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Dec 15, 2010 No. 562

GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

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

SUZUKI’S SWIFT COMES OF AGE

- page 2

By RON HAMMERTONFORD’S new Territory will herald a new

global SUV design theme developed by its

Australian designers from the Blue Oval’s

‘kinetic’ design language when the big

Falcon-based crossover wagon is launched

in March or April next year.

A teaser sketch released yesterday by Ford

Australia also provides a hint at the new

look for the Australian-made Falcon, which

likewise is in for a makeover six months after

the Territory, in the third quarter of 2011.

The refreshed Territory and Falcon

will be joined on Ford’s 2011 new-model

launch-pad by the all-new Focus small car

and the Australian-developed Ranger ute in

what promises to be a watershed year for the

brand in this country.

The facelift for Territory – the most

signifi cant in the six years of the current

model – will be accompanied by a diesel

powertrain for the fi rst time. Ford says it

already has pent-up demand for the Territory

diesel, which will be offered as an alternative

to Ford’s venerable 4.0-litre inline petrol six.

The new model will arrive not a moment

too soon for Ford dealers, who have watched

Territory’s sales share of the hotly-contested

medium SUV market slump from 33.5 per

cent in 2005 to 14.1 per cent this year.

Although sales of the Falcon-based SUV

are expected to end 2010 slightly up on

2009’s 10,884 units, this is still only half the

2005 volume when Territory accounted for

more than 23,000 Ford sales.

Territory has been hurt by rivals such as

the Holden Captiva with their diesel engine

alternatives – a gap in the Territory range

that will fi nally be plugged by a European-

sourced 2.7-litre turbo-diesel V6 from Land

Rover’s superseded Discovery.

Ford Australia is keeping its powder dry on

details of the new diesel in its Territory guise,

but in the Discovery it developed 140kW of

power and 440Nm of torque and delivered

combined fuel economy of 10.2L/100km.

Instead of diesel, the 2011 Falcon will

get Ford’s 2.0-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder

engine, as well as a new liquid-injection

LPG version of its six-cylinder engine –

called Liquid Phase Injection – alongside

the petrol variant.

The sketch of the new Territory reveals a

wide-mouth design with hints of other current

‘kinetic design’ models such as the Fiesta.

New-look slimline headlights – a feature

that might make it on to the next Falcon in

the interests of parts commonality – give the

Territory a sportier persona, while squared-

off LED running lights provide a little

European fl air.Continued next page

Ford’s 4WD fi ghtbackFord Australia to reclaim ‘lost Territory’ and kick off new global look with 2011 SUV

Dec 15, 2010 Page 2

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Swift comesof age

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PUBLISHER: John MellorEDITOR: Terry Martin MANAGING EDITOR: Marton PettendyJOURNALISTS: Byron Mathioudakis, James Stanford Philip Lord, David HassallPRODUCTION: Luc Britten, Haitham RazaguiSUB-EDITOR: Ron HammertonProduced by GoAutoMedia: Ph: (03) 9598 6477 newsroom@mellor.net

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Chris Newton - Chairman (left) & Julian Newton - DP

City Holden is Australia’s most awarded Holden Dealer, recently winning Grand Master Dealer status for the 20th time in the award’s 21 year history!

Auto-IT is proud to supply the Dealer Management System that runs their business.

sales@auto-it.com.au | +61 3 9349 3062

By MARTON PETTENDY in JAPANSUZUKI’S Swift has grown up, but remains

as sharp as ever.

Slightly bigger and more refi ned, as well

as safer and better equipped at base level, the

resurgent Japanese small-car brand’s new-

for-2011 Swift will land here in February

with marginal price increases and even

better steering and handling than before.

Already one of the best dynamic

packages in the burgeoning light-car class,

the outgoing Swift has been a stellar sales

performer both globally and in Australia,

where it has long been consistently a top-

fi ve seller behind established nameplates

like Hyundai’s Getz, Toyota’s Yaris, the

Mazda2 and Holden’s Barina.

That’s why Japan’s Kei-car king has

decided to play it safe with the third-

generation model, which made its world

debut at October’s Paris motor show –

before going on sale the same month in

Europe and in November in Japan – dressed

in a fi ve-door bodyshell that can only be

described as evolutionary yet remains as

cheeky and distinctive as ever.

Beneath the instantly recognisable exterior,

however, lies a comprehensively overhauled

chassis featuring revised suspension, retuned

electric power steering and 15 per cent

better torsional rigidity due to increased use

of high-strength steel, while a concerted

weight-saving program has limited kerb

weight gain to just 25kg despite increases in

all key dimensions and increased standard

safety and equipment levels.

The all-new Swift’s headline act, however,

is a new 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine

– downsized from the current model’s 1.5-

litre four – that returns mainstream class-

leading fuel consumption of just 5.5 litres

per 100km and CO2 emissions of 132 grams

per kilometre in fi ve-speed manual guise.

That is a 13 per cent reduction from the

outgoing engine’s 6.3L/100km and 152g/

km fi gures and makes the new Swift more

effi cient than all but Volkswagen’s new

Polo – which is priced close to $20,000

in fi ve-door form – in Australia’s smallest

vehicle category. It also makes the 2011

Swift almost as economical as Suzuki’s

smaller Alto, whose 1.0-litre engine

returns 4.7L/100km.Continued next page

Territory sketch reveals Ford’s new global SUV look

Suzuki improves its redesigned Swift in all key areas – and adds even more mojo

Continued from previous page

The Territory was last given a styling

tweak in May 2009, when the front fascia,

bonnet and headlights were redesigned.

According to Ford Australia, the

Territory’s locally crafted new look is likely

to appear on other Ford SUVs.

This might include Ford’s new Ranger-

based SUV, which is being developed at

Ford Australia’s Campbellfi eld and Geelong

design and engineering centres in Victoria.

However, it is too late for the big-selling

Ford Explorer in North America – its latest

model has already been launched on the

front-drive/AWD Taurus platform this year.

In its press release this week – the start

of what is expected to be a drip feed of

information about the new model until its

release in four months – Ford says the new

Territory will also get “a major interior

update” that likewise might provide a glimpse

of the updated Falcon that will follow it into

showrooms about six months later.

The Territory is set to go into production

after the traditional Christmas shutdown,

kicking off what Ford describes as an

unprecedented new-model onslaught in 2011.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – page 11, 12, 19-20

Dec 15, 2010 Page 3

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

MARK HENDERSONManaging Director

For more information please contactmarkh@motorsolutions.com.auTo email now < click here >

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Swift comes of ageSwift comes of ageContinued from previous page

The downside of the more frugal Swift

engine is slightly lower performance, with

peak power of the 1372cc K14B engine

dropping marginally from the current

1490cc M15A engine’s 74 to 70kW at the

same 6000rpm, and maximum torque falling

by a similar degree from 133 to 130Nm at

the same 4000rpm.

Offsetting this, however, is the fi tment

of electronic throttle control as standard

across the range. Previously fi tted only to

the range-topping Swift Sport, the drive-

by-wire accelerator system sharpens throttle

response discernibly at all revs and makes

the new 1.4 feel a little punchier than the 1.5

where it matters – at low engine speeds.

Also helping the new Swift feel slightly

more tractable down low – while still revving

cleanly beyond 6000rpm and producing a

noticeably lumpier exhaust note to boot –

are a higher (10:1 versus 9.5:1) compression

ratio and longer-stroke cylinder dimensions

of 73x82mm (compared with the former

engine’s square 78x78mm design), but it

must be said the new 1.4 still does its best

work above 3000rpm.

GoAuto drove the fi rst Australian-

specifi cation versions of the new Swift, which

is now in production in Hungary and Japan,

from where our version will continue to hail,

at Suzuki’s original Ryuyo proving ground

outside Hamamatsu south of Tokyo this week.

Matched with an upgraded four-speed

automatic transmission, which comprises

a simple but effective overdrive-off button

that locks out top gear for improved engine

braking around town, the Swift easily

accelerated to a top speed of almost 180km/h

on the 6.5km handling circuit’s 2.3km main

straight, while the fi ve-speed manual version

proved slightly quicker and faster.

The diminutive Swift has built its

reputation not on performance but handling,

however, so we were relieved to fi nd that the

changes made to the new model’s steering

and suspension will keep it at the pointy end

of a highly competitive light-car pack.

While a back-to-back comparison with

the classy new Polo and facelifted, better-

value versions of the similarly slick-steering

Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta will be required to

make a defi nitive pecking order judgement,

it’s clear that steering remains the Swift’s

best dynamic attribute.

Effortlessly light at parking speeds yet

fi rm and consistently weighted at speed, the

Swift’s variable electric power steering is

more precise, more responsive and super-

stable at speed, yet almost completely devoid

of rack rattle or kickback. It may lack the

ultimate fi nesse of the Polo and Fiesta, but

Suzuki has taken no backwards step in terms

of the Swift’s steering.

Complementing its pin-sharp steering

is the sort of chassis balance and grip and

progressive handling usually found only in

more expensive European offerings.

If anything, however – as far as we

could tell from our brief drive at the high-

speed Ryuyo test track – the new Swift is

slightly softer and more compliant than

before, offering better bump absorption

and improved ride quality across the board,

perhaps at the expense of some bodyroll.

Suzuki says the Swift’s increased

body stiffness has allowed it to make the

suspension slightly softer without affecting

handling, by revising the anti-roll bar and

coil spring layout of the MacPherson strut

front-end to increase roll stiffness and

rigidity, while reducing damping rates.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREKizashi upgrade – page 23

Dec 15, 2010 Page 4

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

An appropriate remuneration package will be negotiated with the successful candidate. Please submit your written application and resumé by Friday 31st December 2010. Applications will be treated in strictest confi dence and should be forwarded to: HR Manager, Suzuki Australia Pty Ltd, PO Box 84, Laverton VIC 3028, or via email: hr@suzuki.com.au Previous applicants need not apply.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGERMotorcycle & ATV

SUZUKI AUSTRALIA is an importer and distributor of Motorcycles, Automobiles and Spare Parts to a large dealer network across Australia. Located at Head Offi ce in Laverton, Victoria, a great opportunity exists within our Motorcycle Department for a Business Development Manager.

Reporting to the General Manager, Motorcycles, this position is to manage and develop specifi c Motorcycle and ATV business activities to strengthen the Suzuki brand image and awareness in the marketplace and underpin its sales drive through the national dealer network.

Specifi c Duties include:• Franchising and dealer development administration.• Dealership Corporate Signage programs.• Suzuki Finance, retail and wholesale fi nance programs.• Suzuki Insurances programs.• Other Business Development activities.

A background in Dealer network development, franchising or relationship management, particularly within a wholesale distribution environment is essential, and an understanding of the motorcycle industry would be a distinct advantage.

You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able to operate with minimal supervision. You will have solid computer literacy, a strong attention to detail, a fl exible work ethic and the drive to be a team player.

Front-wheel drive on the agenda for Commodoreas GM mulls alternatives

Commodore’s futureCommodore’s future

By RON HAMMERTONGM HOLDEN chairman and managing

director Mike Devereux has confi rmed that

a decision on the architecture for the next-

generation Commodore due by 2015 will be

made “fairly soon”.

Mr Devereux said Holden was “bullish”

about a rear-drive platform for the car, although

he stopped short of committing to a continuation

of the traditional layout for Australia’s top-

selling car for the past 15 years.

General Motors insiders have told GoAuto

that in the long term, a rear-drive platform is

not a certainty for the top-selling Australian

car, with rival engineering groups

within GM canvassing more fuel-

effi cient front-drive/all-wheel-drive

alternatives for GM’s Commodore-

style large cars.

One source confi rmed that

discussions about a switch to front-

wheel drive have been on the table,

but another suggested that any

potential switch was unlikely to

happen until a later model, with the 2015

generation continuing with rear-drive.

“I think those discussions (about front-

wheel drive) are further out,” the Holden

insider said.

A switch to front-wheel drive could mean

that both of Australia’s indigenous large cars,

the Commodore and Ford Falcon, could end

up on front-drive platforms at some point,

with all-wheel-drive alternatives for high-

performance models.

Ford is expected to make its own decision

on the next Falcon by the end of

2011 – a likely similar timeframe to

GM’s 2015 Commodore deadline.

The American-designed Ford

Taurus, with front- and all-wheel-

drive powertrains, is said to be one

of the vehicles that could underpin

the next Falcon.

Front-drive possibilities for the

Holden Commodore include GM’s so-called

Super Epsilon 2 platform for full-sized cars

that is expected to provide the base for the

next Chevrolet Impala, Buick Park Avenue

and Cadillac XTS.

The Super Epsilon architecture is said to

be a wider and longer version of the Opel-

engineered Epsilon design used under the

Opel Insignia, Buick Regal and Saab 9-3.

The Holden assessment process for the next

Commodore is in full swing, four years ahead

of the likely start of production in 2015 at

Holden’s Elizabeth plant in South Australia.

Holden is keen to sit the next Commodore

on a new generation of its Australian-

engineered Zeta global rear-drive platform.

The current version underpins not only the

VE Commodore but derivatives such as the

Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Caprice

Police Patrol Vehicle.

American car magazine Motor Trend says

a new Zeta rear-drive architecture in both

short- and long-wheelbase variants has been

given the tick of approval within GM, but

says it will be aimed at upmarket vehicles

such as a new rear-drive Cadillac and a

Chevrolet “four-door Camaro”.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREVolt will be ‘expensive’ – next page

Mike Devereux

Dec 15, 2010 Page 5

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Te lephone: (02) 9957 4182Emai l : aust ra l ia@cour land .com

IN ASSOCIATION WITH GEDDES PARKER & PARTNERS

Mitsubishi Motors Australia is part of the global Mitsubishi Motors organisation and is fully owned by

Mitsubishi Corporation, one of the world’s largest companies. As a result of Mitsubishi’s wide range of

innovative imported vehicles, the company is no. 6 in the Australian market.

As Regional Sales Manager NSW, you will be responsible for leading and motivating a team of sales

development managers. Your KPIs will include achieving wholesale and retail vehicle sales targets,

dealer reviews, management of inventory levels and communicating sales and marketing information

to the dealer network and Head Offi ce Senior Management.

You will have a proven track record as an exceptional leader. You will be energetic, with strong

interpersonal and relationship building skills, combined with strong experience managing and leading

sales teams selling through dealer networks.

To discuss this unique opportunity in confi dence, please contact Ross Geddes or email your resumé

quoting Ref No. COU154.

Regional Sales Manager

Exceptional sales team leader and motivator required

Excellent package

NEW SOUTH WALES

Holden sees little profi t from fi rst-gen Volt, even with high prices, demand

Volt will be ‘expensive’Volt will be ‘expensive’

By RON HAMMERTONGM HOLDEN chairman and managing

director Mike Devereux has warned that

even though his company will not make

any profi t on the fi rst-generation Holden

Volt plug-in range-extender electric vehicle,

it will be “expensive” when it lands in

Australia in 2012.

Despite this, Mr Devereux predicts that

Holden will sell “lots” of the American-

made cars that can be driven up to 60km

on electricity from lithium-ion batteries

before a 63kW 1.4-litre petrol engine

kicks in to extend the driving range to

about 480km.

Pricing for the Holden version of the

Volt will not be announced until launch

time, but the Chevrolet variant has gone

on sale in the United States for $41,000

($A41,619) – about the same price as some

European luxury cars such as the BMW 3

Series and $8000 more than the full-electric

Nissan Leaf.

US federal government tax breaks can

reduce that by up to $7500, cutting the

price for some buyers to about $33,500

($A34,000) – still about twice the price of

a base Chevrolet Cruze.

However, with no incentives for

alternative fuel vehicles in the offi ng from

Canberra, Australian customers can expect

to pay full whack for a Volt, even though

Holden will take no profi t from it.

Speaking at an American Chamber of

Commerce in Australia event in Melbourne

last week, Mr Devereux said the Volt had

been described as a technological and

engineering marvel, and that it was still

being “reinvented as we speak”.

But he cautioned that such technology

was expensive in its early stages.

“The Chevy Volt – Holden Volt in this

market – will be very successful in this

market, but it will be expensive,” he said. “We

won’t make money on those cars for its fi rst

generation, make no mistake. We will sell a

lot of Volts, but those things are expensive.

“Battery technology will get much smaller,

much lighter and much cheaper, and then

people will get to drive them en masse.”

Mr Devereux said GM believed a

combination of Volt-style range-extender

electric vehicles and E85 bio-fuel ethanol

cars provided the best alternative fuel

answers in the “near term”.

“A lot of people talk about electric cars

– they are the sexiest and easiest to see,” he

said. “GM takes a multi-pronged approach,

with hydrogen fuel-cell cars seen as the

solution in the long term. But we have lots

of eggs in lots of baskets.”

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREPolice car orders roll in – next page

Dec 15, 2010 Page 6

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Holden names nine US states as hot prospectsfor Chevrolet PPV sales

Police car orders roll inPolice car orders roll in

By RON HAMMERTONPOLICE departments in at least nine US

states – including some of the biggest such

as California, Michigan and Florida – have

requested tender contract documents for

the Holden-made Chevrolet Caprice Police

Patrol Vehicle (PPV) that is set to go into

production next year.

Although that does not mean defi nite sales

of the purpose-built police sedan based on

the Holden Caprice, GM Holden chairman

and managing director Mike Devereux said

he was expecting orders for “thousands and

thousands and thousands” of the vehicles.

Chevrolet has been showing off prototype

Caprice PPVs to police forces in a 20-city

‘ride and drive’ whistle-stop tour of the US,

with heartening feedback about the two

versions of the car – a bells-and-whistles

patrol vehicle and a plain detective car.

“We are not in a position to disclose the

number of orders in the system at this time,

but we’re confi dent the number of orders

will continue to ramp up in the New Year as

we complete the road show and start taking

orders for the much higher-volume patrol

model,” said Mr Devereux.

Mr Devereux named California,

Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida,

Idaho, Maryland, Michigan and North

Carolina as among the states to request

tender documents.

“They are all actually tendering with us right

now and we are taking orders as we speak,” he

said in Melbourne last week at an American

Chamber of Commerce in Australia event.

Mr Devereux – who would not discuss

the potential for a ‘civilian’ version of the

Caprice for North America – said GM knew

it had a superior police patrol product, not

just by its own estimates but from offi cial

comparative testing with police fl eets.

“We have completed, for example, our

competitive testing with the Michigan state

and LA Sheriff Departments and we expect to

see those results in the fi rst quarter,” he said.

Mr Devereux said one of the Chevrolet

ride days, in Colorado, had been held in such

horrendous weather conditions that the test

track surface was awash and that witches’

hats set up to create a slalom course had

been blown away.

“But the customers loved it and said if

the car could perform as well as it did under

those adverse conditions, they knew it would

excel on clear, dry pavement,” he said.

Mr Devereux conceded that the strong

Australian dollar against the US greenback

was putting pressure on the deal because

forward planning was based on an exchange

rate of 80-something cents to the US dollar.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERECruze power boost – next page

Dec 15, 2010 Page 7

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TRUCK SALESSERVICE MANAGERBLACK TRUCK SALES is an established and expanding family-owned company with dealerships in Moree, Goondiwindi, Toowoomba, Dalby and soon to open in Roma. We are currently seeking an experienced Service Manager to run the busy Toowoomba workshop.

Toowoomba has a population of over 250,000, making it the largest regional town on the Darling Downs, and is located within an hour of Brisbane. Toowoomba is known as the ‘family friendly town’ and is home to some of the state’s best schools. There is also a wide range of excellent facilities providing entertainment, shopping and leisure activities.

The Service Manager will oversee the workshop staff servicing Isuzu and Iveco trucks, as well as Isuzu Ute light commercial vehicles.

The successful candidate will have the following attributes and experience:• Experience in managing a Service Workshop. • Service knowledge of light to heavy trucks will be highly regarded. • Demonstrated ability to work cohesively as part of a team.• Proven Reynolds & Reynolds experience is essential to the role.• Well developed communication and interpersonal skills. • Show initiative and be driven to meet workshop targets. • High level of customer service and ability to multi-task is a must.

Working days offered are Monday to Friday with a rotating Saturday shift. The successful applicant will receive a base salary of $80,000 plus car, phone and bonuses, with a total package of over $100,000.

This is a fantastic opportunity to challenge

yourself in a dynamic and rewarding role. We look forward to hearing from you.

Please send a resumé with covering letter to: rblack@blacktrucksales.com.au

Holden to offer two new turbo engines with local production in New Year

Cruze power boostCruze power boost

By RON HAMMERTONHOLDEN’S homegrown Cruze small

car will receive not only a thrifty 1.4-litre

turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the

start of local production in the New Year but

also an all-new powerful and smooth 2.0-

litre turbo-diesel.

These engines will be the hero

powertrains of the three-engine line-up for

the new Aussie small car that will go into

mass production at Holden’s Elizabeth plant

in January immediately after the annual

Christmas shutdown.

The Cruze sedan will be fi rst cab off

the rank, going on sale in February, with

the Australian-designed fi ve-door hatch to

follow later in 2011.

Both cars will get a choice of three

four-cylinder powertrains initially – the

effi cient 103kW/200Nm 1.4-litre petrol,

new 118kW/350Nm 2.0-litre diesel and a

tweaked version of the current 104kW 1.8-

litre four-cylinder petrol engine that will

power mainstream models.

All three engines will be imported from

GM Daewoo in South Korea, which supplies

the current Cruze sold under Holden badges

in Australia and New Zealand.

These engines are expected to be joined

at a later date by at least one sports engine,

probably the 132kW 1.6-litre turbocharged

four-cylinder engine from Opel’s Astra range.

As well, an even hotter engine is expected

in a Holden Special Vehicles-enhanced

Cruze hatch.

The new diesel will replace the unloved

110kW engine that has been criticised for

its agricultural performance, including old-

style rattly racket. A Holden insider told

GoAuto that the new engine was so quiet it

could be confused with a petrol powertrain.

The engine is also said to be sporty in its

delivery, using its ample torque to outshine

the petrol variants.

In Europe, the Opel Astra CDTI’s 2.0-litre

Ecotec diesel pumps out 350Nm of torque –

30Nm more than the diesel engine in the current

Holden Cruze line-up. That torque peaks at just

1750rpm and continues until 2500rpm.

The same engine is likely to surface in

the new-look Holden Captiva that arrives

in Australia in March, fresh from its debut

alongside the Cruze hatch in Chevrolet form

at the Paris motor show in September.

The Cruze’s ‘Family 0’ 1.4-litre turbo-petrol

engine will be the eco-leader of the bunch,

delivering superior fuel economy to the 1.8-

litre cooking model, but with similar power.

Panels for the new Cruze will be a mix of

imported and locally stamped steel, with the

basic platform and inner panels imported from

South Korea or China, with the more complex

outer sheets being stamped on the same presses

that churn out Commodore panels in Adelaide.

Holden recently reinstated its second shift

at the Elizabeth factory in preparation for

the start of local production of the Cruze and

new export Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol

Vehicle – based on the Holden Caprice – in

the New Year.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – page 19-20, 21, 22

Dec 15, 2010 Page 8

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Full details emerge for smallest-ever M car asmid-2011 launch looms

BMW’s BMW’s M OneM One

By TERRY MARTINFIVE months after confi rming that a 1

Series M Coupe was in the works, BMW

has released full details of the smallest ever

model to emerge from its high-performance

M GmbH division – a pocket rocket that is

almost as fast, and promises to be every bit

as entertaining, as the blistering M3.

To make its in-the-metal debut at next

month’s Detroit motor show, the 1 Series M

Coupe will hit Australia in the third quarter

next year in limited numbers (100 units

for 2011), priced from around $100,000 –

$45,000 less than the M3 sedan, which is the

current entry point for the Munich marque’s

M cars, and some $15,000 clear of the 135i

Sport Coupe.

As expected, BMW has equipped the 1 M

– as opposed to the M1, BMW’s 1978-1981

mid-engined supercar – with the 3.0-litre

twin-turbocharged direct-injection ‘N54’

straight-six engine already used in the Z4

sDrive35is roadster, which is the fi rst time

a standard production powerplant has been

seen in the bona fi de M collection.

Producing 250kW at 5900rpm (but revving

to “well over” 7000rpm) and 450Nm from

1500-4500rpm (with an overboost function

increasing torque to 500Nm for short bursts

under full acceleration), the engine drives

the rear wheels through a newly developed

six-speed manual gearbox and can send the

1495kg (unladen) two-door, four-seat 1 Series

M from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.9 seconds.

This is just one tenth of a second slower

than the heavier 1605kg (kerb weight) M3

sedan, which packs in a natural-breathing

309kW/400Nm 4.0-litre V8 engine, and

quite a bit quicker than the 1525kg (kerb)

135i Sport Coupe, which uses a less powerful

225kW/400Nm version of the same 2979cc

twin-turbo inline-six and is claimed to reach

100km/h from standstill in 5.3 seconds.

BMW quotes 17.3 seconds from

0-200km/h for the 1 M, with top speed

limited to 250km/h.

Brake energy regeneration and “needs-

based control” of auxiliary units, which

are part of BMW’s Effi cientDynamics

program, have taken the M brand below

10L/100km for the fi rst time, with the

1 M Coupe’s offi cial combined fuel

consumption rated at 9.6L/100km (the

135i Sport manages 8.5L/100km). CO2

emissions come in at 224g/km.

The broader, lower stance of the 1 Series

M compared to the 135i Coupe – overall

width increases 55mm to 1803mm – refl ects

the chassis engineering work undertaken

with BMW’s baby M, with a wider front

and rear track (now 1541mm at each end,

compared to 1470/1497mm) and the ride

height now 12mm closer to the tarmac.

The M retains the 1 Series’ double-pivot

spring-strut front and fi ve-link rear suspension

design, although the aluminium content has

increased signifi cantly, unique axle supports

are included, the electronic differential lock

is now M-specifi c, the electronic stability

control includes an intervention threshold-

raising M Dynamic Mode (MDM), the

rack-and-pinion steering is fi tted with the

Servotronic hydraulic system, and the brakes

are upgraded to M3 level, with inner-vented

and perforated M-specifi c discs with a

360/350mm front/rear diameter, each with a

single piston fl oating calliper.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Dec 15, 2010 Page 9

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Dual-clutch gearbox set to ignite sales for Alfa Romeo’s hot little hatch

MiTo shifts up a gearMiTo shifts up a gear

By JAMES STANFORDA NEW dual-clutch automatic gearbox is

set to give the Alfa Romeo MiTo a massive

boost in Australia, with an estimated 90

per cent of customers to opt for the self-

shifting transmission.

The upgrade to the smallest Alfa also

includes a new cutting-edge engine, idle-stop

fuel-saving technology and a range revision.

The arrival of the new DSG-style automatic

is the big news for a brand that has had few

self-shifters in the past. Its previous attempt

at a robotised manual, the Selespeed gearbox,

was not well received, and Alfa says many

customers saw that as an enhanced manual

rather than an automatic transmission.

The twin-clutch transmission (TCT) – the

fi rst auto for MiTo – presents to the customer

as a traditional automatic, with a Park mode

that locks the transmission and a creep

function that eases the car forward when the

foot is lifted from the brake in Drive. The TCT

shifter can be fl icked to the left for sequential

manual gear changes, while gears can also be

changed with steering-wheel paddles.

A Fiat-made transmission that will soon be

rolled out across the Fiat and Chrysler ranges,

TCT uses a Magneti Marelli control system

and Borg Warner actuation module.

It has a dry sump, which Alfa says means

effi ciency gains of six per cent over a wet

sump, with fuel

consumption down

0.1 litres per 100km

compared with its

six-speed manual

counterpart. It is also

0.2 seconds faster from 0-100km/h.

Alfa’s idle-stop system is available with

TCT-equipped cars as well as the range-

topping QV manual.

This system kills the engine at idle at

standstill with the foot on the brake, and fi res

up again by hitting the accelerator, fl icking

one of the gearshift paddles on the steering

wheel or engaging the clutch in the manual.

The system has been designed to switch

the engine off when it is suffi ciently warm

and also when the air-conditioning system is

fully charged, to avoid running out of cooling

when the car is sitting with the engine off.

The MiTo range kicks off with the new

manual-only 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo

engine which produces 114kW of power and

230Nm of torque. It runs traditional intake

valve control – not Fiat’s MultiAir system –

and has a combined cycle fuel consumption

fi gure of 6.5L/100km. It is 0.2 seconds slower

than the base engine,

taking 8.2 seconds to

run from 0-100km/h.

Next up is the new

1.4-litre MultiAir

turbo-petrol engine

which generates less power (99kW) and the

same amount of torque (230Nm).

The innovative MultiAir system uses

electro-hydraulic solenoids instead of a

camshaft to control the intake valve timing

for cleaner and more effi cient combustion.

A regular camshaft is used to control the

exhaust valves and to provide oil pressure

for the solenoids for the intake controllers.

The main advantage of this system is

its economy and this engine is a whole

1.0L/100km more economical than the

entry-level engine with an offi cial combined

fuel economy fi gure of 5.5L/100km.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREDRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE

PRICING:1.4 114kW $29,990

TCT 1.4 99kW (a) $31,990

Sport TCT 1.4 99kW (a) $34,990

Quadrifoglio Verde 1.4 125kW $34,990

TCT

Dec 15, 2010 Page 10

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Chassis, cosmetic work among changes for 2011 sports sedan from Lexus

Overhaul for IS FOverhaul for IS F

By MARTON PETTENDYLEXUS’ upgraded IS F sports sedan is

now available in Australia, featuring a

range of cosmetic and chassis upgrades

for no extra cost.

In local showrooms now with the same

$126,900 pricetag as before (plus on-road

costs), the range-topping compact Lexus

sedan continues to undercut BMW’s

equivalent M3 DCT sedan ($152,300) by

$25,500 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

sedan ($150,980) by $24,180.

First seen at the Paris motor show in

October, when full European details were

announced, the 2011 IS F’s local release

follows the Australian launch of the revised

2011 IS250 (priced from $55,800), new

IS250 F Sport ($66,800) and new IS350

(from $64,800), which compared to its most

direct BMW and Mercedes rivals offers

Lexus buyers savings similar to the IS F.

As such, the revitalised IS range recorded

boom sales in November and Lexus continues

to sell as many examples of the IS F as it can

get from Japan, with a sales rate of about 15

cars a month and at least a month-long wait

for delivery making it far more exclusive

than its established German rivals.

To November this year, Lexus Australia has

sold 114 IS Fs (up 7.5 per cent on 2009 fi gures)

and 2454 IS250s (up 7.7 per cent), plus 168

versions of the new IS350 in the past two months.

Meantime, the IS250C coupe-convertible has

found 489 new homes (up more than 125 per

cent), including no fewer than 64 last month.

Lexus has confi rmed Australian IS F

buyers now have access to the same IS F

upgrades available in Europe, which as

GoAuto has reported include an upgraded

suspension package, a new LFA-inspired

instrument binnacle with large central tacho

and digital speedo, exterior styling revisions,

new interior and exterior colours and the

latest European emissions compliance.

Although there are no changes to the

performance of the IS F’s 311kW/505Nm

5.0-litre V8 – or its combined average

fuel consumption of 11.4L/100km and

CO2 emissions of 270g/km – the mid-size

sedan’s big-bore bent eight now meets the

stricter Euro 5 emissions standard that is yet

to come into force in Australia.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Dec 15, 2010 Page 11

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Have you heard the story about the service manager

who increased his average RO value by $43?

It’s worth listening to.

Thai Fiesta a treatThai Fiesta a treat

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISFORD Australia’s fresh Thai Fiesta range

is an evolutionary development of the feisty

German light car, featuring a number of

improvements that will soon be adopted by the

Saarlouis plant for European market models.

Instead of unravelling the

smallest Ford’s reputation for

athletic steering and handling

with the shift in production

for Australia, Ford’s global

integration team in Germany

applied a number of key body

and chassis upgrades to the

already accomplished WS

Fiesta, which was designed and

engineered in Germany but now

makes way here for the revised

and rejuvenated WT Fiesta range

from Thailand.

These include more

soundproofi ng, quieter

(Continental) tyres, better

door seals, a stiffer body and signifi cantly

more rigid mountings for the twist-beam

rear suspension, improving handling and –

according to Ford – reducing wind noise by

up to 40 per cent while slashing road noise,

vibration and harshness by up to one decibel.

More up-to-date electronic stability control

(ESC) and upgraded electric power steering

systems have also been introduced, the latter

now offering both more torque assistance at

parking speeds for lighter steering and less

help at higher velocities for a weightier feel.

Ford has also fettled the Fiesta’s

suspension, changing the springs and

dampers on the non-Zetec

models to offer a “plusher” ride

without, says Ford, sacrifi cing

handling prowess.

“AAT (Auto Alliance Thailand)

Fiesta has the European dynamics

of the German vehicle,” said Ford

Asia Pacifi c and Africa B-car

vehicle integration chief Stefan

Muenzinger.

As GoAuto reported at the

WT Fiesta’s international

launch in Thailand in August,

Ford Australia believes

improvements in refi nement,

comfort, convenience and

driveability will allow it to

capitalise on the momentum of the WS.

Representing the fi rst ever Ford of this shape

in this class, there is also a B409 four-door sedan

to sell alongside the B299 hatch, designed to

persuade folk from plonking for a Honda City,

Toyota Yaris, Kia Rio, Holden Barina, Mazda2

or Nissan Tiida sedan instead – and a 430-litre

boot capacity may help its cause.

The three-door Fiesta is not produced in

Thailand, which leaves that body variant – and

a high-performance derivative – out of the

line-up, at least until an ‘XR4 Turbo’ lobs.

All Fiestas now come fi tted with ESC

(which was previously only standard on the

Zetec), along with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and

electronic brake-force distribution (EBD).

Only the base CL, which opens the 2011

Fiesta range at $16,990 plus on-road costs,

misses out on seven airbags – including side

curtain/thorax airbags and a driver’s knee

device – so has only an ANCAP four-star

rating compared to other Fiestas’ fi ve-star

result. An optional safety pack with this

equipment is available for $600.

Ford is making a big deal about Bluetooth

connectivity with voice control being

standard on all Fiestas, along with an aux-in

jack connection for personal audio devices.

Other new CL additions include ESC, a

driver’s ‘Beltminder’ warning, body-coloured

bumpers, six-speaker audio and a sliding

drawer under the front passenger seat. These

come on top of the standard ABS brakes, air-

conditioning, power front windows/mirrors

and remote central locking.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREDRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE

‘XR4 Turbo’ a no-brainer – next page

PRICING:Hatch

CL $16,990

CL (a) $18,990

LX $18,990

LX (a) $20,990

LX diesel $21,490

Zetec $20,990

Zetec (a) $22,990

Zetec diesel $23,490

Econetic $24,990

Sedan

CL (a) $18,990

LX $21,490

LX (a) $20,990

LX diesel $21,490

New sedan, diesel and Powershift models headline Ford’s revised light-car range

Dec 15, 2010 Page 12

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Superservice Menus delivers fast, accurate and fully priced quotes for your service customers.

FordHoldenHondaHyundaiKiaLand Rover

Coming Soon

Jaguar

Lexus

Mitsubishi

Subaru

Suzuki

Toyota

Ford set to take challenge up to VW Polo GTI with a sizzling force-fed Fiesta

‘XR4 Turbo’ a no-brainer‘XR4 Turbo’ a no-brainer

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISFRESH from its sharpened WT Fiesta

Zetec, Ford is now setting its sights on

delivering a hot turbo-petrol iteration of its

popular sporty light car.

Due to be unveiled next year in Europe,

and with Australia in line for it not long after,

the go-faster Blue Oval baby is expected to

tout Ford’s turbocharged 1.6-litre EcoBoost

four-cylinder petrol engine, with pundits

predicting about 135kW of power.

In line with the previous naturally

aspirated 110kW 2.0-litre WQ version, the

2012 XR4 Turbo – as the model may be

branded – will of course feature the usual

sports fl otsam and jetsam, such as a bodykit,

lower ride height, fi rmer suspension, sports

seats and larger alloy wheels.

However, this time around, while a six-

speed manual gearbox is almost a dead cert,

Ford’s Mexican-made Powershift dual-

clutch transmission should also be part of

the option pack.

This would match the Fiesta ST/XR4

Turbo’s closest competitor in Australia –

the latest Volkswagen Polo GTI – which in

fact is available only with DSG dual-clutch

gearbox technology.

The inherent effi ciencies of this style

of transmission make it more attractive in

terms of CO2 reduction – and European

buyers are taxed according to their vehicles’

carbon outputs.

“We’ve had tremendous success with the

old XR4, and it doesn’t take a smart person

to fi gure out where we might go next,” said

Ford Australia general marketing manager

David Katic at last week’s Australian

launch of the Thai-built WT Fiesta range,

which debuted at October’s Australian

International Motor Show in Sydney.

Like Volkswagen’s $19,850 Polo 77TSI

Comfortline, Ford has found that the

higher-end versions of the latest Fiesta – the

$18,990 LX and $20,990 Zetec – are the

more popular variants.

In fact, the sporty Zetec so far accounts

for up to half of all sales volume, prompting

the team at Broadmeadows to push forward

with the XR4 successor.

This compares to just two per cent of

sales for the previous-generation WP/

WQ Fiesta from 2004 to 2008 – although

today’s Zetec does not have an XR4 hero

car hogging the limelight.

“The Fiesta is having success in the

$17,000 to $23,000 area, especially with the

Zetec,” Mr Katic said.

“The previous Zetec was running at

two per cent and now it’s at 50 per cent

– and that fi gure is stock constrained.

We’re shocked, frankly. I’ve worked in

the industry 20 years and I’ve never seen a

high-series car do that.”

Furthermore, as supply lines free up now

that the newly opened Thailand plant is

ramping up production, Mr Katic expects

Zetec volume to keep growing.

“Our dealer order write tells us that the

Zetec’s popularity will continue,” he said.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

2011 ‘Steeda’ Fiesta

Dec 15, 2010 Page 13

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Editorial Production Assistant (Cadet)John Mellor’s GoAutoMedia is seeking the services of a full-time or part-time Editorial Production Assistant at its Melbourne-based (Sandringham) Newsroom for a wide range of tasks including the publishing of articles and images online, image sourcing and the regular preparation and updating of various GoAuto online services plus other editorial administrative duties.

This junior position is an opportunity to get started in a thriving automotive newsroom, playing a vital support role in producing one of Australia’s most respected consumer websites, GoAuto.com.au, as well as Australia’s leading automotive industry publication, GoAutoNews.

Knowledge of the numerous car makes and models on the Australian market (past and present) is essential, as are computer, word processing and spreadsheet skills.

Familiarity with image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop will be highly regarded (training will be provided).

This varied and interesting role offers opportunities for career expansion into specifi c areas such as graphic design or journalism and would suit a hard-working young auto enthusiast looking to enter the publishing industry.

Send your details to the managing editor, Marton Pettendy, at mpettendy@mellor.net.No phone enquiries will be accepted.

Mitsubishi confi rms Thai production for redesigned light car from March 2012

By MARTON PETTENDYTHE replacement for Mitsubishi’s quirky

Colt city car will enter production in March

2012 at a new factory in Thailand, where the

all-new ‘Global Small’ model will be priced

from about 400,000 baht ($A13,490).

It is expected to go on sale in Australia a

few months later, in mid-2012.

With a world debut planned for the Geneva

motor show in March 2011, the all-new

Colt successor has been previewed in two

low-resolution sketches that accompanied a

press release to announce Mitsubishi’s fi rst

new factory in 16 years.

The new plant, Mitsubishi’s third in

Thailand, represents a total investment of

16 million baht ($A539m) and will have an

initial annual production capacity of 150,000

vehicles, which the company says could be

expanded to 200,000.

Mitsubishi held an offi cial “foundation

stone laying ceremony” last week for the

small-car factory, which will employ about

3000 new workers.

The Colt replacement, which will be

based on a “completely new” platform

currently under development by MMC, will

be powered by fuel-effi cient 1.0 and 1.2-litre

engines, with an all-electric variant joining

the range about a year after launch.

Mitsubishi’s compact and affordable new

entry-level model will conform to the Thai

government’s Eco-car Project requirements,

which aim to promote investment and reduce

fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gas

emissions.

Versions for PSA Peugeot Citroen in

Europe are also expected, in a deal that

would see the French group switching from

Toyota for its next-generation micro-cars.

PSA already sells models based on

Mitsubishi’s Outlander and i-MiEV and will

soon offer a version of the ASX mini-SUV

in Europe, while the current Citroen C1

and Peugeot 107 are produced in the Czech

Republic alongside the Toyota Aygo.

PSA announced in April that it was

developing a new 1.2-litre three-

cylinder petrol engine family and

would commence production – in

France – of normally aspirated and

turbocharged variants in 2012.

Earlier this year, PSA decided

not to commit to a capital alliance

with Mitsubishi, although the two

companies said at the time that product-

sharing partnerships would continue.

During a visit to Australia in June, MMC

president Osamu Masuko told journalists,

including GoAuto, that Mitsubishi’s

forthcoming small car would be smaller and

more affordable than the current Colt and

was being developed for global markets.

“In response to consumer demand for

smaller, more economical vehicles, we are

developing a new model, called Global

Small,” said Mr Masuko. “This new vehicle

is scheduled to be launched globally –

including in Australia.”

MMC said the Global Small car was a

globally strategic vehicle in response to

both the market needs of emerging countries

and the trend towards smaller vehicles in

established markets.

Priced from $16,490 for the 1.5-litre

VRX, Mitsubishi’s current Colt fi ve-door

attracts less than one per cent of Australia’s

booming light-car market segment, with

sales down almost 33 per cent this year.

As GoAuto reported exclusively a

fortnight ago, the Colt will be withdrawn

from sale in Victoria next month because it

does not have electronic stability control.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Caption

Next Colt in the frameNext Colt in the frame

Dec 15, 2010 Page 14

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DRIVING THE MOTOR INDUSTRY

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• IT Service Management• Major global automotive

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Audi commits to hybrid agenda in Australia, with eco Q5 leading the charge

Q5 hybrid in queueQ5 hybrid in queue

A1 light car is ‘total Audi’, despite VW Polo linksBy BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS

AUDI has hit back at suggestions its all-

new A1 hatch is simply a ‘Polo in drag’,

saying it was developed in parallel with,

rather than sprung off, the B-segment

Volkswagen light car.

Audi Australia managing director Uwe

Hagen said the A1’s creators ensured that

not a single item on or inside the car could

be linked to the Polo using the senses of

sight, smell or touch.

This includes the driving characteristics,

with a completely different state of tune for

the electro-hydraulic power steering (14.8:1

versus the VW’s slower 16.3:1 ratio) and

suspension systems.

The A1 gets a sportier set-up from a wider

rear track, 15mm lower ride height, the

standardisation of an electronic limited-slip

differential and the placement of the battery

in the back to help weight distribution –

although the Polo GTI adopts most of these

‘Audi’ items to put some space between it

and everyday Polo variants.

“Even the satellite-navigation systems

are deliberately different in both cars to

make sure the buyer has the appropriate

brand experience in the Audi,” said Mr

Hagen.

“(Volkswagen Group chairman) Martin

Winterkorn was adamant about the A1

being a ‘total Audi’. They are even built

at different factories – our car comes from

Belgium, not Spain or South Africa.”

Mr Hagen also dismissed criticism that

the A1 is an unoriginal take on BMW’s

Mini idea, saying that the cars are worlds

apart in more ways than one.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

A1

By JAMES STANFORDAUDI will bring a petrol-electric hybrid

Q5 SUV to Australia and is seriously

considering other hybrid models, despite the

prospect of small sales volumes.

The news comes weeks after Audi

introduced a facelifted Q7 SUV featuring

fuel-saving idle-stop technology that allows

the engine to shut down at idle and start

again automatically.

Audi intends to roll out idle-stop

technology across much of its range, not just

eco specials such as the A3 TDIe.

The company would have liked to have

introduced more idle-stop models earlier,

but Volkswagen Group marques such as

Audi are required to do additional testing

because Australia is deemed a ‘hot’ country.

Audi Australia managing director Uwe

Hagen said there are always additional tests

for a hot country, so it takes longer to get

some products to market.

“It is a pity Australia is a ‘hot’ country,”

he said. “We are always pushing that we are

early in the launch line, but the hot country

classifi cation takes longer.”

Mr Hagen said Audi Australia would bring

hybrid models to Australia, starting with the

Q5 hybrid unveiled at the Los Angeles motor

show last month, even though the company

had not done a business case.

“We don’t need a business case. When you

know that the whole car line is successful

you know that you can make a certain

percentage of this car line as a hybrid.”

Mr Hagen said it was not totally clear

when the Q5 hybrid would come to Australia

but suggested it may be about a year from

now. He said Audi Australia does not expect

to sell a large number of hybrids because

its diesel engines are so economical, but is

happy to offer them.

“We have to make an environmental

contribution, so we will offer the specifi c

(hybrid) car in a car line and let the customers

decide whether they take the diesel version,

petrol version or hybrid version,” he said.

Mr Hagen believes that hybrid vehicles

will only be of benefi t to customers who use

them in hybrid-friendly conditions – heavy

traffi c with lots of starting and stopping.

“Hybrid is asking for a specifi c way of

using the car and normally, when you are

selling a hybrid you have to ask the customer

which way are they using this car,” he said.

“The hybrid is a form of compromise.”

Mr Hagen believes hybrids have

their place, though they bring a smaller

economical gain with lighter cars. He said

the real green advance will come with more

advanced technology.

“In my eyes (hybrid) is a bridge to the

next technology, e-car or combination

of combustion engine and an e-engine

(plug-in hybrid).”

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREPorsche a VW linchpin – next page

Dec 15, 2010 Page 15

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Porsche to take lead role in developing future VW Group sports and GT cars

Porsche a VW linchpinPorsche a VW linchpin

By MARTON PETTENDYPORSCHE-DEVELOPED Bentleys and

Audi and Lamborghini sportscars will be

the legacy of Volkswagen’s controversial

takeover of the hallowed German brand.

Although no offi cial announcement has

been made, Porsche – not Audi – has fi nally

been confi rmed to play a starring role as

the 10th brand within Europe’s largest

car-maker, which took effective control of

Porsche in August.

The news came direct from Volkswagen

and Porsche CEO Martin Winterkorn in a

door-stop interview before his address at a

general shareholders’ meeting in Stuttgart

on November 30 – a day after Porsche

announced it will release an entry-level

luxury SUV to be positioned below the

Cayenne, most likely based on the Audi Q5

and dubbed the Cajun.

The long-awaited confi rmation of

Porsche’s job description within Volkswagen

also came a week after Porsche announced

it will invest around €150 million ($A204m)

in a hi-tech wind tunnel, a state-of-the-art

design centre and an electronics integration

centre at its Weissach development base.

The centre will gain around 100 additional

engineers in its fi rst stage of expansion, said

Porsche R&D chief Wolfgang Durheimer, the

last remaining pre-VW board member who on

November 29 was announced as the new boss

of super-luxury Volkswagen brand Bentley.

Professor Winterkorn, who is now

also the CEO of Porsche SE, implored

shareholders to approve his board’s fi nancial

investment in future models, saying they

had been instrumental in creating two of the

“strongest and most sustainable automobile

manufacturers in the world”, which were

about to formally join forces.

“We ask you to vote for the

executive and supervisory boards’

proposed capital increase, so that

we can put together the foundation

for a promising future,” he said.

GoAuto has confi rmed reports

that Prof Winterkorn told

journalists ahead of the general

meeting that VW had decided

Porsche will take the lead in

developing sportscars and large luxury

sedans for the entire VW Group.

While the news will come as a relief

to Porsche, which faced the prospect of

a VW-developed sportscar architecture

underpinning key models like the 911,

it also means Audi engineers who had

lobbied hard for the prestigious VW

development function will effectively be

sidelined by Porsche.

According to Automotive News Europe,

under VW’s new “modular toolkit” platform

sharing strategy Porsche will develop a

so-called “modular standard matrix” that

will underpin the next-generation Porsche

Panamera and future Bentley models, as

well as being responsible for front-mid-

engined and rear-mid-engined sportscars for

Porsche, Audi and Lamborghini.

Audi, on the other hand, will continue

to be responsible for developing VW’s

“modular longitudinal matrix”, which was

introduced in 2007 and forms the

basis of models like the Audi A4, A5

and Q5 and, said Prof Winterkorn,

will eventually underpin up to 15

different models in the mid-term.

Meantime, the VW brand will

continue to develop its “modular

transverse matrix”, which will

debut on the next Audi A3 in 2012

and will eventually underpin about

40 models and six million vehicles annually,

including VW’s next Golf.

Volkswagen says its ambitious new

platform sharing arrangement will reduce

development, procurement and production

costs by 20 per cent and engineering

hours by 30 per cent, allowing increased

production fl exibility to create more model

variants at lower cost as part of its drive to

dethrone Toyota as the world’s biggest and

most profi table car-maker by 2018.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

BlueSport concept

911 Turbo

Martin Winterkorn

Dec 15, 2010 Page 16

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Renault’s long-overdue new-generation compact van arrives Down Under

Can-do KangooCan-do Kangoo

By MARTON PETTENDYRENAULT last week announced the

Australian release of its long-awaited new-

generation Kangoo commercial van almost

two years after it went on sale in Europe and

a day after the launch of its most direct rival,

Volkswagen’s upgraded Caddy.

The redesigned X61 Kangoo arrives

just a month after all-new hatchback,

coupe-cabriolet and high-performance

RenaultSport versions of the French brand’s

Megane small-car range were released

Down Under, where Renault hopes to fi nd

3500 customers in 2011.

In contrast to VW’s latest Caddy range,

which comprises short- and long-wheelbase

van and people-mover derivatives, the new

Kangoo is available here now in just one

short-wheelbase van body style with the

option of two engine/transmission choices.

As such, despite being Europe’s top-

selling compact van for the past 12 years

with more than 1.5 million sold globally

in total, Renault has far more modest sales

aspirations for its latest Kangoo – a nameplate

that attracted about 600 Australian buyers

last year and just 44 in 2010.

This year the Caddy will fi nd more

than 1000 local homes to remain VW’s

top-selling commercial vehicle here and

place third behind Toyota’s HiAce and

Hyundai’s iLoad in the van segment.

Both variants of the bigger, roomier and

more highly specifi ed second-generation

Kangoo are priced at $24,490 plus on-road

costs (or $25,990 driveaway), including a

1.6-litre petrol version with a four-speed

automatic transmission or a 1.5-litre turbo-

diesel available only with a fi ve-speed

manual gearbox.

In comparison, the facelifted 2011 Caddy

is priced from $21,990 plus ORCs for the

manual-only 63kW/160Nm

1.2-litre turbo-petrol TSI 160,

while the 75kW/250Nm 1.6-

litre turbo-diesel Caddy TDI

250 costs $26,650 plus ORCs

as a manual and $29,650 with a seven-speed

DSG automatic transmission, which reduces

fuel consumption to a low of 6.6L/100km.

The diesel-manual Kangoo is claimed

to deliver best-in-class combined fuel

economy of just 5.2L/100km (and average

CO2 emissions of 137g/km) while offering

slightly less performance than the Caddy

TDI 250 at 63kW at 3750rpm and peak

torque of 200Nm at 1900rpm.

The common-rail 1.5-litre diesel

employs a variable-geometry

turbocharger and delivers 1600 bar

of injection pressure, while oil change

intervals are 15,000km or one year,

whichever comes fi rst.

The petrol-auto Kangoo, meantime,

returns 8.3L/100km and produces 78kW at

5750rpm and 148Nm from 3750rpm, with

90 per cent of maximum torque said to be

available from 2000rpm.

While all 2011 Caddy models come

standard with electronic stability control,

ABS brakes and twin front airbags,

both 2011 Kangoo variants offer only

one standard (driver’s) airbag and ABS,

along with four-wheel disc

brakes with electronic brake-

force distribution (EBD)

and emergency brake assist

(EBA), plus seatbelts with

pretensioners and load limiters.

Electronic stability control (ESC) is a

$400 option on both Kangoo models, while

a passenger airbag costs a further $300

and front side airbags (also optional on the

Caddy) is a $500 option.

Other Kangoo options include automatic

headlights and windscreen wipers, a right-

hand side sliding door, glazing for both

sliding doors, rear parking sensors, glazed

tailgate with rear wiper (in place of barn

doors) and a plastic sliding roof fl ap to

accommodate tall items.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

PRICING:1.6 petrol (a) $24,490

1.5 diesel $24,490

Dec 15, 2010 Page 17

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Caterpillar and Navistar join forces to launch new Aussie-built CAT trucks

CAT hits the roadCAT hits the road

Hyundai adds petrol Highlander variant to ix35 rangeBy MARTON PETTENDY

HYUNDAI has released a petrol version

of its most highly specifi ed ix35 variant,

the Highlander, in response to customer

demand for the popular new compact SUV.

At $35,490 plus on-road costs, the ix35

Highlander AWD 2.4-litre auto is $3000

more expensive than the mid-range 2.4-litre

Elite AWD auto ($32,490) and the same

price as the 2.0-litre diesel Elite AWD auto,

but $3000 more affordable than the range-

topping Highlander diesel ($38,490).

Unlike their predecessors, top-shelf

versions of Hyundai Motor Company’s two

new compact SUVs have proven so popular

that Australian Hyundai and Kia dealers

cannot get enough stock of the fl agship

ix35 and Sportage respectively.

Launched in Australia in February, the

ix35 was the nation’s third best-selling

compact SUV (behind Subaru’s Forester

and Toyota’s RAV4) in November, when it

clinched a 9.1 per cent share of the segment

with 887 sales, after just 10 months on sale.

Year-to-date, the ix35 lies sixth in

the compact SUV segment, behind the

Forester, RAV4, Mazda CX-7, Nissan

X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander – and

ahead of Honda’s once-dominant CR-V,

Volkswagen’s Tiguan, Nissan’s Dualis and

the Subaru Outback.

With a total of 6598 sales to November,

the ix35 has a 6.5 per cent share of a market

segment that is up about 35 per cent so far

in 2010, but it remains less popular than the

model it replaced, the Tucson.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

By JAMES STANFORDAUSTRALIA has a new vehicle

manufacturer that will assemble trucks

under the CAT brand.

Called NC2, the joint-venture between

US truck giants Caterpillar and Navistar last

week launched the world’s fi rst CAT trucks at

the base of Uluru in the Northern Territory.

NC2 joint-venture product will be rolled

out around the world from next year and in

some countries will be branded as CAT, as

in Australia, while other locations will use

the International badge.

Rather than use an existing truck

dealership framework in Australia, NC2 will

sell and service the new trucks through the

existing Caterpillar network consisting of

50 outlets across the country that specialise

in off-road equipment.

The CAT operations currently sell and

service everything from big mining dump

trucks to excavators, skid steer loaders

and engines, but their facilities have been

upgraded and its staff specially trained for

looking after on-highway truck customers.

As well as its dealer network, Caterpillar

also provides engines, at least initially.

Navistar will essentially provide the

remainder of the trucks, which are based on

existing International models, and from next

year will also provide engines.

Fiat-owned Iveco, which took over

the old International Harvester facility at

Dandenong in 1992, produced International

trucks locally until Navistar ended the

licensing agreement early this year.

Iveco Trucks Australia Ltd will

continue to produce Iveco trucks at the

Dandenong factory.

NC2 is now assembling two new models

at a Caterpillar facility at Tullamarine, next

to the Western Ring Road in the north-west

suburbs of Melbourne. The assembly line

is located in an old loader production plant

that already had a functioning paint shop.

Most of the truck parts are supplied from the

US, with the frames coming from Mexico.

Unspecifi ed delays meant the launch was

delayed from June until this month and

workers have been rushing to build up to 400

trucks before the end of the year because the

C13 and C15 CAT engines do not meet new

ADR83/03 truck emission standards that

come into effect on January 1.

Trucks fi tted with these engines can be

sold for some time as long as they are built

and plated before the end of the year.

These CAT engines will be replaced by

a Navistar-developed unit that uses a CAT

block and a MAN engine currently used by

Navistar in the US.

Iveco sells between 200 and 250

International trucks a year and NC2 president

Al Saltiel said at the CAT trucks global launch

in central Australia that he was sure the new

operation would exceed this mark.

The CAT dealership network consists

of Hastings Deering (Queensland and the

Northern Territory), Cavpower (South

Australia), William Adams (Victoria and

Tasmania) and the massive WesTrack group.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Dec 15, 2010 Page 18

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To apply forward your cover letter and cv to:careers@autopia.com.au

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Supply constraints, auto delay to limit SsangYong sales surge with new SUV

Korando tightens upKorando tightens up

By RON HAMMERTONSSANGYONG’S Italian-styled compact

SUV, the new-generation Korando, is

expected to be launched Down Under in six-

speed manual form during the fi rst quarter of

2011, with vehicles featuring an Australian-

made automatic transmission to follow later.

Importer Sime Darby had hoped to launch

the vital new vehicle by December in both

manual and automatic variants, but the latest

target date is January 18.

Volumes also will be limited initially, as

SsangYong’s Pyungtaek factory in South

Korea is ramping up its international rollout,

including the UK.

A type-inspection vehicle for Australian

Design Rule (ADR) inspection is in

Australia, but so far, ADR approval has

not been publicly posted, just four weeks

out from launch.

The fi rst shipment of right-hand drive

vehicles was also scheduled for loading this

month, but that has not been confi rmed.

The Korando represents a new beginning

for SsangYong, which has been best known

for its quirky styling and fi nancial struggles.

Designed by Giorgietto Giugiaro and

powered by a 129kW 2.0-litre direct-

injection diesel engine, the Korando is set

to potentially bring SsangYong into the

mainstream market for the fi rst time.

It will be available in six-speed manual

form initially, and, within a month or two, an

alternative six-speed automatic transmission

designed and made by Albury’s Drivetrain

Systems International (DSI).

SsangYong is now under the control of

India’s Mahindra and Mahindra, which last

month agreed to pay $463 million for the

bankrupt company.

The new Korando – which has shed the

Jeep-like design of the original model sold

in Australia during the 1990s – made its

debut as the SsangYong C200 at the Paris

motor show in 2008, just as the company

was drowning in red ink at the height of the

global fi nancial crisis.

After coming under court-controlled

receivership and facing liquidation,

SsangYong drew the attention of Mahindra,

which is expected to complete the takeover

by March to create a new pan-Asian car

company that will focus on SUVs but also

expand into passenger cars.

Australian importer Sime Darby

SsangYong’s general manager, Jeff Barber,

has told GoAuto that the fi rst batch of

Korandos were loaded on to a car carrier

for Australia, with an expected arrival date

around New Year.

He said a tentative media launch date of

January 18-19 had been set, with roll-out of

stocks to dealers around that time.

“Stock will be tight for a few months due

to restrictions at the factory,” he said.

As GoAuto has reported, the Korando

will be available in both 4x2 and 4x4

confi gurations, both powered by a new Euro

5-compliant ‘e-XDi200’ 2.0-litre direct-

injection common-rail four-cylinder diesel

engine featuring Electric Variable Geometry

Turbocharger technology (E-VGT) and

producing 129kW of power at 4000rpm and

360Nm of torque from 2000-3000rpm.

The front-drive manual version of

the Korando offers combined-cycle fuel

economy of 6.0L/100km and CO2 emissions

of 157g/km, with the 4x2 automatic variant

coming in at 7.3L/100km and 194g/km.

Slightly heavier AWD versions return

6.4L/100km (auto: 7.5) and 169g/km

(auto: 199).

A petrol engine will become available

later in 2011, but that is yet to be confi rmed

for Australia which runs diesel powertrains

in its current range that comprises its Actyon

SUV, Rexton, Stavic SUV and Kyron.

This year, the Actyon has been SsangYong’s

best seller in Australia, notching up a

combined 635 sales, with the Sports 4x2 model

accounting for more than half that fi gure.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

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Dec 15, 2010 Page 19

Holden still on track for 2010 profi t, despite hard local market and high $A

Holden, Ford and Toyota Australia fi nancial results 2003-2009

-$400m

-$300m

-$200m

-$100m

$0

$100m

$200m

$300m

$400m 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

HoldenFordToyota

Source: Company dataNote: Holden and Ford fi gures are based on the calendar year. o F b lToyota’s fi nancial year ends March 31, so 2009 represents 2009/10, and so on.oyy yy h pp 0

2003

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By TERRY MARTINGM HOLDEN chairman and managing

director Mike Devereux revealed last week

that the company remained on track to

return to profi tability in 2010 for the fi rst

time in six years.

The result would end a string of losses for

Holden, having slipped into the red in 2005

with a $144.6 million loss – which came off

a $335.5m profi t in 2004 and was attributed

to development costs for the $1 billion-

plus VE Commodore – and subsequently

recording net losses of $146.6m in 2006,

$6.1m in 2007, $70.2m in 2008 and, in

2009, $210.6m.

The latter was the worst result in the

company’s history and blamed on a

combination of factors, primarily the global

fi nancial crisis and the demise of the Pontiac

export program to the US.

However, upon announcing that result

late in March this year, Holden said it had

been operating profi tably during 2010 and

that its outlook would continue to improve

in line with the strengthening Australian

new-car market and as export opportunities

turned into fi rm programs.

That has transpired on both counts, with

Holden’s sales up 13.6 per cent over 11

months of trading this year and with new

export orders now rolling in from the US

for the new Statesman-based Chevrolet

police patrol car – a lucrative program that

should boost annual production by tens of

thousands of units at its plant in Elizabeth,

South Australia.

The company also recently commenced

a smaller-scale VE Series II Commodore-

based export program to Brazil.

In a speech to the American Chamber

of Commerce last week, Mr Devereux

stopped short of confi rming that Holden

had turned a profi t in all three quarters this

year – saying only that General Motors

had achieved such a feat – but nonetheless

said he should be announcing a profi t for

2010 when the fi gures are released around

March next year.

“In terms of a fi nancial turnaround, GM has

regained its cost competitiveness and turned a

profi t for three consecutive quarters this year,”

he said. “Having a profi table foundation is

critical for every part of business – whether

it’s Holden in Australia, Chevrolet in India,

Opel in Europe or Buick in China.

“China has actually become the real

powerhouse in the GM world. A couple of

weeks ago, it became the fi rst international

car company to sell two million cars in

China, which, by the way, is more cars than

GM sells in the US.

“Holden, which for many years was the

driving force in GM’s Asia Pacifi c region,

has also turned the corner. I look forward to

reporting a profi t for the fi rst time in six years

when we release our 2010 annual results.”

Mr Devereux said the company still “faces

challenges”, which include the current high

valuation of the Australian dollar, which is

almost at parity with the US dollar.

This situation limits export growth and,

on the fl ipside, has enabled importers to

become more cost-competitive against the

locals here on the home front. GoAuto

understands that the US police car program,

for example, was based on an exchange rate

of around 80 US cents.

“Having a nine on the front (of the

exchange rate) certainly squeezes our

business in the short term, but we never

approach export programs like day traders,”

Mr Devereux said. “We develop these

programs for the long haul and the tight

exchange situation only further reinforces

our need to have a profi table domestic

business model.”Continued next page

Balancing actBalancing act

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Dec 15, 2010 Page 20

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Continued from previous pageHolden’s return to small-car production

with the Cruze is also sure to be among the

challenges the company faces.

As GoAuto has reported, the Cruze will

become the fi rst Australian-built small car

since the demise of the local Toyota Corolla

more than a decade ago, and will be Holden’s

fi rst Australian-built four-cylinder car since

it ended Vectra production in 2000.

Whether positive or negative, Cruze will

have a major infl uence on Holden’s bottom

line in the coming years, and Holden will

have its work cut out to ensure it does not

follow other local small cars – from a range

of manufacturers – in succumbing to the

ultra-competitive Asian imports.

Whereas Cruze will be built in South Korea,

China, the US and other countries – a fact that

has drastically curtailed Australian export

prospects – imported small cars sold here are,

as we have noted before, increasingly sourced

from low-cost countries with massive volumes

and, hence, sharp economies of scale.

“We still face challenges, absolutely, but

Holden is a leaner, more robust, fl exible

and competitive car company today than

at any time in our history,” Mr Devereux

said last week.

“Most people probably know Holden best

as a global niche exporter. While we still

have a competitive advantage in this area, we

have been forced to address two important

things: improving our structural cost and the

profi tability of our domestic business.

“Traditionally we’d relied very heavily

on exports to make money, but the GFC

and the cancellation of the Pontiac brand in

the United States and Canada took around

50,000 G8 export vehicles out of the plant,

literally overnight.

“It brought home, extremely quickly, the

need to restructure our business in order to

make money at the bottom of the cycle –

and on our domestic business alone.

“It was also clear that to do this we needed

even greater fl exibility – which meant being

better able to meet the demands of the local

market beyond large cars.”

Mr Devereux acknowledged the

hundreds of millions in company and

government money that has been pumped

into the Cruze program, adding: “What is

really incredible about this story is that at

the depths of the worst crisis this industry

had seen, perhaps in history, this country

and this company, Holden, made a huge

statement about the future of manufacturing

hi-tech products in Australia.

“We know the demand is there. Now with

local Cruze we can give Australians a locally

produced, global small car which has been

re-engineered for Australian conditions.

“The ability to locally manufacture small

and large cars gives us the fl exibility to adjust

our production between the two vehicle

families depending on the needs of the

market. It ensures a more stable workload for

our employees and has created new business

opportunities for our local suppliers.

“It is such a great feeling to see the ‘open’

sign on the recruitment offi ce door again;

such a small thing, but such an important

symbol of recovery.”

Signifi cantly, Ford Australia announced

this year that it had unexpectedly returned

to profi tability in 2009 – without reverting

to small-car production, which had been

the basis upon which it would climb out

from the red (in 2011).

New Ford Australia president Robert

Graziano is now tasked with improving

Ford’s position beyond the $13 million

profi t posted last year, following former

chief Marin Burela’s promise of further

gains in profi tability in the years ahead.

Last year’s profi t for Ford was its fi rst

positive result since 2005 (when it posted

a $148.2m profi t, down from $154.6m in

2003 and $185.6m in 2004) and came after

a $274.4 million operating loss in 2008 – the

deepest in its history – and losses of $87.2m

and $40.3m in 2007 and 2006 respectively.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Balancing actBalancing act

Chevrolet PPV

Holden production

Dec 15, 2010 Page 21Green issues in the auto world

GoAuto Green is brought to you by Custom Fleet

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By RON HAMMERTONA NEW company founded by a consortium

headed by GM Holden and Caltex to

generate ethanol from rubbish will look to

expand to all major capital cities in Australia

if all goes well with an initial plant proposed

for Melbourne by 2013.

Flex Ethanol Australia – announced by

GM Holden chairman and managing director

Mike Devereux in Melbourne last week –

formalises a consortium of companies that

plans to introduce the breakthrough refi ning

process to Australia to make ethanol to be

blended with petrol for motor vehicles.

Mr Devereux said a plant to be built by

the company in Victoria would be capable of

turning up to a million tonnes of household

rubbish and building waste into more than

200 million litres of ethanol a year.

“The plant here could potentially process

hundreds of thousands of tyres a year which

are currently a huge contributor to Australian

landfi ll,” he said in a speech to the American

Chamber of Commerce in Australia.

Holden’s energy and environment director

Richard Marshall told GoAuto that rubbish

produced by all major cities in Australia

could potentially be used to generate ethanol

for the fuel commonly known as E85.

“You have to start with one plant,

obviously,” he said. “The whole view on

this particular business model we have got

is that you could easily support a couple of

plants in each of the major capital cities.

“They are the ones that generate the most

rubbish. If you look at the amount of rubbish

that’s generated in Melbourne, it is something

over three million tonnes a year.”

While no fi gure has been put on the cost

of the new Melbourne plant, $300 million

was mooted when the project fi rst went

public in 2009.

The new company is believed to be the

fi rst outside North America to draw up

fi rm plans to generate ethanol from rubbish

using the Coskata method.

Invented by American biological

renewable energy technology company

Coskata Inc, the process uses proprietary

microorganisms and patented bioreactor

designs to break down almost any waste

material made of carbon, including waste

straight from household rubbish bins.

Holden declined to name the full list of

companies that will partner it and Caltex in

the new company until the fi nal paperwork

has been wrapped up in the next few weeks.

The original consortium announced in a

memorandum of understanding in March

this year included waste disposal company

Veolia, diversifi ed energy company Mitsui,

Coskata and the Victorian government, as

well as Holden and Caltex.

Mr Marshall said Coskata – which is

fi nancially backed by Holden parent company

GM in the US – would be the technology

provider to the new company, not an equity

partner in Flex Ethanol Australia.

He said one of the fi rst activities of the

new company would be to trial Australian-

style waste in the ethanol-making process

at Coskata’s ‘lighthouse’ facility in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“That is to prove our business model

completely on the actual feedstocks we are

going to use and the Melbourne specifi cation

of waste,” he said.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Holden aims for national bio-ethanol plant network once Melbourne in action

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Dec 15, 2010 Page 22GoAuto Personnel

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By RON HAMMERTONBRITISH motor racing and car industry

identity Tom Walkinshaw died in Britain

last weekend after a long and hard-fought

battle with cancer. He was 64.

He is believed to have died on Sunday

at home in Oxfordshire, with his second

wife Martine and their two sons, Ryan and

Sean, by his side.

The former race driver who carved a

career as a no-nonsense team owner and

performance car entrepreneur is best known

in Australia for establishing Australia’s

biggest and most successful special vehicle

maker, Holden Special Vehicles (HSV), in

the wake of Holden’s break-up with Peter

Brock and his HDT in 1987.

Scottish-born Walkinshaw also had a long

association with Australian touring car racing,

starting with his assault on the Bathurst

1000 with his Jaguar XJ-S Group A cars in

the mid-1980s – personally sticking one of

the ‘big cats’ on pole at Mount Panorama in

1985 – and culminating in his ownership of

Holden’s fl ag-bearing V8 Supercar outfi t, the

Holden Racing Team (HRT).

After retiring from driving in 1988 to

concentrate on managing his special vehicles

businesses and racing teams, he guided

Jaguar to an historic Le Mans victory in

1990 and dabbled in Formula One through

the decade, helping a young up-and-coming

German driver called Michael Schumacher

to his fi rst world title at Benetton before

buying the ill-fated Arrows team and hiring

former world champion Damon Hill.

Along the way, he found time to indulge

his passion for rugby as chairman and

owner of the Gloucester rugby club.

His take-no-prisoners style and adventurous

spirit sometimes led him into trouble, with F1

debts dragging him into bankruptcy in 2002.

Among the arms of his business to fall

into receivership was his Australian racing

operation, including HRT and K-Mart

Racing, which Holden bought from the

receivers in the UK before on-selling them

to fi ve-time touring car champion Mark

Skaife and John and Margaret Kelly –

parents of Todd and Rick Kelly.

In typical Walkinshaw style, the pugnacious

Scot fought his way back to the top, resuming

control of HRT from Skaife and establishing a

new secondary team, Bundaberg Red Racing,

while also supplying other race teams with

cars and engines through his Walkinshaw

Racing business at Clayton in Victoria.

As well, he acquired historic niche

sportscar-maker Elfi n Cars in 2006, through

his Walkinshaw Performance operation

that also sells go-fast bits for Holden

Commodores, including supercharger kits.

His battle back to fi nancial health,

however, was no sooner won than he was

faced with an even bigger fi ght against

cancer over the past year.

Although Mr Walkinshaw kept his troubles

private, it was known within his circle of

contacts in Australia that all was not well

during the course of 2010. He rallied at times

after treatment, even fl ying to Australia in

July to visit HSV and his racing operations.

Mr Walkinshaw’s death is unlikely to

fundamentally change the HSV deal with

Holden in the immediate future, as HSV is

owned by Premoso Pty Ltd, whose primary

shareholder is believed to be his French-

born widow, Martine.

A spokesman for Holden said that,

despite the news of Mr Walkinshaw’s death,

it would be business as usual with HSV.

HSV chairman Jeff Browne – a former

lawyer and now boss of the Nine Network

– and managing director Phil Harding have

been guiding the Australian business during

Mr Walkinshaw’s troubles.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

NEW CSI PROGRAM LEADS TO HARLEY AWARD FOR WRIGHTBy TERRY MARTIN

HARLEY-DAVIDSON Australia’s

director of sales and network development,

Adam Wright, recently received a global

‘Black Level Chrome Award’ from Harley-

Davidson International after implementing

an online customer satisfaction index (CSI)

program at the company this year.

The award recognises contributions

that lead to “signifi cant cost reduction and

process improvement” and came after

Harley-Davidson Australia adopted a ‘CSI

Accelerator’ system developed by Adelaide-

based fi rm Fusion Business Solutions.

Mr Wright said implementation of

the online CSI system “was not only

more cost effective for our company,

but has increased penetration

rates along with a greater level of

customer data received through this

online system”.

“We have seen an average

increase of just over 15 per cent on

all CSI returns,” Mr Wright told GoAuto

this week. “We had an average return rate of

around 35-37 per cent, but now the online

program has increased it around

15 per cent to low-50s.

“It is also live data so dealers

can log on at any time and see their

most recent results, which is a plus

for all parties.”

According to Fusion, the

‘Accelerator’ system is designed to

not only measure CSI but “to drive

change and increase customer retention”.

Adam Wright

Tom Walkinshaw

Dec 15, 2010 Page 23

SUBSCRIBE FREE: www.GoAutoMedia.com

GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

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

Peugeot RCZ 1.6 147kW coupePEUGEOT built stylish two-door models well before the arrival of the RCZ. Hard-top and cabriolet versions of the 203, 403, 404, 504 and 406 were graceful if conventional adaptations of their sedan siblings (the 504 Coupe/Cabriolet being the notable departure to the derivative styling rule). Now Peugeot has taken the RCZ concept fi rst shown at the Frankfurt motor show in 2007 and adapted it for production three short years later. Based on the 308 platform, the RCZ brings supercar styling to the masses – but does it look sophisticated at the cost of the rest of the package? FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

KIZASHI UPGRADENOT content with launching its all-new Swift

in Australia in February, Suzuki Australia

will release an upgraded version of its lauded

Kizashi mid-sizer around the same time.

Just as the new Swift will come with seven

airbags and electronic stability control as

standard across the range, the 2011 Kizashi

will gain a driver’s knee airbag for all models,

including the entry-level XL (currently priced

at $27,990 plus on-road costs).FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

DS3 RACING HOPEAUSTRALIA’S Citroen importer is

negotiating with the French factory to secure

10 per cent of Britain’s allocation of the hottest

version of its new DS3 premium hatch.

Citroen is making just 200 of the 152kW

DS3 Racing hot hatchbacks in UK-spec right-

hand drive, of which about half are already

spoken for among UK customers.

sions the ason–E

Launch Padbrought to you by

Australia’s No.1 because it works!

December:Alfa MiTo MultiAir TCTAudi A1Audi Q7 idle-stopFord FiestaVolkswagen Caddy

New model diary: CLICK HEREFord Fiesta

Audi A1

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.From the carsales team

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

THAT TIME OF YEAR…THIS is our fi nal issue of GoAutoNews for

2010, with the team signing off for a short

break before returning in 2011.

Our thanks go out again to our valued

readers, subscribers, advertisers and

affi liates, all of whom have continued to

provide great support to Australia’s number

one automotive industry journal.

Our fi rst issue back will be a special

edition timed to coincide with the opening of

the Detroit motor show. Watch out for it in

your inbox on Thursday, January 13.

In the meantime, keep an eye on

www.GoAuto.com.au and associated

websites for the latest news and reviews.

– Terry Martin, editor

MAZDA IDLE-STOP TESTSMAZDA has begun testing idle-stop

technology in Australia with a view to

introducing it here next year.

Although it is being tested here on a

Japanese-spec Axela (Mazda3), GoAuto

expects the system will reach the market

fi rst in the Mazda2 as part of the company’s

‘SkyActiv’ program, which includes an all-

new direct-injection engine and automatic

transmission aimed at improving economy

by 30 per cent globally by 2015.FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

MAZDA’S TOP TECHMAZDA Australia recently named Brian

Bernier of Wippells Autos in Toowoomba,

Queensland, as the winner of its bi-annual

MazTech competition, which recognises

the best technicians for the Japanese brand

across Australia.

ANOTHER GT-R ‘RECORD’NISSAN claims to have set a new acceleration

benchmark with the latest GT-R, setting a

0-100km/h sprint time of just 3.046 seconds.

However, a Wikipedia list contains a

number of production cars with faster

acceleration times – headed by the Ariel

Atom 500 V8 at 2.1 seconds, followed by the

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport at 2.4 seconds –

so perhaps the company’s new “benchmark”

is for Japanese cars.FULL STORY: CLICK HERE