EcuTek News Flash - Mazda 2010 Second Generation ECU Support

**News Flash** FlashCAN Mazda DISI supports the latest second generation model. Our development vehicle saw improvements of over 50bhp at 4200rpm and peak power was increased from 255bhp to 295bhp, while torque outputs rose from 393Nm to 470Nm at 4200rpm. For more information please email , or to find your nearest EcuTek Dealer please use the Dealer Locator.

Zenkai Motorsports secure a place in the Gymkhana Grid Invitational

Ken Block's Gymkhana Grid media event took place on the 7th and 8th of August 2010. Zenkai motorsports, and driver Thomas Smith competed in this new event using their Time Attack car powered by Crawford Performance and tuned using EcuTek FlashCAN Subaru.

The media event was an open race to anyone, designed to raise awareness for the event and to test the layout and principals of the course. The top 5 drivers to complete the course within the allocated time with the minimum number of course infractions received an invitation to participate in the Ken Block Invitational at the Irwindale Speedway in December. Thomas secured Zenkai Motorsports a place in the invitational, and received this praise from Chris Willard one of the founders of Gymkhana Grid.

"Gymkhana Grid is excited that Subaru of Las Vegas / Zenkai Motorsports is one of the premiere teams invited to compete at the Gymkhana Grid Ken Block Invitational happening at Irwindale Speedway on December 3-4, 2010. We were thrilled with Thomas Smith's driving skills at our opening Gymkhana Grid at Hollywood Park this past weekend. Even considering his brief practice time, Thomas drove the Subaru STI sideways with the best of them all weekend long! The team at Zenkai Motorsports will make a formidable addition to the roster of drivers who are attending the event."

Crawford Performance were the architects of the Gymkhana 1 and 2 cars, and have developed several Gymkhana performance modifications for the 2006 and 2009 Subaru STI, from exhausts and engine kits to brake packages and ECU Remaps using EcuTek FlashCAN Subaru.

Photographs courtesy of Zenkai Motorsports. Course layout courtesy of Gymkhana Grid.

EcuTek Dealer Network News Flash - Lachute Performance Subifest on 4th September 2010

**News Flash** Lachute Performance in Quebec are running a Subifestival on September 4th 2010. Head down to their workshop and enjoy a day of food, drink, dyno and motocross with Canadian legend Ben Milot performing some aerial madness. If you haven't been convinced already, watch this.

Stephan Verdier Racing and Crawford Performance Compete in ESPN X-Games 16

The 16th ESPN X-games took place between July 29th to August 1st at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Stephan Verdier, two time class winner of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, and Formula-D competitor took place in the inaugural Super Rally event this year with a car prepared by Crawford Performance.

Crawford prepared the 600hp 2006 Subaru STI from its Formula-D drift spec to rally specification to compete in this event. Its aftermarket engine management system was replaced by a stock Subaru ECU tuned using Flash2004 and a beta version of EcuTek RaceROM (EcuTek RaceROM is a series of feature enhancements for the Stock ECU).

The Super Rally event is a four car race around an artificial track which runs laps around the LA Coliseum, the fastest of the four runners wins, and all the competitors required to make the unique 70ft jump in during one of their laps. Other than the dirt jump, racers have to navigate steep slopes and repeatedly pass through slim concrete archways barely large enough for a single car!

Stephan came out first in his heat, beating Ken Block, Andrew Comrie-Picard, and Dave Mirra, qualifying 2nd overall, but was not able to stop before the concrete barrier and severely damaged his engine. The team worked to fix the car before and succeeded, getting him to 1st position in the semi-finals.

"Every time I hit the straights the Crawford Performance powered car would pull lengths on the rest of the pack."

Click here for amateur footage of the semi-finals

It was Stephan Verdier, Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan and Samuel Hubinette in the finals. Stephan got off to a bad start, but clawed it back to second position by the end of the first lap, outbreaking Hubinette and Deegan. The battle to take first from Foust lasted for 3 more laps before they both took their "Joker" lap and the 70ft jump. Unfortunately the damage sustained during qualifying took its toll and his car gave out as he landed, losing power and a position to Deegan. Despite an excellent blocking manoeuvre through the last arch, Hubinette overtook on the final straight, leaving him with fourth place.

Click here for ESPN's footage from the Super Rally Final.

"I couldn't help be mad, but after what had happened over the past couple of days, competing in the X-games for the first time and taking home 4th overall was awesome!"

Stephan's car is now being re-prepared to its Formula-D spec ready for the Las Vegas race and we wish him all the best for the rest of the season.

Zenkai Motorsports Race Winning Subaru STi from Crawford Performance.

Zenkai Motorsports took 1st place in the street class at the Super Lap Battle Las Vegas with their Crawford Performance tuned Subaru WRX STi. This car is mapped using FlashCAN Subaru utilising a development version of RaceROM featuring dynamic map switching, enabling the car to use two distinct tunes producing 500bhp in S-mode for practice and testing, and 550 to 560 in S#-mode.

As a testiment to the quality of both Crawford Performance and the driver Thomas Smith, on its first outing it not only won the street class races, but set a new lap record of 1:55.09!

Crawford Performance designed and built both Subaru WRX STi rally cars used in Ken Block's Gymkhana performances.

Visit the Super Lap Battle blog for more information and the schedule.

MRT Tuned Mazdas tuned with EcuTek come 1st and 2nd in class at Bathurst 12 hour race

On its debut outing, the Osborne Motorsport Mazda 3 MPS driven by Hadrian Morrall and Trevor Keene finished 1st in the 12 Hour's Performance class and 8th outright, while drivers Jake Camilleri and Scott Nicholas came a close 2nd in the same class and 10th outright in their Grand Prix Mazda3 MPS. Both cars were tuned by MRT using EcuTek's latest software product FlashCAN Mazda DISI. It was a bittersweet victory for Osborne Motorsport chief Colin Osborne, with his other Mazda 3 MPS driven by himself and Mazda ace Rick Bates forced out of the big race with turbo issues. "To finish on top of the podium on our debut run is just fantastic," said Osborne. "To win our class and finish in the top ten with very little race testing under our belts is a fitting tribute to the incredible team who, over the last couple of months, have moved heaven and earth to prepare these cars." The team's hard work paid off over the weekend, with the winning Mazda 3 MPS having to pit only six times during the 12 hour race.
"We called every pit stop perfectly and on each occasion we were able to capitalise on the safety car, which ultimately led to a fairly significant advantage." "The ultimate objective is to get the best result for the team, irrespective of which car gets it. We showed on the weekend that the Mazda 3 MPS is fundamentally a superb car, which stands us in good stead for a fantastic season of racing." Grand Prix Mazda motorsport manager Graeme Murray hailed his team's performance in the face of what turned out to be a challenging yet ultimately successful campaign. "To finish second on the podium is a fantastic way to kick off the season," said Murray. "We had a few niggling issues with our front Alcon brakes which basically forced us to throw our original pitting strategy out the window, but despite all of this the team pulled together and achieved an excellent result."

EcuTek News Flash for 13 November 2009 - FlashCAN Mitsubishi Diesel update

Kocar Time Attack race in Poland

EcuTek is very pleased to announce that Kocar have won all 4 rounds of the Polish Time Attack race with their Subaru STI 08 tuned using EcuTek. The Time Attack car has been used in the development and proving of the soon to be released EcuTek RACE ROM product. By running the new and powerful EcuTek RACE ROM ECU setup, Kocar ensured they were competitive and dominating during all 4 events. RACE ROM's advanced features like Map Switching, Progressive Launch Control, Per Gear Rev Limits, Per Gear Boost Control and Full Throttle Shifting ensured success over the competition, while running significantly less BHP than most other entrants. The new EcuTek RACE ROM features will be available for all Subaru Drive-By-Wire models in the new year.

The 4th round of the first elimination of Time attack Poland took place on Sunday the 18th of October 2009 on a very wet Poznan track (4.083km). Despite cold and rainy weather, 28 participants took part, competing in everything from modified Mitsubishi EVOs, Subaru Imprezas and Nissan Skylines to highly tuned Toyotas and Porsches. Kocar's relatively standard Subaru STI 08 recorded the best times despite have significantly less power and was able to win because of a great chassis set up and the powerful functionality that RACE ROM has enabled within the standard ECU. Read all about it here: Polish: http://www.timeattack.pl English: http://www.timeattack.pl

EcuTek News update for 8 October 2009 - FlashCAN Mazda DISI released

FlashCAN Mazda DISI is now available to enable mapping of the MZR 2.3 DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) engine. This engine is fitted to all of the Mazda 3/6 turbo 2.3 models from 2005 to 2010, variously named, 3MPS (Europe & Australia), Mazdaspeed3 (US), Axela (Japan), 6MPS, Mazdaspeed6, Atenza from 2007 to the latest Generation 2 model for 2010. In addition this engine is fitted in the CX-7s available in most world markets with the DISI engine.
This new software suite, which has been in development for over 18months, once again, gives the tuner full edit control of the important maps in this hugely complex ECU. The Mazda MPS ECU carefully controls Engine Torque Output by accurately using the throttle butterfly to limit airflow into the engine. Even whilst the accel pedal may be fully depressed the throttle butterfly will only open around 60%. The Torque maps actual reduce Engine Torque Output by closing the throttle in the first four gears, so easy improvements can be made. FlashCAN Mazda DISI allows full access to the Torque Control system and the Torque Based Engine Load Control Strategy. FlashCAN Mazda DISI also provides accurate and high speed CAN Datalogging for easy data analysis.

As part of our test and development work on this car we have been working with WRC Developments in New Zealand who have used this new package to map the official factory  entry for Mazda New Zealand: New Zealand Production Series - Motorsport : Inside Mazda

This project started when the 'Powered By EcuTek' Race car was entered and won the 07-08 Production Series and this success has continued with "our" car winning the 09 series.

Some of the road car results we have achieved can be seen on the DeltaDash data log shown below.

It is clear in the example here that the mapping offers significant increases in recorded engine load and air flow.

This is reflected on the dyno with the stock car showing big power and torque increases across the rev range.

MRT and EcuTek

Once again MRT have shown how to market their range of performance upgrades for the Subaru and Mitsubishi range.

In Australia's top motoring magazine, MRT claimed three of the top four places in a 22 car tuner shoot out on the dyno, track and road.

A very impressive effort and amazing exposure for MRT and EcuTek.

Read all about it here:
http://www.gm3.com.au
http://mrtperformance.com.au/images/stories/resources/magazine/Motor/hottunerchallenge.pdf

EPS Motorsport

One of newest UK partners, David Rowe of EPS Motorsports held a big dyno/mapping event recently details of which can be seen here: http://www.scoobyprojects.co.uk/events/event1.shtml

David recently chose EcuTek as his preferred tool for Subaru mapping.

David's background is that he has been technical Manager for Motec Europe for the last 11 years which took him to the four corners of the planet mapping road and race cars. He has now set up as an independent mapper and consultant.

EPS have equipped themselves with all of our Mitsubishi and Subaru petrol products so is well placed to offer support across the trade, and if anyone knows about mapping David certainly does.

Probably his most high profile work has been the 850bhp Roger Clark Motorsport Gobstopper.
http://www.rogerclarkmotorsport.co.uk/video_player.asp

Axis Engineering in Dubai

This is an article from the Dubai Car magazine Top Performance.

With our help in negotiating with Mitsubishi Dubai, we have been able to help our partner there, Steve Bijok of Axis Engineering secure a deal to help build a range of higher performance EVO X SST models.

EcuTek News update for 25 August 2009 - FlashCAN Subaru Diesel released

Our latest FlashCAN Subaru Diesel product adds EcuTek programming and ROM editing support for the new Subaru Diesel engine. This great new engine is fitted into the Subaru Legacy, Outback and Impreza. With the focus on total manufacturer emissions, this engine will become the one that Subaru want to push sales onto as much as possible. It is already very popular across Europe so expect the US and Japanese markets to follow very soon. The new FlashCAN Subaru Diesel product supports all models. As with any diesel turbo there are huge gains to be had from tuning, but being one of the most recently introduced truly new engines, it uses the latest technology available to control the direct injection. This is an engine that it is simply not possible to fit fuel pressure interceptor boxes to.
As you can imagine we have carried out a huge amount of test and development work on our own vehicle so, as usual, the software comes with some very well sorted example ROM files. We have also been working with a number of partners around the world for the testing of this new engine and in fact have been running a Group N rally car in a manufacturer championship in Europe as part of our development. This is where a huge amount of the value is in EcuTek products. Our development and testing saves you tens if not hundreds of hours of dyno development.

Power shown using our example data file before and after tuning using our example ROM file:

Torque curve shown before and after tuning using our example ROM file:

EcuTek News update for 28 July 2009 - FlashCAN Mitsubishi Colt CZT released

Our latest FlashCAN Mitsubishi Colt CZT product adds support for the Mitsubishi Colt CZT Turbo. This great little car is crying out for more power and now with an upgrade to the FlashCAN software you can tune this pocket rocket. The software supports all turbo models from 2004 to the 2010 current facelift model. We have carried out a lot of test and development work on our own vehicle so, as usual, the software comes with some very well sorted example ROM files.
This new product called FlashCAN Mitsubishi Colt CZT does currently only support the European specification vehicles with an air flow meter. However the New Colt Ralliart (below) now utilises an air flow meter and we believe that this vehicle is being rolled out across the world. When it is, we can support markets such as the Far East, Japan and Australasia. Perhaps it will be launched in the US as well. For those markets currently getting the JDM version of this model, please keep an eye on your manufacturer website to see when the new car is coming. If it has an air flow meter then we support this model.

Power shown using our example data file before and after tuning using our example ROM file:

Torque and boost curve shown before and after tuning using our example ROM file:

EcuTek News update for 3 July 2009

At last we are allowed to officially announce that we have been the technical partner on the entire FQ project for Mitsubishi Motors in the UK.

The FQ range has meant development of the models:
FQ300 Manual
FQ330 Manual
FQ360 Manual
FQ300 SST
FQ330 SST

And finally the astonishing FQ400 which we believe to hold the record for the highest specific power output per litre of any production car ever sold. It must be true, it is on Wikipedia! All of these FQ models retain the standard ECU but utilise EcuTek software.

Development testing of both the car and the software was carried out simultaneously by our partner in New Zealand WRC Developments. Having a car available to us there meant that we were able to carry out almost 24 hour a day development. WRC testing during our nights with us updating and developing the software during their nights. In addition to our testing, a race car was built for Mitsubishi but with totally stock FQ400 spec engine and mapping. This engine completed two 24 hours races.

Mitsubishi EVO X at the BritCar 24 Hour race at Silverstone 21st/22nd September 2008

EcuTek are pleased to be able to announce it's involvement in the Official Mitsubishi UK race programme.

Mitsubishi UK decided that the best place to publicise the strength and power of the EVO X is in endurance racing.

They commissioned a car build by ADR Motorsport and EcuTek was asked to produce a 400bhp package for the engine capable of running for 24 hours.

http://www.adrmotorsport.com/news.php?newsid=46

The request was that the engine remain completely standard apart from external modifications.

We took the brief so seriously that we did not change the spark plugs, nor did we lift the cam cover or remove the sump. We changed the oil, fitted a new turbo and higher flow injectors. The engine is totally stock, it using the stock air filter and airbox and a high flow exhaust with catalyst.

The car competed in it's first event last weekend at the Britcar 24 Hour race at Silverstone.

Like all new car builds everything was last minute. The car missed qualifying and as it crossed the line for the start of the race it had completed a grand total of 5 laps and for one of those it was on fire!! (the turbo oil feed pipe union failed).

The single aim of entering this race was to prove the endurance of the car and not to worry about position.

The bare fact that the car finished in 25th place does not do justice to it's performance. The final position was due to a fuel tank problem which meant we could neither fill the tank up or run it to empty, meaning we had to pit 45 times compared to others who pitted as little as 9 times.

It produced a fastest lap 30 minutes from the start and again 30 minutes from the end. That shows its class. It completed 1651 miles (2657kms) without an engine hitch.

We ran a PC in the car and using FlashCAN we datalogged the whole race. We were able to use remote desktop via GPRS to access this PC and analyse the log files. This allowed us to make changes to the ROM file during the race and then program a spare ECU in the garage and when the car came in for a pit stop we could change the ECU.

We only had to do this three times as we made some fuel and boost trims.

David Power / EcuTek

EcuTek News update for 1 September 2008 - FlashCAN Mitsubishi Diesel released

EcuTek are pleased to announce the launch of the full editing and programming FlashCAN Mitsubishi Diesel software suite for the current Mitsubishi Diesel 2.5 and 3.2 litre 4 cylinder engine vehicle ECUs. These vehicles are variously named L200 or Triton and Shogun or Pajero in different markets around the world. L200 - Triton 2.5 and 3.2 models range from 2005 to current and Shogun - Pajero models are supported from 2006 with the introduction of the Di-DC Direct Injection Common rail engines. In 2008 the Shogun - Pajero model is additionally fitted with the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter). This model is also supported. We currently support over 50 different ECUs from around the world.
The software also features the ability to read and clear all DTCs. Another highly valuable part of this product is our detailed explanations of the maps and also the tuning methods that we have employed. For those tuners with limited diesel tuning experience we offer the product that you need to help you understand, what is becoming a very important sector of the tuning industry. Diesel injection systems are now very complex and like their petrol equivalents, require mapping of the factory data. Due to the amount of closed loop checks and air flow and smoke limits , it is no longer possible to fit the cheap "smoke boxes" which fool the ECU into jacking up the fuel pressure.

We have seen dramatic power and torque improvements from both the 2.5 and the 3.2 and also recorded improved fuel consumption.

Figures we have are:

For the 2.5 Di-DC
136PS goes to 175PS with torque increases from 314Nm to 390Nm

For the 3.2 Di-DC
158PS goes to 200PS with torque increasing from 360Nm to 430Nm