Aussie Motoring

There are plenty of new models due out in Australia this year. Perhaps the one that will arouse the most interest is the new Ford Falcon model scheduled for release in May. Of course there are some photos of the new model already out there on the Net thanks to Ford who decided to release a few themselves.

Holden seem intent on stealing some of Falcon’s thunder by releasing a new station wagon during May. The new wagon will be smaller than the Commodore wagon which will be phased out when the new wagon arrives.

We can also expect a new Peugot 308 hatch during February. Nissan will also be releasing a 4 cylinder SUV during February but it won’t be coming from Japan. Instead the Dualis will be manufactured in Great Britain.

A new Subaru Imprezza and a Lancer Evo are also due with the Imprezza coming in February and the Evo in March. And if we didn’t have enough big cars of our own and more coming in from Europe then the Cadillac CTS may find a few buyers when it arrives sometime towards the end of the year.

And if big gas guzzling American monsters and smaller but just as thirsty SUVs aren’t your style then you only have to wait until March when a new version of the Fiat 500 arrives. But don’t be fooled into thinking that this Fiat 500 will be cheap … the starting price is expected to be well over the $20k mark.

And you can find more information on the new cars arriving in Australia here.

With the release of the BMW V8 M3 convertible also came the release of BMW’s new M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic.

BMW claims that the new transmission providces faster and smoother shifting and even more fuel economy and when you see the figures released for the V8 M3 then it’s hard not to believe those claims.

The new transmission offers as many as eleven driver-selectable electronically controlled driving program choices. These include five shift programs in the fully automatic mode and six in manual mode, and are supplemented by a selectable Launch Control program that provides blistering off-the-line acceleration where the power from the 309 kW, 4.0-litre V8 M3 engine is transferred with maximum effect to the road.

The heart of the new BMW transmission is the double clutch system that acts to smooth out gearshifts to the point that they are often only discernible by watching the rise and fall of engine rpm on the M3’s tachometer.
Each oil-cooled wet clutch activates its own set of ratios - one is used for first, third, fifth and seventh gears, as well as reverse, while the other looks after second, fourth and sixth gears.

Gearshifts are effected by the disengagement of one clutch and the engagement of the other, moving seamlessly from the ratio in use to the next, preselected ratio. The fact that the next ratio is preselected and engaged merely by activation of the clutch is the secret behind the smooth and efficient transition from gear to gear.

The new M double-clutch transmission also incorporates a Low Speed Assistant mode that operates when manoeuvring at speeds less than 5 km/h to significantly increase the smoothness and degree of accelerator control available to the driver.

Gradient detection also means that the new M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic is able to determine the appropriate ratios when travelling up or down hills.

This avoids the “hunting” between gears so often experienced in regular automatics when travelling on undulating roads, while the appropriate selection of lower gears on downhill gradients helps maintain road speed by using the braking power of the engine.

In fully automatic D mode, the driver can select from five Drivelogic programmes that regulate both the gearshift speeds and the change points right through to the D5 mode where the engine is stretched close to its maximum rpm - depending on throttle position - on upshifts. In D1 mode, the M3 with M double-clutch transmission is able to start off in second gear to help avoid wheelspin in slippery conditions.

In manual mode, six different Drivelogic programmes allow a similar range of characteristics, with the added driver control provided by the ability to choose shift points manually. In S6 mode, the drive can also activate launch control by holding the shift lever in the forward position.

BMW have unveiled the new M3 convertible and it’s definitely one very hot looking machine. Powered by a 4 litre 309 kW V8 and fitted with BMW’s new seven speed double-clutch tranmission the M3 will acccelerate from zero to 100km/h in 5.1 seconds. And despite all that grunt it will still return 12.3 litres per 100km.

The braking system, like that of the M3 Coupé, comprises vented, cross-drilled discs at front and rear, designed to minimise weight while minimising thermal loads under heavy use.

The M3 Convertible is fitted with dual front and head-thorax side airbags as well as central safety electronics that control the restraint systems, including a roll bar behind the rear seats that is automatically activated in the event of a rollover. The driver is able to choose from three selectable control maps in the optional EDC Electronic Damper Control system that enable the M3 Convertible to adapt to a wide variety of driving conditions.

The M3 Convertible’s three-piece lightweight steel roof opens or retracts in 22 seconds to provide the best of both worlds in a structure offering extremely high standards of torsional stiffness and passenger safety.

The upgraded interior is available with a wide range of customisation options, innovative colours and materials and an optional BMW Individual High End audio system with a nine-channel amplifier and 16 high-power speakers.

Only the doors, three-piece steel roof, boot lid, windows and rear lights are interchangeable with other 3 Series Convertibles.

If you were in India it would buy you the standard version of the Tata Nano when it is released for sale later this year. For that price you would get a four-door, five-seat sedan powered by a 623cc rear-mounted engine.

The Nano will also be available in a luxury version … and Tata are looking at the possibility of exporting it to other countries.

With a top speed of 105km/h perhaps we’re seeing a cult vehicle for the cities.

A frayed fuel hose that could result in a fuel leak that could then lead to a fire has encouraged Holden to issue a recall notice for VE and WM model Holden Commodores.

This recall involves an extensive number of vehicles across a range of Vehicle Identification Numbers. Those involved fall within the following ranges:

VE Model.
6G1E######L000001 to 6G1E######L130299.
6G1E######L554668 to 6G1E######L563931.
6G1E######L814193 to 6G1E######L983864.

WM Model.
6G1M######L000080 to 6G1M######L129470.
6G1M######L550614 to 6G1M######L563928.
6G1M######L814190 to 6G1M######L983785.

Hash (#) represents an alpha or numeric character not relevant to determining affected vehicles.

Several media outlets indicated that owners should return their vehicles to the nearest Holden dealer but the official recall notice states:

Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by letter requesting that they contact a Holden Dealer of their choice for inspection and rectification. Further information is available from your Holden Dealer Service Department or the Holden Recall Advice Line on 1800 632 826 between 8am to 7pm EST Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm EST Saturday.

Is it possible to survive in your car if you’re caught in a bushfire?

A recent study has found that temperatures inside a car can reach anything up to 300C as a bushfire passes over and survival in those temperatures is just about impossible. And when you realise that the interior of the car can also fill with toxic fumes from melting components things begin to look very bleak for anyone caught in a bushfire.

But they’re not quite as bleak as you might think … there is some hope of survival if you don’t panic and happen to have the right equipment. And all that ‘right equipment’ consists of is a woollen blanket.

To read more about the study conducted by the CSIRO and what the way to survive such an event go here

For the first time Ford has dropped behind Toyota in sales of motor vehicles in the United States.

Now let’s see how long it takes Toyota to overtake General Motors.

Meanwhile Toyota has now opened a production facility in Russia.

Australians have for the first time bought more than one million motor vehicles in a single calendar year.

VFACTS sales figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show that 1,049,982 cars, trucks and buses were sold in 2007 – an increase of 87,316 or 9.1 percent over 2006.

The previous record total of 988,269 was set in 2005.

“One million new motor vehicles sales in a country of 21 million people is an impressive achievement by the Australian automotive industry – and ranks as one of the highest rates of new car purchase in the developed world,” said FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar.

Mr McKellar said the market growth in 2007 was the continuation of a trend that has seen car sales expand by 277,000 vehicles or 35 per cent since 2001.

“The Australian motor vehicle market has now grown in six out of the last seven years, driven by the strength of the labour market, rising asset values and improving vehicle affordability,” said Mr McKellar.

The 2007 result was further boosted by record December sales of 86,250 – up 9,187 or 11.9 per cent on December 2006.

FCAI believes that the Australian motor vehicle market will remain strong in coming months and is forecasting a total of 1,000,000 sales in 2008.

“Last year the motor vehicle market grew at approximately twice the rate of the economy as a whole,” said Andrew McKellar.

“Although economic fundamentals remain strong and consumer confidence is proving to be robust, we think future growth will be more closely aligned with trends in overall domestic demand.”

For the 12th year in a row Holden Commodore was Australia’ s best-selling motor vehicle in 2007 with 57,307 sales.

Toyota Corolla maintained its second place with 47,792 and – in a reflection of the importance of the light commercial vehicle market – Toyota’ s HiLux was third with 42,009 sales.

Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and Light Commercial vehicles were major contributors to overall market growth.

Of the more than 87,000 additional sales last year, 27,329 were SUVs and 15,052 were 4×4 Pick-ups.

The SUV market grew by 16.0 per cent – a significant rebound in fortunes after contracting in 2006 – while the 4×4 Pick-up segment grew by 22.3 percent.

Other major contributors to market growth were Small cars, which were up 13,030 sales or 5.9 per cent and Light cars – up 11,805 or 10.2 per cent.

Small cars remained easily the largest volume segment of the market with 232,388 sales, ahead of Large cars which, with 139,677 sales, grew by 3154 or 2.3 per cent.

“The 2007 figures show it would be far too simplistic to conclude, as some have, that there is a general move by Australian consumers to smaller cars,” said Andrew McKellar.

“While sales of smaller cars have been growing strongly, in 2007 sales of SUVs and 4×4 Pick-ups grew even faster.”

For the fifth year in a row, Toyota was the best-selling in brand in 2007 with a 22.5 per cent share of the total market.

Holden came second with 14.0 per cent and Ford was third with 10.3 per cent.