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Dec 12, 2012 No. 660

GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Australia’s No.1 Automotive Industry Journal 70,000 Readers Weekly

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Third model deadlineThird model deadlineRAV4 in frame for local production as Toyota confi rms case for third model line

DIG

ITA

L IM

AG

E: L

uc

Bri

tten

By BARRY PARKTOYOTA Australia is expected to

decide as early as next year which new

model it will add to its Altona-based

production line.

Several sources confi rmed to GoAuto

last week that a business case for a third

model to be added to the car-maker’s

line alongside the Camry and Camry

Hybrid mid-size cars and Aurion large

sedan would be fi nished in time for a

decision either next year or in 2014.

That comes on top of a senior Toyota

manager confi rming the company was

prepared to invest more money in its

Australian operations.

Toyota Australia has long expressed a

desire to add another model to beef up

production numbers and add diversity.

The all-new RAV4 unveiled two

weeks ago at the Los Angeles motor

show will use the same 2.5-litre four-

cylinder engine as the Camry, and

is understood to share many Camry

underpinnings in the engine-bay area.

Speaking last Thursday at the offi cial

launch of Australian production of the

2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that will

power both the Camry and Camry

Hybrid, Toyota Motor Corporation

senior managing offi cer Seiichi Sudo

said the company was still keen to

invest in its Altona operations.

Asked if the withdrawal of federal

funding from the car-making industry

would hurt Toyota’s prospects

here, Mr Sudo said the company’s

relationship with the government was

still important.

“We continue to watch (what the

federal government) is doing and

continue to look for opportunities,”

he said. “We are looking at more

investment in Australia.”

The Altona plant’s executive director

of management and purchasing, Chris

Harrod, said the $330 million engine

plant was the fi rst step in a string

of investments the company was

pouring into its Australian car-making

operations.

“This (engine plant) investment has

been secured by our performance here,

and we’re studying, looking at what

sort of products we can launch here in

Australia,” Mr Harrod said.

“I guess the key thing for us at the

moment is trying to understand from

a customer’s point of view, what sort

of model we should build here in

Australia.

Continued next page

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Toyota Australia switcheson $331m engine plant

By RON HAMMERTONMORE than two years after it was

announced amid controversy over

federal government handouts, Toyota

Australia’s new four-cylinder engine

plant has opened at its Altona factory

in Melbourne’s west.

The $331 million plant – which was

secured with a $63 million federal

contribution from the now-defunct Green

Car Innovation Fund – will build about

108,000 2.5-litre engines for the locally

built Camry and Camry Hybrid, as well

as for export to Thailand and Malaysia.

When it was announced in 2010, the

government co-contribution handout

was criticised by opposition industry

spokesperson Sophie Mirabella who

said the government was “frittering

money away”.

Last Thursday, prime minister Julia

Gillard and Victorian premier Ted

Baillieu attended the ceremony at the

factory, which was racked by industrial

action and forced redundancies earlier

this year.

Toyota Australia president and CEO

Max Yasuda said the offi cial opening

was a proud day for the Australian car

industry and testament to the company’s

“team members” who helped secure

the new engine plant investment.

“This is a great day for Toyota

Australia,” Mr Yasuda said. “The

offi cial opening of the new engine

plant is part of our overall mission to

transform our operations and build a

more sustainable business.”

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Third model deadlineThird model deadline

Continued from previous page“One of the things that we’re studying

is that we currently build Camry and

Aurion here in Australia, and what other

products can we possibly build here.”

Mr Harrod said Camry and Aurion

would continue to be built alongside

the third model, believed to be a

compact soft-roader with a higher profi t

margin than a small hatchback, and

that the extra model would help build

Toyota’s Australian manufacturing to a

“sustainable level”.

“Whatever we choose to do is

something that has to be profi table,” Mr

Harrod said.

Toyota aims to raise the number of cars

it makes at its Altona plant to more than

100,000 a year, well above the break-

even cut-off of about 80,000 cars a year.

The new engine plant is expected to

produce 108,000 engines a year at the rate

of 9000 a month, with about 15 per cent

of the four-cylinder powerplants rolling

off the line destined for Camry Hybrids.

However, not all those engines

are destined for the engine bays of

Australian-built cars. According to

Toyota, another 15 per cent of the

Atkinson-cycle hybrid engines are

destined for Thai-built Camry Hybrid

models, as well as a new export market

for Australia – Malaysia – from January

next year when production ramps up to

full capacity.

The Australian-built engine is offi cially

rated at 5.2 litres per 100km in hybrid

form when mated to its imported electric

motor and batteries, with the straight

petrol motor rated at 7.8L/100km.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Altona engine production

Dec 12, 2012 Page 3

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Top 10 Brands in NovPos Brand Sales % Share

1 Toyota 19,312 19.6

2 Holden 10,354 10.5

3 Mazda 8732 8.9

4 Ford 8529 8.7

5 Hyundai 7756 7.9

6 Nissan 7006 7.1

7 Mitsubishi 5008 5.1

8 VW 4370 4.4

9 Honda 4005 4.1

10 Subaru 3212 3.3

Source: VFACTS, December 2012

Car sales pass one-millionmark in record time aftermassive November result

A million reasons to smileA million reasons to smile

By RON HAMMERTONAUSTRALIAN new-vehicle sales have

blasted past the one-million mark with a

full month of 2013 to go, propelled by

record November registrations.

It is the fi rst time the industry has

achieved one million sales by the end

of November, busting the previous best

11-month tally of 963,732 set before the

global fi nancial crisis in 2007.

Vehicle sales are up 9.8 per cent on last

year, to 1,016,605 vehicles, and well on

track for the biggest annual haul in history

of about 1,120,000, offi cial VFACTS

fi gures released last week show.

Although other economic indicators in

Australia are pointed down, resulting in

lowered interest rates last week, the car

industry shifted a November-best 98,347

cars, SUVs, utes and trucks last month.

New key models and heavy-duty

marketing campaigns – including cut-

price fi nance – are helping to drive the

market to new heights.

Long-time market leader Toyota

crunched all comers, aided by the

arrival of its all-new Corolla small

car that zoomed to the top of the sales

ladder in its fi rst month on sale here.

Corolla’s 4190 sales tally is short

of its one-month record of 5912 in

June 2006, but up 12.3 per cent on its

November 2011 performance.

It outsold its arch-rival and Australia’s

top-selling car for the year to date, the

Mazda3, which achieved 3703 sales last

month to take second place.

Toyota had three cars in the top four

sellers for the month, with Corolla being

joined by the evergreen HiLux (3403

units) in third place, and its locally

made Camry (3145) in fourth spot.

Camry again was the best-selling

Australian-built model, with Holden’s

Commodore slipping a further 5.3 per

cent, to 2659 units last month.

Toyota’s November sales reached

19,312 vehicles, up 10.8 per cent on the

corresponding month last year, and it is

now running 18.6 per higher year to date.

Toyota Australia executive director

of sales and marketing Matthew

Callachor said the latest results

confi rmed the industry would achieve

a record full-year total.

“If sales over the next four weeks

merely match those in December last

year at 82,459 new vehicles, then the

2012 total will be tantalisingly close to

1.1 million,” he said.

“Signifi cant demand has been

generated through strong competition,

enticing offers, a healthy supply of

vehicles and low interest rates that are

continuing to fall.”

Mr Callachor said the industry's

previous sales record was 1.05 million

in 2007, followed by million-plus totals

in 2008 and the past two years.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – next page

Corolla

Dec 12, 2012 Page 4

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US auto market on trackto crack 14 million units

By MIKE COSTELLOTHE United States is poised to record

its strongest full year of auto sales

since the global fi nancial crisis, with

November sales up 15 per cent to 1.14

million – the best result in fi ve years.

Annual sales sit at 13.14 million with

just one month to go, up 14 per cent on

the same time last year, and are expected

to fi nish the year around 14.4 million.

US sales averaged 16.8 million

between 2000 and 2007, dropped to

13.2 million in 2008 and bottomed-out

to 10.6 million in 2009.

The strong November fi gure has

been attributed to renewed buyer

confi dence in the economy and a

rebound from October’s Hurricane

Sandy, which hit America’s east

coast and led to a glut of postponed

purchases.

Among the biggest movers were the

BMW Group and Honda (both up 39

per cent, with the latter clocking up a

monthly record) and the Volkswagen

Group (up 31 per cent).

GM was again the country’s top-

selling brand with 186,505 sales across

its Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC

brands, but its growth was well below

the market average at 3.0 per cent.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

NZ set for 100KNZ set for 100K

Kiwi car market remains on course for 100,000 sales

NZ Top 10 Brands in NovPos Brand Sales % Share

1 Toyota 1768 20.6

2 Holden 854 10.0

3 Ford 827 9.6

4 Hyundai 638 7.4

5 Mazda 597 7.0

6 Nissan 534 6.2

7 Suzuki 411 4.8

8 Mitsubishi 387 4.5

9 VW 386 4.5

10 Honda 312 3.6

Source: NZ MIA, December 2012

By JACQUI MADELIN in NEW ZEALAND

NEW Zealand could crack the 100,000

new-vehicle sales barrier by the end of

this year, sending the fi nal tally into six

fi gures for the fi rst time since 2007.

Sales lifted 17.1 per cent to 8581 units

in November over the same month last

year, with passenger car registrations up

14.9 per cent to 6484 and commercial

vehicles up 24.5 per cent to 2097.

This takes the 2012 tally after 11 months

to 93,044 – 70,769 cars and 22,275

commercials – and sales in December are

expected to exceed 7000 units.

NZ Motor Industry Association CEO

Perry Kerr said he was confi dent sales

will reach 100,000 by the end of the

year, a fi gure that has not been achieved

since the GFC.

Used import vehicle sales rose 3.5 per

cent in November, to 7517 units.

Toyota comfortably topped the new-

vehicle sales table in November, up 15

per cent to 1768 for a 20.6 per cent share

of the total market, with Holden second

(up 4.1 per cent to 854) and Ford third

(down 10.1 per cent to 827).

Toyota NZ sales and operations

manager Steve Prangnell said Yaris

outsold Suzuki Swift for the fi rst time,

thanks in part to government orders,

while Corolla was boosted by the

introduction of the new-generation

model and HiLux is on its way to being

the number-one light truck in NZ for

the 30th year now that the impact of the

Thai fl oods is over.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE Honda Civic

Yaris

Dec 12, 2012 Page 5

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Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.© 2012 Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

Season’s Greetings

Danny Rezek Managing Director drezek@deloitte.com.au

Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season, from all of us at Deloitte Motor Industry Services

Grant Cameron Partner grcameron@deloitte.com.au

Mark Weaver Partner mweaver@deloitte.com.au

Dale McCauley Partner dmccauley@deloitte.com

Stavroula Papadatos Partner spapadatos@deloitte.com.au

Former Holden and HSVtop executive to pull nopunches in tell-all book

Crennan to ‘tell allCrennan to ‘tell all’’

By RON HAMMERTONONE of Australia’s most prominent

motor industry and motorsport

executives is promising a tell-all

biographical account of his 50 years in

the game, including an insider’s view of

some of the most explosive chapters in

Holden history.

John Crennan, who joined GM

Holden 50 years ago on Monday

(December 10) and went on to found

Holden Special Vehicles and Holden

Racing Team with British entrepreneur

and racing driver Tom Walkinshaw,

says the manuscript of the book titled

‘50 Years of Holden, 1962-2013’, is 70

per cent written, having taken

about 600 hours thus far.

The book’s subtitle –

People, Personalities, Politics

and Poor Performances – indicates the

book will pull no punches, with Mr

Crennan promising: “Like the way I

work, I don’t sit on the fence.”

Mr Crennan promises to cover

the Holden bust-up with racing icon

Peter Brock, the subsequent founding

of HSV, driver Craig Lowndes’

controversial departure from HRT,

Tom Walkinshaw’s business collapse,

and racing champion Mark Skaife’s

skirmish with Mr Walkinshaw over

the HRT ownership in the book due

out next year.

But the book also promises to be

uncomfortable reading at both Holden

and HSV, with Mr Crennan saying he

will outline why he believes

Holden has crumbled from

50 per cent market share to

about 10 per cent today – and

tarnished its brand image along the way

– and why “the ‘special’ seems to be

lost from Holden Special Vehicles”.

Mr Crennan worked at Holden from

1962 to 1987, rising to become the

national marketing manager before

becoming the founding managing

director of HSV in 1987 in the wake of

the Brock sacking, which meant the end

of the Brock’s alliance with Holden on

the Holden Dealer Team performance-

car division and racing arm.

Mr Crennan guided HSV and HRT

for 20 years until he ‘retired’ in 2007,

although he remained active as an auto

industry consultant and, more publicly,

chairman and chief executive of Kelly

Racing in V8 Supercars.

Kelly Racing has just formally

ended its relationship with Holden

and offi cially taken up with new

V8 Supercar entrant Nissan – 50

years after Mr Crennan started

work at Holden’s Fishermans Bend

headquarters in Melbourne.

Mr Crennan said he has been having

trouble fi nding the time to work on the

book, which he had planned to release

on the anniversary this week.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

John Crennan

Dec 12, 2012 Page 6

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Chinese giant SAIC inks deal for Thai production of right-hand-drive MGs

Thai MGs for AustraliaThai MGs for Australia

By RON HAMMERTONBRITISH-DESIGNED cars made

in Thailand by a Chinese company

are expected to land in Australia as

soon as 2014 after China’s biggest

motor company, Shanghai Automotive

Industry Corporation (SAIC), last

week signed a joint-venture agreement

to build MG cars in the South-east

Asian country.

Australia has been named as a key

export market for the right-hand-drive

MG range to be manufactured at a plant

operated jointly by SAIC Motor and

Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group

(CP Group).

The new partners announced the

deal in Bangkok, with SAIC taking a

controlling 51 per cent and CP Group

the remainder.

The factory is expected to be

completed by 2014 with an initial

capacity of 50,000 cars a year,

eventually growing to 200,000.

The Australian distributor for MG

Cars is yet to be announced, but

GoAuto understands that British-

owned Inchcape – importer of Subaru

cars in Australia – has been mentioned

in dispatches.

Inchcape group communications

director Ken Lee said from London: “We

don’t comment on media speculation.”

The famous British marque was

acquired by SAIC when it absorbed

Chinese rival Nanjing Automobile Group

that had bought up the remnants of the

dying MG Rover company in 2005.

SAIC set about rebuilding the

brand, using MG’s British design and

engineering team in Birmingham to

design fresh models such as the MG6

mid-sized sedan, MG5 small car and

MG3 light car.

These models are all built in China,

with some packs of parts shipped to

the UK for assembly for Britain where

MG is raising the profi le of the MG6 by

racing it in the British touring car series.

News of the Thai enterprise surfaced

in May this year when The Bangkok Post

quoted CP Group chairman Thanakorn

Seriburi as saying his company and SAIC

were working on a feasibility study for

a joint-venture factory to make at least

50,000 cars a year in Thailand.

Mr Seriburi said the study should be

completed by the fourth quarter of this

year.

CP Group – a sprawling company

that makes products as diverse as

agricultural machinery and pet food

– already has a joint venture with

SAIC, making more than a million

motorcycles a year in China under the

Dayang brand.

Those motorcycles might also be

in contention for Thai production,

according to The Bangkok Post.

The Thai-built cars are expected

to be shipped to right-hand-drive

markets around region, including New

Zealand where importer British Motor

Distributors has the MG sales rights.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

MG6

Dec 12, 2012 Page 7

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

We’ll drive them in. They’ll drive them out.

In a variety of media, millions of Australian car-buyers turn to Drive for trusted advice every day.

With expert and consumer reviews for over 500 cars a year, Drive is able to help influence your customers on their journey to finding the right car.

Make sure you’re here, when they are.

Benz looks to dominatekey market segments as model rollout continues

Mercedes growth planMercedes growth plan

WHAT’S COMING:A-Class March 2013

GL-Class May 2013

E-Class sedan/wagon Mid-2013

S-Class Q4 2013

E-Class coupe/cabrio Late 2013

A45 AMG H2 2013

CLA (compact sedan) H2 2013

GLA (compact SUV) 2014

GLK (mid-size SUV) 2014

C-Class 2014

By HAITHAM RAZAGUIMERCEDES-BENZ Cars Australia

will have a record sales year in 2012

and is confi dent of another in 2013, but

is focusing on leading individual market

segments rather than toppling arch-rival

BMW for overall volume.

A hectic launch schedule of at least

six new models – including the vital

all-new A-Class hatch and heavily

facelifted E-Class – plus new variants

of existing models will also keep

showrooms buzzing.

Mercedes will beat its 2010 record

of 18,272 passenger cars and SUVs

this year despite constrained supply of

the B-Class hatch and M-Class SUV,

including at least two months of zero

supply early in the year as stock of the

outgoing models dried up.

Topping the segment for mid-size cars

priced over $60,000 for the sixth year

running is the C-Class sedan and wagon

with 5970 units to the end of November,

representing growth of 4.9 per cent

despite an ageing model and the arrival of

BMW’s all-new 3 Series earlier this year.

Incredibly, the C-Class has become

the second-best-selling mid-sizer in

Australia after the Toyota Camry,

heading the just-replaced Mazda6

(5947 units).

Despite the supply squeeze, 2520

M-Class SUVs have been sold, coming

close to toppling the BMW X5 (2553

units) that traditionally occupies top spot

among large SUVs over $70,000.

Another supply-constrained car, the

B-Class, is also close behind its BMW

rival, with 1717 units to the 1 Series’ 1806.

The E-Class coupe and cabriolet have

a dominant 22.9 per cent share of the

segment for sportscars over $80,000,

while 673 sales of the SLK roadster

mean it comprehensively outsells the

BMW Z4 (115 units) and Audi TT (264

units) for sportscars under $80K.

In upper-large SUVs over $100,000,

the gargantuan GL-Class has a 44

per cent share, selling almost twice

as many as the Lexus LX and Range

Rover Vogue.

Mercedes-Benz Australia managing

director Horst von Sanden said the

company is happy with its performance

in what has been a challenging year in

which it has worked hard against low

consumer confi dence and “a high level

of aggression in the marketplace”.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREAMG on the double – next page

A-Class

Dec 12, 2012 Page 8

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Ser ious about Succe s s ®www.moorestephens.com.au

John Gavljak, Brett Fowler and the entire Moore Stephens automotive team would like to wish our clients

A safe and happy festive seasonWe look forward to talking with you in the new year

Brett Fowler, Partner John Gavljak, Partner Moore Stephens (Melbourne) Moore Stephens (Sydney)0418 187 759 0499 773 881 bfowler@moorestephens.com.au jgavljak@moorestephens.com.au

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Moore Stephens is a network of independent firms which are independent members of Moore Stephens International limited – members in principal cities throughout the world.

Mercedes predicts hugegrowth in AMG sales asCLA45 shown in testing

AMG on the doubleAMG on the double

By HAITHAM RAZAGUIMERCEDES-BENZ is expecting to at

least double Australian sales volume of

high-performance AMG models in the

near future.

Australia’s position as the world’s

strongest AMG market on a per-capita

basis and a cascade of new products

– including more affordable, smaller

four-cylinder cars – could mean sales

soar to 2500 units annually.

Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia/Pacifi c

(MBA) managing director Horst von

Sanden said 2012 is already guaranteed

to be a record year for AMG in this

country, with sales beyond 1100 units.

Mr von Sanden said there has been

a 50 per cent increase in sales of its

most popular model, the C63, and the

new ML63 SUV has overtaken the

E63 as second most popular breathed-

on Benz.

However, that could change once the

heavily facelifted E-Class and hot E63

variants arrive in Australia next year.

An AMG version of the all-new GL-

Class seven-seat SUV will also rumble

into town in 2013.

But it is the all-wheel-drive A45

that will arrive in the second half

of next year with a 245kW/400Nm

four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and

expected $80,000 pricetag that will be

the driving force for sales growth.

Due shortly afterwards will be the

CLA45 version of Benz’s new coupe-

styled compact sedan, also due in

the latter half of 2013 and teased in

a series of offi cial spy shots posted

on the Mercedes-AMG Facebook site

last week.

Mr von Sanden said the arrival of

these vehicles means MBA is “pretty

confi dent without exaggeration that in

the near future our AMG volume will

double if not more”.

“With the A45 we enter into the AMG

segment with a pricetag where people

who so far could only dream about

AMG can actually afford one and we

believe many of them will try to buy

one,” he said.

“We will continue to focus on AMG

because the market loves AMG and

secondly it helps us to keep our brand

fresh and aggressive, and last but not

least it is pretty good business for us.”

In addition to buying more AMG

products per capita than anywhere else,

the Australian appetite for the fruits

of Affalterbach places this country

between fi fth and sixth in the global

league table for overall volume.

For comparison, Australia holds

13th position in the world for standard

Mercedes-Benz passenger cars.

Speaking with GoAuto at a Mercedes-

Benz event prior to the Sydney motor

show in October, MBA senior product

and sales planning manager Volker

Schneider said Australian customers

would “rather buy a C63 or E63 than an

S-Class if they had the money”.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREMore reports – page 18-20

CLA45 prototype

Dec 12, 2012 Page 9

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

BMW exposes new coupeahead of Detroit show andconfi rms 4 Series moniker

3 Series Coupe to the 43 Series Coupe to the 4

By RON HAMMERTONTHE BMW 3 Series Coupe is dead –

long live the 4 Series.

The German company last week

confi rmed one of the worst-kept secrets

in the motor industry when it revealed

its new 4 Series Coupe in concept

form ahead of its public showing at the

Detroit motor show in January.

The design – which will also spawn

a two-door, four-seat convertible and

four-door Gran Coupe at a later date – is

believed to be faithful to the production

version, give or take a few twirls.

Based on past launches, we can expect

the convertible to be revealed at the

Frankfurt motor show late in the year

ahead of a showroom debut in 2014.

The fourth-generation coupe is

again based on the 3 Series platform,

sharing the same 2810mm wheelbase

as the sixth-generation sedan that was

launched in Australia early this year,

but gets greater styling differentiation

to set it apart from its cooking cousin.

BMW’s decision to remove the coupe

and convertible from the 3 Series range

is in line with its policy of standalone

nomenclature for its sporty models that

started with the 8 Series and 6 Series.

Next cab off the rank is expected to

be the 2 Series, removing the 1 Series

Coupe and Convertible from the current

entry-level model range next time

around.

The 4 Series is expected to go into

production in the fi rst half of 2013 and

arrive in Australia around July.

No powertrain or performance

details have been announced for the 4

Series ahead of the Detroit show, but

expect a similar range of engines to the

sedan, including a blistering M4 from

about 2014.

BMW Australia is yet to decide if it

will include a diesel in the new range,

as it tends to lend itself to the new-

generation TwinPower petrol four-

cylinder engines and turbo inline sixes.

Transmissions will be the eight-speed

ZF automatic that is now universal

across the range and a six-speed manual.

As BMW points out, the new coupe

is bigger in most dimensions than the

current model, but so is the new 3 Series.

Interestingly, the coupe is 17mm

longer than the sedan, at 4641mm,

15mm wider (1826mm) and 67mm

lower (1362mm).

The effect is a more road-hugging

stance, planted on big 20-inch wheels.

The extra width has been applied around

the rear haunches to accommodate a

wide rear track.

The biggest visual difference to the

current generation is the air opening

under the bumper, with gaping scoops

towards the sides, surrounded by

metallic edging.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Dec 12, 2012 Page 10

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Sime Darby - with career opportunities as diverse as

the companies we represent.

Driving your future forwardwww.simedarbymotors.com.au/careers

Expressions of InterestJoining the Sime Darby group of companies means you are part of a global group that employs more than 120,000 people in over 20 countries. In Australia, you’ll be part of an organisation of 200 people representing the sought after brands of Peugeot as the national importer, Porsche as a prestige retailer and Corefleet providing the mining industry’s needs for quality rental vehicles. With over 30 automotive brands under the Sime Darby Motors group of companies across Asia-Pacific, we are continuously seeking new opportunities to grow our businesses. Sime Darby Motors Group (Australia) is looking to expand our business in Sydney within the European brand sector for wholesale distribution. We are seeking expressions of interests within the following roles :

National Sales Manager (Job Code: 7549)Product Manager (Job Code: 7551)Distribution & Logistics Coordinator (Job Code: 7552)Events Manager (Job Code: 7553)PR & Communications Executive (Job Code: 7687)

We are looking for people who are passionate and enthusiastic about developing a career in the automotive industry. Please register your interest to be considered for any of the above positions once they become available.

For more information about this role, and to apply, visit the below website and search for the relevant Job Code .

Hybrid, coupe set to fl eshout new IS range as Lexusconfi rms Detroit premiere

Motown debut for Lexus ISMotown debut for Lexus IS

By RON HAMMERTONLEXUS has confi rmed it will reveal the

all-new 2013 Lexus IS at the Detroit

motor show in January.

At launch, the new model – based

on the current GS platform and with

styling from the LF-CC concept shown

in coupe form at the Paris motor show –

will come in V6 petrol and, for the fi rst

time in IS, four-cylinder hybrid formats.

Called IS250 and IS300h respectively,

these models are sure to be joined by

sporty F Sport and hot IS F variants,

along with a second-generation cabrio

and – in another IS fi rst – two-door

coupe form.

If Lexus follows its usual launch

strategy, the IS should hit the streets

of the United States and Japan within

months of its Detroit debut, and land in

Australia about the middle of 2013.

Lexus has already started its publicity

machine ahead of the global debut of its

mass-selling model and BMW 3 Series

competitor, giving selected motoring

journalists a drive of prototypes in

California after the recent motor show

in Los Angeles.

Reports from those drives suggest

the hybrid will be powered by a new

2.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle

engine, hooked up to an electric motor

driving the rear wheels.

Unlike the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the

IS is expected to get a D-4S dual fuel-

injection system – both direct and port –

as employed on the Toyota 86 sportscar

and other high-performance models,

enhancing both power and emissions.

And like other Lexus hybrids, it

will drive the wheels through a set of

planetary gears that act like a mechanical

continuously variable transmission.

Britain’s Autocar says the hybrid

can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in

about 6.9 seconds.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

IS prototype

Dec 12, 2012 Page 11

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Career Opportunities with Snap-on Equipment

2 Regional Equipment ManagersSnap-on is seeking two Regional Equipment Managers to manage and develop the Equipment business and contribute to planning, strategy development and execution. Experience in sales and distribution channel management, plus automotive industry and technical product knowledge is required. The positions will ideally be based in New South Wales, Victoria or Queensland, however, other locations would be considered.

Technical and Training Manager This new position will provide technical support and training to a network of distributors, service agents, OEMs and customers for Snap-on’s range of undercar equipment, including wheel aligners, wheel balancers and tyre changers. This role will be based in Sydney with national responsibilities.

To apply, please send your resume and covering letter to sota.recruitment@snapon.com

www.snapontools.com.au

R

Australian hopes high asJaguar prioritises sub-XFsmall luxury car program

Cat brand’s compact focusCat brand’s compact focus

By RON HAMMERTONJAGUAR Australia is hanging out

for the next all-new model from the

British marque’s development team –

a sub-XF small luxury car to take on

the likes of the BMW 3 Series and

Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Although no timing or technical details

have been given for the Jaguar cub, the

company has confi rmed in England that

the smallest Jaguar is its main priority

now that it has the F-Type on the way to

showrooms from next year.

Jaguar Australia brand manager Mark

Eedle said at last week’s 2013

XF Australian market launch in

Sydney that a smaller addition to

the line-up would be welcomed

by the Australian Jaguar team and

its dealers.

He said he could imagine

“something to bring in the

younger crowd” to Jaguar

showrooms, perhaps in the mould of

the RD6 concept shown by Jaguar at the

Frankfurt motor show in 2003.

Mr Eedle might have given a clue to

the fi nal design of the new model when

he said: “I would not want it to be a

conventional three-box saloon – we

have enough of them already.

“If we do do a smaller car, we should

uphold Jaguar’s position of pushing the

boundaries.”

Mr Eedle said Jaguar was “obviously

looking at the options” for the

new model.

“We haven’t said what we are

doing, but we have said we are

looking at it,” he said.

Mr Eedle said it would make

sense to derive more than one

body style off a new platform,

but that Jaguar would be

unlikely to turn out as many models

as some of its rivals.

“We don’t do everything,” he said.

“We do a couple of things really well.

“I would like to think we would do

multiple models, but not as many as

other people.”

Britain’s Autocar last week quoted

Jaguar global brand director Adrian

Hallmark as saying a new Jaguar small

car was a bigger priority than a crossover.

“A crossover would make more noise

for us than a saloon, but we already have

SUVs in the company and we’re not in

a rush to add to that,” Mr Hallmark is

reported to have said, apparently referring

to the wide range of SUVs produced by

Jaguar sister company Land Rover.

Mr Hallmark indicated the small car

would come in a variety of styles and

powertrains, saying: “You have to be

fl exible in that segment.”

While the RD6 concept revealed by

Jaguar almost a decade ago looked like

a scaled-down S-Type from the front, it

was a fi ve-door hatchback.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

RD6 concept

Mark Eedle

You won’t believe the difference. Either will your customers.

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Permagard is engineered and manufactured in France specifically to protect and prolong the life of the painted surface

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The coatings form a unique plasticised barrier against environmental attack and natural aging. The coat effectively becomes

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Before.

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Dec 12, 2012 Page 13

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With over 5,000 vehicle conversions per year, whichever one of our team members is looking after your fleet conversions you can be confident that things will be done right and on time… exactly the way you’d expect them to.

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Luxury wagon due herelate next year can reach100km/h in 3.9 seconds

Audi’s wild RS6 AvantAudi’s wild RS6 Avant

By MIKE COSTELLOAUDI has unleashed a lighter and faster

new-generation RS6 Avant, capable

of a blistering 0-100km/h dash of 3.9

seconds, ahead of its Australian launch

in late 2013.

Pitched as an everyday supercar,

the third-generation RS6 combines

wagon practicality – 1680 litres of

storage with the back seats folded –

with eye-watering acceleration and

an autobahn-conquering 305km/h top

speed (provided the 250km/h electronic

limiter is switched off).

The Ingolstadt marque’s latest uber-

wagon packs a more potent version of

Audi’s familiar 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8

engine with 412kW of power between

5700 and 6700rpm and 700Nm of

torque between 1750 and 5500rpm.

This is 14kW less but 50Nm more

than the mighty 5.0-litre V10 used in

the previous model sold in Australia

between October 2008 and 2010 from

$260,114 plus on-roads, but a weight

loss in the order of 100kg has trimmed

the standing sprint time by seven tenths,

down from 4.6 seconds.

Australian pricing and specifi cations for

the new RS6 will have to wait until closer

to launch late next year, but its addition

will give Audi’s local arm a two-pronged

RS wagon attack, with the smaller RS4

Avant set for launch in early 2013.

That 3.9-second sprint time means the

RS6 is not only eight tenths faster than

the RS4, but 0.5 seconds quicker than

BMW’s similarly sized and equally

powerful M5 sedan.

The lighter kerb weight stems from

greater use of weight-saving materials

like aluminium (20 per cent in total),

and also brings claimed benefi ts to

handling and fuel consumption. The

new model uses a claimed 9.8 litres per

100km – down from 14L/100km on its

thirstier predecessor.

As with other applications of the

TFSI engine in less-powerful models

like the S6 and S7, fuel-conserving

features including idle-stop and cylinder

deactivation are fi tted as standard. The

latter shuts down the inlet and exhaust

valves, starving four of the engine’s

eight cylinders.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Dec 12, 2012 Page 14

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

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AE

2

Mitsubishi looks to snare 1000 sales a month withsofter-focused, economical and more refi ned SUV

Outlander on Outlander on the prowlthe prowl

PRICING:2.0 ES 2WD $28,990

2.0 ES 2WD (a) $31,240

2.0 LS 2WD (a) $34,990

2.4 ES 4WD (a) $33,990

2.4 LS 4WD (a) $38,990

2.2 Diesel LS 4WD (a) $40,990

2.4 Aspire 4WD (a) $43,490

2.2 Diesel Aspire 4WD (a) $45,490

By MIKE COSTELLOMITSUBISHI Motors Australia

Limited says substantial improvements

to fuel economy and cabin refi nement

– plus a marginally sharper new

starting price – will help drive its new-

generation Outlander to record sales

and return it to the

pointy end of the

compact SUV sales

charts.

The new third-

generation model

was launched to the

media this week,

with a starting price

of $28,990 plus on-

road costs for the front-drive ES petrol

– $350 lower than before but tempered

by a less powerful 2.0-litre engine – and

diesel availability for the fi rst time.

Again available with seven seats when

sold in all-wheel-drive guise – unusual

for the segment – the new model is said

to address common complaints against

the old model by softening the cabin

plastics and dampening noise, vibration

and harshness levels inside.

At this week’s launch – which comes

three weeks after the car began arriving

in showrooms and almost two months

after local pricing was announced –

the company said it

would target 1000

sales a month for the

new model, up more

than 30 per cent

on the superseded

model.

These fi gures

would not only give

MMAL a potent

one-two punch at the smaller end of the

SUV market – with the Outlander to

sell alongside the smaller and recently

facelifted ASX – but would also be

crucial to the company’s goal of growing

its overall sales by 20 per cent in 2013.

After a disappointing year that has

seen sales drop 2.8 per cent to 54,786 to

the end of November – in a market up

9.8 per cent and set to break the existing

annual record – the company this week

said it was aiming to grow annual sales

to around 72,000 next year.

This will be aided by not only the new

Outlander, but also the Mirage light car

due in the fi rst quarter, which is expected

to add “at least” several hundred sales per

month to the tally after its Colt predecessor

was discontinued earlier this year.

The new Outlander arrives amid a

barrage of activity from rival brands

in the hotly contested compact SUV

market, with the imminent local release

of all-new contenders including the

fourth-generation Subaru Forester and

latest Toyota RAV4 in February.

Mazda is also gearing up to offer

a more powerful 2.5-litre SkyActiv

petrol version of its popular CX-5

early next year, while Honda lobbed

its new CR-V last month priced $1500

lower than the Mitsubishi.

Continued page 16

THE DOMINELLI GROUP is a family-owned automotive business and a trusted name in the community

since 1969. We owe our success to our valued customers and our committed team, many of whom

have been with us for more than 30 years.

(5) franchises consisting of Ford, Mazda, Nissan,

Suzuki, and a new Peugeot dealership just opened.

During the next 12 months we plan to develop two state-of-the-art multi-storey dealerships in the

St George and Sutherland areas at an investment of over $40 million to house many of our existing

brands along with some exciting new franchises.

quality professional staff we will need to see our group grow to sales of over 4,000 units per annum

whilst servicing the needs of over 30,000 customers per annum.

We invite applications from both experienced motor industry professionals and those wishing

> BUSINESS Manager > USED CAR SALES Consultants x 2

> NEW CAR Manager > SALES Trainees x 2

> USED CAR Manager > REGISTRATIONS Clerk

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The successful applicants will enjoy rewarding remuneration packages commensurate with the roles,

and the opportunity to advance within the group as we grow in the coming years.

If you think you have what it takes to join our group and are looking for an exciting new role with career

careers@dominelligroup.com.au

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SKY’sthe limit!The

Dominelli Group Dealership concept.

Dec 12, 2012 Page 16

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Outlander on the prowlOutlander on the prowlContinued from page 14

While front-drive Outlander models

are powered by a 110kW/195Nm

2.0-litre petrol engine, all-wheel-drive

models come with a largely carried-over

124kW/220Nm 2.4-litre MIVEC petrol

unit (actually 1kW and 6Nm down on

the old one) or a 110kW/360Nm turbo-

diesel engine.

The newly developed oil-burner,

which will replace the 169kW/291Nm

3.0-litre V6 petrol, consumes a

claimed 5.8 litres of diesel per 100km

(0.1L/100km more than the Mazda

CX-5 diesel but almost half that of the

V6), matched exclusively to a six-speed

automatic transmission and AWD.

The entry-level 2.0-litre petrol

engine’s fuel consumption is rated at

6.6L/100km when paired with a CVT

(continuously variable transmission) auto

or 7.0L/100km with a fi ve-speed manual.

The 2.4-litre engine that lives on for

AWD variants is only available with

the CVT and consumes 7.5L/100km

– almost 17 per cent better than the

outgoing model’s 9.0L/100km.

Mitsubishi attributes the improved

fuel consumption to the new Outlander’s

lighter 1610kg kerb weight, improved

aerodynamics and a new Eco Drive

Assistant system that more effi ciently

runs the engine, air-conditioning and

AWD systems while encouraging an

effi cient driving style through a point-

scoring system.

MMAL will add a segment-fi rst

plug-in petrol-electric hybrid option

to the local range in mid-2013. This

powertrain is capable of a range in

excess of 880km, consuming as little as

1.6L/100km.

Neither the diesel engine nor a seven-

seat confi guration will be offered with

two-wheel drive, because MMAL

believes there will be insuffi cient demand.

Furthermore, despite being available in

Europe, the company has not established

what it deems a viable business case for

a fuel-saving idle-stop system, citing

higher running costs associated with the

pricier batteries required to handle the

loads put through them.

All Outlanders will come with seven

airbags, rear parking sensors and hill-

start assist.

This week ANCAP announced the

expected fi ve-star safety rating for all

Outlander models.

Flagship Aspire variants can be

specifi ed with a $5500 option pack that

includes autonomous emergency braking

and an adaptive cruise control system

that works down to low speeds for more

relaxed driving in slow-moving traffi c.

Boot space is 477 litres, expanding

to 1608 litres with the rear two rows of

seats folded. This is substantially down

on the 597L/1691L that could fi t in the

old model, and is due largely to the

raised cargo fl oor.

Standard equipment includes climate

control, cruise control, Bluetooth phone

and audio streaming, voice control,

auto-folding door mirrors, leather trim

on the gearknob and the tilt/reach-

adjustable multi-function steering

wheel, a six-speaker audio system, an

immobiliser, security alarm and 16-inch

steel wheels with full-size spare.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE DRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE

Dec 12, 2012 Page 17

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Design, tech overhaul for Mazda’s seven-seat SUV, now priced from $44,525

CX-9 starts freshCX-9 starts fresh

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1/83 Greenhill RoadWayville, SA 5034www.revuu.comSydney Melbourne Adelaide Perth

PRICING:Classic FWD (a) $44,525

Luxury FWD (a) $52,980

Luxury AWD (a) $57,480

Grand Touring AWD (a) $63,828

By HAITHAM RAZAGUIMAZDA has offi cially launched the

facelifted CX-9 seven-seat SUV onto

the Australian market following its

world debut at the Sydney motor show

in October.

All variants now get standard

Bluetooth streaming and USB

connectivity, satellite navigation is

included on all but the entry-level

Classic variant, and the fl agship Grand

Touring gains a raft of new safety and

driver assistance technology, though at

a price.

Entry to the range has increased by

$100 to $44,525 plus on-road costs

for the front-drive Classic, but further

up the range a hike of $1255 has been

applied to mid-spec Luxury variants

in front-drive ($52,980) and all-wheel

drive ($57,480) guises while the top-

fl ight AWD Grand Touring is $2223

more expensive at $63,828.

However, Mazda argues that the

Luxury model, now equipped with

standard sat-nav, is $1345 less expensive

compared with the outgoing model with

the navigation option box ticked.

Bringing the CX-9 into line with

the smaller CX-5 SUV and just-

launched Mazda6 mid-sizer is revised

exterior styling that refl ects Mazda’s

‘Kodo’ design language, comprising

redesigned grille, bumpers, headlights

and tail-lights.

Interior changes are more subtle, with

a more upmarket

feel achieved by

Bordeaux-coloured

trim strips on the

centre console

complemented by

coloured stitching

on new suede door trims, an upgraded

fi nish on the instruments, a redesigned

gear selector and smoother leather for the

steering wheel.

An upgraded infotainment system,

claimed to be more user-friendly,

features voice control and the Bluetooth

streaming system enables the driver to

control a connected audio device via

buttons on the steering wheel.

The CX-9’s hands-free telephony

feature has been enhanced with better

noise suppression and a 1000-entry

contacts database with simpler voice-

controlled call initiation and speed-dial

function.

A new TomTom satellite-navigation

system, previously optional but now

standard on mid-range Luxury models,

can accurately calculate journey times

based on historical data, display road and

traffi c conditions,

and receive map and

software updates via

an SD memory card.

Technology takes

a leap forward on

the Grand Touring

fl agship variant, which in addition to

the new LED daytime running lights

and keyless entry/start, gains automatic

high beam, blind-spot monitoring, lane

departure warning, forward collision

warning and rear parking sensors.

As before, FWD-only Classic

variants come with a reversing camera,

three-zone climate control, automatic

headlights and wipers, 18-inch wheels,

six airbags and a full complement of

electronic traction, stability and braking

aids plus roll stability control.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE For drive impressions, go to

GoAuto.com.au from this afternoon

Dec 12, 2012 Page 18

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

Our specialists provide a wide range of fi nancial and consulting services to the automotive sector throughout Australia including:• Benchmarking• Budgeting• Business planning and strategy• Dealership acquisitions and sales• Executive recruitment• Franchise applications• Fraud reviews

• Incentive pay plans• Liquidity reviews• Operational reviews• Succession & estate planning• Tax reviews• Training• Valuations.

SPECIFICAUTOMOTIVE EXPERTISE

Distinctively different – it’s how we see you1300 138 991 bdo.com.au

Four-cylinder diesel seesCLS Shooting Brake startfrom $129K Down Under

Mercedes’ Shooting starMercedes’ Shooting star

PRICING:CLS250 CDI (a) $129,000

CLS350 (a) $173,000

By HAITHAM RAZAGUIMERCEDES-BENZ has launched

the CLS Shooting Brake wagon into

Australian showrooms with a starting

price of $129,000 plus on-road costs

– $30,200 cheaper than the swoopy

coupe-styled sedan on which it is based.

The price difference comes courtesy

of the entry-level CLS250 CDI Shooting

Brake, powered by an effi cient 2.1-litre

four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine

that brings luxury car tax benefi ts.

A shorter standard equipment list

compared with the base CLS sedan

also keeps costs down,

with the Harman

Kardon sound system,

TV tuner, Thermotronic

three-zone climate-control system

and LED headlights all consigned to

the options list.

CLS sedans start with a 3.0-litre

diesel V6 in the $159,200 CLS350 CDI

but will be available in the new entry-

level specifi cation from January.

Given the $173,000 petrol V6 CLS350

Shooting Brake commands an $8930

premium over the equivalent sedan,

entry to the CLS range is expected to

drop towards the $120,000 mark when

the four-cylinder diesel variant arrives.

Hot V8-powered AMG variants –

other than the four exclusive CLS63

AMG ‘Edition 1’ cars that arrived along

with the fi rst Shooting Brake shipment –

will launch here around March, expected

to cost in the region of $270,000.

Compared with the CLS sedan,

Shooting Brakes come

standard with AMG

styling including 19-

inch alloy wheels, twin

trapezoidal tailpipes, AMG single-

louvre grille, sports suspension,

stainless-steel pedals, a sports steering

wheel and carpet mats.

Wagon-exclusive practicality features

comprise an automatic tailgate, self-

levelling rear suspension, a load cover

and cargo net.

A three-seater rear bench and extra

rear headroom also create more

practicality than the sedan, as does the

1550-litre maximum luggage capacity.

Technology highlights of the CLS250

CDI include satellite navigation with

SUNA traffi c updates and a voice-

controlled Comand APS infotainment

system with internet access, 10GB

music storage, Bluetooth phone and

audio streaming and inputs for USB,

SD memory cards and auxiliary audio.

Self-parking, climate control and

cruise control are standard, as are self-

dimming mirrors, leather upholstery,

a glass sunroof, ambient lighting and

electric front seat adjustment with

memory.

The 150kW/500Nm diesel engine

comes with idle-stop, drives the rear

wheels through a seven-speed automatic

transmission to deliver 0-100km/h in

7.8 seconds, and consumes 5.5 litres of

fuel per 100km on the combined cycle.

Petrol V6-powered CLS350 Shooting

Brakes are better equipped than the

sedan equivalent, packing a driver

assistance technology pack with

adaptive cruise control, autonomous

braking, blind-spot monitoring and

lane-keeping assistance.

Keyless entry/start and DAB+ digital

radio reception are also included.

Like the sedan equivalent, Harman

Kardon premium sound system,

digital TV tuner, three-zone climate

control, adaptive LED headlights

and nano-ceramic metallic paint are

standard equipment.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREDRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HEREB-Class bahn-stormer – next page

Dec 12, 2012 Page 19

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

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Mercedes-Benz launches155kW B250 hero model,priced just under $50,000

B-Class bahn-stormerB-Class bahn-stormer

PRICING:B180 (a) $39,900

B200 (a) $44,900

B200 CDI (a) $44,900

B250 (a) $49,500

By HAITHAM RAZAGUIMERCEDES-BENZ has launched the

high-performance B-Class B250 fl agship

in Australia, capable of a hot-hatch-like

6.8-second sprint to 100km/h and priced

from $49,500 plus on-road costs.

Benz has also added extra equipment

– including making a reversing camera

standard across the B-Class range – in

return for a $950 price rise on B180 and

B200 variants.

The B250’s turbocharged, direct-

injection 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol

engine punches 155kW of peak power

and 350Nm of torque to the front

wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch

automatic transmission.

It matches the Golf GTI on power

and delivers 20Nm more grunt than

the all-wheel-drive Golf R it competes

with on price.

For comparison, BMW’s $45,700

125i produces 160kW and 310Nm but

the traction advantage of rear-wheel

drive and a quick-shifting eight-speed

automatic transmission enable it to hit

100km/h four tenths of a second faster

than the Benz.

The Benz, BMW and VW all

consume 95 RON premium unleaded,

with the 125i most frugal at 6.4 litres

per 100km, followed by the B250

(6.5L/100km) and Golf

GTI (7.7L/100km).

Mercedes has given the

B250 a menacing look

with a gloss-black and

chrome two-louvre grille,

dechromed bumpers, rear privacy glass,

black exterior mirrors, LED strip daytime

running lights and twin exhaust outlets.

Lowered suspension helps the black-

and-silver fi ve-spoke 18-inch alloy

wheels fi ll the arches, behind which

are drilled brake discs clamped by

Mercedes-Benz-branded callipers.

Finishing off the look are bi-Xenon

headlights with washer jets, along

with LED tail-lights, while the interior

features a perforated leather sports

steering wheel, stainless-steel pedals

and black roof lining.

Mercedes has also applied its Direct

Steer system, featuring variable

assistance and ratio, to refl ect the

B250’s sporty personality.

Lifting the entry-level B180 are

seven-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels

borrowed from the B200 and replacing

the outgoing 16-inch 10-spoke items.

A reversing camera –

previously a $590 option

– is now standard, and

Benz has upgraded the

self-parking system to

help the driver exit a tight

space, while the front foglights have

been replaced by circular LED daytime

running lights.

For customers to achieve the B250’s

look, they can apply the $1490 Sports

option pack, $990 Night pack and $618

bi-Xenon headlights option.

Despite the all-new model being

launched in April this year, B-Class

sales are down 19.8 per cent to the

end of November with 1717 leaving

showrooms compared with 2142 units

sold in the same period of 2011.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE DRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE

More Sport for C Coupe – next page

Dec 12, 2012 Page 20

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

PRODRIVE is a world leader in advanced automotive technology. Prodrive works with a number of vehicle manufacturers across the Asia Pacific region to deliver exciting and successful automotive engineering programs. We are currently seeking an experienced Chassis Engineer to fill a challenging and rewarding team role, based at Campbellfield, Victoria.

As Chassis Engineer you will be responsible for delivering chassis engineering programs for various customers in the Asia Pacific region. To be successful you will demonstrate at least 5-years experience in objective and subjective vehicle dynamics evaluations, tuning of springs, dampers, anti-roll bars and suspension bushes to meet vehicle dynamics targets.Knowledge and experience in using mechanical simulation software would be a significant advantage. Candidates must be prepared to travel overseas for short assignments to meet program requirements.

AUTOMOTIVE CHASSIS ENGINEER

To apply confidentially, please send your resumé and a cover letter outlining relevant experience to email: lgeorge@prodrive.com.au

AMG-developed C250 Sport pack arrives amidC-Class Coupe upgrade

More Sport for C CoupeMore Sport for C Coupe

PRICING:C180 (a) $59,900

C250 (a) $70,400

C250 CDI (a) $71,900

C350 (a) $99,900

C63 AMG (a) $157,900

By HAITHAM RAZAGUIAMG enthusiasts without the requisite

funds for a full-blown V8 Benz can

now go part way to satisfying their lust

with the Affalterbach-developed $8150

Sport upgrade pack, available on the

four-cylinder C250 Coupe.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has also

tweaked the specifi cation of most C-Class

coupe variants, with additional equipment

and price hikes of up to $1300.

Exclusively available on petrol and

diesel versions of the C250 Coupe, the

Sport pack Mercedes-Benz announced

at the Sydney motor show in October

applies tweaks to brakes, suspension,

engine and transmission, in addition to a

sporty cosmetic overhaul inside and out.

The AMG-tuned lowered sports

suspension has modifi ed bearings and

camber settings for sharper handling,

complemented by speed-sensitive

sports steering and bigger brakes.

A sports exhaust with sound

generator adds emotional appeal, as

do engine and transmission software

tweaks that sharpen throttle response,

simulate double-declutching, blip the

throttle on downchanges and swap

cogs more quickly.

However, engine power and torque

remains at 150kW/310Nm for the petrol

and 150kW/500Nm with the diesel, so the

pack is more about having extra fun with

the available power than boosting output.

It stands out as

something special with

its gloss-black 18-inch

AMG alloy wheels,

black exterior mirrors, an

AMG bodykit with mesh

air intakes, a rear spoiler,

black grille with dual chrome louvres

and Sport exterior badges.

Inside are AMG sports seats in black

Artico synthetic leather and microfi bre

upholstery, a fl at-bottomed sports

steering wheel with paddle shifters,

stainless steel pedals, aluminium-look

gearlever, red seatbelts, red stitching

throughout the interior, black roof

lining and red-edged AMG fl oor mats.

Buyers who want the show but not

the go – or like the look but neither of

the C250 engine choices – can opt for

the new AMG Sports Package, priced

between $4150 and $5500 depending

on which variant it is applied to.

Meanwhile, the entry-level C180

gains a new Becker Map Pilot satellite-

navigation system and fuel-saving idle-

stop technology in return for a $1300

price hike, to $59,900 plus on-road costs.

Petrol and diesel C250

variants and above now

come with electric driver’s

seat adjustment but no

change to the $70,400

(petrol) or $71,900

(diesel) price.

The V6 petrol C350 has gone up $500

to $99,900 and the V8-powered C63

AMG fl agship now comes $1000 more

expensive at $157,900.

C-Class Coupe sales are up 148 per

cent to the end of November with 2154

units sold, making it the brand’s third

best-selling model after the C-Class

sedan/wagon and M-Class SUV.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREDRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE

Dec 12, 2012 Page 21

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

PRICING:GT Premium Coupe (a) $75,900

S Premium Coupe (a) $83,500

S Premium Convertible (a) $87,900

Infi niti stable expands with high-class, sporting G37 Coupe and Convertible

G force twinsG force twins

Wholesale ClearanceTHRIFTY in the Northern Territory has approximately 200 vehicles for wholesale clearance over

the next 8 weeks. Models represented in the clearance include:

By RON HAMMERTONESTABLISHED luxury car brands

have some extra competition in the mid-

size two-door coupe and convertible

league from this month with the arrival

of Infi niti’s G37 range in Australia,

albeit only in Sydney, Melbourne and

Brisbane for now.

The likes of Audi’s A5, Mercedes-

Benz’s C-Class Coupe, the Lexus

IS250C and BMW’s

3 Series Coupe and

Convertible (to be

called the 4 Series in

the next generation

due next year) all are in the crosshairs

of the newcomer.

This G37 Coupe is more than half

way through its model cycle, having

been launched overseas in 2008. The

drop-top followed in 2009, but both

were refreshed in 2011.

In the United States – Infi niti’s

biggest and most established market by

far – a G-series sedan is also offered,

but because an all-new four-door model

is in the pipeline for launch next year,

Infi niti Cars Australia decided to forgo

that variant until the new generation

becomes available in late 2013.

Despite their age, the G37 Coupe

and Convertible both have a couple

of years to run before the next two-

door models are spun off the new ‘G’

platform by Infi niti – Nissan’s answer

to Toyota’s Lexus.

The G37 is Infi niti’s third model

range in Australia,

lobbing three months

after the brand

made its debut in

September with the

M sedan – a BMW 5 Series and Lexus

GS competitor in V6 petrol, diesel and

hybrid fl avours – and FX large SUV.

Speaking at the G37 media launch,

Nissan Australia managing director Bill

Peffer – whose company is responsible

for launching Infi niti here – said

Infi niti was not a “me-too” luxury

brand, attempting to shadow European

competitors.

He said Infi niti was set apart by its

distinctive Japanese design language,

customer focus – which includes pick-

up and drop off of customer cars for

servicing – and what he described as

“Japanese hospitality”.

Mr Peffer said that, despite the

crowded nature of the Australian car

market, Infi niti could fi nd a foothold for

cars such as the G37.

“We think we have some white space

for this car,” he said.

So far, Infi niti has opened only two

stores to date – in Sydney and Brisbane

– with Melbourne to follow in February.

Adelaide and Perth are about a year

away, with smaller markets to be added

to the sales network beyond that.

Although the Melbourne showroom

in Brighton is under construction,

buyers can still get a test drive from the

local dealer with a phone call.

Underneath, the two-door Infi niti

G37 is closely related to Nissan’s 370Z

sportscar, sharing the front chunk of its

front-engine, rear-drive platform and

the acclaimed VQ-series 3.7-litre V6

and other mechanicals.

Continued next page

Dec 12, 2012 Page 22

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GoAuto NewsJohn Mellor’s

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Japanese luxury brand’sall-new Melbourne retail centre to open early 2013

Infi niti’s southern lightInfi niti’s southern light

High-class, sporting G37 two-door twins reach Australia, priced from $75,900Continued from previous page

Because the G37 is a 2+2 four-seater

– the 370Z has just two seats – and

is designed to appeal to luxury-car

buyers, it sits on a stretched version

of the modular platform and has an

entirely different body.

The G37 Coupe comes in two

specifi cation levels – GT Premium

at $75,900 (plus on-road costs) and

sportier S Premium at $83,500.

The convertible version, with its folding

three-piece metal roof, comes in just one

variant – top-level S Premium, at $87,900.

However, customers can elect to add a

red-leather interior for an extra $2000.

All G37 models come with a single

powertrain – a 235kW/360Nm variant

of the widely used V6, making it a little

less powerful and torquey than version

in the 245kW/363Nm 370Z.

Although a six-speed manual gearbox

is available in G37 in the US, Infi niti

has elected to stick with the seven-

speed torque-converter automatic

across all G37 models here.

FULL STORY: CLICK HEREDRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE

By RON HAMMERTONWORK has started on Infi niti Cars

Australia’s third dealership, with the

Melbourne retail showroom and service

centre scheduled to open its doors at the

end of February.

The former Peugeot site in the high-

profi le Nepean Highway ‘golden mile’

dealership strip in Brighton has been

gutted in readiness for the fi t-out for

large Victorian vehicle retail group

Preston Motors.

Infi niti dealerships have already opened

in Sydney and Brisbane, with the latter

beginning full on-site sales at the Fortitude

Valley showroom only last weekend.

Melbourne sales have already started

behind the scenes, with Infi niti Brighton

staff answering calls and offering test

drives to prospective customers.

Infi niti planned to start operations

in the three east-coast capitals as

close as possible to the target on-sale

date of September.

Rollout plans in the southern capital

hit a speed hump earlier this year when

original signing, Penfold Group, handed

back the Melbourne franchise.

Rival Preston Motors stepped into the

breach, but the delay meant Melbourne

was without a retail site when the brand

– Nissan’s answer to Toyota’s Lexus –

went live in September with stocks of

Japanese-made FX large SUVs and M

mid-size sedans.

To the end of November, 76 Infi nitis

have been registered locally, and that

includes an initial batch of 12 Infi niti

G37 Coupes and Convertibles that were

added to the line-up last week.

Infi niti Cars Australia general

manager Kevin Snell said his

company planned to begin talking with

prospective dealers in Adelaide and

Perth in the fi rst quarter of 2013, with

the objective of fi nalising representation

in those cities by the end of the year.

He said that if customers in South

Australia and Western Australia wanted

to buy a vehicle from an east-coast

dealership in the interim, Infi niti would

arrange service by fl ying a trained Infi niti

technician interstate to do the work.

Mr Snell said the next priority after

Adelaide and Perth would be large regional

centres such as the Gold Coast, Newcastle

and Canberra, along with second

dealerships in Sydney and Melbourne.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Dec 12, 2012 Page 23

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Sub-$20K Civic HatchSub-$20K Civic Hatch

Small Honda now $20,000 cheaper than 2009 model

BARTONS MITSUBISHI ARE SEEKING THE SERVICES OF ANEXPERIENCED NEW MITSUBISHI SALES MANAGER.

3396 7777www.bartons.net.au BBG_182125

Experience is not required specifi cally within Mitsubishi but must be as an Automotive New Vehicle Sales Manager. This is an extremely rare opportunity within Bartons as this position has been occupied by internal staff/promotions now for over 10 years.

Bartons Mitsubishi are a family owned business and have now operated for over 66 years. Located on the Southside of Brisbane the dealership is multi-franchised along with Holden and Used Cars. With the distinction of being the Number One for customer service in Brisbane, the dealership has a very customer focused culture and is fortunate to have a very stable, loyal and long serving sales team.

The ideal candidate must be both customer and results driven and who is seeking an opportunity to work within a family business culture. They will also enjoy the benefi t of being able to work directly with the Dealer Principal to grow the business in both Retail and Fleet. Bartons enjoy a market share in their PMA consistently above 12% with Mitsubishi and eagerly await the release of many new products over the coming 12 months.

Remuneration will be commensurate with experience and consist of retainer, commission, bonuses, superannuation and company supplied vehicle. (The Bartons Dealership closes on Saturdays at 3:00 pm and does not trade on most public holidays).

If this position interests you, please send your resume in confi dence directly to the Dealer Principal - markb@bartonsbayside.com.au

Slow Malibu sales prompt‘early’ upgrade from GM

By TIM NICHOLSONCHEVROLET’S mid-size Malibu,

which will launch in Australia next year

wearing Holden badges, is set to receive

a midlife update by the end of 2013, just

18 months after its release in the US.

The Malibu refresh comes after poor

early media reviews and disappointing

sales of the mid-size contender that

will be Holden’s replacement for the

Korean-built Epica.

The Australian-market Malibu

revealed in July will feature a different

front-end design to that of the US

version, with Holden opting for a similar

open grille to that of the local Cruze,

while the Chevrolet maintains the two-

piece grille used on most of its models.

Holden has yet to advise GoAuto

whether the Australian-spec Malibu

will include the latest updates.

General Motors engineers are

reportedly rushing to complete the

Malibu mid-cycle refresh, as GM CEO

Dan Akerson confi rmed the update to

US industry journal Automotive News

last week.

“We are going to do a mid-cycle

enhancement, not dramatic, by this

time next year,” he said.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

By RON HAMMERTONHONDA has halved the price of entry

to its Civic Hatch range in just three

years, with the latest round of rollbacks

of $3000 or more making the British-

made fi ve-door small car’s list price one

of the cheapest in its class at $19,250

(or $22,650 driveaway).

The move downmarket is paying

dividends in the showroom, with Civic

sales up 62 per cent for the fi rst 11

months of this year and topping 1560

sales in November – up 250 per cent on

the same month last year, and its best

monthly sales since June 2008.

In 2009, the most affordable previous-

generation Civic Hatch in Australia, the

upmarket Si manual, had a list price of

$39,790 (plus on-road costs).

Through price and specifi cation cuts,

the cost has been progressively reduced

since then, chopped to $32,290 in

November 2010 and then to $29,990,

before the arrival of the all-new model in

June this year at $22,650 for the lower-

specifi ed Civic Hatch VTi-S manual.

Honda last month slashed $3400 from

that price as part of its annual clearance

across its model range, even though the

Civic Hatch has been on the market less

than six months.

This brought the price of the Civic VTi-S

hatch down from $22,650 to $19,250, and

the top-level VTi-L automatic down from

$29,990 to $26,990.

Honda has now confi rmed that the

sale price has become the permanent

list price, at least until the arrival of an

updated 2013 model in the fi rst half of

next year.

The 2012 hatchback VTi-S manual is

now cheaper than rivals such as the top-

selling Mazda3 Neo Hatch ($20,330), new

Toyota Corolla Ascent manual ($19,990),

Hyundai i30 Active Hatch ($20,990) and

Holden Cruze CD Hatch ($21,490).

Honda Australia spokesman Lindsay

Smalley told GoAuto that the 2013

model would bring equipment changes,

likely resulting in a price realignment.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE Malibu

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GoAuto InBrief

John Mellor’s

Dec 12, 2012 Page 24

THE (slightly) faster Fiesta is back! Based on the German-made WS rather than the Thai-built WT models, the Metal not only reintroduces reach-adjustable steering and soft-touch dashboards to Ford’s fab light car, it adds a sprinkling of extra performance and spicier dynamics, in a well-equipped value package.

Ford Fiesta Metal 3-dr hatch

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

GoAuto’s latest car review www.GoAuto.com.au

A slice of AstonA slice of Aston

Italian fi rm wins 37.5 per cent stake in Aston MartinBy HAITHAM RAZAGUI

FORMER Ducati owner

Investindustrial, an Italian private

equity fund, has secured a 37.5 per cent

stake in British sportscar brand Aston

Martin for £150 million ($A230m).

A parts and technology-sharing

arrangement with Mercedes-Benz

performance arm AMG was mooted as

part of the Investindustrial deal but was

not mentioned in the announcement,

and there are now confl icting reports

over whether it will happen.

As reported last month, Indian

conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra

had offered Aston’s Kuwaiti majority

shareholder, Investment Dar, a larger

sum than Investindustrial and was

tipped to win the two-way investment

battle for up to a 50 per cent stake.

However, Investindustrial’s

experience with turning around

premium motorcycle brand Ducati,

which it sold to Volkswagen Group

luxury brand Audi for $US1.1 billion

($A1.05b) in April, along with the

unconfi rmed AMG link, was thought to

be more benefi cial than cold hard cash.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

LEAF FALLS TO $47K D/ANISSAN Australia has slashed the

driveaway price of its all-electric

Leaf by more than $8000 and added a

number of cut-price fi nance options to

move the current model ahead of the

expected launch of a lighter and more

effi cient new version next year.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

PAJERO BOOSTER SHOTMITSUBISHI has shuffl ed its long-

standing Pajero large SUV range in

Australia, deleting the entry-level GL

and replacing the mid-range GLS model

with a new GLX-R variant.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

LATEST ANCAP RESULTSA QUARTET of SUVs and a French

hatch have been awarded the maximum

fi ve-star crash safety rating in the latest

round of ANCAP testing.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

NO FIVE-DOOR FIESTA STFORD has announced that its much-

anticipated German-built Fiesta ST hot

hatch will be available in Australia only as

a three-door when it hits local showrooms

around the third quarter of 2013.

The company had been weighing up

whether it could offer the Mexican-built

US-market fi ve-door version – revealed

in Los Angeles last month – considering

the vast majority of light vehicle sales

here are fi ve-door models.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

THIS is our fi nal issue of GoAutoNews

for 2012, and time for us to again

thank our valued readers, subscribers,

advertisers and affi liates – all of

whom have continued to provide great

support to Australia’s number one

automotive industry journal.

Our fi rst issue back is scheduled

for the week commencing Sunday,

January 13.

In the meantime, keep an eye on

GoAuto.com.au for the latest news

and reviews.

– TERRY MARTIN, Editor

THAT TIME OF YEAR...

To apply, please send your application including a current resumé, quoting the job reference and preferred location, to the HR Business Partner via email: careers@mmal.com.au or for a

www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au

love that career

NEW YEAR, NEW CAREER?

MITSUBISHI MOTORSof new models being introduced, including the all new Mirage and the new Outlander PHEV with its state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid technology, we’re boosting our people power with new

Regional Aftersales Manager – 2 New Roles in NSW & VIC

In this key new role for the business, you will lead and develop a team of Parts and Service Managers that deliver a high level of business and technical support and develop a regional network that achieves our business objectives.

technical and business improvement skills to develop a regional strategy and lead their team to achieve success. Job Reference #GA109

– 5 New Roles in SA, VIC, NSW, QLD & WAReporting to the Regional Aftersales Manager, your focus will be to facilitate the successful parts and

for parts and accessories sales, service business growth, product improvement, customer satisfaction and warranty cost control. You will have a good grasp of the Aftersales business with experience in Dealer parts and service operations. Your strong technical skills combined with analytical, problem solving and business process improvement skills will be key to your success in this role. Job Reference #GA110

Area Sales Managers – NSW & VIC

Reporting to the Regional Sales Manager, you will be responsible for facilitating the successful new car

and ensure sales objectives are achieved through the communication and implementation of sales and marketing activities to dealers, assisting them to drive sales. You will be an experienced sales professional, with strong presentation abilities, excellent written and verbal communication combined with strong relationship building skills. Job Reference #GA111

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GoAuto Market Insight

John Mellor’s

GoAuto Market Insight – brought to you by Dealer Solutions

DealerSolutions

Means Performance.

Dec 12, 2012 Page 26

By TIM NICHOLSON and TERRY MARTIN

SUBARU Australia has ruled out

offering an entry-level two-wheel-

drive version of its fourth-generation

Forester to chase sales when it arrives

in local showrooms from February 1

next year, conceding it will not return

to the top of the SUV sales tree.

Forester has fallen from the number-

one position it held in 2008 and 2010,

placing fourth this year to date in the

competitive and crowded compact

SUV segment (or ‘mid-size’ as now

classifi ed by VFACTS).

At the recent preview of the all-new

Forester in Canberra, Subaru Australia

managing director Nick Senior said he

does not expect the popular SUV to

regain its title as the top-selling mid-

size SUV in Australia.

“I don’t really see a lot of change

because everyone ahead of us has a

two-wheel drive,” he said. “We can’t

compete in that.

“Our job is to try and maintain

leadership of the all-wheel-drive

segment of that category to try and

increase sales. There is no two-wheel

drive and no thoughts of 2WD; in fact,

there is not even a 2WD model available.

“Our future lies in all-wheel drive.

Our customers want us to talk about

AWD more. That’s where the focus is

moving forward.”

Subaru has sold 10,605 Foresters to

the end of November and is trailing the

Nissan X-Trail (15,007 sales), Mazda

CX-5 (14,355) and Toyota RAV4

(12,862), a new generation of which

will be launched within months.

The segment has also seen new recent

releases with Honda’s latest CR-V and the

third-generation Mitsubishi Outlander.

Outlander, CR-V and the three

models ahead of Forester in sales all

offer entry-level 2WD variants, with

the CR-V starting at $27,490 and

Outlander kicking off from $28,990.

Although pricing for the Forester will

not be released until early next year,

Subaru will fi nd it diffi cult to compete

with these entry-level prices.

Mr Senior acknowledges the

challenge of competing with cheaper

2WD models, but remains upbeat about

the prospects of the new Forester.

“We are still the number-one-selling

all-wheel-drive medium SUV in Australia

and there is still volume in AWD only,”

he said. “And with this car and some of

the features we are introducing, there is

potential to increase that volume.”

While the Subaru chief is looking for

improved sales with the new Forester,

he told GoAuto at the Sydney motor

show in October that the brand as

whole in 2013 would not repeat the

growth it has achieved this year on the

back of the new XV crossover.

Subaru sales are up 16.6 per cent this

year on 37,194 units, and if it performs

as well in December as it did last month

(with 3212 new registrations, 33.6 per

cent ahead of November last year), the

brand will break its all-time record of

40,025 units achieved in 2010.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

No plan for 4x2 Forester as Subaru sees its overallgrowth easing next year

Forester to hold fi rmForester to hold fi rmSubaru’s Top 3 Models in 2012

Forester XV Impreza

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Green issues in the auto worldGoAuto Green

John Mellor’s

SUBSCRIBE FREE: www.GoAutoMedia.com

GoAuto Green is brought to you by Better Place

Dec 12, 2012 Page 27

GoAuto Go reen is broughtto you by Bey tter Place

By MIKE COSTELLO in LAKIA Australia says it would not offer

the Optima Hybrid sedan here even if it

were to be made available in right-hand

drive, sparing Toyota competition for

its locally made petrol-electric Camry.

While Kia’s local arm admits it

would be a good look to offer an

environmentally friendly version of

the sharply styled family sedan, it

also claims the low uptake of hybrid

vehicles in Australia makes it an

impractical addition.

This is despite a growth in hybrid

sales of almost 50 per cent in Australia

this year, largely on the back of a wave

of new or facelifted models such as the

Toyota Prius C and Prius V, Lexus GS

and RX, and Honda Civic Hybrid.

The Optima Hybrid joins the potent

US-market Optima Turbo and the

supply-constrained Optima turbo-

diesel sold in Europe as non-starters

for the Australian market, something

Kia Australia public relations manager

Kevin Hepworth chalks up to local

attitudes toward petrol-electric cars.

“Politically, it would be good to

have one of the eco range in the

country, but practically it’s way down

the scale,” he said.

“Hybrid cars in Australia are not big

sellers, people don’t want to buy them

and they don’t want to pay a premium

to be seen to be green.”

The fast-growing Korean car-

maker’s fi rst hybrid model commands a

premium of at least $US4500 in North

America, which, when extrapolated to

local pricing, suggests Kia would have

had to consider a starting price close to

$40,000.

In the US, the Optima Hybrid goes

up against an array of rivals including

the Camry, Ford Fusion hybrid and

the Sonata/i45 hybrid from parent

company Hyundai.

Incentives including dedicated driving

lanes, as well as a general propensity to

steer clear of frugal European diesels,

make hybrid cars more popular in the

US than in Australia.

GoAuto grabbed the keys to a US-

specifi cation model on a recent trip to the

Los Angeles motor show, taking a quick

spin in North America’s greenest state to

see just what we’re missing out on.

For our money, the Optima is far

and away the sharpest looker in the

hybrid sedan race. We seldom discuss

subjective vehicle styling, but the edgy

design has been widely acknowledged

as a key factor in turning around

Kia’s fortunes and changing brand

perceptions since it fi rst appeared more

than two years ago.

Mechanical details for the US-spec

Optima Hybrid we drove closely

resemble those of the hybrid Sonata

(which Australia also misses out on),

with a 30kW/205Nm electric motor

combining with an Atkinson-cycle

2.4-litre petrol engine producing

124kW/209Nm.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

GoAuto takes a drive ofmid-size Kia hybrid butno launch agenda for Oz

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GoAuto Personnel

John Mellor’s

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GoAuto Personnel – brought to you by Motor Staff

Dec 12, 2012 Page 28

ADVOCACY ROLE FOR ANGOVE AS HOLDEN, FUTURIS CHIEFS JOIN LEADERS GROUP

By TERRY MARTINTHE federal government has appointed

former Ford executive William

Angove to the newly created position

of ‘Automotive Supplier Advocate’,

whose key initial role is to develop an

action plan to increase fl eet purchases

of Australian-made cars.

A former president of Ford Motor

Indonesia and 32-year veteran of Ford

Australia and Ford Asia-Pacifi c, Mr

Angove will work in consultation with

local car manufacturers, fl eet managers,

and state and local government

agencies to boost sales of Australian-

made vehicles.

He will also assist small and

medium-sized enterprises in the auto

sector “grow, diversify and compete in

new markets” and work in conjunction

with automotive envoys John Conomos

and Steve Bracks “to identify potential

international markets and customers”.

In a statement, federal industry and

innovation minister Greg Combet

said the government appointed a

car industry expert “who knows the

Asian market, understands the supply

chain and appreciates the quality and

environmental performance of our

locally made vehicles”.

Mr Angove’s appointment is part

of the $35 million ‘Automotive New

Markets Initiative’ announced in

August.

As GoAuto has reported, the fi rst

round of grants under this initiative,

which is a joint program between

the federal government and car-

manufacturing states Victoria and

South Australia, were handed down late

last month, with $6.5 million spread

across 10 companies.

In a separate

announcement last

week, GM Holden

chairman and

managing director

Mike Devereux and

Futuris Automotive

Group chairman

Bruce Griffi ths will join the Gillard

government’s new ‘Manufacturing

Leaders Group’ charged with helping

Australian manufacturing “seize the

opportunities of the Asian century”.

Chaired by Boeing Australia and

South Pacifi c president Ian Thomas,

the 22-member Manufacturing Leaders

Group includes representatives from

business, union and research fi elds

and was established in response to

recommendations made earlier this

year by a manufacturing taskforce set

up by prime minister Julia Gillard.

According to Mr Combet, the group

will “provide strategic advice to

government; build better links between

industry, the research sector and

government; and promote improved

capabilities to build more competitive

fi rms and workplaces”.

“The leaders group will focus

on major productivity challenges

such as building high-performance

workplaces and engage with other

parts of the economy such as capital

markets and the mining, resources,

construction and research sectors,”

Mr Combet said.

The minister said the group would

bring together members with a range

of expertise to advise the government

on policy settings “to ensure Australian

manufacturing takes advantage of

opportunities in Asia and other markets”.

ACTU secretary Dave Oliver has

been named deputy chairman, while

other members include Hofmann

Engineering managing director Erich

Hofmann, Australian Industry Group

chief executive Innes Willox, AMWU

national secretary Paul Bastian and

CSIRO CEO Megan Clark.

Ex-offi cio member is the department

of industry’s manufacturing division

head, Mike Lawson.

Mr Devereux’s appointment to the

group came a week after he urged

bipartisan support for the Australian car

manufacturing industry, and called on

the Tony Abbott-led federal opposition

to commit to the auto sector before next

year’s federal election – or risk losing it.

“I believe 2013 will be the year that

Australia decides whether it wants an

auto industry or not,” Mr Devereux said.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

William Angove

CORRECTION: Last week’s article

on the future of the Ford Falcon

said the 2014 model had received

$103 million in government

funding, which is incorrect. This

is the total investment, the bulk of

which is being paid for by Ford,

and includes $34m in federal funds

and a smaller, undisclosed amount

from the Victorian government.

Similarly, the $232m upgrade for

the Falcon EcoBoost and EcoLPi

models, and the Territory diesel,

was the full investment, of which

around $42m came from taxpayers.

Australia’s No.1

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GoAuto New Car Diary

John Mellor’s

GoAuto New Car Diary – brought to you by carsales.com.au

Dec 12, 2012 Page 29

DECLAUNCH

FULL NEW CAR DIARY: CLICK HERE

Audi Q5 ►

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Volvo Cars to invest $10.6 billion in next-generation vehicle platforms, enginesBy MIKE COSTELLO

VOLVO Cars will pump $US11 billion

($A10.6b) into its next-generation

vehicle platforms and engines, plus the

manufacturing facilities that produce

them, by the end of 2015.

The money will be spent developing

the company’s much-publicised

Scalable Product Architecture (SPA)

and its new range of four-cylinder

engines, which will underpin and

propel most future Volvo models

starting with the all-new XC90 SUV

due in late 2014.

And while Volvo was bought from

Ford by Chinese brand Geely in

2010, the company claims half of this

massive investment will be spent in

improving infrastructure in its home

market of Sweden.

This investment in its home market

includes upgrades and expansions to

Swedish plants and the creation of a

new body shop in Gothenburg, and will

represent one of Sweden’s largest ever

industrial investments.

SPA is designed to reduce complexity

by promoting the use of modular

platforms that can be stretched or

shrunk to accommodate various

model lines, thereby cutting costs and

allowing nearly all Volvo models to be

built on the same production line.

The modern architecture will

feature around 90 per cent brand-new

components from launch under the

new XC90, and extensive use of high-

tensile steel and lightweight materials

like aluminium will also lead to

weight savings of between 100kg and

150kg per car.

As reported, the future internal-

combustion engine range dubbed

Volvo Engine Architecture (VEA) will

comprise solely of newly developed

lightweight four-cylinder petrol and

diesel engines with fewer moving parts

and greater fuel effi ciency.

These engines will be up to 90kg

lighter and 35 per cent more frugal

than current Volvo powertrains and are

built to accommodate hybridisation

or the brand’s fl ywheel-based kinetic

energy recovery system (KERS),

which redistributes braking energy to

the driveline.

A new eight-speed automatic gearbox

will feature alongside these engines.

This architecture and engine

range debuted under the Concept

You at the Frankfurt motor show in

September, which previews the next-

generation S80 sedan fl agship that

could be badged S90 due to its larger

dimensions.

Other SPA recipients will be the

replacements for today’s V70 and

XC70 due in 2015, as well as the next-

generation XC60 SUV, S60 sedan and

V60 wagon models set for launch in the

latter half of this decade.

Other possible projects include

a third-generation C70 coupe/

convertible expected in about 2014,

plus a redesigned C30 light car.

According to Volvo Cars senior vice-

president of research and development

Peter Mertens, SPA and VEA will

free the company from any links to

previous owner Ford. One of the last

new Volvos developed under Blue Oval

ownership, the V40 small car, will hit

local showrooms in early 2013.

“SPA makes us technologically

independent, without any link

whatsoever to our previous owner,”

said Mr Mertens.

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

Concept You