AVO Stage III Mazda MX5 Turbo Kit
The newly developed AVO Stage Three Mazda MX5 turbo kit claims to lift in power on a 1.6 from 55kW at the rear wheels to 152kW! The bolt-on kit (there's apparently no need to 'crack' the engine) consists of AVO's own bar and plate intercooler (with custom cast alloy intercooler tubing), a "320 horsepower" water-cooled ball bearing Garrett turbocharger, stainless steel heat shielding, replacement Link plug-in computer, 440cc Bosch injectors, in-tank high volume fuel pump, adjustable fuel regulator, K&N air cleaner system, 2.5-inch stainless steel dump pipe, all fittings and hoses and an optional 2.5-inch stainless steel exhaust. Maximum boost is 13 psi.
avo@bigpond.com www.avoturbo.com
Four Headlight WRX?
Australian company Twinlight is seeking feedback on their proposed four headlight conversion for the Impreza WRX. The units will feature German projection lights for low beam and Long Range Beams for the high beam. The light body itself will be made from injection-moulded ABS plastic. The units will mount directly on existing mounting holes and the wiring will plug straight in. The colour will be either black or dark grey, ready for painting. Proposed selling price will be about A$700 per pair.
Feedback to twinlight@twinlight.com.au
Acura RS-X Preview at New York Motor Show
American Honda's luxury car division Acura will preview its RS-X sports coupe at the New York International Auto Show from today. The RS-X - Acura's replacement for the Integra - will be available with two all-aluminium 2.0-litre 16-valve DOHC LEV engines featuring the new-generation i-VTEC technology with VTC or Variable Timing Control. VTC continuously adjusts camshaft phasing for enhanced performance and efficiency across the rev range. The i-VTEC technology helps the new RS-X engine produce 119kW of power and 191Nm torque while maximising fuel efficiency and minimising emissions. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 5-speed sequential automatic transmission.
Acura will also display the RS-X Type S, powered by a high-performance version of the 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine that produces 74kW or 100 horsepower per litre. Maximum output is 149kW and 192Nm. To extract the best performance, the Acura RS-X Type S features an all-new close ratio 6-speed manual transmission.
New variable-assist rack-and-pinion steering and newly designed Control-Link MacPherson strut front suspension systems have been developed for superior cornering grip and a smooth, controlled ride with minimal weight penalty and without intruding on interior space. At the rear, the RS-X has a new compact double-wishbone system.
RS-X Type S suspension is enhanced with firmer springs and dampers and a larger front stabiliser bar for greater responsiveness and road feel. Four-wheel disc brakes and a 3-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) provide the RS-X with optimum stopping power. The RS-X has 257mm vented discs at the front and 255mm discs at the rear. The RS-X Type S uses larger 295mm vented discs at the front. Both models are equipped with 205/55R16 Michelin all season high-performance tyres on 16-inch, five spoke alloy wheels.
Inside, the RS-X interior features a cockpit tuned to the driver. Large-diameter, metallic-face gauges with a backlit design are grouped in a pod that angles toward the driver. A sporty three-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel is standard. Front and rear passengers are supplied with ample head- and legroom, ensuring a comfortable ride. A generous 504-litre cargo area is made even more accessible with 50/50 split fold rear seats. Safety features, including dual front and side airbags, dual seatbelt pretensioners on both front seats and side impact protection pads, are standard. The RS-X also has a number of luxury and convenience features. These include an Automatic Climate Control System, keyless entry system with anti-theft immobiliser, power windows with an auto-up/down feature on the driver's window.
The sporty RS-X seats are trimmed with a suede-style fabric, while perforated leather-trimmed seats are optional on the RS-X and standard on the Type S.
All RS-X models are equipped with a six-speaker system with an in-dash CD player. The Type-S features an Acura/Bose sound system with 6 in-dash CD player and a new Bose RichBass woofer fitted in the cargo area.
Acura will begin selling the RS-X in July and has projected an annual sales target of 30,000 units.
The Eyes Have It
Ninety percent of all information processed by humans is of a visual nature and so unobstructed vision when driving is thus a crucial factor in active road safety. As part of the "accident-free road traffic" research initiative, DaimlerChrysler has specially equipped a vehicle to determine a driver's vision requirements. This car, based on the Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Cabriolet, is fitted with a plexiglass dome roof in place of a windscreen and soft top - all-round vision guaranteed!
Quickies
- The Australian suspension design software SusProg3D Version 4.00 has many new and improved features, including the capability of working with a rear live axle located laterally by either a Watt Link or Panhard Rod. The free SusProg3d V4.00 evaluation program can be down loaded from http://byoung.mtx.net/ or posted out on request.
- The new Rover 75, launched in Australia on 3 March 2001 with a single-day one million dollar advertising spend, has notched an impressive 123 sales in its first month.
- Even having reached a speed of over 520 km/h while covering the standing quarter-mile in just 4.61 seconds wasn't quite enough to bring Sydney drag racer Andrew Cowin his first professional victory in the United States recently. The 21-year-old Sydney racer reached his second career final round at the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, the fifth round of the US$50 million series, and ran his quickest pass of the event only to lose to five-time world champion Kenny Bernstein's 4.53 second/525 km/h run.
- Enthusiasts wanting to track this week's competition debut of Mazda's first-off-the-line MX-5 'SP' will be able to follow its progress on-line at www.mazda.com.au. The turbocharged MX-5 will compete in Targa Tasmania starting Wednesday April 18 with experienced test and rally driver Murray Coote at the wheel and Anthony McLoughlin as navigator. Progress reports and pictures of the MX-5 SP and a naturally-aspirated stable-mate, driven by Michael Taylor and navigated by Lyndall Drake, will be posted on the Mazda Australia website daily during the event.
- Firestone has launched in the US what is believed to be the tyre industry's biggest ever advertising campaign to try to rebuild brand loyalty after the recall of six million suspect casings linked to failures and 176 fatal accidents in the US alone.
- Alfa Romeo has confirmed that the Alfa Romeo Spider V6 will be launched in Australia in time for next summer. Already praised in Europe for providing the Alfa Spider with not just outstanding performance, but a generous and melodic sound track to accompany open air driving, the Alfa 160kW V6 engine endows the Spider with a top speed of 223 km/h and it slashes the zero to 100 km/h time to just 6.8 seconds. Like the Alfa Romeo GTV V6, a six speed manual gearbox is standard.
- Audi of America will partner with OnStar to bring telematics services to their customers beginning with the redesigned Audi A4 later this year. "Audi Telematics by OnStar" will offer customers a variety of safety, security and convenience features, such as automatic notification of air-bag deployment, remote door lock/unlock, stolen vehicle tracking, route guidance and concierge services. In addition, Audi owners will be able to retrieve personalized Internet-based information like e-mail and news reports through OnStar Virtual Advisor, or make hands-free cellular phone calls via OnStar Personal Calling.
- More than 400 Impreza WRX drivers have so far subscribed to the 2001 Impreza WRX Festival, which takes place in Canberra from 4-6 May, coinciding with the Subaru Rally of Canberra. Information regarding the Impreza WRX Festival and booking forms are available from Anne Kampus, Subaru Australia, on (02) 9828 9111. Details are also available on the web site www.subaru.com.au/wrxfestival
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