Consider, 

***step up***

> 1. to make something more active. *I hope we can step the pace of business up in the next few days. We can step up business considerably by putting out a larger sign.*

> 2. to make something go or run faster. *The engineer stepped the motors up and the production line moved even faster. Please step up the speed of your activity.* [McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs](http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/step+up)

***move/step up a gear***

> to start to work or play more effectively or quickly than before *With
> just five lengths to go, the German swimmer stepped up a gear and
> edged ahead to win the race*. [Cambridge Idioms Dictionary](http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/step+up+a+gear)

***step on the gas***

> : to hurry in order to get something done quickly; **step on it** *If we're going to get this done today, it's time to step on the gas.*
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of step on the gas (to make a car go faster by giving the engine more gas)
[Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms](http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/step+on+the+gas)

***drop the hammer***

> (Expression) American English Idiom: to bring a pending act to
> fruition. Usually connotes an act which will have serious
> consequences. Also used in reference to quickly increasing speed in a
> car by manipulating a manual transmission gear shift (the hammer). [Dictionary Of by Farlex](http://www.definition-of.com/drop+the+hammer)

***(put) the pedal on the metal***

> : to make something go forward or increase as fast as possible : *Ingrid
> put the pedal to the metal and finished writing her essay a day early.*
> Etymology: based on the idea of pressing a car's gas pedal (a flat
> piece that you control with your foot) all the way to the floor to
> make the car go as fast as possible. [Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms](http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Pedal)