1978 - Releasing the research Pt. 2 - The Coupé & Fuel Injection pt. 1
Okay, so it’s 1978 and FAAL just got done with the future of carburators.
Two versions:
-an o2 sensor boi with a single injector meant to replace a carburator on the cheap… paradoxally with a very fancy 70s spec ECU
-a more expensive mechanical fuel injection with a multiport layout and weird tray thingy.
The two managed to get released together, while a fancier multiport EFI setup was awaiting better technology to get released… So, the complicated mechaboi will have to do or most engines, while the single point carb-replacement EFI setup was meant for three cylinder engines only.
But first of all, FAAL needed to raise awareness of the possibilities of fuel injection, both in efficiency and performance. And that’s where their latest study shows up: The FAAL Coupé
Under the body, it’s… basically a RWD Mesaia. In which any 236S engine fits. With semi trailing arms instead of a torsion beam on the rear. … Which has gone through an anti-corrosion treatment. But… yeah, let’s just say there were SOME Mesaia design elements taken. Including the basics of the front fascia.
The rear, though, was entirely different, with a weird striped plastic bar going from one rear quarter window to the other while wrapping around the trunk, because French Quirks and Renault Fuego or something.
The car was available in two engines: Two variants of the 236S23.
One was a 115hp naturally aspirated unit that was… still kinda slow revving, thanks to the hypereutectic cast pistons, but had the best throttle response of any 236S23 engine, and… of all FAAL’s engine lineup: the 236S23ME
The other was FAAL’s very first TURBO engine, that was also their most powerful yet, the 236S23MTE. It made 155hp and 231nm, which is… quite frankly ridiculous by today’s standards for a 2.3L turbo engine, but was still a good punch in a car that weighed barely more than one ton. Both models were tuned with a generous mix of hardness and comfort, making it a car that was both fun to throw around and still drivable on a daily basis.
(Damn it, whose idea was it to have the press car be RED just like the turbo badge?!)
N/A Coupés had a single trim: CS, that came with four standard seats, an AM radio and steel wheels with hubcaps. A pretty basic equipment that allowed the car to stay at exactly 1000kg. The green one is one of them.
Turbo Coupés had, too, a single trim, that was just badged Turbo. On top of all that is cited, they had an aero package composed of a lip and a small spoiler. That would be the red one.
N/A Performance: 188km/h top speed, a 0-100km/h in 10.1 sec, quarter mile of 17.7sec.
Turbo performance: 200km/h top speed, 0-100km/h in 8.1sec, quarter mile of 16.15sec.
The performances of the Turbo model put the car in only a slightly higher spot as West Germany’s BMW 323i… which had a naturally aspirated 2.3 engine. There was still progress to be made.
…
Which is good, because those engine were made to comply with drastic emission standards they didn’t necessarily need to. So with this, plus the EFI development, plus FAAL’s still developing new drivetrain options… That car could only improve.
1978 was one helluva year for FAAL, and I’m gonna need to cover it in three posts.
Coming next: Fuel Injection galore, the return of sport trims, and reconquering the USA