Archive for November, 2006

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Ajax Fasteners in Receivership

It’s the end of the line for 180 workers in Melbourne
Back in August Ajax Fasteners was in the news for all the wrong reasons. The company supplied nuts and bolts used in various sub-assemblies in the cars produced by Ford and Holden.
At that time an administrator was appointed and the big manufacturers offered a short-term [...]

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Driving Under the Influence – of Drugs

How many cars did you pass today? The odds are that four out of every hundred cars you passed was driven by someone under the influence of drugs.
Earlier this year the Queensland Government conducted secret tests on 2000 drivers and found that 1 in ever 25 drivers was under the influence of drugs. Research in [...]

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Build Your Own Toyota Camry

Now you don’t even have to go to the showroom to choose what you want
With four Toyota Camry models to choose from optioning the model that suits your personal needs can be a bit hard.
You know what it’s like, the salesman wants to sell you every option he can possibly think of and you’re [...]

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High-Beam Assist Sheds Light on Night Driving in Australia

Do you find that switching high beam on and off such a nuisance that you don’t use it?
One of BMW’s cheaper options is also a safety device that could make night driving safer and less tiring.
High-Beam Assist, an intelligent new technology feature for the BMW 3 Series that automatically activates and deactivates the high beam, [...]

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A Century for the Designer of an English Icon

Perhaps he should have played cricket for the Poms
Sir Alec Issigonis, designer of the post war Morris Minor and world-famous Mini, was born 100 years ago today, 18 November 1906. Originally from Smyrna, Turkey, a young Alec Issigonis moved to England in 1922 after his Greek father died.

Photo courtesty of Arno Schwithal
He lived with his [...]

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Lock Up Your Catalytic Converters

People are stealing them right off your cars

Catalytic converters are part of your exhaust system, they help reduce the amount of toxic emissions your car puts into the air and here in Australia they are required by law.
In America they seem to have become hot property and people right across the country are finding that [...]

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Those Mitsubishi Rumours 2

It’s not going to happen
The head of Mitsubishi in Japan has assured the federal Industry Minister and the South Australian Deputy Premier that Mitsubishi has no plans to shut down its assembly plant in South Australia.
But stay tuned, I’m sure there will be more because sales of the 380 – the car that was [...]

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Job Cuts at Holden

First it was Ford and now Holden is shedding staff
Holden announced yesterday that they would be cutting 200 positions from their engine assembly plant in Melbourne before Christmas.
Earlier this year the plant, which produces a four cylinder engine mainly for export, was operating at full capacity but since August demand for the engine has [...]

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Those Mitsubishi Rumours Just Won’t go Away

Despite the denials it does not look good
Several months ago the ABC broke the news that Mitsubishi was looking at plans to shut down their production lines in Adelaide. Of course that brought a flood of denials from Mitsubishi and the government.
Then the ABC broke the story again when they had further information and [...]

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Motor Vehicle Recalls

There are more than you think
With the second recall of the new VE Commodore you might be thinking that Holden have a real problem with their new cars. Surely there shouldn’t be that many recalls in a matter of just a few months for a new car but you might be surprised to know that [...]

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The Bugatti Veyron

If the name doesn’t mean much to you then just think of the world’s fastest production sports car
Meet a production sports car with a top speed that’s only limited by the tyres. That’s right, with the best tyres that Bugatti can find they’ve wound the Bugatti Veyron up to around 405 km/h and there’s still [...]

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Holden Recalls More VE and WM Series Commodores

11,584 VE and WM sedans and wagons to be recalled
This recall affects all VE and WM model Commodores built prior to 11 September 2006 because of a potential problem with rear seatbelt buckles. A spring within the assembly could be bent and this may cause the belt to release when in use.
Holden says that owners [...]

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High Visibility Police Cars

Some drivers will still never see them
Queensland Police is about to trial two high visibility general duties police cars following a promise made by the Beattie Government to maximise the visibility of marked police cars to serve as a deterrent to motorists.
Police Minister Judy Spence said the first two prototypes of the new high visibility [...]

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Motor Vehicle Market Rebounds in October

But obviously not in time to help Ford
Motor vehicle sales in Australia have rebounded over the last month thanks to surging demand for light cars and encouraging sales of family sedans and sports utility vehicles (SUVs).
VFACTS results released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show that October sales were up 5.0 per [...]

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Ford Australia Slashes Production and Jobs

Three weeks ago while the spotlight was on Mitsubishi and the leaked plan to close their assembly line here in Australia Ford Australia quietly announced that it would be reducing production at its plants in Victoria.
Today it has announced that it wants to reduce its workforce by around 600 before Christmas and has urged [...]