J- Body Blower Kit
M Performance Parts is now offering a new 2.4-liter twin cam supercharger kit for the Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire. The "roots-type" supercharger and manifold was developed to maximize both engine horsepower and torque without sacrificing durability, according to GM. The supercharger also has its own unique Vehicle Control Module calibration. GM says the kit adds more than 40 lb-ft of torque and brings the horsepower to 190 at the flywheel.
The supercharger kit contains all the hardware needed for installation. A Gen II MAP sensor, four spark plugs, accessory drive belt and four fuel injectors also are included. The cost of re-calibration of the VCM is also included but must be performed at a GM dealer. The supercharger kit also carries a warranty covering it for defects and workmanship for 12 months or 12,000 miles from the date of installation. In addition, the product warranty covers the powertrain (internally lubricated engine and transmission components) for the length of the original factory powertrain warranty.
Consumers can purchase the new supercharger kit from any GM Performance Parts dealer. To locate your closest dealer, call (800) GM USE US or visit www.Goodwrench.com.
The Scionosphere
t the New York Auto Show, Toyota announced its intentions for the new youth-oriented Scion division-within-a-division and the first two products to be sold as Scions.
The first Scion portion of some Toyota dealer showroom will open somewhere in California around the middle of June 2003. When it does, it will be selling two cars: the ccX (which we showed you previously) and something along the lines of this bulbous mini-box, the bbX. Based on some small SUV-ish thing called the "Black Box" that's already being sold in Japan, the bbX concept is powered by a 1.5-liter four that may grow some in displacement before it gets here. We also doubt the production bbX will be lowered quite so radically or the windows will be tinted so darkly, but otherwise, it will look a lot like this.
Is the bbX really the right tool to pry open the hearts and minds of younger car buyers?
Focus ZTS Mach
Cribbing from Mazda's playbook, Ford has announced its own version of the highly successful Protege MP3 in the form of the Focus ZTS Mach Audio sedan.
Stuffed with Ford's own six-disc, in-dash CD changer, four 5x7-inch door-mounted, two-way speakers, a 10-inch dual-voice coil subwoofer, equalization to match the interior and 460 Watts of amplifier power, the Mach only lacks the ability to play MP3s.
"With 460 Watts of power, you feel the bass," says Bob Kim, Focus marketing manager in a lugubrious press release. "So, if you want sounds super-sized, this is your car." Visually distinguishing the Mach are HID headlamps (a Focus first), chrome-tipped exhaust system, special badging and silver, grey or (a Mach exclusive) "Mandarin copper" paint.
Mechanically, the car remains a stock ZTS with the 2.0-liter DOHC, 16-valve four making 130 hp and sending power through either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.
Production of the Mach started in May and is limited to 6,000 units this year. So don't be the 6,001st to order one.