eCar Insurance Australia

Archive for April, 2006

1947 Riley Roadster

Friday, April 14th, 2006

I should explain that Aussie Motoring is brought to you from Hervey Bay in beautiful sub-tropical Queensland and, while business usually keeps us confined to Hervey Bay, we do sometimes get to go a little further afield.

Today (Good Friday) was one of those days. Kids arrived at 3.30am from further north so we kept them up and took them over to Tin Can Bay to feed the dolphins. While we were there we came across this beautiful creature:

1947 Riley

I believe that it is a 1947 Riley RMC.

Riley dashboard

If it is a Riley of that vintage then it was completely handbuilt and the dashboard scene in this photo is genuine polished timber. Just over 500 of these cars were built.

This beautiful car was powered by a 2.5 litre 100 hp engine that gave it a top speed of 100 mph (160 kph).

1947 Riley

Mercedes Benz E Class

Friday, April 14th, 2006

The world premiere of the new-generation E-Class will be the focal point of Mercedes-Benz’ presentation at the New York International Auto Show 2006. After four years in production and around a million vehicles sold, the facelift of the world-beating executive saloon is cleaner, safer, more powerful and of better value than ever before.

Mercedes Benz E Class Sedan

The new-generation E-Class once again sets the benchmark first and foremost through its outstanding safety features. The standard equipment includes the anticipatory PRE-SAFE(R) system whose “reflexes” respond before an impending collision by activating protective measures for the driver and front passenger. What’s more, the safest car in its class takes agility and driving pleasure to new heights.

This comes courtesy of the DIRECT CONTROL package, with more direct steering and a retuned suspension, and six new or enhanced engines which develop up to 26 per cent more output and 18 per cent more torque whilst maintaining the same excellent levels of fuel economy. Tying in with the E-Class premiere, the new-generation SL is also making its US debut at the New York show.

“The new generations of the E- and SL-Class make it clear that Mercedes-Benz offers its customers attractive vehicles featuring state-of-the-art technology,” explained Dr. Klaus Maier, Board of Management member with responsibility for Marketing and Sales, at the Mercedes-Benz Press Conference. “Both new models,” Maier continued, “reinforce Mercedes-Benz’ claim to building the best cars in the world. The most recent example of this is the new-generation E-Class, the cleanest, safest and most powerful E-Class of all time.”

For over 60 years the E-Class and its predecessors have been the “heart” of Mercedes-Benz, representing basic brand values like safety, comfort, innovation, economy and quality. Since 1946 Mercedes-Benz has delivered some ten million luxury saloons to customers. In June 2006 the E-Class will be unveiled with an even more dynamic concept, additional pioneering innovations and an upgraded standard specification. 29 model variants will be available — 16 Saloons and 13 Estates.

As such, Mercedes-Benz will be offering the largest, most varied model range in this market segment. With outputs ranging from 100 kW/136 hp to 378 kW/514 hp, the new-generation E-Class outpaces the previous model range (90 kW/122 hp to 350 kW/476 hp) and its competitors in all displacement and output classes. A revamped front-end design reflects the power, poise and assurance of the new model range.

You can find a review of the 2005 model Mercedes Benz E Class here

Kia Carnival Earns a Five Star Rating

Thursday, April 13th, 2006

The all-new Carnival MPV (known as ‘Sedona’ in some markets) has earned the highest possible safety rating — five stars — for all seating positions in the latest frontal and side impact crash tests by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Kia Carnival

Completely redesigned for the 2006 model year, the all-new Carnival builds upon a commitment to safety that was established with the first generation MPV, which earned the company’s first five star crash rating when it debuted in 2002.

The 2006 Carnival continues to offer a high level of standard safety equipment, including six standard airbags, front active headrests, electronic stability control (ESC), ABS with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), a traction control system (TCS) with brake assist, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

“We are extremely pleased with the all-new Sedona’s performance and resulting five star rating in NHTSA’s recent testing,” said Len Hunt, executive vice president and COO of Kia Motors America. “The latest five star rating is further proof of our commitment to building high quality vehicles with unprecedented levels of standard safety and convenience features.”

Available in two trim levels, LX and EX, all models feature an all-new, more powerful 3.8-liter 24-valve V6 engine, producing class-leading 244 horsepower. A longer wheelbase and increased length and width in comparison to its predecessor contribute to the minivan’s nearly 15-percent improvement in passenger room over the previous Carnival.

Comfort and convenience equipment such as fold-in-the-floor third row seating, three separate climate zones covering all three rows and available power remote-operated side doors and rear lift gate were designed to bolster Carnival’s established position as a safety and value leader in the highly competitive MPV market.

Editor’s note: Specifications and standard equipment may vary depending on country/region.

Fuel For Free?

Tuesday, April 11th, 2006

Every time you check the price board as you pass a service station the bad news is plain to see. The cost of fuel is rising and this time there seems little chance of it dropping back to more reasonable levels.

At least one OPEC oil minister has admitted that demand is now outstripping supply and so the simple laws of supply and demand mean that prices will continue to rise. Some analysts here in Australia suggest that prices around $1.30 a litre for basic unleaded will be here by early next year.

Of course, if you’red running on a premium unleaded or diesel that price is already here.

For those who use diesel there is some hope though and it could even mean free fuel from a very unlikely source - your local Chinese restaurant.

Check out a very interesting development in fuel options for diesel vehicles in Russ Egan’s article Grease Cars - Filling Up at Your Local Chinese Restaurant

Self-Parking Cars

Saturday, April 8th, 2006

Back in October 2001 NewScientist.com ran a story on self-parking cars and suggested that they were just around the corner.

Unfortunately that corner was a few kilometres further away than NewScientist.com realised but now they really are just round the corner if you live in the US - or parking right outside your house if you live in the UK.

In the UK vehicles that are able to parallel park themselves are a reality and for just $700 extra you can buy a Toyota Prius fitted the accessory. The driver is still responsible for speed and braking but turning the wheel is all handled by the technology.

You can read the full story - and see the video - here.

The technology hasn’t arrived in the US just yet but it’s not far away - while for us here in Australia … well it’s probably still around the corner and several kilometres down the road.

Looking for a Motoring Holiday With a Difference?

Saturday, April 8th, 2006

If you are and - and you happen to have a spare 15,000 Euros ($A24,993.98 as I write this) then perhaps you might like to consider a “Customized Driving Adventure” through Italy behind the wheel of a Ferrari.

The tours are offered by Select Italy and here is a snippet from their latest press release:

Select Italy president and owner, Andrea Sertoli says, “These trips in Ferraris are a great way for clients to reward themselves, their families and their employees with a unique and breathtaking experience, whether as a romantic getaway, a family-bonding trip, a bachelor party or an executive retreat. The Ferrari is an emblem of the best of Italian design and philosophy. We’re so happy to have the chance to let travelers to Italy taste even more of the splendor that this country has to offer.”

Driving in a fleet of the most up-to-date Ferraris you can zip through the Tuscan hills along the famed auto-race route, the Mille Miglia, or jaunt up to Maranello to visit the Ferrari museum and complex. Accommodations are in Italy’s finest five-star resort properties. Tours can last anywhere from two days to six weeks. The sky is truly the limit on these luxury tours.

If that sounds appealing then perhaps you should visit their website to find out more.

If money is no object then jump onto their website to send them your contact details so that they can tailor a tour to suit you and the overall cost? Well the 15,000 Euros is just the deposit on the car and the cost of the tour is only available if you contact them.

Six weeks in a Ferrari? Would I ever want to come home? Hmmmm

They Still Don’t Get the Message

Friday, April 7th, 2006

Perhaps that title is a little unfair because it takes time to turn around a lumbering monsters like Ford and General Motors but just in case they hadn’t got the message car sales figures in the US should have told them something.

During March General Motors sales dropped by almost 15% while Toyota reported its highest monthly sales ever.

An Interesting Trend for Hyundai

Friday, April 7th, 2006

The March US sales figures must be rather perplexing for executives at Hyundai. Sales of the Elantra dropped 9.6%, sales of the Accent dropped 44.6% and sales of the Santa Fe and Tucson dropped a combined 22.9%.

But sales of the Sonata increased by 53.8% and that meant that total Hyundai sales for March were up 4.3% and 6% for the year.

A Fiery Finish to the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix

Sunday, April 2nd, 2006

The engine in Jenson Button’s Honda exploded into flames just metres short of the finish line in today’s Melbourne Formule 1 Grand Prix.

The race was no kinder to Australia’s Mark Webber who was leading the race on lap 23 when a gear box failure forced him to withdraw.

The race was ultimately won by Fernando Alonso in a Renault.