German Bodies
A picture's worth a thousand words so without further ado, we'll let you take a look at these new body kits from MS-Design Autotuning GmbH:
For more details:
MS-Design Autotuning GmbH, MS-Design Str. 1, A-6426 Roppen
Tel +43 (0)5417 6363 121
Fax +43 (0)5417 6363 550
laia-pinol@ms-design.at
Piper Bits
Piper Cams has just released a range of vernier pulleys for the Ford Focus 16v engine, available at £140 plus shipping, per pair. Vernier pulleys enable engine timing to be set precisely, and are recommended for all applications from fast road up to full race. The pulleys are available in red, blue or hard anodised grey.
Also from Piper comes new VW VR6 cams. The camshafts start at £380 + shipping per pair and are available on blanks of whatever specification the customer requires. The Fast Road version should produce a gain of "at least" 15hp. All specifications from fast road up to full race are available. For further details call Piper on (+44) 1233 500200 www.pipercams.co.uk
Sports Toyotas
Toyota Australia has launched an all-new sports brand, Sportivo, and unveiled two purpose-built sporty small cars. The new models are the 1.5 litre Echo hatchback and Toyota's first turbocharged Corolla. Corolla Sportivo and Echo Sportivo offer increased performance, safety and comfort, coupled with unique exterior and interior features.
The turbocharged Corolla Sportivo is a limited edition Corolla liftback. Only 100 will be built for sale in Australia, all with manual transmission and Aztec Gold (metallic gold) paint. It has a recommended retail price of $37,990. The addition of a turbocharger makes Corolla Sportivo the most powerful Corolla ever sold in Australia. The turbocharged 1.8 litre Twin Cam Multi-valve engine delivers 115kW of power at a very low 5600 rpm and 237Nm of torque at 3600 rpm. Corolla Sportivo's driveline and brakes have been strengthened to complement its increased performance. Chassis developments include revised spring rates, low-profile 195/50 R15 Bridgestone tyres and "Corsica" 15-inch alloy wheels. Corolla Sportivo has dual SRS airbag and ABS brakes as standard equipment. In addition, Corolla Turbo has a unique full-width front spoiler, side skirts and risers for the rear spoiler.
Echo Sportivo is available as a three-door or five-door hatchback - both with 80kW VVTi-equipped engine. Five-speed manual transmission and power steering are standard. Prices start from $19,990 for the three-door model. Echo Sportivo's VVTi-equipped engine delivers 80kW of power at 6000 rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4200 rpm. Echo Sportivo is highly specified inside and out. It has sports front seats, CD/tuner with four speakers, leather steering wheel with metallic finish on the spokes, leather and chrome gearshift knob, grey metallic finish on the door handles and heater controls, carbon-fibre look switch plates, metallic scuff plates on the door sills and a driver's left foot rest. Power functions include remote central locking, front power windows and power mirrors. Exterior features include sports front and rear bumpers, a sports mesh radiator grille, front foglamps, blackout headlamps surrounds, a chrome tailpipe extension and 14-inch alloy wheels.
Nations Cup, Gt Production, V8 Utes TV Coverage
Fans of two of Australia¹s most popular motorsport competitions, the Nations Cup and Australian GT Production Car Championship, will be able to enjoy significantly increased national television coverage of races in the 2001 season. The Nations Cup and Australian GT Production Car Championship (GTP) plus the exciting new V8 Ute series, all organised by PROCAR Australia Pty Ltd, will feature in a total of 50.5 hours' programming on Network Ten and Fox Sports. Ten's commitment will include a two-hour live telecast of the country's most prestigious annual race for standard passenger cars, the GTP Showroom Showdown at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, on Saturday 6 October. The television deals cover a much-expanded racing calendar for the PROCAR categories, which will see up to 100 cars compete in 30 championship rounds and three non-championship events at 14 tracks around the country. The Nations Cup showcases the world's great sporting marques such as Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini and Viper, while GTP features unmodified, high-volume models such as Ford, Holden and Honda. The V8 Ute series will pit the latest Commodore and Falcon utes.
Quickies
- Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen, co-driven by Risto Mannisenmaki, powered his Lancer Evolution to victory today in the closing kilometres of a thrilling Rallye de Portugal. In doing so, the Finn notches up his 22nd win in 100 World Championship rallies, and Mitsubishi reaches a landmark of 25 victories with the Lancer Evolution/Carisma GT.
- Next month's Targa Tasmania will play a key role in the development program for Mazda's upcoming turbocharged MX-5 sports car. The event has been earmarked to accelerate the progress of the critically-acclaimed convertible's more powerful stablemate, due on the Australian market this year. The responsibility for driving the car has been given to former Australian Rally champion Murray Coote. Coote, who won the ARC in an all-wheel-drive turbo-charged 323 in 1988, is a highly-rated test driver with long ties to Mazda, having raced and rallied 626 and 323 models since 1980. His suspension systems sit beneath most of Australia's leading rally cars and he also designs and develops the suspension systems for Glenn Seton's racing outfit.
- Subaru has launched its second special edition Forester for the year, this time the mid-range Forester Limited. The Forester Limited Special Edition adds several extra features: set-and-forget climate control air conditioning, plus a six-stack in-dash CD with AM/FM radio cassette, alloy wheels and front fog lamps. It is available in deep blue mica and royal silver metallic.
- Subaru will host the second annual Impreza WRX Festival as part of its sponsorship of the Subaru Rally of Canberra, from 4-6 May. As the new naming rights sponsor for the rally in 2001, Subaru is confident of drawing hundreds more Impreza WRX owners to Canberra this year. Last year's inaugural festival attracted more than 500 fans of Subaru's ever-popular turbo performance car. They brought over 200 Impreza WRXs, believed to be the world's largest-ever gathering of the type. Information regarding the Impreza WRX Festival and booking forms are available from Anne Kampus, Subaru Australia, on (02) 9828 9111. Details will also be lodged on the web site www.subaru.com.au
- Alfa Romeo has narrowly beaten the latest drop in the Australian dollar with a delivery of 100 Alfa 156 Monzas arriving hours before the Australian dollar took its most recent plunge in value. "There can now be little doubt that these 100 Alfa Romeo 156 Monzas will be last cars with this specification," says Kevin Wall, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia.
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