Performance News - 15 August 2000

New Magna

A new sports sedan, improved equipment levels across the range, more power, better economy, new bright paint colours, a bright new interior colour option and a bold new front and rear look are the highlights of the new TJ Magna and KJ Verada range just released by Mitsubishi.

Mitsubishi has given Magna a distinctive new, fresh 'Euro' appearance with upgraded front and rear styling changes. At the front the bonnet has a raised V-section which forms the body-coloured 'nose' section of the grille. At either side of this are two grille sections with egg-crate design features for Magna and oblique chrome features for Verada. At the rear, the deck lid has been redesigned into a one-piece outer unit, with a depressed (sad?) centre top section and a flat rear panel. The rear combination lamps have been completely redesigned to incorporate round lenses that are contained in the same outer shape.

However the real news is in the extra performance and economy gains that have been made in the TJ/KJ series. An improved camshaft profile across the complete 3.5 litre V6 range has increased power to 150kW at 5000 rpm (up from 147). The MMAL-developed cam uses retarded inlet valve timing (opening by 2 degrees, closing by 6 degrees), while exhaust valve timing has been advanced (opening by 6 degrees, closing by 2 degrees). The result is an increase in overall engine power and torque, a flatter torque curve and improved idle quality. This is said to come with improved fuel economy due to new logic within the engine computer.

The good news story on power does not stop there. Magna Sports and the newly introduced VR-X sports sedan gain an additional 13kW of power, giving them 163kW at 5250 rpm. A new exhaust and recalibrated ECU are responsible for the increased power outputs.

Extensive testing of competitor vehicles, and an auditory jury assessment using the target market, resulted in the development of the exhaust. Multiple designs were developed in parallel, allowing the selection of the final design from a number of possible systems. The selected system includes improvements to the centre pipe and a new main muffler assembly and tail pipe. The design results in minimal backpressure, and provides the desired sound quality and noise level through a combination of absorptive and reactive (Helmholtz resonator) technologies.

The result is an exhaust that gives, in conjunction with the engine tuning, an additional 13kW available power (at 5250 rpm) over the standard 3.5 litre engine. Maximum power of the Sport and VR-X engine is 163kW at 5250 rpm, and 317Nm of torque at 4500 rpm.

The power of Sports and VR-X is put to the ground through a five-speed manual gearbox, or a new five-speed tiptronic-style 'Sports Mode' clutchless automatic. Jointly developed by Australian and Japanese engineers, the gear ratios, final drive ratio and shift patterns of the INVECS II automatic transmission have been revised to eliminate shift lag. The four-speed tiptronic-style automatic, which was previously in Magna Sports, has now been introduced into Verada models, with the standard INVECS II auto available in Magna Executive and Advance.

The newly introduced VR-X model has a full body kit, comprising front air dam, side and rear skirts, wheel arch extensions, rear deck lid spoiler, and a large round chromed exhaust. Both Magna Sport and VR-X now have a better footprint and greater road grip due to new wider 16 x 7 alloys shod with 215/60R16 tyres.

The automatic variants of Magna Sport and VR-X, as well as Verada Ei and Xi, gain traction control logic that has also been the beneficiary of a joint Australian/Japanese development program. The revised system allows for good vehicle control in brisk driving and subtle assistance in extreme or unexpected driving conditions. For further economy, and in response to popular demand, Magna is available with a factory-backed LPG system for the first time.

A Wilder Cougar

The Ford Cougar takes on a wilder look this month with the introduction of a limited run of specially equipped Cougars from Ford's performance partner Tickford. Special Eibach suspension will see the coupe lowered 20mm, with higher rate linear springs at the front and progressive rate springs at the rear. Revised shock absorbers feature tuned compression and rebound damping for the best performance across both low- and high-speed road conditions. New 17-inch alloys are fitted with Dunlop FM901 215/45 x 17 high performance tyres. Externally, the Cougar Eibach is clearly identified, with a full body kit including new rear spoiler and bonnet scoop. The front spoiler and side skirts are finished in Dark Argent, contrasting with the body coloured rear spoiler and bonnet scoop.

Honda Fires Up With Young Guns

Honda will showcase the cream of Australia's young motor racing talent in an Integra Type R support race at this year's Honda Indy 300. Ten of Australia and New Zealand's top young drivers - including Formula Ford's Leanne Ferrier and V8 Supercar driver Steve Johnson - will compete in Young Guns in identical Integra Type Rs. Young Guns has been designed to expose Australasia's top young drivers to an international audience, with the winner given the chance to test with Champ Car development series team Dorricot Racing.

With a total of five on-track sessions - including practice, qualifying, a one-lap shootout and two live-broadcast races - Young Guns is guaranteed 40 mins of national television coverage during the October 12-15 festival. The Young Guns will be selected by a group of industry experts including Chairman of Honda Indy 300 John Cowley, News Ltd National Motoring Editor Paul Gover and Honda Australia Deputy Managing Director Neal Robertson.

Ten Young Guns GT Production specification Integra Type Rs will be supplied by Honda dealers and will be built by Honda Australia with the support of sponsors Yokohama and Conrad Jupiters.

Yokohama has thrown its support behind Young Guns following a successful working relationship with Honda supplying tyres for its pace cars in previous Honda Indy 300s. Around 50kg of parts, including the rear seat and spare wheel, will be removed to make way for a full roll cage and other safety equipment.

New Supercharged E 200K Mercedes E-class

Mercedes-Benz is introducing a new high technology, high-efficiency supercharged engine that is destined to play a major role in its Australian operations. The new E 200 Kompressor is the first Mercedes model here to host the boosted 120kW four-cylinder powerplant. It brings a fresh perspective to the E-class range, which now includes seven variants including the revered E 55 AMG. The E 200K Classic becomes the entry-level for Mercedes' E-class range priced at A$79,500.

The four-cylinder unit, which Mercedes premiered only recently in Europe in the new C-class, produces 120kW and replaces the previous two-litre, 4-cylinder engine featured in the C 200.

The new supercharged powerplant develops its maximum torque of 230 Newton metres from just 2500 rpm and surpasses the corresponding figure for the naturally aspirated engine by around 21 per cent.

Aussie Pony Cars on Their Way

The first of a limited number of Mustangs expected to be delivered to eager Australian customers prior to Christmas will be shipped out from Detroit this month. The cars have been built at the Detroit plant and will arrive in Australia in late September.

"Mustang will be the only high-performance V8 coupe or convertible on the market here under A$100,000" said SVO Business Development Manager Rick Nayler. "Since its debut at this year's Melbourne Motor Show, we've had steady interest in the car and to date have 54 signed orders, despite the fact we can't confirm the final price and no-one's even had a test drive! Once they're out on the streets, we're going to have trouble meeting demand from the limited number of cars we expect to be able to get here this year."

Mustang will be the most powerful vehicle in Ford's line-up in Australia, with a 4.6 litre all-alloy, quad-cam V8 pumping out 240kW and 430Nm of torque. The car will be year 2001 specification, including standard 330mm vented Brembo front discs with twin-piston calipers, multi-link Independent Rear Suspension, traction control, ABS and 17-inch wheels.

Australian Mustangs will be converted to right hand drive by Ford's highly respected performance car partner, Tickford Vehicle Engineering, and will carry full factory backing, warranty and parts support locally.

Record Attempt

No.34 in a series of 52 interesting facts about Ford Australia to celebrate its 75th Anniversary Year.

Lew Bandt is well-known as the father of the Ford Coupe Utility and was one of Geelong's best loved characters until his untimely death in a road accident driving one of his beloved utes.

Before he joined Ford in 1929, he was employed by Ford distributors Duncan & Fraser in Adelaide. He often retold the story of the time when a crew assembled a Model T Roadster at the Adelaide Motor Show in 1927. From a pile of parts on the floor they completed the car in two hours, 32 minutes!

GM & Exxon Announce Fuel Processor

General Motors Corporation and Exxon Mobil Corporation announced recently that they have developed a highly-efficient gasoline fuel processor for fuel cell vehicles. The companies said that the processor is a major breakthrough that will lead to greatly reduced emissions and improved fuel economy. GM plans a vehicle demonstration using this technology within 18 months.

The processor uses gasoline as a fuel to create a high-quality stream of hydrogen that powers a fuel cell. For consumers this means they will be able to fuel these new vehicles the same way they fuel their present cars. GM researchers and engineers believe that the gasoline processor is a key to fuel cell production this decade.

"The gasoline processor could be the bridge between today's conventional vehicles and tomorrow's hydrogen fuel cell vehicles," said Harry J. Pearce, GM vice chairman. "While we view hydrogen as the future fuel for automotive applications, we have significant commercial challenges, such as designing and building a large number of hydrogen refueling stations, developing feasible on-board fuel tanks and agreeing to industry-wide specifications."

GM and ExxonMobil said that the results of a three-year collaborative research program have allowed GM and ExxonMobil engineers to design, develop, build and run a gasoline processor that exceeds 80 percent efficiency. By the end of this year, GM will demonstrate in a laboratory an integrated system with an advanced version of this processor and a GM fuel cell stack producing 25 kW.

GM selected the 25kW system as a learning platform. The 25kW system begins to approach the overall efficiency requirements for automotive use and will foster development of future automotive and stationary fuel cell systems. Peak fuel cell system efficiency is expected to achieve nearly 40 percent in this early generation design. As a reference, this results in nearly twice the efficiency of today's vehicles over a typical drive cycle. The system will integrate GM's proprietary designs in gasoline processing and fuel cell stacks.

Upgraded Outback

Leather trim, safety and suspension refinements are among the changes to Subaru's newly released 2001 Outback. The new model year Outback includes a series of technical and cosmetic updates. Revised trim - including leather seats for Outback Limited - 2-DIN audio system and two new colour combinations are included.

Ford Engineers a Degree For Young Women

Ford Australia has established an undergraduate scholarship program aimed at encouraging more women to enter the field of engineering. Valued at A$8,000 pa for four years and capped at A$32,000, the scholarships are available to high potential women who are seeking an exciting and rewarding career in engineering across selected disciplines. To be eligible, applicants must be female Australian citizens or permanent residents completing Year 12 in 2000 and commencing their engineering studies in 2001.

One scholarship will be provided on an annual basis through each of five partnering universities.

These universities are:

• The University of Queensland
• RMIT University
• The University of Sydney
• Deakin University
• The University of Melbourne

To help facilitate the scholarship program, Ford Australia has appointed a Program Liaison person to work with each of the universities and act as a mentor for the successful applicants.

"There are so many exciting careers on offer in the field of engineering - and that's just at Ford alone," says Angela Wilson, Product Development Engineer and Program Liaison for Deakin University. "The scholarships are a great way to bring more women into engineering. Especially as they're not just about handing over money - the mentoring program will allow the students to gain a true understanding of how what they are learning at university can be applied in the business world."

Applications for the scholarships can be made through each of the five participating universities and must be submitted before September 14 (University of Sydney) and September 29 (all others).

New Volvo S60

Packaged in size to fit between the S40 and S80 sedans, Volvo has introduced the new S60 sedan. The new S60 was shown to the world's motoring media recently in Stockholm with the Australian launch of the S60 anticipated for late January 2001. The new S60 will be aggressively priced, starting in the mid A$50,000s, ranging up to the low A$70,000s.

The Volvo S60 project began in 1997. The original brief described a sporty car with strong visual performance that would appeal in particular to young people. Volvo Design Director Peter Horbury interprets the S60's styling: "Design a car that will appeal to younger people, those that normally wouldn't consider a Volvo. Young people who want to be perceived as having good taste and intelligence and, not least, as leading an active life and who have a social conscience. In short: design a Volvo sedan that is inspired by a sports car and drives like one."

The design team grafted elements of the C70 coupe's roofline with the body structure of a four-door sedan. This was achieved by sloping the rear of the S60 forward without encroaching on interior passenger area. "The roof, windscreen and driver were all pulled forward, resulting in a true cab-forward design in the proper sense of the term," says Geza Loczi, project team member, working closely with Horbury. "Such a solution not only gives the car a powerful profile, it also gives the driver an excellent position of control."

Owing to the younger target market, Volvo Australia anticipates offering the 'Dynamic' chassis spring and damper package as standard with the 'Sport' package available as an option.

The S60 2.4 20V will come standard with 195/65 tyres on 15-inch alloys, the 2.4 T will come standard with 205/55 tyres on 16-inch alloys and the T5 will come standard with 215/55 tyres on 16-inch alloys. The S60 will also be available with optional 225/45 tyres on 17-inch diameter alloy wheels.

Power comes exclusively from Volvo's recently improved and refined RN five-cylinder petrol engines - naturally aspirated and turbocharged. The S60 will be offered in Australia in three power levels:

• S60 2.4 20V - Naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre DOHC 20 valve five-cylinder engine with CVVT (continuously variable valve timing on the intake camshaft) developing 125kW at 5900rpm and 230Nm at 4500rpm.

• S60 2.4T - Light-pressure turbocharged 2.4-litre DOHC five-cylinder engine with CVVT (on the exhaust camshaft) developing 147kW at 6000rpm and 285Nm between 1800-5000rpm.

• S60 T5 - High-pressure turbocharged 2.3-litre DOHC five-cylinder engine with CVVT (on the exhaust camshaft) developing 184kW at 5200rpm and 330Nm between 2500-5200rpm.

All three engines are accompanied by a five-speed automatic transmission. Depending on specification, the automatic transmission is standard with Geartronic manual sequential shift function available on 2.4 T and T5. A sporty five-speed manual shift gear lever - the Spaceball - with alloy finish is available to customers ordering manual transmission (standard on T5, optional on other variants). The 2.4 20V naturally aspirated engine meets the American ULEV-levels while both the turbocharged engines meet LEV-levels.

Quickies

• Jaycar Electronics has recently released the cheapest multimeter that we've ever seen that can measure duty cycle. Priced at just A$39.65, more information on the QM1535 meter can be found at Jaycar Electronics.

• Ford has confirmed that British rally ace and former World Champion driver Colin McRae has signed a new two-year contract with the Ford World Rally team.

• Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) President Katsuhiko Kawasoe and DaimlerChrysler Chairman Juergen E. Schrempp have signed a Master Alliance Agreement, Securities Subscription Agreement and Standstill Agreement for the new alliance between DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi Motors. The alliance includes the design, development, production and distribution of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

• Mitsubishi Motors' Australian customers will apparently receive big benefits from new initiatives announced by the Company's Director of Sales Operations, Mr. Ian Ludgate. "Our dealerships will get a fresh new visual identity, and customers will soon benefit from the best order-to-delivery system in the industry", Mr. Ludgate said. "The blue stripe which has been on our dealerships for decades will start to disappear from early next year. It will be replaced progressively by a modern red, grey and white colour scheme which will revitalise Mitsubishi showrooms, and when combined with new external signage will present showrooms as a modern, inviting place in which to do business. "However, the real customer benefit will come with our new order-to-delivery system which will be introduced next February. The industry-setting system will dramatically shorten the time between the customer order and the car being delivered. It will give the customer a known delivery date, and provide greater flexibility by allowing changes to engine, transmission, options and colour and trim selections during the ordering process."

• Mazda has 400 Limited Edition 626's available with A$2000 worth of additional equipment for only A$500 above the regular recommended retail price. Offered in two colours - Highlight Silver and Supreme Blue - and based on the Classic specification, the sedans and hatchbacks get factory fitted alloy road wheels, rear spoiler and colour side protection mouldings. As well as this, a 6-stacker CD, front and rear floor mats and headlight and bonnet protectors are fitted locally.

• And further to our recent reader comments on our Rain-X review - don't get it on a rag that you then inadvertently wipe over the inside of glass: the glass then fogs up very easily and getting the stuff off isn't so straightforward. One reader had to use a mild kitchen abrasive...

• Nissan's Navara ute range has been boosted by the launch of the Series III models, highlighted by the return of a 3.0 litre V6 engine.

• On August 19 General Motors will webcast the Woodward Dream Cruise, a Detroit-area classic and muscle car event that draws more than one million people. Consumers can log onto the Woodward Dream Cruise webcast at www.GM.com. Live images from multiple webcams will provide a full perspective of the event. Two cameras will be focused on Woodward Avenue capturing the estimated 30,000 classic 1950s and 1960s cars that will cruise a 26km route. Another camera will provide live shots of event attractions, including GM's 100-vehicle specialty and classic vehicle display.

• Tyre giant Bridgestone/Firestone Inc has launched one of the largest tyre safety recalls in history, a recall that may involve some 6.4 million tyres for up to a year.