Performance News - 27 March 2001

Superchip for BMW M5 E39

UK company Superchips has developed a chip for the BMW M5 E39 with the V8 engine. This is said to increase the power to 315kW at 6862 rpm and the torque to 386lb ft at 3304rpm. The conversion uses serial programming to overwrite the original chip with the Superchips program, with the old program safely stored on a Customer Key electronic card should you ever need it again. In addition to the power gains seen on the M5, Superchips also raise the rev limit and remove the 250 km/h speed limiter. Superchips offer a money-back guarantee for the more skeptical - on top of a lifetime guarantee.

The same company has also developed a chip for the new Audi RS4. This conversion will increase the power to 305kW at 6829 rpm and the torque to 425lb ft at 3345 rpm.

The Australian Superchips dealer is www.powerchip.com.au

Quickies

• Saab is embarking on a new customer strategy with the opening of the pilot Saab City Centre in Berlin - the first of 100 exclusive Saab City Centres planned for key international cities throughout the world.

• Three very different cars have taken the battle for outright honours down to the wire in the final stages of NSW's only tarmac, special-stage, classic car rally. In the end it was Peter Landan and Warwick Thomas in their 1965 Lotus Elan who took victory in the 2001 Drive Safely East Coast Classic, over last year's second place-getters, Bryan and Nick Taylor in their 1969 Porsche 911T. The 1972 Mazda RX3 of Brett Moffatt and Chris Walker was third. Only 11 seconds separated the three.

• Peugeot Concessionaires Australia has announced the addition of three new dealerships to the national franchise network, bringing the total number of retail operations to 34. The opening of the new dealerships is part of Peugeot's plan to increase its market presence in Australia from 2,712 sales last year to over 8,500 vehicles by 2005. The three dealerships will officially commence operation as authorised Peugeot sales and service outlets from April 01, 2001. Two dealerships will open in Sydney with the third commencing operation in Melbourne. The addition of Alec Mildren Peugeot, located at Artarmon, and Trivett Classic Peugeot at Arncliffe brings the number of Sydney outlets to five. Bayford Peugeot, opening in the northern Melbourne suburb of Fairfield, will also lift the number of dealers in that city to five.

• Dealer to dealer wholesales in Australia are on the verge of a revolution with the announcement that carsales.com.au Limited, is about to launch the country's first national listing of used cars available for wholesale. To be added to carsales' existing 'Autogate' portal, carsales Trade will list vehicles available for wholesale from licensed motor dealers right across Australia. Up to 1000 dealer points already utilise carsales for retail business, and the move is expected to significantly cut the cost of used vehicle acquisition and disposal for the industry, inevitably raising dealer profitability while reducing consumer costs.

• Peugeot's popular 406 range will be enhanced with the return of the 406 wagon and the introduction of an automatic transmission to 406 diesel models. The 406 wagon, due for release mid-year, will be available in two variants, ST and SV. The ST will feature Peugeot's top-selling 2-litre turbo diesel (HDi) engine whilst the SV will come with a naturally aspirated 157kW 3-litre V6. An automatic transmission will be standard on the SV. Standard features across the 406 wagon range will include dual SRS airbags, side airbags, engine immobiliser, climate control air-conditioning, power windows, and automatic rain-sensing wipers. Pricing for the wagon will start from $45,000 for the 406 ST HDi (manual). For the first time in Australia, the 406 diesel models will be available with an automatic transmission. The new transmission will be a $2,000 option in the sedan, while the wagon will be priced $1,170 above manual versions. Both will be released mid-year.

• Chung Ju-Yung, one of Korea's leading industrialists and founder of the Hyundai conglomerate - until recently Korea's largest private enterprise entity, which included Korea's major automotive manufacturer HMC (Hyundai Motor Company) - has died, aged 85.

• Honda Motor Co and Catalytic Solutions Inc (CSI) have developed a new emissions control system that greatly minimises the use of costly precious metals while reducing emissions to 50 per cent lower than 2000 Japanese government levels. The emission control technology uses perovskites and other metal oxides, allowing a 50 to 70 per cent reduction in the use of precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium. Founded in 1996, CSI has focused on the development of advanced materials technologies and their applications to catalysts. Honda is a 10 per cent stakeholder in the California-based company. Honda has been evaluating the technology with CSI since 1999 and plans to use the technology for the first time on a new Honda StepWGN model to be launched in Japan in April. The technology will be later applied to other Honda models around the world. CSI developed the new catalytic coating materials used in the perovskite three-way catalyst. These materials include unique crystal structures that convert and reduce oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. The two companies worked together to optimise the technology for Honda's automotive catalysts, based on Honda's air/fuel ratio control and early catalytic activation capabilities.

• Buying driver training online is the latest innovation from Jim Murcott's Advanced Driving Centre. Drivers wanting to improve their emergency handling/car control skills, protective driving techniques or who simply want to be a better driver are now able to browse and shop at the new website. www.murcott.com.au

• Australia's unique new racing series for V8 utes is on schedule for a spectacular debut at the Clipsal 500 meeting in Adelaide on 5-8 April. Organiser of the V8 BRUTE series, PROCAR Australia, is confident five Holden Commodore SS utes and five Ford Falcon XR8 Pursuits will be constructed in time for three pre-season demonstration races on the Adelaide city street circuit. The six-round national championship, which launches on 5-6 May at Wakefield Park, near Goulburn, will be contested by up to 20 utes. The V8 BRUTES are being built in Brisbane to identical "control" specifications, but work has been slowed by short supply of the utes, which are in high demand in new-car showrooms. Constructor and test driver Wayne Park has six utes almost complete in his workshop, with four more expected from dealers over the next week, although further work is needed to ensure the Falcons and Commodores hit the track with equal performance.

• The Fiat Punto has overhauled the Volkswagen Golf to claim the Number One in Europe crown for the first two months of 2001.

• Jaguar's new, all-wheel drive compact sports saloon, the X-TYPE will be displayed at Adelaide Motor Show next week, in only its second appearance in Australia.