Mitsubishi Pajero 2009 News

Cars are either being built worse -- or companies are getting better at detecting faults.a range of models made over the last 10 years replacing potentially deadly Takata airbags in 1.3 million cars in Australia. a second, airbag-related recall for the Priusreplacing potentially deadly Takata airbags in 1.3 million cars in Australia

There aren't too many motorsport disciplines Tony Quinn hasn't tackled and conquered. He has raced Porsches, V8 utes, open wheelers, won Targa Tasmania and recently finished ninth in the Nurburgring 24-hour race.As he heads to Perth next week for the Australasian Safari, his remaining ambition is to complete an off-road rally and perhaps one day head for the ultimate test of man and machine - the Dakar Rally."We did the Safari last year but only lasted one-and-a-quarter days and blew up two engines," he said.His Italian-made Mitsubishi Pajero rally machine featured a V6 twin turbo race engine which they melted within 22km in another off-road rally in NSW.This year the 52-year-old Gold Coast VIP Pet Foods owner has replaced the turbo race engine with an off-the-shelf naturally aspirated six-litre LS2 V8 engine from Holden, plus a new gearbox and transfer case. "It arrived in a crate brand new. I haven't even driven it yet, but the crew tells me it will be fast," he said. "This time we're ready."Quinn will again pair with co-driver Adrian Bolton; "a good mate and a good mechanic". "It's just a boys' own adventure," he said. "There's nothing we've done that has been more alpha-male. "Every bloke should do it (Australasian Safari). "It's an amazing event. You can't tell what is going to go wrong in the middle of the bush."The winner last year came in with not a panel that wasn't damaged."Quinn said he was not hoping for any placing, just to finish the race and said there was no commercial reason to compete as media coverage of the event was limited. "We only did one-and-a-quarter days last time but I loved it because it's totally different to everything we have ever done. It's a new challenge," he said."It's not about winning, it's about finishing."His Pajero rally car cost him $55,000 and he estimates he has spent about $100,000 getting it race-ready, including large truck air horns on the roof to alert drivers in front that they are about to be passed."They get two honks, two nudges, then two tonnes," Quinn laughs.He will also take his Targa Tasmania-winning tarmac rally Nissan GT-R with him to Perth to compete in Targa West. His ultimate dream is to compete in the Dakar Rally, now held in South America each January."I was asked to do it, but it clashed with a local event," he said. "I need to finish the Safari first and if I do reasonably well I would think about going overseas."Dakar is like the Nurburgring; if you can squeeze it into your life, you should."Quinn's racing career started in his native Scotland in 1977 when he successfully competed in the Formula Ford series. "I bought my first race car from (Indy and NASCAR driver) Dario Franchitti's father," he said. "I used to get podiums, but then one day this guy Eddie Cheever (later Formula One driver) turned up and blitzed us all. "I kind of lost heart a bit and gave up. "It wasn't until I was 42 that a friend on the Gold Coast asked if I wanted to do the Targa (Tasmania)."I hadn't had a race for 20 years and I ended up winning rookie of the year."That led to racing Porsches, V8 utes and even a dismal stint with Andrew Mediecke in a V8 Supercar at a Queensland 500 where they came last.Now his attention has turned to dirt racing and conquering his remaining hurdle. "It's tough. After less than two days last time I had blisters on both of my hands. It's just insanity," he said.The Australasian Safari starts on August 1 with a prologue in Perth and finishes back in Perth on August 8 after tackling 3600km of gruelling outback terrain.It has attracted 106 competitors from as far as the Czech Republic, South Africa, Sweden, China, Japan and New Zealand.It includes an auto category for cars, 4WDs and buggies, plus categories for motorcycles and quad bikes as a separate category from bikes for the first time. 

...a chance for you to design your own car.Just imagine you could sit down and pick the best parts of the best cars and put it all together.Plus, Mitsubishi cars have been in Australia since the very early 80’s. In that time that have brought us some extremely popular models including the Magna, Pajero and Lancer.The company is now in what you would describe as a new era.They are no longer making cars in Australia but they look to still have a line up of quality and diverse models.They are also leading the way when it comes to the development of an all electric car. Lenore Fletcher from Mitsubishi Motors Australia will join us for a chat.For all this and a lot more listen to the podcast above.  

Under the ClearTec label, Mitsubishi this week started in the UK with its new-generation Colt.Within three years, all Mitsubishi models except Triton and Pajero will have the option of low-emission, high-efficiency features.Mitsubishi says that diesel was no longer cost effective for motorists who cover low annual distances.In Australia, Mitsubishi will soon unveil low-emission systems for its range. Spokesperson Lenore Fletcher says ClearTec was not on Australia's near-term radar.The UK-spec Colt ClearTec 1.3-litre petrol reduces CO2 emissions by 24g/km (17 per cent) to 119g/km compared with the standard Colt 1.3.It costs about 5.4 per cent more than a standard version in the UK.That means Australian buyers would pay $16,590 (plus on-road costs) for a ClearTec Colt compared with the base Colt price of $15,740 (plus costs).Mitsubishi claims the 1.3-litre (the Australian 1.5-litre is not available in the UK) ClearTec will get up to 4.3 litres/100km — with an overall average of 5 l/100km — and argues it is a less expensive car to buy and run than small-capacity diesel cars.The key to ClearTec is a list of low-emission features, primarily auto stop-and-go that in traffic or when stopped, switches off the engine.It restarts primarily when the clutch is engaged, though there are six other sensors that can restart the engine. For safety reasons, the engine will stop only if it doesn't detrimentally affect other functions such as the windscreen demister or airconditioner.It is only offered on models with manual transmissions.Mitsubishi says the stop-and-go system will reduce emissions and fuel consumption by 25-30 per cent over the standard car.ClearTec also adds low rolling resistance tyres (with an 18-33 per cent reduction); higher final drive ratio (16-26%); high-efficiency alternator (11-15%); low viscocity oil (2-3%); and low resistant engine fittings (10-13%).It results, at best, in a car that has a CO2 reduction of 24g/km.