Tarox Brakes in Australia!
Motorsport Styling in Melbourne has been working closely with Italian manufacturer, TAROX, to bring a comprehensive range of high quality braking products to the Australian market. TAROX have arguably the most extensive range of high performance brake parts available from any manufacturer in the world, and they have undertaken considerable research and testing to determine the most suitable parts for Australian applications.
The TAROX range starts with discs and pads designed to replace the standard components, while utilising the original brake calipers. The G88 performance disc features 44 grooves machined into the braking surface. These grooves not only work to constantly deglaze the pad, they are also effective in expelling the gases which build up between the disc and pad during braking. The G88 slotted disc dissipates heat more effectively, thus reducing the risk of heat deformation, vibrating or cracking under extreme circumstances. The discs are ideal for high performance road use and competition use in combination with the correctly specified TAROX brake pads.
For drivers who place more demands on their braking system than is suitable for the car's standard set up, the TAROX Brake Conversion Kit is the ideal solution. The kit comprises two aluminium calipers, two high performance billeted discs, one set of brake pads and two special brake hoses. The diameter of the discs can be specified in 5mm increments from 295mm through to a massive 385mm!
TAROX calipers are also said to be something special. The unique design of the caliper and positioning of the pistons utilises the whole of the braking surface to achieve maximum performance, while the snap ring allows a play of less than 0.05mm. This eliminates any roll-back effect of the piston and prevents dirt infiltration. A range of pad compounds can be specified from road use only through to carbon metallic compound for the serious racer. TAROX have an extensive and ever expanding range of model specific kits which include the caliper mounts and brackets for over 300 models of imported cars to Australia
TAROX brake components are available nationally from appointed TAROX distributors. For more information contact the official importer, Motorsport Styling on Phone 0500 883 882 and Fax 0500 850 888, or visit www.motorsport-styling.com
DaimlerChrysler Consolidates e-Business Activities
The Internet has revolutionised all internal and external processes in the automotive industry. DaimlerChrysler views this development as a unique opportunity for the company to improve its competitive position on the international market and is undertaking decisive measures in this direction. In order to advance the group's transformation into a comprehensively networked company, and to make transparent the results, DaimlerChrysler has consolidated all its existing and future e-business investments and holdings in the newly founded subsidiary DCX NET holding. The holding, which has been launched with start-up capital of US $500 million, forms the nucleus of the corporate-wide "DCX NET Initiative". This initiative is intended to make the company faster, more efficient and therefore more competitive throughout all areas, from purchasing to sales. The name DCX NET is derived from the DaimlerChrysler stock symbol and has been selected in order to emphasise the group-wide performance of fully networking every aspect of its activities.
DaimlerChrysler has already invested more than US $290 million in the acquisition of shares in companies such as Powerway Inc. (B2B) and The Cobalt Group (B2C). The performance of such investments has been highly impressive, with their value rising substantially over the last six months. DCX NET Holding will maintain offices in New York, Detroit, Tokyo, Palo Alto and Stuttgart. The wide range of locations is intended to facilitate collaboration with e-business development partners. The holding company will also oversee DaimlerChrysler's interest in Venturepark, a pan-European e-business "incubator", in which Bertelsmann and Goldman Sachs are also investors. DCX NET Holding is to be headed by John Stellman, (Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions) and Olaf Koch (Vice President, Corporate e-Business).
EFI Hardware Surge Tanks
Melbourne based performance centre, EFI Hardware, has a line of high quality surge tanks to help get the most out of your road or race car. Fast cornering and high performance driving can cause starving on your fuel supply. With cornering, acceleration and braking, the fuel moves around in the tank. This allows the fuel pump to pick up air, thus aerating the fuel. Some of this aerated fuel is delivered through the injectors to the engine, resulting in surging, hesitation and harmful detonation. Surge tanks eliminate this problem by acting as a small reservoir that de-aerates the fuel, ensuring constant fuel pressure and flow.
EFI Hardware surge tanks are available in steel with a baked enamel finish, polished aluminium and polished stainless steel for an impressive show car look. There are a number of styles and sizes in the range, including a short under-floor model.
EFI Hardware surge tanks are available with barb hose fittings or with AN nipples to suit Earls, Aeroquip and Speedflow fittings. They are easily installed and can be custom made for special applications. The range of high performance products from EFI Hardware also includes pressure regulators, fuel injection pumps, multiple throttle body set ups and custom modifications. SpeedTechnology@onaustralia.com.au
Citroen Osmose: Doesn't Just Pick Up Hitch Hikers - It Hunts Them Down!
Citroen's newest experimental car, the Osmose, is designed to make urban transport more efficient by not just offering rides to pedestrians, it even hunts them down and offers them a ride, all while being a zero emissions car.
The interior of the Osmose is split into two compartments, one for the owner of the Osmose and another at the rear for the hitch-hikers. When the Osmose sets off on its journey, its destination and route are displayed on the side of the car, using a GPS navigation system. If a pedestrian wants to hitch a lift, they press a button on the side of the car that initiates a conversation between the driver and if they agree on offering and accepting a ride, then the rear of the Osmose opens to offer a seat.
But the Citroen Osmose goes even further. Using GSM and WAP technology, people needling a lift can use their mobile phone to match their journey with those of Osmose cars on the road. At the same time the Osmose, when a route is entered in its navigation system, searches for people travelling the same way and offers them a lift. The communications system then placesthe driver and hitch hiker in contact with each other.
The aim of all the technology is to reduce urban congestion by making sure that every vehicle is used to its maximum capacity. To ensure safety and security, driver and his passengers are always kept separate from hitch hikers and those people taking up the offer of a lift have their own separate communications system. And the Osmose even looks after pedestrians if their are too keen to get close the Citroen's experimental car: It has front and rear exterior airbags to protect pedestrians in the event of a car/pedestrian accident.
The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
Preliminary details of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced new model ever to be designed, developed and built by Aston Martin have been released. With a maximum speed in excess of 300 km/h and a 6.0 litre V12 engine developing more than 335kW, the totally new Aston Martin V12 Vanquish will go on sale during the second quarter of next year. It will be built at Newport Pagnell and will become Aston Martin's new premier, top of the range, flagship model. Available as either a two or two plus two seat coupe the V12 Vanquish will accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in under 4.5 seconds and 160 km/h in under 10 seconds. Through the application of advanced design techniques and materials, it is lighter, stiffer and stronger and offers superior performance to that of the V8-engined Vantage model which it replaces.
In conjunction with the electronic drive-by-wire throttle system which is fitted to the second generation 450 horsepower 6.0 litre V12 Aston Martin engine, finger tip controlled Formula 1 style paddles enable almost imperceptible gear changes to be completed in under 250 milliseconds - less than a (slow) blink of an eye. Advanced electronics also permit the close ratio six speed manual transmission to be programmed to operate automatically with the added facility of a special programme tailored to winter driving conditions.
With close cooperation and technical assistance from the Ford Research & Vehicle Technology Group and Ford Research laboratories, the new V12 Vanquish represents the largest ever investment by Aston Martin in advanced technology and it pioneers a series of world firsts in its design and construction. The main body structure utilises carbon fibre, extruded aluminium and composite materials bonded together to form a central monocoque safety cell with additional deformable composite structure energy absorbent zones at both front and rear. It provides standards of efficiency, structural integrity, torsional rigidity and occupant crash protection compatible with a modern Formula 1 car. The V12 Vanquish exceeds by a substantial margin all known or projected safety legislation.
The V12 Vanquish is being offered for sale throughout the world with more than 70% of the annual production of 300 cars scheduled for customers outside the UK. Advance orders from customers in the USA will account for more than 30% of all sales during the second half of 2001.
Peugeot 406 Coupé Marks Pininfarina's 70th Birthday
Famous Italian design house Pininfarina has created a limited edition Peugeot's 406 Coupé to celebrate its 70th birthday in the year 2000. Displayed at this year's Geneva and Paris motor shows, the Settant'Anni (Seventy Years) is a Europe-only, special edition, retaining the purity and design balance of what many consider to be the world's most beautiful car. Yet it features numerous individual touches. The bodywork is finished in a choice of exclusive colours - Hyperion Blue or Hades Grey, and this unique car is further distinguished by 16" alloy wheels with body-coloured inserts, the design "borrowed" from Pininfarina's 1997Nautilus research prototype. As well, the radiator grille is formed from chrome-plated, horizontal strips.
Launched in Australia in early 1998, the 406 Coupé is the result of a near 50 year collaboration between Automobiles Peugeot and Pininfarina. The two companies working together since 1951, and the creation of the 403 sedan. Initially confined to design only, the relationship expanded to partial manufacturing in the Sixties, with the current 306 Cabriolet for example, produced jointly by Automobiles Peugeot and Pininfarina. But the partnership acquired a new dimension with the 406 Coupé. For the first time Peugeot entrusted Pininfarina with responsibility, not only for exterior and interior design, but for industrialisation and production. The 406 Coupé shares its sedan stablemate's floorpan, drivetrain and some "modified and personalised" interior components. But the Coupé's body panels and sub-structure are unique.
Quickies
- Le Mans sportscar fans and New Year's Eve partygoers will be able to celebrate the forthcoming exciting motorsport with a new limited edition LeMans Adelaide Coopers beer can. Local brewer Coopers, today launched a limited edition beer can to mark its sponsorship of the Adelaide event.
- The rumours were correct: Mazda Australia will release a locally-developed turbo version of the MX5.
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