MALAYSIAN RAINFOREST CHALLENGE 2008

For this year’s Malaysian Rainforest Challenge (RFC) - internationally known as one of the world’s toughest 4x4 off-road adventure events – the Toyota Hilux will serve as support vehicle. Four units have been specially prepared by UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) for the event which will be held in Terengganu from December 5 - 14 2008.

UMWT was unhesitant about providing the Hilux since its toughness has long been proven and the RFC would showcase the vehicle’s capabilities in extreme conditions which are likely to include floods and muddy tracks if current weather conditions are an indication.

“The history of the Hilux has been a story of continuous development based on customer’s needs all over the world. It has become a legendary and trusted 4x4 vehicle in the global market,” said UMWT’s MD, Kuah Kock Heng.

Mr Kuah added: “Given such a reputation, we truly believe that our tough and reliable Toyota is up to the mark and can withstand extreme conditions that it will encounter during the Rainforest Challenge. Being the support vehicles mean that the Hilux will be used extensively on the rough terrain to support the participating teams and must be reliable enough to do the job.”

The reputation for toughness and reliability has made the Hilux a highly respected product for those whose businesses require a tough ‘business partner’. As of September 2008, UMWT has sold more than 60,000 units of the Hilux, capturing 45% market share of its segment and a clear leader in the pick-up segment.

The four units of Hilux UMWT is providing are the 2.5D STD 4x4 Manual version. No modifications have been done to the D-4D 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine with Common Rail Direct Injection system which produces 75 kW/102 ps of power at 3600 rpm and 260 Nm of torque at 1600 rpm. However, additional parts and equipment necessary for the role that the vehicles will play have been installed, along with items that are mandatory for off-road driving.

For more info....here

MIVEC

MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system) is the brand name of a variable valve timing engine technology developed by Mitsubishi Motors. MIVEC, as with other similar systems, varies the timing, lift and duration of the valves by using two different camshaft profiles. At low speeds, a mild (low-lift) cam lobe provides stable idle, lower emissions and increased torque at lower speeds, while above a fixed engine speed a second set of cam lobes are activated, providing higher lift and duration; therefore a greater quantity of air into the combustion chamber which increases the power and torque output over a broad engine speed range.

MIVEC was first introduced in 1992 in their 4G92 powerplant, a 1,597 cc naturally aspirated DOHC 16 valve straight-4. At the time, the first generation of the system was named Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing and lift Electronic Control. The first cars to use this were the Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback and the Mitsubishi Lancer sedan. While the conventional 4G92 engine provided 145 PS at 7000 rpm, the MIVEC-equipped engine could achieve 175 PS at 7500 rpm. Similar improvements were seen when the technology was applied to the 1994 Mitsubishi FTO, whose top-spec GPX variant had a 6A12 1997 cc DOHC 24 valve V6 with peak power of 200 PS at 7500 rpm.The GR model, whose otherwise identical powerplant was not MIVEC-equipped, produced 170 PS at 7000 rpm by comparison.

Although initially designed to enhance performance, the system has subsequently been developed to improve economy and emissions, and has been introduced across Mitsubishi's range of vehicles, from the i kei car to the high-performance Lancer Evolution sedan.

MORE...here

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NISSAN RB ENGINES

The RB engine is a 2.0L to 3.0L straight-6 four-stroke gasoline engine from Nissan.

Both SOHC and DOHC versions have an aluminum head. The SOHC versions have 2 valves per cylinder and the DOHC versions have 4 valves per cylinder, all cam lobes move only one valve. All RB engines have belt driven cams and a cast iron block. All turbo models have an intercooled turbo (except the single cam RB20ET & RB30ET engines), and most have a recirculating factory blow off valve (except when fitted to Laurels and Cefiros) to reduce boost surge when the throttle is closed.

Some sources indicate the 'RB' name stands for 'Race Bred', although this is disputed. The Nissan RB Engine is derived from the 6 cylinder Nissan L20A engine which has the same bore and stroke.

All Nissan engines follow a naming convention, identifying the engine family (in this case, RB), displacement, and features present- see the list of Nissan engines for detail.

The stock dimensions for the RB engines;

• RB20 - 2.0 L (1998 cc, bore: 78.0 mm, stroke: 69.7 mm)
• RB24 - 2.4 L (2428 cc, bore: 86.0 mm, stroke: 69.7 mm)
• RB25 - 2.5 L (2498 cc, bore: 86.0 mm, stroke: 71.7 mm)
• RB26 - 2.6 L (2568 cc, bore: 86.0 mm, stroke: 73.7 mm)
• RB30 - 3.0 L (2982 cc, bore: 86.0 mm, stroke: 85.0 mm)
• "D" indicates a double overhead cam as opposed to a single overhead cam
• "E" indicates the engine is electronically fuel-injected as opposed to carbureted
• "T" indicates the engine has a factory installed turbocharger
• "TT" indicates the engine has a factory twin turbocharger

MORE...here

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EXEDY PERFOMANCE CLUTCH

FIM SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

FIM Superbike World Championship - Vallelunga

Following two years of successful collaboration, with record spectator attendance at the Autodromo di Vallelunga – Piero Taruffi, the contractual agreement between FGSPORT and the SOCIETA’ VALLELUNGA SBK has been terminated.

The FGSPORT group and ACI VALLELUNGA spa have over the years set up an efficient partnership of collaboration and a rapport that has seen a total sharing of organizational and strategic matters. The rapport between the two parties will continue in the certainty that in the not too distant future, they will once again collaborate in important new challenges at the Vallelunga circuit.

This therefore is not a goodbye to the Rome public, but only an “arrivederci”.

GP2 ASIA SERIES

KAMUI KOBAYASHI TAKES POLE IN DUBAI

The Japanese ace got his revenge: seeking pole position in Shanghai and failing, he brilliantly managed to be the quickest man of the day, securing the top spot of the grid for tomorrow’s feature race of the second round of the GP2 Asia Series. He delivered his best performance with only two minutes left on the clock.

In a trouble-free session and a cleaner track than during Free Practice, Kobayashi signed the fastest laptime ahead of countryman Sakon Yamamoto at the wheel of his ART car. Vitaly Petrov completed the top 3 – an all Asian driver top finishers, but the Russian from Campos was quite disappointed coming out of his car as he was really aiming for pole. However, traffic and a clash with van Der Drift in his final lap meant that Petrov never had the opportunity to show the true potential of his machine.

The championship leader, Roldan Rodriguez at Piquet GP secured the second row, clocking the fourth quickest laptime, ahead of Shanghai sprint race winner Davide Valsecchi at Durango. Yelmer Buurman brought another great result to newcomers Ocean Racing Technology, finishing 6th, ahead of rookie van der Garde at GFH Team iSport.

Earlier in the session, Diego Nunes looked like a real poleman contender, but he eventually placed his Piquet GP car in eighth place ahead of another rookie, Sergio Perez, on the second Campos car. Dams’ d’Ambrosio completed the Top 10. The first twelve cars finished in the same second.

	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1.	Kamui Kobayashi	Dams	1:41.091	13
2.	Sakon Yamamoto	ART Grand Prix	1:41.275	12
3.	Vitaly Petrov	Barwa Int. Campos Team	1:41.341	13
4.	Roldan Rodriguez	Piquet GP	1:41.376	15
5.	Davide Valsecchi	Durango	1:41.472	15
6.	Yelmer Buurman	Ocean Racing Technology	1:41.550	14
7.	Giedo Van der Garde	GFH Team iSport	1:41.557	15
8.	Diego Nunes	Piquet GP	1:41.593	15
9.	Sergio Perez	Barwa Int. Campos Team	1:41.768	15
10.	Jérôme d’Ambrosio	Dams	1:41.777	14
11.	Andreas Zuber	Fisichella Motor Sport Int.	1:41.798	14
12.	Pastor Maldonado	ART Grand Prix	1:41.838	13
13.	Renger van der Zande	Trust Team Arden	1:42.054	15
14.	Javier Villa	Super Nova Racing	1:42.062	13
15.	James Jakes	Super Nova Racing	1:42.066	15
16.	Earl Bamber	MY Qi-Meritus.Mahara	1:42.068	15
17.	Luiz Razia	Trust Team Arden	1:42.204	14
18.	Giacomo Ricci	DPR	1:42.351	14
19.	Hamad Al Fardan	GFH Teal iSport	1:42.367	15
20	Alberto Valerio	Trident Racing	1:42.541	15
21.	Alex Yoong	MY Qi-Meritus.Mahara	1:43.026	14
22.	Michael Herck	DPR	1:43.102	14
23.	Fabrizio Crestani	Ocean Racing Technology	1:43.316	14
24.	Chris van Der Drift	Trident Racing	1:43.393	15
25	Michael Dalle Stelle	Durango	1:45.603	15
26	Kevin Nai Chia Chen	Fisichella Motor Sport Int.	1:48.411	16

1.8L HONDA CITY

The Honda City has been unveiled in China by Guangzhou Honda at the 2008 Guangzhou Motor Show, but it will only make a showroom debut with official prices on the 12th of December 2008.

What’s most interesting is in the Chinese market, the City will come with two engine options. One is the new 1.5 liter i-VTEC that we’re also going to get, but the other engine option is the R-series 1.8 liter SOHC i-VTEC from the Civic 1.8.

A lightweight Honda City equipped with a 140 horsepower 1.8 liter engine could be loads of fun. China always gets special deals such as this, for example the current generation Toyota Vios sold in China is equipped with a 1.6 liter Dual VVT-i engine while the rest of the world have to make do with the 1.5 liter 1NZ-FE family engine.

I’m not sure if this is what Guangzhou Honda meant by developing a Civic competitor (the Civic is sold by another Honda-linked company in China).

A previous report said a 1.8 liter engine was going to be plonked into the City to create a C-segment competitor, but an engineer quoted in the report also mentioned that the new 1.8 liter City-based car would have Civic proportions and a new name and shape.

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This is a good news! For Chinesse in China to be exact. China gettings a lot of special offer due to the non heavy duty tax for car policy. This is good for them. They bring more various kind of cars, they bring in technology, they made profits, and people are happy. But it's a no no in Malaysia. Perhaps this 1.8L City will be in our shore but maybe, the price tag willl be the issues. But can you imagine 1.8L engine in a Honda City. That's huge. Power vs Weight Ratio can brings a lot of different. We still waiting for this new Honda City to be launched and I think we will be the last country to receive them. At the moment, let's save some money if you think you're interested with the City's. Rumours said the price tag will be up to 90k. Hemmmm...Better buy second hand Civic if the rumours are true. Well, in Malaysia 90% of rumours can be facts. LOL.

HONDA GENUINE PRODUCTS

Premium engine oil special offer by Honda Malaysia. They give 20% off for every purchase of 4 and 5 liters synthetic lubricant. Promotions are valid from 5th Nov until 15th Dec 2008. And also you'll receive a free windscreen washer.

For other genuine Honda products, log on to Honda Malaysia for more info.

ALONSO THREATENS TO QUIT F1

Fernando Alonso has said he will consider leaving formula one if the sport enforces standard engines from 2010.

The FIA proposal has been highly controversial, particularly among F1's car manufacturers, who have hinted the move might be reason enough to withdraw from the grid.

Former double world champion Alonso, who drives for Renault, agrees with their logic.

"If they approve a single engine, that would be the last straw. It would be time to start thinking about retirement," the 27-year-old said at a team sponsor event in Spain.

Alonso said standardising parts like engines would be another "backwards step" for formula one.

He said the last V10 engines with nearly 1000 horse power, before the sport reverted to the current V8s, were "exciting for the drivers -- auto racing at its limit.

"We've gone from a glimpse of the future to cars without electronic aids and no grip (and) which are a visual image of the past."

SOURCE

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I'm not sure the relevancy of FIA proposal. For me, the FIA just playing stupid. What's the point of downgrading the car? They should improve. If the safety are their concern, propose something that suiting the issue. They can ask for better aerodynamics, better cockpit or what ever that may provide safety for pilots. But not downgrading the engine. Remember F1 turbo car or the mighty V12? That should be the proper engine for F1. Not V8. It's just rubbish. Better watch A1 if things gone like this for every season. A proper race that doesn't concern profits. A pure race. That's what the fans want. Hopefully, no more stupid proposal and bias decision by the FIA.

SEPANG TRACK DAY DISEMBER 2008 EDISI RAYA

nadi0 @ flickr

Siapa yang terasa nak berhari raya di track? Hari Isnin depan, 8hb Disember 2008 akan diadakan track day di SIC. Jadi lepas sembahyang sunat Aidil Adha, boleh la beramai-ramai ke SIC. bermula pada pukul 2 petang hingga 5 petang dan bayaran seperti biasa, RM 200 sepanjang sesi. Bagi yang rasa nak test power motorsikal masing-masing pulak, 13 - 14hb disember ni juga di SIC. 13hb untuk motorsikal bawah 400cc dan 14hb akan ada dua sesi untuk atas 400cc. Untuk tahun ni, ini track day yang terakhir sebelum SIC buka buku tiga lima diorang untuk tahun depan pula. Jadi sape2 yang nak berminat, boleh log on ke SIC Track Day.

CGAtlan @ flickr