This may be of interest for some of you. Along with Xidas for the GT350 and regular S550 Mustangs, we are also developing Xidas for the FR-S / BRZ / GT86.
Picked this 2013 up in October. Running it in the local TT series, 86 Cup https://www.86cup.us/
More info on the build here: https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131052
We plan to start testing the prototypes in January, aiming for production kits on the shelf in March 2019.
We'll offer single adjustable, 3 way adjustable and ACE versions. Prices or specs yet all TBA.
GT350 Xida will be around the same time. standard S550 Xidas mid summer.

 

Developing XIDAs for the S550? You've just made car decision in the next few months much more difficult.

 

Curious why skipping the 2 way adjustable? Just not enough demand?

 

Correct. It costs the same to build a two-way as a three-way. The only real reason for a two-way is for stock class autocross. We don't plan on building OEM spring perches for it. No one really runs the twins in stock class autocross anyway.

 

At one point I thought the NC was getting a set of Xidas due out around the same Q1 2019 time frame, are they going to happen?

 

Eventually, yes. Like any other of these long-term projects, they get done whenever they get done.

 

I've driven a Shelby GT350, with the magna ride and track pack. I thought the right was downright superb. Heck, the whole thing was superb. What are Xidas trying to improve? I'm assuming that all GT 350's have the magna-ride shocks.

 

There is much that can be approved upon from the magneride. First of all those little metal particles in the oil create huge amount of friction. That friction causes both wear and heat. Both of which are Achilles heels of the magneride technology. Our GT350 is good for 3 to 5 laps before the shocks get hot and the damping starts to go away. The shocks have temp sensors in them so instead of just firming up the damping which would generate more heat, they just start to open up. Damping goes away and the thing starts to wallow.

The other problem with magneride is that the damping force increases are equal in both rebound and compression. Automotive shock valving 101 is to run far less compression than rebound damping. So the clever engineers at Ford have to figure out a compromise.
But it is just that, a compromise. You end up with too much low speed compression on track, even when the shocks are still at optimum temperature. An ACE shock plugged into the OEM control system will not suffer any of the heat issues, has a far wider total damping range and separates rebound from compression changes.

 

Oh, darn, now I'm salivating about Xida eqquipped GT 350's!

 

So does being an Orange Club member get me any pull in getting some Mazda2 Xidas made?

 

"you know, if you guys decide to take acid and manufacture shocks for a chassis which is no longer imported to the US"

 

So like... an NB, then?

 

Call Chris Hagen at Inertia Lab. He'll build whatever you like. Won't be cheap though. Not because Inertia is overly expensive, they aren't. Just that a one off set of anything costs a lot more than a serial produced kit in significant volume.

 

This is false. The Mazda 2 is still imported to Puerto Rico. You can buy one there, then freely ship it to anywhere else in the US. Info Here

So if I convince Spec Mazda2 to switch to unmade Xida's I can get bulk quantities. I got this.

 

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actually...the Toyota Yaris IA is a rebadged mazda2...last time i checked it was still on sale...

 

Update:

Ran the prototype Xidas for the first time about a month ago. Camber adjustment features not on the protos so not quite enough camber yet. Valving too firm in certain areas so we sent them off to Inertia with revised force vs
piston speed targets. First test on revalved protos this weekend at 86 Drive Challenge, Sonoma Raceway May 24-25, 2019. Think we might have nailed it. I'm still at the shop but based on feedback from Sonny who is doing the testing, I think we are either spot on on or very close. I drove it here on some
local roads and felt we were close but needed to put it on track to confirm. Quite transformative. Blub went from being downright scary on the RCE yellow lowering springs and stock shocks to utterly composed and easy to drive at the limit. Sonny tells me it soaks up Sonoma's apex kerbs like they aren't there. Did a 1:51.4 on 255/40R17 AR-1's on 17x9 6UL's with about 200whp, 2760 lbs.

Will swap some different spring packages on an do a dedicated test at Streets of Willow next week.

Also had the opportunity to do some controlled A/B/A/B on R888R and AR-1 in the same size/car/driver/ ambient & track temps
Final times with equal heat cycles:
1:51.716 Nankang AR-1
1:52.974 Toyo R888R

 

Sonny driving Blub, our development car on the prototype Xida single adjustables. Here on Nankang AR-1's I think. 255/40R17 on 17x9 6UL

 

Excellent Job E! Now I know what to buy If I get another Twin.

 

Swift springs? I thought you were Hyperco all the way.

 

Swift, Hyperco, Eibach. For our use, they are interchangeable. We use Hyperco on Miata Xida kits for their selection, supply chain and pricing.

Production 86 Xidas might have private label springs such as we use on our Miata Xida GS kit. Well see how things go in testing.