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July 27, 2011 No. 591
GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
Australia’s No.1 Automotive Industry Journal 70,000 Readers Weekly
PROTECTION FROM THE MOMENT YOU TURN THE KEY.
Aurion risesAurion risesToyota Australia set to take fresh aim at Commodore, Falcon with all-new Aurion
INSIDEBENTLEY’S NEW
FLAGSHIP DRIVEN
By MARTON PETTENDYFIRST images of Toyota’s crucial new
‘premium Camry’ for China and Japan have
surfaced, providing an accurate preview
of the next-generation Aurion with which
Toyota Australia will again take aim at
Holden’s Commodore and Ford’s Falcon.
Toyota’s new global Camry was presented
to dealers last month in its largest market
– North America – and has also been seen
in leaked images and an offi cial teaser
video hosted by Toyota Motor Corporation
president Akio Toyoda.
Due on sale in Australia in November,
Toyota’s seventh-generation Camry –
codenamed 050A – is expected to be publicly
revealed soon in the US, where it will replace
North America’s top-selling passenger car.
Production of Toyota Australia’s next
Camry, which grows only slightly in size
but will feature a bolder new front end
with sharper headlights, will begin at the
Altona plant in suburban Melbourne in
September or October.
As GoAuto has reported, it will be
produced with imported engines for the fi rst
12 months, until Toyota’s new AR-series
2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine comes
online from October 2012 at the company’s
upgraded Victorian engine plant, which was
partly funded by a $63 million federal Green
Car Innovation Fund grant.
Now, however, fi rst images of the slightly
larger premium Camry have emerged ahead
of the fl agship Toyota model’s offi cial reveal
in Japan, revealing what Australia’s next
Aurion will look like when it goes on sale
here in March or April.
Toyota Australia spokesman Mike Breen
told GoAuto the premium Camry – which for
this generation will replace the global Camry
in Japan, where earthquake-related production
issues have delayed its debut from July to
September 3 – was “pretty close” to the Aurion
due for release here in nine months.
The top-shelf Camry/Aurion has long
been sold as a larger and more luxurious
model in preference to the smaller global
Camry in Asian markets including China,
Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Singapore and Vietnam.
However, Australia will continue to be the
only market in which the smaller global Camry
and the larger premium Camry are both sold.
The leaked premium Camry images depict
the hybrid version for Japan, where all Camry
models will be powered by the same 2.5-litre
petrol-electric drivetrain that will debut locally
in the new Camry Hybrid, which is due for
Australian production by year’s end ahead of a
local release in February or March.
Australia’s Aurion therefore will not wear
the Japanese Camry hybrid’s more heavily
chromed grille with blue Toyota logo, or its
rear ‘Hybrid Synergy Drive’ badge.
Based on inside information and offi cial
brochure images that fi rst appeared in
Japan’s Holiday Auto magazine before
being published online by Brazilian website
Noticias Automotivas, this exclusive
rendering shows the next Aurion will again
share most of the Camry’s body design,
including its roof, glasshouse and doors.Continued next page
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July 27, 2011 Page 2
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Aurion risesAurion rises
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PUBLISHER: John MellorEDITOR: Terry Martin MANAGING EDITOR: Marton PettendyJOURNALISTS: Ron Hammerton, Haitham Razagui Byron Mathioudakis, James Stanford PRODUCTION: Luc BrittenSUB-EDITOR: David HassallEDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Mike CostelloProduced by GoAutoMedia: Ph: (03) 9598 6477 [email protected]
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Industry minister urges closer auto ties with IndiaBy TERRY MARTIN
FEDERAL industry minister Kim Carr
urged closer co-operation between the
Australian and Indian automotive industries
during a trip to India this week.
Aiming to strengthen ties between
Australian parts suppliers in particular and
Indian car-makers including Mahindra &
Mahindra and Tata Motors, Senator Carr
said building co-operation between the
rapidly growing Indian car industry and
Australian fi rms “will create new export
opportunities and help secure the ongoing
strength of the Australian auto industry”.
“India is an extremely promising market for
many Australian fi rms – Indian car sales over
the past six years have grown by more than 130
per cent to a total of about 3.2 million vehicles,”
he said. “The Indian automotive industry wants
to develop more vehicle design, manufacturing
processes and low emission technologies,
and Australia is well placed to provide these
innovative products and technologies.”
As well as meeting with Mahindra and
Tata Motors, Senator Carr will hold talks with
Samvardhana Motherson Refl ectec (SMR),
the parent company of South Australian-
based SMR Automotive Australia.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Continued from previous pageAgain, Aurion will be visually differentiated
from Camry primarily by fresh sheetmetal
forward of the A-pillar and rear of the C-pillar,
plus a new grille and larger bumpers, resulting
in longer overhangs at both ends.
Echoing its more upmarket interior –
which will feature an all-new dashboard
design – the Aurion will feature slimmer,
more angular versions of the current model’s
rectangular headlights rather than the next
Camry’s less conservative new headlights
with scalloped lower edges.
According to leaked information from
Japan, the Aurion will be just 10mm longer
overall at 4825mm, 5mm wider at 1825mm
and the same height at 1470mm. Wheelbase
remains unchanged at 2775mm, but rear
legroom is said to have increased by 15mm.
No offi cial dimensions have been revealed
for the global Camry, which will also
continue to ride on a 2775mm wheelbase,
but if it grows substantially from the current
model’s 4815mm overall, it will be virtually
the same length as the Aurion.
Either way, Australia’s ‘mid-size’ Camry
and ‘large’ Aurion will continue to be
mechanically differentiated by their front-
wheel drive powertrains.
The Aurion will remain powered
exclusively by a circa-200kW 3.5-litre
DOHC petrol V6 (2GR-FE), with the Camry
again offered only with four-cylinder petrol
and petrol-electric hybrid drivetrains.
Offi cial dealer data shows Japan’s new
Camry (Aurion) hybrid will return fuel
consumption of 26.5km per litre (3.8 litres
per 100km) under that nation’s generous
fuel economy standard. (Prius consumption
is quoted at 38km/L or 2.63L/100km in
Japan, versus 3.9L/100km in Australia).
However, given North America’s current
Lexus HS250h hybrid – which employs the
current Camry Hybrid’s 2.4-litre hybrid drive
system – returns 23km/L (4.25L/100km), the
new 2.5-litre Camry Hybrid should also be
about 15 per cent more effi cient than before.
The current Camry Hybrid returns
6.0L/100km, according to Australia’s ADR
81/02 consumption standard, so expect next
year’s new Camry Hybrid to return about
5.1L/100km.
Toyota says fuel consumption of the
standard Camry will improve by 4.5 per cent,
cutting the current Camry’s combined fuel
consumption from 8.8 to about 8.5L/100km,
while CO2 emissions are expected to be cut
by a similar amount, from 208 grams per
kilometre to below 200g/km.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – page 21, 22
All-new Camry (digital image)
July 27, 2011 Page 3
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[email protected] • 1300 511 243 • www.motorsolutions.com.au
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Australia’s No.1Motor Industry Specialist
“hire the right staff... give them the best tools... motivate and train them!”
Hi-tech twin-turbo engine ensures Bentley’s all-newlimo is an effortless drive
Mulsanne masterstroke Mulsanne masterstroke
By JACQUI MADELIN in the UKWHEN Bentley’s Mulsanne replaced its
venerable Arnage predecessor, it had to
deliver the same gravitas and sense of
history, combined with modern technology
and performance.
So there is a brand-new body, sat atop a
new platform with a new engine that just
happens to opt for the traditional 6.7-litre
V8 format as its ancestor.
Bentley says the torque delivery required
of its range-topping car called for a similar
engine format to the outgoing unit to
provide the fl avour and soundtrack buyers
expect, but that the basic building blocks
are all new, and all aimed at maximum
torque, refi nement and effi ciency – hence
the introduction of electro-mechanically
controlled cam phasing and variable
displacement.
Bentley’s regional co-ordinator for South-
East Asia and Australia, Ian Churchill, said
seven Mulsannes – each priced from $662,000
– have been sold in Australia already, with a
total of 14 expected this year.
“To put these fi gures in context, Australasia
is roughly one per cent of global Bentley sales
(but) with a production of 800 Mulsannes per
year we will comfortably exceed the eight
units this would suggest,” he said.
“This is quite exciting for us as it clearly
demonstrates that, despite the distance from
Crewe, our customers do in fact understand
and appreciate all that Mulsanne represents
in its standing at the pinnacle of the Bentley
product portfolio.”
At the car’s heart is a powerplant
developed by Bentley at Crewe to meet EU5
legislation and cut fuel consumption and
emissions, at the same time feeling more
powerful and delivering a lighter car.
The new engine remains a 90-degree twin-
turbo V8 with a dual-plane crankshaft, single
camshaft and pushrod-operated valvetrain. It
features a cylinder deactivation system that
Bentley says cuts CO2 emissions by around
19 per cent during “real world usage”.
Engine outputs are rated at 377kW of
power at 4200rpm and a massive 1020Nm
of torque (now peaking at 1750rpm instead
of 3250), which is 4kW and 20Nm more
than the Arnage respectively.
This new engine is mated to an eight-
speed automatic transmission co-developed
with ZF that is shared with Audi’s A8,
with software and calibration designed for
Mulsanne and driving the rear wheels.
Bentley replaced the Arnage hydraulic
suspension with a newly-developed air
suspension set-up allied to the double-
wishbone front and multi-link rear, with
infi nitely variable twin-tube dampers
developed with Continental. It also shares
components like the air springs with the A8.
The 5.6-metre Mulsanne is 175mm longer,
26mm wider and 6mm taller than the Arnage
T, yet at 2585kg is 25kg lighter and now
capable of accelerating from zero to 100km/h
in 5.3 seconds, half a second quicker than the
T, en route to a top speed of 296km/h.
Bentley claims the car uses 15 per cent
less fuel – the Mulsanne consuming a
claimed 16.9L/100km combined, while
emitting 393g/km of CO2.
Inside the completely overhauled cabin,
you sit within a ring of fi ne wood, the highly
polished hand-cut veneer with 20 coats of
lacquer taking fi ve hours to apply and four
days to cure, laid over solid wood.Continued next page
July 27, 2011 Page 4
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Mulsanne masterstroke Mulsanne masterstroke Continued from previous page
Hand-stitched high-quality leather
throughout comes from Alpine cows –
they meet fewer biting insects and wooden
fencing is less damaging to skin than barbed
wire – and the skins are tanned near Milan
using a traditional process that delivers the
‘right’ smell.
Bulls-eye air vents and knurled organ-stop
controls remain, yet this is also a modern
car, with a bigger instrument display in front
of the driver and a multi-media interface
and screen to access the satellite-navigation,
telephone, radio and other media.
There is also a 60GB hard drive, voice
control for major systems, an optional
20-speaker 2200W sound system and even
an iPod drawer that is as fi nely-wrought as
the rest of the car.
Our test car was fi nished in cream leather
and blonde wood, and was standard apart from
the sound system, so it came with 20-inch
wheels, ESC, ABS, traction control, hill hold
and ventilated disc brakes (400x38mm up
front and 370x30mm at the rear).
Extensive features include heated door
mirrors with reverse-dip, puddle lamps, keyless
entry, soft-close doors, 12-way adjustable
seats with massage function and park distance
control – vital in such a large car.
The three-mode Drive Dynamics system
lets you opt for ‘Bentley’, sport or comfort,
but you can also customise the damper
settings and the steering tuning.
During GoAuto’s UK drive – which took
us from Crewe, west into Wales via narrow
English lanes, as well as dual carriageways
and a short stretch of motorway – we found
the standard ‘Bentley’ setting the best
compromise, with comfort supplying too
much bodyroll, while sport, with its harder
dampers and lower ride height, is less than
ideal in such a car.
But in ‘Bentley’ mode the level of body
control is outstanding – certainly this car
is more capable of handling diffi cult road
surfaces and tight corners, being more
accurate and even fun to drive than anything
this size has a right to be.
The rather high riding position gives you
a good view of the road around and makes
the car easy to place, which was fortunate
given some of the narrow English lanes.
Except when parking, the Mulsanne always
felt smaller and more wieldy than expected.
The Mulsanne supplied a ‘Jekyll and
Hyde’ driving experience courtesy of that
impressive body control from a car otherwise
oozing laid-back luxury.
Vigorous acceleration was delivered
alongside a suitably muffl ed soundtrack
and the sort of effortlessness that suggests
you won’t need the steering wheel-mounted
paddles to change gear.
Clearly, Bentley has succeeded in taking
its fl agship into the modern world, without
compromising the effortless performance
and luxury its buyers expect.
July 27, 2011 Page 5
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The Crick Auto Group is a successful, growing and progressive privately owned business operating primarily in South East QLD. Located in the heart of the beautiful Sunshine Coast, our Maroochydore and Noosa Dealerships
are seeking expressions of interest for several positions.
If you are interested in making a change please email your resume and cover letter, stating the position you are interested in, to [email protected]
For more information about the Crick Auto Group visit cricks.com.au
Used Vehicle Manager/Valuer – MaroochydoreWe require an experienced, autonomous individual responsible for the day-to-day running of a 35-40 car a month retail facility as well as the
valuing and wholesale for a very large multi-franchise operation. If you have a strong track record in used vehicle sales management but seek a coastal lifestyle then this role may be for you. The successful candidate
will be offered a salary package well in excess of $100K per annum.
New & Used Sales Consultants – Maroochydore & Noosa
With 26 sales roles to fi ll over these two dealerships, this is a fantastic opportunity to join a successful organisation and live in
a great part of the world. As a high volume retail group comprising of seven dealerships, the Crick Auto Group will reward you
fi nancially and offer you the scope to progress within the company.
Seven-speed manual fornew-gen 911 as Porschebegins show countdown
Next 911 breaks coverNext 911 breaks cover
Honda’s all-new CR-V emerges in concept form ahead of 2012 Australian launchBy MARTON PETTENDY
HONDA has released an image of its fi rst
all-new CR-V since 2006, confi rming the
fourth-generation compact SUV will go on
sale in North America by the end of this year
ahead of its Australian launch next year.
The ‘CR-V Concept’ will make its public
debut at the Orange County International Auto
Show in Anaheim, California, in September,
so it is likely the production version will bow
at the Los Angeles show in November.
Dressed in a chunkier new interpretation of
the current model’s distinctive exterior design,
the CR-V concept appears to be production-
ready except, perhaps, for its oversized alloy
wheels, gloss black underbody cladding and
dark-tinted headlights.
Although the next CR-V’s rear end
cannot be seen, it is clear it will continue
to feature the current model’s trademark
vertical tail-light concept, which like the
vehicle’s bolder front end should also take
on a more aggressive demeanour.
Likewise, the 2012 CR-V’s interior remains
concealed behind blacked-out glass, but Honda
says it will offer more space than before, along
with a lower fl oor in the rear storage area.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
By MARTON PETTENDYPORSCHE’S next-generation 911 has
broken cover in an offi cially sanctioned
video, confi rming key technical details of
the all-new 991-codenamed model ahead of
its global reveal at the Frankfurt motor show
in September.
Both coupe and cabriolet versions of
Porsche’s redesigned two-door sportscar
fl agship – at least until the plug-in 918
Spyder hybrid and a coupe version of the
next Panamera arrive – can be seen wearing
only partial disguise in a 1:22 video shot by
Tangent Vector during fi nal 991 prototype
validation testing in South Africa recently.
The Porsche-approved video combines
with a fl urry of recent spy shots and a
handful of ‘fi rst drive’ reports from selected
media outlets invited as passengers on the
recent pre-production development drive
provide a valuable insight into the look and
mechanical make-up of what Porsche says is
the fi rst completely new 911 in 48 years.
Due on sale in Australia in early 2012
following its global launch in the US
in November, the 991 911 conceals its
signifi cantly longer wheelbase under a sleek
new body that is unmistakably 911 but
features a number of subtle design changes.
Biggest visual difference is the 991’s
pointier front end and more pronounced
headlight ‘turrets’, continuing the existing
997’s move away from the radical bluff-
nosed, stylised-headlight 996-series of 1998 –
the fi rst liquid-cooled 911 – and back towards
the original ‘bug-eyed’ 911 of 1963.
Although two-thirds of its ‘substantial’ (but
still secret) extra overall length is said to be
contained behind the driver, the 2+2-seat 911
will effectively remain a two-seater, but wider
wheel tracks and a wheelbase that is reported
to have been stretched by as much as 100mm
should liberate signifi cantly more cabin space.
Despite the bigger body, which also
features wing mirrors mounted directly
to the doors rather than on an assembly at
the base of the A-pillars, the new 911 is
said to be the fi rst built almost exclusively
from aluminium, reducing overall weight
by “dozens of kilos”, according to Britain’s
Autocar.
Weight distribution should also be
improved by shorter overhangs and a
reported repositioning of the 911’s rear-
mounted fl at-six engine further towards
the centre of the car, which should help
maintain the most iconic Porsche model’s
agility despite its larger footprint.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
991-series 911 video still
July 27, 2011 Page 6
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1300 66 11 33
www.dealersolutions.com.au
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All-new non-turbo V8 with cylinder shut-off for Benz’s next SLK55
Natural way for SLKNatural way for SLK
By MARTON PETTENDYMERCEDES-BENZ has confi rmed
the fl agship of its third-generation SLK
roadster range will be powered by a
naturally aspirated version of the twin-
turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 that will do duty
in other AMG models.
Hence, the top-shelf compact convertible,
which will make its global debut at the
Frankfurt motor show in September before
arriving in Australian dealerships in the
fi rst quarter of next year, will continue to
be known as the SLK55 AMG, rather than
falling into line with all other AMGs by
adopting a ‘63’ badge.
Bearing no relationship to the naturally
aspirated 5.5-litre V8 that powers Mercedes’
E500, S500 and ML500 models, the new
M152-codenamed engine of the same
capacity adopts a new variable-displacement
system developed by Mercedes-AMG.
According to Mercedes, the combination
of direct petrol injection and AMG
cylinder management allows the 2012
SLK55 to deliver the fuel consumption of
a four-cylinder while remaining the only
V8-powered roadster in its segment.
The non-turbo 5.5-litre V8, which revs
to 7200rpm, produces 310kW at 6800rpm
and 540Nm of torque from 4500rpm,
making it 45kW more powerful and 30Nm
more muscular than the 265kW/510Nm
supercharged 5.4-litre V8 it replaces in the
previous SLK55 AMG.
At the same time, the twin-turbo V8’s
standard idle-stop system and an alternator
that only engages during engine overrun
or braking combine with the new AMG
cylinder management system helps reduce
fuel consumption by 3.5 litres per 100km, to
just 8.5L/100km (NEDC provisional). CO2
emissions are also reduced by about 30 per
cent, to just 199 grams per kilometre.
AMG says its new cylinder shut-down
system – similar to the Chrysler 5.7-litre
HEMI V8’s Multi-Displacement System and
the Active Fuel Management technology
employed by Holden’s 6.0-litre Commodore
V8 – disables two or four cylinders to save
fuel in low-load situations at engine speeds
between 800rpm and 3600rpm, and can
switch from four-cylinder to eight-cylinder
mode in just 30 milliseconds.
It also claims the new all-aluminium
V8 – which features 12.6:1 compression,
aluminium pistons, carbon-coated piston
rings, cast-in Silitec cylinder liners, fully
variable valve timing and a variable exhaust
system that gradually opens internal baffl es
above 2000rpm to produce a louder and
sportier exhaust note much like HSV’s
bi-modal exhaust system – still offers
230Nm of torque in four-cylinder mode.Continued next page
July 27, 2011 Page 7
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
China’s Number 1 vehicle manufacturer is seeking a General Manager to drive
the business forward in Australia. This is an outstanding opportunity for an
individual with a proven track record in the distribution of motor vehicles.
Foton is launching in November with a full range of petrol and diesel pick-up
utilities in all variations. Next year sees the release of the van and SUVs and in
2013 we will release our range of cars.
We want you to build a team that will maximise the opportunity and distribute
the first vehicle range released from China that is purpose-built for Western
markets. Foton’s range of vehicles will use the world’s best drivetrain, engine
and safety components. Importantly, you will need to create a motivated
dealer network from the list of dealers who have already expressed interest.
Lay the foundations for a future power in the Australian automotive industry.
Apply in the first instance to MANAGING DIRECTOR JASON PECOTIC:
[email protected] OR CALL 0414 793 639.
GENERAL MANAGERYOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS.
Natural way for SLKNatural way for SLKContinued from previous page
The new 5.461-litre M152 V8 comes with
the same oversquare (98.0 x 90.5mm bore
x stroke) cylinder dimensions as the biturbo
M157 V8 that debuted last year in the CL63
AMG as the fi rst evidence of Mercedes’
‘AMG Performance 2015’ strategy, but
weighs slightly less at 187kg dry.
New features include revised intake air
ducting, new cylinder heads, a modifi ed
valve drive, adapted oil supply system and
an optimised crankcase.
Naturally, however, shedding the twin-
turbo set-up of the M157 – which powers
the CL63, CLS63 and S63 AMGs in
Australia and will be seen here in the
facelifted C63 AMG sedan and wagon (but
not the C63 AMG coupe) in September, and
the upgraded E63 sedan in November – also
reduces performance.
In other AMG models the biturbo M157
replaces the M156 6.2-litre naturally
aspirated V8 and produces between
386kW/700Nm and 420kW/900Nm with
an optional Performance Package – some
110kW and some 360Nm more than the
2012 SLK55 AMG’s non-turbo engine.
Mercedes-AMG says it produced more
than 68,000 M156 V8s since 2005 – setting
a new record for AMG, which dates back to
1967 – with the 6.2-litre engine developing
as much as 386kW and 630Nm.
In the upcoming C63 AMG Coupe, it
delivers 358kW in Performance form, while
AMG’s 6.2-litre V8 also continues in dry-
sump M159 guise in the 420kW/650Nm SLS
AMG super-coupe, the roadster derivative
of which goes on sale next year.
Debuting in 2001, the previous SLK55’s
blown V8 was another milestone in the
history of AMG. Codenamed M113 K,
it developed up to 428kW and 800Nm,
while the SLR McLaren’s M155 version
appeared in 2003 with outputs of 478kW
and 820Nm.
While AMG’s 6.0-litre biturbo V12 engine
also continues in the top-end S65, SL65 and
CL65 AMGs, GoAuto understands the twin-
turbo M157 V8 could not be packaged in the
sleek new SLK, which made its Australian
debut at this month’s Melbourne motor show
before garden-variety four-cylinder and six-
cylinder versions arrive here in August with
a $10,000 starting price cut to $82,900.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREBenz Black magic – next page
SLK350
July 27, 2011 Page 8
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
By MARTON PETTENDYDAIMLER has announced it will invest
more than $US2 billion to produce the next-
generation Mercedes-Benz C-class and
GL-class in the US alongside the redesigned
M-class, the fi rst customer version of which
rolled off the line on July 20.
The German luxury vehicle giant used a
special ‘Job 1’ line-off ceremony for the new
M-class at its Tuscaloosa plant in Alabama to
confi rm plans, fi rst announced in late 2009,
to build its volume-selling C-class in North
America for the fi rst time from 2014.
The southern US factory opened in
February 1997 as exclusive global producer
of the M-class, before the larger seven-seat
GL-class SUV and R-class people-mover
models were added.
Mercedes’ larger yet sleeker third-
generation M-class will come to Australia,
where the facelifted C-class range has just
been launched, from the US by the second
quarter of 2012.
There was no mention of a successor for
the R-class, but besides Alabama and its
Bremen ‘centre of excellence’ in Germany,
the next-generation C-class will also be
produced in Daimler’s East London plant
in South Africa and by Beijing Benz
Automotive Co (BBAC) in China.
Last year, Daimler’s Tuscaloosa factory
produced more than 125,000 M, GL and
R-class vehicles.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Mercedes commits tonew GL via US plans
2012 M-class
Benz Black magicBenz Black magic
By RON HAMMERTONMERCEDES-BENZ has unwrapped its
most powerful C-class, the 380kW C63
AMG Coupe Black Series, gazumping the
‘standard’ 336kW C63 AMG Coupe before it
has even arrived in Australian showrooms.
The M3-smashing Black Series – capable
of the 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.2 seconds
– is set to appear in the fl esh at the Frankfurt
motor show in September before touching
down in Australian showrooms in the second
quarter of 2012.
Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacifi c is yet to
determine price and number of vehicles to
be allocated to local dealers, but that has not
deterred would-be customers from forming
a queue for the track-ready muscle machine,
attracted by rumours out of Europe.
Mercedes-Benz Aust/Pac corporate
communications manager Jerry Stamoulis
told GoAuto that, while production of the
Black Series would be limited, Australia
was likely to get a larger slice than many
markets because of the popularity of AMG
models in this market.
“Already dealers are taking inquiries on
C63 Black because there have been a lot of
spy shots and rumours and so on,” he said.
“We have some more information and images
now, and when it gets announced in Frankfurt
we will know a little bit more again.
“From there we will start working with
the factory on some of the fi ner details and
then come up with a number.
“Regardless of what the demand is, we will
be aiming for quite a high number because
of the popularity of C63 in Australia.”
Last year, Australian customers snapped
up about 1000 AMG vehicles, about half of
them C63s.
Mr Stamoulis said Black Series pricing
was not yet known and would be partly
dependent on production volumes in
Germany.
“We don’t know the numbers globally,”
he said. “If there are more, it could be a little
bit more competitive, and if it is less, then
the price might be a little higher.”
The C63 AMG Black Series – the fourth
to wear AMG’s ultimate performance tag
since the SLK55 AMG Black Series was
launched in 2006 – packs an extra 44kW of
power over the standard C63 AMG Coupe,
which is due to go on sale in Australia in
September along with the AMG-enhanced
C-class sedan and estate.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
380kW C63 Black is the most powerful C-class ever
2011 AADA NATIONALDEALER CONVENTION THURSDAY 18 - SUNDAY 21 AUGUST GRAND HYATT HOTEL, MELBOURNE
www.aadaconvention.com.au
THE FEATURE DAY INTERNATIONAL GUEST SPEAKER AT THEJeff SacksDON’T
MISS
1) The Automotive General Manager’s Game Plan
2) Financial Management & Service Management Basics
4 FANTASTIC
SESSIONS
3) Managing Service
4) Parts & Used Vehicle Management
July 27, 2011 Page 9
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
the next level.
Contact us email: [email protected] tel: (03) 9862 3200
resource automotive formerly known as martec automotive.
A complete dealer solution.
insurance Extended Warranty Asset Protection Credit Protection
training Accredited training Soft skill training
consulting Customer retention Grow the bottom line
Expert offers tips on howto source top used cars as US dealer stock dwindles
Spotlight on used carsSpotlight on used cars
By JOHN MELLORAMERICAN car dealers are resorting to
innovative techniques for fi nding cars for
sale in the face of stock shortages of new
vehicles sourced from Japan and a massive
shortage of used cars due to the recession.
According to one of the world’s leading
experts of the management of dealership
operations, Jeff Sacks, US dealers are also
facing stronger competition for stock from
independent used car operators and from
private-to-private sales over the internet.
Mr Sacks is the featured speaker at next
month’s 2011 AADA National Dealer
Convention to be held at the Grand Hyatt
hotel in Melbourne from August 18 to 21.
Mr Sacks, who conducts standing-room-
only sessions at NADA conventions in
the US, will present over a full day the
successful management lore that he and
his dealership clients have developed in the
real-time running of dealerships over
the past 30 years.
In an exclusive interview with
GoAuto, he was commenting on the
market in the United States, where
the depressed demand for new cars
in the recession has led to a shortfall
in used vehicle stock of millions of
vehicles over the past three years.
Some estimates put the shortfall
of used car supply at up to 15 million
vehicles and this was leading dealers to seek
alternative ways to secure stock.
The problem for dealers is being exacerbated
by the shortage of supply from Japanese car-
makers due to the earthquake and tsunami,
which is further delaying the level of traded
used vehicles available for dealer stock.
Mr Sacks said the dealers who were facing
shortages of new car stock have no alternative
but to look at used cars to drive sales revenues.
“People still have to drive, so dealers are
looking at used cars, although unfortunately
used car prices are going up and there is a
shortage. So it has become a little tougher,”
he said.
But Mr Sacks told GoAuto there were a
number of very good used car business models
that would make sure dealers were
“on the money and executing well”.
These included:Rush to marketThis means improving the cycle
time from when the car is acquired
to when it is listed online in dealer
stock.
“Everyone talks about getting
their reconditioning times down
and I don’t disagree with that. I can
improve my reconditioning times but, even
so, until the car is on the internet it is not
for sale. The actual sales cycle time is from
the time of acquisition to the time it is on
the internet.
“So some of our dealers are taking
traded cars and, before sending them off
for reconditioning, they are detailing and
photographing them and putting them on
the internet immediately.
“Obviously reconditioning has to be
very structured because (if you have
listed the car) you cannot keep the car in
reconditioning for more than 48 to 72 hours.
To do that you surround the reconditioning
with a pay plan that makes sure it is never
longer than 72 hours.”
Selling older carsMr Sacks said that quality and durability
improvements are leading many dealers
short of used car stock to keep traded cars
that have higher mileage of up to 160,000km
and take them into stock.
“We used to pass these cars on to
wholesalers and let them make a living but
now we are saying: ‘Hold on, if they are
making a living from these cars then why
can’t we?’”
He said this allowed dealers to take an
F&I opportunity, although higher mileage
cars are tough to get covered with extended
warranty and buyers tend to be more
fi nancially challenged.
“So the F&I income is going to be a little
slimmer, although you can make money on
reconditioning which you did not do before.”Continued next page
Jeff Sacks
Harlem Auto Mall. New York
July 27, 2011 Page 10
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
Spotlight on used carsSpotlight on used cars
Mazda US ‘Retail Revolution Center’
Continued from previous pageBuying centresMr Sacks said some dealers were opening
up and promoting buying centres:
signposted areas set aside at the dealership
for appraising cars.
“Dealers put prices on cars presented by
owners with the prices being good for a few
days. They are a good source of cars.
“The key message is that you do not have
to sell your car yourself, you don’t have to
buy another car from us and we will buy the
car from you if you think we have come up
with a fair price.”
He said that sales staffs are actively
combing the private listings on the web for
saleable used cars, calling the sellers and
offering them instant cash for their cars.
“Many people see this as a convenient way
to sell rather than go through the process of
selling the car to strangers online. So that is
another shortcut to good cars.
“We also have dealers here who are
offering service customers a 10 per cent
discount on the price of their service if they
take a test drive, particularly if the owner is
driving a desirable used car for stock.
“They calculate the equity the customer
has in the car they are bringing in for service
and show them that a new or newer car will
cost them less per month than what they are
paying now.
“So we are really doing a lot of things to
acquire used cars.”
Mr Sacks said that used cars were now
more market driven because of the internet
and that it was now imperative to drive stock
turns by continuously monitoring the price
of each and every used car.
“We are constantly transferring them into
a different price bucket or price strata to
bring them into the price range of a new set
of buyers.”
He said dealers were effectively
conducting a Dutch auction where they were
progressively lowering prices until they hit
the market for that car.
“That is all driven by the market pricing
and the ageing of the automobile,” he said.
“We have very strict ageing policies on
our motor cars. When it gets to 60 days it
has to go. But that does not mean we will
wholesale a car only when hits 60 days; we
will wholesale a car at 15 days if we deem it
not to have had enough activity.”
He said that dealers were working the
used car side of the business more than
before the onset of online selling and they
were far more analytical and empirical and
less “seat of pants” and regretful: “Why did
I buy that car?”
Mr Sacks’ one-day session on Friday,
August 19 can be purchased separately
from the four-day convention program. For more details, go to
http://www.aadaconvention.com.au
Jaguar Land Rover is the ultimate destination for anyone wanting a career in the automotive industry, or simply for anyone wishing to work for a progressive and highly regarded global organisation.
This role requires business forecasting and modelling by drawing on and interpreting market intelligence along with analysis of the business environment. The capturing of data, development of reports and their subsequent analysis are central to supporting management decisions on the business going forward.
Responsibilities will include:• Develop decision supporting and analytical reports targeting the
growth of the company and the identi cation of opportunities or potential issues requiring management focus.
• Prepare modelling and analysis required to support Forecasting and Sales Volume Planning.
• Collect and analyse data to deliver regular reports (daily, weekly, monthly) on sales, stock, planning, forecasting and other ad hoc reports to all management levels within the company in an accurate and timely fashion.
• Prepare speci c Dealer sales performance reports.• Formulate target setting reports and related analysis.• Prepare stock control management reports.• Provide assistance to other members of the Jaguar Land Rover
Sales and Distribution team as required.
The successful applicant will have the following:• Tertiary quali cations, or equivalent business experience.• Advanced Excel/Database skills.• Analytical ability to understand the relationship between retail,
wholesale, stock and production, and make decisions accordingly.• Experience in sales analysis and reporting is essential, with
automotive industry experience preferred.• Strong numeracy skills, with a high level of attention to detail.• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Ability to clearly present and interpret information to different
levels of management with appropriate detail.• Ability to be exible, to prioritise and to handle multiple tasks
within strict deadlines.• Be proactive and willing to suggest and deliver new solutions
and ef ciency improvements.
Sales Planning & Reporting AnalystNORTH RYDE LOCATION • EXCELLENT REMUNERATION PACKAGE
If you are looking to join an organisation with strong leadership, segment-leading products and progressive luxury brands, please apply now. Send your application to: [email protected]. Include "JLR SALES ANALYST" in the Subject of your email. Applications close at 5pm on Friday 5th August 2011.
July 27, 2011 Page 11
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
Ford’s EcoLPi system looks set to run in localinline-six beyond 2016
LPG bolsters I6 futureLPG bolsters I6 future
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISFORD has given its strongest indication yet
that the lifespan of its venerable Australian-
built inline-six engine will extend beyond
2016 and meet the forthcoming Euro
5 emissions standard, following the
development of the EcoLPi system just
launched in the FG Falcon.
Speaking to GoAuto at the EcoLPi launch
in Melbourne last week, Ford Australia’s
powertrain engineering manager Pritika
Maharaj said the new LPG system was
designed to be in service “beyond Euro 4” –
the current standard, which brought an end
to the previous E-Gas system last year – as
circumstances dictate.
While she would not comment on the
life expectancy of the Geelong-made I6
in future Falcon and Territory models, Ms
Maharaj said there was little point in Ford
Australia investing heavily in the Euro
4-compliant EcoLPi system if it was to be
replaced before long.
Ford Australia also confi rmed last week
that the EcoLPi system was compatible
with higher-tech engines, including direct-
injection units like the EcoBoost V6, which
could replace the I6 later this decade and bring
an end to local Ford engine production.
“You have to ask why Ford would bother
developing the LPi engine that was ‘beyond
Euro 4’ if it wasn’t going to have a future,”
Ms Maharaj said.
The federal government announced last
month that from November 1, 2016, all new
vehicles in Australia must comply with Euro
5 emissions requirements, while stricter
Euro 6 regulations come in for all new cars
sold from July 1, 2018.
‘Core Euro 5’ measures will also be
introduced from November 1, 2013, although
these will apply to cars, SUVs and light trucks
new to the market from that date.
Ford Australia public affairs director
Sinead McAlary told GoAuto in June that
while the I6 in all its iterations can be
engineered for Euro 5, “signifi cant time and
resources would be required to do so”.
“One of the advantages of the regulatory
timing we have received is that we actually
have the time now to work through all the
options to determine if that is the right
course of action to take,” she said.
Integral to Ford’s planning will be the switch
to a new-generation Falcon around the same
time as ‘full Euro 5’ takes effect in 2016.
The ‘E8’ platform underpinning the
current Falcon and Territory reaches the end
of its life in 2016, with Australia adopting
a new-generation global large-car platform
under the ‘One Ford’ philosophy.
To form the basis of Ford’s future Mondeo,
Taurus and mid-sized SUV replacements for
the Territory and (eventually) US-market
Explorer, the new platform is expected to
use transverse-mounted engines such as a
derivative of the 3.5-litre direct-injection
EcoBoost V6, and drive either the front or all
four wheels depending on the application.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREEcoLPi: the verdict – page 13
EcoLPi
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To arrange a demonstrationor for pricing please visitwww.karcher.com.auor phone us on 1800 675 714
Add value across diverse areas of the retail and wholesale business
Apply highly developed skills and knowledge
The Dealer Business Manager is the key interface between Mazda and our Dealer networks. This role will see you developing strong working relationships with Dealers in all areas of their business, monitoring Dealer performance and working with Dealers to plan and implement collaborative business solutions.
You will also provide marketing and business planning support and assist Dealers to fulfill our Corporate Identification requirements, build their product and business knowledge and implement strategic business programs at the Dealer level.
Based at Kingsgrove, this role reports directly to the NSW State Manager. Regional travel and interstate travel may be required. Tertiary qualifications in the areas of business, marketing or commerce are essential. You will be able to demonstrate strong communication and relationship building skills, have excellent time management and a flair for analyzing business performance. Experience in the automotive industry may be advantageous.
To apply, send your resume and a covering letter or email to:
quoting the reference NSW-DBM-01 in the subject line by 12 August 2011
The Field Manager Technical will work with Dealer service teams to resolve technical issues and with Mazda’s Customer Services team to negotiate outstanding customer resolutions. You will also assist in the assessment and validation of warranty claims and assist Dealer service teams to build their technical capacity, through training and mentoring.
Reporting directly to the QLD State Manger, the role is based in Salisbury in Brisbane’s southern suburbs. Regional travel within QLD will be required.
Applicants should be qualified in a relevant automotive trade or as an automotive engineer. You will need to demonstrate strong communication skills and have an analytical and systematic approach to finding solutions.
To apply, send your resume and a covering letter or email to:
quoting the reference QL-FMT-03 in the subject line by 12 August 2011
July 27, 2011 Page 13
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
Deloitte Motor Industry Services Celebrate with usIn October our prestigious Academy of Excellence (AOE) program will celebrate its 1000th participant.
The AOE program is a four day program for dealer principals and general managers, aimed at extending financial, operational and strategic knowledge
Join the 1000th celebration and enrol in October’s course 4th – 7th to receive a 25% discount to our AOE – Part 2 to be launched in 2011.
Register now to reserve a position in the upcoming AOE at www.eprofitfocus.com.au or otherwise please contact Kerry O’Neill directly.
Dale McCauleyPartnerTel: +61 (0) 2 9322 [email protected]
Kerry O’NeillAccount DirectorTel: +61 (0) 2 9322 [email protected]
Is Ford Australia’s new LPG system better thanthe petrol I6? Read on...
EcoLPi: the verdictEcoLPi: the verdict
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISAUTOMOTIVELY speaking, Germany is
renowned for its engineering prowess, Italy
owns great design, and exquisite quality is
what Japan is all about.
But none of those produce a vehicle on
the cutting edge of liquefi ed petroleum
gas (LPG) performance, effi ciency and
driveability like Australia.
And Ford is in the vanguard with its new
EcoLPi system. It is no exaggeration to say
that this is the new dawn for LPG.
Let’s begin with the car – a 2011 FG
Falcon in either XT, XR6, G6 or G6E four-
door sedan or XL, R6 and XR6 utility style
– that blows away any preconceptions about
LPG thanks to ‘liquid phase injection’ (LPi).
Basically, the old style of LPG – as
in the previous Falcon E-Gas system –
converted the LPG to a vapour at the
combustion process.
Not a bad way of doing it, but the
drop in power and torque (to 156kW and
370Nm respectively), relatively high fuel
consumption (14.9L/100km), compromised
driveability and four-speed rather than
ZF six-speed auto gearbox meant that the
regular 195kW/391Nm 4.0-litre I6 petrol
engine that spawned the LPG was arguably
a better bet in almost every way.
Only cheap LPG – 66 cents per litre
compared with $1.39/L for ULP (Ford’s
fi gures: Australian national average January
to June 2011) kept the old car selling.
From today, the EcoLPi system treats LPG
in a completely different manner. By keeping
it a liquid right through to the combustion
process, and incorporating new hardware
specifi cally designed by Orbital and other
fi rms, the resulting boost in performance (to
198kW and 409Nm) now eclipses that of the
existing I6 on regular ULP.
Better still, consumption falls from the
old E-Gas’ 14.9L/100km to 12.5L/100km
(still not matching the ULP I6’s 9.9L/100km,
though, because LPG possesses a lower
energy density despite its higher octane),
while carbon emissions plummet from 240g/
km (and the ULP I6’s 236g/km) to 203g/km
– yes, LPG contains fewer hydrocarbons than
ULP, so that’s why its fuel consumption fi gure
can be higher while the CO2 rating is lower.
On paper, this means – again, according to
Ford fi gures – that over a 20,000km annual
driving cycle between an ULP I6 and EcoLPi
at the aforementioned bowser prices, the
$2500 premium that EcoLPi incurs will be
paid back in 23.5 weeks thanks to the $2000
federal government rebate and the fact that
LPG will cost $1102 less at $1650 and 2500
litres than 1980 litres of ULP at $2752.
To highlight the point, Ford last week
assembled a group of journalists on a track
after about 150km of urban and rural driving
in a number of new FG EcoLPi sedans, and
asked each one to identify which was the LPG
car between a pair of new but disguised XR6
Falcons following a sprint race and test lap.
Of course, your GoAuto correspondent
listened intently for your benefi t throughout
the press conference and so rightly fi gured
out that the quicker and marginally more
effortless vehicle was the EcoLPi car –
proving Ford’s point under its controlled
conditions that not only does LPG no
longer hinder a Falcon’s performance – it
actually improves it while being cheaper
– and increasingly so over time – than a
petrol equivalent.Continued next page
July 27, 2011 Page 14
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
BMW Sydney
The UltimateDriving Machine
SalesFinanceServiceParts
BMW Sydney, one of Australia’s largest BMW Automotive dealerships requires an experienced New Vehicle Sales Consultant.
With excellent facilities, comprehensive support and exciting product range, excellent income opportunities exist for those willing to excel in the position of New Vehicle Sales Consultant.
To be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate the following:• Minimum 3 years experience in a similar automotive sales role –
prestige sales experience preferred.• A history of success in prior roles.• Excellent communication skills – both verbal and written.• Customer focused with strong negotiation skills.• The ability to work in a team environment.• Excellent organisational skills.• Maintain a thorough knowledge of all current products.• NSW drivers licence.
If you are satis ed you can meet all the above requirements, are looking for a challenging career with BMW Sydney and want to be a part of our success, please forward your resumé and cover letter to our HR Coordinator at: [email protected]
NEW VEHICLE SALES CONSULTANT
Continued from previous pagePoint proven, Ford, but hardly anybody
who buys an LPG car is going to go racing
in it, are they?
Or are they? You see, the point is that
the ‘P’ in EcoLPi can just as well stand for
‘performance’ instead of ‘plodding’.
From inside the car – unless they are
hiding in the considerably shallower boot
(464 litres versus 535 – and even less if
buyers opt to turf out the can of goo for a
space-saver or $250-extra full-sized spare
wheel; Ford ought to consider run-fl at tyres)
– LPG-haters will not tell the difference,
like we couldn’t. We promise.
One of the challenges that the EcoLPi
engineers had to solve was hot-weather
starting, so the moment the Falcon is
unlocked the electronics ‘wake up’, while
pulling the doorhandle primes the system,
so the maximum delay from the one-crank
start regime is four seconds. That’s virtually
petrol I6 levels of ignition time, or slightly
lengthier, but the point is that’s all you
might notice as one of the LPG’s differing
operating characteristics.
On the move in both the G6E and XR6
we sampled, we defy anybody not to be
impressed by the smoothness and willingness
of the EcoLPi. Torque aplenty, combined
with that superb ZF six-speeder, makes for an
impressive low-speed driving experience.
Feathering the throttle results in the usual
Falcon forward surge, but in the LPG car from
about 2800rpm the response is perceptibly
stronger and more determined – so much so
that you can back off a bit and just ride the
wave of motion, without having to visit the
slightly harsh top-end rev range that has long
been part of the I6 engine experience.
Or, in other words, on those lovely rural
Victorian roads, we prefer the way the
EcoLPi drives to a 91 RON ULP Falcon.
Sitting on marginally different wheel and
suspension settings to clear some height
for the tanks below that smaller boot fl oor,
both FG EcoLPi G6E and XR6 examples
reaffi rm why Ford Australia’s dynamic
engineers are among the best in the world.
Lovely steering, beautiful poise, cosseting
ride on the Goodyear 235/50 R17 rubber –
we were reminded why the Falcon is such
an underrated over-achiever amongst family
cars, especially for the price.
Obviously, we will need more time behind
the wheel of an EcoLPi to really see how
the car runs in day-to-day urban nightmare
traffi c scenarios.
But we can tell you pretty much with hand-
on-heart that Ford Australia’s LPG program has
far exceeded our expectations for driveability,
performance, refi nement and integration.
Notwithstanding the smaller (but still
manageably practical unless you opt for the
full-sized spare) boot, as well as the often
variable experience of actually having to fi ll
the tank with LPG, we cannot understand
why you wouldn’t choose this model over
the standard petrol-engined Falcon.
If there was justice in this world, the FG’s
fortunes would turn around right now as
families who feel forced to switch to a smaller
four-cylinder car to save fuel and cut some
CO2 now have a true real-world alternative.
After all, Ford’s claim that the EcoLPi
offers Fiesta-segment light car running
costs in a Falcon package is quite a
compelling argument.
We are converted. No other car-building
country in the world right now offers a better
and more integrated LPG driving experience
than Australia.
EcoLPi: the verdictEcoLPi: the verdict
FORD LPG SALES OUTLOOK: CLICK HERE
July 27, 2011 Page 15
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
CAD DESIGNERS
To apply, please send your resumé and covering letter outlining relevant experience to theattention of Karly McNeil on email: [email protected]
PRODRIVE is the world’s leading independent motorsport business, as well as a world leader in advanced automotive technology with a track record of constant achievement. In Australia, Prodrive works with a number of diff erent vehicle manufacturers, including Ford Performance Vehicles, of which it is a joint venture partner.
Prodrive Australia is currently seeking experienced CAD Designers to fi ll challenging and fast-paced roles in the Prodrive team, based in Campbellfi eld, Victoria.
Candidates will need to demonstrate profi ciency in 3D and 2D design, as well as demonstrating suitable experience in one or more of the following areas:
• POWERTRAIN DESIGN • CHASSIS DESIGN • BODY AND TRIM DESIGN
CATIA V5 knowledge and experience is essential, as well as mechanical aptitude, project management skills, and the ability to work autonomously. A Mechanical Engineering or Product Design qualifi cation, or equivalent experience is essential.
LPG set to return to localwagon as GMH developsnew Commodore gas tank
Holden’s big LPG plansHolden’s big LPG plans
By RON HAMMERTONA NEW dedicated LPG system for Holden’s
Commodore range will dispense with the
conventional space-sapping boot-mounted
tank, not only paving the way for a return
to LPG in the Sportwagon but potentially
giving sedan and ute models a cargo
advantage over Ford’s new EcoLPi Falcon
and aftermarket systems.
The Holden Eco-branded system – mostly
engineered in-house – is set to get a tank tucked
under the back of the car when it replaces the
current dual-fuel system in the New Year.
Insiders say the new LPG Commodores will
lose no boot space, unlike
Ford’s just-released Falcon
EcoLPi sedan, which has a
shallower boot than petrol
models but also loses the full-size spare wheel
as standard equipment.
Although Holden is yet to spell out details
of its system, GoAuto understands it will
retain gaseous multi-point injection, unlike
the Orbital liquid injection system adopted
by Ford for the Falcon and Holden Special
Vehicles (HSV) for its E3 range.
Again available only with the Port
Melbourne-made 3.6-litre V6, the dedicated
system tuned only for LPG instead of the
compromised set-up for both petrol and LPG
will generate more power and torque than the
current 175kW/318Nm petrol/LPG engine.
However, it is unclear if the new
LPG Commodores will challenge the
198kW/409Nm outputs Ford has extracted
from its 4.0-litre EcoLPi engine, which
became an option across the Falcon range
this month.
Holden also is expected to bin the old
four-speed automatic transmission – a
hangover from the previous-
generation Commodore –
and step up to a six-speed
auto to bring it in line with
other Commodore models and match Ford’s
step up to a ZF six-speed self-shifter for its
EcoLPi range.
The improved transmission will not only
bring the LPG Commodore into the 21st
century in terms of driveability but also
improve fuel economy from the current 13.4
litres per 100km and perhaps match the new
EcoLPi Falcon XT’s 12.5L/100km.
The current Holden LPG engine – available
only on the entry-level Omega and mid-range
Berlina – is based on the original Alloytec 3.6-
litre V6 introduced in dual-fuel form on the
previous-generation VZ Commodore in 2005.
Back then, the system was also available
in the Commodore wagon, thanks to a donut-
shaped LPG tank that took the place of the
spare wheel under the cargo fl oor. The spare
wheel was instead mounted against one side
of the luggage compartment.
The original petrol tank was also retained,
with the engine capable of switching
between the two fuels for fl exibility and
extended range.
With the arrival of the VE model in
2006, the same dual-fuel engine continued
in LPG Commodore sedans and utes that
also retained the traditional cylindrical steel
LPG tank in the sedan’s boot and ute’s rear
tray – but LPG was discontinued in the new
Sportwagon due to packaging issues.
Now, Holden and its LPG tank supplier
appear to have engineered a solution with
a gas tank mounted under the back of
the Commodore, using the space usually
occupied by the petrol tank and apparently
without encroaching on boot space.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Berlina Sportwagon
July 27, 2011 Page 16
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ASSIST AUSTRALIA, a subsidiary of Australian Motoring Services, is the Australian market leader in the provision of roadside assistance
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If you are interested in this position, please send a covering letter and CV to Rosanne Nicolazzo, HR Manager, Australian Motoring Services on email: [email protected] by Friday 5th August 2011.
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Peugeot Australia studies case for Malaysian-built 408 sedan to be sold here
Malaysian 408 routeMalaysian 408 route
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISPEUGEOT is assessing the viability of
producing the 408 sedan in right-hand drive
form for export from Malaysia to other RHD
countries including Australia.
The 308-based 408 is a left-hand-drive-
only model for the time being, but could be
produced in RHD guise if there is enough
demand from nations like Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa and Japan.
Manufactured since early 2010 at the
Dongfeng Motor plant at Wuhan in Hubei
province in China as well as in Argentina,
the 408 has been designed to serve Asian,
Latin American and Eastern European
markets that prefer sedans to hatchbacks.
Essentially a booted 308 but with a body
and wheelbase that is 404mm and 100mm
longer respectively, the 408 is offered in
1.6 and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
guises, as well as with a 1.6-litre HDi turbo-
diesel for South American customers.
According to Peugeot Automobiles
Australia general manager Ken Thomas,
a decision will be made by the end of this
year, with Malaysian Peugeot distributor
Nasim set to build the 408 in that country in
the near future.
The company already assembles variants
of the 308 at its plant in Gurun.
If the 408 gets the RHD green light, it could
be available in Australia by late 2012, when it
would serve as a replacement for the outgoing
407 sedan in the company’s local line-up.
The deal would see Nasim receive
partially assembled 408s from PSA Peugeot
Citroen’s partner in China, before RHD
assembly was completed in Malaysia for
export across the ASEAN region.
In January 2010, the French car-maker
proclaimed Malaysia as the centre of its
Asia-Pacifi c hub (excluding China).
“The genesis of the 408 was essentially
out of the Asian markets because the Asian
markets essentially like their motor cars
with a boot, and so the 408 was created out
of that idea,” Mr Thomas told GoAuto.
“The wheelbase is a little longer than the
308’s, with more room in the back seat and
a bigger boot as well as a specifi cation level
that is quite high, so it’s not an entry-level
car, and there is slightly different design
with its own nose cone and so forth.
“But the process we are following at the
moment is that we will have to negotiate
Australian Design Rules in terms of its
compliance for Australia, and we’re in the
middle of that at the moment.
“Towards the end of the year we will be
in clearer air in terms of saying if the 408 is
going to happen for Australia.
“Primarily, 408 is built for a LHD market
… so for us to justify RHD production for
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and
Japan, it obviously requires a great deal of
analysis and testing.
“But I think it will probably happen because
there is a lot of interest for the 408 in Malaysia.
The company there is saying there is a real
void in the market for a medium-sized three-
box car. They’ve done a lot of testing, and they
think they can do quite signifi cant volumes in
Malaysia, and they’re a RHD market.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERECase for ‘108’ – next page
July 27, 2011 Page 17
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By TERRY MARTINA MERGER between Fiat and Chrysler is
now anticipated after the Italian auto giant
last week took a majority shareholding in
Chrysler Group LLC by purchasing the US
treasury’s six per cent stake and the Canadian
government’s 1.5 per cent holding.
These were the last remaining US and
Canadian taxpayer interests in Chrysler
and now hand Fiat a 53.5 per cent share
in the Detroit car-maker – a stake that will
increase to 58.5 per cent later this year when
Fiat exercises its right to a further fi ve per
cent in return for putting into production a
fuel-effi cient car for Chrysler.
In a statement released on July 21, Fiat
said it had paid $US500 million for the
US government’s remaining stake and
$US125m for Canada’s share, and had
also paid the US treasury a further $75m
– $15m of which goes to Canada – for the
option of purchasing the remaining share in
Chrysler held by the United Auto Workers’
healthcare trust VEBA.
In a separate statement, the US treasury
highlighted how quickly it had untied its
multi-billion-dollar bailout of Chrysler,
which enabled the company to exit chapter 11
bankruptcy under Fiat control two years ago.
“With today’s closing, the US
government has exited its investment
in Chrysler at least six years earlier than
expected,” said assistant secretary for
fi nancial stability, Tim Massad.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Fiat takes majority share in ChryslerCase for ‘108’Case for ‘108’
Peugeot puts hand up for sub-208 micro to sell hereBy BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS
PEUGEOT Australia is investigating the
viability of a sub-B-segment hatch to slot in
beneath the forthcoming 208 after that car
arrives in the second half of next year.
Dubbed the 108 and due in Europe
from 2013 at the earliest, it would be a
replacement for the highly successful 107
series that dates back to 2005.
Like that car, the 108 will be produced
at a dedicated site at Kolin in the Czech
Republic with sister brand Citroen and
partner Toyota, which offer versions of the
107 as the C1 and Aygo respectively.
If given the green light for Australia, the
baby Peugeot will compete against the likes
of the expected Volkswagen Up, as well
as the established Suzuki Alto and Holden
Barina Spark.
The segment is also set to see the Kia
Picanto in the not-too-distant future, while
Skoda’s version of the Up is also under
consideration for Australia.
A decision is anticipated shortly, as Peugeot
Automobiles Australia will have to decide if
it will homologate the 108 for this country.
Three years ago, the existing 107 was
under consideration for sale Down Under,
but the cost and resources of meeting the
various Australian Design Rule processes
back then, combined with specifi cation
issues (including no automatic transmission
availability) and limited supply due to
consistently high demand in Europe, forced
PAA to put its baby-car plans aside.
Toyota did the majority of the Aygo/107/
C1 development after it and PSA Peugeot
Citroen announced the B-Zero program at
the 2002 Geneva motor show.
Sitting on a 2340mm wheelbase and with
a length of 3430mm, the 107 is considerably
smaller than its 207 sibling and is powered
by a choice of a Toyota-derived 1.0-litre
three-cylinder petrol engine or PSA 1.4-
litre turbo-diesel, driving the front wheels
via a fi ve-speed manual or automated
manual gearbox.
But the 108 will probably grow a little and
gain a range of new-generation convenience
and safety items to stay competitive in the
hotly contested sub-B class in Europe.
“It’s on the wish-list,” confi rmed PAA
general manager Ken Thomas.
“(The existing 107) wasn’t homologated
for Australia from the very beginning – not
that it couldn’t be, but it costs money. Plus
we couldn’t get an allocation of stock. The
timing was not right.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE US Fiat 500
10101071070111111111101010710701071071071070710710107107010710711071071071070
July 27, 2011 Page 18
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Northside Star 120-124 Pacific Highway, Hornsby NSW, 2077 Tel (02) 9487 4344 www.mbnorthsidestar.com.au ML21348
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MY2012 Santa Fe turnsup in Korea as Hyundaiprepares for local launch
Santa Fe heads uptownSanta Fe heads uptown
By MARTON PETTENDYHYUNDAI has confi rmed the facelifted
MY2012 Santa Fe recently released in Korea
will soon also become available in Australia.
The 2012 model year upgrade for Hyundai’s
medium SUV contender comprises a number
of cosmetic enhancements both inside and
out, led by the addition of silver ‘slid plates’
for the front and rear bumpers.
Designed to take the Santa Fe more
upmarket, the refreshed seven-seat crossover
also features a new chromed grille with
‘fl oating’ Hyundai badge, revised headlights,
high-gloss black (instead of silver) roof rails
and, on premium versions, new machined-
face 18-inch fi ve-spoke alloy wheels.
Inside, top-shelf MY12 Santa Fe models
will also receive new suede leather seat trim
and fresh woodgrain centre stack and trim
highlights, plus the option of a heated steering
wheel, ventilated front seats and a new
satellite-navigation system with USB video
playback functionality.
As part of Hyundai’s desire to give its
mid-size crossover a more premium feel, all
upgraded Santa Fe variants should receive
leather seat upholstery, keyless entry and
starting, and remote-controlled power-
folding mirrors.
No mechanical changes are part of the
MY12 upgrade, which will follow last
month’s release of $1000-cheaper front-
wheel drive Santa Fe variants that also
brought V6 petrol power to the menu of
Hyundai’s seven-seat family wagon.
While the Santa Fe is also available
with a 2.0-litre diesel engine in Korea,
the previously all-AWD Australian
line-up became exclusively (2.2-litre
R-Series) diesel-powered when a major
midlife makeover was launched here in
November 2009.
Prior to that, the vastly superior second-
generation Santa Fe – fi rst released in
Australia in May 2006 – was also available
with 2.7-litre and, briefl y, 3.3-litre V6 petrol
engines, the latter in 2WD-only guise.
The 2012 Santa Fe has been launched with
signifi cant price reductions in Korea despite
its more upmarket features, but it remains
to be seen whether similar price cuts will be
applied in Australia, where the 2WD 3.5-
litre V6 SLX now opens the Santa Fe range
at $36,990 plus on-road costs.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Hyundai’s MY12 Sonata could herald fresh tweaks for i45 in AustraliaBy MARTON PETTENDY
THE short but busy life of Hyundai’s latest
medium sedan continues apace with the
release in Korea of an upgraded 2012 model
year Sonata, which could provide a glimpse
of what to expect for Australia’s i45.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia has
advised the MY2012 Sonata, released in
Korea on July 11, is a domestic market model
only and does not herald any changes for its
i45 in Australia for the foreseeable future.
However, it is likely that a number of
the MY12 Sonata’s new technologies will
eventually also be seen on Australia’s i45,
which was fi rst launched here in May 2010
before an MY11 version replaced it just fi ve
months later in October with revised suspension
following negative steering and ride quality
assessments by some media outlets.
In Korea, the Sonata’s cosmetic upgrade
brings a mildly revised grille design, subtle
new wing mirror styling, optional new 18-inch
multi-spoke alloy wheels and LED tail-lights
apparently inspired by the Sonata Hybrid’s.
Inside, there are higher-quality cabin
materials, revised trim options, a chilled
glovebox, LED reading lights and extra
standard features across the range.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
July 27, 2011 Page 19
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PERFORMANCE CONSULTING
New models, fresh lookand targeted campaigns set to push sales past 3K
Skoda set to expandSkoda set to expand
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISSKODA has revealed that its value-pricing
proposition is now in full swing as it strives
to steal sales from the established Japanese
and South Korean brands at the lower end of
the new-car market.
The fresh (to Australia) Fabia light car is just
the fi rst salvo fi red against the likes of Mazda
and Kia, with the long-awaited Yeti compact
SUV and the return of the Roomster wagon set
to expose the Czech brand to new consumers
in two of the more popular segments in this
country over the next 12 months.
Skoda Group Australia unveiled a revised
corporate logo and livery at the Australian
International Motor Show in Melbourne
earlier this month.
Company head Matthew Wiesner also
revealed to GoAuto plans to increase
Skoda’s current 55 per cent representation
of the new passenger and SUV market to
about 80 per cent by 2014, on the back of a
completely revamped model range.
As well as doubling sales from about 1650
annually to over 3000 by the end of 2012,
Skoda expects its newcomers to attract a far
greater proportion of younger and female
buyers.
Currently the ageing Octavia and offbeat
Superb have managed to carve a small
niche for themselves in the premium end of
their respective medium and large markets,
predominantly with an older demographic.
Besides the long-awaited Yeti due in
September, which Mr Wiesner expects will
easily become the top-selling Skoda in this
country, the Roomster will return in the
New Year with revised styling, a 1.2
TSI four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine
and DSG dual-clutch transmission as
standard, for about $25,000.
DSG, wagon and RS 132 TSI
performance versions of the
upcoming Fabia should also help
the VW Polo-based baby fulfi l its
potential as a versatile and interesting
light-car contender.
Even bigger news will be the release of
what may be Skoda’s most important model
to date for Australia – a four-door sedan and
elongated fi ve-door liftback in the mould of
the Mazda3.
Due to be unveiled in concept car form
at this year’s Frankfurt motor show in
September, with Australian sales slated from
about mid-2013 at the latest, the production
version of the still-secret Skoda small car
will probably leverage platform technology
from the next-generation Volkswagen Golf.
The company’s Vision D concept car
displayed at this year’s Geneva motor show
is thought to be a close approximation of
what the styling will be like – although the
overall proportions are expected to change.
Like the Octavia and Superb, the as-yet
unnamed C-segment player is designed
to provide class-leading passenger space,
practicality, standout styling and a high value
quotient within its segment structure to
help differentiate it from competition
from outside as well as within the
Volkswagen group of brands.
By the middle of this decade, the
next-generation – and well-overdue
– Octavia will arrive, growing in size
to refl ect its newfound positioning
against rivals such as the Ford
Mondeo while providing enough
breathing space for the C-segment small car.
Intriguingly, the smallest VW Group
vehicle to date – the VW Up – is also expected
to spawn a Skoda version and will be under
serious consideration for Australia.
Head of international sales Christian
Wiegel – who was also in Melbourne to
present the company’s new-look branding
and line-up – told us the so-called Skoda
“City Car” will present a unique opportunity
for the company to seize young car buyers.
“If it becomes available, we would like to
do it for sure,” he said. “We think Australia
is very urbanised and so it would be good to
get in early with a car like that, to help us
build and lead that market.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Matthew Wiesner
Yeti
Fabia Monte Carlo
July 27, 2011 Page 20
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Reborn Korean brand setto roll out production ute, new concepts in Frankfurt
Showtime for SsangYongShowtime for SsangYong
By RON HAMMERTONBORN-AGAIN South Korean motor
company SsangYong Motor will open a
window on its future at the Frankfurt motor
show in September when it pulls the covers
from a number of concept cars and the
production version of its new-generation ute to
replace the Actyon Sports, codenamed SUT1.
The concepts are likely to include more
Korando-based models, including another
electric concept, and possibly a fi ve-seat
range-extender hybrid vehicle smaller than
the Korando – as mooted by the company at
the Geneva motor show in March.
Although nothing is confi rmed, other show
candidates might be a big brother for the
Korando, a medium SUV codenamed D200
that is destined to replace both the Rexton and
Kyron in 2013, a range of small hatchback
and sedan passenger cars – possibly based on
the same architecture as the range-extender
hybrid car – or even a full-sized 4WD to
compete with the Toyota LandCruiser.
All of the above vehicles are known to have
been fl oating around the SsangYong future-
model holding pen awaiting a decision by
new owner Mahindra and Mahindra since
the Indian company rescued the bankrupt
Korean manufacturer by acquiring a 70 per
cent stake in March this year.
Only the SUT1 ute has been confi rmed for
Australia, with SsangYong importer Sime
Darby telling GoAuto that it would arrive
in local showrooms to replace the Actyon
Sports in the fi rst quarter of 2012.
The dual-cab fi ve-seat SUT1 – standing
for Sports Utility Truck – will join a raft of
new and revised entrants in the Australian
ute market, including a fl ock of Chinese-
made contenders from manufacturers such
as ZX Auto and Foton.
A number of names are said to be under
consideration for the new ute, which Sime
Darby says will not only have a new diesel
powertrain but deliver a much improved
driving experience.
The SUT1 was revealed in concept form
at Geneva, with SsangYong confi rming that
the new vehicle would retain the rugged
body-on-frame construction of the Actyon
Sports but gain the Korando’s new 2.0-litre
four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual
and automatic transmissions – the latter
designed and made by Australia’s Drivetrain
Systems International (DSI).
The Euro 5-compliant common-rail
diesel engine will be retuned for the SUT1
to deliver more of its 360Nm of peak torque
lower in the rev range, at the expense of
top-end power, down from 129kW in the
Korando to 114kW in the SUT1.
However, this is still an improvement over
the 104kW/310Nm of the current diesel in
the Actyon.
Also improved will be the ute’s
environmental footprint, with CO2 emissions
down from 212 grams per kilometre to 193g/
km in 2WD manual form. The new 4WD
variant is said to achieve about 198g/km.
News of the Frankfurt new-model push
by SsangYong this year surfaced in a media
release announcing a new UK distributor for
the brand, Bassadone Automotive Group.
The new importer said it expected
SsangYong to use Frankfurt to “showcase
a number of new-model concepts, while
SUT1, the sports utility pick up shown in
concept form at Geneva will also be seen in
market-ready form”.
It added: “In addition to the current model
line-up, SsangYong is actively working on
a number of new products, including range
extensions to Korando as well as an electric
vehicle. The fi rst of these will be seen at the
Frankfurt motor show in September.”
SsangYong has already shown two
electric vehicles based on the Korando at
South Korean motor shows – the Pure EV at
the 2010 Busan motor show and the KEV2
at the 2011 Seoul show in April.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
SUT1
KEV2
July 27, 2011 Page 21
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Aussie launch timing still unclear as Toyota’s latestYaris kicks off in Europe
Waiting for YarisWaiting for Yaris
Toyota sticks with hybrid agenda here, despite US EVs
By HAITHAM RAZAGUITOYOTA in the UK has announced pricing,
specifi cations and engine line-up for the
larger, more powerful but lighter and more
economical third-generation Yaris light
car months ahead of the model’s delayed
Australian launch.
With production underway in Europe, fi rst
deliveries of the redesigned three- and fi ve-
door Yaris range will reach UK customers in
September – as was planned for the Australian
market until it became clear that earthquake
and tsunami-related troubles would cause
delays at Toyota’s Nagakusa factory in Japan.
Toyota Australia public relations manager
Mike Breen told GoAuto the company
is expecting the Yaris to arrive here in
the fourth quarter – about a year after its
Japanese launch.
“We don’t want to put a stick in the ground
or we might build up expectations that we
can’t deliver on,” he said.
Mr Breen said Toyota was still to confi rm
exact timing.
Because the European Yaris is
manufactured at Toyota’s Valenciennes
factory in France, it is not subject to the
same delays.
UK pricing pitches the new Yaris – which
has been criticised in the British market
for being highly priced – from £11,170
($A16,727), a £440 ($A659) increase for
the base model, equivalent to $1737 more
expensive than the entry price currently
asked of Australians.
Mr Breen said it is still too early to
comment on Australian pricing. “Price
negotiations tend to go on until a week
before we do the launch,” he said. “We’re
always seeking a better price.”
Bigger but 30kg lighter and more
aerodynamic with revised engines and a
new ‘Multidrive S’ continuously variable
transmission (CVT) – with paddle-shift
manual override providing seven simulated
gear ratios – the new Yaris promises to offer
fuel and CO2 savings over its predecessor.
The Australian engine and specifi cation
line-up has not yet been announced but Mr
Breen confi rmed that the 1.5-litre engine
will live on and that there will be “some”
engine upgrades.
Japanese specifi cation sheets show the
1.5-litre engine to be available with the new
CVT automatic – which is bound to provide
fuel economy and emissions benefi ts over
the outgoing equivalent’s 6.7 litres per
100 kilometres and 160 grams of CO2 per
kilometre – but do not provide details of
whether there are any changes to the current
engine’s 80kW/141Nm outputs.
Almost a certainty for Australia is the
revised 1.3-litre petrol engine, which gets
dual variable valve control to lift peak power
and torque outputs to 72kW and 125Nm
respectively, an increase of 9kW and 4Nm
over the outgoing model.
Toyota claims the 1.3 petrol returns fuel
economy of 5.0L/100km and produces 118g/
km of CO2 when mated to the CVT automatic.
Some markets save even more fuel with the
fi tment of an idle-stop system but this variant
is not destined Down Under.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – next page
By RON HAMMERTONTOYOTA Australia has no plans to
introduce the electric RAV4 EV or any
other pure-electric car in its current fi ve-
year plan.
As well, the Prius PHV (plug-in hybrid
vehicle) currently being trialled in Australia
is still under evaluation and not yet
confi rmed for sale in this market.
The RAV4 EV – developed jointly by
Toyota and EV partner Tesla Motors – has
been confi rmed for public sale in the United
States next year.
Despite reports that the battery-powered
RAV4 would be marketed only to fl eet and
car-sharing programs in the US, Toyota
Motor Sales USA has reconfi rmed that the
RAV4 EV will be offered for general sale.
It has also announced that it will offer an
all-electric version of its new Scion iQ city
runabout to fl eets and sharing programs
in the US from 2012, some months after
the introduction of the petrol version that
arrives in showrooms on the US west coast
this October ahead of a wider rollout.
But neither of these full-electric vehicles
are planned for Australia, according to
Toyota Australia public relations manager
Mike Breen.
“We are always looking at new models
to introduce, but we have no plans for
any electric vehicle, at least not in the
foreseeable future,” he said.
Mr Breen said Toyota did its product
planning fi ve years out, and that plan did
not include any pure EV.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
RAV4 EV
July 27, 2011 Page 22
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FLEET SALES CONSULTANTQueensland’s largest Hyundai Dealer, a part of the James Frizelle’s Automotive Group, has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Fleet Sales Consultant. The potential is virtually endless with this brand and the scope of the role will cover 2 PMA’s.
Based out of Southport this position will also cover Tweed Heads, sourcing and prospecting new clients as well as strengthen the relationships we already have with well established clients.
You will need:Previous experience from a similar roleAn outgoing personality and lots of energy!Excellent communication and relationship building skillsProven prospecting ability and systems for fleet salesThe ability to work collaboratively with a New Vehicle Sales TeamWell refined sales and negotiation skills to close the dealThe personal drive to ensure customer satisfaction always meets expectationsA highly tuned focus on profit and sales objectivesBe eager to earn!!
If you are looking for the next big challenge in your career, them please email your cover letter and resume to:
Brand Manager – Daniel [email protected]
McKenzie25673
AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
Toyota’s iQ mini-cartakes on America via youthful Scion brand
Scion in US iQ testScion in US iQ test
Toyota details its latest life-saving safety technology
By HAITHAM RAZAGUITOYOTA’S diminutive iQ micro-car will
go on sale on the United States’ west coast
from October, wearing the Japanese giant’s
youth-oriented Scion branding as previewed
at last year’s New York motor show.
Pitched as a ‘premium micro-subcompact’,
the vehicle has touches consistent with the
Scion brand’s intended Gen-Y (or even Z)
audience, including racy-looking options
such as 16-inch alloys, lowered suspension,
front foglights, a rear spoiler and silver
exterior trim mouldings.
Pioneer-branded audio systems with outputs
for external amplifi ers and subwoofers add
further doof-doof street-cred.
Scion, which encourages customers
to customise their vehicles, also issued
photos of a body-kitted iQ, hinting at
the possibilities available through the
application of aftermarket accessories.
The iQ remains off the agenda for
Australia, with Toyota consistently
maintaining that no business case could be
made for the car, at least while it is built
only in high-cost manufacturing countries
such as Japan.
The 2985mm long iQ – claimed to be the
world’s smallest four-seater – will be priced
from $US15,265, making it the brand’s least
expensive model by $US565 in a range
where no model has a starting price above
$US19,000.
It will be rolled out across the rest
of the US from early next year, offered
exclusively with a 69kW 1.3-litre four-
cylinder petrol engine and continuously
variable transmission.
Compared with the fi ve-star (Euro NCAP)
European-market iQ, which has nine airbags
including one to protect the rear occupants
who sit close to the rear windscreen, the
US model gains a passenger knee-bag and
driver seat cushion airbag – bringing the
airbag count to 11.
The standard audio system, unlike
Europe’s sleek dash-top integrated CD
player, is a retro-looking, Pioneer-branded
160-watt CD-radio with Bluetooth and USB
connectivity, four standard speakers and
RCA output jacks for customers who want
to install their own subwoofer.
The unit is upgradable to a 200-watt
version with 5.8-inch touch-screen, internet
radio (when connected to an iPhone
through Bluetooth) and six RCA outputs for
additional amplifi ers and subwoofers.
The top-line infotainment system has a
seven-inch touch-screen, satellite-navigation
and a DVD player.
All three audio devices have steering
wheel controls, three pre-set equaliser
settings and can automatically vary the
sound volume according to road speed.
Toyota is hoping to target trendy city-
dwelling young drivers with the iQ, its
11 airbags as much a sales device as a
safety device.
Scion vice-president Jack Hollis said:
“The iQ is the fourth vehicle in the (Scion)
family, and it will defi ne the premium micro-
subcompact segment as the choice for new
urbanites who want clever transportation
without a sacrifi ce in style or new features.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
By RON HAMMERTONA COLLISION avoidance system that
not only automatically brakes the car
but also steers away from trouble, and
a steering wheel that can detect a driver
heart attack, are among safety technologies
foreshadowed by Toyota at its safety testing
facility near Mount Fuji, Japan.
The Japanese giant is keen to show that
it can mix it with the best on life-saving
equipment advances as it seeks to repair
its bruised reputation after a rash of safety
recalls over the past two years.
However, Toyota gave no timetable for
the introduction of any of the systems, nor
any indication of what models they might
fi rst appear on.
The company showed off systems
designed to avoid rear-end, pedestrian and
lane-departure collisions – most of which
have surfaced in one form or another
at other companies such as Volvo and
Mercedes-Benz.
But Toyota said the systems were being
developed to detect a broad range of
obstacles, including approaching vehicles,
and initiate avoidance measures, including
steering changes to “navigate a safe route”.
Obstacles, including pedestrians, are
detected by a combination of radar and
stereo cameras – apparently in the same way
as Volvo’s pioneering system on its S60.
Infrared beams enhance visibility at night.
Toyota said it hoped to commercialise its
emergency-response technology that can
detect cardiovascular irregularity through
sensors on the steering wheel.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Toyota crash test
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July 27, 2011 Page 23
Aussie owners rate Volvoand Renault best in latestMorgan satisfaction study
By MIKE COSTELLOVOLVO and Renault drivers are the
most satisfi ed owners of European cars in
Australia, according to Roy Morgan’s latest
Automotive Currency Report.
The survey, in which Citroen and Saab
owners emerged the least satisfi ed, asked
2805 drivers of European cars Down
Under how satisfi ed or dissatisfi ed they
were with their car, inviting fi ve responses
ranging between ‘very satisfi ed’ and ‘very
dissatisfi ed’.
Conducted in the 12 months to March
2011, the study found 94 per cent of
Volvo and Renault drivers were either
very satisfi ed or fairly satisfi ed with their
ownership experience.
This fi gure was four points higher than the
overall average of 90 per cent achieved by
11 European car brands from fi ve different
countries, including Germany, Sweden,
France, Italy and the UK.
The fi ndings represent a marginal
improvement for both companies over the
previous survey conducted in 2005-06, with
Volvo jumping from equal fourth place (92
per cent) and Renault moving from equal
second (93 per cent).
The overall average of all European
manufacturers is down two percentage
points from the results of this previous
study, with Mercedes-Benz (third place
with 93 per cent satisfaction) the only other
car-maker to make gains over the period.
Another French company, Peugeot, was
the fourth best performing brand with 92
per cent (down from 93 per cent), while
previous winner Audi fell to fi fth place with
a 91 per cent satisfaction rating (previously
95 per cent).
The lone Italian contender, Alfa Romeo,
joined Audi on 91 per cent satisfaction
(down from 93 per cent), while German giant
Volkswagen matched the overall average of
90 per cent (down from 91 per cent).
Fellow German brand BMW and Indian-
owned Land Rover registered below-
average satisfaction ratings of 89 per cent
(both down from 92 per cent previously).
Rounding out the fi eld were French car-
maker Citroen and beleaguered Swedish
company Saab – which only recently
recommenced Australian sales – with
satisfaction ratings of 82 per cent.
This represented a drop of 10 per cent
for Citroen from its 2006 result, while
Saab also fared the worst of the 11 brands
in the previous study with an 87 per cent
satisfaction rating fi ve years ago.
The cars in the survey relate to existing
owners and are not restricted to recent
purchases, meaning the test features a wide
array of vehicles. All drivers involved in the
study were aged 18 or over.
The report estimated that there are
currently 14.9 million drivers on Australian
roads, approximately one million of whom
sit behind the wheel of a European car.
This fi gure represents an increase of
45 per cent over the fi ve years since the
previous Roy Morgan report on the same
subject, which took place between April
2005 and March 2006.
Roy Morgan’s industry communications
director Norman Morris said that vehicle
satisfaction ratings are one of the main drivers
of brand loyalty and are therefore an important
statistic for manufacturers to be aware of.
“This is an excellent result for Volvo,
who has also decreased their total driver
dissatisfaction fi gure over the same
timeframe,” he said. “Also doing well is
niche importer Renault, moving from equal
second overall in 2006 to now sit equal with
Volvo in top spot.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
European satisfactionEuropean satisfaction
Average Volvo Renault Merc-Benz
Peugeot Audi Alfa VW BMW Land Rover
Citroen Saab70%
75%
80%
85%
90%
95%
100%
2006 2011
SourSource:ce: RoyRoy MorgMorgan San Singlingle Soe Sourceurce (Au (Aust)st)
European Importer Satisfaction
1300 66 11 33
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July 27, 2011 Page 24Green issues in the auto world
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By RON HAMMERTONGENERAL Motors is about to embark on
a world-fi rst trial of smart-grid electric car
charging in real-world conditions, using
its OnStar telematics system to connect
hundreds of Chevrolet Volts with power
companies to manage the fl ow of electricity.
Starting in the next few weeks, the system
will use mobile phone technology to allow
the electricity suppliers to monitor charging
of the Volt’s lithium-ion batteries and – with
the permission of the owners – potentially
adjust the fl ow of electricity according to
demand on the grid.
Smart charging is seen as an essential step
towards automotive electrifi cation, managing
peak load on the grid and increasing energy
effi ciency. Drivers will get a reduced
electricity tariff in return for allowing their
cars to be monitored by the power company.
GM says the pilot program will involve
employees of regional utility companies,
with vital data being collected on vehicle
use and charging patterns ahead of a
potential wider rollout of the system.
With customer permission, the overall
charge levels of each Volt, as well as
charging history – by time and location –
will be provided via OnStar to the utility
company without the vehicle having to be
connected to a charging station.
GM says this will help the electricity company
forecast demand, set rates and determine the
best locations for charging infrastructure.
The utility will also be able to actively
manage EV charging for those who opt
into the service. The utility can then reduce
peak loads by offering discounts or other
incentives to encourage drivers to charge
their EVs when overall electricity demand is
lowest, typically in the early morning hours.
OnStar vice-president of planning and
business development Nick Pudar said:
“Through this pilot we will see real-time
results on how intelligent energy management
can maximise EV charging effi ciency and
minimise the electric bill for EV drivers.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
World-fi rst smart-chargepilot program set to rollwith GM’s US Volt fl eet
Volt charges aheadVolt charges ahead
Top Australian gearbox engineer believes future EVs should shift up a gearBy IAN PORTER
LEADING Australian transmission
engineer Ric Tamba believes that future
electric vehicles should be developed
with two-speed rather than one-speed
transmissions.
While he concedes that electric car designers
have so far chosen to demonstrate the
exceptional torque characteristics of electric
motors by using only one forward gear, Mr
Tamba claims he has proven that having two
forward gears will improve acceleration for
the same amount of electricity and could also
help keep costs down.
“We have done some tests on the Mini,
comparing the 88kW petrol model to an
electric version fi tted with an 88kW electric
motor,” he told GoAuto after addressing
an AutoCRC technical conference in
Melbourne earlier this month.
“With a single-speed transmission, the
electric Mini was slower. But when we
installed a two-speed gearbox, it was much
faster than the petrol model.
“We then installed a 70kW electric motor,
and the single-speed version was slower
again. When fi tted with the two-speed
transmission this car was, of course, slower
than the 88kW car with two speeds (but) it
was still faster than the petrol car.”
Mr Tamba said this meant car-makers
could save money by using a smaller
electric motor and batteries.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
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July 27, 2011 Page 25GoAuto Personnel
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JAGUAR LAND ROVER APPOINTS ASIA-PACIFIC AFTERSALES DIRECTORBy HAITHAM RAZAGUI
JAGUAR Land Rover (JLR) Australia has
appointed Cameron Mitchell to the newly-
created role of After Sales Director – Asia-
Pacifi c, starting August 1.
Responsible for identifying Asia-
Pacifi c-specifi c market requirements and
conditions, Scottish-born Mr Mitchell
will help develop and implement a global
customer service strategy and business plan
in the Asia-Pacifi c region.
A 15-year JLR/Ford Premier Automotive
Group (PAG) veteran, Mr Mitchell has more
than 25 years’ experience in retail, product
development and customer
services, including time
working as a business
development manager for
PAG in Japan.
Having variously worked
for JLR/PAG as a parts
supply manager, vehicle
line manager and warranty
operations manager, Mr
Cameron has built up a detailed knowledge
of warranty operations, parts supply and
logistics processes, plus extensive experience
in ‘dealer facing technical roles’.
Educated to Masters level in
manufacturing, management and technology
and with a diploma in automotive
engineering management, Mr Mitchell
spent six years as a vehicle technician in
his early career, including Porsche racecar
preparation for British specialist Autofarm.
Under JLR’s new regional structure
announced in December last year, Mr
Mitchell will report to Jaguar Land Rover
Asia-Pacifi c managing director David
Blackhall. Mr Mitchell and his family will
move to Sydney from their home near JLR’s
global headquarters in Gaydon.
Cameron Mitchell
By TERRY MARTINGERMAN parts supplier ZF
Friedrichshafen AG has named Stefan
Sommer as its incoming chief executive,
succeeding Hans-Georg Haerter who will
retire at the end of April next year.
Dr Sommer, 48, worked for Continental
AG for a decade before
joining ZF in 2008 as head
of the suspension division
of subsidiary ZF Sachs AG.
In October 2010, he was
appointed to the ZF board,
with responsibility for
supply chain management
and purchasing.
In recent months Dr
Sommer has also overseen
the global company’s strategic restructuring
program. He will become deputy CEO on
January 1, 2012, while the 66-year-old
Mr Haerter – who recently prolonged his
contract, due to expire at the end of this
year – will gradually hand over the business
before retiring on April 30.
ZF supervisory board chairman Giorgio
Behr said the move “does not mean a real
changeover”.
“On the contrary, it is a clear sign of
continuity,” he said. “Stefan Sommer
contributes his profound knowledge of the
supplier industry which he gained from diverse
top management functions at Conti and ZF.”
Mr Haerter said he was pleased with the
succession strategy, particularly given Dr
Sommer’s work in electro-mobility.
“As head of materials management of
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, he knows about
the market conditions of
the strategically important
topics of lightweight
design and electro-
mobility,” he said.
Dr Sommer studied
mechanical engineering
and in 1994 joined ITT
Automotive Europe
GmbH in Frankfurt as a
development engineer.
He moved to Continental in 1997 and was
initially responsible for the development
of electronics and sensors at Continental
Automotive Systems in Hannover.
In 2000, he became head of development
for electronic pneumatic suspension systems,
and three years later switched to Continental
Temic in Ingolstadt, where he was head of the
occupant protection systems department.
In 2005, Dr Sommer transferred to
Continental Automotive Systems in Frankfurt,
where he managed electronic brake systems
until moving to ZF in mid-2008.
VOLKSWAGEN has reassigned Seat
design director Luc Donckerwolke as
head of advanced design for the entire
Volkswagen Group, effective August 1.
Reporting to global design chief Walter
de Silva, Mr Donckerwolke, 46, brings 19
years’ design experience with VW and its
subsidiaries to the role,
including head of design
at Seat (2005-2011) and
Lamborghini (2003-
2005).
The move will see
Mr Donckerwolke turn
out new concepts for
the Volkswagen Group,
reshaping the future
look of vehicles from
the European auto giant as he has done
in recent years with Seat – as seen in the
2008 Seat Bocanegra and 2007 Seat Tribu
– and which he did with Lamborghini with
models such as the Gallardo.
Mr Donckerwolke joined VW in 1992
and subsequently moved between the
Audi and Skoda brands over the next six
years, rising to become studio director at
Ingolstadt before being appointed design
project manager at Lamborghini in 1998.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
ZF NAMES SOMMER AS INCOMING CEO
Stefan Sommer
Hans-GeorgHaerter
VW DESIGN MOVES
Luc Donckerwolke
For more information please call 1300 666 562 or visit www.motorstaff.com.au
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July 27, 2011 Page 26
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Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4T MultiAir 5-dr hatch
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE FULL STORY: CLICK HEREFULL STORY: CLICK HERE
NEW INFINITI JX TEASEINFINITI has released a fourth teaser shot of its
forthcoming JX seven-seat SUV, confi rming
that it will adopt the quirky ‘crescent cut’
C-pillar treatment previewed by the brand’s
recent Essence and Etherea concepts.
The new image, taken from the rear three-
quarter, emphasises the unusually shaped
rear window and pillar and the pronounced
wedged side sills, styling features fi rst
indicated by a rough sketch of the JX
released in April.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
DO YOU fancy a spacious and stylish hatch with a bit of luxury but don’t care to join the hordes of up-spec Mazda3 and VW Golf drivers out there? Believe it or not, your Alfa Romeo dealer may have just the (super) model you’re looking for, for the Giulietta is a grown-up go-kart with verve and style to spare. It’s too soon to make a reliability call of course, but on the strength of its packaging, driveability and effi ciency, this Italian makes for an unexpectedly capable sub-$40K contender.
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NAVARA ST-X RECALLNISSAN is recalling more than 29,000 Navara
ST-X dual-cab utes in Australia over a potential
issue that could cause cracks to form in the
outer spokes of their alloy wheels.
VOLVO BOOSTS XC60VOLVO has given its top-selling XC60 SUV
more equipment, greater safety, broader
range and improved diesel performance and
effi ciency for the 2012 model year, just four
months after its 2011 XC60 shake-up.
Prices also have been hiked, but Volvo Car
Australia says the rises are more than offset
by improvements in standard equipment that
now includes a rearvision camera, power-
operated tailgate and upgraded multi-media
systems on all models.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
SAAB SAGA ROLLS ONSAAB Automobile is pressing ahead
with plans to make cars in China, even
as eight Scandinavian suppliers enlist
Sweden’s Debt Enforcement Agency to
collect unpaid bills from the troubled car-
maker whose four-month-long production
shutdown is now set to roll on to at least
the end of August.
Cash-strapped Saab has blamed the latest
production delay at its Trollhattan plant on
the industry-wide summer break, saying
certain key parts-makers could not supply
in time for Saab to resume production on
August 9 as previously scheduled.
ALL SET FOR LEXUS GSLEXUS has announced it will reveal its
highly anticipated fourth-generation GS sedan
on August 18 at the famed Pebble Beach
Concours d’Elegance in the United States.
Based on the LF-Gh concept car that
appeared at the recent Melbourne motor
show, the new large Lexus sedan will be
revealed in GS350 form – fi tted with a
new 3.5-litre V6 engine driving through a
six-speed automatic transmission. A hybrid
version is expected to follow soon after at the
Frankfurt motor show in mid-September.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
BMW, AUDI ON TRACKAFTER an 18-year hiatus, BMW will return
to the European Deutsche Tourenwagen-
Meisterschaft (DTM) race series next year
with an M3 Coupe-styled racecar.
The Bavarian marque’s comeback means
touring car fans will once more be able to enjoy
the spectacle of the big three German premium
brands in a three-way battle on bitumen.
Co-founder of AMG and chairman of
DTM’s umbrella organisation ITR eV, Hans
Werner Aufrecht, said: “I am personally
looking forward to again seeing the three
premium brands of Audi, BMW and
Mercedes-Benz competing against each
other on the racetrack. Our fans have waited
a long time for this.”
LF-Gh