As the new boy at Unichip Europe, its always exciting to learn about new products and how they actually make a difference. Selling a product to customers based on the known performance gains is not the same as really seeing the differences for yourself. Which is why our MD Richard handed me the keys to our latest Unichip installation on a Toyota Landcruiser. Having dealt with numerous customers in the office, handing over keys on a huge number of Landcruisers over the last month I asked Richard why this was one of our best selling products – did it actually make that much of a difference?

So when our latest cruiser was finished being finely tuned on the dyno and needed a road test, Richard walked into the office and handed me the keys and said ‘go find out for yourself'. Now I hadn't ever driven a Landcruiser and I sold my last 4x4 about ten years ago. So as soon as I started to drive down the road I had flash backs of wafting around in a large box in comfort but not expecting great throttle response. I first drove down the road with the Unichip selector set at map 2 ( standard map ) and the car drove just as I expected. It was a large, ‘get out of my way' vehicle with great presence on the road but when the throttle peddle was to the floor you certainly were not going to pull away from the Ford Fiesta tail gating you. As I was approaching a roundabout before a long dual lane straight I clicked the Unichip selector round to five ( performance ) and it was then that I fully understood what the Unichip was all about…….

Once I had slowed to be able to get onto the roadabout, when the chance arrived I put the throttle to the floor and the difference was amazing. Instant pick up with a bang of power – in fact I even had a squeal of wheel spin, I backed off as we went around ( this is a big beast after all and I needed to get round the roundabout ) but once I hit the straight of the dual carriageway my foot was pushed to the floor again and one word….. WOW. This great big beast actually squatted the floor at the rear, the nose went into the air and we were off. It was like a shot of NOS had been added. The throttle response was immediate and the car that once was a wafter turned into a sports SUV.

My surprise turned into the realisation that the Unichip was the real deal. From personal experience my comparison would be Range Rovers. Now I know that im looking at cars from a time gone by – but the comparison I think youll be able to understand. In my earlier years I have always had performance cars, then for some unknown reason I had an itch for a range rover – I think I liked the gangster look. My first test drive was in a 2.5ltr diesel and I hated it. Getting into the great big interior I loved but turning ignition key and driving away – I hated it. I was in comfort but I could have got out and walked faster. My Range Rover dream was erased there and then. However a few years later I was offered a 4.6ltr V8 autobiography, I got in the car not wanting the same experience as before and I was granted my wish. This great big boat of a car actually had power and pulled away when I put my foot down. The comparison was night and day. This is what I can describe the difference in the Unichip maps between standard and performance. The difference being this was on the same car and achieved just by turning a small switch. It turns Jekyll into Hyde. As a bonus you also get other maps such as anti theft, tow mode and economy. This one drive showed me why Unichip for Landcruisers is one of our best sellers and we are always getting friends referrals from our customers.