Wheels in Motion - Work Emotion XD9

Just wanna share this excellent video of the wheels off my ER34. I'm running Work Emotion XD9 with the below specs:-

Front: 18×8.0JJ+35 5H-114.3
Rear : 18×9.0JJ+38 5H-114.3

This video is showing the rear wheels on a dyno machine. Enjoy!

Lancia Thema 8.32

Pic 1: Lancia Thema 8.32

In South East Asia, Lancia is a little known car manufacturer. This Italian car manufacturer makes amazing cars notably the Lancia Delta Integrale before the company closed its factory doors; and was bought by Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.

Being a rally fan when I was young, I was mesmerized by images of flying Delta Integrale on rallies. They are up there on the pedestal alongside "super-rally" cars like the Audi Quattro.

But have you heard of the Lancia Thema 8.32? Lancia Stratos maybe yes but a Thema? *scratches head*

The Thema 8.32 has a very unique feature, it has an electronic rear spoiler! Check out the below video showing it off. The Thema is powered by a 2927 cc Ferrari V8 powerplant! Now ain't that amazing!

Pic 2: Ferrari V8 powerplant

Pic 3: Rear shot with the spoiler out

It is interesting that the electronic rear spoiler was in adoption so early whilst most of us here would only associate it with cars like the Porsche 911, Caymen, Boxster, Audi TT, etc....

Check this video of how it functions....

The R34 kinda look good without a rear spoiler. Now if only someone is mad enough to procure the boot off a Lancia Thema 8.32 and retrofit in the spoiler mechanism. Then you'll have the best of both worlds. LOL :P

Pic 4: Rear spoiler-less R34

Nissan Skyvia revisited

About 6 months ago, I posted an entry about a Nissan 180SX (RPS13) that have converted it's rear to look like a R34 Skyline. You can read about it here.

Well, lets revisit that same vehicle with exclusive footage of it's "Jekyll and Hyde" demeanor. You see, that car didn't really just convert it's RPS13 rear end to look like a R34 Skyline BUT in fact it still retains the RPS13 rear and also have the R34 Skyline rear end. Confused?

Pic 1: Nissan Skyvia

Simply put, it has two arse. One on top of the other. :P

As the above photo illustrates, opening the "R34 boot" will unveil the RPS13 centre granish plate complete with reverse lights. :P

Ain't that interesting? Hehehe

Holden Statesman spotted in Kuala Lumpur

The other day I spotted this Holden Statesman on top of a car carrier. I wonder whose is it for......

If my eyes caught the side emblem correctly, this unit is a V6 thus it is 3,600cc with 262hp and 340Nm of torque at 2,600rpm. If only this was the V8 with the massive 6,000cc litre engine.

Loki, you bought another Holden? :P

Happy 25th Anniversary, Proton!

PROTON celebrated its 25th Anniversary yesterday with a grand Gala Dinner held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. I was fortunate enough to be invited for the event and are thankful to be remembered as part of the pioneering few that kick started official PROTON car clubs.

As a Malaysian, PROTON plays a big part in ones life. I bet almost every Malaysian have owned a Proton at some stage in life. It is inevitable. For those who have not owned a PROTON before, you might be the 'lucky' few or perhaps the 'unlucky' few. :)

My family was an early adopter of PROTON. My mom had a 1986 Proton Saga and it had served the household well. My first Proton was a 1994 Proton Wira 1.5GLi. It was the early version where it ran on carburetor instead of EFi. Back then I was still a very young chap with little or no money BUT interest in cars is already building up strong. With limited funds and limited knowledge about engines, I succumbed to simply mods like Bosch Super 4 spark plugs and Hot Bits spark plug cables which I thought would make the car super duper powerful. Guess not. Hahaha

It was at this time also I ran a K&N filter which gives out a nice throaty roar on throttle. But I must say the thing that most people remember about the car was the noisy exhaust. You can hear me coming a couple a blocks away! And it was a DTM style muffler. Hahahahaha

Everything else remains stock but I recall keeping a set of 15" Enkei RP01 (Made in Japan) for over a year in my store room as I have no money to buy 15" tyres. The Enkei were graciously 'donated' by my uncle off his car. :)

I had to potter around with the stock 13" wheels though as the Enkei never did find its home on the Wira until today. LOL

After that my 2nd Proton came into the picture and that changed my life forever. The Proton Perdana V6 was a lovely car and via that car and via the inception of the V•Sixers: Perdana V6 Club, I have made a lot of friends and together we have had countless fun times together. From interstate and intercountry drives to track days and autokhana competitions. Those were the days.

Ahhh........such memories.

Coming back to the gala dinner, the guests were treated by two of Malaysia's most talented singers, Zainal Abidin and Sheila Majid! I was mesmerized when both of them sang duet to "Ikhlas Tapi Jauh" accompanied only by electric violin and guiter. It was simply super awesome!

After some speeches by YBhg Dato' Mohd Nadzmi Mohd. Salleh, Chairman of PROTON and YAB Dato' Seri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, the 25th Anniversary Special Edition PROTONs were unveiled by YBhg Dato' Hj. Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohammed Tahir, Group Managing Director of PROTON.

Only 25 units of these special edition PROTON will be produced per model, the Proton Exora 25th Anniversary Edition, Proton Persona 25th Anniversary Edition and Proton Saga 25th Anniversary Edition. Interesting way to celebrate.

Pic 1: Proton Emas - front view

What really got me excited was the opportunity to touch and feel Malaysia’s first global car, the Proton Emas. Emas, an acronym for Eco Mobility Advance Solution, was designed in collaboration with acclaimed Italian design house Italdesign Giugiaro. Production is scheduled to be by 2012.

The Proton Emas was first unveiled during the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. Having the chance to view it up close is amazing. I am amazed by the lighting system and overall interior space given that it is afterall a small car. Hope to see it on the roads 2 years from today.

I wish all the best to PROTON.

A journey that has been the nation's pride,
A dream fueled by passion, and
A vision towards another 25 years of progress.

Pic 2: Interesting interior

Pic 3: Proton Emas - rear view

And thank you for the memento. I am sure I will have a wonderful time reading the 25th Anniversary Commenorative Book, "A Saga: Proton's 25 year story".

Pic 4: A Saga: Proton's 25 year story


Pic 5: The past 3 Presidents of the V•Sixers: Perdana V6 Club


Pic 6: Those are very interesting integrated headlights and signal lights


Pic 7: Not sure what technology is this but it lights up as the rear lights


Pic 8: 18" wheels shod in Pirelli P Zero 215/45/18


Pic 9: Doubt this will make it into production. Too bulky power window control


Pic 10: Another interior shot

Video: IMPUL Showroom In Japan

I think by now, a lot of my readers know that I'm a big fan of IMPUL. :)

IMPUL is probably most famous for its racing car, CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R. Who can forget the iconic blue BNR32 that dominated the Japan Grand Touring Car Championship?

Founded on 1980 by Nissan's legendary factory driver Kazuyoshi Hoshino, IMPUL exclusively produces aftermarket parts for Nissan cars, and runs a motorsports team "Hoshino Racing" for Super GT and Formula races in Japan.

Achievements of Hoshino is historic. Having himself as a driver, he won JGTC (ex SuperGT) series championship 3 years in a row from 1993 through 1995. Seen on the below video, the 1:4 scale miniature racing car of R32 Nissan GT-R was a gift from Carlos Ghosn, Nissan's President, praising Hoshino's contribution to Nissan and Japanese motorsports.

I am still mighty pleased when he signed my Kyosho 1:18 scale model of the BNR32 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R in 2008. Pics can be seen here. :)

Check out the below video of a tour around the IMPUL showroom in Japan.

Transfăgărăşan in Romania

Pic 1: Transfăgărăşan

Just watched the 1st episode of Season 14 of Top Gear and they in it was a drive to Transfăgărăşan in Romania in a Ferrari California, Lamborghini Gallardo and an Aston Martin DBS. Transfăgărăşan what?!?

Transfăgărăşan is the highest and most dramatic paved road in Romania. Initially built as a strategic military route, the 90 km of twists and turns run North to South across the tallest sections of the Carpathian Mountains. The road was constructed between 1970 and 1974 and has claimed to have taken six thousands ton of dynamite to make it and 40 lives were lost in its construction.

Anyway, I find this episode mighty entertaining and the roads were just simply superb. How come we don't have these kind of crazy roads here. Hmmmm.....

Btw, Top Gear reckon that Transfăgărăşan is better than the Stelvio Pass!

Pic 2: Transfăgărăşan

Here's the segment extracted from Top Gear.

..... and some behind the scenes footage during the filming.