Story by Sean Day (S&J Automotive) 

Steve entered his 2006 STI in this years 30th Anniversary Rally Tasmania with only one goal in mind, winning! Federal Race Tyres, Alan Stean was co-driving and had backed Steve with a Sponsorship and Tyre package, naturally looking for a good result in return. So the pressure was on us to prepare and tune the car to be as fast and reliable as possible.

Steve and I put many a late night in, to service and set-up the suspension, using a combination of Tein, Reiger and OEM STI components and even corner weighting of the car as a whole, just for every little bit of fine tuning. Class limitations held us back from using Whiteline Sway-bars and handling components, so we were working within boundaries, but achieved a very satisfying outcome just the same. We managed a test day on a set of the new Federal R-Spec Race Tyres, and made changes based on Steve’s feedback, it was clear that Steve was certainly happy with the Federals right from the on-set.

As far as the engine goes, it remains a Spec-C 2.0L non-forged genuine STI that we stripped and blueprinted back in early 2008, still retaining the factory twin scroll turbo and intercooler and using a 2.5” OEM dump and catalytic converter, all as per the rules. The gearbox contains the ever reliable PPG 1-5 Dog gear set, coupled by an ACS Extreme Heavy Duty 6MT Clutch. Diffs are all factory STI, the rear just having had a freshen up as part of the pre-race maintenance this time round.

We have 2 ECU choices in this vehicle, the aftermarket elaborate unit that the car was originally fitted with when it was built for Cody Crocker, it has Anti-lag, rotating idle and all of the goodies. Or the EcuTek tuned factory ECU that uses the airflow sensor and knock correction as it was designed by Subaru, but with EcuTek’s intervention has complete tune-ability, and incorporates water-spray, launch-control and map switching features. The choice was actually made by Steve 2 years ago when we completed a “Test and Tune” session on both ECUs after the engine freshen up. With APE’s state of the art dyno cell and our experience, there are no limitations in tuning either product. So with it all out on the table, the extra 40nm torque and an average of 8kw right through the range, plus the promise of reliability, the EcuTek won hands down. Steve with co-driver Bernie Webb, went on to win the Adelaide Hills Tarmac Rally a few weeks later, and has relied upon EcuTek as an important team player ever since. This time round we were able to tune the car with ELF Turbo-EVO race fuel, which with careful re-mapping gave us an extra 20kw peak and a handful more torque, see the dyno graph!

To meet your needs, MRT have extended their Factory Warranty Guarantee option even further!

MRT Warranty with any car

History

In the past if you wanted to buy a new (or used) car with mods, you were restricted to having to buy genuine parts from the car dealer with absolutely no alternative choice of supplier!

Speculation is rife that Mitsubishi is about to create a car without peer or precendent in the Evo XI due in 2013. What started as rumours in late 2009 are gaining more and more momentum in 2010 - the new Evo XI will become a hybrid! The good news is that it will be anything but your standard hybrid.

Artist sketch of the Evo XI

According to MotorTrend who broke the news in October last year, the the new Evo will be built on the same platform as the PX-MiEV plug-in hybrid crossover concept from October’s Tokyo Motor Show and will combine the 2.0-litre MIVEC petrol engine from the Japanese Galant with a new lithium-ion plug-in arrangement.

It is believed the electric motor will be a more powerful version of the 47kW unit currently used by the i-MiEV city car, while the petrol powerhouse is expected to put out as much as 239kW. When working in tandem, outputs could rise to 260kW or more. Given that the electric motor will deliver full torque from zero rpm, and given that it will have no turbocharger, turbo lag should be a thing of the past for the Evo XI.

Trade in your UniChip, Chiptorque, Haltech, Greddy, etc interceptor and / or ECU or Piggyback products for $500 CASH when you upgrade your factory ECU with ECUTEK .
Call MRT on 9767 4545 for more info on why interceptors are outdated technology and no longer your best solution and why re calibrating and updating your factory ECU is!
Check out the dyno graph below which compares the same car with Unichip and EcuTeK tested back to back.

Offer expires a March 30th 2010, call now and dont miss out! 02 97674545
Also available at other participating EcuteK dealers.
VISIT www.ecutek.com.au and ask

More Videos here on MRT's web site

Long term Rivals, TWO NEW MODELS!

Lancer RalliArt MY09 Vs Impreza WRX MY09. Both with a mild upgrade of brakes, suspension and Grunt. Which will come out one top?MRT and Whiteline in line with the past success of Grudge match 1 and 2 will test both cars, and compile a video and report on the long awaited track test........

Motor magazine voted the WRX "Bang For Buck" 2009 a winner........ MRT drag tested the Lancer RalliArt at Western Sydney International Dragway with a 1/4 mile time exactly the same as the modded WRX!

Will the track test show up the Lancer's weakness? OR will the WRX suffer at the speedy gear chages of the Lancers SST transmission?

NEW updated Power Kit documents are now ready for the following models, and have been uploaded to the website:

We have also revised all of our old Power Kits documents with updates and minor changes, and made changes to the Power Kits section of our website to make it easier to locate your car and model, so make sure you check it out.

Remember, we have the experience to design, build and tune complete packages in house. Using EcuTeK (factory) ECU tuning software, we can customize your cars OEM (factory) ECU (with no wire mods, chips or piggybacks) to meet the needs of any new engine (or fitted parts) irrespective of capacity or modifications. With careful choice of parts we have developed kits for many models, all designed to meet your needs, with reliable results that will ensure both performance and economical satisfaction.

Our aim is to deliver a package that meets your needs as well as being designed for local conditions. No longer do you need to drive an "average" car that is manufactured to suit many countries, "average" conditions and "average" drivers. We can unleash the hidden performance that is "detuned" by the car manufacturer, a MRT Power kit upgrade will often result in improved fuel economy, better drivability and reliability!

UPDATE ast at 14/2/2010
MRT's tuning trip's for 2009 have been a ROARING SUCCESS!
Did you miss out? So now we are well advanced for 2010!

Tassy trip was FULLY BOOKED, so we will be back!
Next was to be Perth but with race commitments we have delayed it. see below for more info.
MELBOURNE soon 
So call now to secure your spot and have your car upgraded and tuned by Australia's Number 1 Mitsubishi / Subaru Tuners.