Mitsubishi Colt Clubcab 2.4i
Performance Cylinder Heads | Power Conversions | Unichip Tuning

So, lets get back to our fully accessorised 4x4 dilemma. What can we expect? 'Depending on the vehicle, you can expect power gains from up to 10% up, and a noticeable saving in fuel consumption." Says Mark. 'But you must remember that the added power will only serve to have the vehicle performing as it was before all the accessories and gadgets were fitted. It does vary from vehicle to vehicle.

The buffs from Steve's Auto Clinic were excited about the prospects of a serious off-roading venue where we could test the Xtreme Machines Colt Clubcab with the SAC engine conversion.Like mentioned in the previous issue, the Colt now boasts 90kW of power at the wheels, and almost 50Nm of torque more than in standard guise. We have also spent some serious time behind the steering wheel since the last issue, and we can now confirm that this Colt has come into a league of it's own when it comes to highway driving.

First off, our fuel consumption figures reflect a true 11Km per litre of petrol, and that is on an urban cycle. Highway driving will see almost the same figure, and if you really drive hard, it will come down to about 9Km per litre. The ability of the Colt to now cruising comfortably at 130Km/h in fifth gear, even uphill, is what really impressed us. It simply refuses to lose speed up a hill in fifth, and it will even accelerate when you put your foot down, and this on a big 4x4.

So off we went in search of a mighty hill or two to go climb. Now the Colt comes standard with a super select 4-wheel drive system that boasts high and low range, and has a rear locking diff. All this makes for excellent off roading capability, but as anyone will be able to tell you, without enough power, it won't really be effective.

Enter the SAC engine conversion. Aside from excellent power production, the SAC conversion has also meant amazingly fast throttle response is quick and very direct , which means that should you need power to manhandle the Colt out of a hole or two, it is readily available on demand. The architecture of the SAC engine conversion, along with the already great characteristics of the Colt, has created a very formidable off roading vehicle. While the standard engine was inherently balanced, the SAC engine is fine tuned to perfection aiding in the smooth power delivery to the wheels. The noise levels inside the cab whilst driving has remained almost the same as before the conversion, with only a subtle powerful grunt now evident from the free-flow exhaust system. 

We would also like to mention the fact that the boys at Steve's Auto Clinic picked up a gearbox oil leak while the vehicle was there for the engine conversion, and that they went out of their way to fix the problem for us. Although this leak had nothing to do with the engine conversion, SAC decided to fix the problem under their 20 000km / 6 month 'Why Worry Warranty', at no cost to us. Our long term experience with the SAC group has been a very satisfying experience. They are dedicated and professional in both their services and products offered, and we can recommend them to any motorists as a first class service destination. 

The Colt has become a much more rounded off package thanks to the SAC conversion. Our confidence in the engine conversion has grown from day to day, and with the knowledge that there is a SAC branch in any major city in South Africa, back up service is just a phone call away.