Aussie Motoring

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has revealed the first design sketches of its next new model. Known as RR4, the car is due to be launched in 2010 and will sit alongside the Phantom model line-up. RR4 will be smaller than Phantom and powered by a new engine, unique to Rolls-Royce.

The design was signed off in 2007 and engineering development is now fully underway. The Goodwood manufacturing facilities are being completely reconfigured to accommodate the RR4, with extended paint, wood and leather shops as well as a second assembly line. The company will move to a two shift system next year as it gears up for full production of the new model.

Chief designer, Ian Cameron, said, “Effortless performance and standard-setting levels of comfort and efficiency, executed with the utmost care and attention, remain fundamentals of Rolls-Royce design. The RR4 has a more informal presence than the Phantom models with a greater emphasis on driving. In design terms this is expressed through its slightly smaller dimensions and more organic form, yet with powerful, purposeful proportions. It is a true and uncompromising Rolls-Royce in every sense.”

“RR4 will mark a milestone in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars”, Chairman, Ian Robertson added. “The business continues to go from strength to strength and the introduction of this new model will expand the appeal of the brand. We look forward to this next chapter with anticipation and confidence.”

… whether I want one or it’s just a pile of ugly American metal

http://twitxr.com/image/50838/

That’s the message from the Queensland Minister for Sustainability and it’s likely to be coming some time in the next 10 years.

According to the Minister we shouldn’t be getting our hopes up about hybrid fuels and electric power either because the infrastructure needed to cope with a switch to alternate fuels just isn’t there. It’s unusual for any politician to paint such a grim picture without offering some hope of a magic wand that will cure all the hassles that fuel rationing will create so perhaps this is a message that is worth heeding.

You can read the full story in today’s Courier Mail by following this link.

In the meantime we can expect the cost of fuel to go on rising … in the UK yesterday it cost the equivalent of $A96 to fill the tank of a Mini.

As Duncan - an Aussie who runs an interesting tech blog - says, “I’m not sure … if they’re legitimate …” but they sure would make you think if you ran over them. The perfect advertising for a car suspension system.

But let’s face it, if you’re going to hit a hole like the these represent then absolutely nothing is going to ease the pain.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the Australian new car market was existing on some other planet besides this one. I mean we’re sliding into a recession and money is becoming tight … but the new car market continues to boom month after month and April was no exception.

Australian motor vehicle sales achieved an all time April record, with car buyers apparently still undeterred by recent rises in interest rates.

Official VFACTS figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show that a total of 84,061 cars, trucks and buses were sold last month: an increase of 11.2 per cent on April 2007.

“While the April result was boosted by the early timing of Easter, which fell in March, the underlying sales trend remains notably strong and resilient,” said the Chief Executive of the FCAI, Andrew McKellar.

Year-to-date the car market is now up by 5.1 per cent on the all-time record year of 2007.

“Private motorists are buying cars at the same rate as last year (up 0.6 per cent YTD) and business purchases have risen by 12.6 per cent so far this year,” he said.

“The FCAI forecast of one million vehicle sales this year remains firm,” said Mr McKellar.

The main drivers of market growth last month were small cars, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and Light Trucks.

In the Passenger Vehicle Market, the small car segment rose by 3603 vehicle or 24.0 per cent over April last year, while the medium car segment (up 755 or 11.4 per cent) and the light car segment (up 505 of 5.3 per cent) also contributed.

The Light Truck market grew by 3077 or 22.6 per cent, with the Pick-up/Cab-chassis (PU/CC) 4×4 and PU/CC 4×2 segments adding 1403 and 922 sales respectively.

The van segment also grew by 686 vehicles or 42.7 per cent.

Toyota remained the top-selling marque in April with 24.8 per cent of the market, followed by Holden with 12.1 per cent and Ford with 9.8 per cent.

So far this year Toyota leads the sales race with 81,062 from Holden with 44,037 and Ford with 34,533.

Based on a design that was first displayed 30 years ago the BMW M1 Homage is enough to make any car enthusiast drool.

More photos and details are here on the BMW M1 page at Aussie Motoring.

… to be built in Australia?

A report in today’s Melbourne Age suggests that the prospect of Toyota’s Altona plant becoming the regional production base for the slightly green Toyota Camry are looking good.

You can read the full report here