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In my anticipation and excitement for my car, I am always asking Neil Yates questions about the Murtaya. He is always happy to answer (no
matter how strange the question), and for all the work he does in satisfying my curiosity, the least I could do is
post some of my questions and his answers here for other people to read (and thus saving him needing to answer such questions again :) ).
*It should be noted that some of these answers are over a year old and might very well be out of date now.
Also, some answers might just pertain to certain builds (like mine). |
October 22nd, 2007 |
Q: |
Can an automatic transmission be installed in a Murtaya? |
A: |
Auto transmission is no problem, this will package straight into the Murtaya
if that were the drive train of choice. |
August 13th, 2007 |
Q: |
Is the Murtaya available with ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System)? |
A: |
We can fit ABS as fitted to the original Impreza, we just need to source a
suitable ABS enabled donor. [Ed. - It should be noted that--as far as I
have found--no DCCD-equipped Imprezas from the GC generation had ABS...] |
Q: |
What are the options as far as side-view mirrors? |
A: |
Wing mirrors, well of course they can be specified by the customer as to the
style which they prefer but the position at the a-pillar/door interface is
fixed. |
Q: |
Are you sick of seeing Murtayas? |
A: |
You know, sometimes running a small start up business, especially one as
challenging as designing and manufacturing a car from scratch can be pretty
damn stressful (and I have the bags under the eyes to show for it!) but EVERY
TIME I feel a bit down about things taking the blue beauty [Ed. - i.e.,
demo Murtaya] for a quick spin makes it all worthwhile. Combined with the
thought of a train of cars heading to Le Mans next summer, and more cars out
winning rallies and all in all no, I am in no way sick of seeing them! |
April 12th, 2007 |
Q: |
Where did you get the name Murtaya? |
A: |
In answer to one of your questions from a little while ago (which I forgot that I had not answered until taking a peek at the new site!);-
Murtaya: MUiRTAylorYAtes
Yep, not very original but a name that I came up with after many, many hours trying to find an appropriate name for our creation.
In the end the names of the three directors, shuffled around a bit and made to sound different and cool. So now you know!
[Ed. - I would have guessed it was the name of a mythological god
myself, but now I know. To further expand on the description, the
components of the name are from Daniel Muir, designer of the Murtaya (not to
mention certain Lotus and Aston Martin models); Tom Taylor, production
director and engineer; and of course Neil Yates, managing director of AMS.
Thanks for the explanation, Neil!] |
February 12th, 2007 |
Q: |
Will the turn indicator be on the left side of the stalk for my car? |
A: |
Indicators will be as per the demo car.
[Ed. - That is, on the right side of the steering column, which might take a little getting used to for us US folk...] |
Q: |
Is there still a choice of soundproofing levels? |
A: |
Soundproofing, you can have as much or little as you
like. Other than the carpets the demo car has none!
[Ed. - Which is pretty good, since it wasn't hard to talk/listen in the demo car, even with top off and speeds in triple digits...] |
Q: |
Does it get warm inside the cockpit from the engine? I
know it was perfectly comfortable when we took it out, but I was wondering if heat was coming from the engine compartment? |
A: |
The heat that you experienced in the car is all from
the heater, we do not suffer heat soak from the engine bay. The only area that gets even a little hot is the bulkhead behind the turbo, this is
protected with special heat reflective material to prevent soak. |
Q: |
I don't remember seeing a windshield washer, but wasn't
there a windsheild washer button on the steering column stalk controls? |
A: |
Washers, yes they are there! And will be on your car too. |
January 25th, 2007 |
Q: |
I just read TotalKitCar.com and they talked about the
first Murtaya rolling chassis being delivered next week. They mentioned that it was still in its original GRP black color (wasn't the demo car originally
a gray in it's GRP form? Are the new GRP bodies going to be black? |
A: |
The black tub has actually been done as a trial for your car. |
December 17th, 2006 |
Q: |
The buttons on the console seem to light up, right? |
A: |
The buttons on the dash have two stage lights in them,
when you put the headlights or sidelights on they illuminate soft blue, and then when you switch a component on they come up in a brighter blue. |
December 13th, 2006 |
Q: |
What parts of the car have color options besides the body? |
A: |
The interior trim can be coloured to your requirements,
alcantara inserts, main dashtop and tunnel trimming and carpets are all free for you to choose (Just to add to the sleepless nights of mulling things over!).
Other options on colour include the hardtop (black or to match body colour), wheels, and front subframe which comes in black powdercoat as standard but
could be coloured if you want to create a 'show' engine bay. |
October 10th, 2006 |
Q: |
Have you given rides to reporters/prospective owners yet? |
A: |
Journalist test drives are due to start toward the end
of this week (the first one on the Brands Hatch race track). We have been road testing the first car. |
August 20th, 2006 |
Q: |
Are the doors half-doors? Do they swing out, or up? |
A: |
The doors are quite shallow as we have gained great strength and rigidity
in the tub from the deeper sill section, however access is straight forward as the doors open out quite a long way providing a decent size door opening. |
Q: |
How does the clamshell open for engine access? Does it
swing forward, or is it just lifted and removed? |
A: |
The whole clamshell hinges forwards for access to the
engine bay making routine servicing far easier than on the standard Impreza, particularly for spark plug changes. |
Q: |
Also, there are transparent covers over the lights, correct? |
A: |
We will be supplying light covers and suitable
adhesives in the boot of each car, what the owners choose to do with these is up to them.
[Ed. - These are now a price option.] |
August 4th, 2006 |
Q: |
What is the pronunciation of the name? Mur-TAH-yah? |
A: |
You are spot on with the name, and the story behind
this will come out shortly!
[Ed. - Still waiting for the explanation, Neil! :) ] |
June 29th, 2006 |
Q: |
So was that really a 208 bhp test mule that went
0-100kph in 4.2-4.3? Or was that a typo and you were referring to a 280 bhp mule? |
A: |
No typo, 208bhp NOT 280bhp. |
Q: |
Also, I'm curious: will my car be left hand or right hand drive? |
A: |
LHD/RHD, up to you, whichever you prefer. |
May 2nd, 2006 |
Q: |
Actually, even if you aren't ready to start exporting
the AMS1 to the US, could I still submit a reservation and deposit so if (and hopefully when) you are able to sell them in the US, I can be near the top of the list? |
A: |
We are now taking reservations for US cars (one already
received). The export situation is as follows, we can get a car to you pretty much straight away if you were happy to deal with the registration once it
has cleared customs, or wait a little longer for us to have everything in place to provide you with a ready to go vehicle.
From my understanding at present it will be straightforward for a resident to register a vehicle that they have
bought as a kit, or a turn key car that they have imported as a personal import from Europe.
In summary there is no problem at all in building a car to the specification that you require and in getting it over to the US
for you. The transportation can be handled either by air or sea as our shipping agent can arrange both. Shipping is cheaper but takes longer. The
registration can be taken care of either by you, or with a slightly longer wait by us. You are of course welcome to place a reservation now allowing us
to sort out the details of your build as the time approaches. |
Q: |
Is the basic AMS1 just a topless roadster? It sounds
like a folding softtop is optional, but will a removable hardtop version be available? |
A: |
The AMS1 comes as standard with a soft top hood
arrangement. There is also an optional hardtop available.
[Ed. - Since this reply was given, this has changed somewhat: either a hardtop or softtop will be supplied with the kit;
adding the other top is an option.] |
Q: |
Will you be using drivetrains from STi models (Europe,
Japan, Australia, US or otherwise) that have limited slip front diffs (along with the limited slip rear and limited slip/adjustable center diffs)? |
A: |
The drivelines will be the Japanese domestic
specification items that can include the limited slip front diffs, depending on what people want. |
May 2nd, 2006 |
Q: |
How much of the old Impreza do you
use for the AMS1? Do you use any of the frame (considering the AMS1's monocoque construction)? How about the interior? |
A: |
The monocoque is all new, nothing of the Impreza shell is retained.
Parts required as follows; engine, gearbox, rear differential including nose mount, propshaft (exchange item as it needs to be shortened), steering column
(exchange item as it needs to be lengthened), front and rear uprights complete with discs and calipers, radiator, instrument binalcle and
switchgear (which mounts into our own dashboard moulding), fuel tank and pumps, exhaust manifold, up pipe, turbo and downpipe, boot lock, striker
plate and in car release. There are some further sundries but I think that this gives you a good idea. The car has been engineered to be a true one
donor kit with everything that is not from the Impreza being included in the kit from us. |
Q: |
It's always mentioned that
the previous generation Impreza cars are the donor vehicles...I assume that the newer Imprezas cannot be suitable donor vehicles? |
A: |
The donor car is the version 2 to 6 Impreza, however
the newer V7-9 cars can be used with some minor modifications. We can support people with advice on this but the basic design is around the earlier cars.
Anyone who is reasonably adept with a set of spanners could use a later car instead. |
Q: |
As far as using up a USDM
2.5L turbo engine in a turn-key AMS1, will the owner be responsible for finding the 2.5L engine, or does Adrenaline Motorsport have to such engines? |
A: |
We can supply donor cars for customers, or source any
specification of car as required for a fully built vehicle. |
Q: |
What do you expect the
prices to be for some of the upper-level trims of the AMS1? |
A: |
The plush interiors (leather etc) will be towards the
£30 GBP mark. This really would need costing to an individual specification for a client however as there are so many variables that would impact on this figure.
A car with 350 bhp, a six speed DCCD gearbox, front mounted intercooler etc etc will cost approximately £30k GBP Ex works. this figure will obviously
depend on exactly what spec is required, and is based upon a new vehicle. This figure could be reduced by using a donor car and building from there,
perhaps only reconditioning some key components.
[Ed. -
Look at an initial pricing list here.] |
Q: |
What are you going to call the AMS1? |
A: |
As for the name.................you will have to wait
for that one I am afraid!!!
[Ed. - And wait I did...but now we all know what the Murtaya's name is, don't we?] |
April 11th, 2006 |
Q: |
Are you planning to export a turn-key model to the US
in the near future? |
A: |
The kit of parts is no problem, a turn key car still
needs final work to be US compliant, but we will be there, hopefully in the not too distant future.
[Ed. - since this post, obviously the Murtaya is now US compliant, since the first turn-key model is in fact headed there...] |
Q: |
Would the AMS1 be compatible with a late model (2004+) USDM STi with the turbocharged 2.5 liter engine? I truly enjoy the torque and low-end response of this engine and-based on personal experience-prefer
it over the ej20t engines... |
A: |
The US 2.5 engine will be a straightforward fitment to
the vehicle as the EJ20 engine, whilst plentyful in supply in Europe, has less tuning potential than the 2.5, and as you mention the characteristics of
the 2.5 mean that it will really turn our car into a rocketship!! The 260 bhp EJ20 WRX engine already makes for, (how should I put it?) more than adequate
performance!! |
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