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Feb 11, 2015 No. 763
GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
Australia’s No.1 Automotive Industry Journal 70,000 Readers Weekly
L U B R I C A N T S .
T E C H N O L O G Y.
P E O P L E .
fuchs.com.au
Glass’s - The Auto Specification and Residual Value Specialists
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Cox, GoAuto linkUS group forms strategic alliance with John Mellor’s GoAutoMediaBy THE GOAUTO TEAM
MANHEIM Australia and New Zealand, the Australasian arm of Cox Enterprises, one of America’s largest media, entertainment and telecommunications companies and owner of the world’s largest automotive services company, has established a strategic alliance with John Mellor’s GoAutoMedia company.
The unique advertising and equity arrangement is designed to back new initiatives by GoAutoMedia to generate more complete coverage of the retail car industry and the wider motor trade –
the biggest retail sector of the economy.The family-owned Cox group
generates $16 billion in revenue a year. Under the alliance, its Australian arm, Manheim Australia and New Zealand, will have a representative on the GoAutoMedia board.
The outgoing CEO of Manheim Asia-Pacific, Tim Hudson, who worked with GoAutoMedia to broker the arrangement, said: “John Mellor shared with us his vision for upgrading GoAutoMedia’s business and management coverage of this vital industry and, as a major automotive services company worldwide, we wanted to take a leading role in ensuring GoAutoMedia has the resources to carry out John’s vision.
“This is a very timely initiative as the car industry transforms from local manufacturing to full imports. This will see a flood of new players in this market, especially from Asia, and the implications of this will flow right through the industry from the new car
showrooms to remarketing, repairs and maintenance and recycling.
“We are entering an important time of transition for the 100,000 businesses and 310,000 people who work in this $200 billion sector of the Australian economy,” said Mr Hudson, who returns to the UK in February to run Manheim’s extensive remarketing activities there.
Continued next page
LAUNCHED
HONDA HR-V
RENAULT CAPTUR
LEXUS NX200T
MERCEDES S-CLASS COUPE
Campbell Jones Tim Hudson
Redefining JeepPint-sized Renegade takes American off-road brand to a new place, but its comfort zone extends well beyond the concrete jungle… - page 3
Feb 11, 2015 Page 2
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PUBLISHER: John MellorEDITOR: Terry Martin MANAGING EDITOR: Tim NicholsonJOURNALISTS: Richard Berry, Daniel Gardner, Ron Hammerton, Byron Mathioudakis, Ian PorterPRODUCTION: Luc Britten, Haitham RazaguiEDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Tung NguyenProduced by GoAutoMedia: Ph: (03) 9598 6477 [email protected]
GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
Continued from previous pageThe new managing director of
Manheim Australia and New Zealand, Campbell Jones, said that Manheim locally was hooking into a wide-ranging portfolio of automotive services, products and systems which have been developed for the company’s operations worldwide, and the alliance with GoAutoMedia would ensure these initiatives would become well known within the industry.
“Manheim internationally takes a position as thought leader in the various markets in which we operate and we see our link with GoAutoMedia as a way of elevating our reputation as an industry leader in this market,” Mr Jones said.
“John Mellor’s GoAuto newsroom team has an unmatched reputation in the Australian car industry for strong fact-based reporting. Its weekly industry newsletter is highly regarded as the motor industry bible and its consumer
website is ripe for GoAuto.com.au’s plans for innovative coverage and reader services.”
Cox Enterprises is a well-resourced, fifth-generation family enterprise and the 18th-largest privately owned company in America.
In addition to its automotive services interests, the diversified group runs newspapers, television stations, cable TV networks, telecommunications services, radio, internet, direct mail and direct marketing operations.
Cox bought Manheim as long ago as 1968 when it became attracted to the relative stability and healthy revenues that could be generated by the automotive wholesale and retail businesses. The auto business has become in part a hedge against slowing revenues in conventional publishing. Manheim contributes nearly $3 billion to Cox Enterprises from 120 locations around the world.
In 1997 Cox Enterprises took
online its US-based print classified publication, Auto Trader, in which it held a half share.
The then CEO (now chairman) James Kennedy, a third-generation Cox, declared: “This internet thing is
coming. If someone is going to come and take all our print classified revenue then it might as well be us!”
Autotrader.com, now wholly owned by Cox Enterprises, is the biggest online classifieds site in the US with 29 million unique readers a month
generating more than $1 billion in revenues a year.
The group recently reorganised all its automotive holdings under the Cox Automotive division. It includes Manheim and other auction and remarketing houses worldwide, the leading used car price guide in the US, Kelley Blue Book, and the second largest auto classifieds website in the UK, Motors.co.uk, which it bought from the Daily Mail last year.
John Mellor
Cox, GoAuto link
Feb 11, 2015 Page 3
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Renegade hits the sweet spot as Jeep mulls a smaller model and all-new flagship
By DANIEL GARDNER in SAN JOSEJEEP has rolled out its smallest model in the United States, adding the Renegade B-segment SUV to a flourishing market, but the off-road family is set to grow further with a larger model on the way and sub-Renegade SUV not yet ruled out.
Speaking at the international launch of the Renegade in San Jose last week, Jeep brand manager Jim Morrison told GoAuto the expansion of the range will continue with a new large SUV to sit above the Grand Cherokee.
“I don’t think we’ve seen the top end of the range with Grand Cherokee,” he said. “At the premium end people keep asking for more and we will keep exploring that top end.”
Mr Morrison would not be drawn on details of the potential flagship model,
but said it would “probably” resurrect an old nameplate, compounding theories Jeep will relaunch its Grand Wagoneer.
“We like bringing back old names,” he said. “That passion to connect with a name from the past is a good illustration of the passion of the brand. It’s a good way to connect with the customers.”
In addition to a new top-end off-roader, Mr Morrison said the introduction of a new sub-Renegade model had not been ruled out, and would depend on the
reception of its newest offering.With increasing international
demand and tightening regulations for fuel-efficient vehicles, an even smaller model would join Renegade in a double-pronged attack in the compact crossover market, appealing further to economy-conscious customers and improving Jeep’s position – and perception – in terms of environmental performance.
“It’s going to be interesting to watch the acceptance of this vehicle (Renegade) to see how the competitors and market evolve around it,” Mr Morrison said. “Certainly the focus on fuel economy and smaller and more efficient packaging is something that we will continue to do, and making existing packages more efficient.
Continued next page
On the mark
Feb 11, 2015 Page 4
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On the markContinued from previous page
“It’s the whole scope of watching the reaction to this and then seeing what customers want from there on.”
To succeed, the Renegade will have to achieve a tricky balance of upholding the seven-slot mantra with class-leading off-road performance and an on-road manner that the market demands from compact SUVs.
And after a day with the junior Jeep we can confidently report the early signs are very encouraging.
As we hit the road in San Jose, the Californian sky bruised to a colour that threatened conditions would turn to true Jeep-testing weather later in the day, but for the morning we were treated to dry black-top and the 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol Sport Renegade.
Worldwide, Jeep predicts this variant to be the volume seller by as much as 70 per cent and it is coming to Australia along with two other petrol engines – a second normally aspirated 1.6-litre and a turbocharged 1.4-litre.
Europe will also offer a 2.0-litre diesel engine option while Brazil has a special flex-fuel option, but Australia is sticking with the petrol versions at this stage.
First impressions count, and Renegade’s design – particularly when referenced against key competitors – is clearly one of its key attributes.
No, the Nissan Juke doesn’t look like
anything else on the road but it doesn’t look much like a Nissan either. And yes, the Mitsubishi ASX and Holden Trax are accomplished packages but there is not a lot about their styling to set them apart from virtually everything else in the segment.
The Renegade, however, manages to look like no other model but at the same time is unmistakably a Jeep. We love its boxy sit-up-and-beg outline, endless playful styling details and that name. Have you ever heard a tougher title?
In among the delightful design, Jeep has hidden what it calls ‘Easter eggs’ – little Jeep culture treats for the owner to find over the first months,
maybe even years, of living with the Renegade. The effect is powerfully brand-affirming and fun. We kept stumbling across them all day, starting with the little Willys Jeep nose in the centre of the headlight.
Its unmistakable X-shaped tail-lights are inspired by the ‘gas can’ carried on the back of the original Willys Jeep, and the cross is another Easter egg theme found throughout.
No matter which variant you look at, Jeep has gone to town on the interiors with vibrant colour schemes at the entry level and sharp red-accented and stitched leather at the top of the range.
Continued next page
Feb 11, 2015 Page 5
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Continued from previous pageThere are plenty of cubbies about the
Renegade interior and the removal of a handbrake lever in favour of an electric park brake has allowed two cupholders in the centre console. Looking further, we soon find a map of the Rubicon trail embossed into the front storage pocket and a Willys grille in the speaker cover.
The Renegade’s appealing seats are a point of excellence with bags of support and good adjustment for all shapes and sizes – a story that continues in the back row with cathedral-like headroom and room for two adults, or three for shorter journeys.
Moving back further still to the boot reveals a useful 525-litre cargo area and, not least of all, a tiny Bigfoot hidden at the edge of the rear window glass.
Leaving the city lights behind and climbing into the wintry Santa Cruz mountains gave us a chance to stretch the little Jeep’s legs and make use of the
2.4-litre MultiAir2 Tigershark engine’s handy 237Nm of torque.
From standstill – where the driver perhaps first notices a little Willys Jeep driving around the inside of the windscreen – the Renegade gets going well with good low-down grunt making light work of the steepening hills and, coupled to Jeep’s nine-speed automatic transmission, the right gear was always to hand when in manual mode.
When left to its own devices, the auto had a tendency to change up too early and was reluctant to kick down unless really bullied – most likely as a measure to improve fuel economy figures.
We got the very best out of the engine/transmission combination when swapping close ratio cogs with the stick shifter, although changes came after a
relative delay.Perhaps the Renegade has its Fiat
500X-shared underpinnings to thank for one pleasant surprise: this little SUV is without question the best-handling Jeep we have experienced.
While lacking feedback and weight, the steering is precise and quick in corners, helping to build confidence in the high-riding Jeep when carrying some pace through the twisty Californian mountain roads.
As the dark skies yielded a little rain the Renegade’s limits of adhesion were easily found with a plough-on understeer followed by oversteer for the bashful driver at relatively low speed.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERERenegade’s own rules – next page
On the mark
Feb 11, 2015 Page 6
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Price-sensitive Australianmarket will not force Jeepinto ‘cheap, cheerful’ end
Renegade’s own rules
By DANIEL GARDNER in SAN JOSEJEEP is yet to announce Australian pricing for its all-new Renegade light-sized SUV but the American car-maker says it will not compete at the bottom end of the market with “cheap and cheerful” offerings.
Due to arrive in October, Jeep’s newcomer is unlikely to be priced to do battle in the entry-level low-$20,000 market, aiming instead higher up the segment at more prestigious options including the Volkswagen Tiguan and Subaru’s XV.
At the United States launch of the crossover last week, Jeep confirmed the Renegade would be priced below its bigger Cherokee brother – as expected – but would offer “something else” and at a “reasonable” price.
That could place the entry-level Renegade at about the $23,000 mark, with top-of-the-range Trailhawk at about $34,000.
Speaking at the global Renegade first drive, Jeep international product planning manager Adrian Van Campenhout told GoAuto pricing was crucial in the competitive Australian
market, but vowed that Jeep would not offer an inferior product just to compete at the cheapest end of the scale.
“The thing about the Australian market is that we know that it is very price-sensitive,” he said.
“Even bringing a brand in that has the pride and passion that we have, we understand that there is a significant portion of the market that is for customers looking for something cheap and cheerful.
“We need to find ways to have good ‘advertisable’ products that are reasonable and then allow the customer to come into the showroom and see the great potential in our products. We have to capture the customer’s imagination both from the visuals and the price point.
“When you’re going against a lot of cheap and cheerful vehicles that resonate with the consumer we have to have something else. That was a challenge.”
Mr Van Campenhout said the same approach was applied to the latest Cherokee, which carries a price premium over some competitors but offers features its rivals cannot match.
“Look at what we do with the Cherokee – yes, I could put a two-speed PTU (power transfer unit) in it and go
up a tree, or I have a very good on-road vehicle,” he said. “That recipe has been applied to what we saw today.
“That was one of the challenges from a product planning standpoint in Australia – to identify the ways to craft a vehicle that was going to be robust in terms of kit and then have a price that would have customers saying, ‘I always knew that Jeep was good and that’s a reasonable thing for me to go and look at’.”
Mr Van Campenhout said the company was persevering with the process of improving quality, with particular attention to on-road manners, and added that this would entice customers to the range – even if it costs more than the competition.
“The first one comes out (Cherokee) and they say, ‘I see it but I don’t believe it’. The second one comes out (Renegade) and there is a reinforcement,” he said.
“The customer continues to trust what we’re doing, especially in Australia. We are still growing as a brand in the Australian market and there is more opportunity out there.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Feb 11, 2015 Page 7
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Honda’s reborn compact crossover reaches showrooms this week, from $24,990By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS
HONDA has dropped the final piece of its three-pronged light-car attack in place with the return of the HR-V compact SUV to its Australian line-up.
Aimed squarely at established players such as the Holden Trax and Nissan Juke, as well as the just-introduced Renault Captur and forthcoming Mazda CX-3 and Jeep Renegade, the HR-V joins the closely related Jazz hatch and City sedan in boosting the company’s presence in the sub-C-segment end of the new-vehicle market.
Like its five-door Jazz cousin, the HR-V brings the practicality of a low flat floor area when the rear-seat backrests are folded down, to give it a unique selling feature in the burgeoning light SUV class.
As reported last month, Honda has priced and specified the base VTi fiercely at $24,990 plus on-road costs with features including standard continuously variable transmission
(CVT) and a reversing camera, undercutting the equivalent Renault Captur by $1000.
The French SUV, however, tops the Thai-built HR-V with satellite navigation, rear parking sensors and two extra years of warranty and roadside assistance inclusive.
Only the auto versions of the Juke ST, Ford EcoSport Ambiente and Suzuki S-Cross GL are cheaper, but all suffer a significant power and torque deficit when lined up against the Honda. Mazda is yet to confirm pricing for its soon-to-be-released CX-3.
The HR-V’s single-drivetrain
offering is Honda’s long-lived 1.8-litre single-cam 16-valve i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine, delivering 105kW at 6500rpm and 172Nm at 4300rpm.
Unlike the CX-3, there is no manual gearbox, all-wheel drive or turbo-diesel alternatives in the HR-V’s front-drive CVT layout, however the vast majority of buyers in the light SUV class tend to favour FWD petrol autos.
A new-generation transmission introduced in the Jazz last August, the Earth Dreams CVT fitted standard on HR-V features a Sport mode with seven computer-controlled stepped ratios for a more natural auto transmission feel.
The HR-V introduces a number of Honda firsts, including an electric park brake, forward collision and lane-departure warnings (which, with automatic high beam control, fall under the ADAS acronym in Honda-speak) on the top-line VTi-L variant.
Continued next page
VTi-S
HR-V rides again
VTi-S
Feb 11, 2015 Page 8
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HR-V rides againContinued from previous page
An autonomous emergency braking system known as City Brake-Active also debuts, kicking in at the mid-series VTi-S priced from $27,990.
Based on Honda’s B-segment light-car platform, the compact SUV’s designers and engineers wanted to combine the “expansive interior” concept of the Jazz and its famous Magic Seats – possible due to the relocation of the fuel tank beneath the front rather than rear seats – with subtle coupe lines, to create a sleeker silhouette.
Hence the hidden rear doorhandles and the tapering rear profile window line that, along with the prominent side swage line upsweep and flared wheelarches, hide the basic boxy shape.
The body shape brings practicality benefits, however, such as a large and low loading floor with a sizeable tailgate
aperture and lip height of only 650mm, and enough cabin width and height for the Magic Seats to maximise their capability of 18 different configurations.
Dimensionally, the Honda is right in the sub-compact SUV sweet spot, measuring in at 4294mm long (298mm more than Jazz), 1772mm wide
(+28mm) and 1605mm high (+81mm), while sitting on a 2610mm wheelbase (+80mm). Ground clearance is 170mm (+35mm).
A compact torsion beam rear
suspension design has helped with the HR-V’s cabin packaging, while the front end features the ubiquitous MacPherson strut layout.
Honda says it has worked hard to quell noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) properties with specially developed mounts, bushes and sound-deadening measures, backed up by mechanical adaptive damper technology that changes its internal settings according to driving and road conditions.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE For drive impressions, go to
GoAuto.com.au from this afternoon
PRICING:VTi (a) $24,990VTi-S (a) $27,990VTi-L (a) $32,990VTi-L with ADAS (a) $33,990
VTi-L
Feb 11, 2015 Page 9
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Long-awaited light-size Renault Captur arrives in Australia, priced from $22,990By TIM ROBSON
RENAULT Australia is pinning the hopes of its continued local resurgence squarely on the flanks of its newest addition, the Captur city SUV.
Arriving more than 600 days after it went on sale in Europe, delays in meeting Australian Design Rule (ADR) requirements kept pushing the Captur – which sold 196,000 units worldwide in 2014 – out of its allocated build slots in Renault’s Valladolid factory in Spain, consequently keeping it out of Australian showrooms.
Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar told GoAuto last week at the national launch that supply issues had been resolved and the local allocation was secure.
“We’ve spoken about the challenges of supply previously, and that was a problem, but it’s not a problem for us going forward,” he said.
“We don’t exactly have a huge abundance of production capability, but
we’ve got good supply.”Delays related to the requirement
for additional top harness mounts to complement the Captur’s pair of Isofix child-restraint points.
Renault Australia recorded its first-ever annual sales figure of more than 10,000 units last year, thanks in part to strong sales of the fourth-generation Clio and a boom year for its light-commercial vehicle division.
“This is an incredibly important launch for us,” said Mr Hocevar. “We’re investing more in this model launch than ever before.”
Mr Hocevar predicted that the Captur would outsell the Clio – on which the Captur is based – after just
a year on sale.“In the first year, it will come below
Clio, but we think it will quickly come to challenge Clio in volume, with the way that we’ve priced and specified the vehicle,” he said.
“We think it’ll (initially sell) in the vicinity of 150 a month.”
The front-wheel-drive Captur will be offered with two engines – the 90 and the 120 – and in two grades, Expression and Dynamique.
An entry-level 0.9-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is offered only in Expression, with a five-speed manual gearbox as the sole transmission option, while the 1.2-litre four-cylinder TCe 120 will be offered in both Expression and Dynamique trim.
The larger engine will only be available with a Getrag-sourced six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with a sequential override, but no shift paddles.
Continued next page
Dynamique (front) and Expression
Captur comes in
Dynamique
Feb 11, 2015 Page 10
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Continued from previous pageMr Hocevar said that a diesel version
would not be offered, citing low take-up rates in the light SUV segment.
“We looked long and hard at diesel before bringing the Captur to market,” he said. “It’s fair to say that there’s not a lot of diesel uptake in this particular segment, and there’s not a lot of diesel activity in B-segment hatch, either.
“Given that we’ve got such fuel-efficient petrol engines with such low emissions, we felt very confident staying with petrol.”
The Captur is a late entrant into a fast-growing segment that already includes Ford’s EcoSport, the Holden Trax, Peugeot’s 2008 and the Captur’s relation by marriage, the Nissan Juke.
The Honda HR-V joins it this week, with Mazda’s CX-3 coming soon and Jeep’s Renegade and others also on the horizon.
Pricing starts from $22,990 plus on-road costs for the 898cc Expression, the automatic 1197cc Expression kicks in at $25,990 and the range-topping Dynamique retails from $27,990.
The Captur scored five stars in Euro NCAP testing. While ANCAP said in 2013 that the vehicle could not score five stars in Australia because of a lack of rear curtain airbags, changes implemented on January 1 means that the model can now qualify for a five-
star assessment here, albeit with a ‘2013’ annotation affixed to it.
“This is an indication that the requirements against which this
vehicle was assessed were not as stringent as those of today,” ANCAP communications manager Rhianne Robson told GoAuto.
Based on the Clio platform, the five-door Captur is only 10mm longer
than its hatch sibling. It is 4122mm long and 1566mm high, with an overall width of 1778mm. Its 2606mm wheelbase is marginally longer than that of the Clio, and front and rear track measurements are slightly wider. In its base configuration, it weighs 1134kg, jumping to 1215kg in auto form.
Internally, a sliding rear bench seat that moves 160mm fore/aft can give back-seat passengers more legroom. Alternatively, the load space features a ‘false floor’ boot cover that can be removed to increase the depth of the load area.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREDRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE
‘Get off the fence’ – page 30
PRICING:Expression $22,990 Expression (a) $25,990 Dynamique (a) $27,990
Expression
Captur comes in
Feb 11, 2015 Page 11
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Order bank at 50 as all-new Mercedes S-Class Coupe arrives in S63 AMG guise
Class of its own
By NEIL DOWLINGMERCEDES-BENZ Australia/Pacific says it is expecting unprecedented demand for its S-Class Coupe, with 50 Australians signing up for its latest premium coupe before it was even launched.
That represents a $20 million order book but one that Mercedes-Benz expects to expand even more. It predicts the latest S-Class-based coupe will exceed its 2007 annual sales record of 128.
It will grow even more when the S500 and S65 AMG variants arrive in June to join the just-launched S63 AMG that is on sale now.
Branded as the world’s quietest car, this is the first year that the coupe, more recently called the CL, returns to its S-Class badging.
Speaking at the launch of the S63 AMG last week, Mercedes-Benz Aust/Pac senior manager of public relations, product and corporate communications David McCarthy said owners tend to
return to the CL/S-Class coupe.“It has a very loyal customer base,”
he said.Mr McCarthy said that owners would
typically be aged about 60 and in the “very high income bracket”, but he added that the car-maker expects to welcome new buyers to the model line.
“Many would have had an S-Class saloon previously but now have no need for the extra doors,” he said.
“They would be very different buyers than those looking at an SLS. More likely, those who haven’t come from a Mercedes before could shop the coupe against cars such as the Maserati GranTurismo, Bentley Continental GT, Aston Martin Vantage V12 and even the
Rolls-Royce Wraith.’’Attracting buyers to the 2015 version
is a rich equipment list, some desirable options, new paint colours and a lower price. Most will tick the options boxes.
The S500 will be the biggest seller, accounting for an expected 50 per cent of sales, followed by the S63 AMG with about 40 per cent and then the V12-engined S65 AMG at 10 per cent.
“There’s been increased interest in AMG derivatives, so we’ll see a mix with slightly less S500 units than in previous years, and more sales for the mid-range S63 AMG,’’ Mr McCarthy said.
“Traditionally, the first year of the launch of our premium models is the one that has the bulk of sales. The sales fall off for the remaining seven years – or thereabouts – of the car’s life.’’
Buyers of the new S63 AMG will pay $409,000 plus on-road costs, representing a 2.6 per cent, or $12,975, saving on the outgoing model.
Continued next page
Feb 11, 2015 Page 12
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Class of its ownContinued from previous page
The S500 arriving in June will kick off the range from $319,000 plus on-road costs, a discount of $11,500 or 3.4 per cent, compared to its less-equipped predecessor, the CL500.
The S65 AMG, also here in June, will be priced from $499,000 plus on-road costs, down $18,925 or 4.7 per cent on its previous version.
Mercedes-Benz Aust/Pac, a strong critic of the federal government’s luxury car tax (LCT), said the average tax increase on the new coupe range is $80,000 per vehicle.
The 50 orders for the S63 AMG to date represent a total LCT take of $4 million.
At this month’s launch, Mercedes will offer the “Edition 1’’ version of the S63 AMG that adds additional equipment for $13,500 extra. It includes Swarovski crystal LED front indicator and daytime running lights, night vision cameras, exclusive cabin trim and headliner, and Nappa leather-edged floor mats.
When the S500 arrives the Edition 1 package will also be available for an extra $17,500.
All variants feature Mercedes’ Magic Body Control with the AMG versions including a Curve Tilting Function, the
latter leaning the car into corners like a motorbike and then using cameras and suspension sensors to scan and prepare the car for imminent changes in the road surface.
The technology has been credited with minimising bodyroll that leads to
passengers suffering from car sickness.
The panoramic roof, now covering two-thirds of the roof surface, has an optional
Magic Sky system that changes the glass through degrees from opaque to translucent.
The standard audio has 10 speakers but options include a 24-speaker Burmester 3D surround system with 24 separate amplifier channels and a total output of 1540 Watts. To rid the car of annoying rattles in the doors, all the front speakers
are mounted in the firewall and resonate in a 40-litre chamber.
Safety equipment in the coupe, like the S-Class sedan, cherry picks from a seemingly limitless inventory.
Equipment includes Distronic adaptive cruise control with upgrades to incorporate steering assistance and automatic stop/go. It has brake assist but now has detection for cross-traffic activity, as well as active lane-keeping assistance, adaptive high beam and night vision.
Standard on all models is collision prevention that starts from 7km/h and has a driver override for autonomous braking up to more than 100km/h and can prevent rear-end collisions at up to 40km/h.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREDRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE
PRICING:S500 (a) $319,000 S63 AMG (a) $409,000 S65 AMG (a) $499,000
Feb 11, 2015 Page 13
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oryxpeople.com.au
RESPONSIBILITIES:• Analyse store performance in terms of people capability,
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Kmart Tyre & Auto Service is one of Australia’s most recognised brands and one of the largest automotive service, repair and tyre retailers nationally. An opportunity has arisen for a results oriented, consultative and hands-on leader to join the management team as an Operations Manager (WA).
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Manual, 4WD versions fillout Jaguar sports range asfeatures level, prices rise
By DANIEL GARDNERJAGUAR Australia has rounded out its F-Type range by adding a six-speed manual gearbox option to entry-level and mid-range variants, along with an all-wheel-drive alternative on top-end variants as part of a 2016 Model Year revamp that includes improvements such as electric power steering, sports exhaust and more equipment.
However, the MY16 range also brings some steep price increases, with the V8 F-Type R Convertible up more than $44,000 over the previous version in return for an extra 40kW of power and a
bunch of other equipment additions and improvements.
The expanded range effectively doubles the F-Type range to 12, with four choices in each of F-Type, F-Type S and F-Type R across both coupe and convertible ranges.
Entry-level 250kW/450Nm coupes pick up the option of the new manual gearbox, with the base F-Type manual starting at $119,470 plus on-road costs – $40 than the previous F-Type automatic, which has now jumped $5040 to start from $124,470.
The F-Type Convertible manual, with the 3.0-litre supercharged V6, starts from $138,170, while the same model with the eight-speed automatic transmission now costs $143,170 – an increase of $4995.
While prices have risen, all F-Types now have the previously optional Switchable Active Sport Exhaust,
reversing camera and front parking sensors as standard equipment.
Electric-assisted power steering also replaces less efficient mechanical steering for all variants, cutting emissions by up to four grams per kilometre and increasing steering precision, Jaguar says.
The mid-series F-Type S coupe – with its extra 30kW of power and 10Nm of torque over the base F-Type – now starts at $151,770 for the new manual-equipped version. No convertible version is offered.
As before, the S is available as an automatic in both coupe and convertible body styles, but investing $172,470 opens up the new 4WD range, starting with the F-Type S AWD in the coupe body.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
PRICING:Coupe $119,470 Coupe (a) $124,470 Convertible $138,170 Convertible (a) $143,170 S Coupe $151,770 S Coupe (a) $156,770 S Coupe AWD (a) $172,470 S Convertible (a) $175,470 R Coupe (a) $226,970 R Coupe AWD (a) $242,670 R Convertible (a) $245,670 R Convertible AWD (a) $261,370
F-Type series overhaul
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General Manager - Business Development
For more than 100 years, Audi has been at the forefront of vehicle design, leading technology and innovative production practices, and Australia’s fastest growing German premium Automotive brand over the last decade. As we embark upon our next key strategy towards 2020 and beyond, we are looking for a leader with strategic vision to complement our growth and brand objectives — with a view to becoming Australia’s number one premium automotive brand — mirroring the current success in Europe.
A critical component of that growth is the position of General Manager Business Development — reporting directly to the Managing Director. As a key member of our management team your success in this position will be measured by your ability to develop comprehensive programs to advance and support the established dealer network. The ability to engage our dealers in appropriate training curriculums and identify new opportunities within the network to enhance retail business, network quality and service levels will also be an expectation of this position.
Key aspects of the role include —• Development of programs aimed at maximising retail opportunity and customer experience within the
dealer network. • Ongoing improvement of the retail business and network quality with a focus on improved customer service. • Partnering with Dealer Principals and General Managers to assist in the development of annual business plans.• Develop strategic plans to ensure robust business strategies within the dealer network.• Construct and develop plans for the future of the retail environment utilising state-of-the-art technology
to make clever use of showroom space.• Further expand the Audi Sport Showroom philosophy across the Audi dealer network.• Establish and develop a dealer network with the expanded focus on Audi e-tron technology as the number of
hybrid vehicles increase within the range.
Skills and attributes required —• Tertiary educated.• Minimum 7 years’ experience within the Australian automotive industry.• Demonstrated experience in dealer management, including financial strategy development.• Outstanding communication and negotiation skills.• Exceptional leadership skills.• Sound knowledge of the automotive wholesale/retail environment.• Excellent analytical skills.• Utilisation of external intelligence and internal reports to implement strategies that add value to
the Audi Australia business.
Please email all applications including both cover letter and resume, by close of business Friday 20th February to Renae Sarina — [email protected]
Feb 11, 2015 Page 15
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SAFETY SELLS. After walking your customers through the showroom, walk them through the updated ANCAP website.
The ANCAP website lists the safety ratings for more than one thousand different makes, models and variants with the ability to access crash test results, photos and videos all from the one screen.
So if you’re looking to secure that next sale by impressing your customer with safety information second to none, walk them through:
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Super-quick Range Rover Sport SVR set to roar into dealers soon at $218,500
By RICHARD BERRYLAND Rover has announced that its fastest and most powerful vehicle ever, the Range Rover Sport SVR, will go on sale in May priced from $218,500 plus on-road costs.
Based on the 2015 Range Rover Sport and positioned $36,500 upstream of the current range-topping Autobiography Dynamic, the high-performance SUV is the first ‘Special Vehicle Racing’ (SVR) product to come out of the newly created Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations division.
Land Rover Special Operations managing director John Edwards said testing and tuning has produced an SUV with supercar performance, while retaining on-road comfort and off-road capability.
“The Range Rover Sport SVR is a
natural progression beyond the core vehicle’s outstanding on- and off-road capabilities and leading-edge design,” he said.
“Its exhilarating performance will satisfy a particularly demanding customer set.
“A thorough range of revisions specially developed by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations combine to make this premium derivative even more distinctive both inside and out, as well as taking its dynamic capabilities to the next level without impacting on comfort, refinement or all-terrain versatility.
“The Range Rover Sport SVR is truly the world’s most capable performance SUV.”
Following extensive testing at Germany’s gruelling Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit, Land Rover claimed the SVR completed a lap of the 20.6km track in 8:14 minutes, making
it the fastest lap for a production SUV.However, Porsche recently improved
on the record, its 419kW Cayenne Turbo S completing the lap in 7:59.74 minutes, more than 14 seconds quicker than the SVR.
To extract this type of performance, the JLR fast-car division tuned the SUV’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 to produce 405kW and 680Nm – 30kW and 55Nm more than that of the regular Range Rover Sport. The extra horsepower and torque helps cut the 0-100km/h sprint by six-tenths to 4.7 seconds.
Shift times in the eight-speed ZF 8HP70 automatic have been reduced by 50 per cent, ensuring the revs are kept in the power band. In Dynamic mode the transmission will not even shift at redline.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Rangie SVR set at $218K
Feb 11, 2015 Page 16
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Now Available Exterior Paint ColoursOEM Exterior ColoursOEM Exterior Paint Colours Linked to Glass’s NVIC
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All intellectual property in this image is owned by Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited (TMCA) and the image may not be reproduced without TMCA’s prior permission.
Lexus relies on brand’s first turbo-petrol engine for major thrust in NX sales
Energiser
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISLEXUS is counting on the new turbocharged four-cylinder versions of its NX SUV to be the most popular variants, edging out the petrol-electric hybrid 300h.
The NX200t is likely to account for more than 60 per cent of total volume, with pent-up demand already ensuring that 230 orders had been taken in the days leading up to its showroom arrival last week.
According to Lexus Australia chief executive Sean Hanley, the addition of the 200t, combined with the NX’s segment-straddling sizing, should broaden the mid-size crossover’s appeal against the likes of the BMW X1 and Audi Q5.
“Sixty per cent of sales in the fullness of the first 12 months on sale will favour the turbo,” he told GoAuto.
Mirroring the NX300h range, but starting $2500 lower than the petrol-electric four-cylinder hybrid equivalents released last October, the 200t is also expected to continue the early trend of being most popular in F Sport guise, which kicks off $11,000 upstream of
the $52,500 Luxury opener. “In other Lexus models, our figures
show a greater buyer attraction to the F Sport and Sport Luxury models, and given the performance of the turbo engine I expect that trend to continue with the NX,” Mr Hanley said.
“Its dimensions straddle smaller and larger offerings from other competitors, already giving it a sales advantage … or as I like to call it, the ‘Goldilocks’ size.”
A first for any Lexus, the turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is an all-new unit combining both Otto and Atkinson Cycle combustion methods according to driver input and prevailing conditions. The late intake valve closing of the latter cycle cuts pumping losses
and fuel consumption.Known as the 8AR-FTS, the all-
alloy 1998cc EU5-rated unit features an 86mm bore and stroke, 10.0:1 compression ratio, double overhead camshafts, 16 valves, variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust outlets and a world-first cylinder head with integrated four-into-two exhaust.
It also has a twin-scroll turbocharger with a water-cooled intercooler, delivering 175kW of power between 4800 and 5600rpm, and 350Nm of torque from 1650 to 4000rpm.
“Unlike some other competitors, we offer the most powerful version we can,” said Mr Hanley. “We don’t drop the power in order to drop the price.”
The 200t will hit 100km/h from standstill in 7.3 seconds in front-wheel-drive Luxury 2WD guise, or 7.1 seconds in the all-wheel-drive versions that make up the rest of the range – a benefit brought by the extra traction over the FWD vehicle despite a circa-70kg weight penalty.
Continued next page
Feb 11, 2015 Page 17
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EnergiserContinued from previous page
This compares to the 9.2-second 0-100km/h acceleration in the 40kg-heavier 147kW/270Nm 300h AWD, which benefits from the addition of a 50kW rear-mounted electric motor driving the rear wheels, aiding the 114kW 2.5-litre four-pot petrol unit/105kW front electric motor combination.
On the environmental front, the 200t averages 7.7 litres per 100km and 178 grams per kilometre of CO2 emissions, or 7.9L/100km and 184g/km for the AWD. Both require 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.
In comparison, the 300h returns 5.7L/100km and 116g/km.
Bench-tested for more than 10,000 hours and with over one million kilometres of road testing, the 8AR-FTS weighs just 160kg.
Another difference between 200t
and 300h is the method in which drive is transferred from the engine to the wheels, with the former eschewing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a six-speed torque-converter automatic.
Based on Toyota’s long-lived Aisin U660 transmission, the U661 adopts changes such as a different oil pump and lower-friction materials to deal with the idle-stop technology standard in all 200ts.
The 200t’s RX-derived AWD system is variable, transferring from full FWD to a 50:50 front/rear split according to prevailing conditions. The moment the wheel is turned, 10 per cent of torque is channelled to the rear, while AWD Lock is available up to 40km/h. Lexus’ first pre-loaded front differential is fitted to all models.
Loosely based on the RAV4 and sitting on the same 2660mm wheelbase as the popular Toyota – though about 90 per cent of parts have been changed – the NX employs MacPherson struts up front and a double wishbone rear suspension, with the higher-end F Sport and Sport Luxury variants adding adaptive dampers. Steering is electric via a rack-and-pinion set-up.
Lexus NX chief engineer Takeaki Kato said the focus in developing the 200t was on driveability.
“My goal with the new turbocharged engine was to improve performance and fuel economy, with increased emphasis on driving performance compared with the hybrid,” he said.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREDRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE
PRICING:NX200tLuxury 2WD (a) $52,500 Luxury 4WD (a) $57,000 F Sport 4WD (a) $63,500 Sport Luxury 4WD (a) $72,500NX300hLuxury 2WD (a) $55,000 Luxury 4WD (a) $59,500 F Sport 4WD (a) $66,000 Sport Luxury 4WD (a) $75,000
Feb 11, 2015 Page 18
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More than 235kW on tapfor hottest mass-producedFocus RS due here in 2016
Ford’s Focus fireball
By RON HAMMERTONFORD has confirmed its third-generation Focus RS will be propelled by a 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine with “well in excess of” 235kW of power, making it the hottest mass-produced Focus ever built.
Unlike previous front-wheel-drive iterations of Ford’s rally-bred hot hatch, the new model will get all-wheel drive with sophisticated controls to make maximum use of the turbocharged engine.
Due for its public reveal at next month’s Geneva motor show, the Focus flagship will go into production at Ford’s Saarlouis plant in Germany later this year for global release, including Australia. The same plant also produces the Focus ST, the current Focus clubhouse performance leader with 184kW.
Ford Australia says it is too early to discuss launch timing and other details for the Australian rollout, but agrees that a 2016 showroom arrival is most likely, possibly in the first half.
The Australian arm of the Blue Oval brand sold all 315 of the hardcore Focus RS hatches that it was offered by the factory in the previous generation that
went on sale here in September 2010.That model was a three-door hatch
with a Volvo-sourced 224kW five-cylinder engine, driving through the front wheels.
Ford has confirmed that the new model will be a five-door hatchback equipped with the most powerful version of its EcoBoost 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine.
This same engine produces 233kW in the recently introduced EcoBoost Mustang, but Ford’s engineers have tweaked it for slightly more power, saying it will be “well in excess of 315 horsepower” (235kW).
Ford says the “bespoke” engine has been specially engineered for the RS, being “significantly upgraded through a comprehensive package of design changes”.
“Meticulous calibration work has ensured that the power unit delivers excellent low-end responsiveness with a powerful mid-range pull, climbing to a free-revving top end up to a maximum rev limit of 6800rpm,” the company says.
An extra-large radiator has been applied to keep the engine cool, sitting behind an equally large, business-like
black grille.Importantly, the engineers have
maintained one of the most alluring attractions of the previous RS – the signature snap, crackle and pop of the turbo engine sound.
Again, the RS will be equipped only with a six-speed manual gearbox, but both the transmission and the clutch have been reworked to handle the extra grunt.
All power, torque and performance figures are expected to be confirmed at the Geneva motor show on March 3.
While a lot of the Focus RS story remains under wraps, Ford has spelled out much of the detail surrounding its new all-wheel-drive system that promises “a new level of handling capability and driver enjoyment, combining outstanding traction and grip with unmatched agility and cornering speed”.
Called Ford Performance All-Wheel-Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring, the system uses twin electronically controlled clutches – one on each side of the rear drive unit – to manage both front/rear torque split and side-to-side delivery.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE‘Not … a fair trial’ – next page
Feb 11, 2015 Page 19
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A U S T R A L I A
Judge dismisses odometer tampering charges againstdealer, slams trial conduct
‘Not … a fair trial’
By JOHN MELLORA NSW District Court judge has made a series of damning findings against the NSW judicial system in his written judgement over charges that resulted in a jail sentence imposed on Pennant Hills Ford dealer Ian Creak and a salesman at the dealership, Stephen Best.
Late last year, sitting in the District Court, Judge Hanley upheld an appeal and dismissed all charges laid against Mr Creak and Mr Best who were alleged to have engaged in odometer tampering. The charges included criminal charges which saw the pair sentenced by a magistrate to a 12-month suspended sentence.
This was appealed immediately but not before Ford Australia pre-empted the appeals process and terminated the Pennant Hills Ford dealer agreement. Finance companies and websites also banned Mr Creak from dealing with them in spite of the appeal being undecided.
The written judgement of the appeal has just been released by Judge Hanley, revealing that Mr Creak and Mr Best were subjected to an extraordinary series of injustices at the hands of the NSW state in two Local Court hearings over 23 days between February and August 2013.
In the written judgement Judge Hanley says that the first of two Local Court hearings before Magistrate Betts “was not a hearing according to law” and that Mr Creak and Mr Best “had not received a fair trial”.
“I was satisfied that any member of the public who may have watched the proceedings before Magistrate Betts would have come away with the belief that she was acting in a partial manner and (acting) as a prosecutor in conjunction with (the actual prosecutor on behalf of the Fair Trading office) Mr Shepherd,” Judge Hanley wrote.
“Towards the end of the hearing she was directing the prosecutor to an exhibit and assisting him with the direction his questions should take. The two also acted together in a completely inappropriate manner to denigrate and humiliate defence witnesses. The protection they (the defence witnesses) should have been afforded ... was thrown out the window.
“Attacks were made by Mr Shepherd upon the integrity and reputation of defence witnesses generally called in respect of ancillary matters without any reasonable foundation for doing so and in a manner that indicated it was being done with a degree of personal delight and satisfaction.”
Judge Hanley said one witness was “singled out for the most insulting treatment” and when on two occasions the witness “sought the protection of the magistrate from this form of abusive questioning she responded: ‘Gee whiz there’s a quick way from point A to point B. You seem to want to go via Timbuktu.’”
Judge Hanley said: “On my reading of the transcript at the time leading up to this interchange the witness had been responding succinctly to the questioning despite the insulting manner in which it was being conducted.”
Judge Hanley said another seven defence witnesses “were also examined in an improper manner”.
“Regularly the magistrate joined in the attack upon these witnesses by making her own inappropriate and insulting comments about them,” he said.
The senior counsel who appeared for Mr Creak and Mr Best at the Local Court hearing “made repeated and proper objections to this form of ‘questioning’ but was overruled or ignored. On the few occasions the magistrate sought to control Mr Shepherd’s behaviour it was ignored and persisted in,” Judge Hanley wrote.
“These witnesses were repeatedly cross-examined by Mr Shepherd who also inappropriately placed before them copies of other witness statements and requested they explain any differences that may exist in comparison with their evidence.”
Judge Hanley said objections by the defence to this behaviour were overruled but when the defence attempted to put a proposition to a prosecution witness, which challenged the evidence of another prosecution witness, he was overruled.
Continued page 26
Feb 11, 2015 Page 20
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Seventh Holden boss in adecade, Bernhard to leadthrough transition period
Here ‘for the long term’
By RICHARD BERRYGENERAL Motors has announced the appointment of Australian-born Mark Bernhard as Holden’s new chairman and managing director, making him the seventh person to take on the role in the past 10 years.
Mr Bernhard currently holds the role of vice-president and chief financial officer of Shanghai GM in China, and the move marks the 51-year-old’s return to Holden where his career started in 1986 in finance.
Speaking at a press conference in Sydney last Friday, General Motors executive vice-president and president of General Motors International Stefan Jacoby said Mr Bernhard’s Australian background and his experience with Holden and in overseas GM posts made him ideal for the role.
“We took our time to choose the right candidate,” he said.
“We had a global search, we looked internally and externally. I think Mark brings all the knowledge about Holden and the Australian specifics in this market here.
“He also has global knowledge about General Motors – he has worked in China, he has worked with the Asia-Pacific operation and he also has knowledge, of course, about GM’s head office in Detroit.
“So that combination of being an Australian, who started his career here, had various management positions in Australia but also global experience in Europe, in China and in the US truly qualifies him for this very important role.”
Mr Jacoby said it was important to him to choose the candidate personally.
“We are very aligned,” he said. “We have the chemistry, we understand
the challenges of this market, we want to win with Holden here. He’s passionate about Holden and having success in New
Zealand and Australia.”Mr Jacoby dismissed suggestions
that Mr Bernhard’s finance background and limited marketing experience could work against him as Holden ends local manufacturing and transitions to a national sales company.
“Mark’s background is of course finance but I think he has much more skills than just finance,” he said.
“I think he understands the market, he’s had various general manager assignments during his career and I’m truly convinced that he has all the skills necessary to run a marketing and sales company in Australia.”
Mr Bernhard’s appointment follows a quick succession of six different Holden chiefs within the past decade. His predecessor Gerry Dorizas quit in October last year, just seven months into the job.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREHolden sticks to Spark – next page
SLOW SALES PROMPT HOLDEN TO CUTJOBS, VEHICLE LINE RATE: CLICK HERE
Mark Bernhard
Feb 11, 2015 Page 21
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‘Barina Spark’ moniker toremain for all-new microamid rollout of 24 models
Holden sticks to Spark
Holden engineers caught testing the new Vauxhall Viva
By TIM NICHOLSONGM HOLDEN has confirmed that a replacement for the ageing Barina Spark hatch and the Captiva SUV are coming soon as part of a model range rejuvenation that will include 24 “major” new models by 2020.
GoAuto reported exclusively last month that Holden engineers are currently testing the all-new Vauxhall Viva/Opel Karl – to be formally revealed at the upcoming Geneva motor show – with the global micro-car set to launch here in the first quarter of 2016.
As General Motors revealed last Friday that Mark Bernhard would return to Australia as Holden’s new chairman and managing director, leading the company through its transition from a local manufacturer to a national sales company, GM International president Stefan Jacoby confirmed that the forthcoming new-generation compact hatch will retain the Barina Spark moniker here.
Mr Jacoby also said Holden would launch 24 “major” new vehicles, and 36 powertrain combinations, over the next five years.
“GM is investing significantly to broaden the Holden product portfolio and deliver world-class vehicles,” he said.
“Holden is accessing GM’s global operations to assemble its biggest and best-ever product line-up. This new model onslaught will ensure Holden has world-class products in every major segment – a true customer-driven product strategy.”
Without providing details on timing and sourcing, Mr Jacoby also confirmed that a replacement for the long-in-the-tooth Captiva was on the way, as well as a second “world-class SUV”.
A “true sportscar” is also promised as Holden attempts to make up for the impending loss of high-performance variants of its Commodore – and as the attention of Australian enthusiasts turn to Ford and its forthcoming all-new Mustang.
While GM is yet to confirm details of its Captiva replacement, the next-generation version could downsize to just the Captiva 5 to become Holden’s contender in the hugely popular compact/mid-size SUV segment, battling the likes of the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
This would leave space near the top of Holden’s SUV line-up for a seven-seat crossover to replace the nine-year-old Captiva 7 and take on Jeep’s Grand Cherokee, Ford’s fully imported Territory replacement – set to be the new-generation Edge revealed last year – and the Toyota Kluger, among others.
One of the likeliest candidates to underpin the “world-class SUV” Mr Jacoby mentioned is the Buick Envision unveiled in China last year. Originally seen as a China-market-only model, the Envision has been mooted as a starter in the US and could form the basis of a global GM model.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREAussie accent for hot Euro – next pageOpel Karl
Feb 11, 2015 Page 22
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GM’s hard-charging CorsaVXR/OPC bantam went tofinishing school at Holden
Aussie accent for hot Euro
By RON HAMMERTONGENERAL Motors has peeled back the cloak of secrecy from its European hot hatch that was engineered in part by Holden at its Lang Lang proving ground in Australia.
The Vauxhall Corsa VXR – also sold as the Opel Corsa OPC – is set to make its debut at next month’s Geneva motor show before going on sale in Britain and Europe in May as the performance flagship for the fifth-generation “Corsa E” light hatchback range that made its debut in basic form at the Paris motor show last year.
As GoAuto reported exclusively in July last year, Holden engineers have been responsible for the powertrain calibration for the Opel/Vauxhall VXR/OPC, initially at the Holden proving ground in Victoria and more recently on public roads around Melbourne.
As well, Holden has been doing similar work on the related Chevrolet Aveo RS which is set to use the 1.6T
high-performance mechanical package in Asian markets.
It is unclear if Holden will sell the hottest Aveo for its Barina range in Australia or the new Corsa VXR. So far, Corsa has not been mentioned under Holden’s “Opelisation” expansion that is set to deliver the European-sourced Cascada convertible, Astra GTC and VXR and Insignia VXR into Holden showrooms under lion badges this year.
The previous-generation Corsa VXR/OPC was sold in Australia in 2013 under Opel’s short-lived venture Down Under.
The new Corsa VXR/OPC powertrain includes a revised version of GM’s 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder premium engine that in VXR/OPC form packs 152kW of power and 245Nm of torque – 7kW and 10Nm more than the previous generation – to punt the three-door hatch from standstill to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds.
GM says most of the torque is now on tap lower in the rev range – between 1900rpm and 5800rpm. As well, overboost can push maximum
torque to 280Nm.The engine will be mated with a
second-generation six-speed manual gearbox that GM promises will offer a “short, fluid gear-change”. No automatic is available.
In Europe, the VXR goes head-to-head with a slew of similar baby boomers, including Volkswagen’s new Polo GTI that produces 141kW and 320Nm from its force-fed 1.8-litre engine for 0-100km/h acceleration in 6.7 seconds.
Unlike the Corsa, the Polo GTI is locked in for Australia where it will go on sale in the second quarter of this year to rival the Ford Fiesta ST, Peugeot 208 GTi, Alfa Romeo MiTo QV and Renault Clio RS.
Although the Corsa VXR’s body styling is new, it is fundamentally a re-skin of the previous car, sitting on the same Gamma II small-car platform.
However, it gets a bunch of revisions and new technologies, including a new form of adaptive suspension dubbed Frequency Selective Damping (FSD).
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Feb 11, 2015 Page 23
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Celerio on hold
Brake concerns with Suzuki micro halts Aussie sales
ANCAP delivers four-starrating for all-new Celerio
By RON HAMMERTONAUSTRALIA’S New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has awarded four safety stars to Suzuki’s Celerio micro-car, just a day after its launch on the Australian market was postponed due to reports of brake failure in emergency braking tests by British motoring magazines.
The ANCAP announcement was to have coincided with the showroom debut for Suzuki’ s Thai-made Alto replacement, but Suzuki Australia was last week forced to ask its dealers to keep all Celerio stock in storage until engineers from its parent company can sort the brake issue.
The ANCAP rating was based on data from Europe’s NCAP tests, in which the Celerio was awarded three stars because it lacked certain safety features as standard equipment.
In Australia, however, the little five-door hatch managed four stars because it gets head-protecting side curtain airbags and seatbelt reminders for both front- and second-row occupants on all variants.
Australia’s top-selling mini-car, the Mitsubishi Mirage, has a five-star rating, but that vehicle was tested under a previous regime and would likely have scored four stars too if it had been tested under the stiffer 2015 rules.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
By RON HAMMERTONSUZUKI Australia might be without an entry-level model for weeks or even months after its all-new Celerio micro-car launch was put on ice on the eve of its Australian debut last week.
The stop-sale order came as Suzuki investigates reports of brake failure on two test cars in high-speed braking tests conducted by journalists in Britain.
Some Celerio stock had already arrived in dealerships in Australia in readiness for the sales launch, but Suzuki Australia ordered those cars to be kept in storage and out of customer hands until the matter is resolved.
Suzuki Australia automobile general manager Andrew Moore released a brief statement saying that in light of recent issues in the UK, Suzuki would postpone the on-sale date of Celerio that was due in showrooms on February 4.
“Suzuki Australia places safety as a top priority and will not begin selling Celerio in Australia until we are comfortable any possible issues are rectified,” he said.
Mr Moore told GoAuto that “a handful” of Celerios had been trucked to dealerships in Australia where the new Thai-built hatchback replaces the Indian-built Alto in the micro-car segment.
He said it was unclear how long the sales postponement would last or what action would be taken to fix a potential problem with the cars.
The Celerio setback came just a day after Suzuki announced it had enjoyed a 40 per cent increase in January sales over the same month last year, thanks to its fast-start 2014 plate clearance sale.
The 1608 sales in January included 133 run-out Altos – the same as January last year.
Mr Moore said Suzuki dealers still had about “50 odd” Altos left in stock, which he said would last only a couple of weeks.
The Celerio has been suspended from sale in the UK after Autocar and What Car? magazines experienced two cases of brake failure in a test car driven by a journalist at Millbrook Proving Ground on January 30.
Suzuki GB later released a statement saying: “With reference to the condition experienced when carrying out an emergency braking test by a journalist from Autocar magazine on January 30, Suzuki is carrying out an immediate investigation into the cause of this condition.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Feb 11, 2015 Page 24
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Car industry begins yearwhere it left off as SUVsoffset passenger car fall
Flat market continues
By TIM NICHOLSONAUSTRALIA’S new-vehicle sales remained steady in the first month of 2015, with a drop-off in passenger car purchases countered by a sizeable jump in the ever-growing SUV segment.
A total of 82,116 sales were recorded in January, just 0.2 per cent or 169 units off January 2014’s total of 82,285, with private sales growing by 0.8 per cent to make up 48,642 of the overall total.
Passenger cars dropped 4.3 per cent to 39,799 when compared with January 2014, while light commercials maintained a steady footing, down 0.3 per cent to kick off the year with 12,958 sales.
SUVs continued to grow at a rapid rate last month, rising 6.9 per cent, or 1789 units, for a total of 27,679. The difference between passenger cars and SUVs appears to be shrinking, with the
gap at 12,120 units last month.Business sales were much the same
as last January – a traditionally quiet month for large fleet buyers – but rentals and government sales dropped off even further, losing 14.6 and 4.4 per cent respectively.
Light cars continued to provide the biggest boost in the passenger market, growing by 14.9 per cent to 9208, while the dwindling mid-size segment had a rare month of positive news, increasing 12.9 per cent to 4955 units.
Small cars dropped by 7.7 per cent, but small (light-sized) SUVs rose 17.9 per cent to 7272 units on the back of an increase in offerings in the baby crossover segment as well as strong results from some of the stalwarts including the Mitsubishi ASX (869 sales) and the Hyundai ix35 (1636).
Toyota was once again the market leader, starting 2015 in much the same way it did last year with its January haul of 13,661 new registrations, just 15 units up on the same month in 2014.
Mazda’s sales dropped 4.3 per cent but still maintained second place with 9006 units, ahead of third-placed Holden on 8401 (-5.3 per cent) and Hyundai on 6901 (-3.5 per cent).
Ford was the biggest loser among the leading brands last month, sliding 21.3 per cent to 5357 units.
Outside the top five, Nissan (+6.7 per cent) and Volkswagen (+8.6 per cent) recorded strong
results, and Honda started the year on a positive note, gaining 9.4 per cent over last January, while Mitsubishi dipped 1.4 per cent to 4080.
Holden had mixed fortunes last month with three models making the top 10, but its resurgent Commodore large car had a slow start, dropping 24.5 per cent for 1784 sales – coincidentally, the same amount of Rangers that Ford shifted last month.
Holden’s other locally built model, Cruze, was Holden’s best seller with a substantial 34.1 per cent boost for 1870 units – enough for fifth spot overall – while the Colorado ute capped off the top 10 with 1543 sales.
Mazda maintained its good January form with the Mazda3 topping the charts with 3903 sales, the fourth year in a row the popular small car has started the year in top spot.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERENZ market off to a flier – next page
Pos Brand Sales % Share
1 Toyota 13,661 16.6
2 Mazda 9006 11.0
3 Holden 8401 10.2
4 Hyundai 6901 8.4
5 Ford 5357 6.5
6 Nissan 4537 5.5
7 VW 4397 5.4
8 Mitsubishi 4080 5.0
9 Subaru 3104 3.8
10 Honda 2703 3.3
Source: VFACTS
Top 10 Brands in Jan
ix35
VFACTS WRAP
Feb 11, 2015 Page 25
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Fleet sales a factor behindrecord numbers as overallmarket climbs 11 per cent
NZ market off to a flier
By JACQUI MADELINin NEW ZEALAND
LAST month marked the highest number of new-vehicle registrations for January on record in New Zealand, with 11,667 sales representing a 10.8 per cent increase – 1139 units – on the corresponding month last year.
Motor Industry Association (MIA) chief executive David Crawford said both passenger and commercial vehicle segments reached new heights, with passenger vehicles recording 9010 sales, up 8.6 per cent, while 2657 commercial vehicles were sold, an increase of 19 per cent.
This was the first time January sales have topped 11,000 new vehicles, well above the circa-10,000 record set last year.
Toyota made it clear it has no intention of relinquishing its hold at the top of the
industry, with its 2409 units marking a rise of 31.6 per cent for a 21 per cent share of the overall market.
The Japanese car-making giant led the passenger segment with 1941 units (handing it a 22 per cent share), while the Corolla range topped the table of best-selling models with 792 units – 582 of those being rental purchases.
Ford led commercial vehicle sales with 504 units and a 19 per cent share, its Ranger continuing as New Zealand’s favourite LCV with 417 units after last year ending the Toyota HiLux’s 32-year reign.
Mr Crawford told GoAuto that SUV sales continue to grow, with the segment accounting for 32 per cent of the industry last month.
“New-vehicle sales for 2015 have started where they left off in 2014, with the outlook for 2015 remaining very positive,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that sales numbers for individual brands are “all over the place” if seen out of context of previous years.
Toyota’s 2015 increase in part reflected a drop in January 2014 sales of 5.5 per cent compared with the same month in 2013 (as a result of 2013 fleet-
order timing), and in part was due to a rental order fulfilled last month.
Ford’s 1006 tally marked a 15.7 per cent drop compared with January 2014, which in
turn had marked a rise of 48.4 per cent over the same month in 2013.
And Holden celebrated a January 2015 lift of 47.2 per cent to 1519 units, after a poor start to 2014.
Holden New Zealand general marketing manager Marnie Samphier said the increase was almost entirely due to about 500 rental sales.
Ms Samphier said the focus was now “a long-term strategy to seek product out of GM plants globally as we reposition to a new direction” with Holden’s closure of its Australian manufacturing operations in 2017.
Hyundai sales rose 13.7 per cent last month to 813 units, with Mazda just six sales behind – up 30.4 per cent – for its best monthly sales result in New Zealand history.
Mazda NZ managing director Andrew Clearwater told GoAuto the record was especially noteworthy as January is traditionally a disrupted month with people on holiday.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
NZ SALES WRAP
Pos Brand Sales % Share
1 Toyota 2409 20.6
2 Holden 1519 13.0
3 Ford 1006 8.6
4 Hyundai 813 6.9
5 Mazda 807 6.9
6 Nissan 782 6.7
7 Mitsubishi 591 5.0
8 VW 482 4.1
9 Honda 356 3.0
10 Suzuki 341 2.9
Source: NZ MIA
NZ Top 10 Brands in Jan
Corolla
Feb 11, 2015 Page 26
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‘Not … a fair trial’Continued from page 19
“At the conclusion of reading the evidence I was satisfied that the appellants had not received a fair trial before the magistrate who had failed to demonstrate impartiality and judicial objectivity in the manner in which the hearing was conducted,” Judge Hanley said.
“Accordingly, I have determined I cannot rely upon any finding made by the magistrate in her judgment unless it is consistent with a finding I am independently satisfied of to the requisite degree. I cannot be guided by her assessment of the credibility of any prosecution witnesses that is adverse to the appellants (Creak and Best).”
Judge Hanley went on to say that “the hearing was interspersed with commentary by the magistrate as to her own and limited experiences of life that she appears to have regarded as appropriate in assessing the evidence. In my opinion this was inappropriate and limited her capacity to understand the evidence and evaluate the witnesses.”
Judge Hanley said that an additional magistrate was required during sentencing “for reasons that were not explained to the parties”. This was before Magistrate Flack who dealt with two outstanding charges that were not dealt with by Magistrate Betts.
“Accordingly, Magistrate Flack heard the last two charges and convicted the appellants, Best and Creak. To determine the two remaining charges, Magistrate Flack was required to read the transcript of the hearing before Magistrate Betts. Mr Flack advised the parties he had achieved this in one day. I am somewhat in awe of the magistrate’s capacity to do so. I required 12 hours a day for three days to complete this task,” the judge said.
Based on this level of understanding of the first trial, the magistrate went on to impose a suspended jail sentence.
Judge Hanley said that information that would have assisted the case of Mr Creak and Mr Best that was in the
possession of the Fair Trading office was withheld from the defence.
He said he found it “extraordinary” that a senior officer of the NSW Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal (CTTT) ordered that a crucial document in its possession not be handed over to the court when it was required in its original form for handwriting examination and “its production was ordered by this court” in a subpoena.
The judge said that he also found it “extraordinary” that the Fair Trading office had sought to prevent the defence from using handwriting experts to view fresh evidence in the case when it would have been in the interests of both parties to help the court arrive at the truth.
Judge Hanley wrote: “I was advised by Mr Shepherd (for the Fair Trading office) it was technically possible to remove the ‘computer cluster’ from the Porsche and send it to Porsche Germany who has facilities to conduct tests to establish when the odometer had been altered.”
But the judge said this was not done on the grounds that it would have “caused considerable inconvenience” to the new owner of the vehicle.
Yet, the judge said, because it was not pursued he was satisfied that Mr Creak and Mr Best “had lost the opportunity of evidence that could acquit them or at least raise a reasonable doubt”.
He said it was “credible evidence that could assist in the determination of a critical issue in the hearing … and if admitted into evidence lead to a different outcome to that at the Local Court”.
But as it was, Judge Hanley indicated that Magistrate Betts struggled with automotive technology saying at one stage in her judgement (as quoted by Judge Hanley from the court transcript): “I am simplifying this evidence as much as I can because I do not understand the ECU’s and all this other stuff.”
In other issues highlighted by Judge Hanley, papers that witnesses swore in court they had seen shredded at
the dealership turned up on file at the CTTT and Judge Hanley said that he was satisfied one witness, on whom the Fair Trading office relied to charge and prosecute Mr Creak and Mr Best, “had falsified documents in order to implicate Mr Creak”.
The judge added that three witnesses for the Fair Trading office were disgruntled employees of Mr Creak, one of whom rang Today Tonight “instead of the Fair Trading office or the police in order to do maximum damage to Mr Creak’s reputation and business”. The judge said there was evidence that one of the three was demanding a pay rise from Mr Creak and that, if it was not forthcoming, intended “to take him to the cleaners”.
Referring to other prosecution witnesses, Judge Hanley alluded to the fact that they included bankrupt trading in cars of more than $10,000 and charges associated with cocaine smuggling. Another was facing fraud charges. Both have since received custodial sentences.
He said the evidence of the defence witnesses was “honest and reliable”.
In the Local Court hearing there was no dispute the Porsche odometer was wound back. The Fair Trading office alleged it was Mr Creak and Mr Best but they claimed they bought the Porsche with 92,000km showing and not approximately 173,000km.
The seller said the car showed the higher mileage when he sold it and handwriting experts employed by the Fair Trading office could not make any conclusions based on photocopies of the sales document.
But when the original document was found at the CTTT and examined by a forensic document examiner at the time of the appeals hearing, the judge said the evidence showed there was “a high degree of certainty” the seller signed the sale note with the lower mileage and “this is consistent with the vehicle arriving at the dealership already altered”.
Continued next pageIan Creak
Feb 11, 2015 Page 27
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
‘Not … a fair trial’
Tabloid television program prompts court action against New South Wales dealerBy JOHN MELLOR
THE charges against Ian Creak and Stephen Best followed a series of exposés on the Seven Network’s now defunct tabloid television show, Today Tonight, which turned up in the Pennant Hills showroom with a “rented” crowd in tow after a disgruntled employee of Pennant Hills Ford claimed odometer tampering.
Today Tonight cameras pursued Mr Creak throughout the dealership, resulting in an angry altercation in which blows were thrown.
The segment attracted the attention of the NSW Fair Trading office which sent in investigators.
The program and subsequent charges mainly revolved around only two cars: a Porsche Boxster which was known to have travelled approximately 173,000km being sold by the dealership with about 90,000km showing; another involved a Holden Crewman.
A Local Court imposed a one-year suspended sentence on the pair (see main story). These charges were dismissed on appeal.
Mr Creak says he is now seeking redress from the Seven Network for defamation.
Mr Creak is also seeking an as yet undisclosed sum of damages and costs against the NSW Fair Trading office. Judge Hanley is to hear an application for costs against the NSW Fair Trading office in March.
GoAuto understands that, as part of the settlement sought from Seven, Mr Creak may be seeking amongst damages a series of announcements over a period on Seven News setting the record straight and that Seven, at its expense, be required to have removed all adverse material against Mr Creak’s character that is contained in the internet worldwide that arose out of the broadcasts about Mr Creak on Today
Tonight.Additionally Mr Creak is asking
Ford Australia to reinstate him now that the court has vindicated him. When Ford terminated the franchise agreement Mr Creak continued to trade from the dealership selling used cars, and continued his service operations including service for his former Ford customers.
He told GoAuto that Ford Australia has not paid warranty claims, incentives, pre-delivery invoices for stock returned to Ford and fleet support going back more than 12 months. Mr Creak said he is seeking to recover moneys owed to the dealership.
He told GoAuto that the best solution would be for Ford Australia to reinstate him now that the charges have been found to the baseless.
Since the successful appeal, Mr Creak has been appointed an Isuzu Ute dealer.
Continued from previous pageJudge Hanley said the prosecution
alleged Mr Creak was motivated by greed.
“However, the unchallenged evidence of the Local Court hearing was that he paid a fair price for a Porsche with an odometer reading of 92,456 kilometres, and substantially too much if it had a reading of 173,000 kilometres,” Judge Hanley said.
In the matter of the Crewman, which was wound back by about 100,000km, Judge Hanley said that he was satisfied, based on evidence by a reliable independent witness, that the odometer of the Crewman was wound back before it came into Mr Creak’s possession.
Mr Creak was informed by the Fair Trading office of suspected odometer tampering who said they would put an encumbrance on the vehicle. When Mr Creak asked the investigator to clarify the alleged tampering he received no response. He then checked the PPSR some months later which showed no encumbrance.
In the absence of any further responses from the Fair Trading office and no encumbrances recorded, the
judge said Mr Creak took the view that odometer tampering on the Crewman had not been substantiated and sold the car. But the encumbrance remained and Mr Creak was charged.
The judge said Mr Creak was not aware the encumbrances from the old REVs system had not passed over into the PPSR which was just being set up at the time – something the Fair Trading office was not aware of as well.
Judge Hanley found that Mr Creak had taken all measures to ensure the veracity of the Crewman.
Judge Hanley reserved special criticism at the end of the judgment of a direction by the superiors of the Fair Trading office investigator that he was not to respond to guidance sought by
Mr Creak over disposal of the Crewman and whether any endorsement remained in it. Judge Hanley said: “It was almost an inducement for (Mr Creak) to commit an offence.”
Judge Haney said that, as with the Porsche, Mr Creak “did not benefit” because he paid a price consistent with a 100,000km Crewman and not a 200,000km Crewman
Judge Hanley dismissed all charges and penalties relating to the odometer tampering.
All other charges, which the judge referred to as “regulatory matters” regarding paperwork irregularities discovered by Fair Trading investigators trolling through the dealership were also dismissed.
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John Mellor’s
Feb 11, 2015 Page 28
Wagons sell better in some parts of Europe than sedans, and it is not hard to see why when you consider the new Mercedes-Benz C250 BlueTec. Style, dynamics and practicality converge in a smooth, powerful and efficient family-focused package that is high on safety, multimedia and driver tech. Why would you even bother buying the sedan or an SUV? A bug or two aside, this Benz has it all. Mercedes has made some magnificent wagons, and the latest S205-series C-Class Estate is no exception.
Mercedes-Benz C250 BlueTec Estate
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
GoAuto’s latest car review www.GoAuto.com.au
TUCSON SET TO RETURNHYUNDAI is returning to the Tucson name in a bid to retain its iron grip on the booming compact SUV segment, with its next-generation crossover set to debut at next month’s Geneva motor show.
On sale in Australia in August, the redesigned Tucson will replace the ix35 name in a turnaround of the 2009 decision to adopt a European alphanumeric badge policy.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
INFINITI QX30 CONCEPTINFINITI’S Mercedes-Benz-based QX30 compact SUV concept has been teased ahead of its international debut at the Geneva motor show on March 3 – and it could eventually make its way to Australia.
The shadowy image only reveals a partially lit rear end, but styling of Infiniti’s newest model is expected to be similar to the coupe-like Q30 hatchback revealed at the 2013 Frankfurt show.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Track belter
Porsche adds 911 go-fast bits to create Cayman GT4By RON HAMMERTON
PORSCHE has crossed its Cayman GTS with the race-bred 911 GT3 to come up with a new track-ready GT family member, the Cayman GT4.
The German sportscar company claims the new variant, powered by the 283kW 3.8-litre flat six from the 911 Carrera S, lapped Nurburgring in seven minutes and 40 seconds in testing, putting it at the head of its class.
The stripped-out coupe will be wheeled out at next month’s Geneva motor show ahead of its launch later this year when it will be offered to Porsche customers as a cheaper track alternative to the $293,600 (plus on-road costs) 911 GT3.
In Australia, it will be launched in the third quarter at $190,300, almost $30,000 more than the current most expensive Cayman in Australia, the $160,900 GTS that packs 250kW from its smaller 3.4-litre boxer engine.
It is about $18,000 cheaper than the most affordable 911 Carrera, which starts at $208,600 for the 3.4-litre manual base model.
Although the GT4 has a ‘4’ in its title, it is two-wheel drive, with the mid-mounted engine driving the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. No PDK automatic will be available.
Engineered by Porsche’s Motorsport division in Weissach, the GT4 is said to be capable of a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.4 seconds – half a second quicker than the Cayman GTS – and a top speed of 295km/h.
Porsche says the chassis is “nearly entirely” 911 GT3, with a ride height lowered by 30mm and stopped by large steel brakes (ceramic brakes are optional). Wheels are forged 20-inch alloys, with 295/30 tyres on the rear and 245/35s on the front.
Externally, the GT4 is distinguished by a big fixed rear wing mounted on struts that appear to be adjustable for track purposes. Just to make sure it stays glued to the track, a second rear boot lip spoiler has been added, along with a rear diffuser.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
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By TIM NICHOLSONAUSTRALIAN new-car buyers were more likely to consider a hybrid-powered model in the past 12 months than they were in 2013, according to Roy Morgan Research, as sales of green-powered vehicles remain static.
Notwithstanding the recent fall in fuel prices, figures released by the market research firm reveal that the number of Australian drivers who say they would “seriously consider” buying a hybrid vehicle has risen for the first time since 2008.
According to the survey, about 46 per cent of the 2,258,000 Australians planning to buy a new car within the next four years would seriously consider buying a hybrid vehicle.
Roy Morgan says this is an increase of 21,000 people when compared with the 43.6 per cent of respondents who in the previous year said they would consider a hybrid.
The survey period was October 2013 to September 2014 and respondents were made up of Australians over the age of 14 years who intended to buy a new vehicle in the next four years.
Out of the brands with the highest proportion of “hybrid consideration”, Volvo was ahead of the pack with 64.2 per cent, with the average being 45.9 per cent.
The Swedish car-maker does not
have a hybrid model in its line-up but that will change later this year when it introduces a plug-in hybrid version of its new-generation XC90 SUV.
Notably, buyers in the market for a Kia were the second most likely to purchase a hybrid with 60.3 per cent, with hybrid technology leader Lexus in third.
Honda was in fourth place with 53.1 per cent, but since the survey was conducted the Japanese car-maker has discontinued its key hybrid models including the Civic Hybrid, CR-Z and the Jazz Hybrid, while confirming that the Accord Hybrid will be added to the line-up later this year.
At the other end of the scale, intenders looking at Holden and Mercedes-Benz models were among the least likely to consider a hybrid, with Mercedes the lowest on 28.7 per cent.
For Holden, the result can be seen to reflect a lack of demand for its Volt plug-in hybrid.
Mercedes, on the other hand, is already selling hybrid vehicles and looking to increase its offerings – particularly with new hi-tech plug-in hybrid variants – over the next 12 to 24 months.
Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific senior manager of public relations, product and corporate communications David McCarthy told GoAuto that the car-maker’s own internal data is showing that there is demand for hybrids among customers.
“The C300, E300 and S300 are meeting our projections, the customers who have bought them, in nearly every case, came in to buy a hybrid,” he said.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE‘Get off the fence’ – next page
Research points to buyerinterest in hybrid modelsamid flat current market
Hybrids still in favour
reports are generating leads directly from dealers’ websites.
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Buyers who would consider purchasing a hybrid by brand
Volvo Kia
Lexu
sHon
da
Hyund
ai
Toyo
ta
Avera
ge
Mazda
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Nissan
BMWAud
i
Holden
Merced
es
64.2
%
60.3
%
58.8
%
53.1
%
50.6
%
48.5
%
45.9
%
43.8
%
43.6
%
40.9
%
36.7
%
36.0
%
28.7
%
%
Source: Roy Morgan Research
Green issues in the auto worldGoAuto Green
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By TIM ROBSONA LACK of a visible electric vehicle policy from either side of government is continuing to put the brakes on meaningful EV rollout in Australia, according to Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar.
With several projects, including the Zoe small hatch, in the planning phase, Mr Hocevar said that the lack of incentives and infrastructure supporting the commercialisation of electric vehicles in Australia makes it difficult to launch cars of that ilk.
“We’re quite interested in Zoe, we’d like to see it in the Australian market, but it’s fair to say that pretty much all spectrums of the political landscape are devoid of any policy of any significance here,” Mr Hocevar told GoAuto last week.
“We’ve had some dialogue, and we’ll continue to ramp that up, but it’s just not high on their agenda at the moment. There needs to be some catalyst to help people get off the fence and take a position on the issue.”
Mr Hocevar pointed to the electric Kangoo ZE – which is undergoing a trial with Australia Post – as an example of Renault’s commitment to EVs, and indicated that it is planning a wider rollout of the small van in 2015.
“We’re working on some other trial projects at the moment with that
vehicle. There’s a possibility that those trials will turn into sourcing on a per-order basis – and not in a traditional sense of ‘hey everybody, here’s the car, it’s in the dealerships so rush in and buy it’, but more of a B2B (business to business) approach.”
Mr Hocevar said that other EV resellers are actively exchanging information on infrastructure and uniformity of technology, but also warned that progress on securing incentives for potential buyers of EVs is still some way off.
“Through the FCAI (Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries) there is a special EV group, and we have involvement in that, but I don’t know to what extent their focus is on campaigning for incentives and support,” he said.
“It’s a bit of an assumption in saying this, but I think most of the focus is on harmonising technology, infrastructure and technical alignments.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Renault urges politiciansof all persuasion to takea stance on electric cars
‘Get off the fence’
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NISSAN’S TRIPLE TREATNISSAN is joining the growing list of 1.0-litre triple-cylinder engine manufacturers with a new normally aspirated unit joining the Japanese car-maker’s line-up in 2015.
With 56kW of power and 98Nm of torque, the little three-pot is no firecracker but the Japanese car-maker says the new addition has been designed for low CO2 emissions, fuel efficiency and the ability to run on both petrol and ethanol.
Its dual-fuel capability is a feature particularly attractive to South American markets such as Brazil where the company is planning to boost its presence by producing the engine locally.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Zoe
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NEW CHIEF FOR TOP PORSCHE DEALERSHIP
FCA AUSTRALIA RESTRUCTURES PR TEAM
By TERRY MARTINPORSCHE Cars Australia has appointed Piero Pellegrini as general manager of the factory-owned Porsche Centre Melbourne.
Succeeding Thomas Heberling, who left the dealership after 11 years at the helm to become dealer principal of Mercedes-Benz Melbourne, Mr Pellegrini was previously general sales manager at Porsche Centre Melbourne, responsible for both new and pre-owned vehicle sales.
He rose to the general sales manager
position early last year after serving as new-car sales manager for almost a decade. Prior to that he also worked in
both pre-owned and new vehicle sales and as a parts interpreter, having moved to Porsche from Alfa Romeo in 1996.
Porsche Cars Australia said in a statement that Mr Pellegrini “has been instrumental in the growth and success of Porsche Centre Melbourne, through his
hard work and the contributions he has made to their business during a career spanning 18 years”.
By TERRY MARTINFIAT Chrysler Automobiles Australia has bolstered its corporate communications team with the appointment of two new senior managers of PR and communications.
Alan Swanson becomes responsible for the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands, while Rachel Reed now looks after Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Fiat Professional. The roles include media relations, internal communications, dealer communications and new-model launches.
Both new recruits previously worked for BMW Group Australia, with Mr Swanson formerly head of product and market planning, and Ms Reed working as media relations manager for the German luxury car brand.
Mr Swanson is an automotive engineer and has high-level experience
with a range of manufacturers and in international motorsport, including a stint as a Formula One tyre engineer
with Bridgestone. As well as working in PR,
Ms Reed spent a year as marketing events manager with BMW, having moved to the car-maker from agency 3 Degrees Marketing. She previously spent several years in marketing with the Suncorp Group, working predominantly on the AAMI brand.
Mr Swanson and Ms Reed are both based at FCA Australia’s headquarters in Port Melbourne, reporting to director of corporate communications Lucy McLellan.
Meanwhile, senior manager of corporate communications Andrew Chesterton has moved to a new role as group communications and media strategist, based in Sydney.
By IAN PORTERAUSTRALIAN carbon-fibre leader Quickstep Holdings is negotiating with around 10 automotive parts suppliers that are interested in licensing Quickstep’s patented carbon-fibre technologies.
The news comes only months after Quickstep announced the creation of an automotive division to be located on the Waurn Ponds campus of Deakin University in Geelong.
The company’s automotive plans have been strengthened by the recruitment of former Futuris Automotive chief operating officer David Marino, who will become Quickstep’s new chief executive on February 15.
Documents lodged with the Australian Stock Exchange indicate that he will be paid a base salary of $450,000 plus short-term and long-term incentives that could more than double that annual pay.
In the recently released December quarterly report, Quickstep directors revealed the company was in discussions with parts-makers interested in its patented curing system and also the technique it uses to achieve a rapid lay-up cycle while achieving a Class A automotive finish.
A spokesman said there were “10 or so” companies considering adoption of Quickstep’s patented technologies.
The lay-up and curing technologies have been proven in a project supported by the German government and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
QUICKSTEP MARCHES ON
Piero Pellegrini
Alan Swanson
Rachel Reed
David Marino
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No mere blast from the past, Ferrari’s 488 GTB turbo is a modern masterpieceBy DANIEL GARDNERand TUNG NGUYEN
FERRARI has gone back to the future by reintroducing forced induction on a mid-engined model, 23 years after it last offered such a powertrain in the legendary F40.
The iconic Italian supercar-maker’s all-new 488 GTB – to make its world debut at the Geneva motor show on March 3 – packs a whopping 492kW of power and 760Nm of torque from its 3.9-litre turbocharged V8.
Succeeding the popular 458 supercar, the 488 GTB also marks 40 years since Ferrari’s first foray into V8 mid-engine sportscars with the 308 GTB of the mid-1970s.
The new model brings the latest materials, technology, aerodynamics
and drivetrain design to blast the 488 from zero to 100km/h in 3.0 seconds. Zero to 200km/h takes 8.3 seconds, while top speed is above 330km/h.
By comparison, McLaren’s 650S produces 478kW and 680Nm from a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8. The McLaren can match the 488’s 3.0s 0-100km/h time, but is one-tenth ‘slower’ to 200km/h at 8.4 seconds before topping out at 333km/h.
Ferrari’s latest 90-degree V8 is related to the 3.9-litre engine under the bonnet of the California T, but for the 488 the Italian car-maker has wrung an extra 80kW of power out of it, thanks to changes which include a displacement increase from 3855cc to 3902cc.
Ferrari also claims to have dipped into its Formula One and World Endurance
Championship racing expertise when developing the new model. This included its in-house XX racecar tuning program that previously yielded the rare track-only 599XX and FXX Evoluzione models.
Ferrari’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has been upgraded with Variable Torque Management to allow sharper throttle response and smoother torque delivery.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
FEBLAUNCH
FULL NEW CAR DIARY: CLICK HERE
The new-generation 308 has been kicking goals for Peugeot in Australia since it launched late last year, and the GT and 1.6-litre variants should keep the momentum up for the French brand.
Alfa Romeo 4C
Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV
Audi TT Coupe
Citroen C4 Picasso
Honda HR-V
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Carnival
Lexus NX200t
Lexus RC F
Mazda6 upgrade
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe
Peugeot 308 GT, 1.6
Renault Captur
Alfa Romeo’s 4C coupe marks the Italian brand’s return to the performance-car arena, with its lightweight carbon-fibre tub and stripped-out cabin sure to keep the Alfisti excited.
