matrix news (trd supercharger? beats WRX in comparison test, new times)

[t2000gts]

posting the latest happenings from matrixvibe.net

1) someone posted the matrix won a sportwagon shootout in May 2002 issue of motortrend. it beat the Protege 5 and the WRX wagon. more interior space, 0-60 in 7.26, quarter in 15.67 @ 91.97mph and stopped in 114ft from 60-0. 66.9mph for 600ft slalom. lots of nice things to say about it.

2) in the may '02 issue of road and track this time, there's supposed to be an ad from toyota about a Matrix pace car. new ECM, je pistons, valve springs, a supercharger (!!!?!?! i'm gonna go out and see if i can buy the issue today) that boost output from 180 to 247 hp @ 7400rpm (so it's a 2ZZ), clutch, LSD, new brakes, shocks, coilovers, BBS wheels, bridgestone s-03 tires...

WTF @ #2. i'll see if i can find that issue and post whatever i can later today.

[jotan82]

scan and post pix!

[CelicaDetective]

It's in the May Car & Driver. It's a 2 page advertisement by Toyota. It will be the PACE CAR for a particular racing division. Doesn't say anything about it being available to the public or for sale - and I doubt it would be in that form.

I saw the Matrix at Toyota (dealer) last night in person... it looks great, and the interior space is amazing. I'd buy it if I had rugrats :)

Mike

[ringthree]

How can a Matrix beat the WRX wagon when the Matrix is heavier than the Celica and the WRX wagon is lighter than the WRX? That doesn't make sense at all.

[VZV21]

A WRX wagon only weights about 60 to 80 lbs more than the sedan, how it add over 1.5 seconds to the 0-60 acceleration times? It's not drag, I can tell you that (speeds not high enough)

[coOOlcelica]

scan the article........

[TheX-Man]

It didn't beat the wrx in speed but they rated it higher on other things.

[BRAK]

Maybe .... just maybe ..... (a tear) TRD is comming around??!! and opening there eyes??
(gets on the floor and prays)

[t2000gts]

no scanner, but i can type it all up it's on page 140

the pace car pic is a drawing, it's green with a yellow bottom, doesn't look like any special matrix body kit...

The first few paragraphs are some blah background info on the grand prix of long beach for the CART/FedEx Championship Series...and some **** about Champ Cars...

Then mentions the Matrix XRS and stuff about the car including 2ZZ specs ("smooth-revving twin-cam, which redlines at 8000 rpm")

Then it says "to qualify as pace cars, CART has decreed that road car candidates must be capable of doing at least 120mph". which is no problem, all the toyota/lexus pace cars are geared to reach 140-150mph. It says their 4 cylinder matrix and 6-cylinder solara and IS300 are supercharged to make 247 to 275hp depending on the car's weight. I guess that's so it's powerful enough to be a pace car.

Here's the one you've been all waiting for:

"Although essentially stock, the car's 1.8-liter 2ZZ twin-cam 4-cylinder powerplant sports a modified electronic control module, forged JE pistons, stiffer valve springs and a TRD supercharger that boosts output from 180 to 247 bhp @ 7400 rpm. Because of the substantial increase in horsepower, the Matrix pace car uses a Centerforce racing clutch and TRD limited slip differential that enables this front-drive CUV [crossover utility vehicle] to get a better grip on the track surface. The stock Matrix MacPherson strus front/torsion beam rear suspension has been upgraded too and now features Eibach racing coil springs and Bilstein shock absorbers. Although the stock Matrix MRX (? mrx? typo for XRS?) four-wheel disc brakes are more than adequate for road use, the rigors of a pace car usage call for something more--huge Brembo 4-piston disc brakes (14 inch in front, 12.9 in rear) with floating calipers and ventilated rotors. For crisper handling and to enhance appearance, the stock Matrix 16x6.5 wheels have been replaced by BBS 19.0x8.5 alloys shod with Bridgestone Potenza SO-3 Pole Position 245/39-ZR19 radials."

Then says some stuff about body kit, paint job, etc. that's done by MOLLY DESIGNS (like the celebrity celicas i guess).

I wonder, has a 7th gen Celica ever been used for a pace car? I guess they never had the supercharger up til now. Glad it's a Matrix, but a Celica would've looked cooler as a pace car cuz the F1/Champ Cars were a design influence on the shape.

[Kit99bar]

thanks for posting that t2000gts!

man do you guys think TRD will actually sell the
new ecu, forged Pistons, and stiffer valve springs?
(I'm not even asking about the supercharger LOL)

[Brett]

Woah, very cool info. Thanks for posting that.

[bgreganti]

I'd just be happy if they sold that stuff under the Kazuma brand. Who needs a warranty, when you can have boost!

[Keyshawn]

Great info! I'll haveta check these new mags out! Now if TRD would actually make that supercharger available to the public, they'd actually be doing something that makes sense, for once. ;)

[6SPDGTS]

Originally posted by VZV21
A WRX wagon only weights about 60 to 80 lbs more than the sedan, how it add over 1.5 seconds to the 0-60 acceleration times? It's not drag, I can tell you that (speeds not high enough)

its only .1-.3 slower I dont know where you got this info from.

[static]

IF I EVER get beaten by a matrix, I'm driving my car into the nearest wall.

[gts24]

This is awesome and everything. But I still can't abide the fact that Toyota Feels the need to do this stuff to that "thing" over our car. :rolleyes: :thumbdown
I don't care, our car looks so much better than that thing. To me it's just another damn station wagon. whatever.

[VZV21]

Originally posted by 6SPDGTS


its only .1-.3 slower I dont know where you got this info from.
It was in reference to t2000gts' first post:

posting the latest happenings from matrixvibe.net

1) someone posted the matrix won a sportwagon shootout in May 2002 issue of motortrend. it beat the Protege 5 and the WRX wagon. more interior space, 0-60 in 7.26, quarter in 15.67 @ 91.97mph and stopped in 114ft from 60-0. 66.9mph for 600ft slalom. lots of nice things to say about it.

[t2000gts]

Originally posted by static
IF I EVER get beaten by a matrix, I'm driving my car into the nearest wall.

equal drivers considered:

stock vs. stock, it's GT-S no contest. almost 200+lbs. of weight.

modded XRS vs. stock GT-S and it starts to get a little close.

if someone pulled a maelfyn and stripped their bolt-on XRS, it'll be REAL close. also it'd probably be more consistent...easier to land shifts cuz of the higher limiter and different shifter setup allegedly.

it's like having an Integra Type R lose to a Civic Type R...that's basically what it is, they took the Corolla Fielder from japan which has the EXACT same specs and trims (corolla hatchback with 2ZZ + 6-speed? where have we seen that idea before?), and even looks the same, and messed with the shape, made it a little more utilitarian, and started defying categorization.

[David Draper]

Originally posted by Keyshawn
Great info! I'll haveta check these new mags out! Now if TRD would actually make that supercharger available to the public, they'd actually be doing something that makes sense, for once. ;)

Already called:

-Car doesn't run yet, or at least it didn't as of a week ago, and

-Won't be available to the public. It's a one-off, same as every other interesting thing they do :(

-(total speculation) It may appear at the SEMA show. I will look.

Annoying!

[Keyshawn]

Originally posted by David Draper


Already called:

-Car doesn't run yet, or at least it didn't as of a week ago, and

-Won't be available to the public. It's a one-off, same as every other interesting thing they do :(

-(total speculation) It may appear at the SEMA show. I will look.

Annoying!

Hehe, I feel the same way, David!

[gts24]

Annoying? how bout getting ****ing old.

TRD is a damn joke. I mean, people complain about Greddy, (myself included) but what the hell has Turdy done for us?

NOTHIN. The stuff we have is just **** they buy from other companies and market as TURDY ****.

It's gettin old. We all know this Matrix is gunna be just like the damned matrix in SCC. A one hit wonder.

[larryd]

Originally posted by static
IF I EVER get beaten by a matrix, I'm driving my car into the nearest wall.

hahaha..

[Maelfyn]

I think TRD makes great decisions personally. They make **** that is good for a Celica. Suspension. Looks. These are the Celica strong points. .... and reliability. :)

[mac340]

i was just reading a motortrend that had a comparison between the WRX wagon, Matrix and the MP5 and its said the redline on the matrix was 9000! what the hell is up with that?

[The Game]

Originally posted by Maelfyn
I think TRD makes great decisions personally. They make **** that is good for a Celica. Suspension. Looks. These are the Celica strong points. .... and reliability. :)

I completely agree with you on that!

:werd:

[David Draper]

Originally posted by Maelfyn
I think TRD makes great decisions personally. They make **** that is good for a Celica. Suspension. Looks. These are the Celica strong points. .... and reliability. :)

I feel the same way, but since they have the ability to produce high-end parts, I wish they would deem it suitable to have a division that would sell the parts and/or installation....like an unofficial Super Speed Shop or something that had their input and expertise, but no real ties to Toyota....

Right now, you can't even get them to build anything for you unless you've already had a successful race team for a few years....

[Keyshawn]

Originally posted by David Draper
...since they have the ability to produce high-end parts, I wish they would deem it suitable to have a division that would sell the parts and/or installation....like an unofficial Super Speed Shop or something that had their input and expertise, but no real ties to Toyota....

Right now, you can't even get them to build anything for you unless you've already had a successful race team for a few years....

Agreed.:burnout:

[yakkosmurf]

Kind of sounds like Toyota used the 7th gen Celica as a test platform for a new drivetrain they wanted to put in a vehicle they could sell with more hype and profitability.

[6SPDGTS]

I see your point a little yakko but I dont believe it completly. Sales of this generation of the celica have been great so this is what makes me believe what you say isnt completly true.

[Keyshawn]

Originally posted by 6SPDGTS
I see your point a little yakko but I dont believe it completly. Sales of this generation of the celica have been great so this is what makes me believe what you say isnt completly true.

Yeah, sales for the 7th gen Celica are far, far better than the dismal numbers from the previous gen.

[Dealer Xing]

The interior material and quality of parts were much better for the 6th gen though.

[yakkosmurf]

That is very true. I don't think that's the only reason for the 7th gen, I just thought it might be one of their goals for it being the way it is.

[6SPDGTS]

Originally posted by yakkosmurf
That is very true. I don't think that's the only reason for the 7th gen, I just thought it might be one of their goals for it being the way it is.


Ya def Yakko look at all the platform sharing that is going on throughout all of the car companies now. I am sure Toyota knows this and will use the engine and other parts from the celica in the future as well. I just cant wait for an mr2 with the GTS engine in it.
If toyota is ever smart enough to do this.

[t2000gts]

of course. and they also tested out the sportshift/paddle shifter from the IS and MR2 Spyder in the celica too.

toyota always introduces their new crap in the celica. always has, always will.