Mitsubishi Motors and Smart gmbh have signed an agreement where Mitsubishi will supply its next generation normally aspirated and turbocharged small-capacity engines to smart to be used in the successor to the Smart Fortwo model due in 2007.

This same engine will be used in the Mitsubishi i minicar. The Mitsubishi i will be available in January 2006. The engines will be produced at Mitsubishi’s engine plant in Mizushima. According to spec sheets of the concept, it’s powered by a 3-cylinder turbocharged MIVEC engine, so likely that and a normally aspirated version would be supplied to smart.

This deal will help ailing Mitsubishi Motors Corporation realize better economies of scale for the new minicar engine series, lowering costs per unit.

Source

Sorry for the hiatus.

I have been busy with my car. My Proton Satria 1.6 went through a ‘heart surgery’ after overheating problems screwed up the engine head. Something happened to the radiator fan while the car was running in a parking lot. The radiator fan did not spin, so the engine overheated. Ever since, the engine had been burning up lubricant and the radiator wasn’t doing it’s job. Top gasket gone case.

I had it’s 4G92P block and head replaced with a 4G93 single cam. It was a pretty cheap conversion, less than RM2000. The 4G93 SOHC makes much less horsepower than the 4G93 DOHC found in the Putra and Satria GTi but it’s torque was nearly the same, and comes in at a much lower RPM, common trait for a single cam engine. I figured that would be better for the traffic jam and city driving that I always go through, plus it was much cheaper as the engine was not really in demand.

I re-used my 1.6 injectors and ECU in the beginning but discovered the air fuel ratio was too lean. Not enough fuel getting into the combustion chamber so it was knocking whenever I pushed the accelerator pedal more than quarter depth.

Had the 1.6 injectors which were 180cc swapped with 1.8 SOHC injectors which are 210cc. Seems the 4G91 DOHC which is a 1.5 engine and the 4G93 SOHC has the same size 210cc injectors. I heard the 4G93 DOHC uses 240cc injectors.

It was a bit better but knocking was still present. I’m currently deciding whether to go for an ECU rechip flashed to 4G93 SOHC fuel mapping or go for a piggyback engine management solution.

Looks like Karamjit’s plight had reached the cabinet, thanks mostly to Malay Mail’s efforts. Our PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi raised the matter of Karamjit Singh’s lack of sponsorship to continue rallying at the cabinet on Wednesday. He asked, “If Karamjit is a Malaysian and has been producing results and bringing honour to the country, why has support not been accorded to him?”

Karamjit was slapped a RM46,000 (10,000 Euro) fine by FIA after he pulled out of the World Rally Championship due to lack of funds to run the races. He also needs RM57,000 to ship his car back from New Zealand. He is currently in the process of finalising the sale of his apartment to pay for the fine and the transport fees if there are no sponsors in the next few days.

Karamjit said he is touched by offers to set up funds to raise money for him to race, but he will not use public or Sports Ministry funds to race as he believes there are enough big corporations in Malaysia who can sponsor him. Otherwise, he will race for another country next year.

Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said said that the government will do whatever they can to assist. She mentioned there are several possibilities to help Karamjit continue racing and those options are being explored before a decision will be made.

Sources: Malay Mail 1, 2, 3

Related blog posts:
Why can’t Karamjit Singh secure sponsorship?
Karamjit will not be able to defend APRC title

Toyota has launched an updated version of the Toyota Corolla hatch in the place where everyone loves hatches - Europe.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota Corolla Compressor

Toyota Motor Corp Katsuaki Watanabe said Toyota may consider setting up hybrid vehicle plants somewhere in the ASEAN region if there is sufficient demand for hybrid vehicles in the region.

Although Toyota already has a big presence in the Thai automotive industry, it could also choose Malaysia as it’s hybrid manufacturing hub. Watanabe said it depends on where the demand is coming from. There are no immediately plans, and hybrid vehicle manufacturing requires sophisticated machines.

Toyota plans accumulated sales of 1 million hybrid vehicles, running on the road by 2010. It is already half way there, with sales of 470,000 so far since the introduction of the Toyota Prius in 1997.

Source: StarBiz

Oriental Hyundai, the distributor of Hyundai’s CKD Accent, Elantra and Sonata models in Malaysia has launched a new hatchback Hyundai Accent today.

Click here to read the rest of New Hyundai Accent 5-door Hatchback

Patent filings have given us clues on Ferrari’s new four wheel drive system for front engine models like the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (picture shown above) and Maserati’s Quattroporte and Coupe models.

The four wheel drive system employs a CV joint and oil bath clutch which sends power to the front wheels when needed in poor traction conditions. The system sends power to the front wheels on third gear, which is when skids are likely to happen. In gears higher than third, front wheel traction is limited to 20-30 second bursts to prevent overheating of the system.

Still no clue to whether there will be a Ferrari SUV.

Source

Sime Darby is determined to take full advantage of the incentives the government has given in the new National Automotive Policy. The National Automotive Policy’s new incentives encourages foreign automakers to assemble their vehicles here in Malaysias, thus turning Malaysia into an automotive assembly and distribution hub for the ASEAN region.

Click here to read the rest of Sime Darby’s NAP plans

Suzuki Forenza

Forbes has posted it’s list of 2006’s least safe cars on the American roads.

Click here to read the rest of Forbes Least-Safe Cars 2006

You have to give it to the boys at Volvo. They’ve turned the marque from making boring boxy cars to sweet Swedish beauties. I’ve always considered the XC90 to be one of the nicest looking SUVs around. Volvo also has a cult following, comprised mainly of owners who value safety and the little thoughtful considerations which Volvo cars have that make your daily commuting alot more comfortable.

Volvo is now developing an XC50 cross-over small SUV to compete with the likes of the BMW X3 and it’s own sister Land Rover Freelander. This is the third member of the Volvo Cross Country (XC) lineup since the XC70 and the XC90. The Volvo XC50 will be built on the C1+ platform which is also used by the Land Rover Freelander.

Expect the 2007 Volvo XC50 to debut in mid-2006.