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Jan 17, 2013 No. 661

GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Australia’s No.1 Automotive Industry Journal 70,000 Readers Weekly

L U B R I C A N T S .T E C H N O L O G Y.

P E O P L E .

fuchs.com.au

Motown showdownMotown showdown‘Rest of the World’ fl exes muscle amid awesome new American metal in Detroit

By TERRY MARTINTHE North American International Auto

Show has again set off the motoring year

in brilliant fashion, providing the stage for

the world’s biggest car-makers to reveal

vital new models and concept cars to fuel

the resurgent US market – and beyond.

From Honda’s Acura through to

Volkswagen, the big-name Asian and

European brands presented bold and

sometimes beautiful new sheetmetal

that drew attention away from the

Detroit heavyweights via SUVs great

and small, impressive mainstream

models, fabulous new luxury cars,

sportscars and – with optimism running

high again in Motown – some show-

stopping supermodels.

A new Maserati Quattroporte anyone?

Of course, the American auto giants

had their own considerable fi repower,

with GM’s huge new-model menagerie

fronted by a fully redesigned Corvette

– shown as a mouth-watering Stingray

that, alas, will not be built in right-

hand drive.

Ford showed the way to its all-

important next F-Series with the

Atlas concept and, as something of a

counterbalance, uncovered its fi rst small

Lincoln, while Jeep revealed important

developments for models that will soon

be heading Down Under.

Yet this year’s Detroit show was more

than a mere taste of things to come. It

was a supersized demonstration of

just how important America is to the

motoring world.

Read on...

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Jan 17, 2013 Page 2

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

HONDA’S slow-drip reveal of its long-

gestating mid-engined all-wheel-drive

supercar continued with a surprise

cabin “concept” unveiling by its Acura

division at this week’s North American

International Auto Show, a year after

the exterior was revealed at the same

show.

Described as offering “a glimpse

at one potential direction for the next

NSX’s interior design”, the Detroit

show car’s innards build on the

fl owing T-shaped simplicity of the

original, albeit in contemporary form

to refl ect the second-generation NSX’s

sophisticated hybrid engineering and

lightweight aluminium body structure.

Paying lip service to the fi rst NSX

of 1989, a horizontal console spine

bisects a pair of sculptured sports seats,

accentuating the concept car’s lowness,

while a myriad of advanced electronics

and a large control screen steep the

layout fi rmly in the 21st century.

The company says the interior

package “boasts outstanding visibility, a

strong driving position and an intuitive

‘Simple Sports Interface’ that minimises

interior clutter, allowing the driver to

focus on the driving experience”.

“Consistent with the spirit of the

original NSX, Honda’s designers have

strived to deliver synergy between man

and machine,” Acura said.

Along with the interior debut,

the Detroit reveal also included

computerised driving footage of the

NSX concept, highlighting the design

on the move as well as the level of

dynamic capability to expect when the

vehicle fi nally reaches production in

late 2014 or 2015.

The fi nal production car will be a

petrol-electric hybrid that will include

dual motors driving the front wheels,

with a direct-injection V6 and an

electric motor in combination driving

the rear axle via a seven-speed dual-

clutch automatic transmission.

Whether the NSX II comes to

Australia is not yet known as the

supercar is being developed by a US-

led team and will be built at a new

production facility in Ohio under the

North American-only ‘Acura’ label,

whereas the original was made in Japan

by Honda.

Honda Australia public relations

manager Melissa Cross said no decision

has yet been made on if or when the

mid-engined supercar might come here.

BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

ACURA NSXX

NSX

THE next-generation Honda MDX

seven-seater SUV will be available

in cheaper, more-effi cient front-drive

guise for the fi rst time when it launches

in the US by the middle of 2013, but an

Australian launch appears unlikely.

Honda’s US luxury arm Acura this

week pulled the covers from a “more

refi ned and alluring” production-ready

MDX ‘prototype’ at the Detroit motor

show, promising the new model will

make advancements in cabin packaging,

driving dynamics and fuel economy.

Longer but lower than the current

MDX, Acura said the sleeker and more

aerodynamic new model would have

greater second- and third-row seat space.

No interior images were issued, but

the company promises it will be more

luxurious, comfortable and quiet.MIKE COSTELLO

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

ACURA MDX

MDX

Jan 17, 2013 Page 3

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AUDI has unleashed the hardcore RS7

Sportback, its twin-turbo V8-powered

rival for the BMW M6 Gran Coupe and

Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG.

The hottest version of Audi’s niche

fi ve-door A7 coupe was revealed at this

week’s Detroit motor show, emerging

hot on the heels of the third-generation

RS6 Avant revealed overseas last month.

First Australian deliveries of the

RS7 Sportback will hit showrooms in

early 2014, where it will join the RS6

Avant (set for launch in late 2013), RS4

Avant (due early 2013) and RS5 coupe

(already on sale).

Local pricing will not be revealed

until closer to launch, but the RS7

will supplant the limited-edition and

comparatively tame S7 (priced from

$179,900) as the range fl agship.

As with the new RS6 wagon, power

for the RS7 Sportback comes from a

twin-turbo 4.0-litre TFSI V8 engine

producing 412kW between 5700 and

6700rpm, with 700Nm of torque from

just 1750rpm, driving through all four

wheels via Audi’s 60:40 rear-biased

quattro all-wheel-drive system.

This is some 103kW and 150Nm

more than the lower-tuned version of the

same engine used in the S7 Sportback.

The RS7 matches its load-lugging

RS6 sibling for speed with its claimed

zero-to-100km/h sprint time of just 3.9

seconds – three tenths faster than the

rear-drive BMW M6 Gran Coupe and

updated Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG,

both of which also premiered in Detroit

this year.

The RS7’s sprint time equals

Porsche’s fl agship Panamera turbo,

but neither match Mercedes’ special

430kW/800Nm S-Model CLS, which

takes the cake with a time of just 3.6

seconds.

Top speed for the RS7 is electronically

limited to 250km/h, but can be stretched

to 305km/h for extra cost as part of a

“dynamic plus” package

MIKE COSTELLO

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

AUDI RS7 SPORTBACKK

RS7

A NEW petrol-powered version of

Audi’s SQ5 super-SUV unveiled at the

Detroit motor show launch this week is

not destined for Australia, but don’t be

surprised if the engine turns up here at

some point.

The beefed-up supercharged direct-

injection 3.0-litre V6 in the new left-

hand-drive-only SQ5 3.0 TFSI packs

260kW of power and 470Nm of torque

– 15kW and 30Nm more than the

version currently employed in the silky

S5 coupe and S4 sedan.

Audi Australia is tight-lipped on the

chances of the uprated engine replacing

the 245kW/440Nm unit in S5, S4 or

any other Audi model in this market

any time soon, but has not ruled it out,

either.

In the petrol SQ5, the revised V6

propels the hottest version of Audi’s

recently facelifted mid-sized Q5 SUV

from zero to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds –

0.4 seconds slower than the lighter and

more aerodynamic S5.

The SQ5 TFSI is aimed squarely at

markets that favour petrol motivation,

such as the United States, China and

Japan, with the diesel SQ5 carrying the

fl ag in Europe and Australia.

Here, the SQ5 TDI will land in

showrooms in the second quarter of this

year, likely priced just under $100,000

– a premium of up to $25,000 over the

current Q5 TDI fl agship.

Unusually, the 230kW bi-turbo

3.0-litre V6 SQ5 TDI is faster in

the 0-100km/h sprint than the petrol

version.

Based on fi gures released for the

latter last week, the oil-burner stops

the clocks at 5.1 seconds – a couple of

tenths quicker than the supercharged

petrol model.

The extra oomph comes courtesy of

650Nm of torque – 180Nm more than

the petrol V6 – that more than makes up

for a 20kW shortfall in power.

RON HAMMERTON

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

AUDI SQ5 3.0 TFSII

SQ5

Jan 17, 2013 Page 4

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HOLLYWOOD – your car is ready.

German-owned British luxury car-

maker Bentley has dropped the top on

the world’s fastest four-seater ragtop,

the 325km/h Continental GT Speed

Convertible, at this week’s Detroit

motor show.

Capable of blasting from standstill

to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds – faster by

0.3 seconds than a Porsche Carrera

S Cabriolet – the 2.4-tonne beast can

whistle past 160km/h in 9.7 seconds.

The convertible is powered by

the same 460kW/800Nm twin-turbo

6.0-litre W12 engine as the Continental

GT Speed coupe that was unveiled at

last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed

in England and arrived in Australia in

late 2012 with a pricetag of $450,000

(plus on-road costs).

Peak torque of 800Nm arrives at

2000rpm and continues all the way

to 5000rpm “for effortless, refi ned

performance at all times”.

Like the coupe version, it uses ZF’s

ubiquitous eight-speed automatic

transmission and continuous all-

wheel drive.

Bentley says the transmission was

one of the major contributors to 15 per

cent fuel consumption savings over the

previous-generation Speed, along with

energy recuperation.

At 150kg heavier than the GT Speed

coupe, the Speed convertible is naturally

thirstier than the hard-top, slurping 14.9

litres per 100km on the combined cycle

(coupe: 14.5L/100km).

Perched on massive 21-inch wheels

with a unique design for the soft-top

model, the GT Speed Convertible’s

ride height is lowered 10mm over

the standard Continental GT, with

computer-controlled self-levelling air

suspension and active dampers for

improved handling.

RON HAMMERTON

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE

GT Speed Convertible

BMW has revealed its fastest four-door

autobahn burner, the M6 Gran Coupe.

Revealed last month and making

its world debut at this week’s Detroit

motor show, the slope-backed, coupe-

style sedan will complete the BMW M6

trifecta when it lands in Australia in the

third quarter of 2013 to join the two-

door M6 Coupe and Convertible that

arrived in November.

Australia’s fi rst deliveries are

scheduled for March production,

probably arriving in Australia mid-year

for a July or August showroom debut.

Although pricing will not be revealed

until closer to launch, BMW Australia

expects the M6 Gran Coupe to slot

between the $292,500 M6 Coupe and

$308,500 M6 Convertible.

The twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 Gran

Coupe can scurry from zero to 100km/h

in the same 4.2 seconds as the M6

Coupe, making it one tenth faster than

the existing swiftest BMW sedan, the

M5 (4.3 seconds).

It is also two tenths of a second

quicker in the sprint than the car that

many will consider its closest rival,

the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG (4.4

seconds), although not as quick as the

considerably more expensive Porsche

Panamera Turbo (3.9).

The M6 Gran Coupe shares the same

top-of-the-tree blown S63 TwinPower

V8 as the other M6 variants and M5

sedan, producing 412kW of power and

680Nm of torque.

RON HAMMERTON

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

BMW M6 GRAN COUPEE

M6 Gran Coupe

Jan 17, 2013 Page 5

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BMW has applied a smattering of small

updates to the Z4 roadster and will offer

more customisation options such as

contrasting roof colours when facelifted

models arrive Down Under early in the

third quarter of this year.

The minor cosmetic interior and

exterior tweaks were unveiled at this

week’s Detroit motor show, where the

Z4 was displayed along with exciting

new BMW metal including the 4 Series

(as reported last issue in full detail) and

fi re-breathing M6 Gran Coupe.

Z4 updates include new LED

headlights, redesigned vents on the

front guards, additional gloss black

interior trim, new alloy wheel styles and

additional colour schemes including

the Valencia Orange fi rst seen on the 1

Series M Coupe.

However, the most signifi cant change

– a new engine option that creates the

new sDrive18i variant – is not coming

to Australia.

It is based around a 115kW low-

blow version of the N20 2.0-litre four-

cylinder turbo-petrol engine that powers

the 20i and 28i variants.

BMW Australia product

communications manager Scott

Croaker told GoAuto a new Z4 Design

Pure Traction package, which adds a bit

of fl ash with black and orange interior

highlights plus contrast stitching and

piping, will be available here.

He said the pack “creates a whole new

character for the car, which is different

to what we’ve had previously”, and

explained that the minor Z4 update is

“more about being able to express the

character of the car than changing the

car itself”.

HAITHAM RAZAGUI

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

BMW Z4

CADILLAC fi nally presented a

production-ready ELR – the luxury

brand’s version of GM’s Volt range-

extender hybrid – at the Detroit motor

show this week, some four years after

presenting the car in concept form.

The ELR will be produced “in limited

numbers” and go on sale in the US in

early 2014, followed by China and

Europe, but will not come to Australia

any time soon after GM Holden

abandoned plans to introduce the brand

here in early 2009.

Despite the cost and embarrassment

of having to dump Cadillac just two

weeks before the brand was due to

launch in Australia, GM Holden

managing director Mike Devereux was

this week quoted by Fairfax Media as

saying talks were taking place with

the global Cadillac group aimed at

reassessing the franchise.

In Detroit for the annual motor show,

Mr Devereux said Cadillac could be

launched in Australia before the end of

the decade, but only if the conditions

were absolutely right, including a

full range of models in right-hand

drive and in specifi cations to suit the

Australian market.

DAVID HASSALL

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

CADILLAC ELR

CADDY FINALLY TO GET ITS ‘VOLT’: CLICK HEREELR

Z4

Jan 17, 2013 Page 6

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

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CHEVROLET has referenced

Corvette history by reviving the

Stingray nameplate for its new-

generation supercar, which has taken

its fi rst public bow at the Detroit motor

show this week ahead of a third-quarter

United States showroom debut.

GM Holden external communications

director Craig Cheetham confi rmed to

GoAuto that, again, Australia is “highly

unlikely” to receive the new Corvette

– apart from the usual handful of grey

imports – and was unaware of any plans

to produce the car in right-hand drive.

The new Corvette will have the most

powerful standard engine in the model’s

history – yet is also expected to be the

most fuel-effi cient.

The beefed-up engine is combined

with lighter weight, increased structural

rigidity, race-bred aerodynamics and

plenty of onboard technology.

General Motors vice-president of

global design Ed Welburn said this

all adds up to a car that lives up to

the legacy of Chevrolet’s iconic 1963

Corvette Sting Ray.

“Stingray is one of the hallowed

names in automotive history,” he said.

“We knew we couldn’t use the Stingray

name unless the new car truly lived up to

the legacy. The result is a new Corvette

Stingray that breaks from tradition,

while remaining instantly recognisable

as a Corvette the world over.”

The new 335kW/610Nm 6.2-litre V8

engine maintains the push-rod valve

actuation system typical of Chevy

‘small block’ engines but combines

direct injection, cylinder deactivation,

continuously variable valve timing and

an “advanced combustion system” to

produce more power while reducing

fuel consumption and emissions.

This potent powerplant is odds-on

to fi nd its way under the bonnet of

future HSV products in what could be

a swansong for the homegrown muscle-

car range if the Holden Commodore

is discontinued as expected when

the upcoming VF’s lifecycle is over

toward the end of this decade.

HAITHAM RAZAGUI

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAYY

Corvette Stingray

Jan 17, 2013 Page 7

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FORD has opened a window into the

styling and technology of its vital next-

generation pick-up trucks with the Atlas

concept unveiled at this week’s Detroit

motor show.

The concept provides clear hints as

to the styling of the next F-Series full-

size truck, the kind of fuel-effi ciency

technologies to be expected, and

innovations that improve the vehicle’s

ease of use in a working environment.

Ford Australia brand communications

manager Neil McDonald told GoAuto

the chances of the next F-Series being

offi cially imported to this country are slim.

“As it’s intrinsically a North

American truck, as far as we know there

are no plans to build a right-hand-drive

version,” he said.

Almost 650,000 F-Series trucks were

sold in the United States last year and

Ford says the Atlas “showcases the

design, capability, fuel effi ciency and

smart technologies that will defi ne

future pick-ups”.

The Atlas is instantly recognisable

as a Ford truck through its bold grille

with vertical ‘nostril’ outer intakes

and stacked headlights.

Mr McDonald described the styling

as “a fresh take on existing signature

Ford truck design elements” and said

some elements could appear on Ford’s

next-generation trucks.

However, the concept also has many

hidden features including retractable

side steps, a ladder rack integrated

with the tailgate, and ramps that extend

from the bodywork for loading wheeled

items such as dirt bikes into the tray.

Technology to assist with towing

include Dynamic Hitch Assist, which

helps the driver line up the towball

with the trailer coupling by providing

visual cues on the reversing camera

display, while Trailer Backup Assist

helps drivers overcome the daunting

task of reversing a trailer “with the

twist of a knob”.

HAITHAM RAZAGUI

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

FORD ATLAS

Atlas

Jan 17, 2013 Page 8

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HONDA has confirmed its new baby

SUV will be built in right-hand drive,

opening the door for sales of the Subaru

XV competitor in Australia within

about 12 months.

Unveiled as the Urban SUV concept

at the Detroit motor show this week, the

sub-CR-V crossover will be launched

first in Japan by the end of this year

before being rolled out to other markets

in 2014.

Honda has confirmed the little

Jazz-based SUV will be built at the

company’s new Mexican small-car

plant as well as Japan, where it will be

made alongside the Jazz (known as the

Fit in the latter market) and in right-

hand drive.

The Mexican plant does not come on

stream for North American supply until

2014, when it will start building Jazz, a

related sedan in the vein of the Asian-

built City and the new small SUV.

Honda Australia public relations

manager Melissa Cross told GoAuto the

small SUV was high on the company’s

wish list for local launch, but timing and

source factory were yet to be confirmed.

The Urban SUV is likely to turn up

under another name when it finally

goes on sale, with some journalists

speculating the revival of the HR-V

moniker.

Globally, the new vehicle will be

offered with three types of powertrain

– petrol, diesel and hybrid – from

Honda’s new Earth Dreams range.

RON HAMMERTON

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

HONDA URBAN SUV

Urban SUVHONDA POINTS TO BABY SUV: CLICK HERE

HYUNDAI has previewed cutting-

edge future technologies and a classy

new design direction at this week’s

Detroit motor show with the HCD-14

Genesis concept.

The concept points to the design of

Hyundai’s next-generation Genesis

luxury sedan, which will debut at

Detroit in a year’s time and has a

chance of eventually going on sale in

Australia as it will be engineered for

right-hand drive.

Hyundai Australia public relations

general manager Bill Thomas told

GoAuto the local operation is looking

at the business case for importing the

rear-wheel-drive sedan.

“We are considering the four-door

(Genesis) but are not in a position to

confirm that yet because we have to

look at it in some detail,” he said.

Based on its lack of luxury brand

image, Hyundai would have to

significantly undercut similar-sized

rivals from the established premium

brands in Australia to stand a chance of

selling the Genesis here.

In the United States, the Genesis line-

up starts at $US34,200 ($A32,390) with

a 3.8-litre V6 engine, topping out at

$US46,800 for the 5.0-litre V8.

For comparison, the similar-sized

Lexus GS starts at $US47,250 with the

3.5-litre V6 ($A89,400 in Australia).

With Hyundai’s most expensive model

in Australia being the top-spec Santa Fe

at $49,990 plus on-road costs, Hyundai

Australia is looking at a significant step

up in price for the Genesis.

Further complicating things, being

a premium niche model with unique

drivetrain, the Genesis would probably

have to be sold through a limited number

of specialist dealerships, as Holden

does with the Volt range-extender EV.

HAITHAM RAZAGUI

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

HYUNDAI HCD-14 GENESIS

HCD-14HYUNDAI TEASES NEXT GENESIS: CLICK HERE

Jan 17, 2013 Page 9

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Products and people you can count on.Fuchs, the world’s largest independent lubricant supplier with global headquarters in Germany, has developed and manufactured technologically advanced lubricants in Australia for over 75 years. FUCHS has a huge range of automotive lubricants to cover any application. Along with the best support team to cover you and your dealership.

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INFINITI’S new Q50 sedan that made

its debut at this week’s Detroit motor

show will introduce the company’s

world-fi rst steer-by-wire system when

it is rolled out globally this year.

The technology – called Infi niti Direct

Adaptive Steering – will be optional

on the replacement for the mid-sized

G sedan that will take on the likes of

BMW’s 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz’s

C-Class and the Lexus IS in Australia,

where it is expected to be launched

either late this year or early 2014.

The Q50 – the replacement for the

G sedan in Infi niti’s line-up in North

America and Europe – is a key element

in the global expansion plans for

Nissan’s prestige car arm that wants 10

per cent of the world luxury car market

by 2016.

The steering system uses

electronically controlled actuators to

turn the front wheels, dispensing with

direct mechanical links between the

steering wheel and the tyres.

Infi niti says the system “transmits

the driver’s intentions to the wheels

faster than a mechanical system”, while

also allowing the driver to customise

steering settings to personal taste.

When it was announced by Infi niti

parent company Nissan last year,

reports said the system could override

unsafe movements of the steering

wheel, such as a wild swing on the

tiller at highway speeds.

RON HAMMERTON

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

INFINITI Q500

Q50Q50 SEDAN LEAKS AHEAD OF SHOW: CLICK HERE

JEEP has taken the covers from an

upgraded Compass compact SUV at

this week’s Detroit motor show, ahead

of an Australian arrival in the second

half of this year.

Revised front and rear styling bring

the Compass into line with more recent

models in the Jeep stable, while buyers

should also appreciate key specifi cation

changes including a new six-speed

automatic gearbox option that replaces

the current continuously variable

transmission (CVT).

Already used in the Dodge Dart sold

overseas, Jeep says the ‘6F24’ six-

speed self-shifter was independently

developed by Powertech (a Hyundai

subsidiary) and will help provide better

fuel effi ciency and overall engine

performance, as well as reduced noise,

vibration and harshness.

The transmission is paired with the

SUV’s 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre four-cylinder

petrol engines, with a fi ve-speed manual

remaining standard fare.

Australian specifi cations are still to be

confi rmed, but the new automatic will also

be applied to sister model Patriot, which

has the same mechanical confi guration.

In other improvements to the

MY2014 Compass and Patriot revealed

in Motown, safety equipment has

been boosted with standard front seat-

mounted side airbags and a reversing

camera. The latter will be available as

an option in North America, but could

arrive in Australia as standard fi t.

TERRY MARTIN

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

JEEP COMPASSS

Compass

Jan 17, 2013 Page 10

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Ser ious about Succe s s ®www.moorestephens.com.au

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Moore Stephens is a network of independent firms which are independent members of Moore Stephens International limited – members in principal cities throughout the world.

Brett Fowler, Partner John Gavljak, Partner Moore Stephens (Melbourne) Moore Stephens (Sydney)0418 187 759 0499 773 881 bfowler@moorestephens.com.au jgavljak@moorestephens.com.au

Are you being left in the dark?Do you know what is around the next corner?Click here to sign up to the Moore Stephens quarterly automotive newsletter. A key industry publication that will help you stay one step ahead. And in this industry, staying ahead of the game, is often a game changer.

Contact John or Brett to arrange a time to discuss.

KIA will branch out into more markets

with an upgraded Cadenza luxury sedan

revealed at this week’s Detroit motor

show, but Australian sales remain off

the table.

At about the same size as a Holden

Commodore, the upmarket Cadenza fi ts

into the global Kia range between the

Optima mid-sizer and fl agship Quoris

limousine.

While the previous model was limited

to markets such as Korea – where it is

called K7 – and the Middle East, the

facelifted version will be introduced to

a greater range of global markets, most

importantly the US.

The move to branch out into more

markets comes as a result of Kia seeking

to move further into the premium car

market as it matures as a brand.

Kia Motors America executive

vice-president of marketing and

communications Michael Sprague said

the company had “seen an increasing

number of customers in our outlets

looking for a sedan with even more

upscale amenities and technology”.

Revised styling brings the car closer

into line with Kia’s new corporate

identity, with the new model getting

the familiar ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, a new

bonnet and boot lid, and more angular

headlights.

Refl ecting its position as a premium

model, the Cadenza comes standard

with an eight-inch touchscreen, 550-

Watt sound system, dual-zone climate

control, ventilated rear seats and

keyless start.

Higher-level versions offer features

including a panoramic sunroof, adaptive

headlights, Nappa leather trim, powered

rear sunshade, 19-inch alloy wheels,

adaptive cruise control, blind-spot

warning and lane-departure control.

MIKE COSTELLO

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

KIA CADENZAA

Cadenza

THE introduction of a new standard

eight-speed automatic transmission

is the headline act of a Jeep Grand

Cherokee upgrade previewed at this

week’s North American International

Auto Show in Detroit.

First examples of the revised range

are expected to hit Australia in the

third quarter of 2013, where they will

be joined by facelifted versions of the

smaller Compass and Patriot SUVs also

revealed this week in Detroit.

The mechanical upgrade gives the

popular American large SUV up to fi ve

per cent better fuel economy thanks to

its wider spread of ratios and standard

Eco mode, and improves towing

capacity by as much as 24 per cent on

standard models and 44 per cent on the

fl agship SRT.

At present, Grand Cherokee models

sold here feature a fi ve-speed auto,

apart from the 5.7-litre V8 Limited and

Overland. Even the hardcore 6.4-litre

344kW Grand Cherokee SRT8 persists

with a fi ve-speed unit.

The new transmission – which is

already used on the latest Chrysler

300 in petrol V6 form – comes with

steering-mounted paddle shifters

while a lower crawl ratio has been

added for off-road use.

MIKE COSTELLO

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

Grand CherokeeCHEROKEE SIGNALS JEEP PUSH: CLICK HERE

Jan 17, 2013 Page 11

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Engineered like no other?Marketing Manager

Working with one of the world’s best-known brands is an outstanding way to drive your career. We’re looking for an experienced marketer with an established track record to join us at Morrison Motors.

Prospective candidates should have excellent communication skills, a soundknowledge of marketing principles as well as proven experience in a diversemarketing role. The ideal candidate will have the necessary tertiary qualifi cations and relevant retail experience.

To apply for this highly sought after position please contact Michael Cole on 02 9468 8888 or email michael.cole@morrisons.com.au.

A D

aim

ler B

rand

748 Pacific Highway, Chatswood 2067 Tel: 9468 8888 DL485

LEXUS Australia has confi rmed that

the fi rst production hybrid IS sedan will

make it to Australian shores when the

range arrives here in the third quarter of

this year.

The new IS300h variant, revealed

at the Detroit motor show this week,

packs a petrol-electric drivetrain with

target fuel consumption of less than 4.3

litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of

less than 100 grams per kilometre.

It is based around a 2.5-litre Atkinson-

cycle four-cylinder petrol engine with

direct injection that combines with an

electric motor to send total system output

of 162kW to the rear wheels via a planetary

gearset to provide a continuously variable

transmission (CVT).

According to overseas reports, the

hybrid drivetrain is shared with the

Japanese-market Toyota Crown sedan, in

which the petrol engine produces 220Nm

of torque and the electric motor 299Nm.

For comparison, the most effi cient

BMW 3 Series sold in Australia, the

turbo-diesel 318d sedan, consumes

4.5L/100km with engine outputs of

105kW and 320Nm, while the most

frugal Audi A4 uses 4.8L/100km and

produces 130kW and 380Nm.

Outputs of the 2.5-litre IS250 and

3.5-litre IS350 variants remain at

154kW/253Nm and 233kW/378Nm

respectively.

HAITHAM RAZAGUI

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

LEXUS ISS

IS300h LEXUS UNCOVERS IS SEDAN: CLICK HERE

FORD’S luxury brand Lincoln has

unveiled an all-new compact SUV as

part of its reinvention as a more dynamic

and engaging marque that appeals to a

broad cross-section of car buyers.

Based on Ford Motor Company’s

global C-segment platform, which also

underpins the Ford Focus small car

and Escape/Kuga SUV, the MKC has

emerged 12 months after Australian chief

designer Max Wolff revealed Lincoln’s

fi rst brand-redefi ning new model, the

MKZ mid-sized luxury sedan.

The MKZ was presented at last

year’s Detroit motor show as a

production-oriented concept and is

now entering showrooms in North

America, with a rollout in China

commencing next year.

The MKC will follow the same route,

with a presentation in fi nal production

trim expected at the New York auto

show later in the year before sales

commence early in 2014.

Ford management confi rmed in

Detroit that the concept – Lincoln’s

fi rst small vehicle – signals its entry

into the US luxury-car market’s fastest-

growing segment, with the model

standing well above Blue Oval-badged

offerings with “signature content” and

a “suite of technology” (dubbed the

“Lincoln Experiences”).

TERRY MARTIN

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

LINCOLN MKCC

MKC

IS SERIES WAGON COMEBACK: CLICK HERE

Add some zoom-zoom to your career

Join the top selling automotive import Brand in Australia

Exciting opportunity to become part of the Mazda team in Sydney, Brisbane or Perth

This role located at the State headquarters of Mazda NSW which is home to a dedicated team working with a high performing Dealer network to achieve mutual business objectives. The Dealer Business Manager (DBM) position is the key interface between Mazda and our Dealer network, and is tasked with:

• Developing strong working relationships with Dealers in all areas of their business, including sales (new and used), service and parts

• Monitoring Dealer performance against KPIs and working with Dealers to plan and implement collaborative business solutions

• Supporting Dealers in areas of marketing, business planning, retailing and supply

• Helping Dealers to fulfill our Corporate Identification requirements

• Assisting Dealer teams build their

product and business knowledge

• Implementing strategic business programs at the Dealer level

This role is based in Kingsgrove in Sydney’s south west, and the successful applicant will report directly to the NSW State Manager. Regional travel within NSW is required from time to time.

Applicants should be qualified with a suitable business, marketing or commerce degree. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate strong communication and relationship building skills, have excellent time management and a flair for analysing business performance. Experience in the automotive industry is not required, but may be advantageous.

To apply, send your resume and a covering letter or email to careers@mazda.com.au quoting the reference SY-DBM-01 in the subject line by Friday, 1 February, 2013.

The Mazda QLD and WA offices are home to a dedicated team working with highly performing Dealer networks to achieve mutual business objectives. The Technical Field Manager position is a key role in this team, which will:

• Work with Dealer service teams to resolve technical issues

• Work with Mazda’s Customer Services team to negotiate outstanding customer resolutions

• Assist in the assessment and validation of warranty claims

• Assist Dealer service teams to build their technical capacity, through training and mentoring

• Apply a strong customer focus to assess and address concerns of Mazda customers

• Assist with the preparation of the Press vehicles

The roles report to the respective State Manager and regional travel with the home state will be required from time to time.

Queensland Position: The Queensland role is based in Eight Mile Plains in Brisbane’s south.

Western Australia Position: The Western Australia role is based in Kewdale in Perth’s northeast.

Applicants should be qualified in a relevant automotive trade or as an automotive engineer. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate strong communication skills, customer facing experience, have an analytical and systematic approach to finding solutions, the drive to achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction and excellent time management.

To apply, send your resume and a covering letter or email to careers@mazda.com.au quoting the references

QLD-FMT-01 in the subject line by Friday, 1 February, 2013 (Queensland position)

WA-FMT-01 in the subject line by Friday, 1 February, 2013 (Western Australia position)

Technical F

ield

Manager

(QLD &

WA)

Dealer Busin

ess

Manager

(NSW

)

• Support our Dealers in resolving technical issues

• Help our Dealer network achieve even higher levels of productivity and customer satisfactions

• Support our Dealers in achieving sustainable business and brand growth

• Add value across diverse areas of the retail and wholesale business

Jan 17, 2013 Page 13

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Unlimited Career Opportunities:Waverley BMW.

One of Australia’s more progressive multi- franchise groups is preparing to launch its newest dealership, Waverley BMW, located at the gateway to Melbourne’s south east corridor.

The Jowett Motor Group seeks people who are as passionate about motoring as they are about achieving success from day one, while providing a premium brand experience. We seek outstanding results-oriented profes-sionals, preferably with prestige dealership experience and with entrepreneurial vision, flair and a strong commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate a track record of success as it relates to their specific discipline and will be remunerated accordingly.

The following once-in-a-lifetime “ground floor” opportunities are available:

> General Manager> General Sales Manager> New Car Manager> New Car Sales People> Used Car Manager> Used Car Sales People> Finance and Insurance Manager> Aftercare Consultant> Marketing Manager> Service Manager> Service Advisors> Workshop Controller> Technicians> Parts Manager> Parts Interpreter> Receptionist

If you’re ready to take up the challenge, email your resumé with a covering letter to Mr Tony Jowett, Managing Director, Jowett Motor Group, careers@jmgpl.com.au.

The Jowett Motor Group is an equal opportunity employer, with its own, unique culture in automotive retailing and accordingly, seeks the best, most talented people available. Resumés will be treated in the strictest confidence.

LMCT8953 JMG5453JH

MASERATI has unveiled its lighter,

larger and more luxurious new-

generation Quattroporte – the fi rst in

a wave of new models the company

hopes will contribute to an eight-fold

increase in global sales by 2015.

The sexy Italian-built super-sedan

made its formal debut at the Detroit motor

show this week, and is confi rmed to arrive

in Australia in the third quarter of 2013.

Confi rming rumours, Maserati says

entry versions of the Quattroporte will

be available with a twin-turbo 3.0-litre

V6 engine that will effectively replace

the 4.7-litre unit, while a potent twin-

turbo small-capacity 3.8-litre V8 will

become the new range fl agship.

The direct-injection V6 produces a

claimed 301kW of power at 5500rpm

and 550Nm of torque between 1500 and

5000rpm.

Maserati claims a zero-100km/h

sprint time of 4.9 seconds for the

(left-hand-drive-only) all-wheel-drive

versions, or 5.1 seconds for the rear-

drive models that will come here.

The twin-scroll forced-induction

V8, which shares most of its key

components with the V6, punches out

390kW of power at a high 6800rpm

and a thumping 650Nm from 2250 to

3500rpm (expanded to 710Nm when

overboost is engaged).

This is 59kW and 150Nm up on

the previous 4.7 engine from the

Quattroporte GTS and, coupled with a

weight loss of about 100kg over the old

model (to 1900kg), cuts the 0-100km/h

sprint time to 4.7 seconds.

As a result, the new V8 version is

Maserati’s fastest-accelerating four-

door model. At the same time, it

improves fuel effi ciency and emissions

by a claimed 20 per cent, to a combined-

cycle 11.8 litres per 100km.

Both engines were designed by

Maserati Powertrain and assembled

by Ferrari at Maranello. To retain the

signature Maser exhaust bark, the

company will fi t both engines with an

active exhaust system with pneumatic

valves in the pipes in each bank.

Each is matched exclusively to

the same ZF eight-speed automatic

transmission found in a range of

BMWs and the new Jaguar F-Type. The

transmission has fi ve shift modes, from

relaxed and effi cient ICE (Increased

Control Effi ciency) to performance-

oriented Manual Sport.

Naturally, the new unit has faster

shifts than the six-speeder in the

previous model, is more fuel effi cient

and reduces noise, vibration and

harshness (NVH) levels.

MIKE COSTELLO

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

MASERATI QUATTROPORTE

Quattroporte

Jan 17, 2013 Page 14

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

MERCEDES-BENZ has offi cially

revealed the CLA sedan – a new model

line aimed at customers who “never

intended buying” a Benz.

Designed as a four-door coupe in the

style of its larger and more premium

CLS sibling, as well as rivals such as

the Volkswagen CC, the CLA will hit

European showrooms in April before

arriving in Australia by the end of 2013.

It is tipped to be priced from close to

$50,000.

Presented at a ‘closed-door’ media

event on the eve of this week’s Detroit

motor show, the latest niche model to

roll down the Mercedes production

line retains the curvaceous, low-slung

design of the Concept Style Coupe

revealed in Beijing last April, and picks

up a number of styling similarities to

the new A-Class hatch with which it

shares its platform.

These include larger and more angular

headlights and grille (with diamond-

shaped mesh) than those found on the

Beijing concept, and more pronounced

‘character lines’ running along the

pillar-less doors.

Benz describes the design as

“energetic” and “youthful”.

Daimler AG chairman Dieter Zetsche

said audience response to the concept in

Beijing had been “overwhelming”, and

that “the most frequent comment by

far was ‘please put this car into series

production’ – that’s precisely what we

are doing now”.

An additional benefi t of the sleek

styling is its aerodynamic rating,

which at 0.23Cd sets a claimed new

benchmark for production vehicles.

The greener BlueEffi ciency version to

be launched in Europe in June will cut

this even further to 0.22.

Unlike the concept version, the

production CLA gets fi ve seats rather

than four, while the instrument panel is

almost identical to the A-Class.

Design features include distinctive

round air vents, a free-standing screen

and extensive metallic fi nish resulting

in a “cool touch”.

The multimedia system in the CLA,

as featured in other Mercedes models,

features Comand functionality with

internet tethering and live traffi c

updates, plus Siri voice-control

integration.

MIKE COSTELLO

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

MERCEDES-BENZ CLA

CLA

SWOOPING CLA SPRUNG: CLICK HERE

MERCEDES-BENZ has unveiled an

updated CLS63 AMG range using the

same 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 as the just-

revealed E63 AMG.

The German car-maker will follow

the same strategy for the CLS as it has

with the 2013 E63, introducing a new,

more powerful ‘S-Model’ variant in both

coupe and Shooting Brake body styles.

Power output for the new CLS63 AMG

is identical to its E63 E-Class-based

sibling, with the standard CLS63 pumping

out 410kW and 720Nm of torque while

the S-Model packs an even bigger punch

with 430kW and 800Nm of torque.

This marks an increase of 24kW

over the existing model that produces

386kW.

The 2013 CLS63 matches the E63

AMG in the 0-100km/h sprint with a time

of 4.2 seconds for the base coupe – two

tenths faster than the previous model.

Dashing from zero to 100km/h in the

range-topping S-Model coupe takes just

3.6 seconds while the Shooting Brake

models are 0.1 seconds off the time of

their coupe twins.

Mercedes-Benz Australia manager

of corporate communications Jerry

Stamoulis said the likely local release

for the CLS63 AMG range would be

around the second half of the year.

The CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake

was originally scheduled to go on sale

in Australia around March this year

following the launch of the standard

CLS Shooting Brake range in December

last year.

Mr Stamoulis said that the exact local

model line-up was yet to be fi nalised,

but that Mercedes-Benz Australia

would hold out for the updated version.

“We will be waiting for the updated

Shooting Brake CLS63 before

launching it,” he said.

TIM NICHOLSON

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63 AMG

CLS63 AMG

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIESSuzuki Australia Pty Ltd have a number of opportunities to join us and help to drive the further success of our brand.

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PARTS FIELD ADVISOR – Head Office, Laverton North, Victoria

TECHNICAL OPERATIONS MANAGER – Head Office, Laverton North, Victoria

DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER – Automobile (Western Region)

Jan 17, 2013 Page 16

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

POSITIONS VACANTWe have multiple positions available across Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane.

• General Sales Manager• New Car Sales Manager• Fleet Sales Manager• Service Manager

SYDNEY

CANBERRA

BRISBANE

w w w. a u t o m o t i v e s t a f f . c o m . a u33520

Jessica GoodmanNSW 0422 101 604

Mark PalmayNSW/ACT 0406 996 894

Ron GrantQLD 0435 741 002

Bobi PetkovskiNSW/ACT 0412 687 063

• New & Used Car Sales Consultant• Aftermarket Car Care Consultant• Stock Controller• Service Advisor

MERCEDES-BENZ will introduce

a new, more powerful 430kW variant

of its E63 AMG performance car to

its Australian line-up after the offi cial

unveiling of the facelifted E-Class range

at this week’s Detroit motor show.

The new ‘S-Model’ will be 20kW more

powerful than the current range-topping

E63 AMG Performance Pack that has an

already-respectable output of 410kW.

Standard E63 models will also

receive a boost from 386kW to 410kW,

with 720Nm of torque coming from

Mercedes’ 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 that is

carried over from the current model.

The refreshed E63 AMG sedan and

wagon join the new-look E-Class sedan,

wagon, coupe and cabriolet models in

Detroit.

Mercedes started the drip feed of

images in December when it released

shots of what will undoubtedly be

the volume-selling sedan and wagon

versions of the E-Class.

Internationally, the E63 AMG and the

S-Model will be available with AMG’s

4Matic all-wheel-drive system, but

Australia will miss out on the all-paw

system as it is not built in right-hand drive.

Mercedes-Benz Australia senior

manager of corporate communications

David McCarthy said that while a right-

hook AWD version was unlikely for the

2013 iteration, it could be on the agenda

for the next generation.

The design of the E63 is more aggressive

than previous versions of the car, with the

German marque incorporating AMG’s

new design philosophy into the exterior

of the new model.

TIM NICHOLSON

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

MERCEDES-BENZ E63 AMGG

E63 AMGFIRST LOOK AT BENZ E63 AMG: CLICK HERE

NOT long after spilling the beans on

the revised E-Class sedan and wagon

range ahead of its rollout at this week’s

Detroit motor show, Mercedes-Benz

earlier this month peeled back the cloak

of secrecy on the coupe and cabriolet

variants that also share the limelight at

America’s biggest auto expo.

The facelifted E-Class coupe and

cabriolet are due to land in Australia

in September, a few weeks after the

mid-year arrival of the updated sedan

and wagon versions of Mercedes’

mainstream mid-sizer.

The new models are eagerly awaited

locally, as the Mercedes E-Class coupe

and cabrio twins are the top sellers in

Australia’s $80,000-plus sportscar

class, despite a 25 per cent slump in

sales in 2012.

The two-door models share the

same new bonnet and single-lens LED

headlamps as the sedan and wagon, but

are separated by a striking single-blade

grille in place of the two-blade affair on

the four-door models.

Unsurprisingly, the coupe and

cabriolet also share the new powertrain

line-up and pioneering electronic safety

features, with the latter collectively

dubbed Intelligent Drive.

Anti-collision and driver drowsiness

detection systems will be standard on

the upgraded model, while a raft of other

systems will be available as options or

standard equipment on high-end models.

These include a system that can detect

and display no-overtaking signs, as well

as no-entry signs (in Europe, at least).

Adaptive headlights now are switched

permanently to high beam, with an anti-

dazzle feature masking the beam to prevent

oncoming drivers from being blinded.

An automated parking system allows

both parallel and end-on parking, while

the lane-keeping system can now not only

prevent the vehicle from leaving its lane

if the next lane is occupied by another

vehicle but also can stop the car wandering

out of its lane if another car is approaching.

RON HAMMERTON

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS COUPE, CABRIOLET

E-Class coupe

Jan 17, 2013 Page 17

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

MERCEDES-BENZ has taken the

unusual step of introducing 11 hi-tech

new features on its heavily revised

E-Class luxury sedan and wagon line-

up before it has even revealed the next-

generation S-Class limousine fl agship –

a model that has traditionally been fi rst

with the gadgets.

The facelifted E-Class sedan and

wagon will be launched in Australia in

mid-2013 following this week’s world

debut at the Detroit motor show, while

the S-Class will be launched in the

fourth quarter.

A suite of new driver aids and safety

features – which Benz calls ‘Intelligent

Drive’ – use dual digital cameras

positioned near the interior mirror,

working in tandem with an upgraded,

multi-stage radar system.

The upgrade to two cameras, each

set at a 45-degree angle with a vision

range of up to 500 metres, means that

oncoming and crossing vehicles can

be monitored from about 50 metres,

along with pedestrians, traffi c signs and

vehicles directly ahead as before.

A three-dimensional view of the road

ahead is processed and assessed using

algorithms that detect and classify

objects as well as monitoring their

movement.

The updated radar system brings

standard autonomous emergency

braking to the E-Class sedan and wagon

range, reducing the chance of rear-end

accidents.

A driver fatigue detection system

with adjustable sensitivity also

becomes standard, and has been

upgraded to warn of inattentiveness

and drowsiness across a wider speed

range, inform the driver about their

level of fatigue and how long they

have been driving since their last

break.

HAITHAM RAZAGUI

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS SEDAN, WAGON

E-Class sedan

A.P. EAGERS LIMITED

product, and you should consider it.”

Craig Fraser, Financial Controller, AP Eagers LimitedARE YOU READY TO organiseit ?

For a presentation please call Mark Degenhardt on 0412 847 172 or 02 9262 7357. Email: mark@organiseit.com.au www.organiseit.com.au

The P

aperless of ce solution that gets you organised.

E-Class wagon

MINI Australia will get its hands

on the hardcore John Cooper Works

version of the high-riding Paceman

coupe around mid-year, a few months

after the regular petrol range hits

showrooms in March.

Revealed last month ahead of its

global debut in the metal at this week’s

Detroit motor show, the hottest Paceman

features the same 160kW/280Nm

1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine as the

larger Countryman JCW – Mini’s most

powerful production model.

As reported, regular Paceman models

are expected to carry a price premium

of about $1500 on the comparative

Countryman four-door models. Should

this trend carry over to the JCW, expect

a pricetag pushing $60,000 for the

Paceman JCW, making it Australia’s

most expensive Mini.

The four-seat Sports Activity Coupe

will come standard with a front-biased

ALL4 all-wheel-drive system that

redirects engine torque to wherever it

detects loss of traction.

The punchy 1.6-litre engine is

matched to a six-speed manual gearbox,

but can also be had with an optional six-

speed automatic with paddle shifters.

The engine’s peak power of 160kW

arrives at 6000rpm, while torque of 280Nm

is available between 1900 and 5000rpm.

This can also be upped to 300Nm for short

bursts between 2100 and 4500rpm using

the transmission’s overboost function.

The claimed 0-100km/h sprint time

is an identical 6.9 seconds with either

transmission – one tenth faster than the

heavier Countryman, on its way to a top

speed of 226km/h.

Fuel consumption is listed at 8.0

litres per 100km on the combined

cycle with the manual gearbox, or

8.4L/100km with the automatic.

MIKE COSTELLO

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

MINI PACEMAN JCWW

Paceman JCW

Jan 17, 2013 Page 18

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

businessanAssetto help grow yourto help grow your

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seeking a new role or opportunity

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Preferably he is looking for a multi-franchise environment as he has a successful background in alarge multi-franchise, multi-site group, but, he also has experience in single-franchise, singlesites.

He continually challenges himself and his teams to adapt, to be forward-thinking and proactive,driving his dealerships to excellence and profit.

If you would like to enquire how he can be an asset to your senior management teamplease call 0419 309 743.

NISSAN has unveiled what it calls a

“provocative, energetic and engaging

– even polarising” crossover concept at

the Detroit motor show, saying it signals

the future direction of the company’s

crossover vehicle design.

Looking like a Dualis on steroids,

the fi ve-seat all-wheel-drive hybrid

Resonance is thought to preview the

next-generation Murano that is due to

hit showrooms in about 2014.

The nose is dominated by a new

interpretation of Nissan’s large

metallic-fi nished V-shaped grille, called

V-Motion. Lines formed by the grille

continue across the bonnet, ending

in exterior rearvision cameras at the

A-pillars.

Resonance’s grille is lit from within,

throwing a blue hue over the front of the

vehicle.

The concept is roughly the same size

as the current Murano, although it sits on

a 50mm-longer wheelbase, at 2825mm,

and is slightly longer and wider at

4841mm and 2000mm respectively.

No power, torque or performance

fi gures have been offered, but the

petrol-electric powertrain is based

around a 2.5-litre engine – probably

the Altima’s four-cylinder unit – and an

electric motor driving all four wheels

via dual clutches and a continuously

variable transmission (CVT).

The current second-generation

Murano that was launched in 2009 is

powered exclusively by Nissan’s VQ

3.5-litre V6 that pumps out 191kW

of power and 336Nm of torque and

connects to all four wheels via a CVT.RON HAMMERTON

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

NISSAN RESONANCE

ResonanceCONCEPT PREVIEWS 2014 MURANO: CLICK HERE

TOYOTA has given an insight into a

new, more aggressive Corolla sedan at

the Detroit motor show this week, just

months after the latest Corolla hatch

was launched in Australia.

Called the Corolla Furia, the sporty

four-door concept refl ects Toyota’s

ambition to attract younger buyers to

its best-selling model, especially in the

United States where the small car is

under siege from fresher rivals.

The sedan is expected to go into

production later this year, replacing

the old model that is currently selling

in parallel to the new 11th-generation

hatch in Australian showrooms.

Toyota Australia public relations

manager Mike Breen told GoAuto the

Corolla Furia concept was indicative of

the design of the next Corolla sedan that

is expected to go on sale in Australia in

the fi rst quarter of next year.

He confi rmed that the new sedan was

still on track for launch 12-18 months

after the hatch, as was intimated at the

hatch launch in October.

The new four-door model is shaping

up as distinctly different to the Euro-

style fi ve-door hatchback as it was

developed by a separate team under a

different chief engineer.

Sitting on a 100mm-longer wheelbase

than the hatch that made its Australian

debut at the Sydney motor show in

October, the Furia is also wider by

45mm but 15mm shorter.

In effect, the wheels have been

pushed out to the corners of the car for

a sportier stance.

The concept stands on 19-inch wheels

– fanciful on such a mass-selling small

car that is likely to turn up with 15-

inch or 16-inch wheels in showrooms.

It is also adorned with carbon-fi bre

trim, including a boot-lip spoiler that is

unlikely to make it into production on

mainstream models.RON HAMMERTON

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

TOYOTA COROLLA FURIALLLA FURRRIA

Corolla FuriaTOYOTA TEASES FURIA CONCEPT: CLICK HERE

BRIGHT WELCOME FOR FURIA: CLICK HERE

Jan 17, 2013 Page 19

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

VOLKSWAGEN has revealed what

is destined to become the company’s

affordable seven-seater SUV for the

North American market in 2015, but

may also make its way to Australia.

Called the CrossBlue and unveiled

this week at the Detroit auto show as a

concept, the vehicle is openly regarded

as a certainty for series production in

Tennessee alongside the US-market

Passat sedan.

Volkswagen presented the CrossBlue

as a six-seater but confi rmed in Detroit

that “if it goes into production” it will

have seven seats, with a three-seat

bench in the second row instead of the

concept vehicle’s twin bucket seats.

Although bigger than the existing Audi

Q7-based VW Touareg premium SUV

– being 89mm longer and 50mm wider

– the production CrossBlue is designed

to be a more affordable mass-market

vehicle that will boost the company’s

ambitious global sales targets.

US magazine Autoweek reports that

the large SUV should go on sale in the

US in 2015 priced from about $32,000,

whereas the Touareg carries a base

price of about $US44,000. The fi ve-seat

Touareg sells in Australia from $62,990.

Volkswagen says it devised the

new SUV specifi cally for the US and

Canada, and at this stage it has only

been engineered for left-hand drive.

However, Volkswagen Group

Australia managing director Anke

Koeckler has previously indicated the

company’s desire to sell such a vehicle

here, and a high-ranking VW offi cial in

Detroit said right-hand drive – an integral

facet of the MQB architecture on which

the vehicle is based – was possible if

there was suffi cient global demand.

Built with monocoque (or unibody)

construction, the CrossBlue is

conceptually similar to the Toyota Kluger

and Ford Territory rather than separate-

chassis vehicles such as the top-selling

Toyota Prado and the ute-based Holden

Colorado 7, making it more of an urban

people-mover than an off-roader.

The Detroit show car featured

all-wheel drive, though not in the

conventional sense because the rear

wheels are driven only by electric

power.

Its hybrid powertrain includes a front-

mounted transverse turbo-diesel engine

of unspecifi ed size, but developing

140kW of power and 400Nm of torque,

suggesting it is a 2.0-litre variant of the

company’s EA288 diesel range.

This new engine range is linked to

the highly fl exible MQB architecture,

which is not so much a platform as

uniform design parameters across

model series and brands within the

VW Group, all with transverse engine

mounting but with provision for petrol,

electric, natural gas, hybrid and all-

electric powertrains.

MQB – which translates to Modular

Transverse Matrix – underpins the

CrossBlue, as well as the latest seventh-

generation Golf, Audi A3, 2013 Skoda

Octavia and the next-generation Passat,

among other VW Group vehicles.

It provides for variable wheelbase

and track dimensions, which in the

CrossBlue are 2980mm wheelbase

(76mm longer than Touareg), 1686mm

front track (30mm wider) and 1696mm

rear track (20mm wider), providing a

strong stance on the road.DAVID HASSALL

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

VOLKSWAGEN CROSSBLUE, PASSAT PERFORMANCE CONCEPT

Applications to be in writ ing and directed to careers@isuzu.net.au Closing date: 31st January 2O13.

Isuzu is the Australian truck market leader, with a reputation for reliability, service and innovation achieved by producing a comprehensive range of reliable and efficient trucks supported by our superior customer service.

Isuzu Australia has just released its all new range of trucks which is set to further distance it from its competitors, the timing of this ‘blue chip’ opportunity could not be better to join this highly professional and successful organisation.

In this role you will be primarily responsible for:1. The sale of trucks to, and the strategic development of, existing National Fleet

and Government (Commonwealth, State and Local) accounts 2. Development and implementation of zone and national conquest business

plans and processes3. Working with our dealer network on new business development and

conquest plans4. Leading the Isuzu Fleet Sales Management team5. Maintain National Fleet policies and procedures6. Maintain competitive fleet pricing matrix.

The role is a key driver towards the achievement of National monthly and annual, sales volume and share targets.To be successful you must demonstrate:

The successful applicant can expect an attractive six figure package including, above market superannuation, a fully maintained vehicle together with the option of a subsidised lease vehicle and tools of the trade. Most importantly, you will be working with the best team in the industry; driving service excellence and contributing to the co-operative spirit, while maintaining market dominance at the expense of the competitors.

NATIONAL FLEET SALES MANAGER

CrossBlue

Passat PerformanceVW SET TO REVEAL NEW SUV: CLICK HERE

Jan 17, 2013 Page 20

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

FLEET SALES MANAGER

At Berwick Nissan, we provide our customers with an outstanding ownership experience at all levels of our dealership. From sales to servicing, we aim to exceed expectations each and every time!

Do you have proven high volume vehicle sales experience?

Manage and lead our fleet sales team to success!

Brand new state-of-the-art dealership and service facility.

Due to significant growth within our dealership, we're looking for an experienced Fleet Manager to join our dynamic and successful team.

Our ideal candidate will have a proven track record in fleet sales and dealing with FMO's and rental car operations.

Essential skills and attributes include: Strong communication skills

The ability to lead a top performing team

A high level of personal presentation

A team player mentality

As we are one of the best in the dealer network you must be customer focused with a view to building a sustainable business.

Our staff enjoy the benefits of: Fun and energetic work environment

Ongoing training and support

Potential for career development

If you think you have the skills and experience to join our team email your resume to markw@berwicknissan.com.auor call Mark Wright on (03) 9796 1777.

BERWICKberwicknissan.com.au

TOP SALARY PACKAGE!

Production 2008 remainsfaithful to Paris concept

By MIKE COSTELLOPEUGEOT has released the fi rst

images of the 2008 crossover SUV

ahead of its world debut at the Geneva

motor show in March and arrival in

Australian showrooms by November.

These fi rst offi cial images indicate

that the French company has stayed

faithful to the chunky styling of the

concept version shown at the Paris

motor show last September.

The 2008 will slot into the Peugeot

portfolio beneath the existing 3008 and

4008 crossover SUV model lines, and

will be pitched as a rival for a brace

of high-riding micros set for launch

in 2013, including the Ford EcoSport,

Holden Trax and Nissan Juke.

The design draws heavily from the

pert 208, with sleek ‘feline’ headlights,

similar grille design and kinked front

windows, but has been differentiated

by its elongated proportions (200mm

longer than the 208), higher ride

height, pronounced wheelarches and

chunky black lower-body cladding.

The version pictured also includes

17-inch ‘Diamond’ matte alloy wheels,

‘Mud&Snow’ tyres, a panoramic

sunroof and front/rear LED daytime

running lights.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

CapturedCaptured

Renault unveils new crossover as Geneva draws near

By HAITHAM RAZAGUIRENAULT has whipped the covers off

its Captur compact SUV well ahead of

its offi cial global debut at the Geneva

motor show in March.

Renault Australia corporate

communications manager Emily

Ambrosy told GoAuto the local outfi t

is excited by the Captur and working

toward a 2014 launch.

The French car-maker says the

Spanish-built vehicle will combine

fashionable crossover styling with

people-mover-like interior space plus

“the agility and driving enjoyment of a

compact saloon car”.

The Clio-based crossover will help

Renault achieve a much-needed sales

boost by tapping into the popularity

of city-sized SUVs and compete with

similar upcoming products such as the

Ford EcoSport, Holden Trax and Opel

Mokka.

Honda has revealed a baby SUV

concept at the Detroit auto show this

week and Geneva will also host the

debut of Peugeot’s 2008 crossover,

while Volkswagen unveiled its Up-

based Taigun concept at the Brazilian

Sao Paolo show back in October.

Renault sister brand Nissan has

enjoyed European sales success with

the quirky Juke that is beating a path to

Australia for a third-quarter launch and

Subaru’s XV has quickly become its

second-best-selling model here.

In a departure from the coupe-like

concept of the same name unveiled

at the 2011 Geneva motor show, the

Captur expands on the styling of the

new Clio light car that will hit Australian

showrooms in August this year.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

RENAULT TEASES CLIO-BASED CAPTUR AHEAD OF GENEVA SHOW: CLICK HERE

Jan 17, 2013 Page 21

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Future model program atHolden revs up with workon hi-tech new body shop

Body building at GMHBody building at GMH

GM HOLDEN has quietly broken

ground on a new state-of-the-art body

shop at its South Australian factory in

readiness for a new generation of locally

made cars based on global platforms.

The fi rst of the new models is due

to roll off the production line in 2015

as part of a billion-dollar investment

by General Motors in Australian

manufacturing, supported by a $275

million commitment in federal and state

government funding.

The need to replace the current

body shop – which was signifi cantly

upgraded to accommodate Cruze small-

car production in 2010 – indicates a

major shift in construction methods

for the new vehicles that is confi rmed

to include the next-generation Cruze

in the second half of 2015, followed

by a second model, possibly a Cruze-

based SUV, to replace the homegrown

Commodore in about 2018.

The groundworks, on existing factory

land next to the assembly plant at

Elizabeth, come as Holden Vehicle

Operations fi netunes production

preparations for its heavily revised VF

Commodore that is due to be unveiled

next month ahead of a June showroom

debut.

GoAuto understands that production

line changes for the new VF

Commodore and derivatives such as the

Statesman and Ute are scheduled to be

completed during a shutdown around

Easter, which falls at the end of March

this year.

The VF and current Cruze will

continue to be built in tandem at the

existing body plant, at least until

the new body shop is ready to start

production. Even then, there might be

some overlap, with the existing plant

possibly operating simultaneously with

the new facility to produce VF.

The new Commodore will feature

a host of weight-cutting measures,

including aluminium parts such as

bonnet and boot lid, to enhance fuel

consumption and performance.

However, the central monocoque and

other major structural elements will

continue to be fashioned from steel,

welded together in the existing body

shop, mostly by robots.

This body shop was originally

built for the start of VE Commodore

production in 2005, running in parallel

with the previous shop for a time as VZ

models such as the Crewman, Cross8

and Adventra were phased out.

While this current body shop can

accommodate changes for the new VF,

Holden has taken the decision to start

over with a new body plant for its next

breed of models that should see local

production through to at least 2022.

Apart from logistical advantages, the

move indicates the new-generation cars

might have fresh platforms that cannot

be easily handled by existing systems,

even with an upgrade.

Although no details of the new

vehicles have been forthcoming, they

might even involve new-generation

materials such as aluminium or

composites in the main structural core

of the vehicles, and even Volt-style

range-extender powertrains.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – page 22, 23, 32

EXCLUSIVEBy RON HAMMERTON

Elizabeth production

Elizabeth plant

Fleet Account Manager• AUTO SALES EXPERIENCE NEEDED • NEG. REMUNERATION + COMMISSION • COMPANY CAR

Suttons Motors Arncliffe are part of Australia’s largest and most successful automotive groups. We are experiencing massive growth and require a Fleet Sales Account Manager.

Job description:• Sell our complete range of passenger & commercial vehicles• Acquire new corporate business• Canvass existing fl eet customers• Provide customer satisfaction while meeting dealership profi t

& sales objectives• Vehicle deliveries with ongoing professional customer liaison

Essential criteria:• Vehicle sales experience• Professional presentation• Ability to prospect new business & set up appointments

• Ability to communicate on all levels with confi dence• Excellent sales & negotiation skills• Ability to work autonomously & be self-motivated• Current non-restricted NSW driver’s licence

Desirable criteria:• Fleet sales experience highly regarded

We can offer you:• Attractive remuneration• Includes company car, laptop, phone & generous commission structure• Great earning potential with a large fl eet presence in the

local area

For an opportunity to work at Suttons Motors Arncliffe, contact:

Garth Butler, General ManagerBy emailing your resume to:garth.butler@suttonsarncliffe.com.auOr phoning: 9335 9000

SUTTONS MOTORS ARNCLIFFE93 Princes Highway, Arncliffe NSW 2205

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted

Suttons MotorsHOLDEN

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Applicants must be living in Australia with legal work rights: *Employment is conditional upon background checks *We support equal opportunity and diversity in the workplace *Women are encouraged to apply *Smoke free work environment. For more information about our Company or Privacy Statement,go to: www.suttons.com.au #34117A

Jan 17, 2013 Page 22

SUBSCRIBE FREE: www.GoAutoMedia.com

GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Fleet Account Manager• AUTO SALES EXPERIENCE NEEDED • NEG. REMUNERATION + COMMISSION • COMPANY CAR

Suttons Motors Arncliffe are part of Australia’s largest and most successful automotive groups. We are experiencing massive growth and require a Fleet Sales Account Manager.

Job description:• Sell our complete range of passenger & commercial vehicles• Acquire new corporate business• Canvass existing fl eet customers• Provide customer satisfaction while meeting dealership profi t

& sales objectives• Vehicle deliveries with ongoing professional customer liaison

Essential criteria:• Vehicle sales experience• Professional presentation• Ability to prospect new business & set up appointments

• Ability to communicate on all levels with confi dence• Excellent sales & negotiation skills• Ability to work autonomously & be self-motivated• Current non-restricted NSW driver’s licence

Desirable criteria:• Fleet sales experience highly regarded

We can offer you:• Attractive remuneration• Includes company car, laptop, phone & generous commission structure• Great earning potential with a large fl eet presence in the

local area

For an opportunity to work at Suttons Motors Arncliffe, contact:

Garth Butler, General ManagerBy emailing your resume to:garth.butler@suttonsarncliffe.com.auOr phoning: 9335 9000

SUTTONS MOTORS ARNCLIFFE93 Princes Highway, Arncliffe NSW 2205

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted

Suttons Motors Arncliffe

Applicants must be living in Australia with legal work rights: *Employment is conditional upon background checks *We support equal opportunity and diversity in the workplace *Women are encouraged to apply *Smoke free work environment. For more information about our Company or Privacy Statement,go to: www.suttons.com.au #34117B

Infl uential US executivesteered course at Holden helm that others avoided

Vale ‘Chuck’ ChapmanVale ‘Chuck’ Chapman

By JOHN MELLORONE of the most infl uential leaders

of GM Holden in Australia, Charles

‘Chuck’ Chapman, died in his native

United States in December, aged 86.

Mr Chapman, an engineer who started

out at Buick, was appointed managing

director of GMH in 1976 after having

spent nearly a decade reviving the

fortunes of GM’s European division,

Opel, by using innovative engineering

and designs to make the company’s

European cars less conservative, livelier

and safer to drive.

During his time at Opel, the brand

became market leader, even outselling

brands including Volkswagen on their

home turf.

At Holden, Mr Chapman found a

company adrift in mediocrity with poor-

handling and poorly equipped cars that

were increasingly being mauled

by European and Japanese

designs.

He found key management

displayed an arrogant belief in

the superiority of Holden, in

spite of the fact that no directors,

out of misplaced loyalty, ever

drove competitive cars. He

quickly organised drive days at

the proving ground at Lang Lang near

Melbourne to appraise them of the

awful truth.

Slack punctuality of senior

management was brought into line by

Mr Chapman, who would start meetings

in an empty room. As managers dribbled

in, they would be told by Chapman

what had been decided in their absence

without their input.

Mr Chapman was also the fi rst head

of Holden with the courage to start

closing the plethora of GMH assembly

plants that had prevented the company

gaining production scales of economy.

The closing of the Pagewood plant in

Sydney was particularly painful for Mr

Chapman, who took the brunt

of brutal criticism from all

sides of politics and a ferocious

media outraged at the loss of

jobs in Sydney.

He found out why others had

avoided the issue, but ultimately

Holden also closed plants in

Dandenong in Melbourne and

Acacia Ridge in Brisbane, with

all assembly concentrated at Elizabeth

in Adelaide.

To revive product, Mr Chapman

quickly imported expert engineers

from Germany, including his Opel

engineering lieutenant, Joe Whitesell,

and a young engineer named Peter

Hanenberger, who would years later

also become head of Holden and set up

major export programs for Holden into

the US and the Middle East.

The new team set about moving on the

old-style engineers who were clinging

to outdated technology. They quickly

improved the handling and safety of

the Holden Kingswood and Torana by

optimising suspension around radial-

ply tyres with the renowned Radial

Tuned Suspension program.

On Mr Chapman’s watch, the

Commodore – smaller than the

Kingswood and based on an Opel – was

launched in addition to the Kingswood

to cover Holden against any swing to

smaller cars due to rising fuel prices

in the 1970s. The four-cylinder Camira

followed as concerns mounted that oil

would only last a few more decades.

Mr Chapman built the Family II four-

cylinder engine plant at Fishermans Bend

that went on to be Australia’s leading

exporter of manufactured goods for

decades, exporting hundreds of millions

of dollars worth of engines a year.

Continued next page

Charles Chapman

Charles Chapman (right) with then PM Malcolm Fraser

Jan 17, 2013 Page 23

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Infl uential former Holden chief ‘Chuck’ Chapman dies, aged 86Continued from previous page

This export program was linked to an

export credit scheme under which the

value of Holden exports was credited

to the value of Holden imports, thereby

reducing import duty liabilities and

making Holden more competitive

against imported cars paying the full

level of duty.

However, the plant was funded by

a then novel leverage leasing deal that

turned sour under huge unplanned surges

in interest rates that began sucking the

life out of Holden’s ability to pay its

way. Holden accumulated losses of

around $600 million in the early 1980s.

In 1986, Holden required a massive

bailout of $750 million from GM in

Detroit and the demoralised company

chose to join with Toyota Australia in

a joint-venture company called United

Australian Automobile Industries Ltd

(UAAI), sharing plants and rebadging

each other’s cars.

The last Holden developed under Mr

Chapman was the VN Commodore.

Ironically, in spite of little cash to fully

develop the wish list of Mr Chapman’s

team, the VN became so profi table that

Holden became the dominant partner in

UAAI and Toyota fell into losses. The

deal was unravelled after just a decade.

One of Mr Chapman’s most diffi cult

tasks was to split Holden from its star

racing driver, Peter Brock.

While all the market research showed

that Brock and Holden were welded at

the hip in the minds of the public, Brock

began risking Holden’s credibility

by producing Brock-HDT road cars

without Holden approval and with a

device known as a “polariser” said to

draw on mystical powers to make the

car run better and improve the handling.

Under a plethora of engineering

and legal advice, Mr Chapman had

little choice but to end the relationship

between Holden and the obstinate Brock.

During his stewardship of Holden,

Mr Chapman became responsible not

just for Australia and New Zealand,

but for South East Asia, and was also

appointed a vice-president of General

Motors. He retired from Holden and

General Motors in 1988.

When Mr Chapman left Australia,

he left behind him a string of losses.

Some have taken this to be a stain on

his performance.

However, his legacy was that he was

the fi rst American in charge at Holden

game enough to make the changes

necessary to take Holden by the scruff

of the neck and set it up for the more

competitive industry that was to come.

Holden made a profi t for 17 straight

years after Mr Chapman’s watch,

accumulating some $4.3 billion in pre-

tax profi t for Holden in that time.

Mr Chapman willingly paid the price

that most others in his position were not

prepared to pay because of the potential

damage to their careers caused by red

ink that was necessary to make the

changes required.

Beijing decision to favour Chinese fl eet cars adds to Holden engine plant woes

Engine plant under threatEngine plant under threat

By RON HAMMERTONA CHINESE government decision

to promote its indigenous automotive

industry at the expense of overseas

manufacturers has helped to throw a

shadow over the future of GM Holden’s

engine plant in Australia.

Beijing’s move to buy government

fl eet vehicles only from manufacturers

fully owned by Chinese interests from

2012 cost Holden 15,000 V6 engine

exports, or about 15 per cent of its total

production of about 100,000 units a year.

The engines are fi tted to a popular

Buick minivan made and sold in China

by SAIC-General Motors joint-venture

operation Shanghai-GM, which now

does not qualify for government sales

because of GM’s involvement.

This put a major hole in one of

Holden’s biggest export markets,

although it still sends engines to

China for vehicles bought by private

customers.

It also brings into sharp relief how

government policies can affect the

fortunes of their local car manufacturers

and their rivals in a tough international

environment.

Falling local sales of the Australian-

built Commodore and derivatives such

as the Holden Ute and Caprice – partly

because of drooping government fl eet

sales in Australia – have also impacted

the 10-year-old factory, along with the

demise of export customer Saab and the

struggles of GM’s European subsidiary

Opel, whose Insignia OPC uses Holden

power.

The Port Melbourne plant, which

shed a number of jobs through voluntary

redundancies last year after the Chinese

blow, is now the subject of high-level

talks between Holden and all sides of

government in Australia – state and

federal – to see what can be made of the

factory and its 300 jobs beyond 2016.

Although Holden is not specifi cally

saying what it wants to do with the

plant, it has not ruled out a Toyota-style

rebuild to make more-popular four-

cylinder engines there from 2017.

However, GM Holden government

and corporate affairs director Matt

Hobbs told GoAuto that a number of

hoops need to be jumped through before

Holden can decide if there is a future

for the plant next to the company’s

Australian headquarters.

“There are a number of variables

out there – what the dollar is going to

be in another year or two’s time, what

demand for Gen 1 V6 is going to be

beyond 2016, what the footprints are

for four-cylinder plants around the

world – and those decisions are slowly

being made,” he said.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Holden engine production

Jan 17, 2013 Page 24

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Record December resultblasts new-car market to1,112,032 units for 2012

Car sales top 1.11 millionCar sales top 1.11 million

By RON HAMMERTONTHE Australian motor industry

smashed its annual new-vehicle sales

record in 2012, selling 1,112,032 cars

and trucks, up more than 10 per cent on

the previous year.

Driven by ever-stronger sales of

popular SUVs, 2012 sales eclipsed the

previous record of 1,049,982 vehicles set

before the global fi nancial crisis in 2007.

Helped by a strong Aussie dollar

and hefty market support from motor

companies, the industry reported record

December registrations – up a whopping

15.7 per cent on the same month last

year, to 95,427 units – propelling the

annual sales tally into unprecedented

territory, offi cial VFACTS fi gures show.

But opinions are divided on

whether the industry can maintain this

breakneck pace.

Market leader for the 10th straight

year, Toyota predicts sales will

continue on a similar pace with a 1.1

million market in 2013, but the peak

industry body, the Federal Chamber

of Automotive Industries (FCAI), is

tipping a slight slip in sales, down to

about 1.075 million vehicles.

FCAI chief executive Tony Weber

said the 2012 market was artifi cially

lifted by factors such as the recovery

of Thai vehicle imports after the

devastating fl oods of 2011, and that

2013 will refl ect more natural levels.

Anecdotal reports from dealers

suggest the 2012 fi gure was also infl ated

by a rush of demonstrators registered in

December to achieve sales targets at

some companies.

But Mr Weber played down the claims,

saying the FCAI believed the fi gures as

reported by VFACTS are valid.

The Australian new-vehicle market

has now exceeded one million sales in

fi ve of the past six years.

Top importer Mazda’s

Mazda3 small car retained

its crown as Australia’s most

popular vehicle with 44,128 sales,

with a pair of Toyota vehicles – HiLux

(40,646) and Corolla (38,799) – fi lling

the minor placings.

Mazda also became the fi rst full-line

importer to achieve 100,000 sales in

a year in Australia, while also snaring

third spot on the sales ladder.

SUVs led the charge in 2012, with sales

of these all-rounders soaring by 25 per

cent and topping 300,000 units for the

fi rst time – almost a third of the market.

Light trucks – now considered by many

as part of the family vehicle stable due to

high levels of comfort and effi ciency –

also jumped 12.2 per cent, led by Toyota’s

top-selling ute, the HiLux, which topped

40,000 units for the third time.

Passenger cars loosened their grip

slightly in market share terms, with sales

up 3.1 per cent in a market that rose 10.3

per cent. However, with 576,855 units

sold in 2012, the traditional sedan and

wagon offerings still accounted for more

than half the sales volume nationally.

Toyota reinforced its position as the

industry titan, shrugging off its 2011

supply problems to record 218,176

sales in 2012 – as many as the next two

challengers combined.

The Toyota result represented a

market share of 19.6 per cent – up 18

per cent on 2011, when natural disasters

in Thailand and Japan upset its plans.

The Japanese giant not only managed

to improve sales of its imported models,

including the HiLux and Corolla, but

also its locally made Camry sedan, which

achieved 27,230 sales (up 42 per cent).

The improved Camry result

refl ected the recovery from parts

supply problems the previous

year, along with the popularity

of the all-new model introduced at the

start of 2012 and driven home with zero

per cent fi nance offers in the last quarter.

Despite Camry’s recovery, Holden’s

Commodore remained Australia’s best-

selling local car, in spite of an alarming 25

per cent fall in sales in the past 12 months.

The Commodore sedan and wagon

range found 30,532 new homes in

Australia, compared with 40,617

in 2011, as homegrown large cars

continued their slide.

Holden will be counting on its heavily

revised VF Commodore to counter the

fall when it arrives in showrooms in the

middle of this year.

General Motors’ Australian subsidiary

managed to hold onto second place in

the overall sales rankings behind Toyota,

despite a 9.1 per cent sales decline.

To compound issues for Holden,

its locally made Cruze small car also

suffered a 13.7 per cent fall in 2012, to

29,161 sales.

Third-placed and fast-growing Mazda

fi nished the year only a little more

than 10,000 vehicles behind Holden’s

114,665 tally.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERECar sales data watch – next page

Top 10 Brands 2012Pos Brand Sales % Share

1 Toyota 218,176 19.6

2 Holden 114,665 10.3

3 Mazda 103,886 9.3

4 Hyundai 91,536 8.2

5 Ford 90,408 8.1

6 Nissan 79,747 7.2

7 Mitsubishi 58,868 5.3

8 VW 54,835 4.9

9 Subaru 40,189 3.6

10 Honda 35,812 3.2

Source: VFACTS, January 2013

VFACTS WRAP

Mazda3

Jan 17, 2013 Page 25

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Review possible but datasystem to stay despite bigdealer demonstrator push

Car sales data watchCar sales data watch

Toyota runs lean on key models as December sales deluge cleans out dealersBy RON HAMMERTON

TOYOTA Australia is expecting a

temporary new year sales hangover

after draining stocks of many popular

models in a record December for the

market leader.

The company pulled out all stops in

the fi nal quarter of 2012, using weapons

such as zero per cent fi nance to pile up

the sales, culminating in a December

record 21,169 registrations.

The locally made four-cylinder

Camry notched up its third-biggest

monthly sales tally on record in

December, with 3586 buyers signing

on the dotted line – its best monthly

effort since January 1995.

It was also the third month in a row

that Camry topped 3000 units, bringing

its fourth-quarter sales tally to more

than 10,000 units and annual sales to

27,230 – up 42 per cent on the previous

year when the Camry was in run-out.

Toyota has put zero fi nance back in

the holster for now, mainly because the

company promised car buyers that the

campaign would end on December 31,

but also because stock of 2012 Camry

is so depleted.

Dealers have to wait until the

company’s Australian factory at

Altona, in Victoria, gets back into full

swing after the summer shut-down this

month before certain Camry variants

can fl ow into showrooms.

A number of other Toyota models

that have been fi ring on all cylinders,

including the all-new Corolla and best-

selling HiLux ute, are also in short

supply, meaning Toyota will fi nd it

diffi cult to meet its usual fast-start

targets for January.

Toyota Australia senior executive

director of sales and marketing Matthew

Callachor told GoAuto: “We are a bit

low on stock right at this moment, but

we have good supply coming.

“That will pick up quite quickly as

we move in through this fi rst quarter.”

Nevertheless, Toyota is offering cut-

price 2.9 per cent fi nance as part of

incentive packages on some models to

keep the sales fl owing.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

By RON HAMMERTONAUSTRALIA’S motor industry

peak body, the Federal Chamber of

Automotive Industries (FCAI), has

come to the defence of the current

system of counting car sales from

state registration data, despite

anecdotal reports of widespread

registration of ‘dealer demonstrators’

at the encouragement of some motor

companies to artifi cially boost sales

fi gures in 2012.

However, FCAI chief executive Tony

Weber hinted that the practice might be

reviewed by the chamber this year.

The industry defence is that all sales –

whether as demonstrators or new cars –

come out in the wash via registration data.

Mr Weber said the FCAI – which

employs Polk to compile the offi cial

VFACTS sales fi gures from state data on

behalf of the industry – had no reason to

doubt the 2012 fi gures “at this point”.

“The reality is you cannot bring

forth sales and make that a sustainable

measure because ultimately those cars

need to be sold, and these cars are sold

in the market,” he said.

Asked if the FCAI might consider

asking car companies to separately

record dealer demonstrator fi gures in the

data, he replied: “We can have a look

at that in 2013, but at the moment the

VFACTS system will remain in place.”

Some dealers have told GoAuto that

thousands of cars were registered by

dealers at the behest of car companies who

provided fi nancial incentives to make it

happen in the lead-up to Christmas.

The dealers have been left with yards

of new but registered cars that have to

be moved at discount prices over the

new few weeks.

But Mr Weber said he did not

believe that the industry faced a sales

slump in the fi rst few months of 2013

due to the practice.

“Demonstrators have always been

part of the market and they will continue

to be,” he said.

“The fact that they need to be sold

later means that competition is driving

down prices.

“We have an incredibly open and

competitive market, more open than

any other market around the world. It

is purely supply and demand at work.”

For years, car manufacturers have

manipulated the fi gures by registering

cars themselves or getting dealers to do

it, usually to achieve pre-set sales targets

or to beat rivals in the annual sales joust.

In 2012, however, dealers under

pressure from certain car-makers to

engage in the practice have started to

complain about the numbers of vehicles

involved and the pressure tactics used.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – page 26, 30

HiLux and Corolla

Jan 17, 2013 Page 26

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Kiwi new-vehicle marketends 2012 up 19 per cent after big December fi nish

NZ sales crack 100KNZ sales crack 100K

By JACQUI MADELIN in NEW ZEALAND

NEW Zealand new-vehicle sales

jumped 19.1 per cent in 2012, topping

100,000 units and far exceeding

predictions of fi ve to six per cent made

a year ago.

Kiwis bought 100,795 new vehicles,

16,155 more than in 2011, with

passenger car sales rising 20.1 per

cent to 76,871 and commercial vehicle

volume up 16 per cent to 23,924.

Market leader for the 25th year in a

row, Toyota, provided the year’s two

top-selling models – Corolla (5324) and

HiLux (4182) – which were followed by

the Suzuki Swift (3321), Ford Ranger

(2815) and Nissan Navara (2586).

Used imports dropped 2.6 per cent to

81,927.

NZ Motor Industry Association

(MIA) CEO Perry Kerr said SUV sales

now dominated the market with 26 per

cent share of new-vehicle sales.

“This segment showed an impressive

three per cent growth versus 2011,” he

said.

Mr Kerr said December’s 6102 sales

tally was the highest monthly total since

1976, the year after the MIA began

collating industry numbers.

Toyota capped the sales table with

21,620 new vehicles, increasing its share

of the market from 20.7 per cent in 2011

to a record 21.45 per cent last year.

Toyota NZ general manager of sales

and operations Steve Prangnell said

the previous highest market share was

in the late 1980s, with 26.1 per cent on

about 17,000 units.

Mr Prangnell said Toyota had capitalised

on its success in the government sector

under the all-of-government purchasing

scheme, its share of government sales

topping 45 per cent.

He said Toyota expected to add a

further 2000 units to its overall sales

tally this year.

“We want to go above 24,000 and

grow our share to over 23 per cent,” he

said. “Our mid-term ambition is to be

at 25 per cent market share, so one in

every four cars sold is a Toyota

or Lexus.

“We’ve got a full year of new

Corolla, new RAV4 due with

eight variants from the current fi ve,

including diesel, auto and two-wheel

drive. I want another couple of hundred

Lexus and another 400 HiLux.”

Toyota predicts the NZ market will

grow three to four per cent in 2013, to

104,000 or 105,000 vehicles.

Ford consolidated second place in

2012 NZ sales, up 28.6 per cent to

11,132 vehicles and a small increase in

share to 11 per cent.

Ford NZ national sales manager

Melissa Rushton said Ford increased

its C-segment (small-car) share, with

Focus fi nishing in second spot – a

large increase for a new model – and

Ranger upped its volume despite supply

constraints.

Ms Rushton said Ford had a big year

coming up in new-model launches.

“So we’re looking for market share

growth, with a new model in a segment

we haven’t yet entered – the small

SUV,” she said.

Third-placed Holden’s sales rose 17.3

per cent, to 9446 vehicles, trimming

share by 0.14 per cent.

Holden NZ managing director Jeff

Murray said he anticipated a stronger

performance in 2013 with a full year

of refreshed Cruze, Colorado and

Colorado 7, plus with Malibu and Trax

arriving “our portfolio is fi lling the gaps

we’ve had in previous years”.

And VF Commodore is coming, too.

Mr Murray told GoAuto: “We’ve

seen customers migrate from large cars

to SUVs and smaller vehicles, and the

challenge is to make them (large cars)

relevant again.

“VF targets fuel economy

and features, and we hope to

cannibalise Ford and Toyota in

that segment.”

Hyundai sales hit 7616, up 13.2 per

cent on 2011, with Nissan increasing

its sales by 22.3 per cent, to 6379 units,

jumping ahead of Mazda whose sales

rose 6.9 per cent, to 6312.

Nissan’s December sales total – 524

units – represented a 78 per cent rise

over the same month in 2011.

Nissan NZ managing director John

Manley dismissed industry gossip about

top brands stockpiling pre-registered cars.

“You can’t do that forever,” he said,

adding that Nissan’s 2012 sales growth

was driven by fewer supply constraints, a

better economy “and a lot of car purchases

were postponed due to the global crisis”.

“We’re calling it around six per cent for

2013,” he said. “That’s still well ahead

of economic predictions. There’s a lot of

new model activity, still pent-up demand

that has to be relieved as cars get too old.”

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

NZ Top 10 Brands 2012Pos Brand Sales % Share

1 Toyota 21,620 21.5

2 Ford 11,132 11.0

3 Holden 9446 9.4

4 Hyundai 7616 7.6

5 Nissan 6379 6.3

6 Mazda 6312 6.3

7 Suzuki 5429 5.4

8 Mitsubishi 5187 5.2

9 VW 3905 3.9

10 Honda 3013 3.0

Source: NZ MIA, January 2013

NZ SALES WRAP

Corolla

Jan 17, 2013 Page 27

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Regulator opposes Trading Post deal but options remain open for Carsales

ACCC blocks CarsalesACCC blocks Carsales

By JOHN MELLORA MOVE by Carsales.com to expand

its classifi ed advertising footprint by

taking over the Trading Post online

business from Telstra has been blocked

by the Australian Competition and

Consumer Commission (ACCC).

But Carsales says it is still considering

options that might allow it to

proceed with at least part of the

deal.

Carsales CEO Greg Roebuck

told GoAuto: “It is fair to say

it’s not dead yet from a Carsales

perspective. There are still a

few ideas and options we are

considering. I unfortunately

cannot be more specifi c at this stage.”

The ACCC says it will oppose

the planned acquisition, but that its

“concerns arise only in relation to

automotive classifi eds”.

This leaves the door open for Carsales

to continue with its plans to expand its

general advertising ambitions – which it

said all along was the prime reason for

taking on Trading Post – and leave Telstra

to fi nd a buyer for the automotive listings

side of the site.

Insiders say that such a deal would

appeal to both News Limited’s Carsguide

and Fairfax Media’s Drive sites.

However, Carsales.com Ltd has been

given its clearest warning yet that the

ACCC sees the company as a near

monopoly and that future expansion in

the automotive area by acquisition will

be closely scrutinised.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims said the

regulator concluded that the proposed

acquisition “is likely to result

in a substantial lessening

of competition through the

removal of a close and effective

competitor of Carsales”.

“Trading Post is a well-

established and high-profi le

brand for automotive classifi eds

advertising and provides an

important competitive constraint on

Carsales,” said Mr Sims.

“The proposed acquisition would

signifi cantly increase Carsales’ market

power and competition would be

substantially reduced to the detriment

of automotive dealerships and private

advertisers.

“The proposed acquisition would have

reduced the choice for advertisers by

removing a signifi cant competitor with

an offer that is attractive to dealers and

private advertisers, differing in important

ways from the Carsales offer.”

The ACCC concluded that the

proposed acquisition would increase

the already high barriers to entry for the

supply of online automotive classifi ed

advertising.

“By adding signifi cant inventory and

audience to its websites, the acquisition

would also reinforce the network

effects or ‘virtuous cycle’ that Carsales

enjoys through having the largest

inventory and audience in the market,

and strengthen the advantages it gains

from its vertical integration into the

provision of services to car dealers.

“The proposed acquisition would

further lessen the ability of competing

sites to impose a competitive constraint

on Carsales, including by reducing

their ability to attract inventory and

audience.”

Carsguide CEO Michael Schreck, who

led a campaign to get dealers to oppose

the deal, told GoAuto: “Greg Roebuck

should be applauded for the work he’s

done in this industry. He’s built one of

Australia’s largest online companies.

“However, when these type of

businesses get to the size of Carsales,

it makes it hard, but not impossible, to

compete. Every now and again, we’ll

need the umpire to step in and make the

right call.

“On this occasion, we believe that

the umpire did, in fact, make the right

call. And we look forward to continued

aggressive, but fair, competition

between the two of us.”

Asked if Carsguide was interested in

buying the automotive classifi ed assets

of Trading Post, Mr Schreck said:

“There’s no question that Trading Post

still has an important role to play in

our industry; whether that’s within our

network, or another, or it stays within

Telstra, that all remains to be seen.”

Disclosure: John Mellor owns shares

in Telstra Corp.

ACCC explains decision – next page

Rod Sims

Greg Roebuck

Jan 17, 2013 Page 28

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Biggest Volkswagen dealership in Australia opens on Sydney’s North ShoreBy RON HAMMERTON

THE biggest dealership in the

Volkswagen network opened for

business in Sydney last month, bringing

the German importer’s North Shore

passenger car and light-commercial

vehicle business under one roof in a

ground-up retail site development.

North Shore Volkswagen – formerly

called Chatswood Classic Cars – can

display up to 45 vehicles in the new

showroom in Artarmon.

Built according to VW’s new Module

Concept design rules, the dealership

is owned by Inchcape Automotive

Retail – part of the giant British-owned

Inchcape group that also distributes

cars in many countries, including

Subaru in Australia.

About 20 more VW retail sites are set

to get the Module Concept treatment in

2013.

VW Group Australia managing

director Anke Koeckler said the big

new facility refl ected the demand for

VW products in Sydney’s north.

“The Volkswagen brand has been

very popular on the Northern Beaches,

so it was a logical decision to show

our continued commitment to our

loyal customer base with our largest

showroom yet,” Ms Koeckler said.

The new showroom is on the Pacifi c

Highway, 5km closer to downtown

Sydney from the previous showroom.

The service department remains at the

current site in Artarmon.

VW is one of the fastest-growing

mainstream vehicle brands in

Australia, with sales soaring 22.6 per

cent last year.

Trading Post deal wouldhave ‘signifi cant’ impacton Carsales’ competition

ACCC explains decisionACCC explains decision

By JOHN MELLORAS PART of its consideration,

the ACCC said that the proposed

acquisition would result in “the removal

of one of Carsales’ closest competitors

for the provision of online automotive

classifi ed advertising, leaving Carsales

facing a signifi cantly diminished level

of competition for these services”.

“The product offering, promotions,

pricing and services of Trading Post are

consistent with the proposition put by

market participants that Trading Post

is one of the closest and most effective

competitors of Carsales,” said the ACCC.

The regulator said its market

inquiries suggest the two other largest

competitors, Carsguide and Drive, have

struggled to win market share from

Carsales despite having ownership

links to print classifi eds in newspapers,

“which might be expected to provide

some competitive

advantage through

delivering audience

and providing scope for

bundled offers”.

The ACCC said that most car dealers

advertise on Carsales, but many dealers

advertise on multiple websites to gain

additional exposure to consumers.

“While no single website provides

comparable exposure to that available

from Carsales, the use of Trading

Post combined with advertising on

other non-Carsales websites offers

some dealers a viable and competitive

alternative to Carsales.

“For some dealers it is currently

a viable option to cease to advertise

on Carsales (or to reduce advertising

spending on Carsales websites) and to

focus their advertising activities on other

websites including Trading

Post, Carsguide and Drive.

The removal of Trading

Post would reduce their

ability and incentive to do

so (or to credibly threaten to do so).

“Similarly, without Trading Post,

private advertisers will have fewer

credible alternative advertisers to

choose from, and will lose the benefi ts

of competitive offers such as Trading

Post’s recent ‘Good as Gone Guarantee’,

whereby advertisers were refunded the

cost of the advertisement if the car was

not sold within four weeks.

“Many market participants have

referred favourably to the fact that

Trading Post offers a different

advertising, branding and pricing

mechanism than that offered by Carsales.

“In particular, dealers are not charged

per lead but instead per account or per

advertisement. In addition, Trading

Post permits dealers to advertise their

full contact details, branding, and links

to other inventory.

“The ACCC is concerned that the

proposed acquisition will result in a

reduction of choice for advertisers by

removing a signifi cant competitor with

an offer that is attractive to dealers

and differs in important ways from the

Carsales offer.”

SUBSCRIBE FREE: www.GoAutoMedia.com

GoAuto InBrief

John Mellor’s

Jan 17, 2013 Page 29

Peugeot 208 Allure 5-dr hatch

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

GoAuto’s latest car review www.GoAuto.com.au

The old Peugeot fl air is back with a vengeance on the 208, a chic and nippy light car pitched at the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo. Lighter and smaller than its cumbersome 207 predecessor, the 208 has in its arsenal an impressive and innovative cabin, and a stylish and well-presented exterior. The engine and transmission combination falls short of best-in-class, but there is still enough to put this pint-size Pug on the shortlist. Here we test the mid-range Allure fi ve-door.

‘CAR TO END ALL CARS’ ALFA Romeo has all but confi rmed that

its lightweight compact sports coupe,

4C, is coming in 2013 – in Europe, at

least – saying modestly: “Behold, the

car to end all cars is nigh.”

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

KIA STICKS TO OZ OPENKIA Motors Corporation has announced

one of the largest sports sponsorship

deals in Australian history with a fi ve-

year major sponsor commitment to the

Australian Tennis Open in Melbourne.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Mitsubishi takes aggressive action with new microBy RON HAMMERTON

MITSUBISHI will pitch its new entry-

level Mirage on to the Australian market

from $12,990 (plus on-road costs) next

week, ensuring a fi erce start to

2013 in the cheap hatchback

segment.

The pricing of the Thai-

made fi ve-door city car in its

cheapest ES form places it

smack in the middle of direct

rivals such as the $12,490

Holden Barina Spark, $13,490 Nissan

Micra and $13,990 Volkswagen Up.

It also is a whopping $3500 more

affordable than Mitsubishi’s previous

light car entrant, the larger and now

defunct $16,490 Colt that replaced the

original Mirage in 2004.

If that’s not enough, Mitsubishi

Motors Australia Limited (MMAL)

has also announced driveaway pricing

that absorbs all or most of the

on-roads costs, depending on

model – and, just for good

measure, will also throw in

a $1000 Westfi eld gift card

for customers who order a

new Mirage before the end of

January and take delivery by

the end of February (see separate story).

Powered exclusively by a 1.2-litre

three-cylinder petrol engine with a

choice of fi ve-speed manual gearbox

or continuously variable transmission

(CVT) automatic, the Mirage also

becomes the most fuel effi cient car

in its class, using as little as 4.6 litres

of petrol per 100km in manual form

(4.9L/100km for the CVT models).

This compares with the Barina

Spark’s best effort of 5.2L/100km on the

combined driving test, 6.5L/100km for

the Micra and 4.8L/100km for the Up.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

DISCOUNT PRICING, $1000 GIFT CARD FORMIRAGE – BEFORE LAUNCH: CLICK HERE

PRICING:ES $12,990

ES (a) $15,240

Sport $14,190

Sport (a) $16,440

LS $15,490

LS (a) $17,740

Mirage moves inMirage moves in

BOLT GT-R BARGAINAN AUSSIE mystery buyer who forked

out $US187,100 ($A177,544) for a

one-off ‘Bolt Gold’ Nissan GT-R in a

charity online auction for the Usain Bolt

Foundation last month paid just $544

more than the standard list price for the

upcoming GT-R Premium Edition in the

2013 range in Australia.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

HIGH FIVE FOR D-MAXISUZU Ute Australia has joined Mitsubishi in offering a fi ve-year/130,000km new-vehicle warranty on its ute range, but has gone one better by adding roadside assistance for the

full fi ve years of the warranty period.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

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GoAuto Market Insight

John Mellor’s

GoAuto Market Insight – brought to you by Dealer Solutions

DealerSolutions

Means Performance.

Jan 17, 2013 Page 30

By RON HAMMERTONTOYOTA Australia has celebrated the

21st anniversary of its fi rst win over

archrivals Holden and Ford in annual

motor sales bragging rights in 1991 –

a momentous turning point in local car

manufacturer fortunes.

Clocking up yet another win in 2012

– its 16th overall and 10th on the trot –

Toyota refl ected on how the market had

changed in the intervening two decades

and a bit.

According to Toyota Australia

executive director of sales and marketing

Matthew Callachor, new-vehicle sales

have outstripped population growth by

almost three times.

In fact, vehicle sales have doubled,

from 497,534 in recession-hit 1991 to

a record 1.11 million last year.

“The main reason is that cars are

signifi cantly more affordable now than

they have been at any time since the

mid-1970s,” he said.

“This is due to rising wages,

lower tariffs, improved technology

and increased competition between

manufacturers.

“Total full-time average weekly

earnings have more than doubled since

1991 while interest rates are much

lower.

“While it took 40 weeks of average

earnings to buy a six-cylinder family car

in 1991, today it takes just 30 weeks.”

According to Glass’s Guide, a Holden

Commodore Executive, with its Buick-

sourced V6 engine, had a list price of

$29,760 in 1991, while the equivalent

Commodore model today, the 3.0-litre

Omega, is offered for $39,990 (although

the special-edition Z Series can be had

for $37,990) – a difference of about

$10,000 or one third.

Federal government data says the

average Australian adult full-time wage

was $610 a week or $31,720 a year in

1991, compared with $1352 a week or

$70,304 a year in 2012.

Based on those fi gures, a six-cylinder

Commodore that required about 49

weeks of average wages in 1991 now

costs the equivalent of 29 weeks of

average wages.

Of course, cars have improved

immeasurably in the intervening years

as well.

Mr Callachor comments: “Power

windows and doors, smartphone

connectivity, DVD players, satellite

navigation, parking sensors, reversing

cameras, stability control and a

multitude of airbags are becoming

increasingly common.

“The strong Australian dollar and

lower tariffs have made imports

more competitive, which, in turn,

has put downward pressure on local

manufacturers to reduce costs and keep

prices low.”

Mr Callachor said that in 1991, fewer

than 10 million cars plied Australian

roads.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Toyota Australia refl ects on remarkable change in car market over 21 years

Australian auto market leaders 1991 and 2012

Toyota Holden Mazda Hyundai0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

1991 2012SSource: VFACVFACTSTS

Sale

s

Ford Nissan

Then and now...Then and now...

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Green issues in the auto worldGoAuto Green

John Mellor’s

SUBSCRIBE FREE: www.GoAutoMedia.com

GoAuto Green is brought to you by Better Place

Jan 17, 2013 Page 31

GoAuto Go reen is broughtto you by Bey tter Place

By MIKE COSTELLOMITSUBISHI is set to offer a petrol-

electric hybrid drivetrain in the smaller,

more curvaceous next-generation

Lancer due in the fi rst half of 2014.

The frugal new addition is expected

to use a traditional hybrid set-up derived

from the bulkier and more complex

range-extending plug-in drivetrain

from the forthcoming Outlander PHEV

due here in mid-2013.

At last month’s launch of the

regular Outlander petrol and diesel

range, Mitsubishi Motors global C/D-

segment project manager Mitsuyoshi

Hattori said the Lancer was still at the

concept stage, but the company wanted

to expand the reach of its new hybrid

technology to its passenger range.

Mr Hattori was in charge of the

Outlander development and has now

moved on to lead the development of

the crucial new Lancer.

He hinted that a crossover of

technologies between the two vehicles

was on the cards.

“I’d like to put the PHEV or other

HV (hybrid vehicle) system to other

vehicles, maybe the Lancer,” he said.

“The same (plug-in hybrid) system is

only for Outlander class, but modifi ed

PHEV system can be put in any other

vehicle.”

GoAuto understands that this

modifi ed system could be a cheaper

and lighter traditional hybrid system,

using some of the technologies from

the PHEV but without the full plug-in

capability.

“I think the plug-in hybrid model

will be better for the middle and higher

class vehicles (such as the Outlander

and above) because it’s expensive for

the small cars,” said Mr Hattori.

“Small cars will be better for EV or

the conventional hybrid model.”

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Mitsubishi set to offer aregular hybrid drivetrainin next Lancer due 2014

Lancer takes ‘hy’ roadLancer takes ‘hy’ road

Reports suggest Audi has axed R8 e-tron supercar, electrifi ed A2 hatch programsBy MIKE COSTELLO

AUDI has reportedly axed two

separate future electric cars – the A2

EV hatchback and R8 e-tron supercar

– from its production plans.

UK publication Auto Express claims

that the production-ready R8 e-tron

EV has been indefi nitely delayed over

concerns that customers were not ready

to accept the limited range of pure

electric cars.

The e-tron, a conceptual rival for the

Mercedes-Benz SLS Electric Drive and

the BMW i8 plug-in, posted an unoffi cial

lap record for an electric car around the

famed Nurburgring Nordschleife race

circuit in Germany last July.

The ‘production’ e-tron used on the

hot lap featured two electric motors,

producing a combined 280kW of power

and 820Nm of torque, giving 0-100km/h

acceleration of just 4.6 seconds.

An Audi insider told Auto Express that

technology developed for the potent EV

would gradually fi lter through to models

further down the range.

However, one future lower-end EV

that looks unlikely to receive such

technology is the electric version of

the A2 hatch – the Ingolstadt marque’s

answer to the tall-bodied BMW i3.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – page 32, 33

Current Lancer

R8 e-tron

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GoAuto Personnel

John Mellor’s

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GoAuto Personnel – brought to you by Motor Staff

Jan 17, 2013 Page 32

`

CHANGE AT HMCA HELMBy MIKE COSTELLO

HYUNDAI Motor Company Australia

(HMCA) chief executive Edward

Lee has been promoted to head of

the company’s

international sales

division and will

depart Australia for

South Korea this

month.

Mr Lee will be

replaced by fellow

Korean Chul-hwan

(Charlie) Kim, who has been head of

Hyundai’s overseas marketing group.

Mr Kim previously worked for

Hyundai in India and America, and

started his new role this week.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Edward Lee

AUDI BOSS HEADS HOMEBy RON HAMMERTON

A SERIOUS motorcycle accident has

ended Audi Australia managing director

Uwe Hagen’s tenure in Australia.

Mr Hagen, who

is believed to have

broken both legs and

suffered several other

injuries in a collision

with a car in Tasmania

in October, returns to

his native Germany

this week to continue

his recovery from his injuries.

Audi Australia is expected to name

a new boss soon. Until then, Audi

Australia board chairman Andre

Konsbruck will hold the reins.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Uwe Hagen

HONDA EXEC RETIRESBy RON HAMMERTON

FORMER Honda Australia senior

director and life member of the Federal

Chamber of Automotive Industries

(FCAI), Lindsay

Smalley, has retired.

Mr Smalley, who

worked for Honda

for 23 years, quietly

pulled up stumps at the

Tullamarine-based car

importer in the week

before Christmas.

He had stepped down from Honda

Australia’s board in October 2011,

becoming an adviser to the board and

company spokesman as he began his

transition to retirement.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Lindsay Smalley

NEW MITSUBISHI MOVESBy TERRY MARTIN

MITSUBISHI Motors Australia

Limited’s vice-president of

corporate strategy and P&A (parts

and accessories), Paul Stevenson,

has departed after more than two

decades of service

as the company

continues its wide-

ranging organisational

restructure.

Under MMAL

president and CEO

Mutsuhiro Oshikiri,

a “newly aligned”

aftersales division has been created

“to increase structural effi ciency and

enhance close communication and

co-operation amongst its aftersales

and customer service related

departments”.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Paul Stevenson

HOLDEN SALES DIRECTORBy RON HAMMERTON

A HOLDEN executive who has

helped to steer the crucial 2013 VF

Commodore project and its Chevrolet

SS export spin-off has been appointed

sales director now that planning for the

locally made new-

generation large car

is all but complete.

Peter Keley, whose

role as Holden

planning executive

director meant co-

ordinating major

projects, apparently

put up his hand for the sales job vacancy

that was created when previous sales

director Philip Brook was promoted to

replace sales and marketing executive

director John Elsworth, who quit Holden

for Hyundai recently.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Peter Keley

IRMER TO LEAD SKODABy RON HAMMERTON

A VOLKSWAGEN manager with

fi ve years’ experience in Australia is

set to fi ll the vacancy at the helm of

Skoda Australia from March 1.

German-born Michael Irmer, who

was based in Australia with VW

between 2004 and 2009, will return from

the company’s Wolfsburg headquarters

to replace Matthew Wiesner as director

of Skoda, which operates as a division

of VW Group Australia.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

BMW Group Australia is searching

for a replacement for departing PR and

communications manager Piers Scott,

who has been promoted to a similar role

with BMW Group UK.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

BMW PR CHIEF SEARCH

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GoAuto New Car Diary

John Mellor’s

GoAuto New Car Diary – brought to you by carsales.com.au

Jan 17, 2013 Page 33

JANLAUNCH Holden Cruze wagon ►

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The Cruze Sportwagon will hit Holden showrooms this month, giving the Lion-badged brand a direct rival to the fl eet-favourite Hyundai i30 wagon – a new generation of which is just around the corner. Prices range from $25,790 plus on-road costs for the 1.8-litre petrol to $29,790 for the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

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Audi reveals plans for global premium brand leadershipBy RON HAMMERTON

AUDI has committed €13 billion

($A16.5 billion) to developing new

models and extra production facilities

– including new plants in Mexico

and China – over the next four years

as it pursues its Strategy 2020 growth

trajectory that it hopes will make it the

number-one luxury car brand by the

end of the decade.

Volkswagen’s luxury car division says

it will spend more than €2 billion a year

on new products, including technologies

such as lightweight construction

methods, electric mobility and ever more

effi cient conventional engines.

The company plans to sell at least

two million vehicles a year by 2020

– up from 1.45 million in 2012 – “to

become the perennial number-one

premium brand in the world”.

However, archrival and current global

premium-brand sales leader BMW is

not planning to hand over the crown

easily. BMW sold 1.54 million vehicles

in 2012 and is planning for more next

year, market conditions permitting.

Mercedes-Benz also posted record

sales last year, fi nishing third in the

premium-car race with 1.32 million

sales worldwide.

Although large sums are being spent

on new production capacity in China,

Mexico and Hungary, Audi’s home

bases of Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm

will still get more than half of the

investment over the next fi ve years.

Audi concedes sales conditions in

Europe remain challenging, but Audi

chief fi nancial offi cer Axel Strotbek

said: “We will keep investing large

sums to pursue our growth strategy.”

In the US, Audi set a sales record

in every single month during 2012

and fi nished the year with 139,310

deliveries, up 18.5 per cent, while in

China it claimed premium-segment

leadership with 405,838 sales, up 29.6

per cent and crossing the 400,000-unit

threshold for the fi rst time.

In Australia, Audi’s breakneck

growth of recent years slowed in 2012,

with sales lineball with last year on

14,535 new registrations – up 0.2 per

cent (or 24 units) on 2011.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

By MIKE COSTELLOAUDI Australia has cleared space

for the imminent arrival of its potent

twin-turbo 3.0 A6 Biturbo diesel by

trimming up to $9000 from the prices

of all regular six-cylinder A6 sedan

variants.

The price cuts come as part of a

2013 model year revamp that includes

a power upgrade for the 3.0 TFSI

petrol and a sizeable torque increase

for the 3.0 TDI diesel.

Leading the charge is the 3.0 TDI

quattro which, at $107,500 plus on-

road costs, is $9000 cheaper than

before.

The 3.0 TFSI petrol V6 now retails

for $114,000 (down $7000), while the

2.8 FSI V6 drops to $91,000 (down

$2400) while gaining a rearview

parking camera as standard equipment.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Price cuts and punchier V6engines for Audi A6 sedan

A3 production

A6