Aussie Motoring

The ABC is reporting that Mitsubishi is looking at four options for a strategic plan that involves closing its plant in South Australia.

It’s easy to see (by the fact that you don’t see many 380 models on the streets) that the 380 has not been the sales success that Mitsubishi had hoped for - in fact sales of the vehicle are well below what was forecast and nothing the company does will improve that situation.

If the plant does close around 1600 people will lose their jobs and a considerable amount of tax payers’ money will have been wasted in trying to encourage the company to remain in Australia.

You can read the full ABC story here

Ummm … well … if you’re looking for photos of Aston Martins or serious muscle cars like a Mustang, Comaro or a fire breathing Valiant Charger then I guess you’re going to be disappointed.

And if you happen to drive one of those monsters and you wonder why you’re not pulling the chicks then maybe I can explain what your problem really is. It’s not that your getting a bit thin on top and a bit thick around the middle … it’s just that you’re not driving a Fiat 500 from the early 1960s.

That’s right, you’re not driving one of these sleek, sexy and charismatic examples of high-tech power

Hi-tech??

Well it does have windows that wind down (the Mini that was out at the same time only had sliding windows).

Photos courtesy of Clarita

Now I realise that you are probably doubting my sanity when I suggest that the Fiat 500 is the world’s sexiest car but it wasn’t me who made that stunning decision.

It was actually recently named as the world’s sexiest car by Britain’s Top Gear magazine because it has everyone from “strapping blokes to fainting flowers of womanhood” looking sexually charged when they sit behind the wheel.

The magazine goes on to say that “The Fiat 500 works irrespective of age, beauty, wealth or position - even a nun in a 500 seems to telegraph a faint tingle of the procreative urge.”

Sadly it’s never going to make me look sexy - at around 1.9 metres tall I would never have fitted into the thing. And as she who must be obeyed suggested, it’s not going to do much for the procreative urge either because it’s just too small (the car - not me )

I always did wonder why none of the cars I ever drove seemed to pull the chicks … now I know (sigh)

After winning the Italian Grand Prix in his Ferrari Michael Schumacher has announced that he will be retiring from Formula One at the end of the curren season.

While it is unclear what his role will be Schumacher has announced that he will remain with Ferrari despite retiring from Formula One.

Peter Brock - one of the legends of Australian motor sport died today after his car hit a tree in Western Australia.

Peter Brock was competing in the Targa West Rally and was only 40 kilometres east of Perth. His co-driver was taken to hospital but is believed to be in a stable condition.

Peter Brock was 61 years old.

Vale Peter Perrfect.

Well … they do in the UK.

Honda UK has teamed up with Britain’s Metropolitan Police in the country’s biggest ever hybrid car fleet deal, with 117 Honda Civic Hybrids leased for use by police Community Support Officers.

The hybrids will be used as part of a Safer Neighbourhoods scheme – an initiative to increase police presence on the streets. Officers will use the cars to travel from their operational bases to the start of their foot patrols.

The deal underlines the public sector’s growing interest in ‘greener’ vehicles. Over the past year, the Honda (UK) Corporate Sales department has seen a sharp increase in the number of quotations requested by agencies and organisations in the public sector.

Honda’s petrol-electric Civic Hybrid was selected by the Metropolitan Police for its ease of use and strong environmental credentials.

Speaking at the National Association of Police Fleet Managers Conference, Stuart Middleton, Director of Transport Services at the Met Police, said the Hybrids would help “meet police requirements and at the same time fulfil social responsibility to try and make our fleet of vehicles as green as possible. The police, like many other like-minded people, want to do their bit.”

The fact that hybrid cars are becoming more financially viable was also a key influencer. Middleton explained: “We need to balance the desire to produce a vehicle with the lowest environmental impact with the cost to the tax payer that funds the vehicles.”

He continued: “It’s now widely acknowledged that hybrids provide the middle stepping stone to hydrogen fuel cell cars – our long term goal. Hybrid technology utilises a vehicle that performs in the same way as a conventional car but has the advantage of a reduced emissions footprint.”

The Civic Hybrid went on sale in Australia in February 2006. At a RRP price of $31,990, it is Australia’s most affordable hybrid vehicle.

Hyundai has released the fourth generation of its Elantra small-medium car, its global best seller and second most popular model in Australia.

Redesigned and refined, new Elantra sedan enters the scene with fresh new styling, a more spacious and gracious interior, a quieter, cleaner and perkier drivetrain, sharper dynamics and more safety features.

Four variants of the new Elantra sedan are offered, SX, SLX, Elite and Elite S. A Euro-hatch variant will follow in 2007.

New Elantra also exudes the burgeoning Hyundai quality reputation increasingly recognized in independent consumer studies such as that recently concluded by US quality researchers J.D.Power & Associates.

Hyundai was rated as the top non-luxury nameplate and third outright brand after Porsche and Lexus and ahead of Toyota and Honda in their 2006 Initial Quality Study, after polling over 60,000 new vehicle buyers about their first 90 days ownership experience late last year.

Substantially roomier than either Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, Elantra is Hyundai’s “big small car” and now straddles the small to medium categories thanks to its 65mm higher and 50mm wider cabin, 40mm longer wheelbase and 58/66mm wider front and rear wheel tracks but, handily for parking, it’s actually 20mm shorter than the previous model and has much more rounded front corners.

Interior
New Elantra is a class leader in interior room, thanks to its larger size. Front hip and shoulder room expand by 32mm and 22mm with front head and leg room up 9mm and 8mm while rear shoulder room stretches out another 40mm. A 35mm lift in front seat height improves visibility and eases entry and egress.

The sculptured dash top slopes downward from the windscreen to give a spacious feeling and greater visibility. Black or mid-grey interiors are offered and are highlighted by tasteful alloy-look finish elements on SLX and Elite.

The textures and colours, the placement of audio and climate controls and the blue-hue soft-lit digital instrument lighting all project an upmarket cabin ambience.

New levels of detail and craftsmanship are found throughout the interior, including a softer-feel, perforated leather trim on the Elite S.

Equipment and Features
Firsts for Elantra include an auxiliary jack for iPods® and other portable audio devices to play through the car’s MP3/WMA/AAC-compatible CD/FM/AM sound system, heated door mirrors on all but SX, steering-wheel-mounted tabs for audio and (except SX) cruise controls and telescopic steering wheel adjustment on all but SX.

All-model conveniences like standard air conditioning with pollen filter, power windows on all doors, remote keyless entry with alarm and separate boot opener, key-out headlights-off, roof console with map lights and sunglasses bin, slide-cover vanity mirrors in both sunvisors with (except on SX) lights and a 12 volt power outlet all add to Elantra’s amenity.

The centre console features a two-level storage bin topped with a padded armrest, a first for the entry level model in Elantra.

There’s extra storage places in the dash centre stack and console—all lined with rubber mats or flocking, magazine pockets behind the front seat backrests and map pockets with bottle bulges integrated into the front door trims.

A retractable bag hook in the left front is very handy as are the dual cup holders between the front seats and in the rear central pull-down armrest which all steady the cups with rubber grip flaps.

Elantra’s comfortable and versatile seating includes height adjustment for the driver’s seat, four-way adjustable front head restraints and two-way in the rear, and 60/40 split fold-down rear seatbacks revealing a sizeable aperture to accommodate long and relatively wide cargo items.

Elantra’s big boot is enlarged yet another 35 litres, taking it to 405 litres on the SAE scale.

Safety
New Elantra incorporates more rigid, reinforced bulkheads, pillars and side impact structures, optimised crumple zones and load diffusion paths.

Elantra offers a full menu of safety features including the big news feature in the current car safety debate—ESP (Electronic Stability Program) with TCS (Traction Control System) as well as Anti-skid Brake System (ABS), the other major active safety feature helping drivers avoid a crash.

ESP is a cutting-edge driving stability system which, along with ABS and TCS, improves handling by controlling brake pressure and engine output during dangerous manoeuvers such as abrupt avoidance turns at speed or acceleration and braking, particularly on slippery roads. It is increasingly being credited as a major reducer of single car crashes.

ESP and TCS are standard on Elantra Elite and Elite S and optional as part of Hyundai’s Protectz Pack on SX and SLX.

Passive safety is afforded by Elantra’s airbags with two front airbags on SX augmented by two front seat-mounted side-impact thorax airbags and two full cabin side curtain airbags on all other model variants.

Hyundai’s Protectz Pack for Elantra SX adds ESP, TCS and the curtain and front-side airbags for $1790*.

Elantra SX manual with Protectz Pack at $21,780* now becomes the market’s second most affordable five-seat car with ESP after Getz 1.6 with Protectz at $16,280*.

The Protectz option for Elantra SLX adds ESP and TCS for an extra $990*.

Active front-seat head restraints—which also adjust fore-aft as well as vertically—are new to Elantra and help prevent whiplash injury during a rear collision. They are highly recommended by safety organisations.

New rear seat head restraints are low-profile wrapover designs which can adjust down out of rear vision’s way when not in use.

Taillight-integrated rear fog lights feature across the Elantra range with front fog lights added on Elite.

Braking and Handling
Elantra delivers a quieter, more comfortable ride and more responsive, predictable handling, with coil springs and gas dampers in MacPherson struts at the front as before and in a new design Independent Torsion Blade rear suspension.

Independent Torsion Blade is more sophisticated than the prior Elantra’s multi-link rear suspension system. It introduces upper arms and a fourth link each side and blade-type longitudinal links whose twist actions supplement the springs. The springs are separated from the shock absorbers for more optimal positioning, which also adds boot room by allowing smaller wheelhouses. The ITB’s optimised geometry incorporates an element of passive rear steer to balance and refine the car’s natural understeer handling characteristics.

Elantra’s 23mm diameter front and 17mm rear stabilizer bars help reduce body roll when cornering, tuning its at-the-limit handling for maximum predictability.

Elantra’s rack and pinion steering assistance is a new EASS (Electric Assist Steering System) and is now driven by a brushless electric motor to minimise energy loss and lower parking speed effort. It is engine and road speed-sensitive and reads the driver’s steering wheel inputs and turning angle and acts on the steering column.

Front and rear disc brakes are larger at 275 mm and 262 mm respectively. The 40mm longer wheelbase reduces pitch while the wider wheel tracks translate into greater overall ride stability and enhanced balance.

Powertrains
New Elantra’s engine is a Series 3 variant of the 2.0 litre CVVT Beta twin cam, 16-valve four-cylinder powerplant used hitherto.

The ECU and CVVT are recalibrated to achieve SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) emission levels and to match lower gearing in both manual and auto new model variants.

The result is a win-win: more spritely acceleration and lower fuel usage, despite the lower gearing and unchanged maximum power and torque figures of 105kW at 6000rpm and 186Nm at 4600rpm.

ADR 81/01 comparative fuel usage is reduced 1.3 litres/100km to 7.8 l /100km in automatic Elantras while the manual is rated at 7.4 l /100km, a 0.7l/100km saving. Indicative acceleration 0 to 100km/h of the manual is 8.9 seconds and while this is just a tenth of a second less than before, the real difference is in the feel and response of Elantra’s through-the gears performance.

The automatic transmission has a new step gate shift lever which simplifies shifting. Revised programming and a slimmer, lighter torque converter and more efficient lock-up system help cut fuel consumption and smooth out changes.

The manual transmission improves durability and lowers NVH thanks to new ground-surface finished gears. A new change pattern relocates reverse at top left which is now accessed via a lift collar, ensuring snag free operation and avoiding interference with the handbrake lever.

Model Variants
Elantra SX leads off at $19,990* for the manual and $21,780* with Protectz Pack. Elantra SX automatic is $21,990* and $23,780 with Protectz. SX comes complete with pollen-filtering air-conditioning, ABS, power windows and door mirrors, remote entry with alarm, variable driver’s seat height, tilt steering wheel, deluxe centre console with armrest and bi-level concealed compartments, dual front airbags, active four-way adjustable front head restraints and 15″ wheels with trims.

Elantra SLX adds cruise control, front side and cabin side curtain airbags, fully automatic climate control, a leather insert transmission shift knob, rear centre head restraint, twin tweeter speakers, ambient temperature display, alloy-look dash inserts and a steering wheel with a leather rim, audio and cruise controls and which also adjusts for reach. Elantra SLX manual is $22,490* and with Protectz $23,480*, while the SLX automatic is $24,490* and $25,480 with Protectz.

Elantra Elite comes equipped with ESP and TCS, 16″ alloy wheels, front fog lights, trip computer, tinted glass, cloth door trim inserts and a luggage net for the boot floor. Elantra Elite manual is $24,990* and the automatic is $26,990*.

Elantra Elite S tops the range with a power tilt/slide sunroof and perforated soft leather trim for seat facings, door trim inserts and armrests and is priced at $28,990* as an automatic only.

Hyundai Accessories offer 17″ alloy wheels and reverse sensors among a plethora of options.

As with all Hyundai models, new Elantra owners will gain more than usual assurance from Hyundai’s long-established and the industry’s original continuously offered five-year / 130,000km new car warranty, a sure sign of the maker’s confidence in the excellence of its products.

The popularity in Australia of diesel engines has hit a new high with analysis by ACNielsen showing that 95 per cent of diesel owners would purchase a diesel-powered vehicle again.

Commissioned by BMW in order to evaluate customer experiences with diesel fuel, fuel stations and driving patterns, the survey of diesel customers found that high-performance engine characteristics along with exceptional fuel economy are the prime considerations for diesel buyers, followed closely by resale value.

“People are drawn to BMW diesel engines for their power and performance and of course, their excellent fuel economy,” said Tom Noble, General Manager Marketing at BMW Group Australia.

“This survey, which examined customer views on contemporary diesel driving experiences, highlights some very positive ownership experiences among the growing band of BMW diesel drivers,” he said.

The availability of diesel fuel, along with the presentation and cleanliness of fuel sites, were also evaluated in the online survey distributed to over 3,900 owners of the BMW X5 3.0d, the first diesel model introduced by the company in Australia.

Off-road with the BMW X5

Less than half of customers surveyed (43 per cent) described the presentation and cleanliness of fuel stations as good or excellent when filling their vehicle with diesel fuel.

Contrary to general opinion, men are more likely than women to be dissatisfied with the presentation and cleanliness at a fuel station.

However 75 per cent of owners report diesel fuel being generally or always available and more than half (66 per cent) tend to purchase diesel fuel at their preferred fuel station.

The survey also found that owners are most likely to do the majority of their driving in the city or an even mix between city and rural driving. At 73 per cent combined, this compares to just 27 percent of owners who classify their driving as mainly rural.

City drivers also drive fewer kilometres than rural drivers and are more likely to buy diesel from their preferred fuel station.

Whilst high-performance engine characteristics, fuel economy, and resale values were the most important factors in the purchase phase for the average diesel X5 buyer, the split between city drivers and rural drivers reveals some differences at the margins.

Rural drivers are more likely than city drivers to cite towing ability and vehicle power as a factor to purchase and city drivers in turn are more likely to cite environmental issues and the higher cost of fuel as a factor to purchase.

Confirming the popularity of the BMW X5 3.0d experience, 95 per cent of owners surveyed declared their intention to buy a diesel-powered vehicle when they next re-purchase. This figure rises to 97 per cent for owners who drive more than 20,000km per year.

BMW Group Australia introduced the diesel-powered X5 3.0d in 2003 and has delivered more than 4,700 examples since, putting the phenomenally successful, sporting and luxurious X5 in a clear leadership position.

The proportion of diesel-powered X5 sales continues to grow with the 3.0d model this year accounting for more than 65 per cent of total sales.

Today, BMW offers diesel engines in the 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series as well as the X5 and X3 Sport Activity Vehicles.

BMW Group Australia’s expansion of its diesel line-up has been the result of the availability of low-sulphur diesel that blends perfectly with the high-technology BMW diesel engines and the growth in demand for diesel power plants.

“BMW diesel technology boasts more advantages than just fuel efficiency,” said Tom.

“With their immense pulling power and a well-balanced delivery, modern BMW diesel engines play an important role in ensuring typical BMW driving dynamics and comfort,” he said.

The diesel survey was initiated by BMW Group Australia with an online questionnaire completed by purchasers of new BMW X5 3.0d vehicles. A response rate of almost 30 per cent was achieved and analysis of the data was conducted by ACNielsen.

A BMW X5 undgoes final checks before despatch from the BMW plant.

After another month of rising fuel prices, new model releases and rising interest rates the sales figures for August make for interesting reading.

Data supplied by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries

The popularity of electronic stability controls (ESC) in passenger motor vehicles is growing rapidly as the automotive industry makes the safety technology available on a wider selection of models.

Figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show that, during the first six months of the year, 20 per cent of all passenger cars and Sports Utility Vehicles sold were fitted with ESC.

“This is a heartening example of the trickle-down effect of new safety technologies in motor vehicles,” said the Chief Executive of the FCAI, Peter Sturrock.

“In a few short years ESC technology, which was considered cutting-edge and the preserve of a few very expensive prestige vehicles, has found relatively wide application on a variety of models and price points.”

ESC uses the computer-controlled individual braking of wheels to help restore a motor vehicle to the chosen cornering line in the event of loss of control by the driver.

The FCAI says its own survey of member car brands indicates that the ESC fitment rate for new sales of passenger cars and SUVs will approximately double over the next 12 months.

“As growing economies of scale bring the price of ESC down further we can expect many more cars to be fitted with it either as a standard or offered as an option,” said Mr Sturrock.

Mr Sturrock said industry production economies and market forces meant that the spread of ESC to lower-priced models was likely to follow the same path as anti-lock braking systems (ABS), which are now ubiquitous.

“It should be remembered that only 25 years ago ABS was first offered on a top-of-the-line luxury car as an option costing the equivalent of a Volkswagen Beetle,” he said.

“Today ABS is routinely fitted as standard to base-model light cars costing less than $15,000.

“Since ESC uses some of the components of an ABS system as its basis, logic suggests ESC will in due course find wide application on cars at almost all price points.”

Mr Sturrock said the automotive industry had consistently demonstrated its commitment to improving the primary and secondary safety of motor vehicles.

“Major motor vehicle brands spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on research into new safety technologies that go far beyond any current or foreseen safety legislations,” he said.

“The commitment of the auto industry to consumer safety should not be doubted.”

Australian motor vehicle sales dipped slightly in August as the effects of high fuel prices and rising interest rates combined to discourage some buyers from car showrooms.

Official VFACTS figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show that the market fell 5.2 per cent on last August and year-to-date sales are now down 3.4 per cent on the same period of 2005.

“After four years of record growth the FCAI had been forecasting a slight decline of total sales in 2006 and the downturn is only a little greater than our initial prediction,” said the FCAI’s Chief Executive, Peter Sturrock.

On present trends the industry will sell about 970,000 vehicles by year’s end compared with the FCAI’s forecast at the beginning of the year of 980,000 and a record 988,269 in 2005.

Peter Sturrock said the August results were notable for the strong debuts of two new locally manufactured models.

“The enthusiastic reception for the Holden Commodore and Toyota Camry is a great encouragement to the local automotive industry,” said Mr Sturrock.

Within the overall market, various segments are showing conflicting trends.

Sales of the smallest cars in the market continued to grow in August – the Light car segment registering a 31.4 per cent rise over the same month in 2005 – but the Small car segment was down slightly (1.3 per cent).

“As the interest rate rises take effect it is not only the fuel economy of a vehicle that buyers are considering but also the monthly repayment that would be required,” said Peter Sturrock.

The Light Truck market was down last month by 8.9 per cent but within that the Pick-up/Cab-Chassis 4×4 segment rose by 7.0 per cent.

The Sports Utility Vehicle market fell by 10.8 per cent in August and year-to-date is now down 7.4 per cent.

“Fuel economy is clearly the issue affecting SUV sales and it is notable that within that market the sales of Small SUVs are less affected,” said Peter Sturrock.

Toyota was Australia’s bestselling vehicle brand in August with a 22.8 per cent share of the market, ahead of Holden (14.5 per cent) and Ford (12.6 per cent).