Shaun's Mira Micromachine
This is my 1996 Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Avanzato R4. The name is a real mouthful I know, but I can assure you that the performance on tap in this wee tot is anything but mediocre. 64HP and 100Nm of torque are the factory figures for this micromachine. Now I know you are saying...64HP, 100Nm...you have to be joking! You call that performance! Well people, I kid you not, if you now combine that with its feather weight of around 700kg.
The engine is an extraordinary piece of work. When people open the bonnet and peer into the engine bay the usual response is..."Look how tiny it is! Is it a one litre?" Then I reply... "No, it's actually 659cc"...I tell ya, the look on the their faces is something else. So anyway, getting back to the engine, its a 659cc 4 cylinder fuel injected intercooled turbo that runs 11psi in standard form. Another unique feature of the Mira is that it utilises a ball-bearing turbo which means plenty of low down punch...
especially for those ultra quick 4WD launches and at any other time, next to no lag. Rest assured that there are big plans for my engineering marvel of the automotive world. To give you an idea of the Mira's potential, a simple made-to-measure turbo kit, fifth injector and controller, and more boost, will have you flying down the 1/4 mile for a mid to high 12 second pass. So you can now appreciate the "absolutely nuts" factor that this particular Daihatsu has. For my particular requirements, the made-to-measure kit idea has been given the flick so to speak. Hell, I'm pulling out the big guns for this project...racing turbo, custom header, MoTeC M4 pro,

and other evil modifications are in the pipeline...so stay tuned. About the only thing I don't like about my car, in standard form that is, is the unnecessarily large distance between the tarmac and the car. In short, the ride is just too damn high!!! This however, is about to change very shortly with the installation of a lovely set of Take Off springs and Daihatsu Racing Services struts and shocks.