1988 was considered to be the early into the “golden era” of Kimura’ growth.
In 1986, after great success with the Auburn and Auriga, Kimura developed a new small car for the world to see; the Avina. Based on a new platform, the Avina was one of the smallest cars sold in America, known for it’s wide list of standard equipment and good quality.
To this day it remains the smallest Kimura sold in the US market.
Here is an ad for the 1986 Kimura Avina BXi.
I wanted to let you all know that I have, indeed, been selected for the graveyard shift on the next shift bid, starting early August. What does this mean?
Rounds 11 and 12 will be run as normal, on a roughly Fri-Thurs schedule.
Round 13 will have a TWO week turnaround, as that’s in the middle of my shift switchover.
I will make a determination after Round 13 as to the feasability of continuing on the current schedule, and either alter it, or (if I find out I’m completely dead from the switch) the competition MAY wrap up.
In the interest of figuring out the future, I went ahead and just randomized the remaining rounds. Which will be as follows:
Round 11 - 1994
Round 12 - 1999
Round 13 - 2003
Round 14 (if hosted) - 2006
Round 15 (if hosted) - 2011
Round 16 (if hosted) - 2016
So we will have between 3 and 6 more rounds, depending on how things shake out for me at work.
Well that sux, unless they’re paying you extra, night shift is a bitch!
Wot, no round 17 set in 2020? 
Thanks for the early warning, I now have lots of work to do! 
Oh, they pay a shift differential alright. Not that I’ll be able to use it because I’m turning into a vampire… lol. But hey, it’s all good. Puts a little more in my 401k, and helps pay bills down faster.
… your company was not pre-registered, and we take this one round at a time. Sorry, but you cannot enter this competition. Please withdraw your post.
(Znopresk has missed 2 rounds in a row and will be given a 1 point penalty to their overall competition RR. Also, due to the number of entries in Sport this time around, that category gets pretty brutal. The market is definitely oversaturated, working to the detriment of many.)
Everette Winthrop R4
Relative Rating: 100.00
A great car doesn’t have to be an expensive one. The Everette Winthrop R4 is a great example of careful design and manufacturing, delivered at an affordable price.
This 3-door hatchback combines versatility and grace with driving habits one might expect from a larger vehicle. Standard under the hood is one of our favorite engines this year, the 91 horsepower, 2.0 liter 4LAB-L20M. This is mated to a tried-and-true 4-speed manual transmission. Everette touts 28 miles per gallon combined in this configuration, and our testing resulted in numbers almost exactly on the mark.
The rear hatch opens quite high, with only a small lip to carry heavy loads over. The full-cloth seats lean and slide forward with the push of a lever, allowing easy access for rear passengers. The radio includes a cassette deck, which is a nice touch on such a simple car.
And one of the greatest shining spots for the Winthrop is its projected reliability. This platform has been around since 1980, with regular styling refreshes. Repair history data shows that the Winthrop is on top for reliability, and there’s no reason to expect that this year’s model will suddenly break that streak.
PMI Usurper Sabre V8 Touring
Relative Rating: 100.00
PMI would like to remind everyone that the art of the V8 is not dead. At least not yet.
206 horsepower is stuffed under the hood of the Usurper Sabre, coming from a 5.0 V8 with throttle body injection. While not up to snuff with competitors in the fuel economy department, this motor does a far, far better job of going far than its ancestors.
The Sabre is a personal luxury coupe, designed with comfort and precision in mind. It gives drivers a smooth, confident ride, while wrapping them in upscale trappings.
Our test car came with premium pillowed woven cloth seats with adjustable lumbar support, a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, alloy wheels, and a full host of powered components. A digitally-tuned 4-speaker AM/FM stereo with cassette was also present, though we were a little disappointed that it didn’t come with equalizer controls.
In recent crash tests, the Usurper Sabre garnered high marks, near the top of its class. This adds to the overall value of the car; while it’s not the cheapest, it’s definitely well worth the money.
LMC Maladus M150
Relative Rating: 97.50
The LMC Maladus is the kind of sports car that you can have fun with and be proud of, as well as reasonably commute to work in (assuming your salary supports it, of course.)
308 horsepower and tight cornering easily fits the bill for the fun factor. The Maladus can wind up to 60 mph is just 5.5 seconds, thanks to meaty tires and a limited slip differential. And it passed our slalom tests with a brain-splattering 1.07g lateral. And on the street, the Maladus handles with confidence and ease not expected from a hardcore sports car.
A lot of times this kind of performance comes at the expense of the driver’s spine. But LMC equipped this cool beast with standard leatherette seats, power windows and locks, air conditioning, and a 4-speaker AM/FM/Cassette stereo, for when you need to blast a little Van Halen.
LMC’s structural architecture improvements also led the Maladus to get high marks on crash testing scores. Plus it’s surprisingly easy on gas, getting only 4 MPG less than a V6 equipped Ardent Sentinel.
Vermillion V100 TorqueFiend
Relative Rating: 100.00
Aptly named, the trim of Vermillion V100 we were given as a tester was, indeed, a torque fiend. 352 lb-ft to be exact. So what do you do with all of that grunt?
Well, if you’re a mature, responsible reporting outfit like us, there’s only one thing to do. Pull stumps out of the ground, just because you can. And boy, can it.
The V100 joins the fray with such vaunted names as Deer and Hunt and RCM (Formerly Dominion) in building a truck that is tough, durable, capable of going anywhere, and obscenely strong.
Oh, and don’t tell anyone, but we may have brought a few George Strait cassettes and played them on the stereo while we were being “responsible” out in the woods.
Everette 4LAB-L20M and Deer&Hunt 4.3L V6
(+5% relative rating bonus for D&H, no bonus for Everett due to already having a max rating)
This year we have a tie for best engine.
First is the 4LAB-L20M from Fenton/Everette. This 2 liter 4-cylinder is our favorite small motor out of the bunch this year. Putting out 91 HP and 111 lb-ft of torque, it does a good job of powering the Winthrop R4, and keeping fuel costs down through efficiency. As well, it looks to be a motor that will give many years of reliable service.
The second choice is Deer and Hunt’s 4.3 liter V6, from their SuperCoupe. With 183 horses and 227 lb-ft of torque, it’s a good choice for the car. Throttle response is smooth, and long-term testing shows it to be among the most reliable option available.
Kimura Avina BXi
Relative Rating: 95.45
“…good, reliable gas-sipper. We preferred the Everette, though, because of the Kimura’s somewhat cramped and cheap-feeling interior…”
Pros: Low purchase price, good fuel economy, great reliability
Cons: Poor comfort, poor drivability
Maesma Celento Tz 2.0
Relative Rating: 93.18
“…for a bargain-basement price, you get a safe, easy to maintain vehicle. The fuel economy is pretty abhorrent for an inexpensive commuter, however, and it’s not as comfortable as our top pick either…”
Pros: Low purchase price, low maintenance cost, high drivability
Cons: Poor reliability, poor fuel economy, mediocre comfort
Rado Superior 191A Value
Relative Rating: 97.73
“…the level of comfort and quality in the Superior shows just how far Rado has come from their embarassing roots. Road manners do leave something to be desired, however…”
Pros: High reliability, best in class comfort, reasonable fuel economy
Cons: Poor drivability
Ardent Silver Sentinel
Relative Rating: 92.75
“…one of the best performing premium sedans you can get (our tester was the only one in the group equipped with a manual transmission), and fuel economy is good to boot. Unfortunately the aging platform leads to some safety concerns, and Ardent’s image doesn’t exactly stand up to the “premium” moniker…”
Pros: Great fuel economy, great performance, lowest in class purchase price, best in class reliability
Cons: Poor safety, poor drivability, low prestige
Erin Berlose Vox 2.8
Relative Rating: 91.30
“…very comfortable sedan powered by a silky-smooth 2.8L straight-6. Its steep starting price and lack of distinguishing features makes us wonder about the value…”
Pros: High comfort, high safety, low maintenance cost
Cons: Poor drivability, poor fuel economy, mediocre value
RCM Regal LXI Touring 4WD
Relative Rating: 95.65
“…delightful, cloud-like drive wrapped in leather. It’s easy to see with the detail in material that was put in why the Regal has such a high sticker price…”
Pros: Great drivability, high comfort, best in class safety
Cons: Highest in class purchase price, high maintenance cost
Grehet Mytheme Road
Relative Rating: 89.86
“…the only car in the group whose track performance is better than the Ardent’s, and done so with an automatic transmission. However, the interior is just not comfortable for long trips, and there are concerns with long term reliability…”
Pros: Great performance, prestigious model, good drivability
Cons: Poor reliability, poor economy, high maintenance cost
Deer and Hunt SuperCoupe
Relative Rating: 97.75 (after bonus)
“…very well matched V6 engine and advanced, electronically controlled transmission. This personal coupe shines in many areas, though it’s not as comfortable as we’d like, and reliability tests show it to be on par with the Grehet Mytheme…”
Pros: Engine of the Year, very sporty, prestigious model, good drivability, low purchase price
Cons: Poor reliability, poor comfort, poor economy
Olympus Libra LX
Relative Rating: 92.75
“…superb road manners and fuel economy. The engine is a touch underpowered, however, and the biggest thing holding it back is the projected reliability…”
Pros: Great drivability, great fuel economy, high comfort, high safety
Cons: Worst in round reliability, underpowered engine
ACA Traveller STO
Relative Rating: 82.14
“…in a crowded field, the Traveller fails to distinguish itself in any positive way beyond above average reliability. Its high cost and poor comfort are, however, quite notable…”
Pros: Good reliability
Cons: Poor comfort, high purchase price, mediocre stats
Keika Katana 2400
Relative Rating: 94.05
“…it should be illegal to have this much fun, yet the Katana is perfectly road legal. It’s very affordable, too…”
Pros: Excellent performance, lowest in class purchase price, low maintenance cost, outstanding fuel economy, great reliability
Cons: Poor safety, poor comfort, poor drivability
Epoch M50 Turbo
Relative Rating: 83.33
“…being inexpensive and quirky just isn’t enough to forgive the M50 for its glaring deficiencies when stacked up against the competition…”
Pros: Low purchase price, good comfort, good fuel economy, low mainenance cost
Cons: Worst in class drivability, poor reliability, tepid performance, poor cornering
Sinistra Sunbolt XR-300
Relative Rating: 90.48
“…unique rear-engine Sinistra departs radically from what we’re used to seeing from them. It makes a decent alternative to the LMC Maladus, but we found some flaws when comparing the two…”
Pros: Great performance, great handling, good fuel economy, good safety, good drivability
Cons: High purchase price, high maintenance cost, poor reliability, poor comfort
Caliban Type SC TO
Relative Rating: 85.71
“…just doesn’t have the value or charm of the Keika Katana, although its everyday road manners are a bit better…”
Pros: Good drivability, great cornering, great performance, good reliability
Cons: High maintenance cost, mediocre economy, worst in round comfort, poor prestige, poor safety
TSR Angel S
Relative Rating: 80.95
“…the first sports car we’ve seen from TSR that’s affordable to the Average Joe. Unfortunately, its release comes at a poor time, with the floodgates of sports cars have opened…”
Pros: Good drivability, good fuel economy,low maintenance cost
Cons: Lackluster performance, poor reliability, poor comfort, unable to distinguish itself from competition
Bogliq Nihilist Empower 700AE
Relative Rating: 82.14
“…Bogliq triest its hand at becoming a sports car superpower with a 7.0 liter V8 in a sleek coupe. The bid unfortunately doesn’t work, as Bogliq’s usually reasonable pricing just isn’t there…”
Pros: Great performance, prestigious model, high sportiness
Cons: Very high purchase price, poor fuel economy, poor reliability, poor drivability
Sakura Deva Turbo 200
Relative Rating: 94.05
“…the car that will be dreamt of by teenagers and corporate executives alike. That’s right, the Deva Turbo has exceeded a previously unheard of barrier of 200 MPH in top speed trials…”
Pros: Ludicrous speed, extreme prestige, good drivability, great safety
Cons: Extremely expensive to purchase and maintain, abhorrent fuel economy (subject to US gas guzzler tax), poor reliability
Takemi 280-GXR
Relative Rating: 76.62 (after penalty)
FIXTURE VIOLATIONS: No rear side markers, no aerial for radio
“…for an entry-level sports car, there are numerous better options. Even its low price can’t save it…”
Pros: Low purchase price, low maintenance cost, good fuel economy
Cons: Lackluster performance, poor drivability, poor comfort, poor cornering, poor reliability
IP Brigadeer VIP 4x4
Relative Rating: 93.83
“…high-class off-road capacity. We imagine owners of the Brigadeer might want a deluxe yurt for camping excursions. The good news is the Brigadeer can easily carry one…”
Pros: Good drivability, very comfortable, best in class economy, good offroad, good utility
Cons: High purchase and maintenance cost, poor reliability
The last few miles of connectors to the Insterstate highway system have finally been paved and opened. Now state and federal governments are scrambling to repair and expand aging infrastructure as heightened vehicular use taxes the roadways. Hundreds of thousands of individuals and businesses lose combined billions of dollars as the Savings and Loan system in the US collapses due to poor oversight and unscrupulous practices. The Mirage Resort and Casino becomes the first huge resort hotel in Las Vegas, beginning a transformation as the city shifts away from smaller hotels. The Berlin Wall has fallen, and many former Communist regimes throughout Europe have had revolutions (of varying degrees of peace) and become democratic. The worst is happening in the former Yugoslavia, with Serbia fighting separate wars against Croatia and Bosnia as the latter attempt to break away. The US has sent air and naval forces to support NATO peacekeepers in the region. Earlier in the decade, US boots were in the ground in Iraq and Kuwait, after Saddam Hussein’s regime invaded Kuwait. The Cold War starts to thaw as President Bush and Soviet Supreme Leader Gorbachev agree to a reduction of nuclear weapons on both sides. As well, 10 former Soviet republics break away and become independent states for the first time since prior to World War II. Hurricane Andrew has devastated large parts of Florida, causing loss of life and immense economic damage. The Mall of America is built in Minnesota, and Cartoon Network is launched on cable TV. TWA, one of the oldest and most storied airlines in the States, has declared bankruptcy. Bill Clinton is sworn in as the President of the US. And all the while, personal computers are slowly getting cheaper, while internet usage is on the rise, though still not widespread.
Unemployment: Low
Inflation: Low
Economy: Growing
Short-term economic forecast: Strong growth
Fuel: Regular Unleaded (universal), Premium Unleaded (universal)
Bumpers: 2.5MPH bumpers required (regulations relaxed as SPS systems became mandated)
Front lights and fixtures: At least one pair of headlights required. At least one pair of turn indicators required. Turn signals may NOT be placed in bumpers. Exactly one pair of parking lights are required. Parking lights MAY be placed in bumpers. Parking lights and turn signals may not be part of the same lens/fixture. There has to be some form of visual separation.
Front light colors: No red may face forward.
Rear lights: At least one pair of brake lights. At least one pair of turn signals. At least one pair of reverse lights. NO lights may be placed bumpers (however, optional red reflectors may be). If turn and brake lights are in the same fixture AND of the same color, there must be a minimum of THREE bulbs in the fixture.
Rear light colors: Brakes must be red. Reverse must be white. Turn signals cannot be white.
Side marker/signal lights: Front side markers required. Rear markers required, may be placed either on the side or the rear.
Side light colors: front side may be amber only, rear side may be red only.
Mirrors: Driver and passenger side mirrors required.
Aerials: Long mast or retractable antenna required if car has a radio.
Fuel fillers: Must be placed on the side of the vehicle. Front-engine cars must have the filler somewhere in the rear quarter, mid- and rear-engine cars must have the filler somewhere in the front quarter.
Emissions: Catalytic converter required.
Safety: All passenger vehicles must have a minimum of 32 safety. All trucks, vans, and utes must have a minimum of 28 safety. (Reflecting the requirement for passive restraints - either air bags or automatic seatbelts)
Model: Gen11-(username) Trim: (MFR Model Trim)
Engine: Gen11-(username) Variant: (Whatever you want)
Export and PM me the .car file, make a post about your car in your lore thread (if not already there), and post an ad in this thread BEFORE the round deadline.
Gen10-Vri404 - Sakura Deva Turbo 200 [US].car (29.2 KB)
Because I’m nice, I’ll throw up the export for the first car in this challenge to crack 200mph 
I think the body itself is the only reason I got so fast. I have an outdated engine and a shitty tune. But if you want to see the “fastest” car of the era, here you go.
Awww 
oh well, time to try and improve the SC’s flaws
Late August, 1988, Sinistra Motors HQ, Nevada.
“Sunbolt didn’t do too well.” Andrea said, looking at the magazine.
“We’ve not bothered to change it since 1985. Of course it didn’t do well.” Luke said. “So, Jeff, how are the snails coming along? Do keep in mind that I want a turbo Sunbolt by 1990, so that it can have three years as a last great hurrah.”
“Wait, the Sunbolt stops in '93?” Andrea asked.
“No point in beating it to death. Sports cars live fast and die young. We’re not refreshing the rear-engine design, and so we need to focus on other things.” Luke said.
“So, what’s the point of getting turbos on the Sunbolt?” Jeff asked.
Andrea, however, turned and glared at Jeff. “You’re drunk! I can’t believe it, Jeff! No wonder nothing got done regarding the turbo Sunbolt!”
Luke stalked off to Jeff’s office, and within minutes, found proof of Jeff’s drinking on the job, in a locked filing cabinet… One that Luke had the master keys for. He walked back up, stopped in his own office long enough to call the police, then confronted Jeff.
“Oh, shit.” Jeff muttered, before Luke said, “Jeff, you know as well as I do what this means. Don’t bother cleaning out your desk, I’ve called the police to escort you from the premises. Your belongings will be mailed to you, postage due, along with your final paycheck.”
October, 1988, Sinistra Motors HQ.
Andrea sat at her desk, something she’d grown accustomed to since Jeff was walked out in handcuffs two months ago. Luke had offered her the job of Engine Team Lead, and she’d jumped at the chance. As a result, she was looking over one of Luke’s inventory listings, which had notes scribbled in the margins. More irritating, however, was that Luke had fully adopted having a local network, complete with a slowly-growing server farm in the basement, and looking anything up required logging in and fighting through Luke’s seemingly-random files, scattered everywhere with what seemed like no organizational order.
And so she looked at the paper notes more than the digital ones. But this was sheer madness, what Luke was proposing. She’d known that in the 60’s and 70’s, they were cutting V8’s in half, lopping two cylinders off, and welding them back together, and that they’d dared to call this ‘creation’ a V6. Hell, she’d driven one of those V6-powered Senators in a publicity stunt, coast-to-coast-and-back. But this… This was crazy. Taking the same cutting jig, lopping a cast-iron 5.2 liter V8 in half, but instead of then lopping two more cylinders off, Luke wanted to add a two-cylinder segment, specifically the off-cuts from the V6 production. The result would make a terrifying 6.5 liter V10, yes, but at what cost?
Then there was another of Luke’s crazy schemes, wanting to flatten the Sunbolt’s V6 into a flat engine, 180-degrees instead of 60 or 90. Why on Earth he wanted a flat engine, Andrea couldn’t tell, but Luke had said something about ‘Lowered center-of-gravity’ and ‘better overall handling’ when she’d asked. Still didn’t make sense why that was needed, when they were already gearing up for aluminum engines.
And then the Rebadge project… Oh, that promised to drive her crazy. All of the engines built on the 5.2’s bore and stroke were now the “L-Series” engines. And then all of the engines derived from the Sunbolt’s 3 liter V6 were “S-Series” engines.
But Andrea felt good about Luke’s crazy projects, because without them, it just wouldn’t be Sinistra.
1993, Sinistra Motors HQ.
Andrea looked ready to cry as the last Turbo Sunbolt rolled out the door, the paint still glowing vividly in the fading sunlight. She’d managed to save the project Jeff nearly killed with incompetance, and the Sunbolt got pressurized early in 1990. But it still hurt to see the quirky rear-engined car leaving the factory for good. Sure, they still had the Swift Sport, and last year, they’d created something new for them, though the powertrain still was quirky as all hell when they built the Sinistra Stampede, but even though they both carried her new project, the V10, it just wasn’t the same. And she knew this damnable flat-6 was going to be her nightmare for the next year. Worse still, Luke didn’t really care about the 6-cylinder version, he just wanted to downsize to a four-cylinder, though he’d make use of the 6, provided she could build the damn thing in the first place.
Luke joined Andrea as they watched the last Sunbolt roll out into the parking lot. After a few moments of silence, Luke handed Andrea a set of keys. “It was truly your project all along. You deserve to have the last one. Your own little piece of history. Paperwork’s all taken care of.”
Andrea took the keys, then walked out to where the Sunbolt - her Sunbolt - sat waiting for her. She took in the brilliant silver tone of Frost, their silver-white metallic, a color the Sunbolt never tended to sell well in, but one she liked regardless, and smiled. She decided, as Luke had given this gift to her, she’d return the favor. All of the problems with the flat-6 could be solved with a modified crankshaft anyway. And they were so close to solving the SinCam problem, too. Luke had pointed her in the right direction, but she was certain now, it needed another year, and would need oil pressure to work. And then they’d have something special brewing for everyone else to fear.
(Yeah, long lore post. Let’s just say that now everyone knows Sinistra’s little Engine Plot, and the setup is there for engines needed in the future. And technologies. After all, while Sinistra isn’t always on the bleeding-edge of tech, there are certain things we’re going for as soon as possible…)
“Gentlemen, let me show you the results of complacency.”
Matthew Seldon flipped over the cover page on his presentation board, revealing a chart of sales comparisons for various manufacturers.
“We got lucky this time,” he stated as he pointed to the line showing slow but steady growth for Ardent. “The Silver Sentinel has renewed interest in that line, which has helped us surpass Bogliq once again. Others aren’t so lucky. There are hungry competitors out there, willing to do whatever it takes.”
Matt pointed to a pair of criss-crossed lines lower down the graph. “Maesima has only been on the market for a handful of years, and yet they’re proving themselves to the public. Meanwhile, Epoch, a venerable company, seems to be struggling. The young ones are looking to take a piece of their pie.”
He leaned with both hands on the conference table, staring down his department heads with fiery intensity. “Gentlemen, do not let anyone take our slice. Hideki is creating a work of art, and the Toledo boys are expanding the Trivalve series for our entry level cars. I expect masterpieces befitting of the tools you have at hand.”
Matt Seldon walked out of the room, leaving the department heads muttering among themselves in subdued argument.
Just like a real 80’s British Sports Car! 
Detroit, MI
September, 1988
Michael sat in his comfy, overstuffed leather recliner surveying the grounds of the Bogliq estate. Konstantin had bought the property during the Great Depression for a song and had held onto the place ever since. Now Michael was the lord of the manor… Whenever Michaels gaze would rest on one of the gardeners they’d redouble their efforts, not wanting to be seen slacking, but Michael never noticed. His mind was too troubled by the events of the past decade to care whether a gardener was working or not.
You see, Bogliq USA was in trouble. The product was too expensive and was less pleasant to drive than their competitors. Maesima were selling a car that undercut the cheapest Mutineer by $4k yet made more profit per car than Bogliq did! Even worse, the Bogliq ASCAR team failed to place on the podium whereas the Maesima team blitzed the competition with 1st place podiums at EVERY race of the season…
But the greatest symbol of Bogliq USA’s fortune was that they were lagging behind Ardent. Konstantin must be spinning in his grave, he’d never let Bogliq fall behind stodgy old Ardent, NEVER! Bogliq USA was between a rock and a hard place. Their cars needed to get cheaper by a substantial amount and they needed to be better, or at the bare minimum comparable, than the previous cycle’s cars.
So it was no wonder that Michael didn’t see the garden. He was in automotive hell, neck deep in debt hoping a newer, more efficient, engine would allow Bogliq to trade their way out of trouble…
Hey @HighOctaneLove… are you ready to get hit by a mountain?
Submitted trim: Hood LS 4WD with 3.4L and 7 passenger seating.
Lore HereOlympus Motor Group - #46 by undercoverhardwarema
Inspired byMotorWeek | Retro Review: '93 V8 Luxury Sedan Comparo - YouTube
Bennett: Sure are a lot of luxury sedans out there.
Rathbone: mmhmm!
Bennett: So I’ve got to spin this some way, so we can stand out.
Rathbone: We still use wood trim.
Bennett: I need more than that, ma’am.
Rathbone: What about the gadgets? We’ve got a ton of gadgets.
Bennett: Like?
Rathbone: This is the first car that is built for your cell phone; built-in cell phone antenna, dialing console, hands free speaker phone.
Bennett: Not everyone has a cell phone.
Rathbone: Not everyone drives an Olympus.
The M30 2.4 Executive from Epoch.
“Sir, your ride awaits…”
Trusted reliability the world over. Exceeds 31 MPG on the highway. Always delivering affordable class and style. From $7,323.
