
Displacement..............................................................................................183 ci
Compression....................................................................................................9.6
Valvetrain..........................................................................................DOHC 4v/c
Intake.........................................................................................Direct Injection
Aspiration............................................................Twin-Screw S/C, Intercooler
Power@RPM...............................................................................429 hp@7300
Torque@RPM............................................................................400 ft-lb@4300
Weight.........................................................................................................354 lb
Fuel Type....................................................................................................Super
Specials..........................5-2-1 Header; 5 throttle bodies; all-forged internals
During the Arlington Automotive group’s successfull 2010s rebound, Callahan - the volume brand - was due for a range-wide refresh. Most the cars would be built using various sizes of a lightweight, transverse-engined, semi-unibody platform, including the new generation of the Callahan Cascade hatchback. Then some jackass in the design department pulled an MR2 and moved the engine out back, and the thus the CR5 concept car was born.
The CR5 was a 2014 running prototype that used the exact underpinnings of the pre-production Cascade (floorpan, strut front, multi-link rear) but styled as a coupe with a 5-cylinder supercharged engine from an SR Airacruiser of the time stuck in the middle instead of the front. It produced a sinful 305 horsepower and drew huge crowds at its debut car show.
The CR5 was not a very feasible proposition, not least because it would undermine Arlington’s own mainline performance offerings and because it would be too expensive to be a Callahan. But seeing a potential market of young enthusiasts - the typical little-roadster crowd - the management at Arlington approved the production of a lightweight, low-power derivative. This new “CR4” was to be released during the 2018 refresh of the Cascade, sporting an aggressively-tuned NA 1.8 V4 pumping out 200 to 210 horsepower depending on trim.
The final car still shared its suspension and other components with the Cascade, but due to its small and all-aluminum body it managed to weigh in at under 2400 lbs despite its relatively long 103-inch wheelbase. The base 190-hp, open-diff, 6MT, shit-interior car cost $30,000 - an extra $3,000 got you a performance header, exhaust, intake and tune (with limiter delete) and even a Torsen diff to push power to 213 and 0-60 potentially under 5 seconds. 7-speed DCT was a pricey but sales-enhancing option.
Specifications
Model Year..................................................................................................2018
Make....................................................................................................Callahan
Engine....................................................................111 CID V4 DOHC 16v DI
Transmission.................................................6-speed manual console-shifted
Drivetrain..................................................................RWD 5.54:1 Final Drive
Chassis........................................................................Semi-Unibody 103.94 in
Dimensions (L/W).................................................................163.43in/70.65 in
Weight..................................................................................................2333. lbs
Front Suspension................................................................MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension.............................................................................Multi-Link
Wheels..................Alloy 18-inch with R215/50 front and R235/50 rear tires
Brakes...................................................Vented Steel: 1-piston front and rear
Retail Price............................................................................................$33,200
Performance
0-62 Acceleration........................................................................................4.9 s
Top Speed.............................................................................................162 mph
62-0 braking.............................................................................................105 ft
Skidpad grip............................................................................................1.14 g
1/4 mile time.............................................................................................13.4 s
Fuel Economy (Combined, EPA)......................................................30.2 mpg
