Ford Australia's president is set to depart; his role to be assumed by incoming executive Robert (Bob) Graziano
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Marin Burela has held the position of Ford Australia president for just on two years, but he's already on the move again. Ford announced today that Burela will head up the Changan Ford Mazda joint venture in China effective from November 1.
Although he was upbeat about the posting, for Burela it's a bitter-sweet event, with his daughter only just joining the family in Australia from the UK and, as he jokingly put it during a teleconference hook-up this afternoon: "The biggest regret will be that I won't be able to watch the [Geelong] cats win the next grand final, probably."
China shows enormous growth potential -- a market as potentially large as 35 million cars by 2018, says Burela -- so the change of job appears to be a sign of the regard in which he is held by senior management at Ford. In the shorter term, Burela's experience with the company in Australia may result in synergies with Ford in China. With a local media outlet (Fairfax) reporting that Ford Australia is developing a small car for the Chinese market, the transfer of Burela to China seems timely, but when asked he studiously steered clear of any suggestion that his appointment was informed by that.
"The decision to ask me to move to China was taken at the very senior level of the company -- with Alan [Mulally, global CEO] and Joe [Hinrichs, Asia/Pacific and Africa president] and Lewis Booth [global CFO] and that group -- and it was based on the fact that we think as a company that we've made incredible progress in Australia. We've brought Australia back to a very solid business foundation."
"They were very keen to ask me to move to the Chinese operation on the basis that my global experience in not only small cars, large cars and everything else that I've done... in engineering, manufacturing, product development [and] sales and marketing, has suitably positioned me to lead that very large joint venture."
Burela's move is part of a broader reshuffle, following the retirement of the incumbent president of Changan Ford Mazda, Jeff Shen. Burela takes his place and Robert Graziano, currently president of Ford China moves to Australia. The remit for Joe Hinrichs expands, with Hinrichs taking on the role of CEO for Ford China in addition to his existing responsibilities as Ford president throughout the Asia/Pacific and Africa region.
Graziano, an American, will be a good fit in his new role as Ford Oz president, says Burela.
"Bob's experience, in terms of continuing to grow mature markets and grow the business in a very accelerated way -- particularly with the amount of activity that will be taking place in Australia in the next two years -- he's going to be suitably placed to do that as well."
Burela later explained that Graziano, a "personal friend", has a depth of experience that will stand him in good stead in the local market.
"Bob has got significant business experience right around the world; he worked in South Africa, he worked at Mazda. He's worked in the United States and he's worked in China.
"His background has been very solid in terms of product planning; he has significant sales & marketing experience; he and I worked together when we were putting the Fiesta into Nanjing in China -- and so he has a very great and solid appreciation and understanding of engineering and all the other areas.
"He's just a great guy."
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Thứ Năm, 29 tháng 3, 2012
Nissan signs Mondial for roadside assist
New agreement adds extra features to Nissan Australia's roadside assist programme
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Nissan Australia has signed up with major specialist assistance and travel insurance provider Mondial Australia to operate its roadside assistance programme.
The deal will bring a fleet of dual-branded roadside assist vehicles, as well as a new MyNissan iPhone app (pictured) that will simplify contacting roadside assist. The app will also provide features including an electronic logbook, parking meter reminder and scheduled service reminder. Included is a trip planner that shows the location of service stations, car parks and Nissan service centres. According to Brett Wiskar, Director of Speedwell eBusiness Solutions, the development studio behind the app, MyNissan is “Australia's first all-in-one iPhone application for motorists.”
Mondial Assistance Australia will provide Nissan with “wholesale roadside assistance on new cars and comprehensive branded retail roadside assistance once the three year new car roadside assistance program ends.”
The Nissan signing follows alliance partner Renault which has for some time been using Mondial as its roadside assist provider. Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes- Benz, Peugeot, Porsche and Volkswagen are also on Mondial Australia's books.
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discount new cars » Get the best price on a new Nissan
Nissan Australia has signed up with major specialist assistance and travel insurance provider Mondial Australia to operate its roadside assistance programme.
The deal will bring a fleet of dual-branded roadside assist vehicles, as well as a new MyNissan iPhone app (pictured) that will simplify contacting roadside assist. The app will also provide features including an electronic logbook, parking meter reminder and scheduled service reminder. Included is a trip planner that shows the location of service stations, car parks and Nissan service centres. According to Brett Wiskar, Director of Speedwell eBusiness Solutions, the development studio behind the app, MyNissan is “Australia's first all-in-one iPhone application for motorists.”
Mondial Assistance Australia will provide Nissan with “wholesale roadside assistance on new cars and comprehensive branded retail roadside assistance once the three year new car roadside assistance program ends.”
The Nissan signing follows alliance partner Renault which has for some time been using Mondial as its roadside assist provider. Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes- Benz, Peugeot, Porsche and Volkswagen are also on Mondial Australia's books.
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TMR Evo X wins 2010 Australian Manufacturer Championship
Stuart Kostera's Mitsubishi Evo X races to AMC victory in final round at Sandown Raceway
It didn't look good for Mitsubishi Evo X driver Stuart Kostera's TMR team when BMW 335i driver Garry Holt took out the first round of the Australian Manufacturer championship, the Bathurst 12 Hour.
A "minor mechanical issue" meant Kostera's Mitsubishi Evo X failed to finish the race, scoring no AMC points.
But the Evo X driver recovered in a spectacular way as the season unfolded, scoring victories in every succeeding round including the sixth and final race at Sandown.
The Sandown race could not have worked out better for Kostera: In both races, he took pole position, was first across the line and set fastest time. He was also fastest in every session.
The 2010 manufacturer's title is the second in a row for TMR, complemented by Kostera's driver's title and the Class A championship for high-performance all-wheel drive vehicles.
The Sandown AMC victory was underscored by teammate Ian Tulloch's Evo X scoring of second place in both races.
TMR says the team's finest moment was its victory in the Eastern Creek six-hour endurance race where "a total lack of safety cars throughout the entire race meant it was run on pure pace and strategy." Ian Tulloch and Steve Jones also followed Kostera across the line to finish in second place, with the Evo X of Glyn Crimp and Matt Cherry in fourth.
2010 AMC RESULTS (S. Kostera, TMR Mitsubishi Evo X)
Round 1 Bathurst, NSW DNF
Round 2 Symmons Plains, Tas 1st
Round 3 Phillip Island, Vic 1st
Round 4 Eastern Creek, NSW 1st
Round 5 Morgan Pk, Qld 1st
Round 6 Sandown, Vic 1st
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It didn't look good for Mitsubishi Evo X driver Stuart Kostera's TMR team when BMW 335i driver Garry Holt took out the first round of the Australian Manufacturer championship, the Bathurst 12 Hour.
A "minor mechanical issue" meant Kostera's Mitsubishi Evo X failed to finish the race, scoring no AMC points.
But the Evo X driver recovered in a spectacular way as the season unfolded, scoring victories in every succeeding round including the sixth and final race at Sandown.
The Sandown race could not have worked out better for Kostera: In both races, he took pole position, was first across the line and set fastest time. He was also fastest in every session.
The 2010 manufacturer's title is the second in a row for TMR, complemented by Kostera's driver's title and the Class A championship for high-performance all-wheel drive vehicles.
The Sandown AMC victory was underscored by teammate Ian Tulloch's Evo X scoring of second place in both races.
TMR says the team's finest moment was its victory in the Eastern Creek six-hour endurance race where "a total lack of safety cars throughout the entire race meant it was run on pure pace and strategy." Ian Tulloch and Steve Jones also followed Kostera across the line to finish in second place, with the Evo X of Glyn Crimp and Matt Cherry in fourth.
2010 AMC RESULTS (S. Kostera, TMR Mitsubishi Evo X)
Round 1 Bathurst, NSW DNF
Round 2 Symmons Plains, Tas 1st
Round 3 Phillip Island, Vic 1st
Round 4 Eastern Creek, NSW 1st
Round 5 Morgan Pk, Qld 1st
Round 6 Sandown, Vic 1st
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More Green Zone Drive events on the way
Organisers of Melbourne test-drive program are fielding approaches for more of same from around Australia
Melbourne's Green Zone Drive low-emissions vehicle test event has been an overwhelming success, say the event's organisers.
The eight-day event, held at a test circuit in Docklands, saw a total 21 participant LEVs cover 3720 km in more than 1000 test drives. Its website drew 35,000 hits from 10,000 unique visitors.
The aim was to demystify LEVs and the technologies under their bonnets by giving Melburnians a go at the wheel, during which most would likely have found that while there are certain differences, they actually feel just like normal cars to drive. Important to this was that all vehicles available for test drives are available locally as the public saw them at Docklands.
Asked about the possibility of future events, Green Zone Drive spokesman John Kananghinis told the Carsales Network the organisation and its backers are fielding a number of offers from prospective backers interstate.
"We're looking at three different events over the next 18 months or so. Basically that means scoping out the business case for each one on questions of where, when and the scale of each. Certainly the backers of the one just gone have been very happy with the response. The Victorian government and the RACV are looking at making a regular thing of it."
Predictably, Mitsubishi's i-MiEV -- perhaps, as the first EV to go on sale in Australia, the least ordinary member of the fleet -- drew the most attention. Toyota might have heaved a sigh of relief, too. Much has been made -- not altogether fairly -- about sales shortfalls for its Prius and locally made Hybrid Camry models, but they, too, proved a hit during the event.
Green Zone Drive also provided a valuable leg-up for local EV conversion specialist Blade, which put its Electron Mk V -- a converted Hyundai Getz -- up for real-world evaluation by uninitiated drivers.
The model range covered sedans, hatches small and large, SUVs and people movers. Big-name European marques were well represented, too, with Audi, BMW, Citroen and Volvo putting advanced petrol and clean diesel models up for evaluation. Hyundai and Ford also made a mix of petrol and diesel models available.
Organisers noted an even age spread from young to old among those who booked tests. RACV Manager Environmental Programs Simon Mikedis said in a statement that the organisation took this as indicating "a broad level of desire to experience low emission vehicles across the car driving public".
Others involved in getting the event going include the Australian Conservation Foundation, the 50BY50 Global Fuel Economy Initiative, and Greenwheels -- the joint initiative of Future Climate Australia, RACV and EPA Victoria giving consumers information on LEVs available in Australia. Commercial sponsors included Shell, Michelin and Better Place.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Melbourne's Green Zone Drive low-emissions vehicle test event has been an overwhelming success, say the event's organisers.
The eight-day event, held at a test circuit in Docklands, saw a total 21 participant LEVs cover 3720 km in more than 1000 test drives. Its website drew 35,000 hits from 10,000 unique visitors.
The aim was to demystify LEVs and the technologies under their bonnets by giving Melburnians a go at the wheel, during which most would likely have found that while there are certain differences, they actually feel just like normal cars to drive. Important to this was that all vehicles available for test drives are available locally as the public saw them at Docklands.
Asked about the possibility of future events, Green Zone Drive spokesman John Kananghinis told the Carsales Network the organisation and its backers are fielding a number of offers from prospective backers interstate.
"We're looking at three different events over the next 18 months or so. Basically that means scoping out the business case for each one on questions of where, when and the scale of each. Certainly the backers of the one just gone have been very happy with the response. The Victorian government and the RACV are looking at making a regular thing of it."
Predictably, Mitsubishi's i-MiEV -- perhaps, as the first EV to go on sale in Australia, the least ordinary member of the fleet -- drew the most attention. Toyota might have heaved a sigh of relief, too. Much has been made -- not altogether fairly -- about sales shortfalls for its Prius and locally made Hybrid Camry models, but they, too, proved a hit during the event.
Green Zone Drive also provided a valuable leg-up for local EV conversion specialist Blade, which put its Electron Mk V -- a converted Hyundai Getz -- up for real-world evaluation by uninitiated drivers.
The model range covered sedans, hatches small and large, SUVs and people movers. Big-name European marques were well represented, too, with Audi, BMW, Citroen and Volvo putting advanced petrol and clean diesel models up for evaluation. Hyundai and Ford also made a mix of petrol and diesel models available.
Organisers noted an even age spread from young to old among those who booked tests. RACV Manager Environmental Programs Simon Mikedis said in a statement that the organisation took this as indicating "a broad level of desire to experience low emission vehicles across the car driving public".
Others involved in getting the event going include the Australian Conservation Foundation, the 50BY50 Global Fuel Economy Initiative, and Greenwheels -- the joint initiative of Future Climate Australia, RACV and EPA Victoria giving consumers information on LEVs available in Australia. Commercial sponsors included Shell, Michelin and Better Place.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Thứ Hai, 26 tháng 3, 2012
Mercedes-Benz R 300 CDI arrives
Benz updates its sumptuous seven-seater peoplemover, adding more bling and consolidating the line-up to just one AWD model
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German prestige car games maker Mercedes-Benz has launched its new-look R-Class peoplemover in Australia. The ML-based lowboy three-rower is now offered in a single specification to, says Mercedes: "simplify the purchase decision for customers".
Only one powertrain, a V6 turbodiesel engine mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox with 4MATIC all-wheel drive, is offered. The 3.0-litre V6 outputs 140kW/440Nm and has a fuel consumption rating of 9.3L/100km.
The major change to the new model, however, is its freshened front end.
Boasting a new face that borrows design cues from Benz' SUV range, the R 300 CDI sports new headlight clusters (with LED daytime driving lights), a revised grille, plus a new bonnet and front quarter panels, all of which provide the luxury peoplemover with a more 'mature' look according to its designers.
The rear end of the vehicle has also come in for a minor visual update, with new look LED/fibre optic brake lights surrounded by a new rear bumper section that integrates the exhaust outlets.
"R-Class is a mature car now with a great personality," said Horst von Sander, Mercedes-Benz Australia's managing director.
"It has now gained a certain level of acceptance, something it didn't have when it launched."
Priced at $92,200, then new Mercedes-Benz R 300 CDI comes in at around $10K more than its predecessor, but now features more than $13K worth of added features according to the company.
Mercedes has increased the standard specification of the sole R-Class model, adding things like 20-inch alloy wheels, COMAND infotainment system with reversing camera, EASY-PACK remote tailgate operation, Keyless go, Linguatronic voice control and seven seats.
The R-Class also gets a raft of safety systems as standard, including Mercedes’ PRE-SAFE accident anticipation system, along with eight airbags as standard.
While Mercedes-Benz Australia offers only a diesel model at present, it did hint that a petrol-powered R-Class could return the mid-term future. Furthermore, a long wheelbase model is scheduled to arrive in 2011, in the form of the R 350 CDI. It will offer more bootspace and more equipment and a pricetag around $110,000 say insiders.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.
prestige new cars » Get the best price on a new Mercedes-Benz
German prestige car games maker Mercedes-Benz has launched its new-look R-Class peoplemover in Australia. The ML-based lowboy three-rower is now offered in a single specification to, says Mercedes: "simplify the purchase decision for customers".
Only one powertrain, a V6 turbodiesel engine mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox with 4MATIC all-wheel drive, is offered. The 3.0-litre V6 outputs 140kW/440Nm and has a fuel consumption rating of 9.3L/100km.
The major change to the new model, however, is its freshened front end.
Boasting a new face that borrows design cues from Benz' SUV range, the R 300 CDI sports new headlight clusters (with LED daytime driving lights), a revised grille, plus a new bonnet and front quarter panels, all of which provide the luxury peoplemover with a more 'mature' look according to its designers.
The rear end of the vehicle has also come in for a minor visual update, with new look LED/fibre optic brake lights surrounded by a new rear bumper section that integrates the exhaust outlets.
"R-Class is a mature car now with a great personality," said Horst von Sander, Mercedes-Benz Australia's managing director.
"It has now gained a certain level of acceptance, something it didn't have when it launched."
Priced at $92,200, then new Mercedes-Benz R 300 CDI comes in at around $10K more than its predecessor, but now features more than $13K worth of added features according to the company.
Mercedes has increased the standard specification of the sole R-Class model, adding things like 20-inch alloy wheels, COMAND infotainment system with reversing camera, EASY-PACK remote tailgate operation, Keyless go, Linguatronic voice control and seven seats.
The R-Class also gets a raft of safety systems as standard, including Mercedes’ PRE-SAFE accident anticipation system, along with eight airbags as standard.
While Mercedes-Benz Australia offers only a diesel model at present, it did hint that a petrol-powered R-Class could return the mid-term future. Furthermore, a long wheelbase model is scheduled to arrive in 2011, in the form of the R 350 CDI. It will offer more bootspace and more equipment and a pricetag around $110,000 say insiders.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.
New A6: lighter, leaner but with room to move
Audi has lifted the sheets off its next generation A6... The look might be familiar but it's all change under the covers
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Audi has turned the tables on the trend to automotive obesity, using aluminium to make its new generation A6 at least 80kg lighter than the outgoing machine. And while it has resisted a push for radically new styling for the A6 sedan, the world's fastest growing prestige brand has also made the new car shorter, lower and far more economical than the series it replaces.
Due to be launched early next year, the new A6 range's eco-cred will be headlined by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with an emissions figure of 129 grams of CO2/km and just 4.9 litres/100km on the combined consumption cycle.
At 1575kg, the much-revised baby diesel is the family's featherweight. With both a manual transmission and front-wheel drive, it's primarily targeted to Europe's fleet markets. There are four other engine options, though (each of which will hit 100km/h in under 7.7 seconds) but Audi will wait until 2012 before it launches a hybrid version, using a variant of the Volkswagen Audi Group's 2.0-litre TFSI turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine.
As with the A7 Sportback, Audi has declined to offer a V8 within the standard A6 range. That engine will arrive with the RS version in two years time.
Instead, Audi will offer the 2.0-litre TDI, two versions of the 3.0-litre TDI and two petrol V6s: a direct-injection 2.8-litre and the range-topping 3.0-litre supercharged, direct-injection V6.
The 220kW, 3.0-litre TFSI, which will haul the four-door from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds and a limited top speed of 250km/h. It is considerably heavier than the 2.0-litre TDI, however, with all-wheel drive and the seven-speed, double-clutch gearbox bulking it up to 1740kg.
For all that, and its 440Nm of torque, it still revs to 6500rpm yet uses 13 per cent less fuel than its predecessor, even though it has 7kW more power.
It's a story repeated across the board, with the improvements ranging from the 2.8-litre petrol car's 12 per cent economy improvement to the base 3.0-litre TDI's 19 per cent saving.
It's more than just engines, too, with Audi developing a new Efficiency program to join Normal, Comfort, Automatic and Dynamic modes in the computer-controlled Audi Drive Select equipped models.
This system has a software map specifically set up to give the best possible economy, altering everything from the engine mapping to the gearshift points, the steering, the cruise control and it even lowers the ride height to reduce the aerodynamic drag.
For all its oomph, the 220kW TFSI doesn't look like the best all-rounder on the A6 books. That title could well go to the more-powerful of the 3.0-litre TDI twins. The oiler's 180kW might be the headline number, but the key to its performance is 500Nm from just 1400rpm, which should mean it will punch hard any time you push the accelerator pedal.
The 'big' turbodiesel is only a fraction slower than the best petrol engine in the sprints, too, posting a 6.1 second 0-100km/h time and sharing the same 250km/h top speed.
Yet, where the biggest petrol motor uses 8.2L/100km on the combined cycle and weighs 1740kg, the more-powerful 3.0-litre TDI uses just 6.0L/100km, weighs 1720kg and has a combined emission figure of only 158 grams compared to 190.
Both the petrol and diesel rangetoppers use similar double-clutch gearboxes and all-wheel drive. The less-powerful 3.0-litre TDI and the 2.8-litre FSI petrol motor will use Multitronic (constantly variable transmission) gearboxes and front-drive.
While the new A6's profile looks disturbingly like this year's A8 limousine, Audi insists it shares its underbody architecture with the A7 luxury hatchback, so it can come with either conventional or adjustable air springs in its suspension system.
That also means about 20 per cent of its under-skin materials are aluminium. The lightweight metal is also used for the bonnet, front wings, boot lid and all four doors.
Yet, while it's 12mm shorter than the old A6, cabin space has increased markedly. New architecture means its engines can now sit further back in the engine bay, so it has slashed 82mm from the front overhang and pumped the wheelbase out by a significant 69mm to 2912mm. Much of the increase has been translated into rear-seat legroom.
There's also more shoulder room in both rows and the luggage area is, typically, ridiculously large. There's 530 litres of very useful luggage space, with a flat floor, and that bumps out to 995 litres when the rear seats are folded flat (though some of it disappears with the massive bass box the optional Bang and Olufsen sound system uses).
With plenty of extra space in the rear, the A6 gives the rear passengers not only more foot space beneath the front seats, but (in response to US requests) also provides two DC charging sockets for everything from laptops to computer games.
Up front, there's a wonderfully three-dimensional feel to its dash layout that just can't be replicated with LCD screens, as the two major instruments just forward from the central digital display.
The overall theme and button layout will be familiar to anybody who's ever driven an Audi, but it's been refined and tidied up here and there, and it also carries over the A7's wrap-around line at the front-edge of the dash.
The A6 will trump BMW's new 5-Series for storage space, especially with a combination of door pockets that comfortably carry 1.5-litre water bottles, two cupholders in the console and an enormous, covered oddments hole where the optional ashtray would normally be. Unusually, too, the glovebox is larger than the one in the old car.
The car is also a rolling wireless hotspot and you can order your new A6 with a small MMI screen or large one. Audi has intentionally shied away from split-screen technology that allows the passenger to watch TV on the run, for fears that dumb drivers (guess where from?) might be tempted to lean across to watch, then crash, then sue Audi. They should be looking at the optional head-up display!
The new A6 is the third car to use Audi's new grille design (after the A7 and the A8). The wider graphic and headlights combine to give a greater impression of width in a rear-view mirror. Yet, the headlights aren't exactly how the designers wanted them to be, because Audi's had to compromise their shape to accommodate halogen, bi-Xenon and full LED lighting systems.
It's a complicated setup, with halogen lights dictated by the lower-end of the range that sees the base car line up at €38,500 ($A52,450)in Germany. The bi-Xenon lights turn with the car, but not necessarily with the steering wheel (as has been the traditional way to engineer such things). This car hooks its satnav into the central computer, so it knows exactly where it is and what parts of the road it should light up.
The LED system provides the best lighting, though unlike halogens or bi-Xenons that generate their heat at the front of the light (which can easily be cooled by the passing air), LEDs get hot at the back and need their own cooling fans, which makes them more expensive.
They won't need replacing, though, because their lifespan is rated beyond the scheduled life of the car.
And even if they can't illuminate the road, that doesn't mean you won't be able to see, because the A6 also has the option of military-spec infra-red camera vision, complete with an algorithm that can identify errant pedestrians and warn the driver before they even reach the light cone.
That won't help in some countries, though, because the United Nations has a list of nations where it won't let Audi sell the infra-red option, because of fears it could be used for military or guerrilla purposes.
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prestige new cars » Get the best price on a new Audi
Audi has turned the tables on the trend to automotive obesity, using aluminium to make its new generation A6 at least 80kg lighter than the outgoing machine. And while it has resisted a push for radically new styling for the A6 sedan, the world's fastest growing prestige brand has also made the new car shorter, lower and far more economical than the series it replaces.
Due to be launched early next year, the new A6 range's eco-cred will be headlined by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with an emissions figure of 129 grams of CO2/km and just 4.9 litres/100km on the combined consumption cycle.
At 1575kg, the much-revised baby diesel is the family's featherweight. With both a manual transmission and front-wheel drive, it's primarily targeted to Europe's fleet markets. There are four other engine options, though (each of which will hit 100km/h in under 7.7 seconds) but Audi will wait until 2012 before it launches a hybrid version, using a variant of the Volkswagen Audi Group's 2.0-litre TFSI turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine.
As with the A7 Sportback, Audi has declined to offer a V8 within the standard A6 range. That engine will arrive with the RS version in two years time.
Instead, Audi will offer the 2.0-litre TDI, two versions of the 3.0-litre TDI and two petrol V6s: a direct-injection 2.8-litre and the range-topping 3.0-litre supercharged, direct-injection V6.
The 220kW, 3.0-litre TFSI, which will haul the four-door from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds and a limited top speed of 250km/h. It is considerably heavier than the 2.0-litre TDI, however, with all-wheel drive and the seven-speed, double-clutch gearbox bulking it up to 1740kg.
For all that, and its 440Nm of torque, it still revs to 6500rpm yet uses 13 per cent less fuel than its predecessor, even though it has 7kW more power.
It's a story repeated across the board, with the improvements ranging from the 2.8-litre petrol car's 12 per cent economy improvement to the base 3.0-litre TDI's 19 per cent saving.
It's more than just engines, too, with Audi developing a new Efficiency program to join Normal, Comfort, Automatic and Dynamic modes in the computer-controlled Audi Drive Select equipped models.
This system has a software map specifically set up to give the best possible economy, altering everything from the engine mapping to the gearshift points, the steering, the cruise control and it even lowers the ride height to reduce the aerodynamic drag.
For all its oomph, the 220kW TFSI doesn't look like the best all-rounder on the A6 books. That title could well go to the more-powerful of the 3.0-litre TDI twins. The oiler's 180kW might be the headline number, but the key to its performance is 500Nm from just 1400rpm, which should mean it will punch hard any time you push the accelerator pedal.
The 'big' turbodiesel is only a fraction slower than the best petrol engine in the sprints, too, posting a 6.1 second 0-100km/h time and sharing the same 250km/h top speed.
Yet, where the biggest petrol motor uses 8.2L/100km on the combined cycle and weighs 1740kg, the more-powerful 3.0-litre TDI uses just 6.0L/100km, weighs 1720kg and has a combined emission figure of only 158 grams compared to 190.
Both the petrol and diesel rangetoppers use similar double-clutch gearboxes and all-wheel drive. The less-powerful 3.0-litre TDI and the 2.8-litre FSI petrol motor will use Multitronic (constantly variable transmission) gearboxes and front-drive.
While the new A6's profile looks disturbingly like this year's A8 limousine, Audi insists it shares its underbody architecture with the A7 luxury hatchback, so it can come with either conventional or adjustable air springs in its suspension system.
That also means about 20 per cent of its under-skin materials are aluminium. The lightweight metal is also used for the bonnet, front wings, boot lid and all four doors.
Yet, while it's 12mm shorter than the old A6, cabin space has increased markedly. New architecture means its engines can now sit further back in the engine bay, so it has slashed 82mm from the front overhang and pumped the wheelbase out by a significant 69mm to 2912mm. Much of the increase has been translated into rear-seat legroom.
There's also more shoulder room in both rows and the luggage area is, typically, ridiculously large. There's 530 litres of very useful luggage space, with a flat floor, and that bumps out to 995 litres when the rear seats are folded flat (though some of it disappears with the massive bass box the optional Bang and Olufsen sound system uses).
With plenty of extra space in the rear, the A6 gives the rear passengers not only more foot space beneath the front seats, but (in response to US requests) also provides two DC charging sockets for everything from laptops to computer games.
Up front, there's a wonderfully three-dimensional feel to its dash layout that just can't be replicated with LCD screens, as the two major instruments just forward from the central digital display.
The overall theme and button layout will be familiar to anybody who's ever driven an Audi, but it's been refined and tidied up here and there, and it also carries over the A7's wrap-around line at the front-edge of the dash.
The A6 will trump BMW's new 5-Series for storage space, especially with a combination of door pockets that comfortably carry 1.5-litre water bottles, two cupholders in the console and an enormous, covered oddments hole where the optional ashtray would normally be. Unusually, too, the glovebox is larger than the one in the old car.
The car is also a rolling wireless hotspot and you can order your new A6 with a small MMI screen or large one. Audi has intentionally shied away from split-screen technology that allows the passenger to watch TV on the run, for fears that dumb drivers (guess where from?) might be tempted to lean across to watch, then crash, then sue Audi. They should be looking at the optional head-up display!
The new A6 is the third car to use Audi's new grille design (after the A7 and the A8). The wider graphic and headlights combine to give a greater impression of width in a rear-view mirror. Yet, the headlights aren't exactly how the designers wanted them to be, because Audi's had to compromise their shape to accommodate halogen, bi-Xenon and full LED lighting systems.
It's a complicated setup, with halogen lights dictated by the lower-end of the range that sees the base car line up at €38,500 ($A52,450)in Germany. The bi-Xenon lights turn with the car, but not necessarily with the steering wheel (as has been the traditional way to engineer such things). This car hooks its satnav into the central computer, so it knows exactly where it is and what parts of the road it should light up.
The LED system provides the best lighting, though unlike halogens or bi-Xenons that generate their heat at the front of the light (which can easily be cooled by the passing air), LEDs get hot at the back and need their own cooling fans, which makes them more expensive.
They won't need replacing, though, because their lifespan is rated beyond the scheduled life of the car.
And even if they can't illuminate the road, that doesn't mean you won't be able to see, because the A6 also has the option of military-spec infra-red camera vision, complete with an algorithm that can identify errant pedestrians and warn the driver before they even reach the light cone.
That won't help in some countries, though, because the United Nations has a list of nations where it won't let Audi sell the infra-red option, because of fears it could be used for military or guerrilla purposes.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.
AAA announces 2010 Best Cars awards
Diesels do nicely in annual gongs awarded by the Australian Automobile Association
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The Australian Automobile Association's Best Cars awards for 2010 reveal a significant shift in our new-car market: Australia has embraced diesel passenger cars -- big time.
Of the 2010 list of 15 winning vehicles, which includes a wider range of categories than last year, no less than nine were diesels -- from light cars and SUVs to luxury-class cars.
From Volkswagen Polo to Audi A6 and BMW X5, diesels clearly dominated the judging panel's decisions, reflecting the wide range of available choices, as well as the remarkable levels of sophistication achieved by carmakers at all levels of the market.
In 2009, the AAA awards identified just four diesels in the (then) top 12 categories.
The AAA also found the ever-improving sophistication evident in small cars is making high technology available to a growing number of buyers at the lower end of the market.
"This is a vehicle category that is becoming increasingly popular among Australian motorists, particularly those living in urban areas," AAA Chief Executive, Mike Harris, said at the Best Car Awards announcement made at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse on November 30.
The biggest winner this year was BMW, which scored awards in four categories, followed by Volkswagen and Hyundai, with three awards each.
BMW's M3 Coupe took out the Best Sports Car over $80,000 award, while the 320D Lifestyle was judged the Best Medium Car over $50,000. The 135i Coupe was judged Best Sports Car under $80,000 and the X5 xDrive 30d claimed the Best Luxury SUV over $60,000 award.
Volkswagen scored with the Polo 66 TDI Comfortline (Best Light Car over $20,000), Jetta 103 TDI (Best Medium Car under $50,000) and Tiguan 103 TDI (Best SUV under $40,000). Hyundai's i20m Active was judged Best Light Car under $20,000, the i30 SX was Best Small Car under $35,000 and the iMax was Best Peoplemover.
Single-award winners were MINI (Cooper D -- Best Small Car Over $35,000), Skoda (Superb 1215 TDI Ambition -- Best Large Car under $60,000), Audi (A6 3.0 Tdi Quattro -- Best Large Car over $60,000), Kia (Sorento Sli -- Best SUV over $40,000) and Land Rover (Discovery TDV6 SE -- Best All Terrain 4WD).
The panel, which comprised judges from Australia's motoring organisations, narrowed the list down to 45 finalists across the 15 categories.
Chief Judge Mark Borlace said the categories reflect the diversity of the Australian market. "There are more vehicle manufacturers fighting for the Australia's car buying dollar than most other markets in the world."
While the MINI Cooper D was new to the winner's list this year, 2009 winners missing were Toyota (Aurion -- previously Best Large Car), Subaru (Liberty 3.6R Premium -- Best prestige Car) and Ford (Fiesta LX -- previously Best Small Car).
AUSTRALIA'S BEST CARS 2010
WINNERS LIST
Best Light Car under $20,000
Hyundai i20 Active
Best Light Car over $20,000
Volkswagen Polo 66 TDI Comfortline
Best Small Car under $35,000
Hyundai i30 SX
Best Small Car over $35,000
Mini Cooper D
Best Medium Car under $50,000
Volkswagen Jetta 103 TDI
Best Medium Car over $50,000
BMW 320D Lifestyle
Best Large Car under $60,000
Skoda Superb 125 TDI Ambition
Best Large Car over $60,000
Audi A6 3.0 Tdi Quattro
Best Peoplemover
Hyundai iMax
Best Sports Car under $80,000
BMW 135i Coupe
Best Sports Car over $80,000
BMW M3 Coupe
Best SUV under $40,000
Volkswagen Tiguan 103 TDI
Best SUV over $40,000
Kia Sorento Sli
Best Luxury SUV over $60,000
BMW X5 xDrive 30d
Best All Terrain 4WD
Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 SE
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site.
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The Australian Automobile Association's Best Cars awards for 2010 reveal a significant shift in our new-car market: Australia has embraced diesel passenger cars -- big time.
Of the 2010 list of 15 winning vehicles, which includes a wider range of categories than last year, no less than nine were diesels -- from light cars and SUVs to luxury-class cars.
From Volkswagen Polo to Audi A6 and BMW X5, diesels clearly dominated the judging panel's decisions, reflecting the wide range of available choices, as well as the remarkable levels of sophistication achieved by carmakers at all levels of the market.
In 2009, the AAA awards identified just four diesels in the (then) top 12 categories.
The AAA also found the ever-improving sophistication evident in small cars is making high technology available to a growing number of buyers at the lower end of the market.
"This is a vehicle category that is becoming increasingly popular among Australian motorists, particularly those living in urban areas," AAA Chief Executive, Mike Harris, said at the Best Car Awards announcement made at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse on November 30.
The biggest winner this year was BMW, which scored awards in four categories, followed by Volkswagen and Hyundai, with three awards each.
BMW's M3 Coupe took out the Best Sports Car over $80,000 award, while the 320D Lifestyle was judged the Best Medium Car over $50,000. The 135i Coupe was judged Best Sports Car under $80,000 and the X5 xDrive 30d claimed the Best Luxury SUV over $60,000 award.
Volkswagen scored with the Polo 66 TDI Comfortline (Best Light Car over $20,000), Jetta 103 TDI (Best Medium Car under $50,000) and Tiguan 103 TDI (Best SUV under $40,000). Hyundai's i20m Active was judged Best Light Car under $20,000, the i30 SX was Best Small Car under $35,000 and the iMax was Best Peoplemover.
Single-award winners were MINI (Cooper D -- Best Small Car Over $35,000), Skoda (Superb 1215 TDI Ambition -- Best Large Car under $60,000), Audi (A6 3.0 Tdi Quattro -- Best Large Car over $60,000), Kia (Sorento Sli -- Best SUV over $40,000) and Land Rover (Discovery TDV6 SE -- Best All Terrain 4WD).
The panel, which comprised judges from Australia's motoring organisations, narrowed the list down to 45 finalists across the 15 categories.
Chief Judge Mark Borlace said the categories reflect the diversity of the Australian market. "There are more vehicle manufacturers fighting for the Australia's car buying dollar than most other markets in the world."
While the MINI Cooper D was new to the winner's list this year, 2009 winners missing were Toyota (Aurion -- previously Best Large Car), Subaru (Liberty 3.6R Premium -- Best prestige Car) and Ford (Fiesta LX -- previously Best Small Car).
AUSTRALIA'S BEST CARS 2010
WINNERS LIST
Best Light Car under $20,000
Hyundai i20 Active
Best Light Car over $20,000
Volkswagen Polo 66 TDI Comfortline
Best Small Car under $35,000
Hyundai i30 SX
Best Small Car over $35,000
Mini Cooper D
Best Medium Car under $50,000
Volkswagen Jetta 103 TDI
Best Medium Car over $50,000
BMW 320D Lifestyle
Best Large Car under $60,000
Skoda Superb 125 TDI Ambition
Best Large Car over $60,000
Audi A6 3.0 Tdi Quattro
Best Peoplemover
Hyundai iMax
Best Sports Car under $80,000
BMW 135i Coupe
Best Sports Car over $80,000
BMW M3 Coupe
Best SUV under $40,000
Volkswagen Tiguan 103 TDI
Best SUV over $40,000
Kia Sorento Sli
Best Luxury SUV over $60,000
BMW X5 xDrive 30d
Best All Terrain 4WD
Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 SE
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site.
Colorado goes dual-fuel
Holden extends its Colorado light commercial range with the addition of dual-fuel versions
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Holden's Colorado 4x2 single cab chassis and crew cab pickup light commercials are now optionally available with dual-fuel capability.
This adds a new string to the Colorado's bow, as well as giving it something of an advantage over Ford's competing Ranger lineup that is only available in turbodiesel form.
The three-model dual-fuel Colorado range includes a single cab chassis available in LX form only, and a crew cab variant available as either an LX or LT-R.
The Colorado's 3.6-litre Alloytec V6 dual-fuel engine produces 155kW at 5400rpm and 300Nm at 2700rpm -- not that far below petrol versions. Fuel consumption is another thing, although CO2 emissions are improved. Running on LPG, it returns fuel consumption figures of 16.7L/100km (manual) and 17.2L/100km (auto), with respective CO2 emissions of 269g/km and 276g/km.
Regular petrol-only V6 Colorados produce 157kW at 5300rpm and 313Nm at 2800rpm. Manual-transmission versions quote 12.4L/100km fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions of 297g/km. Auto-transmission petrol-only versions are quoted at 12.8L/100km and 306g/km.
Cruising range should be extended considerably over petrol-only variants, with the single cab chassis version using a 56-litre LPG tank sitting between the chassis rails. Crew cab models have a larger, 76-litre tank located in the spare wheel housing. The standard 76-litre fuel tank remains unchanged.
Maximum braked towing capacity for LPG Colorados is quoted at 2500kg.
According to Holden's Holden Director of Marketing Philip Brook: "We think the introduction of the LPG option to the Colorado range is a clear advantage for the customer.
"Customers have the space, power and performance that they need while slashing their fuel bill in a big way.
"LPG is widely available across Australia and perhaps most importantly gives customers access to heavy duty truck benefits with small car running costs," he said.
Dual-fuel is available on the models detailed as a $3850 RRP (excluding GST) option. Holden says eligible private buyers qualify for a $2000 government rebate, with Western Australian buyers able to apply for an extra $1000 rebate on top of that (refer to the WA Government's LPG Vehicle Scheme at www.dpi.wa.gov.au).
The Colorado is also available in 120kW/360Nm 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel form.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site.
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Holden's Colorado 4x2 single cab chassis and crew cab pickup light commercials are now optionally available with dual-fuel capability.
This adds a new string to the Colorado's bow, as well as giving it something of an advantage over Ford's competing Ranger lineup that is only available in turbodiesel form.
The three-model dual-fuel Colorado range includes a single cab chassis available in LX form only, and a crew cab variant available as either an LX or LT-R.
The Colorado's 3.6-litre Alloytec V6 dual-fuel engine produces 155kW at 5400rpm and 300Nm at 2700rpm -- not that far below petrol versions. Fuel consumption is another thing, although CO2 emissions are improved. Running on LPG, it returns fuel consumption figures of 16.7L/100km (manual) and 17.2L/100km (auto), with respective CO2 emissions of 269g/km and 276g/km.
Regular petrol-only V6 Colorados produce 157kW at 5300rpm and 313Nm at 2800rpm. Manual-transmission versions quote 12.4L/100km fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions of 297g/km. Auto-transmission petrol-only versions are quoted at 12.8L/100km and 306g/km.
Cruising range should be extended considerably over petrol-only variants, with the single cab chassis version using a 56-litre LPG tank sitting between the chassis rails. Crew cab models have a larger, 76-litre tank located in the spare wheel housing. The standard 76-litre fuel tank remains unchanged.
Maximum braked towing capacity for LPG Colorados is quoted at 2500kg.
According to Holden's Holden Director of Marketing Philip Brook: "We think the introduction of the LPG option to the Colorado range is a clear advantage for the customer.
"Customers have the space, power and performance that they need while slashing their fuel bill in a big way.
"LPG is widely available across Australia and perhaps most importantly gives customers access to heavy duty truck benefits with small car running costs," he said.
Dual-fuel is available on the models detailed as a $3850 RRP (excluding GST) option. Holden says eligible private buyers qualify for a $2000 government rebate, with Western Australian buyers able to apply for an extra $1000 rebate on top of that (refer to the WA Government's LPG Vehicle Scheme at www.dpi.wa.gov.au).
The Colorado is also available in 120kW/360Nm 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel form.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site.
Volvo S60 to challenge BMW 3, Audi 4
Bristling with advanced technologies, Volvo says its new S60 luxury sedan will challenge the German marques
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Volvo has just launched its new S60 sedan in Australia, a vehicle designed to take on German prestige four-doors such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. You could probably add the non-German Lexus IS series to that list too.
Starting from $51,950, the Volvo S60 features all the latest mod cons, plenty of power from its turbocharged engines plus leather upholstery, not to mention the option of the world's most advanced collision avoidance technology.
Volvo Australia's head of PR, Laurissa Mirabelli, told the Carsales Network that the importer is predicting sales of around 125 S60 sedans per month, for a total of around 1500 units per annum.
The most popular model is expected to be the entry-level petrol-engined 117kW/320Nm T5 which Volvo Australia estimates will take up 55 per cent of overall sales. Next in line are the more powerful 224kW/440Nm T6 petrol rangetopper (30 per cent) and D5 151kW/420Nm turbodiesel (15 per cent) offerings.
Volvo expects its most advanced safety technologies will attract new customers to the fold, and the S60's ability to keep its occupants safe -- and also pedestrians on the road -- will play a big part in getting bums on seats.
Around 13 per cent of traffic fatalities in Australia involve pedestrians says Volvo -- about one in eight deaths. Worldwide about 15 per cent of all car-related deaths involve pedestrians, a statistic that Volvo's new 'Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection' aims to address.
Though Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection is not a standard feature, it's offered as a $4990 option bundled with a range of other safety features (Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist Function, Lane Departure Warning, Driver Alert Control and Blind Spot Identification System). It uses radar and video camera technology to distinguish if a human is in front of the vehicle (stationary or moving) and will automatically apply the brakes if necessary.
We trialled the system during the local media presentation this week and unlike the European launch in Italy, where the crash test dummy was hit on several occasions, the system worked flawlessly. Eight from eight runs saw the Volvo S60 brake and pull up automatically without hitting the crash test dummy, and with no driver intervention.
It must be said it's a difficult test to master, because the natural instinct when approaching an obstacle is to mash the brake pedal.
"During our test, 97 per cent of people actually braked before the system kicked in, even though they knew it was there," said Volvo's senior technical advisor from the Volvo Cars Safety Centre, Thomas Broberg.
The system works at 35km/h or below, a figure that is both a result of technological boundaries and because "more than 75 per cent of crashes happen below 35km/h," says Broberg.
"The system has had two errors in the thousands of tests that we could reproduce," said Broberg when asked what went wrong with the Italian tests -- which happened only to the Australian journalists present.
All told, the Pedestrian Detection system underwent 650,000km of testing all around the world. Broberg asserts that if even one life is saved with the Pedestrian Detection system, the technology is successful.
"The brakes are primed, so maximum braking comes easier. If you do not respond to this warning the car will brake itself, using full braking power if necessary. It can avoid some collisions completely, at speeds of 35 km/h or less," he stated.
Broberg added that the Swedish company is constantly coming up with new safety solutions and that the rapid advancement of technology promises even more breakthroughs in the future.
"Five years ago we couldn't do what we have done today with the S60," explained Broberg.
The S60 goes on sale on December 10, 2010. Volvo will launch the wagon version of the S60, the V60, Down Under in the second quarter of 2011.
Volvo S60 range pricing:
- S60 T5 (117kW/320Nm) 2.0 GTDi petrol $51,950
- S60 D5 AWD (151kW/420Nm) 2.4 TwinTurbo diesel $57,950
- S60 T6 AWD (224kW/440Nm) 3.0 Turbo petrol $64,950
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.
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Volvo has just launched its new S60 sedan in Australia, a vehicle designed to take on German prestige four-doors such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. You could probably add the non-German Lexus IS series to that list too.
Starting from $51,950, the Volvo S60 features all the latest mod cons, plenty of power from its turbocharged engines plus leather upholstery, not to mention the option of the world's most advanced collision avoidance technology.
Volvo Australia's head of PR, Laurissa Mirabelli, told the Carsales Network that the importer is predicting sales of around 125 S60 sedans per month, for a total of around 1500 units per annum.
The most popular model is expected to be the entry-level petrol-engined 117kW/320Nm T5 which Volvo Australia estimates will take up 55 per cent of overall sales. Next in line are the more powerful 224kW/440Nm T6 petrol rangetopper (30 per cent) and D5 151kW/420Nm turbodiesel (15 per cent) offerings.
Volvo expects its most advanced safety technologies will attract new customers to the fold, and the S60's ability to keep its occupants safe -- and also pedestrians on the road -- will play a big part in getting bums on seats.
Around 13 per cent of traffic fatalities in Australia involve pedestrians says Volvo -- about one in eight deaths. Worldwide about 15 per cent of all car-related deaths involve pedestrians, a statistic that Volvo's new 'Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection' aims to address.
Though Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection is not a standard feature, it's offered as a $4990 option bundled with a range of other safety features (Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist Function, Lane Departure Warning, Driver Alert Control and Blind Spot Identification System). It uses radar and video camera technology to distinguish if a human is in front of the vehicle (stationary or moving) and will automatically apply the brakes if necessary.
We trialled the system during the local media presentation this week and unlike the European launch in Italy, where the crash test dummy was hit on several occasions, the system worked flawlessly. Eight from eight runs saw the Volvo S60 brake and pull up automatically without hitting the crash test dummy, and with no driver intervention.
It must be said it's a difficult test to master, because the natural instinct when approaching an obstacle is to mash the brake pedal.
"During our test, 97 per cent of people actually braked before the system kicked in, even though they knew it was there," said Volvo's senior technical advisor from the Volvo Cars Safety Centre, Thomas Broberg.
The system works at 35km/h or below, a figure that is both a result of technological boundaries and because "more than 75 per cent of crashes happen below 35km/h," says Broberg.
"The system has had two errors in the thousands of tests that we could reproduce," said Broberg when asked what went wrong with the Italian tests -- which happened only to the Australian journalists present.
All told, the Pedestrian Detection system underwent 650,000km of testing all around the world. Broberg asserts that if even one life is saved with the Pedestrian Detection system, the technology is successful.
"The brakes are primed, so maximum braking comes easier. If you do not respond to this warning the car will brake itself, using full braking power if necessary. It can avoid some collisions completely, at speeds of 35 km/h or less," he stated.
Broberg added that the Swedish company is constantly coming up with new safety solutions and that the rapid advancement of technology promises even more breakthroughs in the future.
"Five years ago we couldn't do what we have done today with the S60," explained Broberg.
The S60 goes on sale on December 10, 2010. Volvo will launch the wagon version of the S60, the V60, Down Under in the second quarter of 2011.
Volvo S60 range pricing:
- S60 T5 (117kW/320Nm) 2.0 GTDi petrol $51,950
- S60 D5 AWD (151kW/420Nm) 2.4 TwinTurbo diesel $57,950
- S60 T6 AWD (224kW/440Nm) 3.0 Turbo petrol $64,950
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.
Kangoo packed to please
Renault's new-generation light commercial van is bigger, more refined
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With a larger load area, greater load carrying capacity, the choice of an auto-transmission petrol or manual turbodiesel engine and the extra refinement that comes from its Renault Scenic origins, the latest Kangoo is a promising contender in the minuscule-LCV segment.
The new Kangoo offers a 3.0 cubic metre load capability and, in diesel form, will tote as much as 800kg. The auto petrol version cuts load capacity back to 650kg, but that is still 120kg up on the previous model.
Overall, the new Kangoo is 178mm longer and 102mm wider than before, with a 1731mm load length that is up 60mm on the outgoing model. It now measures 1218mm between the rear wheelarches and will accept loads up to 635mm wide through the sliding side door. Asymmetric rear doors open to as much as 180 degrees for easy loading.
The four-speed auto-only petrol engine displaces 1.6 litres and produces 78kW/148Nm, while the five-speed manual, 1.5-litre common rail turbodiesel produces 63kW/200Nm.
The petrol version returns 8.3L/100km, while the turbodiesel manages 5.2L/100km to claim best in class fuel economy. Emissions aren't too shabby, at least in the diesel, which claims an impressive 137g/km.
The Kangoo lists air-conditioning, power front windows, trip computer and heated, powered side mirrors as standard.
Anti-lock, all-disc braking is standard, while the driver's job is made easier via Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control with speed limiter. A load area liner and rear internal lighting are also standard.
Optional equipment includes ESP stability control, traction and understeer control (petrol only), front passenger and side airbags, a right-side sliding cargo door and rear parking sensors.
According to Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar: "Renault is the foremost supplier of light commercial vehicles in Europe, and since launch in 1997 the Renault Kangoo has been the number one seller in its segment in Europe for the past 12 consecutive years. Around three million variants have been sold in that time, including the passenger variants."
Kangoo driveaway price, for either petrol auto or diesel manual versions, is $25,990.
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With a larger load area, greater load carrying capacity, the choice of an auto-transmission petrol or manual turbodiesel engine and the extra refinement that comes from its Renault Scenic origins, the latest Kangoo is a promising contender in the minuscule-LCV segment.
The new Kangoo offers a 3.0 cubic metre load capability and, in diesel form, will tote as much as 800kg. The auto petrol version cuts load capacity back to 650kg, but that is still 120kg up on the previous model.
Overall, the new Kangoo is 178mm longer and 102mm wider than before, with a 1731mm load length that is up 60mm on the outgoing model. It now measures 1218mm between the rear wheelarches and will accept loads up to 635mm wide through the sliding side door. Asymmetric rear doors open to as much as 180 degrees for easy loading.
The four-speed auto-only petrol engine displaces 1.6 litres and produces 78kW/148Nm, while the five-speed manual, 1.5-litre common rail turbodiesel produces 63kW/200Nm.
The petrol version returns 8.3L/100km, while the turbodiesel manages 5.2L/100km to claim best in class fuel economy. Emissions aren't too shabby, at least in the diesel, which claims an impressive 137g/km.
The Kangoo lists air-conditioning, power front windows, trip computer and heated, powered side mirrors as standard.
Anti-lock, all-disc braking is standard, while the driver's job is made easier via Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control with speed limiter. A load area liner and rear internal lighting are also standard.
Optional equipment includes ESP stability control, traction and understeer control (petrol only), front passenger and side airbags, a right-side sliding cargo door and rear parking sensors.
According to Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar: "Renault is the foremost supplier of light commercial vehicles in Europe, and since launch in 1997 the Renault Kangoo has been the number one seller in its segment in Europe for the past 12 consecutive years. Around three million variants have been sold in that time, including the passenger variants."
Kangoo driveaway price, for either petrol auto or diesel manual versions, is $25,990.
Thứ Năm, 22 tháng 3, 2012
Ford Oz bids to design next Taurus
Melbourne studio to enter styling contest for Ford’s global large sedan
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The next generation Ford Taurus -- the car games that threatens to eventually replace the homegrown Falcon sedan -- could be designed in Australia.
Ford Australia's design department will be one of seven styling studios in the Ford world to submit a blueprint for the carmaker's new global large sedan, which is it is speculated will share much of its structure and componentry -- and possibly become an identical twin -- with the next all-new Falcon.
Under the 'One Ford' global car policy, both the Taurus (pictured) and Falcon are likely to become much more closely related when the new models for both vehicles come on line some time in 2016 or beyond.
Speaking at the launch of Ford's latest global vehicle, the Focus small car, the head of design for Ford in North America, Moray Callum, told the Carsales Network: "Absolutely [Ford Australia] will be part of the process, they're already very much involved.
"They [Ford Australia] know how to design sedans -- and good looking sedans -- and we harness our talent wherever it is in the Ford world. There's an amazing capability in Australia, particularly in large cars. We've asked Melbourne to submit early proposals, but to be frank Australia is involved in almost everything we do, even on models that aren't sold in Australia."
Callum said Ford Australia was in the process of hiring more designers as the company became more global in its use of styling and engineering talent.
The Carsales Network understands that the Taurus and Falcon replacements are next in the queue in Ford's global car strategy -- after the next generation mid-size car [Mondeo] is complete.
Ford Australia has already submitted design proposals for the successor to the Mondeo (in Europe) and Fusion (in North America), two vehicles that will become one within the next two years. The design of that model has progressed from concept to the production phase, but Ford has not yet revealed which of its studios around the world submitted the winning proposal.
"We're not saying for now, but I'm sure credit will be given where it's due," said Callum, the former head of design at Mazda and brother of Ian Callum, Jaguar's styling chief.
He said Ford design around the world was becoming "more cohesive".
"These days it's hard to pick where some of the early sketches have come from, all the studios around the world are really starting to talk a similar design language."
In addition to Ford Australia's Broadmeadows design centre, the six other main design studios in the Ford world are located in Dearborn Michigan, Irvine California, Cologne Germany, Dunton England, Shanghai China, and South America.
"This is the new Ford," he said. "We go to where the best talent is, no matter where it is in the Ford world. We're very lucky to have talented designers in all corners of the globe."
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
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The next generation Ford Taurus -- the car games that threatens to eventually replace the homegrown Falcon sedan -- could be designed in Australia.
Ford Australia's design department will be one of seven styling studios in the Ford world to submit a blueprint for the carmaker's new global large sedan, which is it is speculated will share much of its structure and componentry -- and possibly become an identical twin -- with the next all-new Falcon.
Under the 'One Ford' global car policy, both the Taurus (pictured) and Falcon are likely to become much more closely related when the new models for both vehicles come on line some time in 2016 or beyond.
Speaking at the launch of Ford's latest global vehicle, the Focus small car, the head of design for Ford in North America, Moray Callum, told the Carsales Network: "Absolutely [Ford Australia] will be part of the process, they're already very much involved.
"They [Ford Australia] know how to design sedans -- and good looking sedans -- and we harness our talent wherever it is in the Ford world. There's an amazing capability in Australia, particularly in large cars. We've asked Melbourne to submit early proposals, but to be frank Australia is involved in almost everything we do, even on models that aren't sold in Australia."
Callum said Ford Australia was in the process of hiring more designers as the company became more global in its use of styling and engineering talent.
The Carsales Network understands that the Taurus and Falcon replacements are next in the queue in Ford's global car strategy -- after the next generation mid-size car [Mondeo] is complete.
Ford Australia has already submitted design proposals for the successor to the Mondeo (in Europe) and Fusion (in North America), two vehicles that will become one within the next two years. The design of that model has progressed from concept to the production phase, but Ford has not yet revealed which of its studios around the world submitted the winning proposal.
"We're not saying for now, but I'm sure credit will be given where it's due," said Callum, the former head of design at Mazda and brother of Ian Callum, Jaguar's styling chief.
He said Ford design around the world was becoming "more cohesive".
"These days it's hard to pick where some of the early sketches have come from, all the studios around the world are really starting to talk a similar design language."
In addition to Ford Australia's Broadmeadows design centre, the six other main design studios in the Ford world are located in Dearborn Michigan, Irvine California, Cologne Germany, Dunton England, Shanghai China, and South America.
"This is the new Ford," he said. "We go to where the best talent is, no matter where it is in the Ford world. We're very lucky to have talented designers in all corners of the globe."
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Pagani reveals all-new Huayra
We can barely spell it, let alone pronounce it, but this could be the supercar to have if a range-topping Ferrari or Lambo seems a little too mundane
The rarefied segment occupied by the likes of the Bugatti Veyron is set to gain a new entrant as ultra-niche Italian carmaker Pagani has just released the first official images and details of its one million euro ($1.4m in our money) Huayra, which replaces the venerable Zonda.
The Huayra -- which translates to 'god of wind' and is allegedly pronounced "Wirer" -- continues the naming theme of the Zonda, which derived its name from an Argentinian air current.
The Zonda was originally due to be dubbed the 'Fangio F1' after five-time F1 champ Juan Manuel Fangio, who had played a role in developing the car, but it gained its eventual moniker after the Argentinian ace's death in 1995. The car debuted at the 1999 Geneva motor show.
The tongue-twisting Huayra also follows in its predecessor's wheeltracks in that it uses Mercedes AMG propulsion, specifically a twin-turbo 6.0-litre V12 with a towering 522kW and 900Nm. But in case this seems a little weedy, there's a Sport version with an even more ludicrous 545kW and 1100Nm.
The V12 thumper uses the same block as the Merc SL65 Black Series, but Pagani enlisted AMG's expertise to lessen lag and boost throttle response via bespoke heads, pistons, manifolds and turbos.
Although official performance figures are yet to be revealed, company officials have suggested the car touched 370km/h in testing and knocked off the 0-100km/h dash in 3.3sec.
The blown V12's monstrous thrust is relayed to the rear wheels by a custom-made seven-speed paddle-shift gearbox built by UK-based XTRAC, and it's housed transversely behind the mid-mounted engine.
Despite the Huayra's heavy-duty drivetrain, and the fact that it's physically larger than the Zonda, it weighs an ultra-trim 1350kg (minus fluids). In keeping with modern ubercar practice, the entire bodyshell is crafted from carbonfibre, including the huge gullwing doors.
The tub is a composite of titanium and carbon, as this substance allows the structure to flex slightly in a crash rather than shattering.
Visually, the Huayra is no less arresting than the Zonda, and its key distinguishing features are a catfish-mimicking face and rear-view mirrors that stick out like flagpoles. The body allegedly works like an airplane wing in that moveable flaps at each corner of the car automatically adjust to optimise the airflow over the car during acceleration, braking and cornering.
The suspension is also adjustable and the nose can be raised to access steep driveways and ramps. The active dampers also counteract dive under braking.
The Huayra is apparently a more liveable proposition than the Zonda, thanks to greater refinement and extra cabin space, while the mod-cons list includes touchscreen satnav and Bluetooth.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
The rarefied segment occupied by the likes of the Bugatti Veyron is set to gain a new entrant as ultra-niche Italian carmaker Pagani has just released the first official images and details of its one million euro ($1.4m in our money) Huayra, which replaces the venerable Zonda.
The Huayra -- which translates to 'god of wind' and is allegedly pronounced "Wirer" -- continues the naming theme of the Zonda, which derived its name from an Argentinian air current.
The Zonda was originally due to be dubbed the 'Fangio F1' after five-time F1 champ Juan Manuel Fangio, who had played a role in developing the car, but it gained its eventual moniker after the Argentinian ace's death in 1995. The car debuted at the 1999 Geneva motor show.
The tongue-twisting Huayra also follows in its predecessor's wheeltracks in that it uses Mercedes AMG propulsion, specifically a twin-turbo 6.0-litre V12 with a towering 522kW and 900Nm. But in case this seems a little weedy, there's a Sport version with an even more ludicrous 545kW and 1100Nm.
The V12 thumper uses the same block as the Merc SL65 Black Series, but Pagani enlisted AMG's expertise to lessen lag and boost throttle response via bespoke heads, pistons, manifolds and turbos.
Although official performance figures are yet to be revealed, company officials have suggested the car touched 370km/h in testing and knocked off the 0-100km/h dash in 3.3sec.
The blown V12's monstrous thrust is relayed to the rear wheels by a custom-made seven-speed paddle-shift gearbox built by UK-based XTRAC, and it's housed transversely behind the mid-mounted engine.
Despite the Huayra's heavy-duty drivetrain, and the fact that it's physically larger than the Zonda, it weighs an ultra-trim 1350kg (minus fluids). In keeping with modern ubercar practice, the entire bodyshell is crafted from carbonfibre, including the huge gullwing doors.
The tub is a composite of titanium and carbon, as this substance allows the structure to flex slightly in a crash rather than shattering.
Visually, the Huayra is no less arresting than the Zonda, and its key distinguishing features are a catfish-mimicking face and rear-view mirrors that stick out like flagpoles. The body allegedly works like an airplane wing in that moveable flaps at each corner of the car automatically adjust to optimise the airflow over the car during acceleration, braking and cornering.
The suspension is also adjustable and the nose can be raised to access steep driveways and ramps. The active dampers also counteract dive under braking.
The Huayra is apparently a more liveable proposition than the Zonda, thanks to greater refinement and extra cabin space, while the mod-cons list includes touchscreen satnav and Bluetooth.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
MOTORSPORT: Holdens set V8 Supercar pace
The free V8 Supercar pre-season test at Sydney's Eastern Creek was a hit with fans, lots of new F1 cars in the next two days, and Chip Ganassi achieves an American 'grand slam'
Lowndes on top, Courtney midfield, FPR pair near mark
The motor racing year is going up a gear – the V8 Supercars have had the pre-season test day in Sydney, the new Formula One cars are starting to roll out and testing starts in Europe tomorrow, while America's Daytona 24-hour has been run and won.
Craig Lowndes, Holden, Triple Eight Race Engineering/Team Vodafone topped the V8 Supercar test at Eastern Creek.
Indeed Holdens filled the top seven positions in the three-hour afternoon session, when some cars ran on soft “sprint” tyres.
However, the morning times of Will Davison – in his debut with Ford Performance Racing after two years at Holden Racing Team – and another Ford driver, Shane van Gisbergen, were good enough for them to be fifth and sixth fastest overall for the day.
In front of a crowd estimated at more than 10,000, who took advantage of free admission, Lowndes clocked a best lap of 1 minute 30.1877 seconds around the partly resurfaced 3.93km circuit on soft tyres late in the day.
That was half a second better than the decade-old pole position time of Mark Skaife, who did a few laps in the Triple Eight Commodore on Saturday too.
Fujitsu Racing/Garry Rogers Motorsport's Michael Caruso set the second fastest time late in the day and his teammate Lee Holdsworth wound up fourth – with Team BOC's Jason Bright sandwiched between them.
A highlight of the day was Brad Jones Racing colleague Jason Richards fronting after chemotherapy and driving eight laps.
FPR's Mark Winterbottom was the fastest Ford driver in the afternoon, but he had Tony D'Alberto (Wilson Security Commodore), Jason Bargwanna (Team BOC Commodore) and Garth Tander (HRT Commodore) ahead of him.
Winterbottom had been fourth in the morning as well.
Reigning champion James Courtney was only midfield all day in his HRT debut – 14th in the morning and 16th in the afternoon.
The V8 Supercar Championship starts in Abu Dhabi on the second weekend of February.
$9 million upgrade for Eastern Creek
Eastern Creek, although no longer a V8 Supercar Championship venue, is to get a $9 million upgrade – well short of some of the grander plans around a couple of years ago, but with the NSW government tipping in $7 million.
The weekend announcement by the government and the Australian Racing Drivers' Club, which operates Eastern Creek, said the upgrade would "increase the circuit's capacity and track configurations to four different layouts - with two circuits able to operate independently".
"Critical to the upgrade will be a lengthening of the circuit to accommodate the multi-purpose layout and an additional pit lane to support the two-circuit configuration," it said.
ARDC president Andrew Leithhead said: "This investment by the government will allow the ARDC to expand the capacity of the track to service demand from both club-level motorsport and broader community needs.
"The circuit upgrades will also allow us to service the growing demands for race circuits since the closure of other permanent circuits in Sydney."
ARDC chief executive Glenn Matthews said the extensions would double the Creek's capacity.
"This will allow two or more track activities to be held concurrently," he said.
"The project will allow for a significant expansion of driver training capacity - in a safe, controlled environment."
New F1 cars to come in a rush
Ferrari took pole position for F1 launches with the unveiling of its F150 – named to mark 150 years of Italian unification – and three more teams will reveal their cars tonight before testing starts at Valencia in Spain tomorrow.
The first test – on Valencia's permanent Circuit Ricardo Tormo rather than the temporary street circuit that hosts the European Grand Prix - will be over three days.
It will be followed by three four-day tests before the season starts in Bahrain in mid-March.
The other tests will be at Jerez in Spain on February 10-13, then the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona on February 18-21 and finally in Bahrain on March 3-6 – a week before the opening GP there.
The two Lotus teams – one that was previously Renault and is now sponsored by Malaysia's Proton, which owns the Lotus road car marque; the other the second-year outfit independently-owned by Malaysians – and Sauber will launch their cars tonight.
Red Bull, Mercedes, Williams and Scuderia Toro Rosso will unveil their cars tomorrow, while McLaren won't reveal its MP4-26 until Friday – in Berlin.
However, McLaren test driver Gary Paffet, then Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will drive last year's MP4-25 on the new Pirelli tyres at the Valencia test.
World champion Sebastian Vettel will have the first run in Red Bull's RB7 at Valencia, before handing over to Australian teammate Mark Webber mid-Wednesday.
Fernando Alonso will do the first two days in the new Ferrari, with Felipe Massa in it for last day at Valencia. (The BBC's Andrew Benson's report on the team's launch, angled on Ferrari feeling the pressure to topple Red Bull, is here).
Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher will share driving duties in the new Mercedes W02 on the first day of the test.
Toro Rosso's Australian reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo, who is to take part in Friday practice at GPs this year, will do some pre-season testing of the Italian-based Red Bull junior team's STR6 – but not at Valencia.
Red Bull chief on how Webber no match for Vettel
Just a month and a half out from the new F1 season, Red Bull motorsport chief Dr Helmut Marko has inflamed the Vettel-Webber rivalry, saying that the Australian would never have challenged the German last year except for the youngster's mechanical reliability issues.
Marko said there would never have been any speculation about a need for team orders –which aren't Red Bull's style anyway – at the Abu Dhabi championship decider if not for Vettel's gremlins in Bahrain, Melbourne, Barcelona and Korea.
"Without the 66 points he lost due to technical defects, the stand-off with Mark Webber would never have occurred," he told Germany's Sport Bild,
see here.
Ferrari driving hard against small turbos
Ferrari is still griping about F1's switch to four-cylinder, 1.6-litre turbocharged engines in 2013 for greater fuel efficiency.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said that he does not oppose the introduction of "green" technologies – like the return of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) this year - but is vehemently opposed to halving the number of cylinders in the engines. Montezemolo is against anything smaller than a V6.
"A four-cylinder Ferrari seems absurd to me," he said. "A six-cylinder would have been more in line with the F1 positioning on the market."
Montezemolo also has another bee in his bonnet - the ban on testing during the season.
"A sport on such a level can't continue with such an absurd limitation regarding testing, in terms of development and in terms of safety, for our new drivers, who have to involved and have to be able to test," he said.
Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt, ironically for many years an employee of Montezemolo as chief of Ferrari's F1 team, said the decision on the engine formula from 2013 was carefully considered.
"I think the team and the people at Ferrari know very well that we've discussed everything, and Ferrari has always been involved in those talks," Todt told Motorsport-Total.
"Regarding the engine, everything has been decided - it's done.
"It was not said suddenly that we do four cylinders, and a turbocharger. All of this is the result of lengthy discussions with experts."
Todt said he would have been happy with any size engine as long as it helped to reduce costs in F1 while making a better show for fans.
"If the result [of those discussions] has been that we want eight or 10 cylinders, then I would have no problem with that," he said.
"What I want, however, are lower costs, a better show and the introduction of new technologies."
Ganassi achieves American 'grand slam'
For now, at least, Chip Ganassi has taken Roger Penske's mantle as the top all-round team owner in American racing.
Ganassi scored its fourth Daytona 24-Hour victory in six years with a one-two finish at the weekend, while Australia's Ryan Briscoe was one of the drivers in the fifth-placed finisher, a Dallara-Chevrolet.
The Ganassi team's No. 1 Riley-BMW MKXI/XX driven by Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas, Joey Hand and Graham Rahal crossed the line two seconds ahead of its sister car.
New Zealander Scott Dixon, who shared the second Ganassi entry with Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti and NASCAR star Jamie McMurray, could not take advantage of a late safety car, which turned the race into a final lap sprint.
Ganassi now has a "grand slam", holding the trophies for four big American races at once as last season he won the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 NASCAR events with McMurray and the Indianapolis 500 with Franchitti.
Last year's Daytona 24-winning team, Action Express Racing, finished third this time with its Riley-Porsche driven by Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi, Max Papis, Terry Borcheller and JC France.
Barbosa was only 0.3 seconds behind Dixon at the flag.
British ex-F1 drivers and former Le Mans 24-Hour winners Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell finished fourth in the United Autosports Riley-Ford they shared with Zak Brown and Mark Patterson.
They came back from a lap down to be only three seconds behind the victors.
The Dallara-Chevrolet that Briscoe co-drove ended a lap down after two major delays.
Petty tells how close team came to folding
Still on the American scene, NASCAR "King" Richard Petty has told of how close his team came to closing its doors just after Australian Marcos Ambrose signed last year to drive for it in the new season about to start.
Petty's version of events is here while another article on some of the difficulties NASCAR is facing is here.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site
Lowndes on top, Courtney midfield, FPR pair near mark
The motor racing year is going up a gear – the V8 Supercars have had the pre-season test day in Sydney, the new Formula One cars are starting to roll out and testing starts in Europe tomorrow, while America's Daytona 24-hour has been run and won.
Craig Lowndes, Holden, Triple Eight Race Engineering/Team Vodafone topped the V8 Supercar test at Eastern Creek.
Indeed Holdens filled the top seven positions in the three-hour afternoon session, when some cars ran on soft “sprint” tyres.
However, the morning times of Will Davison – in his debut with Ford Performance Racing after two years at Holden Racing Team – and another Ford driver, Shane van Gisbergen, were good enough for them to be fifth and sixth fastest overall for the day.
In front of a crowd estimated at more than 10,000, who took advantage of free admission, Lowndes clocked a best lap of 1 minute 30.1877 seconds around the partly resurfaced 3.93km circuit on soft tyres late in the day.
That was half a second better than the decade-old pole position time of Mark Skaife, who did a few laps in the Triple Eight Commodore on Saturday too.
Fujitsu Racing/Garry Rogers Motorsport's Michael Caruso set the second fastest time late in the day and his teammate Lee Holdsworth wound up fourth – with Team BOC's Jason Bright sandwiched between them.
A highlight of the day was Brad Jones Racing colleague Jason Richards fronting after chemotherapy and driving eight laps.
FPR's Mark Winterbottom was the fastest Ford driver in the afternoon, but he had Tony D'Alberto (Wilson Security Commodore), Jason Bargwanna (Team BOC Commodore) and Garth Tander (HRT Commodore) ahead of him.
Winterbottom had been fourth in the morning as well.
Reigning champion James Courtney was only midfield all day in his HRT debut – 14th in the morning and 16th in the afternoon.
The V8 Supercar Championship starts in Abu Dhabi on the second weekend of February.
$9 million upgrade for Eastern Creek
Eastern Creek, although no longer a V8 Supercar Championship venue, is to get a $9 million upgrade – well short of some of the grander plans around a couple of years ago, but with the NSW government tipping in $7 million.
The weekend announcement by the government and the Australian Racing Drivers' Club, which operates Eastern Creek, said the upgrade would "increase the circuit's capacity and track configurations to four different layouts - with two circuits able to operate independently".
"Critical to the upgrade will be a lengthening of the circuit to accommodate the multi-purpose layout and an additional pit lane to support the two-circuit configuration," it said.
ARDC president Andrew Leithhead said: "This investment by the government will allow the ARDC to expand the capacity of the track to service demand from both club-level motorsport and broader community needs.
"The circuit upgrades will also allow us to service the growing demands for race circuits since the closure of other permanent circuits in Sydney."
ARDC chief executive Glenn Matthews said the extensions would double the Creek's capacity.
"This will allow two or more track activities to be held concurrently," he said.
"The project will allow for a significant expansion of driver training capacity - in a safe, controlled environment."
New F1 cars to come in a rush
Ferrari took pole position for F1 launches with the unveiling of its F150 – named to mark 150 years of Italian unification – and three more teams will reveal their cars tonight before testing starts at Valencia in Spain tomorrow.
The first test – on Valencia's permanent Circuit Ricardo Tormo rather than the temporary street circuit that hosts the European Grand Prix - will be over three days.
It will be followed by three four-day tests before the season starts in Bahrain in mid-March.
The other tests will be at Jerez in Spain on February 10-13, then the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona on February 18-21 and finally in Bahrain on March 3-6 – a week before the opening GP there.
The two Lotus teams – one that was previously Renault and is now sponsored by Malaysia's Proton, which owns the Lotus road car marque; the other the second-year outfit independently-owned by Malaysians – and Sauber will launch their cars tonight.
Red Bull, Mercedes, Williams and Scuderia Toro Rosso will unveil their cars tomorrow, while McLaren won't reveal its MP4-26 until Friday – in Berlin.
However, McLaren test driver Gary Paffet, then Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will drive last year's MP4-25 on the new Pirelli tyres at the Valencia test.
World champion Sebastian Vettel will have the first run in Red Bull's RB7 at Valencia, before handing over to Australian teammate Mark Webber mid-Wednesday.
Fernando Alonso will do the first two days in the new Ferrari, with Felipe Massa in it for last day at Valencia. (The BBC's Andrew Benson's report on the team's launch, angled on Ferrari feeling the pressure to topple Red Bull, is here).
Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher will share driving duties in the new Mercedes W02 on the first day of the test.
Toro Rosso's Australian reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo, who is to take part in Friday practice at GPs this year, will do some pre-season testing of the Italian-based Red Bull junior team's STR6 – but not at Valencia.
Red Bull chief on how Webber no match for Vettel
Just a month and a half out from the new F1 season, Red Bull motorsport chief Dr Helmut Marko has inflamed the Vettel-Webber rivalry, saying that the Australian would never have challenged the German last year except for the youngster's mechanical reliability issues.
Marko said there would never have been any speculation about a need for team orders –which aren't Red Bull's style anyway – at the Abu Dhabi championship decider if not for Vettel's gremlins in Bahrain, Melbourne, Barcelona and Korea.
"Without the 66 points he lost due to technical defects, the stand-off with Mark Webber would never have occurred," he told Germany's Sport Bild,
see here.
Ferrari driving hard against small turbos
Ferrari is still griping about F1's switch to four-cylinder, 1.6-litre turbocharged engines in 2013 for greater fuel efficiency.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said that he does not oppose the introduction of "green" technologies – like the return of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) this year - but is vehemently opposed to halving the number of cylinders in the engines. Montezemolo is against anything smaller than a V6.
"A four-cylinder Ferrari seems absurd to me," he said. "A six-cylinder would have been more in line with the F1 positioning on the market."
Montezemolo also has another bee in his bonnet - the ban on testing during the season.
"A sport on such a level can't continue with such an absurd limitation regarding testing, in terms of development and in terms of safety, for our new drivers, who have to involved and have to be able to test," he said.
Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt, ironically for many years an employee of Montezemolo as chief of Ferrari's F1 team, said the decision on the engine formula from 2013 was carefully considered.
"I think the team and the people at Ferrari know very well that we've discussed everything, and Ferrari has always been involved in those talks," Todt told Motorsport-Total.
"Regarding the engine, everything has been decided - it's done.
"It was not said suddenly that we do four cylinders, and a turbocharger. All of this is the result of lengthy discussions with experts."
Todt said he would have been happy with any size engine as long as it helped to reduce costs in F1 while making a better show for fans.
"If the result [of those discussions] has been that we want eight or 10 cylinders, then I would have no problem with that," he said.
"What I want, however, are lower costs, a better show and the introduction of new technologies."
Ganassi achieves American 'grand slam'
For now, at least, Chip Ganassi has taken Roger Penske's mantle as the top all-round team owner in American racing.
Ganassi scored its fourth Daytona 24-Hour victory in six years with a one-two finish at the weekend, while Australia's Ryan Briscoe was one of the drivers in the fifth-placed finisher, a Dallara-Chevrolet.
The Ganassi team's No. 1 Riley-BMW MKXI/XX driven by Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas, Joey Hand and Graham Rahal crossed the line two seconds ahead of its sister car.
New Zealander Scott Dixon, who shared the second Ganassi entry with Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti and NASCAR star Jamie McMurray, could not take advantage of a late safety car, which turned the race into a final lap sprint.
Ganassi now has a "grand slam", holding the trophies for four big American races at once as last season he won the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 NASCAR events with McMurray and the Indianapolis 500 with Franchitti.
Last year's Daytona 24-winning team, Action Express Racing, finished third this time with its Riley-Porsche driven by Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi, Max Papis, Terry Borcheller and JC France.
Barbosa was only 0.3 seconds behind Dixon at the flag.
British ex-F1 drivers and former Le Mans 24-Hour winners Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell finished fourth in the United Autosports Riley-Ford they shared with Zak Brown and Mark Patterson.
They came back from a lap down to be only three seconds behind the victors.
The Dallara-Chevrolet that Briscoe co-drove ended a lap down after two major delays.
Petty tells how close team came to folding
Still on the American scene, NASCAR "King" Richard Petty has told of how close his team came to closing its doors just after Australian Marcos Ambrose signed last year to drive for it in the new season about to start.
Petty's version of events is here while another article on some of the difficulties NASCAR is facing is here.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site
Thứ Sáu, 16 tháng 3, 2012
HSV nabs plum safety car role
HSV will be the supplier of the official safety cars for the 2011 V8 Supercar season
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new HSV
Holden Special Vehicles has cemented its relationship with the V8 Supercar Championship by announcing that it will supply the Official Safety Car and Course Car for the 2011 season.
HSV's general manager of marketing, Tim Jackson, said the performance car company was delighted to be the official safety car supplier, a role that is increasingly seen as a prime promotional tool in motorsports.
"We have been in discussions for some time with V8 Supercars, and it is great that we have been able to strike this type of relationship," said Jackson.
"In addition to the safety and course cars, our association includes some exclusive on-track initiatives for HSV, and provides us a great opportunity to integrate our entire race relations program, which incorporates the Holden Racing Team, Bundaberg Racing, Garth Tander, Greg Murphy, Fabian Coulthard and Cameron McConville.
"We look forward to providing consumers a very exclusive on-track HSV Drive Experience with our race drivers at selected events, as well as expanding on the 'Speed Trap' at Bathurst by incorporating it into more events, and utilising more data for fans to enjoy," stated Jackson.
V8 Supercars CEO Martin Whitaker explained that it was a perfect fit to have HSV on board leading the 2011 V8 Supercar field: "The HSV cars represent the connection between the racing activities and the road activities, and we are looking forward to working with HSV to make it a successful partnership. The cars will be present from our first event in Abu Dhabi, and then at all other events in the V8 Supercar Calendar," said Mr. Whitaker.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new HSV
Holden Special Vehicles has cemented its relationship with the V8 Supercar Championship by announcing that it will supply the Official Safety Car and Course Car for the 2011 season.
HSV's general manager of marketing, Tim Jackson, said the performance car company was delighted to be the official safety car supplier, a role that is increasingly seen as a prime promotional tool in motorsports.
"We have been in discussions for some time with V8 Supercars, and it is great that we have been able to strike this type of relationship," said Jackson.
"In addition to the safety and course cars, our association includes some exclusive on-track initiatives for HSV, and provides us a great opportunity to integrate our entire race relations program, which incorporates the Holden Racing Team, Bundaberg Racing, Garth Tander, Greg Murphy, Fabian Coulthard and Cameron McConville.
"We look forward to providing consumers a very exclusive on-track HSV Drive Experience with our race drivers at selected events, as well as expanding on the 'Speed Trap' at Bathurst by incorporating it into more events, and utilising more data for fans to enjoy," stated Jackson.
V8 Supercars CEO Martin Whitaker explained that it was a perfect fit to have HSV on board leading the 2011 V8 Supercar field: "The HSV cars represent the connection between the racing activities and the road activities, and we are looking forward to working with HSV to make it a successful partnership. The cars will be present from our first event in Abu Dhabi, and then at all other events in the V8 Supercar Calendar," said Mr. Whitaker.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.
Australian Rally Championship spreads wings
ARC signs naming rights sponsor, increases TV coverage and attracts greater manufacturer participation
The Australian Rally Championship appears to be going from strength to strength in 2011, with a number of positive events having taken place in recent times -- including the possible addition of more manufacturers into the series.
The signing of global car parts and accessories company Bosch as the naming rights sponsor for the 2011 The Australian Rally Championship, or ARC, is a major coup for the rally series, but as the ARC's CEO Scott Pedder explained, the possibility of new manufacturers joining the fray would also pique the interest of motor sports fans.
"Bosch coming on board, along with the moves we have made, has already lifted interest and discussion with several vehicle manufacturers who are contemplating involvement in the ARC. Automotive giants Honda and Hyundai are already involved in the Bosch Australian Rally Championship, while other manufacturers are talking to us about their involvement," revealed Pedder.
Pedder acknowledged that the signing of Bosch as the naming rights sponsor was a huge help for the series, and together with the boosted free-to-air TV coverage on channel Ten and One HD, would contribute to the series' success.
Pedder also cited the grassroots rally schemes in place that would ensure the sports' longevity: "Initiatives such as the new Rallyschool.com.au Junior Australian Rally Challenge aimed at identifying and developing young talent as well as the ARC's new Unrestricted philosophy have generated enormous interest with competitors, and signing Bosch will lift the championship to another level."
On the other side of the deal, Bosch's Regional Director (Automotive Aftermarket) Phil Robinson explained that the ARC's increasing reach made the series an ideal partner: "We are rapidly growing our brake business and see an alignment with the ARC as the perfect vehicle to communicate the development of our brake range to both our existing and future customers.
"Bosch is a global leader in the development of braking systems, including ABS, and in conjunction with the PBR brake range, we now have the most comprehensive brake package available," said Robinson.
According to the ARC, it expects "more than" 2.5 million Australians will see the Bosch ARC on television. There will be more than 36 hours of national television coverage on Ten and One HD.
The first round of the Bosch ARC will be the Quit Forest Rally in Western Australia. The season is scheduled as follows:
1. Quit Forest Rally (WA) April 15-17
2. International Rally of Queensland, Sunshine Coast (Qld) May 13-15
3. Rally of South Australia, Adelaide Hills (SA) July 29-31
4. Australian WRC round, Coffs Harbour (NSW) September 9-11
5. Rally Victoria, Gippsland (Vic) November 11-12
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The Australian Rally Championship appears to be going from strength to strength in 2011, with a number of positive events having taken place in recent times -- including the possible addition of more manufacturers into the series.
The signing of global car parts and accessories company Bosch as the naming rights sponsor for the 2011 The Australian Rally Championship, or ARC, is a major coup for the rally series, but as the ARC's CEO Scott Pedder explained, the possibility of new manufacturers joining the fray would also pique the interest of motor sports fans.
"Bosch coming on board, along with the moves we have made, has already lifted interest and discussion with several vehicle manufacturers who are contemplating involvement in the ARC. Automotive giants Honda and Hyundai are already involved in the Bosch Australian Rally Championship, while other manufacturers are talking to us about their involvement," revealed Pedder.
Pedder acknowledged that the signing of Bosch as the naming rights sponsor was a huge help for the series, and together with the boosted free-to-air TV coverage on channel Ten and One HD, would contribute to the series' success.
Pedder also cited the grassroots rally schemes in place that would ensure the sports' longevity: "Initiatives such as the new Rallyschool.com.au Junior Australian Rally Challenge aimed at identifying and developing young talent as well as the ARC's new Unrestricted philosophy have generated enormous interest with competitors, and signing Bosch will lift the championship to another level."
On the other side of the deal, Bosch's Regional Director (Automotive Aftermarket) Phil Robinson explained that the ARC's increasing reach made the series an ideal partner: "We are rapidly growing our brake business and see an alignment with the ARC as the perfect vehicle to communicate the development of our brake range to both our existing and future customers.
"Bosch is a global leader in the development of braking systems, including ABS, and in conjunction with the PBR brake range, we now have the most comprehensive brake package available," said Robinson.
According to the ARC, it expects "more than" 2.5 million Australians will see the Bosch ARC on television. There will be more than 36 hours of national television coverage on Ten and One HD.
The first round of the Bosch ARC will be the Quit Forest Rally in Western Australia. The season is scheduled as follows:
1. Quit Forest Rally (WA) April 15-17
2. International Rally of Queensland, Sunshine Coast (Qld) May 13-15
3. Rally of South Australia, Adelaide Hills (SA) July 29-31
4. Australian WRC round, Coffs Harbour (NSW) September 9-11
5. Rally Victoria, Gippsland (Vic) November 11-12
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.
Brock museum shuts its doors on Peter Perfect's 66th birthday
Queensland collection of cars and memorabilia may find a new home
An emotional Peter Champion wrapped up the final tour of racing legend Peter Brock's cars and memorabilia on Saturday – the same day that Brock would have turned 66 had his life not been taken in a crash in 2006 – and he fired up the Bathurst-winning 05 'Big Banger' for the audience one last time.
"Brock never got to see the collection in all its glory but he was the inspiration for all this, and we made it exactly how he wanted it," Champion told the last gathering of about 100 visitors from interstate and overseas inside the dimly-lit warehouse-turned-museum.
"Brock even designed the giant dashboard that you walked through to get in here today, and he was instrumental in choosing what cars we had in the collection," Champion said.
Two of Brock's three children, Alexandra and Robert, were also there to mark the occasion.
"Dad would have loved to see his dreams come to reality here, so it is sad that it has to close," said an emotional Alexandra. "It's obviously brought back a lot of memories. We're just grateful that these cars and all of dad's memorabilia have found a good home."
Although most of the 45-plus vehicles are genuine Brock racers, the collection includes a replica of Brock's first ever car – a humble paddock basher that was little more than an engine, a frame and a seat (and no brakes) made from parts recovered next to the remains of the real car – and a replica of Brock's first race car, a bright blue Austin A30, restored by son James Brock in the early 2000s.
The collection also has the last car Brock ever raced, the handbuilt Daytona sportscar he crashed in that fateful road rally in Perth in 2006. Champion had it restored and added it to the collection in late 2010. It's mounted high, looking over the entire collection.
"There was a lot of discussion about whether that car should be in the collection, obviously it's a very contentious issue," said Champion. "But out of respect for Peter we've brought it back to its original condition and it now looks over the collection as a reminder that Brock is always with us."
Although the Daytona has been immaculately repaired, the interior still has some signs of the incident, and Brock's rally bag is still in the driver's door pocket.
The final group of more than 100 visitors from interstate and abroad was in fact the second big group of the day -- Saturday, 26 February 2011 -- which made it all the more difficult to close the doors, Champion said.
When it opened on 15 December 2007, Champion's Brock Experience in Yeppoon, on Queensland's Capricorn Coast about half an hour's drive from Rockhampton, had hundreds of visitors a week.
But in the lead up to – and in the wake of – the cyclones and floods that ravaged the region over summer, visitor numbers dropped to about a dozen a week.
"We've had groups as large as this every week since we announced we were closing a little over a month ago," said Champion. "If we only had this turn out over summer we might have been able to keep the doors open."
Champion won't say how much his labour of love has cost him to run, but the Carsales Network understands the retired mining contractor has lost close to $1 million over three years keeping Brock's dreams alive and open to the public.
"It was never about money," say Champion, who has recently returned to mining contract work. "It was about sharing Brock's cars and his memories with other Brock fans and car fans. But there comes a point in time where you have to make tough decisions. We've had a good three years and now it's time to close the doors for a while and focus on the HDT road-car side of the business."
Local girl Emma Holmes, originally from the small country town of Grenfell "a couple of hours drive" south-west of Bathurst, and a self-confessed car nut, had been hosting the guided tours since the day the centre opened.
"It's been a dream job for me and we've had thousands of people through, but it was getting quiet towards the end of last year," she said. "We used to do four tours a day but then it was one a week. What most people didn't realise is that this wasn't just a car collection, this was Brock's life story."
Ironically, she says, some of the biggest groups of visitors were from Ford car clubs.
"Whether you're a Ford fan or a Holden fan, I think everyone recognises Brock's achievements over the years. And let's face it, without Brock and Holden, perhaps Ford wouldn't have been as strong as it was. Competition is good for both sides of motorsport."
Champion's Brock collection includes rare sketches of Australian wildlife drawn by Brock himself – including a drawing of his pet kangaroo – and the entire trophy collection of Harry Firth, the man who talent-spotted Brock by taking him out of his Austin A30 makeshift sports sedan and putting him behind the wheel of a Holden Dealer Team Monaro in 1969. Brock finished third in his debut Bathurst outing, with Des West.
There will be one more private show at the museum before the year is over because Champion wanted to honour an earlier Holden car club booking. But last Saturday was the final public day – indefinitely.
However, the most extensive collection of Brock's road, race and rally cars – including the ill-fated Lada Samara and Ford Falcon road car projects – may find a new home in the years to come.
"We are talking to a few interested parties in three states: Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria," Champion says. "We will look at them all and if there is a way to move the collection closer to a major capital city we will give it serious consideration. But for now the cars are staying here and, sadly, the doors are staying locked."
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An emotional Peter Champion wrapped up the final tour of racing legend Peter Brock's cars and memorabilia on Saturday – the same day that Brock would have turned 66 had his life not been taken in a crash in 2006 – and he fired up the Bathurst-winning 05 'Big Banger' for the audience one last time.
"Brock never got to see the collection in all its glory but he was the inspiration for all this, and we made it exactly how he wanted it," Champion told the last gathering of about 100 visitors from interstate and overseas inside the dimly-lit warehouse-turned-museum.
"Brock even designed the giant dashboard that you walked through to get in here today, and he was instrumental in choosing what cars we had in the collection," Champion said.
Two of Brock's three children, Alexandra and Robert, were also there to mark the occasion.
"Dad would have loved to see his dreams come to reality here, so it is sad that it has to close," said an emotional Alexandra. "It's obviously brought back a lot of memories. We're just grateful that these cars and all of dad's memorabilia have found a good home."
Although most of the 45-plus vehicles are genuine Brock racers, the collection includes a replica of Brock's first ever car – a humble paddock basher that was little more than an engine, a frame and a seat (and no brakes) made from parts recovered next to the remains of the real car – and a replica of Brock's first race car, a bright blue Austin A30, restored by son James Brock in the early 2000s.
The collection also has the last car Brock ever raced, the handbuilt Daytona sportscar he crashed in that fateful road rally in Perth in 2006. Champion had it restored and added it to the collection in late 2010. It's mounted high, looking over the entire collection.
"There was a lot of discussion about whether that car should be in the collection, obviously it's a very contentious issue," said Champion. "But out of respect for Peter we've brought it back to its original condition and it now looks over the collection as a reminder that Brock is always with us."
Although the Daytona has been immaculately repaired, the interior still has some signs of the incident, and Brock's rally bag is still in the driver's door pocket.
The final group of more than 100 visitors from interstate and abroad was in fact the second big group of the day -- Saturday, 26 February 2011 -- which made it all the more difficult to close the doors, Champion said.
When it opened on 15 December 2007, Champion's Brock Experience in Yeppoon, on Queensland's Capricorn Coast about half an hour's drive from Rockhampton, had hundreds of visitors a week.
But in the lead up to – and in the wake of – the cyclones and floods that ravaged the region over summer, visitor numbers dropped to about a dozen a week.
"We've had groups as large as this every week since we announced we were closing a little over a month ago," said Champion. "If we only had this turn out over summer we might have been able to keep the doors open."
Champion won't say how much his labour of love has cost him to run, but the Carsales Network understands the retired mining contractor has lost close to $1 million over three years keeping Brock's dreams alive and open to the public.
"It was never about money," say Champion, who has recently returned to mining contract work. "It was about sharing Brock's cars and his memories with other Brock fans and car fans. But there comes a point in time where you have to make tough decisions. We've had a good three years and now it's time to close the doors for a while and focus on the HDT road-car side of the business."
Local girl Emma Holmes, originally from the small country town of Grenfell "a couple of hours drive" south-west of Bathurst, and a self-confessed car nut, had been hosting the guided tours since the day the centre opened.
"It's been a dream job for me and we've had thousands of people through, but it was getting quiet towards the end of last year," she said. "We used to do four tours a day but then it was one a week. What most people didn't realise is that this wasn't just a car collection, this was Brock's life story."
Ironically, she says, some of the biggest groups of visitors were from Ford car clubs.
"Whether you're a Ford fan or a Holden fan, I think everyone recognises Brock's achievements over the years. And let's face it, without Brock and Holden, perhaps Ford wouldn't have been as strong as it was. Competition is good for both sides of motorsport."
Champion's Brock collection includes rare sketches of Australian wildlife drawn by Brock himself – including a drawing of his pet kangaroo – and the entire trophy collection of Harry Firth, the man who talent-spotted Brock by taking him out of his Austin A30 makeshift sports sedan and putting him behind the wheel of a Holden Dealer Team Monaro in 1969. Brock finished third in his debut Bathurst outing, with Des West.
There will be one more private show at the museum before the year is over because Champion wanted to honour an earlier Holden car club booking. But last Saturday was the final public day – indefinitely.
However, the most extensive collection of Brock's road, race and rally cars – including the ill-fated Lada Samara and Ford Falcon road car projects – may find a new home in the years to come.
"We are talking to a few interested parties in three states: Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria," Champion says. "We will look at them all and if there is a way to move the collection closer to a major capital city we will give it serious consideration. But for now the cars are staying here and, sadly, the doors are staying locked."
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site
i-MiEV scores four-star safety rating
EuroNCAP testing sees Mitsubishi’s electric vehicle match similar sized conventionally-powered cars for occupant protection
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Mitsubishi's i-MiEV, the first big-name EV to hit roads worldwide, has scored a four-star rating in EuroNCAP crash testing.
The test was something of a milestone for the safety organisation's regime, i-MiEV being the first mass-produced EV to ever be analysed. It brought into focus a whole new set of priorities and considerations associated with high-voltage battery powered cars involved in collisions.
i-MiEV's drive battery, located within a sturdy section of the body frame under the rear seat, was undamaged in the test and demonstrated its efficacy in shutting down completely upon impact to protect its occupants and rescuers. The body frame is designed to shield the power pack from impact coming from any angle or direction. Equipped with impact sensors, the vehicle's integrated management system shuts the entire high-voltage system down in the event of a collision or rollover.
This week's EuroNCAP results are consistent with those the i-MiEV had achieved in tests already conducted by ADAC, Germany's biggest automobile association, and Australian ANCAP testing. The overall four-star rating corresponds to a petrol or diesel powered vehicle of similar size.
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Mitsubishi's i-MiEV, the first big-name EV to hit roads worldwide, has scored a four-star rating in EuroNCAP crash testing.
The test was something of a milestone for the safety organisation's regime, i-MiEV being the first mass-produced EV to ever be analysed. It brought into focus a whole new set of priorities and considerations associated with high-voltage battery powered cars involved in collisions.
i-MiEV's drive battery, located within a sturdy section of the body frame under the rear seat, was undamaged in the test and demonstrated its efficacy in shutting down completely upon impact to protect its occupants and rescuers. The body frame is designed to shield the power pack from impact coming from any angle or direction. Equipped with impact sensors, the vehicle's integrated management system shuts the entire high-voltage system down in the event of a collision or rollover.
This week's EuroNCAP results are consistent with those the i-MiEV had achieved in tests already conducted by ADAC, Germany's biggest automobile association, and Australian ANCAP testing. The overall four-star rating corresponds to a petrol or diesel powered vehicle of similar size.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site
Benz's next S-Class spied
Wrapped up against the European winter, next generation S-Class is caught taking a spin in the snow
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Spy photos captured in the depths of wintry Europe show Mercedes Benz is well along the developmental trail with its next generation W222 S-Class.
It is uncertain how new the next S-Class will be, with some sources saying it could be both longer and wider than the current W221 model. The photos show little evidence though that the base shape will be dramatically different to today's S-Class.
The development car in these Carparazzi pics is well disguised, wrapped up to pretty much conceal all important details such as the front and rear ends, and the side profile.
The roof and upper window lines are more exposed though, indicating that the turret looks pretty close, if not identical to the current car.
Less obvious is what's going on up front, although the suggestion is that the nose could be a little more bluff, with a more vertical orientation of the headlights and grille.
The rear window looks different too, although the cladding effectively disguises exactly what might have happened to the glass area.
Word is that the next S-Class will introduce the MoVe modular V6 and V8 engines from Mercedes. The turbocharged, direct-injection engines are expected to deliver stronger performance, better fuel economy and lower emissions than the current powerplants.
Also expected to form part of the next S-Class lineup is a plug-in hybrid version as previewed in the Vision S 500 concept. Claims for the plug-in hybrid include zero to 100km/h acceleration of less than six seconds, and an average fuel economy figure of 3.3L/100km.
It is also anticipated that the current 6.3-litre V8 will be discontinued and replaced by a twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8. The 5.5-litre and 6.0-litre V12 engines are reportedly in line for the chop too.
The next generation S-Class is expected to make its debut in 2012, in short and long wheelbase form, as a 2013 model.
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Spy photos captured in the depths of wintry Europe show Mercedes Benz is well along the developmental trail with its next generation W222 S-Class.
It is uncertain how new the next S-Class will be, with some sources saying it could be both longer and wider than the current W221 model. The photos show little evidence though that the base shape will be dramatically different to today's S-Class.
The development car in these Carparazzi pics is well disguised, wrapped up to pretty much conceal all important details such as the front and rear ends, and the side profile.
The roof and upper window lines are more exposed though, indicating that the turret looks pretty close, if not identical to the current car.
Less obvious is what's going on up front, although the suggestion is that the nose could be a little more bluff, with a more vertical orientation of the headlights and grille.
The rear window looks different too, although the cladding effectively disguises exactly what might have happened to the glass area.
Word is that the next S-Class will introduce the MoVe modular V6 and V8 engines from Mercedes. The turbocharged, direct-injection engines are expected to deliver stronger performance, better fuel economy and lower emissions than the current powerplants.
Also expected to form part of the next S-Class lineup is a plug-in hybrid version as previewed in the Vision S 500 concept. Claims for the plug-in hybrid include zero to 100km/h acceleration of less than six seconds, and an average fuel economy figure of 3.3L/100km.
It is also anticipated that the current 6.3-litre V8 will be discontinued and replaced by a twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8. The 5.5-litre and 6.0-litre V12 engines are reportedly in line for the chop too.
The next generation S-Class is expected to make its debut in 2012, in short and long wheelbase form, as a 2013 model.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site
Peugeot 508 crossover
Undisguised Peugeot 508 crossover is captured on final testing in Europe
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This rather lovely looking estate is Peugeot's upcoming crossover version of the new 508 model, aimed at the likes of Audi Allroad, Volvo XC70 and Skoda Scout.
The slinky Pug wagon looks decidedly less agricultural than the bulk of crossovers claimed to convince buyers of their extended capabilities. About the only element separating it from the regular 508 wagon is the raised suspension giving it extra ground clearance to make better use of the AWD system.
Although sedan, wagon and GT variants of the 508 are due to arrive in Australia from July this year, there's no word of plans for the as-yet unreleased crossover model.
As other 508 models will only be available locally with diesel engines, it would be reasonable to expect the same rationale would apply to the crossover if it makes it here.
So far, Peugeot has confirmed only that 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre HDi turbodiesel engines will be offered with the 508 in Australia, although the smaller 1.6-litre HDi is still subject to "market evaluation."
The 508 sedan, wagon and GT will make their first local appearance at this year's Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in Melbourne, concurrent with the national introduction to Peugeot showrooms.
The crossover variant is expected to appear internationally at the Frankfurt motor show later this year.
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This rather lovely looking estate is Peugeot's upcoming crossover version of the new 508 model, aimed at the likes of Audi Allroad, Volvo XC70 and Skoda Scout.
The slinky Pug wagon looks decidedly less agricultural than the bulk of crossovers claimed to convince buyers of their extended capabilities. About the only element separating it from the regular 508 wagon is the raised suspension giving it extra ground clearance to make better use of the AWD system.
Although sedan, wagon and GT variants of the 508 are due to arrive in Australia from July this year, there's no word of plans for the as-yet unreleased crossover model.
As other 508 models will only be available locally with diesel engines, it would be reasonable to expect the same rationale would apply to the crossover if it makes it here.
So far, Peugeot has confirmed only that 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre HDi turbodiesel engines will be offered with the 508 in Australia, although the smaller 1.6-litre HDi is still subject to "market evaluation."
The 508 sedan, wagon and GT will make their first local appearance at this year's Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in Melbourne, concurrent with the national introduction to Peugeot showrooms.
The crossover variant is expected to appear internationally at the Frankfurt motor show later this year.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site
SPY PICS: BMW's 'i' to the future
The MegaCity EV concept will reach production, as the BMW i3
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BMW's new niche brand is developing apace. Dedicated to producing environmentally responsible cars -- and named 'i' -- it's already been outed by Car games parazzi testing the i8 hybrid above the arctic circle, but now the master spy photographers have also caught the i3 electric vehicle during filming of a TV production.
The i3 will be the production version of the MegaCity concept, revealed to be in the pipeline two years ago. BMW expects to sell as many as 30,000 of the EV during its first full year on sale, in 2014, according to Carparazzi and the spy snappers have heard around the traps that BMW will ask buyers to stump up €40,000 for the i3. Both the i3 and the i8 will be properly unveiled near the end of 2013 and will be marketed under the brand's slogan: "Born Electric".
BMW will build both vehicles at its Leipzig plant and the prestige manufacturer already has a snappy catchphrase for the combination of aluminium chassis and carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) safety cell: "LifeDrive architecture".
-- with Carparazzi
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BMW's new niche brand is developing apace. Dedicated to producing environmentally responsible cars -- and named 'i' -- it's already been outed by Car games parazzi testing the i8 hybrid above the arctic circle, but now the master spy photographers have also caught the i3 electric vehicle during filming of a TV production.
The i3 will be the production version of the MegaCity concept, revealed to be in the pipeline two years ago. BMW expects to sell as many as 30,000 of the EV during its first full year on sale, in 2014, according to Carparazzi and the spy snappers have heard around the traps that BMW will ask buyers to stump up €40,000 for the i3. Both the i3 and the i8 will be properly unveiled near the end of 2013 and will be marketed under the brand's slogan: "Born Electric".
BMW will build both vehicles at its Leipzig plant and the prestige manufacturer already has a snappy catchphrase for the combination of aluminium chassis and carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) safety cell: "LifeDrive architecture".
-- with Carparazzi
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SX4 scores extra airbags
The entry-level variant now matches up with the rest of Suzuki's small car range, offering side-impact and curtain airbags as standard
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The last hold-out in Suzuki's SX4 model range has come to the party. Front side-impact and curtain airbags are now standard in the entry-level SX4 hatch.
Around this time last year the importer released an upgraded SX4 model range, with improved safety equipment, including standard stability control, traction control, Brake Assist, three-point seatbelts for all five positions -- and six airbags. However, the basic SX4 front-drive hatch was left off the invite list for the additional airbags. Suzuki has now redressed the imbalance.
"The SX4 has always been one of the best value choices in its class combining performance, efficiency and Suzuki's legendary reliability," said Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers. "It set a new vision for small crossovers when it first launched in 2007 with its unique combination of style, space, high driving position, practicality and fuel economy.
"Plus the SX4 is not just made for the city -- it can handle the great outdoors too. The option of an intelligent All-Wheel Drive (i-AWD) system means the SX4 caters to all lifestyles.
"And now with the added safety of six airbags across the range -- at no extra expense to our customers -- the SX4 is also one of the safest for any adventure you throw at it. At just $20,490 plus on roads, the SX4 is compulsory driving for anyone considering a quality small car," said Devers.
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The last hold-out in Suzuki's SX4 model range has come to the party. Front side-impact and curtain airbags are now standard in the entry-level SX4 hatch.
Around this time last year the importer released an upgraded SX4 model range, with improved safety equipment, including standard stability control, traction control, Brake Assist, three-point seatbelts for all five positions -- and six airbags. However, the basic SX4 front-drive hatch was left off the invite list for the additional airbags. Suzuki has now redressed the imbalance.
"The SX4 has always been one of the best value choices in its class combining performance, efficiency and Suzuki's legendary reliability," said Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers. "It set a new vision for small crossovers when it first launched in 2007 with its unique combination of style, space, high driving position, practicality and fuel economy.
"Plus the SX4 is not just made for the city -- it can handle the great outdoors too. The option of an intelligent All-Wheel Drive (i-AWD) system means the SX4 caters to all lifestyles.
"And now with the added safety of six airbags across the range -- at no extra expense to our customers -- the SX4 is also one of the safest for any adventure you throw at it. At just $20,490 plus on roads, the SX4 is compulsory driving for anyone considering a quality small car," said Devers.
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Lowest ever CO2 emissions
The Australian new car market has posted lower aggregate CO2 emissions than ever before
Australia's aggregate light vehicle emissions dropped 2.7 per cent year-on-year -- and automotive industry's peak body says our outdated luxury car tax and hoon laws are holding us back from further improvement.
In its annual National Average Carbon Emission (NACE) figure, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) revealed a continuing downward trend in the aggregate CO2 output of the nation's new light vehicle fleet. The average emission figure dropped in 2010 to 212.6g/km -- down 2.7 per cent from 218.6g/km in 2009, and nearly 16 per cent since the inception of the index in 2002.
FCAI chief Andrew McKellar is pleased the local industry has been able to effect such an improvement under its own stewardship, without regulation. In a statement, he attributed one of the larger annual drops in the NACE to a combination of improvements in technology and increasing consumer acceptance of the new.
Sector by sector, the biggest reductions lie in sports cars (down 5.79pc), medium cars (down 4.75pc) and SUVs (down 3.35pc). FCAI chief Andrew McKellar puts these sectors' performance down to an increase in the number of diesel and low-powered turbo petrol vehicles arriving in each.
"No longer should people automatically assume that an SUV is a gas-guzzler," he said.
Ford's new Territory, once the butt of many such accusations and assumptions, exemplifies the trend. The SZ update goes to market in April with a diesel option (pictured) delivering combined-cycle fuel consumption of 8.2L/100km in RWD form. Ford claimed 13.1L/100km combined for early RWD petrol versions. But individual and comparative reviews following its release in 2004 put the real world figure between 15 and 20L/100km for RWD and AWD versions.
The NACE figure takes in all light vehicles sold new over the calendar year: passenger cars, SUVs and light commercials including utes, vans and buses under 3.5 tonnes. The final figure for each year hails from a simple calculation derived from official manufacturer CO2 emissions figures for each model and type in its lineup, combined with VFACTS sales figures.
The emissions figures are published in the federal government's Green Vehicle Guide (www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au) alongside fuel consumption figures. All hail from a standard dynamometer test cycle with components simulating urban and highway driving.
Asked about factors holding us back from doing better, McKellar says some of these are within government control and some aren't.
"Australia is part of a truly global vehicle market but there will always be differences between nations based on geography and the types of vehicles appropriate for their populations," he said.
While Australia is the most coastalised nation in the world, that doesn't make it the most urbanised. Which is to say, we're still given to big cars built to travel long distances. And relative to Europe, we remain rusted on to the petrol pump.
The sixfold growth in diesel passenger car sales we've seen in recent years comes from a low base. Oilers still only accounted last year for 4.4 per cent of last year's passenger car sales.
The federal luxury car tax doesn't help, he said, given the extra cost it imposes on many of the cleanest models using the most advanced green technologies. "It's like a punitive tax on environmental performance, on the latest safety and environmental technology," he said. "It's becoming increasingly clear that governments should be doing more to encourage people to embrace those technologies, not punish them."
Anti-hoon laws need updating, too, he added. Current bans on P-platers driving turbo- and supercharged cars haven't been reframed to take into account the shift in manufacturers' priorities. Premium German brands, for example, now commonly use forced aspiration not to boost power but to maintain power output while reducing engine size. "So New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland are banning young drivers from some of the safest and most fuel efficient vehicles on the road through their P-Plate vehicle restrictions," he said.
"At the moment, it takes a lot of time-consuming and costly paperwork involved for brands and individual owners to gain exemptions for low-powered turbo vehicles." The FCAI is lobbying for the focus to shift away from engine size and aspiration towards using power-to-weight ratio as the chief determining factor.
Future NACE readings would benefit from anything that stands to modernise one of the oldest car fleets in the Western world, he said. After a few years just below it, the Aussie fleet's average has once again tipped over the ten-year mark.
"You can put that down to the economic downturn of the past few years -- of course that's going to have an impact on the average fleet age. But it is cause for concern that one in five vehicles on Australian roads is more than 15 years old," he said. "There are very good safety and environmental reasons for people to upgrade to a new vehicle.
"But having said that, while it's difficult to measure CO2 emissions as vehicles age, we do know that greenhouse gas emissions from passenger transport has remained around seven to eight per cent of Australia's total emissions for the past few years."
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Australia's aggregate light vehicle emissions dropped 2.7 per cent year-on-year -- and automotive industry's peak body says our outdated luxury car tax and hoon laws are holding us back from further improvement.
In its annual National Average Carbon Emission (NACE) figure, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) revealed a continuing downward trend in the aggregate CO2 output of the nation's new light vehicle fleet. The average emission figure dropped in 2010 to 212.6g/km -- down 2.7 per cent from 218.6g/km in 2009, and nearly 16 per cent since the inception of the index in 2002.
FCAI chief Andrew McKellar is pleased the local industry has been able to effect such an improvement under its own stewardship, without regulation. In a statement, he attributed one of the larger annual drops in the NACE to a combination of improvements in technology and increasing consumer acceptance of the new.
Sector by sector, the biggest reductions lie in sports cars (down 5.79pc), medium cars (down 4.75pc) and SUVs (down 3.35pc). FCAI chief Andrew McKellar puts these sectors' performance down to an increase in the number of diesel and low-powered turbo petrol vehicles arriving in each.
"No longer should people automatically assume that an SUV is a gas-guzzler," he said.
Ford's new Territory, once the butt of many such accusations and assumptions, exemplifies the trend. The SZ update goes to market in April with a diesel option (pictured) delivering combined-cycle fuel consumption of 8.2L/100km in RWD form. Ford claimed 13.1L/100km combined for early RWD petrol versions. But individual and comparative reviews following its release in 2004 put the real world figure between 15 and 20L/100km for RWD and AWD versions.
The NACE figure takes in all light vehicles sold new over the calendar year: passenger cars, SUVs and light commercials including utes, vans and buses under 3.5 tonnes. The final figure for each year hails from a simple calculation derived from official manufacturer CO2 emissions figures for each model and type in its lineup, combined with VFACTS sales figures.
The emissions figures are published in the federal government's Green Vehicle Guide (www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au) alongside fuel consumption figures. All hail from a standard dynamometer test cycle with components simulating urban and highway driving.
Asked about factors holding us back from doing better, McKellar says some of these are within government control and some aren't.
"Australia is part of a truly global vehicle market but there will always be differences between nations based on geography and the types of vehicles appropriate for their populations," he said.
While Australia is the most coastalised nation in the world, that doesn't make it the most urbanised. Which is to say, we're still given to big cars built to travel long distances. And relative to Europe, we remain rusted on to the petrol pump.
The sixfold growth in diesel passenger car sales we've seen in recent years comes from a low base. Oilers still only accounted last year for 4.4 per cent of last year's passenger car sales.
The federal luxury car tax doesn't help, he said, given the extra cost it imposes on many of the cleanest models using the most advanced green technologies. "It's like a punitive tax on environmental performance, on the latest safety and environmental technology," he said. "It's becoming increasingly clear that governments should be doing more to encourage people to embrace those technologies, not punish them."
Anti-hoon laws need updating, too, he added. Current bans on P-platers driving turbo- and supercharged cars haven't been reframed to take into account the shift in manufacturers' priorities. Premium German brands, for example, now commonly use forced aspiration not to boost power but to maintain power output while reducing engine size. "So New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland are banning young drivers from some of the safest and most fuel efficient vehicles on the road through their P-Plate vehicle restrictions," he said.
"At the moment, it takes a lot of time-consuming and costly paperwork involved for brands and individual owners to gain exemptions for low-powered turbo vehicles." The FCAI is lobbying for the focus to shift away from engine size and aspiration towards using power-to-weight ratio as the chief determining factor.
Future NACE readings would benefit from anything that stands to modernise one of the oldest car fleets in the Western world, he said. After a few years just below it, the Aussie fleet's average has once again tipped over the ten-year mark.
"You can put that down to the economic downturn of the past few years -- of course that's going to have an impact on the average fleet age. But it is cause for concern that one in five vehicles on Australian roads is more than 15 years old," he said. "There are very good safety and environmental reasons for people to upgrade to a new vehicle.
"But having said that, while it's difficult to measure CO2 emissions as vehicles age, we do know that greenhouse gas emissions from passenger transport has remained around seven to eight per cent of Australia's total emissions for the past few years."
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Thứ Ba, 13 tháng 3, 2012
SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW: Electrifying performance from Audi A3 e-tron
Plug-in hybrid it may be, but the Audi A3 e-tron concept is good for a 6.8-second sprint to 100km/h
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new Audi
Audi has barely lifted the wraps off the A3 sedan at the Geneva motor show last month, but already there are other variations in the works.
How would a plug-in hybrid version sound, for instance? How about a plug-in, indeed, that will hit 100km/h from rest within 6.8 seconds?
The company's A3 e-tron concept has been presented at the Shanghai motor show as a clue to what the future holds for Audi in this sector of the market. In setting the design parameters for the concept plug-in, Audi has not short-changed drivers. There's a 1.4-litre TFSI engine sitting in the engine bay, offering the performance potential available from peak power of 155kW.
Additionally, the A3 e-tron features a 20kW electric motor that can keep the Audi moving on electric power alone for up to 54km. In traffic for shorter periods, the petrol engine, which operates through a seven-speed 'S tronic' double-clutch transmission, need never start unless the driver wishes. Lithium-ion batteries store the electric charge, which can be recovered from regenerative braking or from a domestic power outlet.
Weighing 1720kg, the A3 e-tron is not light, but Audi has thrown almost everything out of the car games to keep mass to the minimum, and what's left behind is constructed using carbonfibre and aluminium alloy. Even the corporate-look 'single-frame' grille has been given the CFRP (carbonfibre-reinforced polymer) treatment, complete with aluminium louvres. Even door handles and mirror shells come in for their share of weight reduction.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new Audi
Audi has barely lifted the wraps off the A3 sedan at the Geneva motor show last month, but already there are other variations in the works.
How would a plug-in hybrid version sound, for instance? How about a plug-in, indeed, that will hit 100km/h from rest within 6.8 seconds?
The company's A3 e-tron concept has been presented at the Shanghai motor show as a clue to what the future holds for Audi in this sector of the market. In setting the design parameters for the concept plug-in, Audi has not short-changed drivers. There's a 1.4-litre TFSI engine sitting in the engine bay, offering the performance potential available from peak power of 155kW.
Additionally, the A3 e-tron features a 20kW electric motor that can keep the Audi moving on electric power alone for up to 54km. In traffic for shorter periods, the petrol engine, which operates through a seven-speed 'S tronic' double-clutch transmission, need never start unless the driver wishes. Lithium-ion batteries store the electric charge, which can be recovered from regenerative braking or from a domestic power outlet.
Weighing 1720kg, the A3 e-tron is not light, but Audi has thrown almost everything out of the car games to keep mass to the minimum, and what's left behind is constructed using carbonfibre and aluminium alloy. Even the corporate-look 'single-frame' grille has been given the CFRP (carbonfibre-reinforced polymer) treatment, complete with aluminium louvres. Even door handles and mirror shells come in for their share of weight reduction.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW: Rolls-Royce sales up 600 per cent in China
A fuddy-duddy at 40-something: demand also driving down age of customers
The Chinese are buying Rolls-Royces at such a rate it has cut the average age of customers globally from 60-plus, to people in their late 40s.
Demand is so strong the company installed a credit card machine at the Shanghai motor show which opened yesterday -- to take deposits valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars for more than a dozen of the million-dollar-plus limousines.
In 2010, Rolls-Royce had its best year in the history of the company, selling 2711 vehicles globally. China alone was up by more than 600 per cent compared with the previous year.
Sales of Rolls-Royces in China are still roaring along in 2011 -- up 170 per cent in the first three months.
However, despite the sharp growth, China still trails North America as the biggest market for the super-luxury cars -- but is the second biggest market and accounts for more than a quarter of the British brand's volume.
Rolls-Royce spokesman Richard Carter told the Carsales Network the age demographic for the brand is "shifting quite dramatically" -- but the company was not about to release a line of sporty models.
"We don't use the word sporty," he said. "We do a dynamic drive, but sporty is not quite us."
Carter said Rolls-Royce was positioned to have another record year in 2011 but didn't expect China sales to continue to grow at their current pace.
"To be honest we don't think it's going to track that heavily for the rest of this year, but we will have another record year this year, we're confident of that," he said. "For us, China's not going to overtake North America yet."
But, he said, the growth is "phenomenal" -- and Rolls-Royce was seeing a new type of well-heeled customer.
"At this end of the market there is a huge amount of money in China.
And the interesting thing about the Chinese market is a lot of the money here is younger than it is elsewhere in the world," he said.
"So it's self made, it's not daddy's money or inherited money. It's self made entrepreneurs [aged] 30 to 35, owning two Rolls-Royces plus a number of other cars.
"Our whole age demographic is lowering, and that's not just a product of China by the way. The new Rolls-Royce Ghost has helped in other countries too, but here in China it's quite dramatically lower.
"A car like Ghost helps a lot because it appeals to a younger person, it isn't as formidable as the Phantom, it's a much more exciting drive and it appeals to younger buyers."
Rolls-Royce released the Ghost last year -- a slightly smaller and more affordable version of the Phantom.
In Australia, the Ghost costs $645,000 (plus on-roads) whereas the Phantom costs $1.068 million (plus on-roads).
Rolls-Royce sales in Australia are up by 25 per cent in the first three months of the year -- the company has sold five cars instead of four as it did in the first three months of 2010.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
The Chinese are buying Rolls-Royces at such a rate it has cut the average age of customers globally from 60-plus, to people in their late 40s.
Demand is so strong the company installed a credit card machine at the Shanghai motor show which opened yesterday -- to take deposits valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars for more than a dozen of the million-dollar-plus limousines.
In 2010, Rolls-Royce had its best year in the history of the company, selling 2711 vehicles globally. China alone was up by more than 600 per cent compared with the previous year.
Sales of Rolls-Royces in China are still roaring along in 2011 -- up 170 per cent in the first three months.
However, despite the sharp growth, China still trails North America as the biggest market for the super-luxury cars -- but is the second biggest market and accounts for more than a quarter of the British brand's volume.
Rolls-Royce spokesman Richard Carter told the Carsales Network the age demographic for the brand is "shifting quite dramatically" -- but the company was not about to release a line of sporty models.
"We don't use the word sporty," he said. "We do a dynamic drive, but sporty is not quite us."
Carter said Rolls-Royce was positioned to have another record year in 2011 but didn't expect China sales to continue to grow at their current pace.
"To be honest we don't think it's going to track that heavily for the rest of this year, but we will have another record year this year, we're confident of that," he said. "For us, China's not going to overtake North America yet."
But, he said, the growth is "phenomenal" -- and Rolls-Royce was seeing a new type of well-heeled customer.
"At this end of the market there is a huge amount of money in China.
And the interesting thing about the Chinese market is a lot of the money here is younger than it is elsewhere in the world," he said.
"So it's self made, it's not daddy's money or inherited money. It's self made entrepreneurs [aged] 30 to 35, owning two Rolls-Royces plus a number of other cars.
"Our whole age demographic is lowering, and that's not just a product of China by the way. The new Rolls-Royce Ghost has helped in other countries too, but here in China it's quite dramatically lower.
"A car like Ghost helps a lot because it appeals to a younger person, it isn't as formidable as the Phantom, it's a much more exciting drive and it appeals to younger buyers."
Rolls-Royce released the Ghost last year -- a slightly smaller and more affordable version of the Phantom.
In Australia, the Ghost costs $645,000 (plus on-roads) whereas the Phantom costs $1.068 million (plus on-roads).
Rolls-Royce sales in Australia are up by 25 per cent in the first three months of the year -- the company has sold five cars instead of four as it did in the first three months of 2010.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW: Great Wall plans great model rush
New Chinese utes, small cars and SUVs on the horizon
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new Great Wall
The Australian distributors of Great Wall Motors vehicles have had a strong start to the year -- sales are up 20 per cent -- but they may also have a strong finish if their Christmas wishes come true.
Executives for importers Ateco Automotive were at Auto Shanghai trying to get more supply of existing models, and also to lodge urgent requests for at least four new cars at the show.
On the wish list:
A new, bigger and tougher looking crew-cab pick-up called the CL, with a bigger cargo bed and carrying capacity than what is offered currently -- and which appears to have been inspired by the US-only Toyota Tundra;
An elegantly-designed softroader called the H6 -- similar in size to the Hyundai Santa Fe;
A sleek, small sedan called the C50 -- which appears to been inspired by a Mitsubishi Lancer;
A fun-looking, high-riding version of the Voleex -- which looks like a cross between a Yaris hatch and a Suzuki SX4.
Great Wall Motors Australia general manager Peter McGeown told the Carsales Network at the show: "We want them all, but when and if we can get them is another matter.
"Some of them are available in right-hand-drive and some of them are yet to be developed, but Great Wall Motors in China have been very receptive to our requests.
"We've proven with the early success of the V series utes in such a short time that there is volume there, we just need more vehicles."
A regular version of the Voleex -- likely to be called C10 in Australia -- is due in Australia by the end of the year and will be the first Chinese-branded vehicle on sale in Australia with six airbags.
Meanwhile the C50 small sedan could be in Australian showrooms by late this year or early next, depending on the development of right-hand-drive.
Great Wall Motors ute sales have almost doubled since the arrival of a diesel option late last year.
The company has sold more than 1600 vehicles in the first three months of this year which ranks it ahead of such brands as Dodge, Fiat, Citroen, Chrysler, Isuzu, Land Rover, Mini, Peugeot, Skoda, Renault and Volvo in terms of sales volume.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new Great Wall
The Australian distributors of Great Wall Motors vehicles have had a strong start to the year -- sales are up 20 per cent -- but they may also have a strong finish if their Christmas wishes come true.
Executives for importers Ateco Automotive were at Auto Shanghai trying to get more supply of existing models, and also to lodge urgent requests for at least four new cars at the show.
On the wish list:
A new, bigger and tougher looking crew-cab pick-up called the CL, with a bigger cargo bed and carrying capacity than what is offered currently -- and which appears to have been inspired by the US-only Toyota Tundra;
An elegantly-designed softroader called the H6 -- similar in size to the Hyundai Santa Fe;
A sleek, small sedan called the C50 -- which appears to been inspired by a Mitsubishi Lancer;
A fun-looking, high-riding version of the Voleex -- which looks like a cross between a Yaris hatch and a Suzuki SX4.
Great Wall Motors Australia general manager Peter McGeown told the Carsales Network at the show: "We want them all, but when and if we can get them is another matter.
"Some of them are available in right-hand-drive and some of them are yet to be developed, but Great Wall Motors in China have been very receptive to our requests.
"We've proven with the early success of the V series utes in such a short time that there is volume there, we just need more vehicles."
A regular version of the Voleex -- likely to be called C10 in Australia -- is due in Australia by the end of the year and will be the first Chinese-branded vehicle on sale in Australia with six airbags.
Meanwhile the C50 small sedan could be in Australian showrooms by late this year or early next, depending on the development of right-hand-drive.
Great Wall Motors ute sales have almost doubled since the arrival of a diesel option late last year.
The company has sold more than 1600 vehicles in the first three months of this year which ranks it ahead of such brands as Dodge, Fiat, Citroen, Chrysler, Isuzu, Land Rover, Mini, Peugeot, Skoda, Renault and Volvo in terms of sales volume.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Thứ Hai, 12 tháng 3, 2012
Jeep celebrates 70 years with new 4WDs
Four special edition models have been released to coincide with Jeep's 70th birthday, adding more value to the car maker's SUV range
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new Jeep
Jeep has taken the wraps off four new special edition vehicles, which will be on sale "in strictly limited numbers," and have been designed to celebrate the American 4x4 specialist's 70th anniversary.
Born in 1941 through military necessity, the first Jeep set in motion a design ethos that is still adhered to today, and can be seen most clearly on vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler, Cherokee and Patriot.
"The Jeep brand's legendary heritage and capability have made it a genuine automotive icon that is well-known and loved throughout the world," said Dean Bonthorne, Senior Manager – Marketing & Corporate Communications for Chrysler Australia. "Since they were first produced in 1941, Jeep vehicles have been the authentic benchmark for off-road capability, having mastered more terrain, led more adventures and provided drivers more freedom than any other vehicle before or since.
The four new '70th Anniversary' models and respective drive away pricing are as follows:
2011 Jeep Patriot 70th Anniversary Edition ($40,000)
2011 Jeep Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition ($44,000)
2011 Jeep Wrangler 70th Anniversary Edition ($39,000)
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition ($63,500)
"As part our celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Jeep brand, we are offering Australian customers a range of premium special-edition models across the entire range with unique enhancements" Bonthorne added.
On sale now, all models are offered in two colours, silver or black, and feature unique 70th Anniversary badging.
Up first is the 2011 Jeep Wrangler 70th Anniversary Edition, offered on the Wrangler Renegade and Wrangler Unlimited Renegade 3.8-litre V6 platforms, starting from $39,000 drive away. Upgraded features include black leather seats with embroidered 70th Anniversary logos, new decals, a Mopar stainless steel mesh grille, plus the Renegade pack consisting of a premium audio system (with subwoofer), a three-piece hard top, a soft top, and sidesteps.
The 2011 Jeep Patriot 70th Anniversary Edition is priced from $40,000 and is available on the Patriot Limited 2.4-litre manual and automatic platform. Extra features include an electric sunroof, 18-inch Mopar alloy wheels, leather seats and steering wheel with chestnut accent stitching, Berber floor mats, plus an updated instrument cluster with dark green overlay.
The 2011 Jeep Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition is available on the Cherokee Limited 3.7-litre V6 platform and is priced from $44,000 drive away, and like the Patriot it gets 18-inch Mopar alloy wheels, differentiated by polished faces and painted pockets, Mopar stainless steel mesh grille inserts, an electric sunroof, leather seats, steering wheel and door armrests with chestnut stitching and piping, and Berber floor mats. The interior also gains satin chrome highlights and Mopar stainless steel scuff plates.
The final feather in Jeep's 70th Anniversary hat is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition, which can be had in either 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 or 5.7-litre HEMI V8 guises, priced from $63,500 drive away (add $5000 for the V8 model). Bonus exterior equipment on the special edition Grand Cherokee consists of a panoramic sunroof, large 20-inch polished alloy wheels with grey accents, and a Mopar stainless steel mesh grille.
The interior of the limited edition 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee benefits from leather uplholstered steering wheel, door armrests and centre console, all of which are highlighted by chestnut accent stitching and piping. Berber floors mats are also added, as is a new instrument cluster overlay, and the cabin is finished with satin chrome plated highlights and black lacewood.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at cars games ales' mobile site.
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new Jeep
Jeep has taken the wraps off four new special edition vehicles, which will be on sale "in strictly limited numbers," and have been designed to celebrate the American 4x4 specialist's 70th anniversary.
Born in 1941 through military necessity, the first Jeep set in motion a design ethos that is still adhered to today, and can be seen most clearly on vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler, Cherokee and Patriot.
"The Jeep brand's legendary heritage and capability have made it a genuine automotive icon that is well-known and loved throughout the world," said Dean Bonthorne, Senior Manager – Marketing & Corporate Communications for Chrysler Australia. "Since they were first produced in 1941, Jeep vehicles have been the authentic benchmark for off-road capability, having mastered more terrain, led more adventures and provided drivers more freedom than any other vehicle before or since.
The four new '70th Anniversary' models and respective drive away pricing are as follows:
2011 Jeep Patriot 70th Anniversary Edition ($40,000)
2011 Jeep Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition ($44,000)
2011 Jeep Wrangler 70th Anniversary Edition ($39,000)
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition ($63,500)
"As part our celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Jeep brand, we are offering Australian customers a range of premium special-edition models across the entire range with unique enhancements" Bonthorne added.
On sale now, all models are offered in two colours, silver or black, and feature unique 70th Anniversary badging.
Up first is the 2011 Jeep Wrangler 70th Anniversary Edition, offered on the Wrangler Renegade and Wrangler Unlimited Renegade 3.8-litre V6 platforms, starting from $39,000 drive away. Upgraded features include black leather seats with embroidered 70th Anniversary logos, new decals, a Mopar stainless steel mesh grille, plus the Renegade pack consisting of a premium audio system (with subwoofer), a three-piece hard top, a soft top, and sidesteps.
The 2011 Jeep Patriot 70th Anniversary Edition is priced from $40,000 and is available on the Patriot Limited 2.4-litre manual and automatic platform. Extra features include an electric sunroof, 18-inch Mopar alloy wheels, leather seats and steering wheel with chestnut accent stitching, Berber floor mats, plus an updated instrument cluster with dark green overlay.
The 2011 Jeep Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition is available on the Cherokee Limited 3.7-litre V6 platform and is priced from $44,000 drive away, and like the Patriot it gets 18-inch Mopar alloy wheels, differentiated by polished faces and painted pockets, Mopar stainless steel mesh grille inserts, an electric sunroof, leather seats, steering wheel and door armrests with chestnut stitching and piping, and Berber floor mats. The interior also gains satin chrome highlights and Mopar stainless steel scuff plates.
The final feather in Jeep's 70th Anniversary hat is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition, which can be had in either 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 or 5.7-litre HEMI V8 guises, priced from $63,500 drive away (add $5000 for the V8 model). Bonus exterior equipment on the special edition Grand Cherokee consists of a panoramic sunroof, large 20-inch polished alloy wheels with grey accents, and a Mopar stainless steel mesh grille.
The interior of the limited edition 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee benefits from leather uplholstered steering wheel, door armrests and centre console, all of which are highlighted by chestnut accent stitching and piping. Berber floors mats are also added, as is a new instrument cluster overlay, and the cabin is finished with satin chrome plated highlights and black lacewood.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at cars games ales' mobile site.
Continental’s pedestrian-safety breakthrough
Auto supply giant develops a stereo camera system that recognises pedestrians and crossing traffic
Pedestrians can soon expect to have much longer average lifespans thanks to a new stereo-camera-based safety system developed by German auto supplier Continental (who most people would perhaps associate solely with tyres).
According to stats quoted by the company, accidents involving pedestrians or with vehicles at intersections make up almost half (46.6 percent) of the traffic accidents in Germany that result in major personal injury.
The key to the new system is that the stereo camera has two ‘eyes’, and is therefore able to use the difference in the images within one camera shot to detect every type of obstacle -- from loads that have fallen onto the road to people and animals -- and can determine their size and the distance to them.
Continental says this cannot be done sufficiently reliably with mono-cameras, which also have to be taught to recognise a car games or a motorcycle and which are then only able to identify objects that they have learned.
The stereo camera consists of two high-resolution mono-cameras, housed approximately 20cm apart behind the windshield, and these are capable of measuring the distance to an object and its height from the road surface.
This is made possible by the differences in the perspective between the left-hand and the right-hand optical paths. In other words, the stereo camera's analysing electronics exploit the same effect that gives humans spatial vision -- i.e. the parallax shift between two images.
Continental claims that, at medium distances of 20-30m, the stereo camera can determine the range to the object with an accuracy of between 20cm and 30cm. The system has a range of up to 60m.
The company adds that the system also functions with high accuracy in situations where several objects are in close proximity to each other, where objects are partially obscured, or when there is poor contrast between the object and its background.
The stereo-camera system can allegedly calculate the precise point of impact of a potential collision and make the best possible use of the remaining time to take protective action. If the driver fails to react to what the system detects as a pedestrian, it can initiate emergency braking (up to 1G).
The advantage of this is that a few hundred milliseconds are sufficient for an emergency stop to make the difference between sustaining bruises and suffering far more severe injuries, says Continental.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Pedestrians can soon expect to have much longer average lifespans thanks to a new stereo-camera-based safety system developed by German auto supplier Continental (who most people would perhaps associate solely with tyres).
According to stats quoted by the company, accidents involving pedestrians or with vehicles at intersections make up almost half (46.6 percent) of the traffic accidents in Germany that result in major personal injury.
The key to the new system is that the stereo camera has two ‘eyes’, and is therefore able to use the difference in the images within one camera shot to detect every type of obstacle -- from loads that have fallen onto the road to people and animals -- and can determine their size and the distance to them.
Continental says this cannot be done sufficiently reliably with mono-cameras, which also have to be taught to recognise a car games or a motorcycle and which are then only able to identify objects that they have learned.
The stereo camera consists of two high-resolution mono-cameras, housed approximately 20cm apart behind the windshield, and these are capable of measuring the distance to an object and its height from the road surface.
This is made possible by the differences in the perspective between the left-hand and the right-hand optical paths. In other words, the stereo camera's analysing electronics exploit the same effect that gives humans spatial vision -- i.e. the parallax shift between two images.
Continental claims that, at medium distances of 20-30m, the stereo camera can determine the range to the object with an accuracy of between 20cm and 30cm. The system has a range of up to 60m.
The company adds that the system also functions with high accuracy in situations where several objects are in close proximity to each other, where objects are partially obscured, or when there is poor contrast between the object and its background.
The stereo-camera system can allegedly calculate the precise point of impact of a potential collision and make the best possible use of the remaining time to take protective action. If the driver fails to react to what the system detects as a pedestrian, it can initiate emergency braking (up to 1G).
The advantage of this is that a few hundred milliseconds are sufficient for an emergency stop to make the difference between sustaining bruises and suffering far more severe injuries, says Continental.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
$995K driveaway, no more to pay
Is this a record driveaway, no more to pay used-car price?
Buying a near-new car is a tactic often followed by purchasers looking to limit initial depreciation shock. At the cost of not exactly having a brand new car, but one that looks so close as to be indiscernible from the factory-fresh product, a near-new car makes good sense, especially when it comes to trade-in time some years down the track. Pennies saved are pennies earned.
Take the following, which paraphrases an advertisement on the carsales.com.au website, as an example:
“2009 model two-door coupe with 4,900 kilometres clocked up, one owner, full service history and a driveaway, no more to pay price around 25 per cent below new.”
Drive away, no more to pay. The phrase is commonly adopted by car dealers seeking to attract buyers on limited budgets who are shopping around for the lowest possible, no-extras-attached price. And 25 per cent sounds a reasonable discount for a car with minimal kilometres, even if it was registered two calendar years ago.
But wait, there’s more.
What if the discount savings add up to – wait for it – more than $335,000?
In what is arguably the top driveaway price to feature on carsales.com.au, a Sydney dealer is advertising an as-new Rolls-Royce Phantom 3C68 coupe for the never to be repeated price of just $995,000, driveaway. Stacked up against the regular driveaway price of $1,330,485 for the Phantom coupe, this is exceedingly tempting.
The car in question is a Silver Sand example with all the hedonistic luxuries you expect from Rolls-Royce: air suspension, two massive rear-hinged doors, and a leather and wood interior that redefines the word sumptuous.
The Phantom coupe’s engine is the BMW-derived 6.75-litre V12 producing 338kW and 720Nm to satisfy the Rolls requirement that it be “adequate” and the transmission is the six-speed ZF automatic appearing across an unexpectedly proletarian range of vehicles.
As for that $330,000 saving, well, it could buy you a little something to celebrate your bargain find, like a small town house, a reasonable yacht or an Aston Martin Vantage coupe.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Buying a near-new car is a tactic often followed by purchasers looking to limit initial depreciation shock. At the cost of not exactly having a brand new car, but one that looks so close as to be indiscernible from the factory-fresh product, a near-new car makes good sense, especially when it comes to trade-in time some years down the track. Pennies saved are pennies earned.
Take the following, which paraphrases an advertisement on the carsales.com.au website, as an example:
“2009 model two-door coupe with 4,900 kilometres clocked up, one owner, full service history and a driveaway, no more to pay price around 25 per cent below new.”
Drive away, no more to pay. The phrase is commonly adopted by car dealers seeking to attract buyers on limited budgets who are shopping around for the lowest possible, no-extras-attached price. And 25 per cent sounds a reasonable discount for a car with minimal kilometres, even if it was registered two calendar years ago.
But wait, there’s more.
What if the discount savings add up to – wait for it – more than $335,000?
In what is arguably the top driveaway price to feature on carsales.com.au, a Sydney dealer is advertising an as-new Rolls-Royce Phantom 3C68 coupe for the never to be repeated price of just $995,000, driveaway. Stacked up against the regular driveaway price of $1,330,485 for the Phantom coupe, this is exceedingly tempting.
The car in question is a Silver Sand example with all the hedonistic luxuries you expect from Rolls-Royce: air suspension, two massive rear-hinged doors, and a leather and wood interior that redefines the word sumptuous.
The Phantom coupe’s engine is the BMW-derived 6.75-litre V12 producing 338kW and 720Nm to satisfy the Rolls requirement that it be “adequate” and the transmission is the six-speed ZF automatic appearing across an unexpectedly proletarian range of vehicles.
As for that $330,000 saving, well, it could buy you a little something to celebrate your bargain find, like a small town house, a reasonable yacht or an Aston Martin Vantage coupe.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35
Volkswagen will celebrate the 35th anniversary of its legendary Golf GTI with a special limited edition model to be offered under the "Edition 35" label
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new Volkswagen
Continuing a long theme of anniversary models, the latest iteration is said to combine classic GTI elements with a number of features specially created for the Edition 35.
A revised front bumper, "35" decals, etched sill panels and embroided headrests and seat centre panels designate the model from its standard siblings, while new owners will also receive a special "high end" metal key ring.
Outside, Edition 35 also lands piano black wing mirrors, bespoke Watkins Glen alloy wheels, updated headlamps (with LED daytime running lamps), and Golf R dark-tinted tail lamps.
But more than being a "sticker pack" car, Golf GTI Edition 35 also receives a handy power increase, which will be music to the ears of hot hatch enthusiasts everywhere. The total output from the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder rises from 155kW to 173kW.
Volkswagen will officially unveil the model at this year's GTI meet at Wörthersee on June 1, the car set to take the stage alongside other models from the GTI back catalogue including Edition 20 and Edition 30, before being revealed to the press at the MY12 Tiguan launch later in the month.
In Europe, the car will be priced from 30,425 Euros (A$40,428), but local pricing is still unconfirmed.
Australia will receive an as yet undisclosed number of Edition 35 GTI's in late September.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new Volkswagen
Continuing a long theme of anniversary models, the latest iteration is said to combine classic GTI elements with a number of features specially created for the Edition 35.
A revised front bumper, "35" decals, etched sill panels and embroided headrests and seat centre panels designate the model from its standard siblings, while new owners will also receive a special "high end" metal key ring.
Outside, Edition 35 also lands piano black wing mirrors, bespoke Watkins Glen alloy wheels, updated headlamps (with LED daytime running lamps), and Golf R dark-tinted tail lamps.
But more than being a "sticker pack" car, Golf GTI Edition 35 also receives a handy power increase, which will be music to the ears of hot hatch enthusiasts everywhere. The total output from the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder rises from 155kW to 173kW.
Volkswagen will officially unveil the model at this year's GTI meet at Wörthersee on June 1, the car set to take the stage alongside other models from the GTI back catalogue including Edition 20 and Edition 30, before being revealed to the press at the MY12 Tiguan launch later in the month.
In Europe, the car will be priced from 30,425 Euros (A$40,428), but local pricing is still unconfirmed.
Australia will receive an as yet undisclosed number of Edition 35 GTI's in late September.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.
Call to cut Luxury Car Tax on Australian-made vehicles
The 33 per cent slug is hurting local industry – but the peak body wants it scrapped for importers, too
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has called for an urgent review of the luxury car tax, which is about to enter its fourth fiscal year at the increased rate of 33 per cent.
"It's just a bad tax and the threshold should be substantially lifted or the tax should be substantially reformed or abolished," the chief executive of the FCAI Andrew McKellar told the Cars games ales Network.
In July 2008 the newly elected Rudd Government increased the Luxury Car Tax from 25 per cent to 33 per cent on all vehicles above $57,009 (the threshold is now $57,466 inclusive of GST).
A few months later the Federal Government also gave fuel-efficient luxury cars a concession by making them LCT-exempt up to the value of $75,375, provided the combined-cycle fuel consumption was 7.0L/100km or less.
The overhaul delivered a huge benefit to imported vehicles, and dealt a blow to top-end locally-made vehicles, which were already struggling against the affordability of imports thanks to the strong Australian dollar.
All cars in the Holden Special Vehicles and Ford Performance Vehicles ranges – and Holden's top end Calais, SS and Caprice – are affected by the 33 per cent LCT.
FPV boss Rod Barrett says abolishing the LCT on locally made cars would slash about $3500 off the price of a $70,000 Falcon GT.
"Anything that's going to make a ticket price on a car more attractive to a purchaser would … benefit local industry," he said. "If there was a review I would support it; if [an LCT exemption] came in, of course we'd embrace it. It affects every one of [FPV's] cars … they're all above the threshold."
Holden Special Vehicles declined to comment but Holden spokeswoman Emily Perry conceded there would be "some benefit" if LCT was removed from Australian-made cars.
But Holden is not being as vocal on the LCT issue, likely because it has just received $39 million of Federal government funding to go towards the development of the next Commodore.
FPV's Rod Barrett said: "I can't comment on what governments do today, yesterday or tomorrow however I would have thought … [when LCT was introduced] it was more aimed at the import luxury market, your BMWs and Mercedes and so on, rather than Holdens and Fords."
The FPV boss said LCT is "worth reviewing now … we're going into our fourth year next year of it and we need to look at [how it's affecting] local industry".
But the FCAI believes the roll back of LCT should apply to all luxury vehicles, not only locally-made cars - a point made as recently as yesterday by David McCarthy, spokesman for Mercedes-Benz.
McKellar said if the Federal Government were to make locally-built cars exempt from LCT, it could be "exposing itself under some sort of action under the [World Trade Organisation] rules".
"[LCT] does hit some of the premium locally produced models, which affects local manufacturers, just as it affects some of the other premium brands. Our position [is] that it should be either abolished or substantially restructured and applied to all vehicles.
"We certainly would not be in a position to support a discriminatory approach to phasing it out. The incidence of the tax is growing in terms of the numbers of models it captures over time, [and it] certainly needs to be addressed.
"We'd argue the [tax] rate is too high, the threshold at which it cuts in is too low and both need reforming. And we would argue it needs to be done across the board."
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has called for an urgent review of the luxury car tax, which is about to enter its fourth fiscal year at the increased rate of 33 per cent.
"It's just a bad tax and the threshold should be substantially lifted or the tax should be substantially reformed or abolished," the chief executive of the FCAI Andrew McKellar told the Cars games ales Network.
In July 2008 the newly elected Rudd Government increased the Luxury Car Tax from 25 per cent to 33 per cent on all vehicles above $57,009 (the threshold is now $57,466 inclusive of GST).
A few months later the Federal Government also gave fuel-efficient luxury cars a concession by making them LCT-exempt up to the value of $75,375, provided the combined-cycle fuel consumption was 7.0L/100km or less.
The overhaul delivered a huge benefit to imported vehicles, and dealt a blow to top-end locally-made vehicles, which were already struggling against the affordability of imports thanks to the strong Australian dollar.
All cars in the Holden Special Vehicles and Ford Performance Vehicles ranges – and Holden's top end Calais, SS and Caprice – are affected by the 33 per cent LCT.
FPV boss Rod Barrett says abolishing the LCT on locally made cars would slash about $3500 off the price of a $70,000 Falcon GT.
"Anything that's going to make a ticket price on a car more attractive to a purchaser would … benefit local industry," he said. "If there was a review I would support it; if [an LCT exemption] came in, of course we'd embrace it. It affects every one of [FPV's] cars … they're all above the threshold."
Holden Special Vehicles declined to comment but Holden spokeswoman Emily Perry conceded there would be "some benefit" if LCT was removed from Australian-made cars.
But Holden is not being as vocal on the LCT issue, likely because it has just received $39 million of Federal government funding to go towards the development of the next Commodore.
FPV's Rod Barrett said: "I can't comment on what governments do today, yesterday or tomorrow however I would have thought … [when LCT was introduced] it was more aimed at the import luxury market, your BMWs and Mercedes and so on, rather than Holdens and Fords."
The FPV boss said LCT is "worth reviewing now … we're going into our fourth year next year of it and we need to look at [how it's affecting] local industry".
But the FCAI believes the roll back of LCT should apply to all luxury vehicles, not only locally-made cars - a point made as recently as yesterday by David McCarthy, spokesman for Mercedes-Benz.
McKellar said if the Federal Government were to make locally-built cars exempt from LCT, it could be "exposing itself under some sort of action under the [World Trade Organisation] rules".
"[LCT] does hit some of the premium locally produced models, which affects local manufacturers, just as it affects some of the other premium brands. Our position [is] that it should be either abolished or substantially restructured and applied to all vehicles.
"We certainly would not be in a position to support a discriminatory approach to phasing it out. The incidence of the tax is growing in terms of the numbers of models it captures over time, [and it] certainly needs to be addressed.
"We'd argue the [tax] rate is too high, the threshold at which it cuts in is too low and both need reforming. And we would argue it needs to be done across the board."
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
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