VRX-tra
From this month, all VRX Magnas will be fitted with 17 x 7 alloy wheels, and shod with 225/50R17 Bridgestone Grid II tyres as standard equipment. In common with the VRX, Mitsubishi's Magna Sports will also receive some style enhancing improvements. Both models will now feature black brake calipers front and rear, black interior door handles and a black insert on the exterior door handles. Higher rate springs, revised shock absorbers and a new front sway bar contribute to even better handling.
Both vehicles share the powerful 3.5 litre petrol V6 engine that develops 163kW of power.
Available for a limited time is the luxurious Limited Edition Leather pack. The seats are trimmed with a unique combination of leather and black "sports" fabric. Two striking combinations are on offer. Black with red leather and black with blue leather, the combination meter dials are colour matched to the seat leather. The centre console features a unique silver finish along with the two-tone leather covered sports steering wheel. The audio system features a premium eight speaker stereo system which features an in-dash 4-CD stacker, cassette and power radio antenna. Optional on the Limited Edition Leather pack is an electric tilt-slide sunroof, which adds to the feel good factor of this vehicle. The sunroof option comes with front map lights and courtesy lights in the 'C' pillar.
The Limited Edition Leather pack adds $1,750 to the base price of the VRX, while the sunroof adds a further $1,750.
CAMS Institute Of Road Safety
A major initiative in road safety designed to help reduce Australia's road toll was announced last week. Developed by CAMS, the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport, it is uniquely the first program of a truly national scale and the first to combat the mindset behind the ignorance and dangerous behaviour seen on our roads every day.
The CAMS Institute will employ constant research to ensure that instruction is tailored to the specific needs of each group of participants. While young students will be a priority, habitual offenders who were earlier products of the "cottage industry" form of driver education will also be a focus of the program, as Australia cannot wait 30 years for today's new drivers to lift the standard.
Some of the most significant companies in the world are supporting the CAMS Institute of Road Safety, as the initiative is named, with major investments; Mercedes-Benz as partner and vehicle provider, with Mobil Oil, Bridgestone Tyres, Qantas and Toll Transport as associates.
The official announcement was at Sandown International Raceway where the techniques that may save lives were demonstrated, including a remarkable Mercedes-Benz skid simulator vehicle that allows participants to experience, in total safety, extreme conditions that they might experience on the road. This is an important step in minimizing Australia's road toll. It is planned that the CAMS Institute will work with road safety agencies, the police, educational institutions and governments in a long-term program to help reduce the tragedy that is seen daily on Australian roads.
DIY Shop Products
The AutoSpeed shop has introduced some new DIY components.
The Variable Volume Buzzer makes a piercing high-pitched scream, but by turning the adjustment louvre built into the top of the buzzer, its loudness can be varied down to a quiet warning note. It is 50mm in diameter and 35mm high, with two mounting lugs placed on the base at 60mm centres. It is suitable for all automotive alarm and warning functions, including a headlight 'on' alarm, low oil pressure warning, over-boost alert or reversing alarm. It is priced at AUD$5.
Also now in stock is a high quality US-made diaphragm-operated pressure switch. The switch triggers at just 1 kPa (0.145 psi). Its body is made of glass-filled polyester and it has an operating temperature range of -40 to +120 degrees C. It has a maximum burst pressure of 25 psi and the switch has a life of 100 million cycles. It is 25mm square and 15mm thick, and its nipple accepts 3mm internal diameter hose. Suitable for automotive applications such as a boost light, boost-triggered intercooler water spray and boost-triggered water injection, the AutoSpeed shop has a limited number available at just AUD$12 each.
Finally, the shop now has stocks of a high quality US-made diaphragm-operated vacuum switch. This extremely sensitive device triggers at only 2.4 inches of water vacuum (0.09 psi)! Connections are by gold-plated solder lugs. It can be used to trigger a blocked airfilter alert, in the flow testing of intake systems, and for aerodynamic testing. The vacuum switch is priced at AUD$15 each. Vacuum switches of this sensitivity normally sell for over four times this.
Fourth Generation Chrysler Voyager
After more than 17 years and nine million versions sold, Chrysler has introduced an all-new Voyager. The new Voyager has sleeker, more sophisticated, refined styling, enhanced powertrains, improved ride and handling and a wide range of customer-friendly features.Compared to the previous Voyager, the new version offers more interior space, more refined handling and a stronger body structure with increased safety features.
The long list of "customer-friendly" features of the new Voyager includes:
- An industry-first powered opening tailgate.
- Powered, dual sliding doors, featuring an industry-first, inside-the-door motor.
- An industry-first power sliding door obstacle detection system when opening and closing.
- An industry-first removable, powered centre console.
- An MPV-first three-zone automatic temperature control system.
- A new 3.3-litre V6 engine with power and performance increased to 128 kW up from 116 kW.
- Side-impact air bags.
Voyager will be available in three equipment levels: SE, LX and Limited. Standard equipment on the entry level SE includes four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, power door locking, electrically operated front windows and rear quarter vents, power steering, dual front air bags and side-impact air bags for the front seats. Options on the SE version include removable centre console and three-zone automatic temperature control with odour/particulate air filter on LWB models, and a four-disc in-dash CD player.
The LX version adds extra equipment such as 16-inch alloy wheels, standard three-zone automatic temperature control with odour/particulate air filter, roof rack and overhead console with trip computer. Options on LX versions include power sliding side doors, leather seats and traction control.
Standard equipment on top-of-the-range Limited versions includes power sliding doors, powered and heated retractable door mirrors, leather seats with eight-way front-seat power adjustment and driver's seat memory feature (late introduction), steering wheel audio controls, traction control, headlamp washers, 10 Infinity speakers, load-levelling suspension with height control. The power liftgate is standard on Limited along with power sliding doors, the removable lockable centre console and a 10-stack CD player.
Honda New-Generation 1.3-Litre Engine
The Honda Motor Co has announced details of its latest i-series engine - a compact and lightweight 1.3-litre 4-cylinder engine - that uses intensive combustion to deliver ultra-high fuel efficiency, clean emissions and high power and torque throughout the rev range. The intensive combustion engine - with Dual and Sequential Ignition or i-DSI - has a power output of 63kW at 5700 rpm and maximum torque of 119Nm at 2800rpm. It is paired to Honda's newly-developed, lightweight and compact Multimatic S CVT transmission which helps it achieve world class petrol-powered fuel efficiency figures of 4.35 litres per 100km and 2010 fuel efficiency standards.
The i-DSI engine is equipped with two spark plugs in each of its newly-designed compact combustion chambers. The spark plugs are activated in a different order according to engine rpm and load, resulting in intelligent, dual-point, sequential ignition control for intensive fuel combustion throughout the rev range. Honda has arranged the two spark plugs per cylinder diagonally to accelerate flame propagation in the combustion chamber for rapid combustion of the air-fuel mixture and high output from minimal petrol. The intensive combustion throughout the rev range controls knocking and permits a considerably higher compression ratio. The new-generation engine is 8 per cent lighter and more compact than Honda's previous 1.3-litre engines, made possible by reducing the valve angles to create a smaller combustion chamber. The i-DSI engine also has a more compact air cleaner, a serpentine auxiliary drive system, a plastic intake manifold, stainless steel exhaust pipe and other innovations to reduce size and weight.
Honda Motor plans to install the new i-DSI engine in a new small car due to be unveiled in June.
Honda also announced plans to equip its Civic sold in Europe with a 1.7-litre Isuzu diesel engine, starting from November production. The newly-developed 74kW DOHC engine has been designed exclusively for the Civic and features a common rail high-pressure fuel injection system. The new diesel engine will be manufactured for Honda at Isuzu Motor's Polish plant as part of an agreement Honda signed with General Motors Corporation in December 1999. Under the agreement, Honda is to supply V6 ULEV engines and transmissions to General Motors and Isuzu to supply Honda with approximately 20,000 diesel engines for the European market, beginning later this year. Honda's diesel-powered Civic will be manufactured at its Swindon Plant in the United Kingdom. Honda is also developing a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine for its next-generation Accord due for European release in 2003. The engine - featuring an aluminium engine block - will be developed with technical support from Isuzu.
Holden Performance Driver Training Centre
Holden has taken charge of the Performance Driving Centre at Norwell in Queensland and is utilising its extensive facilities to provide skills training for a wide range of drivers.Located halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Holden Performance Driving Centre offers programs aimed primarily at educating drivers about their cars' capabilities and improving safe driving techniques. The Holden Performance Driving Centre at Norwell offers a variety of advanced courses designed to help improve driving techniques. Programs are conducted in Holden vehicles and are structured to suit various skill levels. They include an introduction to the key elements of approved driving techniques and general road safety issues, several more specialised certificate courses and a four-wheel drive course. Among other things, the certificate courses cover controlled braking, hazard perception, correct cornering paths, evasive manoeuvres, threshold braking, control of understeer and oversteer recovery.
The Holden Performance Driving Centre is a purpose-built driver training complex and is being used for road safety activities, corporate drive days, vehicle launches and special events with an automotive flavour. It occupies an eight-hectare site. Its features include a two-kilometre circuit, an irrigated 90-metre skid pan which simulates various 'out of control' situations, a vehicle turntable and a four-wheel drive circuit with simulated river and water crossings, ascent and descent sections.
A motorsport gallery at the Holden Performance Driving Centre houses a selection of racing cars, including the famous Peter Brock A9X Torana that won Bathurst by six laps and broke the Mt Panorama lap record - and Brock's last VS V8 Supercar.
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Australian engineer Les Christie has solved the age-old problem of how to easily recharge batteries on all types of motor vehicles - from cars to the largest equipment used in the construction and plant industry. Les developed his self-contained battery charger by coupling a heavy duty Bosch 55 Amp car alternator to a Honda 50cc motor. A specially designed bellhousing links the motor and the alternator in a total unit that weighs only 12kg. The result is a 12 volt, self-powered battery charger. The charger pumps out up to 55 Amps and in under five minutes puts enough charge into even the flattest battery to kick start an engine back to life. As the battery re-charges, the regulator reduces the amp output, removing the risk of excessive charging and possible damage. The compact 1.8kW four stroke Honda motor runs quietly without disturbing the environment, plus has the advantage that it only runs to re-charge a battery, not to power a camp for long periods. The electrical systems are protected against short circuits and overcharging and can be regulated to provide either a standard or fast rate of charge. The recommended retail price is $990 (inc GST).
christie_eng@optusnet.com.au
Quickies
- Fiat Auto (Thailand) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiat Auto S.p.A. of Italy, and General Motors (Thailand) Ltd. has announced an assembly contract agreement to manufacture the Alfa Romeo 156 at GM's facility in Rayong, Thailand.
- Honda Australia's new one-stop Honda EasyCover Insurance service is now available from dealerships around the country. Honda EasyCover Insurance offers three new services - Honda EasyCover Motor Vehicle Insurance, Shortfall and Loan Protection Insurance - to provide customers with complete and competitive premiums. Honda EasyCover Insurance uses a world first on-line system that allows Honda Dealers to arrange on-the-spot insurance cover for customers from a specially designed website, helping to minimise costs, time and paperwork. The on-line system has been designed by Insfin and is provided to Honda under license through Swann Insurance. Honda EasyCover Motor Vehicle Insurance offers customers competitive cover - under certain conditions, vehicles with less than 100,000km and up to three years old will be replaced in the case of a total loss compared to more common standards of 12 months. Policy holders are also guaranteed genuine Honda parts for vehicles up to eight years old and are not required to pay an excess if they are not at fault. Policy holders have the freedom to choose their own repairer.
- Citroën has now begun vehicle production in three of the world's largest countries - Russia, Brazil and Iran - with assembly of the Xsara Picasso compact MPV set to begin in a fourth, China.
- The spectacular Chrysler Vipers will return to the Megamantis.com Australian Nations Cup Championship ranks at the GMC400 meeting next month, boosting the entry list to 24 cars for round three on the Canberra street circuit. Viper regulars Rusty French, Geoff Morgan and D¹arcy Russell will field their powerful 10-cylinder coupes for the first time in full 2001 guise, with Le Mans-type GTS-R bodywork and Holinger sequential gearboxes. Reliability problems with the standard Viper roadgoing gearboxes kept the cars out of the season¹s first two rounds - although French had a highly successful run at the non-championship Australian Grand Prix.
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