… Uh oh. 10% deduction for badging. 
1 Like
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
but who says 1 company can’t have more than 1 badge? right? 
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I have one thing and one thing only to say:
“Regal Touring Wagon”
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Yeah, I forgot about Buick when I named it Regal months ago. The full name of the model is Regal LXI Touring 4WD, but you know, gotta advertise for more than one trim level.
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Click on the image to go to the ACA thread
ACA Traveller STO
Performance for the masses.
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It had been an eventful period since Maesima first entered the US market in 1982. While the humble Celento family initially failed to capture the hearts and minds of the automotive reviewers or the public. It’s low price, relative safety and fuel economy earn it a small place in the market. But David R. Clark and his US division didn’t rest on their laurels. Instead, he set about improving the Celento based on all the reviews and feedback.
This work culminated in the April 1985 release of the refreshed Celento featuring a revised look with new front fascia, tail treatments in addition to mechanical changes including an automatic transmission option and further refinements to the ride and handling. The range was revised and the new limited edition Trail-Trek edition was introduced.
This update addressed many of the criticisms of the old model regarding its reliability, servicing costs and drive and handling characteristics. As a result, sales improved for the sedan, wagon and even liftback models. However, the limited edition Trail-Trek model an idea by Clark to tap into the growing sports utility trend failed to impress. This hastily developed variant was widely panned by the press for being underpowered, uncomfortable and generally failing to capture the public’s interest. An excerpt from the era summarizes the vehicle as such
“…for a van it is surprisingly difficult to load. This is probably because of the depth of the cargo bay, but having only one portal from which to load it. Those hoping to use it for an active lifestyle would also be disappointed by its performance in off-highway scenarios. Furthermore, we’ve found that Maesima vehicles have a propensity to prematurely rust out…”
Thankfully, Clark managed to find an even better idea betting the whole companies US market success on a ‘win on Sunday sell on Monday’ strategy. In the 1987 season of ASCAR Maesima would achieve an unlikely and still somewhat controversial nationwide motoring success teaming up with the UK firm Armada and their intrepid founder Arthur “Ableman” Herrington. Teaming up with their US racing operations to form the highly successful Maesima Armada Racing that dominated the 1987 season. Which despite controversies surrounding the wins led to a rapid rise in sales for the brand securing its future operations in the US.
The all-new Celento also known as the NV-988 in some markets, was part of Maesima’s expansion in North America after the success of the first generation Celento. It was introduced in 1988. Riding on an all-new UF-platform featuring a new torsion beam rear suspension which replaced the old solid rear design. This provided marked improvements in ride and handling. The exterior was all-new and followed the trend towards aerodynamic design.
While underneath the same venerable MCO series of single overhead cams and two valves per cylinder engines were carried over with improvements. The 1.5-litre options were dropped leaving only a 2.0 litre in the lineup. While still carbureted it featured improvements in power and economy. Celento were built in Anikatia at the main factory facilities in Namju.
Celento Tz 2.0L 4AT: $4,690*
(*+20% in 1982 value equal to 8,645.00 (+20%) or 6,916.00 (+0%) in 2010 Autiomation units)
Original Lore Post
15 Likes
Ho boy! 
You make more profit per car than me and my comparable model, the Mutineer Engage, costs $12,121… 1/3rd again more expensive! 
I don’t know how you got your price down so far!
Bogliq USA is doomed… 
3 Likes
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.
17 Likes
While I am processing today…
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.
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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! 
2 Likes
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.
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… 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.
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Motor World Review, August 1988
Model Year-In-Review Edition
(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.)
Best Entry-level Car – 1988
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.
Best Upscale Car – 1988
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.
Best Sport Car – 1988
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.
Best Utility – 1988
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.
Best Engine – 1988 - TIE
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.
Sedan Class Reviews
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
Upscale Class Reviews
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
Sport Class Reviews
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
Utility Class Reviews
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
12 Likes
Round 11 - 1994
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.
Economy
Unemployment: Low
Inflation: Low
Economy: Growing
Short-term economic forecast: Strong growth
Regulations
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)
File Naming Convention:
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.
Round 11 deadline: Thursday July 19, 9:00 AM PDT (UTC-8)
NO FURTHER COMPANY REGISTRATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED.
I decided to nix the requirement of a CHMSL, and will assume that where applicable (unless you put one on the body yourself), there is one in the rear window.
10 Likes
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.
7 Likes
Awww 
oh well, time to try and improve the SC’s flaws
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