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John Mellor's
GoAuto
April 26, 2006
-news
No.No.
333180
Pay
dirt
Dobbed in by a rival brand, Holden
is forced to offer refunds from its
‘employee pricing’ campaign
By NEIL McDONALD
THE Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC) last week ordered GM
Holden to offer refunds to up to 314 customers
and to improve its trade practices compliance
following a complaint by a rival car
company that led to an investigation into its
high-profile “employee pricing” advertising
campaign.
The ACCC’s court-enforceable directive
was the result of an investigation it conducted
that ruled Holden had misled buyers with its
“You Pay What We Pay” pricing campaign,
which ran while the company extended
further massive savings to its own employees
but not the public.
The campaign ran from October to December
last year and generated approximately 11,000
sales of vehicles with compliance plates prior to
July 1, 2005.
But according to the ACCC, for a 19-day
period during the campaign a parallel internal
company deal was also conducted in which
Holden employees received discounts on factoryfitted options and accessories and a discounted
dealer-delivery fee, none of which was offered to
the public.
When the advertising campaign started, a
further special discount of between 25 per cent
and 29 per cent was also available to employees –
and not the public – for selected VZ Commodore
variants and WL Statesman and Caprice models.
Unintended consequences: One of a number
of Holden employees in a TVC spruiking
an offer that her bosses got wrong.
In financial terms, this meant that a consumer
who, at the start of the promotion, purchased
a VZ Commodore Executive sedan with airconditioning as a factory-fitted option and a $1495
dealer delivery charge paid $4729 more to buy the
car than a Holden employee buying the same car.
This is a point Holden disputes, however it has
refused to release details on the basis that costs
varied from car to car.
The ACCC has also refused to reveal details of
its assessment.
GM Holden spokesman Jason Laird said that
of the 314 customers affected during that 19-day
period, all claims would be assessed on a caseby-case basis. The ACCC has said buyers would
be entitled to a full refund.
“We will write to each of the 314 customers
who fell within the range of vehicles that we
��
LASER TX3
REBORN
(SORT OF)
- page 8
offered on the second campaign to Holden
employees,” Mr Laird said. “We’ll work through
it with them.
“That second campaign shouldn’t have been
on while the employee campaign was on.” He
said it was an oversight and unintentional.
The ACCC has accepted courtenforceable undertakings offered by GM
Holden to recompense owners.
During the campaign, Holden claimed:
“For the first time ever, all Australians
can enjoy the financial benefit of Holden
employee pricing”.
On a number of occasions during and
after the campaign, GM Holden chairman
and managing director Denny Mooney
said he was pleased with the performance of the
incentive. He said the company had too much
inventory and needed to move it.
GM Holden believed that the inclusion of fineprint qualifications regarding options, accessories
and dealer delivery fees limited the offer to the
baseline price of the vehicle.
ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said the
commission’s view was that the headline statement
“You Pay What We Pay” was so powerful that no
qualification in fine print could undo the message
it conveyed to consumers.
Continued next page
3 SERIES
OUTED
(AGAIN)
- page 6
Specialists in Automotive
Residual Value Research
and Specification Data.
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 2
Pay dirt
Continued from previous page
The ACCC said it was also concerned about the
fine-print disclosure in advertisements, which stated
that “You Pay What We Pay” does not include
options and accessories or dealer delivery.
For example, Holden employees received a
discounted dealer delivery charge of $671, which
was referred to as a “sales administration fee”.
“Our position is that the thrust and nature of
the campaign was so powerful that these little
disclaimers down the bottom were never going
to inform consumers that in fact the deal being
offered was not the same deal as employees of
forward from a competitor – that it’s a very
Holden were getting,” Melbourne-based ACCC
competitive marketplace for motor vehicles,” Mr
regional director Bob Weymouth told GoAuto.
Weymouth told GoAuto.
“GM
Holden
“I’d think we’d
dispute that. Their
pretty
the thrust and nature of the campaign was hear
view is the sort
quickly
from
so
powerful
that
these
little
disclaimers
of disclaimer was
competitors, if
typical and everyone
… were never going to inform consumers not consumers,
buying a car knows
that in fact the deal being offered was not if somebody was
that the headline is
close
the same deal as employees of Holden stepping
about the base car
to or outside the
were getting
and everything else
line.”
is extra.”
He said that
- ACCC regional director Bob Weymouth
Mr
Weymouth
the campaign’s
refused to disclose the car company that lodged a
complex nature meant that a complaint was more
complaint about Holden’s campaign, but said the
likely to surface from a rival brand, which would
commission had kept a “watchful eye” on pricing have had better understanding of the deal.
issues in the Australian auto sector over the past
“In some ways a consumer was never ever going
six months.
to come forward with the complaint because they
“It’s fair to say – and the fact that this came wouldn’t have the information available to them
to realise that the deal they were getting wasn’t the
right deal,” he said.
“It’s a good example of where the
ultimate welfare of the consumer
can actually be impacted and
the consumer just doesn’t
know that they’re getting
a deal other than the one
promised.”
- WITH MARTON
PETTENDY
“
”
An image from Holden's
'You Pay What We Pay' TVC
HOLDEN’S UNDERTAKINGS
HOLDEN was quick to respond to
the ACCC’s concerns. It made courtenforceable undertakings to:
1. Provide written notice to the consumers
who purchased vehicles in 2005 between
October 21 and November 9 that were
subject to the special discount. The notice
would offer an opportunity to return the
vehicle for a full refund of the purchase
price including additional charges.
2. Improve its trade practices compliance
and have this reviewed by an independent
third party.
3. Use its best endeavours to comply with
any industry standards developed by the
ACCC aimed at improving the quality,
accuracy and availability of information to
customers.
According to the ACCC, the undertaking
given by GM Holden ensures that it was
aware of its obligations under the Trade
Practices Act and has in place
policies, procedures
and systems to
ensure it delivers
on
promises
made in future
promotions.
VZ Commodore SV6
��
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John Mellor's
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 3
Doubt
fire
Questions over the future of
Ford’s long-wheelbase cars
will scare off fleets: expert
By NEIL McDONALD
SPECULATION about the future of Ford
Australia’s under-performing long-wheelbase
Fairlane and LTD models could be the axe that
wields a fatal blow to next-generation versions.
Reacting to media reports last week that dark
clouds were growing over the future of Ford’s
long-wheelbase models, independent fleet analyst
Tony Robinson said any emerging doubt over
the future of the models could send a negative
message to fleets, which make up the bulk of
Fairlane and LTD purchases.
“The signs were on the wall 18 months ago
with these type of vehicles,” said Mr Robinson,
who runs independent Melbourne-based fleet risk
management company Sureplan.
He said any prestige long-wheelbase vehicles
had to measure up in areas of volumes, market
share and profitability to remain a viable part of
manufacturing in Australia.
But he believes Ford faces a difficult time
in the short term over the future of these cars
because they have been so intrinsically linked to
the company’s manufacturing history in Australia.
The Fairlane has been a part of Ford since 1967,
when it became the first Australian-built and
designed long-wheelbase car to be sold here.
“To move away from something that has been
a big part of the family is like cutting off an arm,”
he said.
Mr Robinson said feedback from fleets was
that when you are on a downhill spiral “you tend
to just pick up further negative comment – it’s like
a rolling stone gathering moss”. “And I think this
stone is increasingly rolling a lot faster downhill,”
he said.
According to Sureplan, fleet buyers and some
individual taxi operators and hotel proprietors
make up the bulk of Fairlane and LTD purchases,
but government departments had increasingly
moved away from the models.
Mr Robinson said he felt Ford “must be very
close to drawing a line in the sand” over the future
of the vehicles. With the imminent arrival of the
new VE Commodore, Mr Robinson said he also
believed Holden could possibly roll out the new
Statesman at the same time, based on its strengths
as an export car. Traditionally the Statesman/
Caprice models have arrived a few months after
the Commodore.
Continued next page
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 4
Brains trust
Ford boss casts doubt
over the credibility of
crash-test program
By NEIL McDONALD
THE Australian New Car Assessment Program
(ANCAP) has a credibility problem, according to
Ford Australia president Tom Gorman.
He identified recent protocol changes that had
impacted on the ANCAP score of Ford’s Courier
as sending mixed messages to consumers.
The utility was marked down from three to
two stars because of the changes. As a result, Mr
Gorman claimed the program’s credibility as a
reliable consumer source was affected.
“If you change protocols so frequently you lack
legitimacy and credibility with the marketplace,”
he said. “You don’t want manufacturers coming
out and complaining.
“You create confusion in the market.
“I think what NCAP would want is certainty
in the market.”
ANCAP has recently moved to test vehicles
when they are released on to the market in an
Ford Courier
attempt to make its results more current, a moved
welcomed by car-makers.
“Testing a vehicle as it changes makes more
sense to me because that gives the consumer new
information,” Mr Gorman said.
Ford Australia was annoyed that its Courier
utility was marked down in last month’s ANCAP
testing from three stars to two, purely because of
a change in testing protocols.
Ford will release a new-generation Courier
later this year, which is presumably safer than the
existing model.
Its ANCAP concerns were the latest in a line of
complaints about the organisation’s crash-testing
methodology.
General Motors division Chevrolet recently
criticised Euro NCAP procedures (which mirror
ANCAP) over its handling of the Aveo sedan –
sold as the Holden Barina in Australia – because
it managed a “poor” two-star rating. Holden was
also critical of the procedure, disagreeing with the
methodology which it claimed was inconsistent
with its own crash-test results.
Mr Gorman said ANCAP needed credibility to
be accepted, citing the high consumer credibility
of North American organisation Consumer
Reports, which tests consumer goods (including
cars) for the US market.
“People go to Consumer Reports before they
buy their vehicle,” he said.
The organisation had built a reputation as a
reliable source, he said.
Doubts over the future of Ford’s long-wheelbase cars could scare off fleets: expert
Continued from previous page
“That’s my feeling, because there is such
a lot dependent upon it as an export vehicle,”
he said. “But for Ford it’s a different story.
“There is going to be some serious
decision-making there very shortly.”
Ford Australia spokesperson Sinead
McAlary said no decision was imminent on
the fate of Ford’s LWB cars.
Statesman International
Ford Australia president Tom Gorman has
admitted previously that the company was
closely monitoring the situation and remained
committed to Falcon and its other models. As
recently as last week he said Ford’s product
diversification was “pretty good”.
However, rising fuel prices and increasing
competition in the LWB segment may
refocus attention on the performance of the
big Ford sedans.
From January to March,
Ford sold 288 Fairlanes, down
24 per cent from the 379 it
sold over the same period
last year. The range-topping
LTD managed 13 sales in the
first three months this year
compared to 18 for the same
period last year.
Last year Ford sold 1980
Fairlane/LTDs and 2190 in
2004, comparable or even better than some
low-volume importers.
Another factor in any decision to axe the
Fairlane/LTD is the station wagon model
variant, which uses the same platform and
remains a viable strong seller among fleets.
In the sales stakes, Holden’s Statesman
and Caprice models fare better than its
direct rival, partly due to the fact that Middle
East exports underpin sales in Australia, a
deliberate Holden strategy to ensure the
continued viability of its LWB vehicles.
Holden has sold 548 Statesmans and 127
Caprices in the first three months of 2006,
with year-to-date sales trailing last year by a
significant margin.
Both the Ford and Holden have few
competitors in the VFACTS sub-$100,000
upper-large segment but the arrival of the
Chrysler 300C has sharply focused the
segmentation.
NOTHING ELSE CAN PROTECT YOUR
ENGINE BETTER THAN MOBIL 1.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 20 PATENTS ON ITS
SUPERSYN™ ANTI-WEAR TECHNOLOGY.
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 5
Split
decision
GoAuto enters a new
era as editorial deal with
Carsales comes to an end
GOAUTO’S editorial content service to Carsales
will end this Sunday.
The decision follows the merger of Carsales
with the online assets of Publishing and
Broadcasting’s Trader Group which took place
Roebuck that we would be off Carsales within six
late last year.
months of the proposed merger being announced.
Under the business model developed with
“In spite of their assurances at the time that
Carsales, GoAuto collected the advertising
GoAuto’s continued service was specifically
revenue generated from editorial pages served
required within the PBL-Carsales
in the Carsales livery in return for the
agreement, there was no way that PBL
editorial service.
was going to continue the GoAuto
Carsales recently gave notice that it
service when it had editorial resources
was no longer prepared to allow GoAuto
of its own to roll into Carsales,” Mr
to generate revenue from the Carsales
Mellor said.
site. Discussions to set a commercial
He said that it was business as usual
rate for continued editorial content
at GoAuto which was recently appointed
supply broke down.
by Sensis as the editorial content
The publisher of GoAuto, John
John Mellor
provider for the Trading Post website’s
Mellor, said: “This was not unexpected.
We have been planning for this since the auto research centre.
“Our syndicated service to newspapers is
shareholders approved the merger with the
Packers and Carsales last year.
expanding with a new section being announced in
“In fact, at the time of the announcement, I bet the Sydney market in late May. This is in addition
Wally Pisciotta (the chairman of Carsales) and Greg to the AAP feed of GoAuto content.”
Mr Mellor said that GoAuto’s online service,
as an editorial research resource for new-car
buyers, was attracting all-time record traffic in its
own right.
“So are many of our partner sites – especially
Discount New Cars which has experienced a huge
surge in visitors in the past year or so,” he said.
“The number of readers researching our
editorial on Discount New Cars has risen by 800
per cent in the past 18 months and accounts for
more research activity than any other affiliated
site – including Carsales.
“Our online research shows that most of our
readers are buying new cars rather than used cars
and they are an average of eight weeks away from
purchase. Carsales was more a used-car site, at
which it was very successful,” Mr Mellor said.
Disclosure: John Mellor owns shares
in Carsales.com.au Ltd
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 6
Crackerjack
Go-fast 3 Series Coupe
turns up as BMW counters
leaked photos (again)
By MARTON PETTENDY
BMW has revealed its all-new 3 Series Coupe
earlier than expected following the publication of
leaked images on a US website last week.
In a virtual repeat of the fiasco that saw the E90 3
Series sedan revealed via a leaked official brochure
in August 2004 – more than 12 months ahead of
its Australian launch – the two-door version of
the same model was officially revealed over the
weekend after breaking cover more than a week
ahead of its scheduled unveiling on Tuesday.
Led by a cracking new 225kW/400Nm 335i
variant powered by the new twin-turbocharged
3.0-litre inline six revealed last month, the E92
will not receive its public premiere for another
five months – at September’s Paris motor show.
The new 3 Series Coupe will then make its
Australian debut at the Australian International
Motor Show in October, by which time it will
already have arrived in local BMW showrooms
with full specifications and pricing.
Apart from being more heavily differentiated
from its donor sedan than ever both inside and out,
BMW claims the E92 demonstrates new
levels of driving dynamics, thanks in part
to the all-new turbo six that makes its
world debut in the new Three coupe.
Claimed to be the world’s first twinturbocharged straight six, as well as the
first direct-injection engine to power a
BMW road car, the new all-aluminium
engine is claimed to significantly
increase torque and acceleration without
increasing fuel consumption.
BMW claims 0-100km/h acceleration
of 5.5 seconds – 0.6 seconds better than
the new R6-engined 330i coupe and 1.1 seconds
better than the current 330i sedan – along with an
average fuel consumption of just 9.5L/100km.
Hence, the 335i Coupe will bridge the gap
between the 330i coupe and the next-generation
M3 flagship, which is expected to discard its
acclaimed 252kW inline six for a lightweight
M5/M6 V10-derived 4.0-litre V8 that produces
around 300kW.
Interestingly, while BMW says its most
powerful 3.0-litre inline six is 70kg lighter than
an equally-powerful 4.0-litre V8 (such as that in
the 540i and 740i), its two small turbochargers
are claimed to offer more power and torque more
instantaneously than a single, larger turbo.
As well as offering peak (400Nm) of torque
from just 1300rpm, the twin-turbo six has the
ability to rev to 7000rpm.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Swift undercut - next page
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automotive publishing group
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 7
Swift
undercut
Z4 M Coupe will be cheaper
than the roadster version
when it arrives in August
By MARTON PETTENDY
BMW Australia has confirmed its forthcoming
Z4 M Coupe will be the least-expensive M model
when it goes on sale here in August, despite the
fact the Z4 M Roadster was launched earlier this
month with a lower pricetag than its (pre-GST)
Z3-based convertible predecessor.
“Traditionally, BMW coupes are always
positioned below their equivalent convertible
models, and that (pricing) strategy will continue
with the Z4 Coupe,” BMW Australia general
manager marketing Tom Noble told GoAuto at
the recent Z4 M Roadster launch.
Ergo, the Z4 M Coupe – which shares its Mdeveloped 252kW/356Nm 3.2-litre straight six
with both the Z4 M Roadster and the $140,000
E46 M3 – should undercut the Z4 M Roadster’s
sticker price of $129,500 by at least $5000.
Of course, in line with its most direct rival in
the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG (which is soon
to be replaced by the 380kW E63 AMG), the
V10-powered M5 sedan commands a relatively
stratospheric $229,400 pricetag, while the
identically powered M6 coupe carries an even
higher $274,000 asking price.
An all-new E92 M3, likely to be powered by
a 4.0-litre V8 derived from the M5’s V10 and to
produce around 300kW, is not expected to appear
here until late 2007 – but is certain to carry a price
approaching $150,000.
Similarly, the Z4 3.0si Coupe, which is expected
to go on sale here alongside its M stablemate,
will therefore be priced lower than the Z4 3.0si
Coupe could be a further 60kg lighter than the Z4
roadster, which is available at $90,800 (manual)
M Roadster.
and $93,400 (auto).
BMW claims the Z4 M Coupe sprints to
While Mercedes’ folding hard-top SLK roadster
is priced at a relatively expensive $163,400 in 100km/h in five seconds – the same as Z4 M
Roadster. But given its expected weight advantage,
265kW/510Nm SLK55 AMG guise, BMW’s
confirmation means the Z4 M Coupe will also be BMW’s history of understating performance
claims and the fact the
at least $25,000 cheaper than
WHAT’S COMING:
Z4 3.0si Coupe completes
its other major competitor,
May 2006
the 0-100km/h sprint in
Porsche’s two-seater Cayman E87 120d hatch
E87 1 Series M Sport May 2006
5.7 seconds (0.3 seconds
S coupe.
May 2006
quicker than the Z4 3.0si
Porsche’s least-expensive E87 130i Sport auto
E91
323i
Touring
May
2006
Roadster’s six seconds
coupe is powered by a
June 2006 dead), it is odds-on the
217kW/340Nm 3.4-litre six- E90 320d sedan
E85 Z4 Coupe
Aug 2006
Z4 M Coupe will offer
cylinder boxer engine but
E70 X5
2007
standing-start acceleration
eschews new model pricing
E92 3 Series Coupe
Oct 2006
similar to the M5 at under
tradition by being priced at
E93 3 Series Cabriolet Early 2007 five seconds.
$148,500 ($155,500 auto) –
Despite the loss of its
E92 M3 coupe
Late 2007
$16,000 more than the Boxster
convertible donor car’s
New X3
2009
S upon which it’s based.
reinforcing floor members,
E89 Z4 redesign
2010
But the Z4 M Coupe will not
the Z4 M Coupe is claimed
only represent good value. At
to be among the most rigid models ever produced
1410kg, the Z4 M Roadster is already about 85kg
by BMW, with body stiffness of 32,000Nm/
lighter than the similarly engined M3, allowing it degree.
to dash to 100km/h 0.2 seconds quicker in about
Throw in the Z4 M Roadster’s variable M
five seconds flat – and to lap the Nurburgring
differential lock, M3 CSL-based brakes, 10mm
faster than both the Z4 M Roadster and the M3,
lower ride height, more negative front wheel
BMW’s former Nordschleife king.
camber and massive, staggered 18-inch rubber
The Z4 Coupe goes into production at BMW’s (and remove the M3’s SMG transmission and the
Spartanburg plant in South Carolina this month
standard Z4’s electric steering and run-flat tyres)
and, though full specifications will not be and the Z4 M Coupe appears to be a recipe for
available until the car’s European launch next high-powered, lightweight, unfettered fun – at a
month, sources inside BMW suggest the Z4 M
sensible price.
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 8
Laser light
Shades of TX3 Turbo as
Ford introduces an XR
hatch - with Volvo power
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS
FORD has released arguably its first bona fide hot
hatch in Australia since the halcyon days of the
Laser TX3 Turbo.
Engineered and built in Germany, the Focus
XR5 Turbo is priced from $35,990 for the sole
five-door hatchback model.
Driving the front wheels via a six-speed manualonly gearbox is a Volvo-sourced, transversely
mounted 2.5-litre turbocharged inline five-cylinder
engine delivering 166kW and 320Nm.
And although the former’s peak output occurs
at a heady 6000rpm, the latter’s comes in between
1600rpm and 4000rpm. Much of that is the result of
a low-blow turbo providing 0.65 bar of pressure.
Ford claims that this, along with the engine’s
undersquare design due to its short bore (83mm)
and long stroke (93mm), makes it an unstressed
unit compared to more highly-strung competitors.
The company’s European high-performance
arm Ford TeamRS set out to exceed 150kW for
the vehicle it created to conquer the 147kW VW
Golf GTI, 176kW HSV Astra VXR Turbo and
165kW Renault Megane 225 Sport Cup.
To that end, Ford also performed a host of
structural and mechanical upgrades.
Beginning with the LS Focus body (which
is already 30 per cent stiffer than the previousgeneration LR), a crossmember has been added
across the bulkhead.
Ford has maintained the regular Focus’
suspension fundamentals, electing instead to refine
it by adding a stiffer new front subframe. The front
and rear springs are 30 per cent stiffer while the
front anti-roll bar is five per cent thicker.
The ‘Control Blade’ independent rear
suspension receives stiffer rubber housings for
the lower control arms while the axle geometry is
modified to handle higher lateral forces.
Ford has also carried over the regular Focus’
electro-hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering.
However, it does incorporate a quicker and
more direct variable turning ratio for eight per
cent faster-acting steering compared to the
standard Focus. One innovation here is a threemode computer-controlled electric steering pump
that can be driver-adjusted to increase or decrease
boost for “comfort”, “normal” or “sporty” levels.
Upgraded brakes are also part of the package –
going to 320mm diameter from 278mm ventilated
discs at the front (activated by new four-piston
brake callipers) and 280mm from 260mm
for the discs out back, controlled via a twopiston calliper arrangement.
TeamRS also chose specially tuned
225/40 R18 tyres, while the XR5 is the only
LS Focus to offer stability control. It also has
curtain airbags.
A new twin-exhaust outlet, featuring
a much larger muffler, has been devised.
However, since it partly nestles in the spare
wheel well, a space-saver spare tyre is also
used (positioned above the muffler and
leading to reduced luggage space).
Visually, the specially designed lower rear
bumper treatment gives the game away, with its
two large round exhaust pipes that are flanked by
aluminium-trimmed light clusters and rear wheel
arch spats. You will also pick the hefty 1437kg
XR5 Turbo from other Focus members by its rear
roof spoiler, subtle bodykit featuring lower-sill
mouldings, kaleidoscope-style 18-inch five-spoke
alloy wheels, and side mirror indicator flashers
(moved from the upper front mudguards).
Moving to the front there is a larger mesh
grille forming part of a redesigned bumper which
houses aluminium-trimmed rectangular foglight
trim surrounds, and a much larger lower mesh air
intake.
Inside there is a very 1960s fast-Ford three-dial
(oil temperature, oil pressure and turbo boost)
instrument pod on the dashboard angled towards
the driver rally-car style, complementing the
revised main-binnacle graphics.
There are aluminium accents throughout
(including on the dash, lower console, doors
and pedals), a new three-spoke leather-trimmed
steering wheel, an integrated Sony eight-speaker
sound system, and Recaro cloth front seats with
matching colour door-trim inserts. Heated leather
Recaro front seats can be fitted for $2000 extra,
while the three-person rear bench is turfed for a
sculptured Recaro two-seat set-up.
Ford is counting on selling around 40 XR5s
each month. Supply here is limited by heavy
demand in Europe.
For drive impressions, go to
www.goauto.com.au from this Friday.
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 9
Street fighter
Tough SRT 300C muscles
in on established Aussie
performance sedans
HSV. FPV. SRT… Buyers of big, brutish V8
performance sedans now have a new acronym
– Street Racing Technology – with which to
acclimatise. And the 300C SRT-8, on sale now
from $71,990, is quite the bahn-stormer.
By shoehorning a larger V8 into its TransAtlantic luxury liner for a 25 per cent increase in
power over the previous V8 range-topper, Chrysler
hopes to lure around 300 potential purchasers of
the $70K HSV Senator and FPV GT-P.
At the heart of the 300C is a 6.1-litre HEMI
V8, brandishing 317kW of power at 6000rpm and
569Nm of torque at 4600rpm. This compares to
the 5.7-litre HEMI version’s 250kW at 5000rpm
and 525Nm at 4000rpm – HEMI being so named
to describe the engine’s hemispherical combustion
chamber design.
Necessitating premium unleaded fuel, and
running an increased compression ratio compared
to the 5.7 V8 (10.3:1 versus 9.6:1), the 6.1’s
output jump is a result of a 3.5mm-wider cylinder
bore, redesigned cylinder head, intake and exhaust
systems and the implementation of “performance
orientated” camshaft profiles, among other
modifications.
Chrysler engineers also reinforced the engine
block for greater durability and implemented a
forged steel crankshaft, high-strength powderedmetal connecting rods, floating-pin pistons and a
more efficient oil pan to cope with higher engine
speeds.
The result is an engine that is almost
unrecognisable compared to its smaller V8
sibling. It also literally stands out thanks to an
orange-painted cylinder block and black valve
covers – just like the famous HEMI “sixes”
produced in Australia for the hotter VH Charger
models of the early 1970s.
However, the SRT-8’s 6.1 lacks the 5.7’s MDS
(Multi-Displacement System) technology that
shuts off four cylinders during cruising speeds for
improved fuel economy.
A Mercedes-supplied five-speed automatic
gearbox, complete with its “AutoStick” sequential
shift function, carries over from the lesser 300Cs.
Also coming in for a reboot is the suspension,
with retuned dampers, stiffer spring rates, revised
suspension bushes and fatter anti-roll bars. A
heavy-duty four-flange prop shaft and upgraded
differential and axles are also used. A lower
ride height comes courtesy of new suspension
knuckles and 20-inch forged
alloy wheels wearing Goodyear
F1 tyres.
Big Brembo brakes, now
with four-piston callipers
and larger-diameter discs allround, as well as a recalibrated
stability control system, help
keep the SRT-8’s formidable
performance in check.
The SRT wears its more
muscular
mantle
with
surprising subtlety. Changes include a discreet
rear spoiler that is said to increase downforce by
39 per cent without drag and redesigned front and
rear air diffusers.
New sports seats finished in suede trim front
and rear, leather-swathed steering wheel, gear
shifter and door pulls, and racier trim peppering
the otherwise fairly stock-standard dashboard
complete the SRT makeover.
Like all 300Cs, the sportiest edition includes
front and side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes,
high intensity discharge headlights, parking
radars and premium CD audio. A $2430 sunroof
is the only factory option, however a new range
of “Startech” dealer-fitted accessories is also now
available across the 300C range.
These include a chromed crosshatch grille
design (that does a great Bentley impression), side
skirts with illuminated entrance lights, a series of
spoilers and louder exhausts.
In the third quarter of this year DaimlerChrysler
will release another two new models to the 300C
range: the Touring station wagon (possibly in three
variants, although the SRT-8 version has not yet
been confirmed) as well as a turbo-diesel model.
The latter is the 3.0-litre CRDi unit pinched from
partner Mercedes-Benz and featuring in the Jeep
Grand Cherokee – among other DaimlerChrysler
products.
Chrysler expects to sell around 2000 300Cs in
Australia this year and, for the brand as a whole,
3000 units.
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 0 6 Page 10
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
All Chrysler is askin’ for
is 10,000 sales in 2007
- to hit ‘respectibility’
CHRYSLER is aiming to nearly double its sales
rate in Australia within three years to at least
14,000 units a year.
Underscoring this growth will be a vehicle
range with at least 16 models by December 2007,
spread across the Chrysler, Jeep and forthcoming
Dodge brand.
“By the end of 2008 we are looking at 14,000
to 15,000,” Chrysler Group Australia (CGA) 300C, however it will spearhead Chrysler into the
managing director Gerry Jenkins told GoAuto local V8 performance sedan segment dominated
last week. “Ten thousand is the threshold where by HSV and Ford’s FPV divisions.
It will also aid CGA’s plans to shift 3000 300Cs
respectability begins.”
Mr Jenkins said he expected CGA to achieve in 2007, which will be bolstered further by the 3.0litre CRD V6 turbo-diesel
9000 units this year through
WHAT’S COMING:
engine option and Touring
“good solid marketing” and
station wagon variants due
10,000 in 2007. Last year, JEEP
by September.
May
the US vehicle division Commander
An SRT version of the
of DaimlerChrysler sold Grand Cherokee SRT Oct
Jeep Grand Cherokee will
7557 vehicles in Australia, New Jeep Wrangler
Early 2007
comprising 2479 Chryslers Jeep Compass
2nd qtr 2007 also arrive around October,
following the Jeep’s first
and 5078 Jeeps.
Jeep Patriot
Mid 2007
MPV/4WD
crossover
The latter was buoyed
wagon, the Commander,
by the arrival of the third- CHRYSLER
June
which is due in May. Based
generation Grand Cherokee PT Cabrio
Sept
on the Grand Cherokee, it
and revised Cherokee during 300C Touring
Sept
is a boxier design intended
2005, while Chrysler’s 300C Diesel
to
better-accommodate
300C luxury sedan released DODGE
seven occupants.
last November has easily Dodge Caliber
August
A four-seater cabriolet
exceeded its initial sales Dodge Nitro
Early 2007
version of the recently
monthly forecasts of around Caliber SRT4
Late 2007
facelifted PT Cruiser will
115 units. In March this Challenger
2008
follow in June.
year, 159 were registered, Hornet
2008
Arguably
the
most
with stocks of the V8 HEMI
model being in very short supply since launch.
important arrival for the CGA for 2006 will be the
“It was our best month ever since buying back Dodge Caliber hatchback – returning the 90-year
the distribution rights (from Astre Automotive in old nameplate to Australia for the first time since
1999),” Mr Jenkins said.
the 1970s. Built on an all-new front-wheel drive
The group’s most recent new-model flurry platform and powered by a 2.0-litre or 2.4-litre fourkicked off last week with the introduction of the cylinder engine, it will pitch the Americans straight
Chrysler 300C SRT-8 flagship. Supply limitations into the biggest sales segment in Australia, the
mean it will only add about 300 units to the 2000 surging small-car market.
sales forecast CGA has recently revised for the
However, since supply cannot keep up North
Commander
American demand, where the Belvedere, Illinoisbuilt Caliber debuted in January, the original 1200
sales mooted are now in doubt. A Caliber SRT-4 is
also on the cards for a late-2007 release, powered
by a 223kW turbocharged version of the 2.4.
The second Dodge contender will be the Nitro,
due around next February. Loosely based on the
ageing Jeep Cherokee platform, the Nitro is a
separate chassis mid-sized 4WD wagon powered
by V6 petrol and diesel engines.
At around the same time as the Nitro’s intro will
be the Jeep Compass, the most car-like vehicle
to wear the 4WD specialist’s badge. While it is
Jeep’s compact 4WD weapon against Toyota’s
top-selling RAV4, the recently announced,
chunkier Patriot will follow the Compass here by
the middle of next year.
Based on the Caliber platform, both the
Compass and Patriot will slot underneath the
Cherokee in Jeep’s line-up. According to Mr
Jenkins, both vehicles will “really open (Jeep) up”
to a new market segment in Australia. CGA says
that more details will be revealed at the Sydney
motor show in October, along with the expected
first-showings of the two compact 4WDs.
Further down the track is the production
version of the Challenger muscle car, revealed as
a concept car in Detroit in January, along with last
month’s Mini-esque Dodge Hornet. Both are still
to be confirmed for Australia, but Mr Jenkins is
keen to include these within CGA’s portfolio.
This year’s hive of new-model activity will
bring the total CGA model count to 14, up from
10 in 2005, seven in 2004 and just five in 2003.
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 11
Conomos
steps
back
By NEIL McDONALD
TOYOTA Motor Corporation Australia chief
John Conomos, 63, will retire from his role as
executive chairman on June 23.
The head of Australia’s leading car company
signalled his intention to wind down his dayto-day “line-management duties” last week but
will take up a position of chairman emeritus and
principal policy adviser for the company.
He will also continue in his role as the president
of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries,
but will retire from his position as managing
officer of parent TMC.
Toyota Australia spokesman Peter Griffin said
this week that the role of executive chairman was
created for Mr Conomos in 2004 but there was no
requirement on the company’s behalf to maintain
that position.
“With him retiring from that role there is no
intention at this stage to keep the role going,”
he said, adding that any decision would be
determined by the TMC board and as such “will
be considered in due course”.
A replacement for Mr Conomos as managing
officer, traditionally a two-year posting, will be
named at TMC’s annual shareholders’ meeting in
June. Mr Griffin declined to put forward a likely
candidate but described the boardroom shuffle
as a “reinvigoration of the company”. He said it
would be one of several managing officer roles to
be up for renewal.
In a statement issued last week, Toyota Australia
described Mr Conomos’ new role as “supporting
the president and board of TMCA in government
policy on automotive development and export, in
major client relations with particular emphasis on
export customers and export opportunities and in
dealer policy and relationship, as well as assisting
to develop the next generation of management
within TMCA”.
Mr Griffin said Mr Conomos’ knowledge
on exports and export opportunities and dealer
relationships was “second to none”.
“We’ll still be tapping into his expertise,” he
said.
Toyota Australia president and chief executive
officer Ted Okada will continue in his roles and
chair board meetings.
Mr Conomos has held various positions with
Toyota since 1981. Before joining the Japanese
auto giant he worked for the British Leyland
Motor Corp and was the first employee of
Daihatsu in Australia.
Up Close on Personnel – next page
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 12
UP CLOSE on PERSONNEL
brought to you by Motor
Staff
WOODLANDS SHIFTS CAMP
MANY MOVES AT MAZDA
FORD Australia’s general
marketing
manager
(marketing and sales)
Graeme Woodlands has
moved to Subaru Australia
to lead its marketing team.
He takes up a newly created
role of general manager
– marketing, reporting to
Graeme
Subaru Australia managing
Woodlands
director Nick Senior. Toby
O’Bree continues in his role as Subaru’s national
marketing manager. Mr Woodlands has 16 years’
experience at Ford, including responsibility for
launching the Territory 4WD in 2004. From
2000-2002 he was based in Ford headquarters
in Dearborn, Michigan, as a manager of
business strategy for Ford Asia-Pacific and later
as manager of marketing and sales for Ford
Financial International.
“Graeme’s appointment comes as Subaru
enters a new phase in Australia with the addition
of a fifth model to our line-up in November, the
Tribeca,” said Mr Senior last week.
MAZDA Australia has promoted its Victorian
state manager John Read to national customer
services manager, replacing Fiona Dickson
who will move across as NSW state manager.
Ms Dickson is replacing Daryl Thornton,
who has left the company. Slotting in to John
Read’s Victorian state manager’s role will be
the company’s national vehicle sales manager
Vinesh Bhindi, while WA state manager David
Hughes becomes the new national vehicle sales
manager. Mr Hughes’ replacement is still to be
announced. All changes come into effect May 1.
PROTON’S DEALER DOYEN
PROTON Cars Australia
(PCA) has appointed Chris
Locantro to the position of
regional dealer manager
for Queensland, Northern
Territory and Western
Australia. To be based at
the company’s Sydney
headquarters, Mr Locantro
comes to Proton with a vast Chris Locantro
portfolio of automotive experience from more
than 30 years in the industry with manufacturers
such as Ford, Leyland and Mitsubishi. He has also
worked with several leading importers including
Mazda, Volkswagen, Audi and Chrysler Jeep in
several key roles, including dealer development,
distribution and sales and marketing.
“We face a number of challenges and Chris is
well equipped to help Proton ensure it achieves
its goals,” said PCA sales and marketing general
manager Steven Thomas. “Chris brings a wealth
of experience to Proton, particularly in the area
of dealer development, which is key focus for
the franchise at the moment.”
FERRARI BOARD CHANGES
FERRARI
admitted
two new members to its
board of directors last
week – GlaxoSmithKline
chairman Christopher Gent
and Iveco chief executive
Paolo Monferino. The
move follows the recent
appointment of Lindsay
Christopher
Owen-Jones and takes the
Gent
number of chairs at the
Ferrari board table to 13, with Luca Cordero di
Montezemolo continuing as president and chief
executive, and Piero Ferrari as vice-president.
The Ferrari board also approved 2005
financial year figures last week. The Fiat-owned
supercar brand recorded a trading profit of €157
million ($A260.8m), an increase of 13.8 per cent
over the previous financial year. Ferrari reported
a positive net financial position with a balance
of €13 ($A21.6m). It sold 5409 cars in 2005, an
increase of 8.7 per cent over the previous year.
VW CEO TENSION SIMMERS
VOLKSWAGEN AG chairman Ferdinand Piech
threw his weight behind chief executive Bernd
Pischetsrieder last week after the expected
showdown between competing factions over the
CEO’s contract renewal failed to eventuate. VW’s
supervisory board decided not to discuss granting
a five-year extension to Mr Pischetsrieder’s
contract – a hot topic considering his aggressive
cost-cutting plans which could see up to 20,000
jobs cut by 2008. Mr Piech said the contract
renewal would be dealt with at the board’s next
gathering on May 2.
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A P R I L 2 6 , 2 0 06 Page 13
GoAuto latest road test
FPV F6 Tornado ute
TAKE a glance at the specs of Ford Performance Vehicles’ F6 Tornado ute. Sharing its 270kW/550Nm
4.0-litre turbo-six engine with the Typhoon sedan, the Tornado combines workmanlike
practicality with sportscar performance and handling. Falcon BF series changes
include intimidating new front-end styling to distinguish the F6 duo from the
rest of the FPV range, plus the welcome addition of traction control - but
the big news is the excellent six-speed automatic now available as an
option throughout the FPV range. It just might be the top transmission
choice. Diehard manual worshippers should prepare to reconsider
their faith. Keenly priced from $52,945, the Tornado simply blows its
ROAD TEST: CLICK HERE
competition away.
LAUNCH PAD
APRIL:
SSANGYONG’S NEW UTE
SSANGYONG has released images of its Musso
Sports utility replacement, which makes its world
debut tomorrow (Thursday) as the Actyon Sports
at the Busan motor show in South Korea.
SsangYong Australia spokesman Brad Leach
said the ute was due for release in Australia early
next year and that pricing would be “sharp”. “We
will keep the value-for-money equation in the
new car,” he said. The current 2.9-litre turbodiesel Musso starts from $27,990 and represents a
significant slice of SsangYong sales in Australia.
Mr Leach said the new dual-cab version was
significantly bigger than the existing model, with
room for five adults and a bigger load tray.
Based on the XMT concept, the newcomer
(codenamed Q100) is built off the same platform
as the Kyron and Actyon 4WD wagons and is
expected to be available from launch with a
104kW/310Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine.
A 121kW/342Nm 2.7-litre CDi diesel and a
162kW/312Nm 3.2-litre inline six petrol engine
will also be available. The Actyon compact 4WD
wagon arrives around September.
BMW Z4 roadster upgrade
BMW Z4 M roadster variant
Chrysler 300C SRT-8 sedan variant
Ford Focus XR5 variant
Jaguar S-Type diesel variant
Mercedes-Benz R-class people-mover
New model diary: CLICK HERE
JAGUAR COMFY WITH 1K
JAGUAR Australia has forecast 1000 sales this
year, a figure which managing director David
Blackhall described as “comfortable”.
“I would be very happy to be in the ball-park
of last year,” he told GoAuto, referring to the 975
cars Jaguar sold last year, which was down from
2004 (1015). He added that today’s reality for
Jaguar was that it was more of a “niche” brand
rather than a serious competitor against the likes
of BMW, with more focus on the business mix
rather than outright volume.
LIMITED PRADO STEPS UP
TOYOTA Australia has introduced a Limited
version (1000 units) of its LandCruiser Prado
eight-seater 4WD wagon, starting from $45,990
for either the 4.0-litre V6 or 3.0-litre turbo-diesel
model. Based on the GX trim level, the Limited
additions include 17-inch steel wheels (on 265/65
series tyres), front foglamps, roof rails, side steps,
“wide” side protection moulding, mudguards
with overfender flares and chrome detailing on
the wing mirrors and grille. Metallic paint is also
available for no additional cost, while additional
interior features are restricted to chrome interior
doorhandles.
CARENS UNCOVERED
FIRST came the sketch, now comes the official
photograph of Kia’s new-generation Carens miniMPV, ahead of its premiere at the Madrid motor
show on May 25.
Under consideration for Australia, the vehicle
(known as the Rondo in North America) is 4.54m
long, will seat up to seven people and be available
with diesel and petrol engines.
BIG SAVINGS ON C5
CITROEN Australia has knocked up to $5500 off
its C5 2.0 auto model variants with leather trim,
pricing the sedan from $39,990 and the station
wagon from $40,990 for a limited time. Both
normally retail from $45,490.
Hotshoe Smart hatch shuffles into Aussie showrooms as the door closes on Forfour
turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
THE first Brabus to be officially sold in
Tuned by 25-year-old German performance
Australia arrived in Smart showrooms last
house Brabus, which has waved its magic
week priced from $39,900, following the
wand over Smart models since 2002, it
arrival of the first limited shipment of about
propels the four-seater ForFour to 100km/h
20 examples of the high-performance
in a claimed 6.9 seconds and on to a top
ForFour hatchback.
speed of 221km/h – while containing fuel
The DaimlerChrysler micro-car brand
hopes the Brabus-tuned ForFour will cash
consumption to just 6.8L/100km.
in on “a considerable backorder of other hot
The Brabus ForFour will come standard
hatches in Australia” – namely the Golf GTI
with features including leather trim, a
– to carve a small but important niche for the Pacific chose not to import the current panoramic glass roof, four airbags, sports
Smart brand here.
suspension, five-speed manual transmission,
ForTwo Brabus because of its higher pricetag
Small is the operative word, considering
Brabus alloy wheels, side skirts, front
and lower sales potential.
just 50 Brabus ForFours have been made
and rear aprons, rear spoiler and a sports
While the current Brabus ForTwo coupe
available for Australia this year and that
and cabrio models are powered by a muffler.
DaimlerChrysler last month announced the 55kW/110Nm version of the regular ForTwo’s
Further differentiating the only Mercedes
Dutch-built ForFour would be axed.
Car Group-backed Brabus import are
turbocharged and intercooled inline 1.0-litre
company will, however, launch a new- SOHC three-cylinder engine (and the soonexclusive details like Brabus insignias on
JohnThe
Mellor's
generation ForTwo in 2007 – a new Brabus to-be-axed Brabus Roadster employs a
the head restraints, odometer, metallic door
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