John Mellor’s GoAuto News · four-wheel ‘active’ steering (4WAS), along with sports-tuned...
Transcript of John Mellor’s GoAuto News · four-wheel ‘active’ steering (4WAS), along with sports-tuned...
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March 23, 2011 No. 573
GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
Australia’s No.1 Automotive Industry Journal 70,000 Readers Weekly
PROTECTION FROM THE MOMENT YOU TURN THE KEY.
Infi niti locked inNissan luxury brand to launch in September 2012 with FX, G37 and M line-up
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISNISSAN has committed to relaunching
its Infi niti luxury brand in Australia by
September next year, initially in the form of
a three-model attack that aims to muscle in
on Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Lexus and
other premium brands.
Following Toyota’s Lexus division as the
second dedicated Japanese luxury brand
on sale here, Nissan’s prestige marque is
expected to fare better than it did the fi rst
short-lived time around in 1991-93 by
launching in Australia with FX mid-size
SUV, G37 mid-size coupe and convertible,
and M-series large sedan models.
Led by Nissan Australia chief executive
Dan Thompson, who is also now Infi niti
Cars Australia CEO, the new management
team refused to discuss sales aspirations
for the brand at yesterday’s Australian
announcement, but said there should be no
restrictions on vehicle supplies from Japan.
The cars will be sold through ‘exclusive’
standalone dealerships in Melbourne, Sydney
and Brisbane, to be called Infi niti Centres.
These may or may not be part of
an existing Nissan franchise, with the
company saying it had commenced “formal
discussions with a number of outstanding
automotive retailers, who share a passion
for premium cars and outstanding customer
service, to join the brand as the inaugural
retail partners in 2012”.
Mr Thompson revealed Infi niti’s planned
return to Australia a year ago on the 370Z
Roadster launch, emphasising that global
representation was part of the brand’s
GT2012 (Growth and Trust 2012) strategy.
“As part of Infi niti’s worldwide
expansion, Australia is a mandatory next
step for the luxury brand,” Mr Thompson
said this week.
“In a little more than a year, the promise of
luxury vehicles with a unique combination of
inspired performance, attentive hospitality
and unparalleled quality will become a
reality for the Australian market.”
The company said it was in the process of
assembling a “team of professionals from
luxury consumer goods and automotive
backgrounds who are experts in delivering
an outstanding luxury brand experience”.
The new management team includes
former Saab Automobile sales and
marketing executive Kevin Snell as general
manager, ex-Swatch Group member
Andrew Millar as sales and marketing
manager, and former AWB Landmark
executive Nick Parkington as national
retail performance manager.
Former BMW Group executive Mark
Grier has been appointed manager for
digital marketing and customer relations,
while ex-Mercedes-Benz executive Zac
Loo has taken on the role of product and
sales planning manager.
Further appointments will be announced
closer to the brand’s relaunch.
The Japanese-built prestige and luxury
vehicles will be marketed using an ‘Inspired
Performance’ catchcry.
Under the Infi niti Financial Services
brand, Nissan Australia’s fi nance arm will
also be a key asset in helping establish the
marque in this country.Continued next page
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March 23, 2011 Page 2
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
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Continued from previous pageThe models coming next year are being
dictated, to some degree, according to where
each is within its respective lifecycle.
Arguably the most important at launch for
Infi niti in Australia is the FX, a mid-sized
luxury SUV that will directly target Lexus’
volume-selling RX and is based on the FM
(Front Midship) architecture that currently
underpins the Nissan 370Z sportscar.
A rear-drive-based platform, FM has been
designed for balanced front-to-rear weight
distribution. To that end, the FX’s doors and
bonnet are fashioned from aluminium to
save weight.
Two Euro 5 emissions-compliant petrol
engines will be offered initially – a 247kW
3.7-litre DOHC V6 for the FX37 and a 290kW
5.0-litre V8 for the FX50 – driving either the
rear or all four wheels (depending on model
variant) via a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
The 175kW/550Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel
FXD is still to be confi rmed.
Top-level technologies include Infi niti’s
‘Intelligent AWD’ system that can channel
between zero and 50 per cent of torque to
the front wheels, radar-controlled cruise
control, lane-departure prevention, a blind-
spot warning device, and 360-degree camera
monitoring to aid parking.
Suspension is via double wishbones up
front and a multi-link design at the rear.
Meanwhile, the M-series will take on the
BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-class, Audi
A6 and Lexus GS, with a number of variants
using a single four-door body style as its base.
Also based on the FM architecture, the
M offers the same suspension and rear/
AWD drivetrains and will feature similar
powertrains, including the aforementioned
247kW 3.7-litre V6 in the M37 and the 3.0-
litre turbo-diesel in the M30d.
However, the M-series will also feature
a 313kW 5.6-litre V8 for the M56, while
the M35h Hybrid – Nissan’s fi rst in-house
hybrid – leverages a 3.5-litre V6 and electric
motor for claimed V8-like performance
(261kW) and four-cylinder economy (8.1
litres per 100km).
Most of the FX’s hi-tech gizmos are
M-bound, but the slippery (0.26Cd for
M35h) sedan goes one better than its SUV
stablemate by offering a Sport Package with
four-wheel ‘active’ steering (4WAS), along
with sports-tuned suspension, ‘Sport Brakes’
and 20-inch alloy wheels.
Finally for now is the G37 – another
FM-platform vehicle – that has been around in
its current guise since 2007 as a coupe and 2009
as a convertible. A V36-generation vehicle, it is
also sold as the Nissan Skyline range in Japan.
Fresh from a mid-cycle facelift last year,
the G37 uses a 250kW 3.7-litre V6 petrol
engine mated to either a six-speed manual or
seven-speed automatic. Whether this is the
drivetrain combination slated for Australia
remains to be seen.
Infi niti Cars Australia will eventually
roll out a whole swag of new models to
complement the launch range.
Perhaps most pressing will be the
introduction of an all-important competitor
for the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-class,
Audi A4 and Lexus IS.
Already available abroad as the G37
sedan, it is thought that Infi niti Australia is
waiting on the next-generation version to
surface. But that probably will not be due
until 2013 at the earliest.
Also on the wish list is the EX, a smaller
SUV sibling to the FX crossover that is
expected to be in the Audi Q5 mould. Whether
we see the current J50 series that debuted in
2007 or the next-generation version due in
about two years’ time is unknown.
An Infi niti hatchback to take on the BMW 1
Series, Audi A3 and Lexus CT200h is also on
the drawing board. It was previewed in Etherea
concept car form – a supercharged 2.5-litre
four-door coupe with fi ve-door practicality –
at the Geneva motor show earlier this month.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – page 7, 8, 13-14, 21
Infi niti locked inInfi niti locked in
Etherea
March 23, 2011 Page 3
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Hyundai’s radical coupe arrives in Sydney ahead of launch later this year
Veloster hits AustraliaVeloster hits Australia
By HAITHAM RAZAGUISYDNEY’S Circular Quay and world-
famous Opera House were the backdrop for
the fi rst public showing of Hyundai’s radical,
concept-made-reality Veloster coupe outside
of a motor show, with two production-ready
examples on display last Sunday beside the
glittering harbour of Australia’s oldest city.
Hyundai announced that its Accent-based
Coupe will go on sale in Australia by the
end of this year, debuting for the brand
both an all-new 1.6-litre direct-injection
petrol engine and six-speed dual-clutch
transmission.
And, having decided that only vehicles
specifi cally developed with the European
market in mind will receive an i-prefi xed
numerical designation, the South Korean
automotive giant revealed the Veloster will
retain the name from the original concept
that debuted at the Seoul show in 2007 rather
than take on the expected i15 moniker.
No exact launch date, pricing or
specifi cation levels were announced, but
the world’s fi fth-largest car company said
Australian-delivered Velosters will have
their suspension and steering tuned to suit
local road conditions and will carry high
levels of safety equipment, including a
sophisticated new stability control system
and a “full complement of airbags”.
Hyundai said Veloster will offer value
for money and be targeted at the youth
market, but could not yet provide any early
indications of price.
The Veloster challenges the conventional
wisdom that symmetry is beauty, for it is
wilfully asymmetrical, having two doors
on the passenger side and a single driver’s
door that is longer than the corresponding
passenger-side door. Despite this, because
it is diffi cult to view both sides of the car
at once and the rear passenger door has an
Alfa-style concealed doorhandle, the design
makes sense in the fl esh.
Unlike the Mini Clubman, which also
has an asymmetrical door design – albeit
an RX-8 style rear-hinged ‘suicide’ door
that requires the driver’s door to be opened
fi rst – the Veloster’s conventionally hinged
individual doors will be re-engineered for
right-hand drive markets.
Hyundai claims this bold and unusual
layout, which attempts to combine the
style and excitement of a coupe with the
practicality of a hatch, perfectly embodies
its new corporate slogan of “new thinking,
new possibilities”.
The two Korean-spec Velosters were
presented to the media outside the Opera
House as part of Hyundai’s sponsorship of
the YouTube Symphony Orchestra event,
the grand fi nale of which was held on
Sunday night.
Several women at the event expressed
enthusiasm for the coupe, describing it as
sexy, funky, sporty and sleek while praising
the practicality of the rear door and a more
spacious than expected interior.
While the Veloster exhibits its own brand
of Hyundai’s ‘fl uidic sculpture’ design
language at the front, from the side and
rear it recalls the Alfa Romeo Brera and
Renault Megane RS250. Short overhangs
and muscular-looking curves further add to
the suggestion of sporting intent.
The Veloster is strictly a four-seater, with
a cup-holder space between the rear seats.
A rear passenger sitting behind the driver
must slide across the bench to exit, making
sure that on both entry and exit they are not
obstructed by a beverage container.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREHyundai’s new quartet – next page
March 23, 2011 Page 4
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Four new models set for 2011 launch as Hyundai mulls i40 sedan position
Hyundai’s new quartetHyundai’s new quartet
By HAITHAM RAZAGUIHYUNDAI’S new Veloster coupe will cap
four new models joining the South Korean
company’s Australian line-up this year, with
the European-developed i40 mid-sized wagon
and the new-generation Accent and Elantra
sedans all confi rmed for local launch.
The groundbreaking Veloster, which
received its fi rst public airing outside of a
motor show in Sydney at the weekend, will
arrive at the end of the year, just after the
new i40 wagon.
The Accent and Elantra – sedan
counterparts for the light-sized i20 and
successful i30 small hatch – will arrive in
quick succession in the third quarter.
However, these new sedans will retain the
global Accent and Elantra names, eschewing
the ‘i’ moniker system attached to other
Hyundais launched locally in recent years,
as will the Veloster.
All models feature the ‘fl uidic sculpture’
design language that debuted last year with
the ix35 SUV and i45 mid-size sedan.
The i40 wagon – which emerged in
production form at the Geneva motor show
earlier this month – will complement the
related i45 sedan and compete head-on with
wagon versions of the Ford Mondeo, Mazda6
and upcoming new Volkswagen Passat.
Benchmarked against the Passat and
European Toyota Avensis, the i40 will have a
more premium fi t, fi nish and feel than the i45.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia
(HMCA) senior manager for product
planning Roland Rivero told GoAuto that the
as-yet-unrevealed i40 sedan variant, which is
expected to take styling cues from the 2010
i-fl ow Geneva concept, could later join the
wagon and be sold alongside the i45 similar
to Honda’s Accord/Accord Euro line-up.
“There is an i40 sedan for the European
market, but we’ve got to study it from our
end as I’m mindful of where i45 is,” said Mr
Rivero. “The i45’s been pretty successful for
us, so we’ve got to be careful of incremental
volume versus cannibalisation.
“If we do bring in the i40 sedan I’ll aim
to make sure it is a rationalised situation
in which I can get incremental models and
perhaps that could work in an environment
whereby the sedan acts like the Accord Euro
to the Accord.”
While no line-up, specifi cation or engine
details will be revealed until closer to the
time of launch, GoAuto has previously
reported that the European i40 wagon’s
engine line-up will include a new 1.7-litre
diesel engine reportedly offered in two
states of tune and emitting a low 113 grams
per kilometre of CO2.
The option of a diesel powerplant no doubt
will add to the appeal of Hyundai’s mid-
size offering in Australia as the local market
becomes increasingly fond of the fuel.
Mr Rivero said the i40 would “feature
all-new technologies never seen before on
a Hyundai product or for that matter, on our
competitors in the medium segment” but
would not be drawn on what these might be.Continued next page
i40 wagon
Accent
March 23, 2011 Page 5
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This position requires a highly committed commercial vehicles professional, with an extensive record in fi rst-class service management delivery, excellent communication skills, sound time management and organisational skills combined with a strong customer focus and the ability to create a positive working environment. In addition the successful candidate will have excellent leadership skills and a proven track record in developing successful teams in a retail transport industry service department.
Please email details confi dentially to [email protected] or via fax on (03) 9566 9268.
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Do you want to take service to the next level?
By HAITHAM RAZAGUIIMPORTING the diminutive, Indian-built
i10 light car to Australia appears to be a plan
B strategy for Hyundai, which on Sunday
unveiled plans to launch four new models
by the end of the year – none of which are
a direct replacement for the brand’s second-
best selling model, the Getz light car, which
has already ceased production.
The classy new light-segment Accent
and small Elantra sedans, Euro-centric
i40 wagon and the radical Veloster coupe
all serve to take Hyundai’s brand image
upmarket, which would render the i10
budget runabout a bit of a misfi t in the
repositioned range.
However, the fact remains that having no
direct Getz replacement poses the risk of
losing light-segment market share and overall
sales volume in the short to medium term.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia
(HMCA) senior manager for product planning
Roland Rivero told GoAuto: “It’s always a
balancing act between our desires for market
share as well as the brand and volume.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
‘Modern premium’ ethos pushes i10 to backburner
i10
Hyundai’s quartetHyundai’s quartet
Continued from previous pageThe active demist system that automatically
detects and clears mist from the windscreen
as featured on the i40 Geneva show car is one
likely candidate for class-fi rst technology.
Mr Rivero simply offered that Hyundai was
aiming to have at least one segment-fi rst
feature on each model it
launched.
Hyundai provided no
indicative pricing for the i40
wagon, but Mr Rivero said
Hyundai anticipated it will
be marginally higher than
the i45 price, “taking into account of course
that there is a wagon premium as well”.
“It will carry even more premium features
than the i45 on top of the attention to detail
and quality of the product, the fi t and
fi nishes,” he said.
Mindful of the fact that its second-
biggest seller – the Getz light car – is
out of production and stocks will dry up
mid-year, Hyundai will attempt to drive
light volume with the Accent sedan and
possibly a diesel-engined i20, for which the
company has received Australian Design
Rule certifi cation.
Replacing its slow-selling namesake, the
new Elantra will not be named i35 as expected,
due to a new global naming strategy. Models
designed primarily for
Europe receive the i-prefi xed
model designations while
vehicles for the general and
North American markets will
continue with names.
The strategy leaves
Australia in an odd position when it comes
to naming, as Hyundai’s local outpost cherry-
picks available right-hand drive models
from all markets to suit Australia’s unique
automotive landscape.
As a result, Australian-delivered Hyundais
will be badged with a confusing mix of
‘i-series’ and noun-based nomenclature.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
WHAT’S COMING:Accent sedan July
Elantra sedan Aug
i40 wagon Nov
Veloster coupe Dec
Elantra
March 23, 2011 Page 6
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Ford says Falcon LPI and facelift on track but 4-cyl sales delayed until 2012
‘There is no problem’‘There is no problem’
Current Falcon
By MARTON PETTENDYFORD Australia says it has deliberately
delayed the introduction of its ground-
breaking EcoBoost Falcon amid a bottleneck
of global engineering projects to provide
maximum exposure for the release of its fi rst
four-cylinder large car.
While the turbo-four Falcon will become
available later than expected in January
or February following the traditional
Christmas holiday period, Ford has revealed
the new-generation Liquid Phase Injection
(LPI) LPG system for its Falcon will go
on sale earlier than expected in July, while
the updated 2012 Falcon continues to be on
target for release in September or October.
Last week, Ford announced the availability
of Australia’s fi rst EcoBoost engine – in this
case a lower-output version of the 2.0-litre
turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder
engine that Ford said would become available
alongside the new LPI engine in the Falcon
this year – in the Mondeo by mid-2011.
In the same press release, Ford said the
turbo-four Mondeo would mark the fi rst of
a number of EcoBoost engine applications
in Australia, including the introduction
of a more powerful version in the Falcon
EcoBoost “over the next 12 months”,
leading to reports that Ford’s landmark four-
cylinder Falcon had been delayed.
Ford has since confi rmed the Falcon
EcoBoost’s offi cial release may not take place
until February 1, but insists the later on-sale
date is not the result of any technical or
production delay and follows Ford’s decision
to launch the vital new and more fuel-effi cient
Falcon after – rather than immediately before
– the Christmas/holiday period.
“There is no problem,” said Ford Australia
public affairs director Sinead McAlary. “It
is simply a launch issue. There is no point
launching a signifi cant new technology in the
lead-up to Christmas and the holiday period
because nobody is interested at that time.
“Falcon LPI will be launched in July,
Falcon freshening activity will take place
either late in the third quarter or early in
the fourth and Falcon EcoBoost was always
going to be launched very late this year
because we can’t do everything at once.”
Ms McAlary said Ford may still launch
Falcon EcoBoost in December as planned,
but had now decided to postpone production
and retail sales of the model until after its
traditional Christmas plant shut-down in
December/January.
GoAuto understands the move aims
to maximise initial sales of the Falcon
EcoBoost to both private and business
buyers, many of which do not return to the
market until February, and Ford says the less
compromised LPG system will allow it to
target more retail buyers than it previously
has with LPG-powered Falcon models.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERERanger aero work – page 23
March 23, 2011 Page 7
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Te lephone: (02) 9957 4182Emai l : aust ra l ia@cour land .com
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Nissan’s Leaf EV to use Australian components as casting factory fi ghts back
Aussie parts to drive LeafAussie parts to drive Leaf
By RON HAMMERTONAUSTRALIAN parts made in a Victorian
factory that was perilously close to being
shut forever just nine months ago will help
to drive Nissan’s ground-breaking Leaf
electric car for global markets.
Three aluminium castings using a new
Australian-developed hi-tech process at Nissan
Casting Plant in Dandenong, Victoria, will be
exported at the rate of 22,000 a month to three
Nissan plants assembling the new Leaf – the
world’s fi rst mass-produced full-electric fi ve-
door hatchback – from early next year.
The $21 million project – partly funded
by a $3.3 million grant from the federal
government’s now-defunct Green Car
Innovation Fund – will generate $160 million
in export earnings over the next fi ve years and
help to secure the factory and its 145 jobs.
The three castings for the Nissan Leaf’s
electric inverter and its accompanying
cooling system – and a fourth casting that is
yet to be announced – are critical components
of the drivetrain of the EV that is due to go
on sale in Australia in early 2012 as part of a
global rollout that started in Japan last year.
The Corolla-sized Nissan Leaf has a range
of up to 170km, driven by an 80kW/280Nm
electric motor powered by advanced lithium-
ion batteries.
The imported hatch is set to join the
smaller Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Tesla Roadster
and locally converted EVs from Blade
Electric Vehicles and Energetique.
Announcing the deal that was won against
rival bids from other Nissan casting plants
around the world, Nissan Australia CEO Dan
Thompson revealed that the company had come
“very close” to closing the 30-year-old plant in
the wake of the global fi nancial crisis last year.
“I can be quite candid and tell you that it
was only in the recent past that we took a
detailed look at the future viability of casting
aluminium parts in Australia,” he said.Continued next page
Dan Thompson with the Leaf’s inverter
March 23, 2011 Page 8
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Aluminium accessories next on list of projects for reborn casting plant
Nissan raisesNissan raisesthe barthe bar
Aluminium castings made in Melbourne to help drive Nissan’s Leaf worldwideContinued from previous page
Mr Thompson told GoAuto that the
decision on the future of the casting plant – the
last remnant of Nissan’s car manufacturing
operations in Australia – came so close in July
last year that Nissan Australia had drawn up
two sets of forward plans for the Australian
company – one including the casting plant
business and another without.
He said a change of plant management,
improved productivity and the good
prospect of winning the new Nissan Leaf
casting contract all combined to convince
Nissan’s head offi ce in Yokohama to keep
the plant open.
“Now, the Nissan Casting operation has
never been busier,” he said, adding that it was
working three shifts a day, seven days a week.
Mr Thompson said the federal green car
grant and fi nancial help from the Victorian
government had helped to get the Leaf
casting deal over the line, as did advanced
casting technology developed by the
CSIRO and its Centre for Applied Special
Technology (CAST).
According to Nissan, the technology
allows for the castings to be treated after
the casting process to better dissipate heat –
a major factor in high-voltage applications
such as the EV drivetrain.
Plant managers said Nissan’s Japanese
engineers had been amazed at the Australian-
developed process – a world fi rst – that is
likely to lead to other casting contracts.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
By RON HAMMERTONNISSAN Australia is proposing to become
the fi rst subsidiary of the Japanese company
in the world to make some of its own key
motor vehicle accessories.
The company is mulling a plan to make
a range of aluminium items such tow bars,
nudge bars and ute sports bars for vehicles
such as the Navara, Pathfi nder, Patrol and
X-Trail in an area of the Nissan Casting
Plant at Dandenong, Victoria, to be sold
through Nissan dealers across Australia.
Traditionally, the factory’s fare has
been restricted to original-equipment cast
aluminium components such as transmission
cases, oil pans and gear carrier assemblies,
mostly destined for
Nissan factories in
Japan, Thailand, Mexico
and the United States.
Last week, Nissan
announced that the plant had won a
major contract within Nissan to supply
cast aluminium parts for Nissan’s most
advanced model, the all-electric Nissan
Leaf. The three parts will be exported at
the rate of up to 22,000 pieces a month
to Nissan assembly plants overseas from
early next year.
As well, Nissan Australia managing
director and CEO Dan Thompson
revealed that his company was planning to
branch out into accessories, at this stage
just for the local market.
He said that traditionally, Nissan in
Australia and elsewhere had taken all of
its accessories from outside suppliers, but
that with the casting plant’s considerable
experience with aluminium, it had been
decided to bring at least some of the
accessories in-house.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – page 13-14, 21
Navara
March 23, 2011 Page 9
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Holden hatch out
At last, Holden shows off its local fi ve-door Cruze
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISHOLDEN has taken the unusual step of
fl agging minor styling details on the next-
generation Commodore, which may be up
to three years away.
Speaking to the media at the launch
of the vital new JH Cruze in Melbourne
last week, Holden design director Tony
Stolfo emphasised improved aerodynamic
effi ciency as one of the ways the next
Commodore will use less fuel.
The car in question is the so-called ‘VF’
model – a model designation that is yet to
be confi rmed – which is expected to be
released in 2013 or 2014.
The veteran company designer pointed
to the newly ridged-off extremities of
the latest Cruze’s rear bumper during
the JH presentation, saying that we “can
expect the same” on future versions of the
Commodore.
Later, Mr Stolfo suggested that the
upcoming Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid
car (due in Australia in the latter half of
next year) and its European Opel Ampera
twin also feature styling elements proposed
for the future Commodore.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Holden has aero focus over aluminium for ‘VF’
Volt
By MARTON PETTENDYHOLDEN badges have taken their rightful
place on the Port Melbourne-penned Cruze
hatchback, three weeks after the Chevrolet
version of the Australian-designed fi ve-
door small car made its global debut at the
Geneva motor show.
GM Holden used last week’s launch of
its facelifted Series II Cruze sedan, which
is now in production in Adelaide ahead of
its offi cial release later this month, to also
reveal fi rst offi cial images of the Lion-
badged Cruze hatch, which will join it on
sale in the fourth quarter of this year.
Australia’s small car market is split
evenly between hatch and sedan models, but
the success of Holden’s hitherto Korean-
built Cruze, which has established itself as
Australia’s top-selling small sedan since
being launched here in May 2009 – could
see the hatch comprise only about 40 per
cent of Cruze sales.
Although Holden remains mum on
details of the locally designed fi ve-door,
which together with the sedan is expected to
eventually outsell Holden’s and Australia’s
top-selling vehicle, the Commodore, the
Cruze hatch should join its ‘localised’ four-
door namesake in showrooms with identical
pricing and specifi cations when it goes on
sale in just over six months.
That means the cheapest Cruze CD hatch
should land by year’s end with the same
$20,990 pricetag as the entry-level Cruze
CD sedan, with which it should also share
its upgraded 104kW/176Nm 1.8-litre Ecotec
four-cylinder petrol engine.
It also means the same, more powerful
120kW/360Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine
that powers the Cruze CD Diesel sedan
($24,990) – and which now returns fuel
consumption of just 5.6L/100km – should
also become available in the hatch.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERECruze ‘SS’ in works – next page
March 23, 2011 Page 10
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
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To conduct rate negotiations, set deadlines, facilitate payment of duties and fees, comply with import/export regulations, address environmental concerns and ensure Custom’s compliance.
To ensure the smooth and efficient operation of supply chain processes.
For additional information and the full job description, our web address is: www.toyota.tsusho.com.au
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Applications close on 31 March 2011. Qualified applicants should send their application with resume to: [email protected]
Persue New Goalsu
Holden prepares to boost Aussie-built Cruze range with powerful sports line
Cruze ‘SS’ in worksCruze ‘SS’ in works
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISA HIGH-PERFORMANCE version of
the Cruze – potentially carrying Holden’s
coveted ‘SS’ badge – is in development as
General Motors embarks on a new chapter
in Australian vehicle manufacturing with
the launch of the Adelaide-built JH four-
door Cruze sedan.
Believed to use a variation of the
132kW/230Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-
cylinder Ecotec petrol engine employed
in European versions of the Cruze’s Opel
cousin, the Astra, the sports model will sit
above the newly announced SRi-V fl agship.
Expected on sale next year, the sports Cruze
will probably be offered in four-door sedan
and fi ve-door hatch body styles, and will most
likely fi rst see the light of day at the Australian
International Motor Show in Melbourne in
early July, ahead of a late-2011 launch.
The Melbourne-made Chevrolet Cruze
hatch concept shown at the 2010 Paris
motor show is a strong indicator of what
Holden’s answer to the VW Golf GTI,
Mazda3 MPS and Ford’s upcoming Focus
ST/XR may look like.
According to a Holden insider, the Cruze
has been designed to accommodate any
powertrain available now or in the future for
the Astra J, since both cars share the same
basic GM Delta II small-car architecture.
“We are investigating all possibilities,”
he said. “We would love to explore a
performance version. It is obviously on our
wish list. Every engine option available in
the Astra is under review.”
Holden engineers are already exploring a
fi rmer and lower version of the Watts link rear
suspension system that debuted in 1.4-litre
turbo-petrol ‘iTi’ versions of the facelifted JH
Cruze sedan last week, along with a weightier
calibration for the electric power steering
set-up that also appears in the same variants.
“We just did not have the resources to
develop (revised) suspension and steering
for the SRi models,” the insider added. “But
watch this space.”
Meanwhile, GoAuto understands the
existing torsion beam rear suspension and
hydraulic power steering systems that
underpin all non-1.4 turbo models may
gradually give way to the more sophisticated
Watts link and EPS hardware, with the diesel
thought to be next in line.
“We expect that would probably be the
case,” our source said.
The Australian-built Cruze will eventually
emulate the Mazda3 in providing blanket
coverage of the small-car segment, as
Holden aims to overtake it and the Toyota
Corolla in terms of sales.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREAussie Cruze era begins – page 17
SRi-V
March 23, 2011 Page 11
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
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To view seminar locations, please click hereor contact: Stavroula PapadatosPartner
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FBT Seminar Focus
Expert warns of broad cost rises for fl eets as prices soar for oil, steel
Fleet costs to surgeFleet costs to surge
By RON HAMMERTONA VISITING American fl eet expert has warned
fl eet managers to prepare for spiralling costs
because of a broad range of price pressures
on oil and other commodities, higher levels of
onboard technology and other factors.
Mike Antich, the editor of Automotive
Fleet magazine and past president of the
United States Automotive Fleet and Leasing
Association, said the rising costs would
force fl eets to continue the trend to vehicle
downsizing – one of the few options still
available to cut expenses.
Speaking in Melbourne at the
Australasian Fleet Managers
Association national fl eet
conference yesterday, Mr Antich
said cars would not only become
more expensive to replace but also
to run and maintain.
He cited the higher cost of the
base commodities used to make
vehicles and the higher levels of technology
in the latest models as two factors that
would not only make cars more expensive
to replace but also repair.
“Fleet vehicles will continue to become
more complex with the addition of more
onboard electronics and telematic devices,” he
said. “All these advances, although benefi cial,
put upward pressure on acquisition costs.”
As well, such technology was costly
to repair. “Greater vehicle complexity is
increasing both repair and labour costs when
vehicles are involved in an accident,” he said.
Mr Antich said such repair costs had
already been driven up by the proliferation
of airbags in cars, adding between $2000
and $4000 to the repair cost of
a similar vehicle with just two
airbags in a similar crash a few
years ago.
He said that in the US, many
fl eet operators were also tending
to replace all airbags in a damaged
vehicle, even those that had not
discharged, for fear of litigation.
Mr Antich said that although cost
containment was the number one priority of
company fl eet operators, this was becoming
increasingly diffi cult.
“There will be diminishing opportunities
to reduce cost and enhance effi ciency,
especially if you are running a well managed
fl eet,” he said. “The low-hanging fruit has
been picked long ago.”
Mr Antich said the volatile price of oil could
be expected to continue, with China consuming
ever larger proportions of world supply.
He said China’s current fl eet of 88 million
vehicles was expected to rise to 200 million
vehicles by the end of this decade, a situation
that could double that country’s oil requirement
from the current 10 per cent of global supply.
Mr Antich said the oil price rise would
have a domino effect with fl eets also facing
rising costs of components and services from
suppliers passing on their own cost increases.
“For instance, tyre costs are increasing
due to the high cost of oil, since the main
ingredient is entirely manufactured from
oil,” he said, adding that tyres were the
second greatest fl eet expense after fuel.
Mr Antich said that even the growing size
of tyres, from 16 inch to 17 and 18 inches,
also made them more expensive, while fl eets
needed more of them because they were
extending their vehicle replacement cycles.
Fleets were hanging on to vehicles longer
in an effort to reduce their costs, but that
could raise maintenance costs, he said.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Mike Antich
March 23, 2011 Page 12
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
Fancy yourself an Asset Finance Top Gun?PROVE IT! Join our Car and Equipment Finance Team that’s gunning above the rest!
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New Car Finance Centre Sales Associate recent recruit Keiron Rice.
Commonwealth Bank is renowned for providing quick and easy, accurate car and equipment finance. Due to recent growth, we are seeking Car and Equipment finance professionals that are highly motivated and energetic to join our sales, credit and customer service divisions.
To apply please visit www.commbank.com.au/careers and click on the Job Search link. Enter Job reference number 914256 in the keyword search area and complete an online application.Experience in finance is essential, preferable in vehicle or equipment finance.
OUR VISION IS TO BE AUSTRALIA’S FINEST FINANCIAL SERVICES ORGANISATION THROUGH EXCELLING IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Bring it onBring it on
By MARTON PETTENDYMERCEDES-BENZ has fi nally produced
a direct rival for BMW’s iconic M3 Coupe
and Audi’s ballistic RS5 Coupe, the C63
AMG Coupe.
Confi rmed for Australian release
alongside the facelifted C63 AMG sedan
(Australia’s top-selling AMG model) and
wagon in September, the all-new two-door
C-class AMG promises considerably more
focus and aggression than the long-forgotten
CLK63 AMG coupe.
On paper, it moves straight to the top of its
class with a benchmark-setting 0-100km/h
acceleration claim of just 4.5 seconds, which
is no quicker than the four-door C63 AMG
sedan but one-tenth better than both the RS5
and (DCT-equipped) M3 coupes.
Like the C63 sedan, however, the new
AMG coupe will be available with an optional
‘AMG performance package’ that increases
peak power by 22kW, from 336kW to 358kW
at the same 6800rpm, and lowers its 0-100
sprint time by a further tenth to 4.4 seconds.
As with the sedan’s AMG performance
kit, which currently costs $15,000 and has
so far attracted 30 per cent of Australian C63
buyers, peak torque is unchanged at 600Nm
at 5000rpm and maximum speed remains an
electronically limited 250km/h.
However, also like the C63 sedan, the
C63 Coupe returns combined EU fuel
consumption of 12.0L/100km – more than
the 331kW RS5 (10.8L/100km) and around
the same as the 309kW M3 (11.9 manual,
12.4 auto).
Borrowing components from the
gullwing-doored SLS AMG super-coupe’s
dry-sump V8, the AMG performance pack
comprises forged pistons, conrods and a
lightweight crankshaft to shave 3kg from
the weight of the C63’s naturally aspirated
6.2-litre V8.
The AMG pack is visually differentiated
by a titanium grey painted inlet manifold,
higher performance brakes featuring
composite front discs instead of the usual
iron, red brake callipers, a carbon-fi bre
boot spoiler and a leather/Alcantara AMG
steering wheel.
The C63 two-door is based on the all-new
C-class Coupe that made its global debut
alongside the facelifted C63 AMG sedan at
the Geneva motor show earlier this month
and goes on sale here in July – a month after
the facelifted C-class sedan arrives.
It therefore offers all the fresh technology
introduced in the 2011 C63 sedan and wagon,
including a more effi cient speed-sensitive
power steering pump with more direct 13.5:1
ratio and a ‘Controlled Effi ciency’ mode for
its standard AMG Speedshift MCT seven-
speed automatic transmission that cuts shift
times to as little as 100 milliseconds.
The auto features a wet start-off clutch to
replace the torque converter fi tted in garden-
variety Mercedes models and, in this case,
an M3-style launch control function that is
accessed via a rotary controller also carried
over from the SLS.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Mercedes-Benz revealsits most fearsome M3rival ever - the C63AMG Coupe
March 23, 2011 Page 13
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
BUSINESS MANAGERFINANCE & INSURANCE – BRISBANE
To apply for this position, please submit your resumé with covering letter to: Dee Bendo, Human Resources Leader, 1310 Logan Rd, Mt Gravatt, QLD 4122 or email: [email protected]. Applications are strictly con dential and close on Friday 1st April 2011.
AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS GROUP is Australia’s largest automotive group with 10 of the top 11
automotive brands in Australia and over 100 Dealerships, employing over 3,500 people, throughout Australia and New Zealand.
AHG are seeking a Business Manager with previous experience in managing a successful Finance & Insurance department. Demonstrated ability in building
strong relationships with sales teams, management, and nance and insurance companies is essential, as is Tier 2 Accreditation as a Business Manager. Sound
knowledge of the legislative requirements of the nancial services industry and a track record of solid sales performance and reporting will assist you in securing
this position. We offer an excellent Dealership management team that supports positive work culture, while staff are given career paths to future senior roles.
An industry-leading remuneration package and 5-day working week (including Saturday roster), is on offer to the right candidate.
Nissan’s green Leaf EV shows its true colours in a fi rst drive on Australian roads
True coloursTrue colours
By RON HAMMERTONTHE proof that Nissan’s all-electric Leaf
can cut it – performance-wise – against
conventional commuter cars in Australia can
be observed in the rearvision mirrors of this
breakthrough hatchback and the potholes of
Melbourne back roads.
In the mirrors, the other traffi c can be seen
shrinking into the distance as the Leaf and
its torquey electric motor stream effortlessly
away from the traffi c lights, leaving the 20th
century in its wake and underlining that just
because a car does not run on petrol, it does
not have to be a shrinking violet.
We had to look a bit harder for potholes
on our 30km drive route on smooth urban
roads last week, but a small detour down a
couple of back roads near Nissan Australia’s
head offi ce at Dandenong, south-east of
Melbourne, found a bunch of beauties,
which the Leaf dispatched without a hair
out of place, even on hard low-rolling-
resistance tyres.
This answered a couple of questions that
had been left hanging after GoAuto’s fi rst
taste of the Leaf on a Japanese test track last
year – how it would handle real-world Aussie
roads and the daily grind of the big city.
While we still have more questions to
ask of the Leaf when the fi nal Australian-
spec car hits our shores in the fi rst quarter of
2012, the world’s fi rst mass-produced fi ve-
door all-electric hatch is starting to stack up
as a serious contender.
Nissan, which air-freighted two of the
UK-spec EVs to Australia for trials, says
one of the Leaf’s great attributes is that it
is just a car – it handles, accelerates, steers
and generally drives like a conventional,
internal-combustion-engine small car.
We beg to differ; we think that in at least
a couple of ways it is better than those daily
drivers.
Stop-start urban traffi c – the natural
habitat for this family fi ve-seater – is not
only comfortably handled by the Leaf,
it does so with turbine-like smoothness
unmatched by even luxury cars.
Such quiet, stepless acceleration has
been one of the holy grails of automotive
engineering since the birth of the car 125
years ago, and now it is here – at least for
a handful of people lucky enough to get
their hands on one of the trial vehicles that
will grow in number by a further 16 in July
when Nissan joins a Victorian government
fl eet EV trial.
Of course, the multiple elephants in the Leaf
room are driving range, charging time and
price, all of which remain unanswered from
our perspective after our small taste test.
Nissan claims a potential range of
170km, but cheerfully acknowledges that
can only be achieved with careful driving
and that most people will get between
100km and 120km on a full charge of the
24kWh, 250kg pack of lithium-ion batteries
that are stacked low in the car, under the
front seats and rear fl oor, to lower the car’s
centre of gravity.
Like all car companies bringing such
cars to market, it argues that those distances
easily cover the average daily slog of most
Australian city slickers.Continued next page
March 23, 2011 Page 14
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Equipment Sales Coordinator
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Repco is an Equal Opportunity Employer
True coloursTrue coloursContinued from previous page
That is undeniable, but range anxiety – the
buzz term of 21st century motoring – remains
a real barrier to EV sales growth, at least until
batteries improve, as they surely must. Right
now, a full charge takes up to eight hours on a
home socket, although most commuters will
only need a top-up each night.
Nissan has tried to address this anxiety
in a number of ways, including a sat-nav
system that will direct drivers to the nearest
public charging point which, at this stage,
remain few and far between in Australia.
On our drive, our eyes were glued to the
array of driving-range, battery-health and
power-use meters, which even include a
strangely alluring – if kitsch – gauge that
allows drivers to ‘build trees’ – a graphical
representation of a pine tree that, branch by
branch, builds into a full tree if the driver
is being particularly sparing with the battery
juice during a journey.
Drivers need to be careful not to pay too
much attention to the virtual trees or they
could end up in the real ones.
But attempting to conserve electricity and
extend the range of the Leaf is addictive,
and no doubt will become a daily game, not
just for individual drivers trying for a new
personal best, but also against other Leaf
drivers via the global portal for this 21st
century model.
Yes, all your driving data can be uploaded
via a mobile phone SIM card for you to pore
over and to check your rating as a card-
carrying electron-saving master of driving.
Leaf drivers can also select an Eco mode
to help in this quest, extending the range
by up to 10 per cent by delivering milder
acceleration, more sparing use of the climate
control and more aggressive regeneration of
electricity under braking.
Even the latter becomes addictive, with
GoAuto attempting to maximise the amount
of electricity recovered under braking. The
same gauge that indicates the amount of
power being consumed then goes into reverse,
graphically illustrating the gains being made
by the motor-cum-generator as it slows the
car and claws back some of the energy.
When we climbed aboard the Leaf, the
fi rst thing we did was to turn the car off.
Yes, the previous driver had left it switched
on, but because there is no engine noise or
vibration to detect a running car, we turned
it off, before our Nissan co-driver pointed
out that all the dash lights had gone out.
On turning it back on, we were greeted
with an oh-so-Japanese greeting chime –
Nissan’s way of telling the driver we are up
and running because of the aforementioned
lack of under-bonnet mechanical activity.
A check of the ‘fuel gauge’ – a digital bar
graph similar to those on a mobile phone –
and the accompanying range estimate – what
petrol car drivers will know as a ‘distance to
empty’ read-out – showed we had suffi cient
battery charge for 107km.
That was surprisingly good, as this car had
already been driven around the 30km loop
by other journalists, who are not renowned
for sparing the horses.
‘Gears’ are selected by a mouse-like
shifter on the centre console, and in this case
we selected reverse – which requires the foot
to be placed on the brake like a conventional
car – and nothing happened.
Only with a dab of the accelerator pedal
did the Leaf leap backwards, perhaps a little
too eagerly, and then we moved the ‘mouse’
forward to engage ‘drive’.
From them on, the Leaf could have been
any other extremely refi ned car, except for the
tiny turbine whine of the electric motor under
acceleration and deceleration, and the instant
and near effortless application of power.
No, the Leaf is no V8 Supercar or even
a WRX, but it derives more-than-adequate
forward propulsion from the electric motor
that has a mere 80kW of power – far less
than cars of equivalent size, such as the
Mazda3 – but 280Nm of torque.
Get within shouting distance of any EV
convert and they will tell you that electric
motors generate maximum torque from rest,
when the fi rst power is fed into their coils.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERECall for clear CO2 path – page 21
March 23, 2011 Page 15
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Audi lands another niche model in the stylish, practical and sporty A7 Sportback
A Seven with the lot
By JAMES STANFORDAUDI has arrived fashionably late to the
luxury four-door coupe party, launching
its large A7 Sportback – an uber-stylish
derivative of the new A6 sedan due on sale
here mid-year – in Australia last week.
The range comprises two 3.0-litre six-
cylinder versions of the A7 to start off with
– a V6 diesel priced from $142,750 and a
supercharged V6 petrol model starting at
$147,800 – while a cheaper 2.8-litre petrol
V6 will follow.
Mercedes-Benz boldly kicked off the
four-seat four-door coupe concept with its
dramatically styled CLS back in 2004 – the
same year Maserati’s conceptually similar
Quattroporte appeared globally.
Since then BMW has returned fi re with
the 5 Series GT – and will next year release a
coupe-like four-door version of the 6 Series –
and Porsche has fi red off its own (considerably
more expensive) salvo with the Panamera.
According to Audi, the A7 Sportback
combines the elegance of a coupe with the
comfort of a sedan and the practicality of
a wagon.
It introduces a range of new features to the
Audi Australia stable, including an optional
head-up display ($3400) that projects relevant
information such as vehicle speed onto the
windscreen – technology that has only been
available in top-end BMWs until now.
Audi’s big new hatchbacked cruiser also
presents much of the technology introduced
last year in its top-shelf A8 limousine, but at
a far lower price point.
It also gives Australians a taste of what
to expect from the important new A6,
which will take on the BMW 5 Series and
Mercedes-Benz E-class from around the
middle of this year.
Built off the new A6 platform, the A7 uses
the same fi ve-link front and trapezoidal-
link rear suspension systems, with new
aluminium control arms. Customers can
choose from standard steel springs or
optional adjustable air suspension.
The A7 features the same new, more
economical electro-mechanical steering
system as the new-generation A6, for which
engineers have chased BMW with a more
direct steering ratio for a more precise feel.
Like its sedan sibling, the A7’s body is
mainly steel but has 20 per cent aluminium
content, which Audi says saves close to 50kg.
Several panels including the bonnet, doors and
hatch are made from aluminium. The weight-
saving measures prevented a blowout and the
A7 weighs in at around a hefty 1800kg.
The big Audi is only slightly shorter than
a Holden Caprice, measuring 4969mm nose
to tail, but appears even larger because of
its long sloping roofl ine, the highest point
of which is just 1420mm. The wheelbase
stands at 2914mm.Continued next page
March 23, 2011 Page 16
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Industry First and Now AvailableVeda Auto can now provide you with details of insurance claims, not just written-off information. This is exclusive to the Veda Auto Motor Dealer Report.
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Rego details and expiry
Written-off /fl ood damage check
Stolen check
Odometer check
State fi rst purchased in
Vehicle use (taxi, lease, etc.)
Valuation
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NEW
A Seven with the lotA Seven with the lotContinued from previous page
Despite the curvaceous roofl ine, Audi
says passengers, including those in the two
rear seats, have more headroom than the
passengers in the back of the current A6.
Luggage space stands at a handy 535
litres, although the boot is quite shallow
towards the rear. Audi has catered for longer
items of cargo by allowing for the 60/40-split
rear seats to be folded down, opening up a
massive 1390 litres of space and enabling
very long items to be carried.
An electric tailgate system is standard,
allowing for the hatch to be opened or closed
at the touch of a button.
The entry-level A7 engine is the
Volkswagen Group’s familiar 3.0-litre TDI
turbo-diesel V6 with common-rail direct-
injection. It generates 180kW between
3800rpm and 4400rpm and a healthy 500Nm
between 1500rpm and 3250rpm.
Audi says that allows it to dash from
0-100km/h in just 6.5 seconds. The offi cial
average fuel economy fi gure is just 6.0
litres per 100km, while the CO2 emissions
number is 158g/km.
For those who are up for some Otto cycle
action, Audi’s supercharged TFSI 3.0-litre
direct-injection petrol V6 – seen in the
current A6, S4, Q7 and Porsche’s Cayenne
Hybrid – is also available.
This high-performance engine takes the
place of the 4.2-litre V8 that is being phased
out of most Audi models. It generates 220kW
between 5250rpm and 6500rpm and 440Nm
between 2900rpm and 4500rpm.
The more potent engine allows for a claimed
0-100km/h sprint time of just 5.6 seconds. It
might be faster than the diesel, but also uses
more fuel with offi cial fuel
economy of 8.2L/100km and
emissions of 190g/km.
Both engines employ an
idle-stop system to save fuel while at standstill
– a feature that can be switched off.
Both the petrol and diesel A7s feed their
torque through Audi’s quattro all-wheel-
drive system, which now features a crown-
gear centre differential that the company
says is far lighter than the torque-sensing
Torsen system it replaces.
As before, the new centre diff feeds 40
per cent of power to the front and 60 per
cent to the rear in normal conditions, but
can feed up to 70 per cent to the front and
alternatively up to 85 per cent to the rear,
depending on the conditions.
Audi’s seven-speed dual-clutch DSG
automatic, called S-Tronic, is standard on
both cars and can be controlled with the
regular gearshifter or the standard paddles
on the rear of the steering wheel. No manual
transmission is available.
The 3.0-litre diesel A7 sits on 18-inch
rims as standard, with 255/45 tyres featuring
built-in pressure monitoring.
The 3.0-litre petrol model
has 19s as standard with
255/40 tyres, while 20s are
available from the options list.
The A7’s interior is shared with the
upcoming A6 and comprises a waistband
that runs around the top of the dashboard.
The centre stack faces toward the driver
and an eight-inch display pops up out of
the dash-top.
Occupants can use the traditional MMI
(multi-media interface) control unit, which
features a roller-ball with surrounding buttons
or can be operated via fi nger squiggles on a
special pad. Interestingly, it even recognises
characters of many Asian languages.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREDRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE
PRICING:3.0 TDI quattro (a) $142,750
3.0 TFSI quattro (a) $147,800
March 23, 2011 Page 17
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
www.peelvalleygroup.com.auwww.peelvalleygroup.com.au
This position provides an opportunity for an experienced person to relocate and enjoy a regional/rural lifestyle in one of Australia’s nest regional cities, featuring affordable housing, excellent schools and sporting facilities.
Peel Valley Motors are Tamworth’s regional dealers for the premium all-wheel-drive Subaru range, the top-line commercial diesel Isuzu D-MAX Ute and the world’s very best, Mercedes–Benz. Peel Valley Motors also stock a large range of quality pre-owned vehicles.
We are currently looking for a Service Manager to manage our constantly growing Car Service Department. The successful applicant will be required to monitor all work in progress and ensure all jobs are completed on time and to a high standard. Sound people management and leadership skills will be required. The ability to work to a busy schedule is essential. Ongoing factory technical and management training will be provided to the right individual. Previous experience in this eld is essential.
For further information in the strictest con dence please contact Mathew Wilson, General Manager, on 0429 113 413. To apply for this role, please send your resumé with covering letter to the postal address below or via email: [email protected]
SERVICE MANAGER
PEEL VALLEY MOTORS – Box 7006, NEMSC, NSW 2348
GoAuto takes a drive of the JH Cruze as GMH returns to small-car manufacturing
Aussie Cruze era beginsAussie Cruze era begins
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKISGM HOLDEN has launched the fi rst
Australian-built small car in more than 12
years, releasing detailed information on
the changes wrought upon the Cruze in
its transition from South Korea to South
Australia manufacture.
On sale from late March, with deliveries
due from mid-April, the upgraded JH-series
– or ‘Series II’ – sedan is a visual makeover as
well as an evolution of the highly successful
JG, encompassing a fresh face, improved
Euro 5 emissions-compliant engines, and
better performance and refi nement.
Aiding the latter are new powertrain
calibrations and differences in insulation,
while the implementation of a solar glass
windscreen benefi ts cabin comfort as part
of a two-year, 350,000km validation and
testing program conducted by Holden.
However, the big news – at least until the
Holden-designed JH fi ve-door hatchback joins
the facelifted sedan on sale here in October –
is the combination of a downsized turbo-petrol
engine and a signifi cant new chassis package.
It arrives in some Cruze variants in the
form of a new 1.4-litre ‘iTi’ engine, Watts
link rear suspension and electric power
steering (EPS) set-up – a combination that
cannot be ordered individually.
Cribbed from the Opel Astra J due on sale
in Australia during 2012, it highlights the
similarities and inter-changeability of both
models, since they share the same Delta II
small-car architecture.
Available optionally (for $1250) on the
entry-level Cruze CD and standard on the
new sports-oriented SRi and sport-luxury
SRi-V grades, the 1.4 iTi components aim
to improve the Cruze’s dynamic capabilities
– an area that has come under criticism since
the JG’s launch in June 2009.
If demand exists, a CDX iTi may also be
introduced.
Ending two years of sourcing from GM
Korea (formerly GM Daewoo), the Cruze is
said to ‘future-proof” Holden manufacturing
in Australia, where small cars comprise more
than 25 per cent of annual new vehicle sales.
“It’s a great place to be – making the best-
selling car in Australia as well as one that
competes in the most popular segment,”
Holden chairman and managing director
Mike Devereux told GoAuto.
From launch, less than 50 per cent of the
JH is produced in Australia (including its roof,
body sides, closures, fascias and most interior
plastics and trim), with local content expected
to increase in a tiered manner as more suppliers
come on board over the next few years,
according to a Holden spokesperson.Continued next page
SSSSRiSRiS -VVVVV-V
CDX
March 23, 2011 Page 18
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Envision IT - AutolineSupporting the Best
Tel: (03) 9886 7322Email: [email protected]
Web: www.EnvisionIT.com.au
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Aussie Cruze era beginsAussie Cruze era begins
All-new Holden Colorado ute emerges in ThailandBy MARTON PETTENDY
HOLDEN’S fi rst all-new one-tonne ute in
eight years has broken offi cial cover on the
eve of its world debut at the 32nd Bangkok
motor show in Thailand this week – less
than a year before the redesigned Colorado
goes on sale in Australia.
The new Colorado emerged in Chevrolet
guise in the world’s biggest utility market,
where production and sales begin later
this year before the vital new workhorse
hits Holden showrooms in Australia – the
world’s fourth largest ute market – in the
fi rst quarter of next year.
As GoAuto reported earlier this month,
when General Motors released a tightly
cropped teaser image of the next-generation
Colorado, GM’s vital new global compact
utility replaces the Isuzu D-Max-based
Colorado (nee Rodeo) that dates back to
2003, but continues to share its full ladder
chassis underpinnings with its Isuzu-badged
mechanical twin.
Isuzu’s new D-Max is yet to emerge,
but this time around the 2012 Colorado’s
sleek yet muscular new sheetmetal – seen
here for the fi rst time in extended-cab form
comprising a pair of short rear-hinged
‘suicide’ rear doors – will be unique to GM.
In contrast, Volkswagen’s ground-breaking
new Amarok and Ford’s all-new Australian
designed and engineered T6 Ranger ute
(which goes on sale here alongside its
mechanical twin, the new Mazda BT-50, in
the third quarter of this year) were both seen
fi rst in dual-cab body styles.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Continued from previous pageHolden says limited resources and tight
timing prevented it from altering much
visually beyond the plastics (bumpers –
including different air intakes and foglight
housings), wheels and interior trim.
But the headlights now have amber
fl ashers and a more fl ush-fi tting beam unit for
a more integrated look, while the rear bumper
has a squared-off ridge for subtly improved
aerodynamics. Look for a similar treatment
on the 2014 VF Commodore, according to
design boss Tony Stolfo.
As far as the SRi newcomers
go, both are identifi able by a
modifi ed grille and air intake,
a rear lip spoiler and revised
alloy wheels, while the SRi-V
introduces remote keyless
entry and start, satellite-
navigation, a 10GB hard
drive, CD/MP3 rip and store
capability, DVD player and
live-radio pause functionality
to the Cruze for the fi rst time.
Since the JH is built on the
same Elizabeth production
line as the VE Commodore
Series II and its many variants, the two
Holdens share many of the same paint
colours, increasing the palette choice on a
vehicle that is already highly regarded for its
varied hues, says sales and marketing chief
Philip Brook.
Holden executives will not reveal sales
forecasts, but privately one
company insider told GoAuto
the Cruze nameplate is likely
to push past the Mazda3 and
Toyota Corolla’s 40,000
annual volume barrier when
the JH hatch comes on stream
from late this year. In 2010,
just under 29,000 Cruze
CD and CDX sedans found
buyers.
The company has high
hopes for the 1.4 iTi. A
1398cc DOHC four-cylinder
petrol unit with variable valve
timing and a turbocharger that
is integrated within the exhaust manifold,
the Austrian-made 1.4 iTi delivers 103kW
of power at 4900rpm and 200Nm of torque
between 1850-4900rpm, and is paired to six-
speed manual or automatic transmissions,
the latter with a manual-shift mode.
It averages 6.4 litres per 100km (auto: 6.9)
and 153 grams per kilometre of carbon
dioxide emissions (auto: 164).
For even better fuel economy, Cruze
buyers can choose the heavily revised 2.0-
litre turbo-diesel engine, now with DOHC
(instead of the old single-cam design).
Although power is now up nine per
cent to 120kW at 3800rpm and torque
jumps 12.5 per cent to 360Nm at 2000rpm,
combined average fuel consumption now
slips 0.1L/100km to 5.6L/100km for diesel
models fi tted with the improved six-speed
manual gearbox, making this the most
economical Australian-built car available.
Sticking with the 6T45 six-speed auto
means the fi gure remains unchanged at
6.7L/100km. Holden expects the Cruze
Diesel’s popularity to increase as fuel prices
spike upwards. Currently it accounts for
about 20 per cent of all Cruze sales.
FULL STORY: CLICK HEREDRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE
PRICING:CD 1.8 $20,990
CD 1.8 (a) $22,990
CD 1.4iTi $22,240
CD 1.4iTi (a) $24,240
CD Diesel $24,990
CD Diesel (a) $26,990
CDX 1.8 $24,490
CDX 1.8 (a) $26,490
CDX Diesel $28,490
CDX Diesel (a) $30,490
SRi 1.4iTi $24,490
SRi 1.4iTi (a) $26,490
SRi-V 1.4iTi $27,990
SRi-V 1.4iTi (a) $29,990
SRi-V
March 23, 2011 Page 19
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AUTOMOTIVE PERSONNELINTERNATIONALDRIVING THE MOTOR INDUSTRY
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Porsche medium SUV just two years away as Leipzig named as production base
Green light for CajunGreen light for Cajun
Porsche 918 to cost $1.3m here, with $420K in taxes!By MARTON PETTENDY
PORSCHE has attacked a whopping
Australian tax bill of more than $420,000,
which will push the local price of its 918
Spyder to a staggering $1.29 million, for
potentially deterring at least three well-
heeled customers who had placed serious
expressions of interest for the mould-
breaking plug-in hybrid supercar.
The Stuttgart sportscar-maker this week
announced a European price of €645,000
($A866,500) plus value-added taxes and
country-specifi c charges for the limited-
edition model, just 918 left-hand drive
examples of which have been confi rmed for
production from September 18, 2013.
That equates to $A1.07 million in the UK,
where fi rst deliveries will commence in fi rst-
in-best-dressed order from November 2013.
In Australia, however, the 918 Spyder will
cost €960,000 or $1.29 million once luxury
car tax (LCT: €210,000 or $A282,000),
goods and services tax (GST: €68,000 or
$A91,350) and almost $50,000 in import
duty is factored in.
That brings the 918’s total local tax
component to an estimated $423,350, despite
the fact the left-hand-drive-only 918 cannot
legally be driven on Australian roads.
Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) said the
Australian Tax Offi ce’s LCT regime, which
it says applies to any vehicle that can be
registered anywhere in the world, should
not apply to LHD vehicles that cannot be
road-registered in Australia – in the same
way that race cars like Porsche’s own GT3
Carrera Cup cars are exempt from LCT.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
By MARTON PETTENDYPORSCHE has confi rmed it will start
building a new factory at Leipzig this year
to produce its all-new Cajun SUV, which is
now expected to hit showrooms worldwide
– including in Australia – within two years.
The German luxury car-maker announced
last week that it would create more than
1000 new jobs by establishing a fully fl edged
production plant for the Cajun at Leipzig,
where assembly of the larger Cayenne SUV
and Panamera sedan already takes place.
While bodies for the Cayenne and,
since 2009, the Panamera are produced
by Volkswagen in Hanover, the expanded
Leipzig facility will comprise body assembly
lines and a paint shop for the Cajun, making
Porsche’s factory in the Saxony region of
Germany a full-service production site.
Porsche has not announced a production
timetable for left- and right-hand drive versions
of the Cajun but it is understood the new mid-
sized luxury SUV will be launched globally
either late next year or in early 2013.
“With the effi cient and agile Cajun,
Porsche extends its SUV segment which
is in high demand all over the world,” the
company said last week.
“In addition to the new generation of
the Cayenne which has clearly managed to
strengthen its market position as one of the most
successful sporting all-wheel drive vehicles
in the premium segment, the lightweight
and refi ned handling Cajun – so typical of a
Porsche – will create further momentum.
“As a desirable entry model, it is expected
to pave the way for new, younger customers
to enter the world of Porsche, in addition to
the Boxster, the market leader among two-
seat mid-engined sportscars.”
Porsche has already stated the Cajun –
based on sister company Audi’s Q5, which
is Australia’s top-selling luxury SUV so
far this year – will come with traditional
Porsche hallmarks “light weight, ease of
handling and agility”.
Porsche said that, subject to approval by
local authorities, it will begin construction of
the new Cajun plant at its 400-hectare Leipzig
facility later this year, creating more than 1000
direct jobs in Saxony, at its Zuffenhausen
HQ and engine plant in Stuttgart and at its
Weissach R&D operations.
In making the announcement, Porsche
CEO Matthias Mueller said: “During the
production of the Cayenne and the Panamera,
our Leipzig plant has impressively proved
that it can produce premium vehicles of
highest quality.
“The decision in favour of this location
is proof of our trust in the skills and
qualifi cations of our Leipzig associates, and
at the same time another contribution to the
economic advancement of the region.”
Porsche has invested around €280 million
($A376m) at Leipzig since 2002.
The chairman of Porsche’s group works
council, Uwe Hueck, said “we had tough but
fair negotiations” and also stressed the need
for expansion at Zuffenhausen.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Cayenne production
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John Mellor’s
March 23, 2011 Page 20
Early signs this year not good for Honda as sales and share falls continue
By TERRY MARTINHONDA’S position at the bottom of
Australia’s Top 10 sales table this year seems
incongruous for a highly regarded brand
stacked with strong, reputable nameplates –
some of which, like Integra, Prelude, NSX
and S2000, are albeit long gone – and which
increased market share and sales throughout
last decade to the point where it was one of
the top fi ve brands in the nation.
Honda trailed only the ‘Big 3’ (Toyota,
Holden and Ford) and Mazda in 2006, with
VFACTS fi gures showing it had an impressive
5.6 per cent share of the market with almost
55,000 sales, and was outselling Mitsubishi
– despite it being a local manufacturer at that
point – as well as Nissan and Hyundai.
The following year it reached another high
point, breaking through the 60,000 sales
barrier for the fi rst time on the back of success
stories such as the CR-V compact SUV
(12,600+ units), its all-important Civic small
car (17,600+), the Jazz light car (11,600+)
and a dual Accord strategy that together
accounted for 15,500 new registrations.
As we documented in Market Insight 12
months ago, Honda’s downturn since 2007
has been remarkable and, most worryingly
for senior management, it has continued
while the industry overall has recovered
from the global fi nancial crisis.
Even as late as the end of November last
year, in boom times, Honda Australia was
not expecting to fi nish the year worse off
than in 2009, but that is what transpired, with
the fi nal fi gures coming in at just over 40,300
(down 2.6 per cent, or some 1000 units lower
than the previous year) as Honda’s market
share dropped below four per cent (to 3.9)
for the fi rst time in six years.
In the fi rst two months of this year, Honda
has fallen behind Subaru and Volkswagen
and is clinging on to 10th place by just 700
units from a fi red-up Suzuki. Indeed, Honda
is now in serious danger of falling off the
Top 10 table altogether as rival brands with
big aspirations and fresh models – Suzuki
and Kia, to name two – come to the fore.
Honda recorded 2227 new registrations
in January (down 25.9 per cent on the same
month last year) and 2585 last month (down
16.7 per cent), which leaves it 21.2 per cent
in arrears so far this year, with a share of
just 3.1 per cent.
Of course, this accounts for only two
months, but it is diffi cult to think of 2011 as
being anything other than a make-or-break
year for Honda, which blamed last year’s
poor results on stock shortages and the
continued slump in large-car sales.
The latter has rendered the Legend
almost irrelevant (just 66 were sold last
year) and has particularly hurt the larger of
the two Accords.
Combined, the Accord twins returned
only 9500 sales last year, while the once-
dominant CR-V, which is suffering from
the lack of a cheaper 2WD variant (not due
until the next generation arrives in 2012),
climbed back from a miserable 5100 sales
in 2009 to around 7200.
Civic, too, is a shadow of its former sales
self – Honda shifted 10,450 units last year, a
quarter of the number Toyota managed with
Corolla – with its problems ranging from
no fi ve-door hatch model available from
Australian free-trade partner Thailand (which
builds the sedan) to development delays of the
new-generation model during the GFC.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
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Honda under seige
Jan 2010
Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan2011
Feb
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Honda Subaru Volkswagen Suzuki Kia
Source: VFACTS
Sale
s
Hard road for HondaHard road for Honda
March 23, 2011 Page 21Green issues in the auto world
GoAuto Green is brought to you by Custom Fleet
GoAuto Green
John Mellor’s
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By RON HAMMERTONNISSAN Australia has given up pleading for
Australian governments to introduce direct
incentives to encourage the introduction of
electric vehicles such as its Leaf, instead
hoping for some sort of “carrot” for
environmentally friendly vehicles when
proposed compulsory carbon dioxide
emissions limits are introduced.
The company has been one of the most
outspoken critics of Australian government
inaction on zero-emissions vehicles to date,
saying last year that the unwillingness of all
levels of government in Australia to offer
subsidies would limit Nissan’s ability to roll
out the all-electric Leaf in a timely manner.
Nissan Motor Co has given priority to
markets actively encouraging EVs, such
as Europe, Japan, China and the United
States. In the latter, buyers can apply for EV
incentives of up to $7500 – equivalent to 20
per cent of the cost of the Leaf.
With the Leaf now just a year away from
Australian launch, Nissan Australia CEO
Dan Thompson has told GoAuto that his
company has discontinued direct lobbying
on the issue in Canberra because it was
getting nowhere. “Of course, we are very
disappointed,” he said.
Mr Thompson said the Australian motor
industry’s umbrella organisation, the
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
(FCAI) – of which Nissan is a member –
had also “pulled back” on its calls for such
incentives, instead taking a different tack by
addressing the issue in the current round of
negotiations with the federal government
on mandatory CO2 limits.
The federal government is said to be
preparing a discussion paper for a new
mandatory CO2 target, with prime minister
Julia Gillard last year proposing a 190
grams per kilometre limit from 2015, with a
further tightening to 155g/km by 2024.
The FCAI’s own National Average
Carbon Emissions (NACE) fi gures released
last month show the industry-wide average
for light vehicle carbon emissions last year
was 213g/km – down 2.5 per cent on 2009.
Under the proposed compulsory scheme,
each motor company must achieve the CO2
limit on average across its range – known in
the US and elsewhere as Corporate Average
Fuel Economy (CAFE) – or face fi nancial
penalties – effectively a gas guzzler tax.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
No federal EV subsidies prompts Nissan call for incentives via CO2 laws
Call for clear CO2 pathCall for clear CO2 path
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Renault admits it wrongly accused staff of espionage relating to EV programBy RON HAMMERTON
RENAULT has been forced into a humiliating
apology to three employees
wrongfully accused of selling secrets
from the French company’s electric
vehicle program, saying it would offer
to reinstate or compensate the three
after they were cleared of espionage
by French investigators.
But Renault’s largest shareholder,
the French government, is still far from
happy, with an offi cial spokesman accusing
the company of “amateurism” and saying:
“There will be further consequences.”
As well, French industry minister
Eric Besson said on television that
the apology from Renault CEO
and president Carlos Ghosn after
an extraordinary meeting of the
company board in Paris had been
“very important”, but added: “This is
not the end of this internal story.”
As part of their mea culpa,
Mr Ghosn and all the senior managers
involved in the scandalous accusations
will waive their 2010 bonuses and stock
option entitlements for 2011. As well, chief
operating offi cer Patrick Pelata offered to
resign, but was refused by Mr Ghosn.
In another twist to the story, the French
prosecutors’ offi ce has said it picked up an
employee from Renault’s security department,
Dominique Gevrey, as he was trying to leave
France on March 11 on a fl ight to Guinea.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERECarlos Ghosn
March 23, 2011 Page 22GoAuto Personnel
John Mellor’s
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TRIVETT CLASSIC NAMED BMW AUSTRALIA’S TOP DEALER FOR 2010By TERRY MARTIN
NEW South Wales dealership Trivett
Classic has been named the 2010 BMW
Group Australia Dealer of the Year.
In accepting the award, Trivett Classic
BMW dealer principal Greg Duncan
paid tribute to the team of more than 100
employees at the Parramatta dealership.
“As a BMW dealer for over 26 years, this
is the pinnacle of recognition amongst our
peers,” he said.
“To be awarded the 2010 BMW Dealer
of the Year is testimony to the leadership
of general manager Simon Macedone and
his outstanding team of professionals. It
is also evidence of our commitment to our
customers.”
Mr Macedone added that the award
presentation “was a very proud moment
for our entire team who have shown great
commitment and attention to detail in all
areas of the business”.
This is the second year in a row Trivett
Classic has featured in BMW Group
awards, with its Mini Garage having won a
Mini Excellence award last year.
The 2010 Rural Dealer of the Year award
went to Toowoomba BMW.
BMW says its awards program “celebrates
and rewards exemplary customer service,
professionalism and all-round performance
within the BMW dealer network”.
In an interview with GoAuto earlier this
month, BMW’s new managing director Phil
Horton – who took the reins in February
after the sudden departure of Stavros
Yallouridis last November – admitted that
the company had “a lot to make up” to
increase sales (down 21.8 per cent this year)
and regain the market leadership it lost to
Mercedes-Benz last year.
“We have a good team, we have a well
established network and certainly as you
might imagine one of the things Munich
is looking for is that BMW can regain the
number-one spot,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot to make up. Last year was
a tough year in a tough market and it’s one
that’s not seeing a huge amount of growth
at the moment. In the premium segment it’s
certainly been very competitive. I certainly
know I’ve got my work cut out for me.”
In presenting the DOTY award to Trivett
Classic, Mr Horton said the company was
“extremely proud to honour the hard work
of our dealers in this country”.
“We consistently strive to ensure that
every aspect of owning a BMW is as
enjoyable as the drive itself,” he said.
From left: Simon Macedone,Phil Horton and Greg Duncan
AUSTRALIAN ‘SAVE SAAB’ CAMPAIGNER LANDS GLOBAL SOCIAL MEDIA JOBBy HAITHAM RAZAGUI
THE Australian Saab enthusiast behind
the Saabs United website that formed a base
for the global ‘Save Saab’ campaign has
been hired as project leader for social media
in the born-again Swedish car-maker’s
interactive marketing department.
Saab will be putting to use Steven Wade’s
social media knowledge, built over six years
of operating the Saab blog site Trollhattan
Saab, which became Saabs United in
early 2009 when General Motors put its
Scandinavian subsidiary up for sale.
“My main task will be to create content
about the company and the Saab community
for distribution through various social media
channels,” Mr Wade told GoAuto of his new
role. “The aim of the task is to bring the
company and the community closer together.”
He said that on discovering the blogging
medium in 2004 and how it “gave the
ordinary person a voice”, he took to it
straight away, his enthusiasm for and
knowledge of Saabs providing something
he felt he could write about with some
authority to serve an audience.
“I was fortunate in that people enjoyed the
content of the site. I had some great sources
who provided me with inside information as
to what was going on at Saab. This caused
some irritation with Saab at fi rst, but I still
managed to build up a great relationship
with the company,” he said.
With Saabs United now a thriving
community and regularly serving over
500,000 pages per month to readers all over
the world, Mr Wade said the website had
grown to such a point that he felt unable to
continue managing it while sustaining his
day job and family life.
Asked how his job with Saab came
about, Mr Wade said: “Thankfully, my need
to make changes and Saab’s need to move
more deliberately into the social media
arena intersected, and here we are.
“Saab actually advertised this position last
year and I applied for it. My ‘job interview’
was a discussion with the Saab executive
team at the LA auto show last year and then
a few phone calls shortly thereafter.”
In Saab’s announcement of Mr Wade’s
appointment, the company credits him with
playing a “pivotal role in rallying support
around the globe for the Saab brand during
negotiations for its sale by General Motors”.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Steven Wade
March 23, 2011 Page 23
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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s
GoAuto’s latest car review www.GoAuto.com.au
Kia Optima Platinum sedan
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
JAPAN CRISIS UPDATEMOTOR manufacturers around the world
are hoping for the best and planning for the
worst as parts made by Japanese companies
hit by the recent earthquake and tsunami
begin to dry up, forcing factory shut-downs
and go-slows as far afi eld as the United
States and Spain.
General Motors has issued an extraordinary
company directive to all its branches –
including GM Holden – to conserve cash by
cutting spending until it can assess the full
impact of the Japanese supply situation. Even
air travel by GM staff to conferences and other
events has been put on hold for 30 days.
All three Australian car-makers – GM
Holden, Ford Australia and Toyota Australia
– are saying it is business as usual at their
local factories, but they concede that they
rely on certain Japanese-made components
for their vehicles.
Holden external communications director
Emily Perry told GoAuto that production of
both Commodore and Cruze at Elizabeth,
South Australia, and V6 engines at Port
Melbourne, Victoria was continuing.
“All we’re saying is vehicle production is
not affected and we have appropriate levels
of stock for the coming weeks,” she said.
But she confi rmed that Holden was
following a global GM directive to cut non-
essential spending and put all air travel to
conferences and events on hold for 30 days
to conserve cash as a precaution until the
full impact was known.
Ford Australia public affairs director
Sinead McAlary said Ford might not know
until next week if its local operations
would suffer any impact. “Some Tier 1 or
Tier 2 suppliers could be affected, but their
suppliers may not be able to get into their
plants (in Japan) for some time,” she said.
In Japan, the motor industry so far has lost
about 400,000 vehicles due the factory closures
in the wake of the March 11 calamity.
The longer the shutdown drags on,
the more likely Australian importers will
be affected by shortages of stock that is
currently being replenished from vehicles
still in the shipping pipeline.
Several Japanese manufacturers have
resumed their own parts production to at
least make sure their overseas factories are
replenished. However, external suppliers are
still struggling.
– Marton Pettendy and Ron Hammerton
HALO FOR RUKUSTOYOTA has released a special-edition
‘Halo’ version of its youth-oriented Rukus,
following slower than expected sales of the
Corolla-based small car.
Launched last May with a sales forecast
of 150-200 monthly sales, the three-grade
Rukus line-up last year attracted 1089 buyers
for a monthly average of 136, while sales so
far in 2011 have reduced to 100 a month.
Now Toyota has introduced the Rukus
Halo, priced from $27,990 – $500 higher
than the entry-level Rukus Build 1 upon
which it is based.
RANGER AERO WORKTWO engineers with expertise honed in the
aero-intense world of formula one racing
have turned their hand to the development
of a humble ute Down Under.
Former F1 aerodynamics engineers
Thorsten Maertens and Neil Lewington
were brought into the Ranger program four
years ago to use racing-style simulation
software to fi netune the ute design and
enhance fuel effi ciency.
THE latest in a procession of easy-on-the-eye models from Kia has arrived in the form of the all-new Optima medium sedan. Available in just one equipment grade priced at a value-packed $36,990, the new Optima brandishes undeniably sexy styling, a shed-full of luxury equipment, class-leading refi nement and a locally developed ride/handling package. But can Australian buyers look beyond the fast-growing Korean brand’s badge to consider owning what will be one of the most convincing new sedan packages released here this year?
Launch PadAustralia’s No.1 because it works!
March:Audi A7 SportbackBMW X3 redesignFiat 500 Abarth EsseesseHolden Cruze sedan faceliftLexus CT200hMercedes-Benz G-classNissan GT-R MY11Skoda Scout DSGToyota FJ CruiserVolvo V60
New model diary: CLICK HERE
Audi A7 SportbackA diA dididiA diiA diAudiAAudiuAudiudiAudiAuAudiAAudiAudi AAA7A7A7 SA7 SA7 SA7 SpA7 SpAA7 S7 SpA7 SpA7A7 SA7 SppA7 SpA7 SpA7 SpA7 Sportortbortbaortbaoroortbackck
Toyota FJ Cruiser
BMW X3
Lexus CT200h
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FULL STORY: CLICK HERE