ROUTEMAP 2019

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GALLERY 2019

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BORNEO SAFARI PHILIPPINE QUALIFIER 2019

CAR OF THE YEAR 2018

Cruiser Reinvented

This immaculately modified Toyota Land Cruiser is very much a DIY product of its owner, Chang Ket Kiong who is a diehard fan of the extreme offroading sport in Sabah. Hails from Kota Marudu, the birthplace of many hardcore and extreme 4WD cars, Chang has been in this field of motorsports for more than 30 years, so much so that his son, Alex Chang, has grown up helping him at the workshop and now acts as his trusted co-driver in off road adventure.

Japan's biggest car manufacturer, Toyota, is known for the quality build of their cars. One car that has stood the test of time and the gruelling road conditions in Sabah is none other than the mighty Toyota Land Cruiser. From its first generation to the latest generation, Land Cruiser has always been associated with toughness and reliability but most recent advancement in design and technology has seen this car catapult to the top of the pyramid as the daily car for successful people in Sabah. But technology has its downfall. Too much computer aided features and electronic gadgetries in modern Land Cruisers make things kinda complicated for life in the harsh jungle roads. The older Land Cruiser models are still sought after for offroad driving thanks to the easy to repair mechanical parts and simplicity in every aspect of the car.

So, what made this car stood out in last year’s Borneo Safari? A quite glance of the car reveals nothing spectacular but when you zoom into the details, some of the modifications are work of ingenuity and ideas that came from years of experiences.

The top modification for this Land Cruiser is the integration of Unimog 406 portal or drop axles which is a rare choice for sure. Built by Mercedes-Benz, out of the 36,000 models ever built, only a handful made it to Malaysia but mostly are found in scrapyards or dumped aside. To others, these are metals bound for scrap but to certain people, especially the avid 4WD enthusiasts, the Unimog 406 is a hiddem gem, the axles to be exact. Modifying a portal axle is so costly that having done it, you instantly become a legend. And Chang DIYed these axles into his Land Cruiser all by himself. That’s the beauty when you are your own mechanic. Clearing obstacles has just gone a level higher!

A lot are said about the 80 Series Land Cruiser or popularized as Ninja here in Sabah. It is the weapon of choice for people wanting space and comfort in gruelling road conditions. Talking about space, Ninja surely tops it all. Finding all the 4WD goodies in this Ninja is tough. Everything has been tucked into available spaces so nothing can be seen inside the cabin. Goodies such as the ARB air compressor and the custom made air tank are hidden in the rear side storages. So, there's plenty of space for storing food, drinks and other stuffs easily.

The 80 Series comes in either a 12-valve or 24-valve and this Ninja relies on the 12-valve engine to power this heavyweight monster. To garner more power and torque as compensation for the added weights, the engine capacity is increased from 94 mm to 100 mm using Sakura pistons. The original turbocharger remains stock for quick responses but the boost is tuned to 1.4 bar using 15B fuel injectors for more juices from a tuned fuel pump.

When it comes to winching, nothing beats the power of a super winch. Chang engineered his super winch using Surf’s axle and back up with an electric Runva winch. Moving this monstrous Ninja requires equally monstrous rubber. The Maxxis Trepador 40 inches tyres are the perfect match in terms of looks and performance.

Exterior wise, the protective bars are handsomely fitted using Peak bull bar, SPC rear bumper and a custom made side step incorporated to the Peak bar. One unique feature on both front and rear bumpers is the modified mini ladder to assist climbing. Checking the engine is just one foot on the ladder with this feature. Chang really knows his stuffs when it comes to building the perfect off road machine.

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Event Magazine 2019

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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

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