102 RON fuel at the pumps hits UK shores...

[Lowe]

BP ULTIMATE 102 UNLEADED

MEDIA Q&AS

1. What is BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded?
A UK first! BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded is a precision engineered, high performance fuel. It has an Octane number of 102, it burns more completely and allows highly tuned engines to perform at their best. BP Ultimate 102 unleaded is the most advanced, high performance petrol sold on any forecourt in the UK.

2. Why has BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded been introduced/ Who is the target audience?
BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded has been developed with private motor sport enthusiasts in mind. They now have the chance to buy a fuel meeting the same high specifications used at the pinnacle of motor sport in Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship direct from forecourts. It has an Octane number of 102 and burns more completely to allow highly tuned engines to perform at their best. It is envisaged that motor sport enthusiasts will be able to fill up with BP Ultimate 102 unleaded on their way to motor racing circuits.

3. What are the benefits of using BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded / What’s so special about using BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded?

Benefits include:

- High Research Octane Number (RON) of 102 and Motor Octane Number (MON) of 90 to allow engines to be tuned for increased performance and higher boost pressures
- Optimised formulation which allows the fuel to evaporate more readily in the engine, especially at high engine speeds, leading to more complete combustion, smoother, more responsive operation, better engine breathing and increased performance
- High oxygen content to improve combustion and increase energy release in the combustion chamber
- Exceptional purity, demonstrated by the crystal clear colour, resulting from the precision manufacturing process for this fuel. Impurities that would normally lead to deposits in the intake system and combustion chamber are removed allowing remarkable engine cleanliness. The clean engine results in better engine breathing and lower octane requirements, facilitating more advanced engine tuning
- Friction reduction in the upper cylinder, so that more of the fuel energy gets to the wheels with less wear and tear.
- Improved combustion process leading to better energy release and lower emissions. The sulphur free formulation also means that the catalyst works more efficiently, reducing exhaust pollutants more effectively
- Benzene free formulation for safer handling and lower benzene emissions
- High performance bio-component to help protect the environment.


3. Aren’t you just encouraging speeding by bringing out a higher octane fuel?
Absolutely not. BP Ultimate 102 unleaded has been developed for private motor racing enthusiasts to use under legal conditions, specifically with race tracks in mind. We remind customers on our pumps to drive according to road conditions and speed limits.

4. Does BP Ultimate unleaded 102 start working straight away?
If an engine has been highly tuned, performance benefits will be noticeable immediately. Full benefits will improve with continuous use.

5. Is there a Diesel 102 version, if not, why not?
No. BP Ultimate 102 is an unleaded fuel only. We recommend BP Ultimate Diesel as the highest performance diesel fuel available in the UK.


5. Is 102 replacing BP Ultimate 97 Unleaded?
No. BP Ultimate 102 unleaded is aimed at amateur race enthusiasts with highly tuned engines. For drivers who want to get the best out of their vehicles everday, BP Ultimate unleaded (97 RON) and BP Ultimate diesel (55 Cetane) still offer more performance and less pollution and are intended for all cars.

6. Why can’t I just use BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded instead of 97?
BP Ultimate 102 unleaded is recommended for vehicles with highly tuned engines. The fuel is fully compliant with the UK specification for unleaded petrol, which means it can be legally used on the road by any car. BP Ultimate 102 unleaded will not do any damage to your engine if it is not tuned but only cars that have been properly tuned will experience the full benefits of 102. BP Ultimate unleaded 97 also offers more performance and less pollution compared to ordinary fuels and is intended for all cars.

6. What’s the point in having two versions of BP Ultimate Unleaded?
We are proud to offer our customers a choice of fuels. Only cars that have been properly tuned will experience the benefits of BP Ultimate 102 unleaded. 97 is a high octane fuel that offers a cleaner engine, sharper acceleration and less emission release and is suitable for any car old or new.

7. Why isn’t 102 compatible with all cars?
BP Ultimate 102 is compatible with all cars but only those with tuned engines will notice the full performance benefits.

8. If I tune my engine to 102, can I still use a lower octane fuel?
If you have tuned your engine to 102 you are advised not to use lower octane fuels unless you are sure that it has been tuned in such a way that will allow this without problems. Use of lower octane fuels may require the vehicle to be restored to the original tuning. Please check with a competent person to avoid risk of engine damage.

9. Is BP Ultimate 102 unleaded suitable for older/classic racing cars?
Any vehicle that is able to run on ordinary unleaded fuels can use BP Ultimate 102 unleaded. It fully complies with the UK specification for unleaded petrol and will not damage any engine. The full benefits of BP Ultimate 102 unleaded petrol will be noticed from engines that have been highly tuned.

10. How much will BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded cost?
£2.42 ppl

11. Given current fuel prices, how can this price be realistic?
BP Ultimate 102 unleaded is a specialist fuel aimed at motor sport enthusiasts. It is not meant to compete with any other premium fuel available at forecourts currently. Relative to fuels of this type available at race tracks or via mail order, we believe this is a very competitive price.

12. How can I be sure that of the quality of the fuel/that the octane level will not deteriorate from leaving the refinery/ that the fuel will not deteriorate from sitting in fuel tanks over time?
BP Ultimate 102 unleaded is effectively ‘hand made’ to a tightly controlled recipe in small, discrete batches. The result is a fuel with exceptional purity and consistently outstanding quality. And because we only use the finest components with superior resistance to oxidation, you can be assured that BP Ultimate 102 unleaded has excellent stability over extended storage periods. We are happy to provide batch certification with every purchase of BP Ultimate 102 unleaded to guarantee its quality.

13. Isn’t BP just copying Sunoco?
We are unable to comment on the specification of other fuels on the market. We believe that BP Ultimate 102 unleaded is the most advanced, high performance petrol available on a UK forecourt, and is built on BP technology developed through our long involvement in F1 and other classes of motorsport.



available as of 10am 24th April:

All Saints Self Serve
Commercial Road, Portsmouth, PO1 4BU

Tudor Filling Station
London Road, Allington, Kent, ME160HE

Newham Way,
Canning Town, London, E16 1QX

Newbury Centre Filling Station,
758 Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park, Ilford, Essex, IG27HU

Wavendon Gate Connect,
Newport Road, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, MK77AG

Chichley Park Connect,
Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell, Bucks, MK16 9BD

[hitman67]

Will it have any effect? No
Is it actually benifical? No
Is it more Expensive? Yes
Will Idiots buy it? Yes.

Another way of screwing more money out of Stupid people.

[herulach]

If you actually own a proper race car, then 102 RON is pretty much an essential, so it does have an effect, and is benificial, to some people, but youre right, it wont stop muppets putting it in their corsa sxi's and thinking theyre senna

[Howard]

It'll cost as much in pence as it's RON number as well I expect

[dave87]

It'll cost as much in pence as it's RON number as well I expect

Oh no doubt, but if you've got a nice race prepped gixer or a high performance car then it gives you the option to get more out of them through being able to use higher octane fuels. But its not only highly tuned cars that will get benifits - its just more noticable on cars with large amounts of power in the first place - like a Impreza or Evo

But yes, tits in Corsas will still fill up with it.....

[herulach]

It'll cost as much in pence as it's RON number as well I expect

10. How much will BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded cost?
£2.42 ppl

[hitman67]

If you actually own a proper race car, then 102 RON is pretty much an essential, so it does have an effect, and is benificial, to some people, but youre right, it wont stop muppets putting it in their corsa sxi's and thinking theyre senna

Fair enough I'll give you that if someone drives a 900bhp Nos'd Lancer or something it'll give you a little boost, but that's it. Why can't they add something that would destroy a Corsa's Engine

My Audi gets Diesel from a Local Haulier, and it doesn't complain.

[herulach]

Fair enough I'll give you that if someone drives a 900bhp Nos'd Lancer or something it'll give you a little boost, but that's it. Why can't they add something that would destroy a Corsa's Engine

My Audi gets Diesel from a Local Haulier, and it doesn't complain.

Thats exactly who its aimed at, its race fuel, which is currently only really available by the barrel full either by mail order or from race tracks. And diesel from a haulage yard is likely to be pretty good quality anyway, as well as being illegal to use in your car i would imagine (unless its just a filling station)

[hitman67]

Thats exactly who its aimed at, its race fuel, which is currently only really available by the barrel full either by mail order or from race tracks. And diesel from a haulage yard is likely to be pretty good quality anyway, as well as being illegal to use in your car i would imagine (unless its just a filling station)

No, it's bought in by the yard and I have an account with them (or should I say my dad has, he's a trucker.). Everyone uses it, and if it was illigal the yard owner would stop it bloody fast (Belive me, I know the guy).

[herulach]

Fair enough, i thought you meant in a nudge nudge tax free kind of way

[Howard]

So my Megane won't benefit?

[BenW]

I think aat £2.42 a liter you'd have to be crazy to put it in your megane! Dad swears the premium unleadeds make a difference in his mondeo v6 but then he gets all his fuel paid for so its no big deal

[hitman67]

So my Megane won't benefit?

Not half as much as it would from a firebomb

[Howard]

Hilarious.

[badass]

I think the simple way of looking at it is as a track day fuel. There's no point in using it unless you have a programmable ECU with the ability to store more than 1 map.

[Rave]

It'd be interesting to see if the ECU (avec knock sensor) in a Scooby/Evo would take advantage of it. Fifth Gear's test showed that the scooby got an extra 20-odd BHP by going from 95 to 98 RON fuel. Extrapolate that out and a scooby WRX would be banging out north of 300BHP on this 102 RON stuff....if you don't do a lot of fast miles that's cheaper than any other form of tuning even at £2.40 a litre.