‘ We assemble our own engines. We do that very thoroughly, at a very detailed level’
‘ We assemble our own engines. We do that very thoroughly, at a very detailed level’
While Swindon might not have that piece of equipment, it’ s far from lacking in cutting-edge tools and machines. There are numerous multi-axis CNC machines, a room dedicated to creating wiring looms, a bank of engineers with computers creating stuff with CAD, and precision 3D printers that aren’ t just used for prototyping, Swindon manufactures components for some of its engines by 3D printing them. For instance, the intake on its Hyundai BTCC race engine is a 3D printed plastic part, which then gets machined to finish.
It isn’ t just its processes; Swindon’ s output is also very forward-thinking.‘ In 2020, we launched our first own electric powertrain.’ Called HPD, which stands for High Power Density, the powertrain was small and powerful.‘ It had record numbers for power density. The market that we were aiming for were special vehicles and the retrofit world. We electrified a classic Mini.’
While the HPD electric drivetrain shows the company’ s range, its latest big project is very much in Swindon’ s wheelhouse: a touring car engine. This time, a V8 for Toyota’ s entry into one of Australia’ s top sports: V8 Supercars.‘ Repco Supercars, as it’ s now called, is the biggest touring car championship in the world. The reason I think it is the biggest – and it’ s not new, it’ s been the biggest for a long time – is because Australia is really isolated in the world, and so they’ ve developed these national things, and one of them is Australian football, and the other one is V8 Supercars. On prime time television, if you watch sport, you see Australian
Swindon has a whole room dedicated to creating wiring looms and harnesses for its own projects and batches for clients football and you see V8 Supercars.
‘ So it’ s a big championship, 30-something cars on the grid, it’ s always been a battle between Ford and Holden, back to, I think, the Sixties. There have been a few attempts by other manufacturers to come in, but it’ s always been done poorly and it’ s never worked, it’ s never lasted. This time around, Toyota, who is now the biggest car manufacturer and has the biggest car sales in Australia, is coming in with the Toyota Supra and Swindon Powertrain is the exclusive engine partner.’ Swindon is working with Walkinshaw TWG Racing, Toyota’ s homologation partner, which is entering two Toyota GR Supras for Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia.
48 The Engine Rebuilder Issue 05