It seems Steve’s Auto Clinic is keen on providing tuning packages for all of South Africa’s major bakkie players. And the local tuner seems just as keen on thinking up bizarre names to go along with each upgrade.
First we had the “Texas Walker” package for the Ford Ranger. Then came the “Mission Impossible” upgrade for the Volkswagen Amarok. And the latest? The “Lekker Ou Jan” package for the Isuzu KB300 D-TEQ.
Steve’s Auto Clinic says the upgrade frees “anything between 70 and 110 N.m of additional torque” from the bakkie’s 3,0-litre turbodiesel heart thanks to the fitment of a Unichip Q4/PowerPlug system.
The package allows for various maps to override the standard fuel injector settings for “improved fuel consumption or greater performance”, while also monitoring engine temperature.
The tuning company says fitting the package increases engine power by up to 40 kW (for a maximum of 170 kW) and torque from 380 N.m to around 490 N.m. An in-cabin switch allows the driver to toggle between different performance maps on the fly, choosing between a variety of pre-programmed settings.
As with other similar systems offered by the tuner, there are five pre-programmed performance maps on offer, from a security map, a standard map and a fuel consumption map to a “4×4 and Towing” setting and a full-power setting.
A “throttle boost option” has also been added, which the tuner says “ensures smooth acceleration and improved throttle response, regardless of engine speed”. This apparently also removes a flat-spot Steve’s Auto Clinic says many D-TEQ owners have experienced.
So, what’s with the “Lekker Ou Jan” name?
“We chose the name ‘Lekker Ou Jan’ as homage to the trusty old plaasbakkies that we all know. From early days, Isuzu has established itself as a manufacturer of trusty and reliable bakkies and the KB300 remains a very popular option,” said Stephen Fischer, founder and CEO of the SAC Group.
