Out of Africa Challenge [Final Results]

Community Challenges & Competitions
1

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*This is a Community Mod Pack friendly challenge (other mods outside of the pack are [color=#800000]NOT[/color] allowed)

[size=150]Challenge is now filled up and [color=#FF0000]closed[/color]. I thank all the participants for their entries.
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The year is 1990. Africa is one of the few continents on earth that has been largly neglected by the car industry. Unstable governments, low purchasing power and poor infrastructure make investment of the car industry in Africa a risky and difficult affair. However, Africa’s wealth is slowly increasing. Many car companies have tried to sell some of their cars to the African market, but none have truly made a dedicated car for Africa and all these cars have proven to be too expensive or unreliable for most common Africans.
In this challenge you set out with the task to design and build a new car purely focused for the African market. This challenge comes with certain restrictions due to the conditions in which these cars are ought to operate. Getting your hands on quality fuel in Africa is uncertain; therefore you must design an engine that is capable of functioning with the worst low quality (RON 80) fuel on the market. Your car must also be reliable and due to mediocre infrastructure at best, it must be able to perform well enough on gravel roads. However, the price of the car is one of the most important aspects as no low/middle class African will otherwise be able to buy your car. Therefore, it must also be cheap to purchase and to maintain and drive. Are you up to the challenge?

Rules/restrictions

  • Year is 1990
  • Maximum Total cost of 6000 dollars
  • Must use “Low Quality Fuel” (RON 80)
  • Total reliability is greater than 65
  • Engine must have at least 1 muffler
  • Total production units is less than 100
  • Have at least 4 seats
    All other aspects are free game!

Scoring
In this challenge I will score which car performs overall best by determining for various parameters (like drivability, comfort, fuel economy etc.) how much each entry stands out. This will be based on a normal distribution, in other words all entries will be averaged for each parameter and compared. Some parameters weigh heavier in the final score than others. Higher values are better for all car performance values. For values involving costs (e.g. total cost, maintenance cost) lower is better. The entry that performs the best all-round will win the challenge and receive both the honor of winning and will get reviewed along with those that end in second and third place.

Parameters that will the included in the calculation

  • Production cost
  • Reliability
  • Environmental resistance
  • Fuel Economy
  • Maintenance costs
  • Practicality
  • Off-road
  • Drivability
  • Utility
  • Comfort
  • Safety
  • Sportiness
  • Prestige

Heavy weight is on cost related parameters, medium weight on Practicality, Off-road, Drivability, Utility, Comfort and safety. Low weight is put on Sportiness and Prestige.

Deadline
The challenge is now [color=#FF0000]closed[/color]
No revisions are allowed after acceptance. Files named improperly will be returned and allowed for 1 revision. Failure to meet any of the restrictions will be allowed to undergo 1 revision.

Entries
Current Accepted Entries (25/25):
partario: Rutland Bittern S1600, UK
Elouda: Lightstar Janus 418A, UK
Lordred: LHE Düefour, USA
Urbanliner: Daiki Crosser, Japan
VicVictory: Ardent Ozette LX, USA
Shaded009: SMC (Shade Motor Corps) Panther, USA
Rollarider10: Mercusa Hound L, Australia
BlastersPewPew: Desert Motors Olive-ER, Germany
SeriousSimon: Romanov Rodina, Russia
conan: Mitsushita Jesta Africa 2.0 AWD, Japan
NormanVauxhall: ZM Agadez 2.1 Rafiki, Italy
Oskiinus: Airborne Arthemis, Poland
HighOctaneLove: Bogliq Mouse, Moldova
Packbat: Packbat Auto Works Helvum AX, USA
NiuYorqCiti: POMOCO Ponni Olympus MkII E, USA
trackpaduser: ZSD Roosya 4x4, Russia
harizvet1: Infinity Motor QX 10 1.8, UK
oppositelock: GSI Kilimanjaro, USA
z2bbgr: SBA Jungler, Thailand
JasonPoland: PolMot Gobi, Poland
Leonardo9613: Baltazar Atacama 2050 i, Brazil
Der Bayer: BAM P1100 A, Germany
Madrias: Madrias Baron, USA
TheColoredCow: Rolev Viking, Sweden
Razyx: ManHell Venturi W90, Spain

[size=150][color=#FF0000]Results 25-4 place[/color]: http://www.automationgame.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=75255#p75255[/size]

[size=150][color=#FF0000]Reviews top 3[/color]: http://www.automationgame.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=75331#p75331[/size]

[size=150][color=#FF0000]Top 3 final Results and announcement of challenge winner[/color]: http://www.automationgame.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=75414#p75414[/size]

Pending Revision:

Questions may be asked in the thread. I wish you all the best and most importantly: have fun!

2

Are the new car body mods allowed?

The modpack hasn’t been updated in a while and we have a bunch of new bodies that could be interesting for this challenge.

Edit: Only exception might be the not-defender 2.0, as this might cause issues depending on who has it or not.

3

This looks like real fun! I’ll be submitting my entry soon.

[color=#008000]EDIT:[/color] You may want to add to the accepted bodies the revised 80s boxy off-roader, for a more diverse entries list. DOWNLOAD LINK

Autor’s post: automationgame.com/phpBB3/viewto … 150#p74488

4

Main issue I see with it is that it replaces vanilla content.

So if someone doesn’t want to use mods and uses the vanilla version of it, it might cause some problems if Tycondero has the modified version.

5

This is basically a less restricted version of the scenario Kazakh Taxi, repackaged for competition. Splendid!

6

The 1990 LHE Düefour. Designed in the US by LHE for domestic production in South Africa through a subsidiary company LHE procured at auction. Taking a leftover stock of X4-M90 motors and mating them with leftover stock of low compression pistons from the original X4-M66 engines designing an engine to run on 80 Ron was a breeze.

By re-visiting the orginial Com Star X4c design that LHE started with, they modernized it as cheaply as possible. The only thing LHE did not cheapen out on is the reliability which is paramount to the company’s ethic. To deal with the rough road conditions of South Africa, a manual locker was equipped front and back, off-road tires were equipped. Old stock Com Star X4c chassis which had been stock piled for many years were used as the initial platform for the first few hundred units while the assembly plant was brought online.

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7

[quote=“NiuYorqCiti”]This looks like real fun! I’ll be submitting my entry soon.

[color=#008000]EDIT:[/color] You may want to add to the accepted bodies the revised 80s boxy off-roader, for a more diverse entries list. DOWNLOAD LINK

Autor’s post: automationgame.com/phpBB3/viewto … 150#p74488[/quote]
Sorry, but after a challenge has been submitted I’m not allowed to really revise the rules. Therefore it will stand as is. You may not use any other car bodies or other mods besides vanilla Automation and/or the those included in the Community Mod Pack. This is indeed mainly due to the issue trackpaduser indicates: it would replace vanilla content. This would make my work of getting them in game too much of a headache. Sorry for the inconvenience.

8

Ardent had a small off-roader in its arsenal starting in the late 80’s. Its versatility was proven on trails back home, so a version was developed in 1989 to cater to markets in Africa and Central Asia. This particular version bore one of two special order codes, either “LGF22” or “LGF22A”, depending on whether it had a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. This order code prompted the assembly line to switch in a special low-compression 8-valve variant of the Cygnus-series motors. Often called the “Black Swan” (for its deviation from design protocols, not its grace), it was able to ingest and burn just about anything put in the tank, short of last week’s chili.

1990 Ardent Ozette LX (LGF22A order code)


Though any of the four trims of the tiny Ozette was available with the special order codes, the economic situation in these target markets made the base L and all-wheel drive LX variant far more popular than the “luxury” S and SX trims. Ozette was designed with capability and low ownership cost in mind. While not a beauty visually, it certainly had some attractive points when it was on the market all those years ago.


This particular example is a 1990 Ardent Ozette LX, order code LGF22A, in Jungle Green Clearcoat. This picture was originally posted to the Ardent Owners Forum in the “rare finds” section. It was snapped at a garage in Monrovia, Liberia. It’s our understanding that it’s been used by the second owner, a doctor who works in some of the more remote locations, for the past fifteen years. The poster wasn’t able to get a clear shot of the odometer through the dirt-encrusted side window, but he claims it was reading well over a half million kilometers. It’s further claimed that the little Ozette was a runner, and that it was in the shop only for a brake adjustment and routine fluid changes.

9

Presenting the 1990 Bogliq Mouse

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Small, cheap, reliable and seats 4. The Bogliq Mouse is intended to provide transport cheaply and with little fuss. Get one at your friendly Bogliq dealer today!* :smiley:

*Africa dealers only :laughing:

10

Introducing the all new 1990 Rutland Bittern S1600.

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As an attempt to recover from its financial troubles, Rutland Motors is once again trying something new - their latest model is a simple budget saloon intended for developing markets.

Beneath its simple old-fashioned design hides itself… simple old-fashioned tech. Which, according to Rutland’s researchers, is the way to go for a cheap car. Simplicity, reliability and ruggedness over style, comfort and sophistication (which is “we couldn’t afford to make anything better” translated by the marketing team).

11

Lightstar Industries presents the new 1990 Janus 418A, designed to handle everything from the streets of Johannesburg to the deep wilderness of Tanzania, the Janus is a car that will get you wherever you need, and for a reasonably low price too!

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12

Daiki Automotive introduces all-new 1990 Crosser to the African market.

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The car is a wide-fendered and long-bodied version of the Daiki Ronin, a kei SUV meant for offroading. Unlike its smaller counterpart, this car has a larger engine yet lacks the power of it’s smaller but older sister as this car had to be run on 80 RON instead of 91 RON, and is hardly sporty at all since the company decided not to supply the version with manual transmission to Africa, focusing on comfortable and more economical automatic transmission instead. While the car did go against the company’s motto to make fun cars, it was a necessary sacrifice to sell cars in Africa.

13

Introducing the strangest car ever sent to Africa, the SMC Panther. Intended for the niche market of salt flat runners the SMC Panther was accidentally sent to Africa instead. Developing almost 300 horsepower and achieving a top speed of over 300 Kilometers per Hour with almost no control and absolutely no sanity. We hear it has gained an appreciation and a serious reputation among gun runners and smugglers trying to out run the law.

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SMC would like to note that the lack of door handles is intentional, a nice stick with a string on the end is shipped for opening the locks from a slightly opened window.

We take no responsibility for any harm done to anyone in/near this vehicle.

14

Are emissions taken into account?

15

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Here is the 1963…errrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmm… 1990!!! Desert Motors Olive-ER. This is the Exhaust Restricted version with only 38.7HP, just enough to get the car going at a decent clip if you’re patient enough. This car originally was supposed to use leaded fuel but with some modifications to the valve train and combustion chamber the engine can now safely run on the worst fuels imaginable.

EDIT:Hit submit instead of preview, added things.

16

No, it is 1990s Africa. Emissions standards are not widely accepted nor enforced, though personally from a environmental point of view it would be nice to take it in consideration for any post-70s car. However, it is up to you whether you do something about emissions or not in this challenge. It will not be part in the final score, but might be in the case of a review remark :wink:

17

Here the ZM Agadez 2.1 Rafiki.
A downtuned version of the Znopresk Zanzibar for the african market.

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18

We are now almost over 50% full. We have 12 accepted entries and one pending.

19

Neat! This is a lovely little competition, even though I have to admit I am using the obvious body, but I feel it makes sense for Romanov, here’s why.

After the big revolution, which was a lot less bloody then revolutions usually go, the former pride of the Soviet Union was not only fading, but falling apart, literally.
Everyone at Romanov was aware that planning for the own market in Mother Russia was not the way anymore. Now, because the market for cars in Europe was dominated by the Germans, who were best buddies with the thieves of Alaska from across the Atlantic and because Asia was dominated by the likes of Honda, Toyota and other weird names, Africa was the obvious choice to try and conquer a new market.

Said market, however, was less of a step forward technically, more of a: back to the roots.
Romanov had developed a suitable alternative to the ever present Lada Niva in 1986 already, equipped with a modern 2.0 liter engine and nearly 100 hp. When it became clear that gas stations in Africa were on a quite different level and that fuel quality was an issue, a new engine was developed.

However, putting together a car that was affordable and reliable was not a challenge for Romanov, but something called marketing that had not really played a role before, was suddenly a thing.
The only product from the Soviet Union that was widely known to Africans, was the AK-47, the Avtomatic Kalashnikov, flooding the market after the war in Afghanistan. Not the best of possible associations.
In an attempt to interfere with the situation, Romanov introduced the “exchange your Ak-47 for a Romanov Rodina” project, funded by the UN. Rodina, in russian, means “Motherland”.

20

Be careful where you park that Simon, with that color you might lose your vehicle :stuck_out_tongue:

I like how you did the front and rear lights though, and as usual your back story is a great read :slight_smile: