DRIVING: that's what it's ALL ABOUT! A blog and website for automotive driving enthusiasts, featuring my interests as I see them: news and opinion about manufacturers of interest, significant enthusiast cars, and driving them hard and well.
Origin: A proverbial phrase. The origin is unknown but the phrase itself was known by the early 18th century. For example, this item from a work by John Arbuthnot, 1726: "It cannot rain but it pours; or London strow'd with rarities."
Troubles, in this case, in the form of leaks for for GM security to investigate.
Even more pictures became available on Camaro5.com late today - this time they are of the V-6 engine. It appears, although it's not confirmed yet, to be the direct-injected 3.6 liter DOHC VVT V-6. If not, it's the port-injected engine of the same displacement. This is the same one that attendees of GM's Camaro focus group event saw and drove this week to wide and universal acclaim.
One big question remains: does it have direct injection (DI)? The engine looks like the Caddy direct-injected version of this same basic engine, however it uses the throttle body from the non-DI Australian V-6. So what's my guess? I guess it uses DI, although I think it has probably been detuned to use regular gas and makes a bit less HP than the Caddy in order to keep the Caddy engine exclusive to Cadillac. We do know that in the next few years most of the current port-injected engines will move to direct injection, including all of GM's V-8 engines. Direct injection is one of those technologies that has it all: emissions, fuel economy, and performance. With talk of using the DI turbo 2 liter 4-cylinder engine in the Camaro, and with the successor to the LS3 using both direct injection and variable cam phasing, we could end up with direct injection across the board after the first few years of production.
In all of the early pictures that we've seen to date, let's review what we have and have not see.
First, what have we seen?
Assembly line bare body
Complete exterior: base V-6 and both entry V-8 and SS models
Complete dashboard, upper and lower consoles, radio.
Set of GM dealer installed accessories
Paint stripe which may be an "RS" or "SS" stripe, or a dealer installed accessory
Clear pictures of the V-6
Fuzzy pictures of the V-8 engine
Numerous spy pics of early test cars
Nurburgring video of the SS model (think red Brembos)
Sound tracks, both of Nurburgring and a test car in the hills
Size comparisons: Camaro next to a Sebring, Mustang, Charger, and 4-door Holden (which looks liek it has an identical wheelbase)
What haven't we seen? (yet)
Details of any of the presumably 2 V-8 engines
Chassis pictures showing the suspension pieces
Any model with a functional hood scoop (have been blank so far)
Colors, options, prices
There's still plenty of time this week to get the ones we haven't seen yet... what will come next?
Announced last year with the "entry-level" GSR, it's production for the North American market has been delayed by a long tuning process and by partner Getrag's issues with ramping up production for the new transmissions. Nonetheless, it has been in production for the Japan domestic market all along, and it's been tested extensively and reported to be absolutely phonomenal, with it's TC-SST uncannily shifting perfectly for any and all conditions - road or track.
The MR is loaded with technology, focusing on it's dual-clutch automated manual transmission and continuing to it's long list of equipment sourced from some of the most famous parts companies in the world: Getrag, BBS, Recaro, Brembo, Bilstein, and Eibach.
Rumors of the TC-SST running hot in track conditions have not been proven or disproven. I've been studying the dealer training manuals and repair manuals for the new transmisison and I've found that's equipped with an external air-to-oil cooler (the transmission has an internal pump) as well as a filter. It looks to me like an even bigger cooler could be added for track use, and that the fittings present for the existing cooler and could be reused. It'd be easy to plumb in a larger cooler, as well as a switch-operated cooling fan to force more cooling when airflow is low or when the vehicle is parked. Just as several aftermarket companies are offering an engine oil cooler for th eleft-hand driving light opening, I see a TC-SST cooler in the right-hand opening. For extreme track use, these types of coolers are the usual fare, and offer the added benefit of engine and drivetrain longevity. There is usually one added for the rear differential as well on professional race cars, and I see that this could easily be done as well, although the torque-proportioning rear diff uses two types of fluid (diff and clutch).
Keep in mind, too, that the HKS Kansai Service Evo X already features a TC-SST transmisison, with engine components making another 100 HP: (per my earlier post)http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/categories/evo/2008/03/30.html#a2348 - it'll be a while before these HKS tuning components reach our North American market (per our slightly different state of tune), but it will happen.
Mitsubishi Motors Prepares For June Arrival Of Lancer Evolution MR
Advanced MR Offers More Technology than Traditional Entry-Level GSR Model
CYPRESS, CA, May 21, 2008 --
On the heels of the successful introduction of the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR, Mitsubishi Motors announces the availability of the more technologically-advanced 2008 Lancer Evolution MR, the newest and most sophisticated version of the model series that began 16 years ago.
Shown coming off the production line in Japan, the Lancer Evolution MR arrives at showrooms in the U.S. in June and is available for a suggested retail price of $38,290. The MR features more user technology and a broader market appeal than the entry level GSR, including an advanced 6-speed Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission.
The Lancer Evolution MR is available with an optional technology package for $40,840 that includes a 30GB hard drive navigation system with music server, 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate Premium Sound System, pre-paid Sirius Satellite Radio capability and FAST Key entry, which allows passive vehicle unlocking and engine start/stop simply by carrying the remote control and grasping the handle.
Since its introduction earlier this year, the tenth-generation 2008 Lancer Evolution GSR has met positive reactions across the industry for maintaining a balance of core performance values and improved all-around capability and user-technology:
·"Like every previous Lancer Evolution, the Evo X redeems its various idiosyncrasies with a fantastic engine and drivetrain." -- Automobile
·"The car is impressive, not only for the gains in performance and handling, but also the subtle transformation from hardcore rally racer to high performance all-wheel-drive sports sedan." - AutoWeek
·"The Evo X drives like nothing else in the world." -- Car and Driver
·"Mitsubishi has strengthened the Evo's slick-shifting five-speed manual for the tuner crowd. Shifter is nearly perfect." -- Edmunds Inside Line
·"Whether manual tabbed or left in auto, S-Sport gear changes are brutally quick with the kind of shift violence seen only in Italian exotics." -- MotorTrend
·"Is the new EVO better than before? -- The answer is a resounding 'yes.'" -- MSN Autos
·"Bottom line: It's drive-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, four-wheel fun." -- Popular Mechanics
·"The new Lancer Evolution is no longer just for weekend boy racers; it has evolved into a complete sports sedan, one with enough of a wild side to thrill anyone." -- Road & Track
"The introduction of the 2008 Lancer Evolution MR with TC-SST gives us an opportunity to expand upon the existing Evolution customer base," said Dan Kuhnert, executive vice president of sales and marketing for MMNA. "The added capability and functionality of the new Lancer Evolution vehicles make them a more viable option for everyday driving, while maintaining the rally-inspired heritage that has made the series a global performance car icon."
Both 2008 Lancer Evolution models will be on display at the 2008 Mitsubishi Owner's Day taking place in Cypress, CA on July 19, 2008.
The 36th annual "ADAC Zurich 24h-Rennen" 24-hour endurance race at the Nurburgring runs this weekend. 230 "showroom stock" (mostly) type entrants, 800 drivers, and an astounding number of fans in attendance. If you're not there in person (and this is one of the premier events in the world that you must attend at least once in your lifetime), you can at least watch on the live webcam on via several enthusiast sites and blogs.
If you don't know what "FQ" stands for, you've been off the planet over the past few years. Mitsubishi of Britain has built their special line of "FQ" Evos for several years now, culminating in an "FQ-450" model in the Evo IX. If you haven't figured it out by now, "FQ" stands for "F***ing Quick" and the number is the horsepower. With all-wheel drive, excellent handling, and the traction to actually put down the power in all sorts of conditions - the car is indeed "FQ" and qualifies as a true supercar. 0-60 in as little as the high 3-second range in the higher-end FQs.
Built by Mitsubishi of Britain (with partner HKS), with full warranty by Mitsubishi of Britain. Yes, a modified Evo with a factory warranty. Presumably somebody would even finance it for you!
And now, based on the Evo X, the new FQ-360:
The engine makes 354 brake HP, and 364 lb-ft of torque.The car is only available (for now) with the base 5-speed manual, although Mitsubishi of Britain is testing the TC-SST dual-clutch 6-speed automated manual. That being an all-new gearbox, more experience with it is needed before a production model can be offered, although HKS is already modyifying them in Japan (accounting for the necessary remapping of the TC-SST computer as well). So while the 5-speed is murder for any kind of highway travel, the TC-SST box would resolve that questions and provide several more benefits as well.
Real driving enthusiasts appreciate a wide variety of performance cars.. .so I'll take a break my my near-constant streeam of Camaro and Mustang news this week to relay you to the JDM Insider site for a report on the Cosworth supercharging kit for the Miata (er, MX-5). It's nearly ready for sale and with 210 horses at the rear wheels it promises to transform the otherwise slow Miata into a real performance car. With excellent handling already built into the Miata, and with additional handling upgrades readily available, this kit looks to be the finishing touch to a very capable car. With the top down, this could be almost as much fun to drive as an S2000 - but with far more torque. And the weight of the new folding-metal hardtop option would be easily offset by all this newfound torque. Hmmm.......
Big question: will an engine-driven supercharger on a high compression naturally-aspirated engine utilizing air-to-water intercooling stay cool enough for track days in extreme climates such as Texas? Most cars with this type of add-on equipment don't... so lot's more data is needed.
While Team Camaro puts the finishing touches on the upcoming all-new Camaro, Ford's own Team Mustang is doing basic competitive research into "muscle car" ownership. While the upcoming restyled 2010 Mustang is a simple restyle, and while this information will help in the marketing of that vehicle, the attributes of that car are already set in stone and can't be changed. So much of this research will be used to define the character of the all-new 2012-timeframe Mustang.
Ford Press Release follows:
MUSTANG TEAM GOES EXTRA MILE TO DISCERN NEEDS AND WANTS OF PERFORMANCE CAR OWNERS
Ford goes to great lengths to gather firsthand quality and satisfaction data from customers
Mustang owners are passionate about their pony cars and generally more satisfied that owners of competitive makes
DEARBORN, Mich., May 21, 2008 - There are more Mustangs on the road in Tampa, Fla., than anywhere else in the country, so Paul Randle and his team headed south.
The Mustang chief engineer gathered about 40 of the vehicle line's key team members - those responsible for everything from product development to personalization to marketing - and flew from Dearborn to Florida to interview nearly 70 performance car owners last month. In addition to those pulling up in Mustangs, participants included owners of competitive-make vehicles such as the Dodge Charger, Pontiac GTO and Mitsubishi Eclipse.
External customer clinics on the Mustang are coordinated annually by Ford's 6-Sigma Center, but this is the first time since the launch of the 2005 Mustang that the team included competitive-make owners as well. To ensure that owners would be candid with their opinions, the team presented itself as a market research group and didn't indentify themselves as Ford employees.
"We wanted to find out why people purchased the Mustang and what else they'd shopped for," says Ronnie Ahmad, project specialist, 6-Sigma Center. "We added competitive-make owners to the mix not only to find out why they hadn't chosen a Mustang, but also to see if Mustang owners would stand tall when talking about their vehicles versus the others during the panel discussions."
Stand tall they did. Overall, Mustang owners were found to be very satisfied with their ownership experience. Far more complaints came from competitive-make owners. Based on this and a wealth of other findings, Ahmad says the new approach paid off: "It was way beyond our expectations."
Participants were paid $120 for the hour-and-a-half experience. Upon arrival, each group of a dozen or so owners filled out a brief survey before sitting down for a videotaped panel discussion. The talks were led by a moderator who used the survey responses as a jumping-off point, and viewed live behind closed doors by the Ford team.
"It was very interesting to hear the pride in Mustang owners' voices," says Ahmad. "One woman said that having a Mustang is like having a Transformer - her car makes her feel like a superhero."
Mustang Vehicle Integration Supervisor Dean Nowicki says the experience opened his eyes to how much of an "impulse purchase" the Mustang seems to be. "We heard a lot of, ‘I saw it, I wanted it, I bought it,'" Nowicki says. "One person brought her old V6 Mustang to the dealership for an oil change and left in a new GT."
Underscoring why Mustang owners are extremely passionate, the car has recently garnered accolades for quality and safety. Last year, the iconic pony car came out on top in three major consumer surveys sponsored by J.D. Power & Associates. All three - the Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, and the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) - named Mustang as the leader in its mid-size Sporty Car segment. In addition, the 2008 Mustang convertible became the first sports car and the first convertible to earn the highest possible safety ratings in new-car tests performed by the U.S. government. The Mustang coupe also earned five stars in frontal crash tests for both driver and passenger, in side impact for driver and in rollover tests.
In Tampa, after each of the five panel discussions, participants retired to their cars for a walk-around focused on TGW (things gone wrong) and customer satisfaction issues. The information gathered will help the Mustang team make decisions about future features, as well as help immediately address any areas of concern.
"It was great to have a multifunctional group there, because we each picked up on something different when hearing the various responses," says Jackie DiMarco, Mustang business manager. "Later, as we're talking about which actions to take, our minds go to the images of the customers who made particular comments. This personalizes our decisions and helps us remember that everything we do is for the customer."
That idea delights Linda Davis, who participated in the clinic as the first owner of a 2008 Mustang convertible outfitted in the Warriors in Pink package designed in support of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. "I've been completely satisfied with my Mustang since buying it last July," Davis said. "I was happy to sit alongside other Mustang owners and hear similar comments. If clinics like this help Ford, I'm pleased to participate."
Customer clinics have led to key product edits in the past. For example, comments from Ford Edge owners resulted in the resolution of glare from the instrument panel, and Ford Escape owners helped identify the need for better communication about the vehicle's reversible cargo mat.
"A vehicle team needs to have a visceral understanding of their customer, and we'll never get that just by looking at GQRS numbers," Nowicki said. "It's great to review numbers - we do that all the time - but when I can look in a customer's eye and see the emotion as they talk about their car, that's exceptional."
