Trabant and The Car Tuning Community
The particularly archaic look and unique two-stroke engine sound of the Trabant has made it a beloved model amongst the car tuning community in Central Europe.
Many variations exist, although two major streams have been developed.
The first stream meticulously preserves the two-stroke engine sound. This is achieved by either tuning the original two cylinder engine for higher performance or using a two-stroke propulsion unit designed for another car (e.g. the 1000 cc Wartburg). Since the Trabant is very lightweight (approx. 750 kg (1,653 lb)), a small increase in engine power can rapidly increase its power-to-weight ratio, giving it a remarkable boost.
The second stream goes beyond the sentimental sound and encompasses a range of modifications. Modifications range from a thorough upgrade of the car's traction to a complete engine replacement, leaving only the body to hide a modern powerful car underneath (for example, the Sascha Fiss Volkswagen Lupo GTI). Some say that the perplexing effect caused by a postmodern Trabi that can overtake modern cars at 150 km/h (93 mph) is worth all the effort. Also common is the combination of a Trabant with a Japanese superbike engine, such as the engine of a Suzuki Hayabusa (a combination known as Trabusa). Some cars with supercharged powerplants have a rated power of over 150 hp (112 kW). The car's light weight gives a power-to-weight ratio of 11 lb/hp (149 W/kg), allowing these vehicles to achieve performance comparable to modern mid-range sports cars.
It has become an established tradition for Trabant fan clubs in central Europe to organise annual meetings to present new tuning modifications and performance accessories for the vehicle.
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