Aurion attack

John Mellor's 

October 18, 2006 

Aurion attack 

Holden and Ford had better watch out. Toyota is back in town 

By TERRY MARTIN and MARTON PETTENDY 

FORGET all about the unloved Avalon. Toyota 

Australia has mounted its most strident attack 

on Holden’s Commodore and Ford’s Falcon 

with the launch this week of its value-laden 

Aurion large sedan. 

On sale from October 30 with an opening 

price of $34,990 – $1500 less 

than the Commodore Omega 

and $1000 below the Falcon 

XT (both with auto and air) 

– the 200kW Aurion has more 

power than either of the other 

two big Aussie sixes, better 

fuel consumption according to the relevant 

Australian standard and a head-turning list of 

standard features across the range. 

These include a six-speed automatic 

transmission (with sequential-manual shift 

control), six airbags – including full-length side 

curtain airbags and dual-stage frontal airbags – 

air-conditioning, electronic stability and traction 

control, and anti-lock brakes with electronic 

brake-force distribution and brake assist. 

Also standard on all models is an eightway 

power-adjustable driver’s seat (including 

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PRICING: 

AT-X (a) $34,990 

Sportivo SX6 (a) $38,500 

Prodigy (a) $39,500 

Sportivo ZR6 (a) $42,500 

Presara (a) $49,990 

lumbar), cruise control, power-operated 

windows and mirrors, remote central locking, 

backlit instruments and a security alarm, while 

premium entrants have uncommon features 

for Australian-built cars such as adaptive 

headlights and keyless entry and start. 

Telematics makes a return, too. 

The model variant naming 

for the Aurion – itself a name 

derived from the ancient Greek 

for “tomorrow” or “fi rst light” 

– is an interesting mix of 

nomenclature, with the base 

model (AT-X) and the sports 

lines (two Sportivos in the SX6 and ZR6) having 

obvious links with certain Ford and Holden 

models. The higher-series entrants are almost 

too bizarre for words. Prodigy and Presara? 

Toyota’s desire to distinguish the Aurion 

from the Camry – the sedan that has a great 

deal in common with its new stablemate and 

rolls down the same production line in Victoria 

INSIDE: 

THE MODELS 

THE STYLING 

THE CABIN 

THE DRIVETRAIN 

THE CHASSIS 

No. 358 

– is great among the marketeers. 

Eyebrows, if not hackles, will be raised over 

certain claims Toyota is making with its new 

Aurion. Hard facts such as power output will 

not be disputed, but Australia’s biggest-selling 

brand has commissioned “independent” 

research to argue that the Aurion has the most 

“useable cabin length” in the large-six class. 

It also claims Aurion is lighter than 

other Australian-built sixes, again citing 

“independent” testing showing the AT-X tipping 

the scales at 1590kg compared to its direct rivals, 

which weigh between 1625kg and 1694kg. 

Toyota has been careful to avoid making 

comparisons with the Camry, from which 

it draws its vehicle architecture, chassis 

components and some design elements, to 

name a few main areas. The two cars share 

roof and door panels and have similar interior 

and exterior dimensions, including an almost 

identical boot capacity. 

Continued next page 

THE SAFETY 

THE VERDICT 

THE FUTURE 

 

 

 

 

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John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

Aurion 

attack 

Continued from previous page 

Running on normal unleaded petrol, the 

3.5-litre quad-cam V6 produces its 200kW at 

6200rpm and has a torque peak of 336Nm at 

4700rpm. Power rises to 204kW on premium 

unleaded, and the ADR 81/01 fuel consumption 

rating sits at 9.9L/100km when using top-shelf 

fuel. Acceleration to 100km/h is a claimed 9.3 

seconds. 

Said to make Aurion the most powerful 

vehicle Toyota has ever sold Down Under, 

the 2GR-FE engine is also claimed to be the 

sole Australian-built big six to meet the Euro 

IV emissions standard, and hands the Aurion 

a four-star rating on the Federal Government’s 

Green Vehicle Guide – something other 

Aussie car-makers cannot boast. 

This is the car Toyota believes will 

reinvigorate the large-car segment 

in Australia, and which will be the 

fair-dinkum rival to the Falcon and 

Commodore which the Avalon was 

not. 

For GoAuto, it also raises obvious 

questions about cannibalisation of 

Camry sales rather than making true inroads 

into the market dominance of Commodore 

and Falcon, sales of which have diminished to 

worrying levels this year, despite the arrival of 

Holden’s all-new VE sedan. 

Stung by Avalon’s failure to meet its 

ambitious sales targets and Aurion’s 

positioning in the highly competitive large-car 

market, which contracted 20 per cent last year 

and lost its rating (to small cars) as Australia’s 

biggest vehicle segment, Toyota stops short 

of revealing specifi c volume forecasts for 

Aurion. 

“We always have the crystal ball out, we do 

have forecasting and we have our numbers, 

but by declaring them today we’d be revealing 

them to all our competitors,” said senior 

executive director sales and marketing David 

Buttner at Aurion’s national media launch on 

Monday. 

“We do not expect to dominate the 

marketplace. We expect Holden and Ford to 

continue with some strength in the market, but 

we genuinely believe we have a true competitor 

with which we can gain a much bigger share 

of that very, very large segment. But, frankly, 

we’re not putting on the table our 

specifi c volumes today.” 

While Toyota is adamant no Aurion 

sales will be substitutional for Camry, 

it has revealed enough information 

for GoAuto to make an educated sales 

estimate. The upgraded Altona plant 

is currently running at a maximum 

capacity of 140,000 vehicles annually 

and the company plans to export 

80,000 Camry and Aurion vehicles to New 

Zealand and the Middle East in 2007, with 10 

per cent of this volume to be Aurion. 

That leaves a total of 60,000 vehicles for 

annual local consumption and chairman 

emeritus John Conomos believes that, in the 

long term, Aurion will eventually prove more 

popular in Australia than Camry. 

Offi cially, Toyota Oz plans to build “a greater 

proportion” of four-cylinder vehicles than V6 

models at Altona, but Toyota sources have 

long nominated 24,000 annual sales – 2000 

a month or almost double Avalon’s eventual 

sales rate – as the break-even target for Aurion. 

To September this year, Holden has sold about 

41,000 Commodores, while Ford has shifted 

around 33,000 Falcons. 

Toyota is also evasive when it comes to 

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www.mellor.net 

O CTOBER 18, 2006 Page 2 

Outback testing 

revealing the total development cost for 

Aurion, because it claims the model was part 

of a global design and engineering program. 

Offi cially, $450 million was “the project cost 

of a series of local cars”, which included 

increasing production capacity from 110,000 

to 140,000 at Altona, which can produce a 

fl exible mix of both left- and right-hand drive 

Camry and Aurion variants. 

“In principle we are not able to divulge 

development costs only for Aurion,” said 

Toyota Technical Centre Australia boss 

Max Gillard. “The $450 million was spent 

exclusively in Australia for manufacturing … 

the lines get very blurred when you talk about 

a car that’s developed for both Middle East and 

some Asian markets.” 

Mr Conomos was more pointed. “Our 

investment is substantially less than the $1.3 

billion I believe Holden has spent on their 

series of cars, but you shouldn’t look at Aurion 

in isolation because Camry is the foundation,” 

he said. 

Furthermore, Toyota claims Aurion’s 

aggressive retail pricing, which Mr Conomos 

says will be augmented by “a very competitive 

fl eet buying price”, will not come at the 

expense of profi t margins. 

“We set rigorous cost targets and the $1500 

(base price shortfall to Commodore) is the 

result of cost planning targets that were started 

many years ago,” Mr Conomos said. “We will 

meet all our fi nancial targets.” 

On paper, Aurion looks to be a formidable 

contender. And the story has only just begun. 

The models - next page 

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Produced by GoAuto Newsroom: 

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AT-X 

GoAutonews 

THE MODELS 

WE HAVE mentioned some of the standout 

features on AT-X and all other models in the 

auto-only Aurion range. But when considered 

as a complete list, the value inherent in the 

vehicle is unmistakable. 

On the outside, the AT-X has 16-inch steel 

wheels, dual exhaust outlets, auto-on headlights 

and rear LED combination lamps. On the 

mechanical side, there is the 200kW 3.5-litre V6, 

linked with a six-speed automatic transmission 

with sequential-manual shift control. Consider 

also the inclusion of ABS brakes (with BA and 

EBD), traction and stability control, (two-stage 

inflation) dual front airbags, front side airbags 

and full-length side curtain airbags. 

Cabin amenities include air-conditioning 

(with pollen filter), an eight-way power driver’s 

seat (including lumbar), steering-mounted 

audio controls and a reach/height-adjustable 

steering column, Optitron backlit instruments, 

a transmission indicator, front maplights, cruise 

control, electric windows/wing mirrors, remote 

central locking, a security alarm, a dual centre 

console storage panel, six-speaker AM/FM single- 

CD sound system and, in the rear compartment, a 

skiport, air-vents, seatback pockets and a folding 

centre armrest with two cup-holders. 

The AT-X is priced from $34,990 – $1500 

less than its most direct rival in Holden’s VE 

Commodore Omega (with auto and air). A fullsize 

spare wheel is standard. 

PRODIGY 

OVER the AT-X the mid-series Prodigy gets 

16-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking 

sensors, front foglights, body-coloured 

mudflaps, chrome on the grille and interior 

doorhandles, leather seat and door trim, woodeffect 

inserts across the dashboard panel 

and centre console, dual-zone automatic 

climate-control air-conditioning (with 

push-button controls and an LCD 

display), external temperature read-out, 

a six-CD in-dash stacker, multi-function 

trip computer, “premium” Optitron 

instruments, a six-way power-adjustable 

front passenger seat (including lumbar), 

four-spoke leather-clad steering wheel 

(with multi-info controls), leather-clad 

transmission shift lever, tilt-adjustable 

front headrests and flocked pillar 

garnishes. 

O C TO B E R 18, 2006 Page 3 

Aimed directly at Holden’s Berlina and 

Ford’s Fairmont, the Prodigy is priced from 

$39,500 – $500 less than it nearest rival, 

over which Toyota claims it offers a $2800 

specifications advantage. 

Continued next page 


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AT-X 

Prodigy 

EDITOR: Terry Martin MANAGING EDITOR: Marton Pettendy JOURNALISTS: Neil McDonald, Byron Mathioudakis, Tim Britten PRODUCTION: Chris Harris, Luc Britten

John Mellor's 

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SPORTIVO SX6 

OVER the AT-X, the Sportivo SX6 offers 

sports suspension, additional rear bracing, 

an aero kit (comprising front bumper/spoiler, 

side skirts and a rear skirt), undercarriage aero 

enhancements, 17-inch alloy wheels (with alloy 

spare), sports headlights and rear combination 

lamps, a sports grille, front foglights, a rear 

wing spoiler, alloy-look sports pedals, sports 

front seats with “Atomic” fabric, black interior 

trim, a multi-function trip computer, threespoke 

leather-clad steering wheel (with multiinfo 

controls), leather-clad gear lever, a six-CD 

in-dash multi-changer, external temperature 

read-out, Sportivo-branded front and rear door 

scuff plates, “premium” Optitron instruments, 

net-type front seatback pockets and a metalliclook 

fi nish across the dashboard and doors. 

Priced from $38,500, the Sportivo SX6 is 

targeted at buyers of Commodore SV6 and 

Falcon XR6, which are priced at least $1500 

higher. As is the case with Prodigy and AT-X, 

options for SX6 include metallic paint and a 

pack containing a “moonroof”, rear maplights 

and sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors. 

SPORTIVO ZR6 

OVER the SX6, the premium Sportivo ZR6 is 

fi tted with metallic/mica paint, front and rear 

parking sensors, dual-zone climate-control air- 

Presara 

THE MODELS 

conditioning (as per Prodigy), black leather 

“Crossbar” seat trim, leather door trim with 

metallic-look highlights, six-way adjustable front 

passenger’s seat, keyless entry and keyless go (as 

per Presara) and chrome interior doorhandles. 

According to Toyota, 

at $42,500, Sportivo 

ZR6 is almost $3000 

cheaper than its nearest 

rivals in Commodore 

SS and Falcon XR8, and 

offers $2200 worth of 

extra equipment. ZR6 

options include the “moonroof” pack as per SX6 

and Prodigy with or without satellite navigation. 

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PRESARA 

OVER the Prodigy, the Presara has 17-inch 

alloy wheels (including alloy spare), adaptive 

front lighting, auto-levelling high-intensity 

discharge headlights 

(with washers), 

exterior chrome 

doorhandles, chrome 

garnish at the rear 

end, a “moonroof”, 

metallic/mica paint, 

the Toyota Link 

telematics service, satellite navigation, a 

four-spoke leather/woodgrain steering wheel, 

steering-mounted climate and Bluetooth 

telephone controls, an auto-dipping rearview 

mirror, illuminated vanity mirrors, 

rain-sensing windscreen wipers, a reversing 

camera, driver’s seat and wing mirror position 

memory (two settings), auto-tilt wing mirrors 

on reverse, keyless entry (including boot 

release) and keyless start, an electric rear 

sunblind, and front and rear Aurion-branded 

scuff plates. 

Positioned lineball with the likes of 

Holden’s Calais and Ford’s Fairmont Ghia, 

the Presara is claimed to offer $6000 worth of 

extra features. No options are available. 

THE OPTIONS 

Metallic paint (AT-X, Prodigy, SX6) $300 

Moonroof (Prodigy, SX6, ZR6) $1650 

16-inch alloy wheels (AT-X) $650 

16-inch alloys/rear spoiler (AT-X) $1150 

Moonroof/sat-nav (ZR6) $4850 

Sportivo ZR6 (left) and SX6 

The styling - next page 

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THE STYLING 


IS AURION just a bigger Camry? Without 

a doubt, Toyota Australia’s new large car 

comes from the same mould as its world-car 

partner which rolls down the same production 

line at Altona. The two have similar exterior 

dimensions and, on fi rst viewing, have a close 

– though not identical – resemblance when 

looking from side-on or at the rear-end. 

Both cars were sculpted using Toyota’s 

“vibrant clarity” design ethos, and as large 

sedans both vehicles make the most of their 

size with a low and wide stance and short front 

and rear overhangs. 

It is the front end where the Aurion makes 

its mark. Australian designer Nick Hogios - 

who had a role in ensuring the Aurion 

would have the blend of American 

size and European style that Toyota 

believes Australians favour - describes 

the bonnet and bumper treatment as 

“double concave architecture”. 

“To balance the hood, it has a lower 

front bumper which cradles it, (and) 

that leads to the unique tagline for 

this car: double concave architecture, 

which is the signature of the frontend,” 

he said. 

“Conventionally designed cars have 

architecture that is primarily horizontal 

– lamps, grille and bumper surface breaks 

are placed in a horizontal line. Aurion tries to 

create more drama and interest with vertically 

sculpted features balanced by lamps that are 

placed quite wide. This gives the car a very 

CONVERSION? 

distinctive face. 

“We know our market, and for the fi rst time 

we’ve had a big say in the design of our own 

vehicle from inception.” 

The Aurion’s 4825mm overall 

length is a mere 10mm longer than 

the Camry, the width is the same at 

1820mm and the 1470mm overall 

height is actually 10mm lower than 

Camry. Ground clearance on Aurion is 

146mm - 17mm higher than Camry. 

Underneath the Aurion is a venturistyle 

stepped underbody cover 

designed to maximise downforce 

on the front of the vehicle. There 

are fairings for the rear wheels which direct 

airfl ow around the tyres and hence reduce 

drag, while Sportivo models come with a range 

of aerodynamic features. 

In addition to visually appealing elements 

such as a rear wing spoiler, front bumper/ 

spoiler and side and rear skirts, both 

Sportivo models have rear fl oor and fuel tank 

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Sportivo ZR6 

undercovers to increase downforce at the rear. 

The Sportivo models have a drag coeffi cient 

of 0.292Cd, while other Aurion variants have 

a 0.301Cd. 

Other points of interest are in detail elements 

across the Aurion range, including the twin 

exhaust outlets (on all model variants) and turn 

indicators embedded into each wing mirror. 

According to Toyota, Aurion’s exterior 

design was voted better than all of its largecar 

rivals in every styling clinic the company 

conducted. Toyota research, more of which 

was conducted for Aurion than for any other 

Toyota Australia model, also shows that 

design was instrumental in the purchasing 

decision of 27 per cent of large-car buyers in 

1999, a fi gure that had reduced to 18.5 per cent 

in 2005. 

“Large-car buyers are less than impressed 

with the design of large cars,” said Toyota 

Australia sales and marketing chief David 

Buttner, who hopes Aurion will change that. 

The cabin - next page

John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

THE CABIN 

By TERRY MARTIN 

TOYOTA’S interior designers have attempted 

to emphasise the Aurion’s cabin space but to 

also create an enveloping cockpit environment 

through design elements such as integrating 

the centre console and dash stack. 

It uses the common theme of metallic-look 

surfaces and mock woodgrain to enhance the 

visual appeal of each model grade and, as 

designer Nick Hogios describes it, to integrate 

functional areas. 

It also looks cleaner with a foot-operated 

park brake – not every owner’s fi rst choice 

in this department – favoured over a consolemounted 

handbrake lever. 

Toyota claims that independent testing 

(which it commissioned) found that Aurion 

has the most “useable 

cabin length” in the 

large-six class, with 

1835mm from the ball 

of the driver’s foot to 

the rear-seat hip point. 

The electricoperated 

driver and 

front passenger seats 

found on all models across the range bar AT- 

X (which has a manual passenger seat) offer 

260mm of fore-aft movement. The AT-X 

passenger seat has a 255mm range. 

Euro-look fl at woven fabrics with embossed 

THE DETAIL 

Front seat headroom: 995mm (975mm on ZR6) 

Rear seat headroom: 975mm (970mm on ZR6) 

Front seat legroom: 1045mm 

Rear seat legroom: 1000mm 

Front seat shoulder-room: 1465mm 

Rear seat shoulder-room: 1445mm 

leather are used on Prodigy, Sportivo ZR6 

and Presara models. Interior trim colour relies 

heavily on various shades of grey – a standard 

grey in the base AT-X, charcoal on Sportivos 

and, on Prodigy and 

Presara, a lighter 

shade known as 

“Grege” (call it 

anything but beige, 

it blends ivory and 

grey). 

Sportivo models 

get sportier seats 

than other Aurions, with more pronounced side 

bolsters for the seat cushions and higher side 

bolsters for the backrests. 

Adjusting for reach as well as height across 

the range, the steering wheel on Sportivo 



models has a leather-wrapped three-spoke 

design with metallic highlights, while highseries 

variants use a four-spoke steering wheel 

with either black or silver accents. 

Large-diameter Optitron backlit instruments 

and meters are used on all model variants, while 

all grades other than AT-X have a trip computer 

panel (with an “AURION” welcome feature) 

housed beneath the speedo. This can show the 

outside ambient temperature, estimated fuel 

range, average speed, fuel consumption and 

trip time. 

Presara and Sportivo ZR6 are the fi rst 

Australian-built Toyota models with keyless 

entry/locking and keyless go. Push-button 

engine start and stop is featured on these 

models. 

The drivetrain - next page 

 

 

 

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John Mellor's 

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THE ENGINE 


POWER is one thing. But the Aurion’s Japansourced 

200kW/336Nm 3.5-litre quad-cam 

24-valve V6 is also being billed as the most 

advanced engine Toyota has offered yet in an 

Australian-built car. 

Codenamed 2GR-FE, and essentially the 

same engine found in the 203kW/342Nm Lexus 

RX350, the V6 has dual variable valve timing 

“with intelligence” (VVT-i), which is claimed 

to be responsible for improved performance 

– in particular boosting torque at low-medium 

and high rpm – and reduced fuel consumption 

and emissions. 

According to the manufacturer, dual 

VVT-i can alter inlet timing across a range of 

40 degrees (relative to crankshaft angle) and 

alter exhaust valve timing across a range of 

35 degrees. The result is optimisation of the 

valve overlap period relative to the engine and 

THE DETAIL 

Engine: 2GR-FE 3456cc 24-valve quad-cam V6 with VVT-i 

Power: 200kW at 6200rpm (204kW on PULP) 

Torque: 336Nm at 4700rpm 

Transmission: Six-speed automatic (with sequential shift) 

Driven wheels: Front 

Performance (0-100km/h): 9.3 seconds 

Consumption (ADR 81/01): 9.9L/100km 

Fuel tank capacity: 70 litres 

Towing capacity (braked): 1600kg 

THE GEARBOX 

CODENAMED U660E, the Toyota-designed 

and built six-speed automatic transmission 

fi tted as standard to Aurion has what Toyota 

calls “artifi cial intelligence” – an elaborate 

term to describe the adaptive shift pattern that 

alters in accordance with factors such as throttle 

opening angle, accelerator pedal operation and 

vehicle and engine speed. 

The U660E’s design includes two planetary 

driving conditions, with the amount of valve 

overlap ranging from one degree to 76 degrees 

(again, relative to crankshaft angle). 

Other engine features include roller rockers 

(with maintenance-free valve clearance 

adjusters), direct ignition, electronic control 

for the “acoustic control induction 

system” (ACIS) and a lightweight 

cast-aluminium cylinder block. 

Service weight is 163kg. 

The 3456cc 60-degree V6 has 

an oversquare bore-and-stroke 

relationship of 94mm x 83mm. 

Compression ration is 10.8:1. 

The 200kW maximum power 

peaks at 6200rpm, while the 336Nm 

maximum torque is produced at 

gear sets, creating a six-speed 

gearbox with a shorter shaft length 

and smaller exterior dimensions than 

a fi ve-speed unit. It uses an “ultra 

fl at” torque converter to reduce 

transmission length (by around 

12mm) and weight. The ultra-fl at 

torque converter also has a lowspeed 

lock-up damper for smooth 

low-speed lock-up. 

Both fi fth and sixth ratios are 

over-driven, with gear ratios as 

follows: fi rst – 3.300; second – 1.900; third 

– 1.420; fourth – 1.000; fi fth – 0.713; sixth – 

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4700rpm. Power rises to 204kW on premium 

unleaded, while fuel consumption rating sits 

at 9.9L/100km when using premium-unleaded 

petrol, as per the ADR 81/01 standard. No 

consumption fi gure is given for regular 

unleaded. 

Kerb weight is listed at 1590kg for the AT- 

X variant, with all models claimed to reach 

100km/h from standstill in 9.3 seconds. 

The engine meets Euro IV emissions 

standards, which is one rung above the Euro 

III minimum required under ADR 78/01. To 

achieve Euro IV, carbon monoxide emissions 

(CO) levels must be reduced from 2.3g/km to 

1.0g/km, hydrocarbon (HC) emissions reduced 

from 0.2g/km to 0.1g/km and nitrogen (NOx) 

emissions reduced from 0.15g/km to 0.8g/km. 

0.608 and reverse – 4.148. Final 

drive is 3.685:1. 

Toyota says a manual 

transmission was never in the 

Aurion plan – even for Sportivo 

variants – because manual versions 

account for less than fi ve per cent 

of Camry Sportivo variants. Toyota 

also claims it is made redundant by 

the manual-shift mode in Toyota’s 

new in-house 6-AT, which is 

lighter and more compact than its 

Avalon forebear’s fi ve-speed auto. 

The chassis - next page 

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GoAutonews 

THE CHASSIS 


CONSIDERING Aurion is built off the same 

global Toyota platform as the Camry, it should 

come as no surprise that the two vehicles have 

much in common on the chassis front. 

The Aurion is a heavier vehicle, in the 

order of 175kg considering that the AT-X has 

a 1590kg kerb weight (other model weights 

are still to be provided) and the Camry Altise 

weighs in at 1415kg. 

Aurion has the same “coil over” all-strut 

suspension package, with MacPherson struts 

with wide-based L-shaped lower arms at the 

front and dual transverse links at the rear. 

Suspension highlights such as multi-leaf/ 

multi-disc linear control piston valves in the 

dampers and a visco-elastic oil seal at the top 

of the damper body also carry over. 

As with Camry, the Aurion’s body structure 

makes “extensive” use of lightweight highstrength 

steel, and includes anti-vibration sub- 

 

 

 

 

 

frames front and rear and a reinforcing cowl 

front panel designed to increase rigidity across 

the front suspension towers. 

All Aurion models have the large V-shaped 

brace located behind the rear seat – as seen on 

Camry Sportivo – which links the 

rear suspension towers and the 

fl oor. (It also rules out a split-fold 

rear seat.) 

Underbody bracing found on 

Camry Sportivo is also used on 

Aurion Sportivo. Similarly, all 

Altona-built Sportivo models have 

in-built rebound springs in the rear 

damper units, which are designed 

to provide a fl atter ride during 

cornering. 

Spring, damper and rear stabiliser bar 

settings have all been tweaked on Sportivo. 

“Nachlauf” steering geometry is used, 

which locates the kingpin axis ahead of the 

axle centre, aiming to optimise straight-line 

 

 



stability and steering feel. 

Aurion rests on the same 2775mm wheelbase 

as the Camry and has the same front (1575mm) 

and rear (1565mm) track dimensions. 

The two vehicles also have braking hardware 

THE DETAIL 

in common – disc brakes at 

each corner, measuring 296 x 

28mm (and ventilated) at the 

front, and 286 x 10mm at the 

rear. Single-piston callipers 

are used front and rear. The 

standard ABS is a fourchannel, 

four-sensor Bosch 

5.3 system 

The AT-X and Prodigy both 

have a 16-inch wheel and 

(Dunlop) tyre combination (steel on the base 

model, alloy elsewhere) with 6.5J x 16 rims 

and 215/60 R16 tyres. The two Sportivos and 

Presara go up an inch, resting on 7.0J x 17 rims 

and 215/55 R17 Michelin rubber. 

The safety - next page 

Overall length: 4825mm 

Overall width: 1820mm 

Overall height: 1470mm 

Wheelbase: 2775mm 

Front track: 1575mm 

Rear track: 1565mm 

Ground clearance: 146mm 

Kerb weight: 1590kg 

Turning circle: 11.6m 

Outback testing

John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

THE SAFETY 


THE Aurion sets a new benchmark for 

Australian-built vehicles with the standard 

inclusion of six airbags – dual-stage front 

airbags, front side airbags and side curtain 

airbags – as well as electronic stability and 

traction control, and ABS brakes with electronic 

brake-force distribution and brake assist. 

Independent crash testing under the NCAP 

regime is still to be conducted, however a 

minimum four stars (out of fi ve) is expected. 

Toyota claims the Aurion has the highest 

body rigidity ever achieved in an Australianbuilt 

Toyota model, which contributes to 

reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), 

as well as improved crashworthiness. 

The front seats have an anti-whiplash 

design, along with seatbelt pretensioners and 

belt force-limiters. The rear three seats have 

a lap-sash belt with an automatic locking 

retractor, as well as head restraints for all three 

positions. 

Pedestrian protection measures include 

impact-absorbing brackets in the front guards 

and a bonnet “support frame” designed to 

provide uniform distribution of impact loads 

to reduce trauma to a pedestrian’s head and 

torso. 

All models have projector-type low-beam 

headlamps, while the Presara adds “adaptive” 

self-levelling high-intensity discharge lights to 

its low-beam performance. 

The adaptive nature of the Presara’s lights 

extends illumination when cornering. Each 

low-beam lamp has a swivel actuator linked 

to a dedicated ECU that extracts information 

from the steering angle sensor and the front 

wheel speed sensors. 

The articulation angle is specifi c to each 

lamp – the right-hand lamp has a movement 

range of 15 degrees, while the left-hand lamp 

has a 10-degree range. The system is activated 

when the vehicle is travelling forward at more 

than 10km/h and when the steering articulation 

angle is more than six degrees. 

Toyota has also reintroduced a telematics 

emergency roadside assistance and vehicle 

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tracking service with the Aurion. Fitted 

standard to Presara, the “Toyota Link” service 

enables car occupants to contact a customer 

service centre in the event of a collision, 

breakdown or theft, but is operational only 

when in GPS mobile phone range. 

The system now enables owners to have online 

access and the in-car controls are better 

integrated into the cabin, having been relocated 

from the rear-view mirror to an overhead 

console. The buttons are also more tactile, 

reducing the potential for driver distraction, 

while a new volume control with improved 

microphone and speaker system is also 

designed to make the system easier to use. 

The verdict - next page 

Paris, France São Paulo, Brazil Tokyo, Japan Troy, Michigan USA

John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

By MARTON PETTENDY 

PUT aside, for the moment, the fact that 

Toyota’s brand-new Aurion is really a newgeneration 

Camry sedan clothed in a different 

body, powered exclusively by a V6 engine 

and stuffed with loads more technology and 

equipment. 

And forget about Toyota’s last attempt at a 

Commodore-style sedan, the dead-and-buried 

Avalon, because – in its own right – Aurion 

delivers everything we expected from it. 

Underneath the more muscular, more 

aggressive and, dare we say it, more blokey 

exterior styling and the neatly crafted, highquality 

interior there is a superbly executed 

ride-and-handling package, motivated by a silkysmooth 

3.5-litre V6 that delivers both power 

and economy neither Commodore nor Falcon 

can match, and is mated to a fi rst-rate six-speed 

automatic transmission with manual-shift mode. 

Throw in, too, the fact that, unlike Holden’s 

new VE Commodore, every Aurion comes 

standard with side curtain airbags, a full-size 

spare wheel and body-coloured wing mirrors, 

(proper pull-type) door handles and exterior 

garnishes. 

Yes, tacky plastic wheel covers remain the 

most glaring external giveaway the AT-X is 

the cheapest Aurion in the range, but inside 

there is an upmarket ambience that both 

Commodore Omega and Falcon XT drivers 

will immediately appreciate. 

THE VERDICT 

Of course, current Camry owners will 

also be familiar with the largely carryover 

dashboard and console, which presents an 

array of large, push-button controls in a logical 

arrangement that falls readily to hand. Lexusstyle 

instruments look classy but probably do 

not provide incrementation that is accurate 

enough, especially in the absence of a digital 

speedo display. But the blue backlit centre 

console stack is all class. 

A wide range of seating and steering wheel 

adjustment will suit a variety of body shapes 

and sizes, and is let down only by a seat base 

that is a little too short and too high. 

The latter is exacerbated by a low-slung Apillar 

that is almost as intrusive as Falcon’s 

and almost as thick as Commodore’s and, 

besides the fi ddly foot-operated parking brake, 

is the only let-down in an otherwise highly 

ergonomic package. 

Stretching room is adequate rather than 

generous and an almost-fl at rear fl oor 

maximises rear legroom, which in isolation 

appears a good match for its rivals. Twin 

rear air-vents, four soft-sprung overhead 

grabhandles, a large lockable glovebox and 

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four decent door pockets are a boon, but the 

practicality of a split-folding rear seat like 

Falcon has is missing. Instead, there’s an even 

smaller ski-port than in Commodore and 380. 

On the move, Aurion presents all the hallmarks 

for which Camry is now famous. Feeling lighter 

on the road than Falcon and Commodore, the 

weightlessness of both hand and foot controls 

help to make Aurion confi dence inspiring to 

drive immediately at any speed. 

Noise suppression is excellent at most 

speeds on most road surfaces, though the 

lower-profi le 17-inch Michelin rubber beneath 

Sportivo and Presara is noticeably louder and 

rougher on coarse-chip bitumen than the base 

model’s 16-inch Dunlops. 

While the more fi rmly sprung Sportivo’s 

greater body control is worth the lesscompliant 

ride, the AT-X is far from fl oaty. 

The local suspension development work is 

apparent in the way all Aurions hold the road 

with European, rather than American, levels 

of composure over all manner of cambers, 

corrugations and cavities. 

Steering, too, is nicely weighted without 

being a chore at carpark speeds, and provides 

reasonably crisp turn-in and response in most 

situations – with only a whiff of steering 

kickback at the very edge of adhesion during 

hard cornering over bumps. There is no sign of 

bump-steer or steering rack rattle. 

Continued next page

John Mellor's 

bnwCUS3009/GAN/HP 

GoAutonews 

THE VERDICT 

Continued from previous page 

Torque steer, the bane of many powerful frontdrive 

cars, is also kept well in check – certainly 

better than in the 380 – but one can’t help feeling 

the (unswitchable) stability control system plays 

a big role here. Matching Commodore in its 

standard fitment across the range, it does a highly 

intuitive, effective and unobtrusive job of keeping 

the show on the road. For the vast majority of 

drivers in most conditions, switching it off (if you 

could) would be pointless. 

Which brings us to the powertrain, the real 

reason for Aurion’s being. Sure, it feels like 

there is 200kW on tap somewhere before the 

rev-limiter cuts in at around 6500rpm, and the 

Aurion V6 is a sweet-revving six that works 

brilliantly with Toyota’s pleasingly adaptive 

six-speed. But at engine speeds below 3000rpm 

acceleration is, at best, sluggish. 

Down low Aurion feels significantly more 

lethargic in terms of “step-off” torque than 

Falcon’s buxom 190kW/380Nm 4.0-litre sixpack 

and narrowly on par with Commodore’s 

3.6-litre V6, which makes only modest gains to 

180kW/330Nm in vastly heavier VE guise. 

Luckily, the six-speed auto’s quick and 

smooth-shifting nature masks its lack of 

bottom-end torque effectively, and its manualshift 

mode can be used to select a maximum 

ratio for decent response and engine braking. 

Thankfully, when in manual mode, it will 

change down but not up. The 6-AT’s two 

 

overdrive gears deliver outstanding economy 

on the open road, but in spirited driving over 

300km of wet, broken, undulating blacktop 

between Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo we saw a 

worst consumption figure of 13.9L/100km and 

an average of 12.5, which would only narrowly 

undercut Commodore and Falcon’s real-world 

figure in similar circumstances. 

Driving enthusiasts will rue the lack of 

a manual transmission or extra power in 

the Sportivo variants, but as a cutting-edge 

V6/auto combination Aurion will please a 

far greater number of daily drivers than it 

disappoints – and probably many more with 

sporting pretensions. 

Notwithstanding the fact Aurion’s boot is no 

bigger than Camry’s (but still larger than all its 

rivals’) and that interior space gains are also 

non-existent, Aurion should make a great deal 

of sense for a great deal of Australians. 

Combine the powerful, sophisticated 

and well-priced Aurion’s standard safety, 

convenience and cosmetic advantages with 

 


O C TO B E R 18, 2006 Page 11 

Toyota’s legendary reputation for reliability, 

quality and resale value, and the AT-X should 

appeal as much to the demanding fleet buyers 

as price-sensitive private customers. 

Unlike Avalon, the Aurion is significantly 

different to Camry in terms of both aesthetics 

and the driving experience. Given the high level 

of standard safety and equipment of the base 

AT-X, which should comprise almost two-thirds 

of all sales, we think Aurion should easily rob 

enough sales from Commodore, Falcon and 380 

for it to be successful. The question is how many 

Camry sales it substitutes in the process. 

And if Toyota’s multi-million-dollar 

marketing campaign cannot get large-sedan 

buyers’ heads around its clumsy name (two 

different Accords with different engines works 

for Honda, so why not Toyota?), then at least 

Aurion’s mere existence will have improved 

the big Aussie six breed. 

No, if cars like VE and Aurion can’t turn the 

Aussie big-six market around, nothing will. 

The future - next page

John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

THE FUTURE 


TOYOTA’S fi ve-variant Aurion sedan range 

was launched to the media on Monday, but 

GoAuto has learned its successor has already 

been signed off. 

Beyond next year’s Toyota Racing 

Development-tweaked Aurion 

performance fl agship, which will be 

based on the supercharged Aurion 

concept revealed at this year’s 

Melbourne International Motor Show, 

a host of updates are already in the 

pipeline for the facelifted version due 

to appear in 2009. 

According to the global executive 

chief engineer for Camry, Kluger and Aurion, 

Yukihiro Okane, who fl ew directly to Coffs 

Harbour from the US on Sunday after attending 

the Camry Hybrid launch there, these could 

include everything from one-touch indicators 

to switchable VSC. 

Mr Okane said the lack of a switchable 

stability control system, like that featured in 

premium versions of both Commodore and 

Falcon, was not Toyota policy, and that such 

a feature was being investigated for fi tment in 

future Sportivo or TRD Aurion models. 

But he warned Aurion’s 200kW output was 

Yukihiro Okane 

already stretching the friendship of its frontdrive 

chassis. 

“In rear-drive (cars) for sporty drivers it 

(switchable VSC) is preferable because it can 

be more fun. It’s not necessary with front-drive, 

and we are already near the limits of front-drive 

with this engine, but it could happen,” he said. 

The global Toyota Modular Platform chief 

said fi tting the Lexus RX350’s more powerful 

V6, which features a different exhaust system 

and ECU, was also technically 

possible. 

Mr Okane said Toyota had also 

looked into steering wheel-mounted 

gearshift buttons, like that featured 

on automatic versions of premium 

Commodore variants. 

And when told by GoAuto the VE 

Commodore also featured the same 

practical one-touch indicator function 

now employed by many European 

models, he asked for more information – and 

for his personal assistant to take detailed notes. 

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ALTHOUGH reluctant to reveal the total cost 

of its marketing campaign for Aurion, which 

began at the Melbourne International Motor 

Show in February and included high-profi le 

AFL sponsorship, Toyota denies it has stooped 

as low as redirecting Ford and Holden website 

viewers to its own Aurion website, as has been 

rumoured. Toyota sales and marketing boss 

David Buttner said he would have known about 

such a ploy if it existed, but was honoured to 

hear reports that Holden’s ambush marketing 

campaign had resorted to fl ying the Big Red 

airship over Coffs Harbour on Monday – 

allegedly on its way to the Gold Coast for the 

Lexmark Indy 300. 

SALES SPLIT 

TOYOTA expects the entry-level AT-X to 

comprise about 65 per cent of Aurion sales – 

the same proportion it expects to sell to fl eets, 

which is less than the 80 per cent of fl eet sales 

traditionally attracted by Commodore and 

Falcon, and less than that of Avalon, which 

became Australia’s top-selling taxi donor car. 

Sportivo variants should form 25 per cent of 

the mix, leaving the luxury-oriented Prodigy 

and Presara to account for 14 and six per cent 

respectively. 

SEGMENT STILL ALIVE 

TOYOTA chairman emeritus John Conomos 

says Aurion’s arrival is a 20-year dream 

come true for him personally and that Toyota 

Australia’s fi rst legitimate large car will be 

instrumental in the big Aussie six segment 

making a “strong contribution” to healthier 

new-car sales in the fourth quarter of 2006. 

“The large sedan segment is not dead,” he 

said. “The market is in recession but from 

very high levels. Logically, it must rejuvenate 

and respond. We expect a strong fi nal quarter 

to continue to 2008. The demand pattern will 

become clear after the launch of this car. Many 

buyers have told me they are holding off their 

purchase until after the launch of Aurion.” 

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John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

Ford cutback 

Falcon and Territory 

production to be slashed 

from next month 

By NEIL McDONALD 

AS TOYOTA was launching its Australianbuilt 

Aurion large car this week, Ford Australia 

was holding a press conference to reveal that it 

would slash production of its Falcon large car 

and Territory SUV by 20 per cent from next 

month. 

From November 20 the company will 

“realign” down production at its Broadmeadows 

plant. The build rate for Falcon and Territory 

will fall from 65 cars an hour to 52 an hour, 

which reduces its daily build rate from about 

450 to 360 vehicles a day. 

The company is also looking at a range 

of options to cut further costs and is 

negotiating with its 5500 workers over 

possible redundancies. 

Ford Australia president Tom 

Gorman said the company was 

“reacting to the clear trends that have 

been happening for some time”. 

In 1997 large cars made up 28 per cent 

of the total market but since 2003 that 

segment has lost nine percentage points 

because of increasing market segmentation and 

a swing away from six-cylinder large cars. 

“Nine percentage points on an industry of 

our size now is between 87,000 and 90,000 

cars a year,” Mr Gorman said. “I don’t think 

anybody anticipated that level of change.” 

Mr Gorman said he did not think large cars 

would ever return to a 20 per cent market share. 

BF Falcon MkII 

“I think if it’s in the neighbourhood of 13.5 

per cent to 15.5 per cent you have a marketplace 

where you can make something of it and then 

you add on top of that exports and all of a 

sudden you have yourself a business,” he said. 

“I do believe that there is still a viable place for 

us here, both locally and as an exporter.” 

He remained upbeat that the largecar 

market could bounce back. 

“I still think it’s still too early 

to say that it’s not going to bounce 

back,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s 

still a residual effect of people’s 

concern with what’s happening with 

petrol prices.” 

Because the Falcon sedan, ute 

and Territory are built on the same 

production line, the company has fl exibility 

in allowing production of individual vehicles 

to be aligned with demand. “Also, in terms 

of LPG we have taken our mix of LPG up 

substantially,” Mr Gorman said. “Not too long 

ago we were at only 65 LPGs – we’re now well 

above 100 and heading towards 120.” 

Ford is the second car-maker to reduce 

production as a result of slow sales, joining 

Mitsubishi which has struggled with its 380 

range. In its fi rst month on sale, Holden’s new 

VE Commodore has also struggled 

to recapture big-six interest, selling 

4155 VEs. 

To September, Falcon sales have 

declined 18.6 per cent – 33,235 

versus 40,837 over the same period 

last year. 

Tom Gorman 

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Falcon production 

The Territory has suffered, too, with sales 

volumes falling from 17,609 YTD last year to 

14,449 this year, an 18 per cent drop. 

Mr Gorman said Falcon inventories were 

quite low but the company had to be realistic 

“and you have to cut the cloth to fi t the suit”. 

“Producing cars at the line rate we’re at 

today and not selling them … you only have a 

couple of choices … you can either put them 

against the fence but that’s not good for quality, 

not good for our total cost base, it’s not good 

for anything in the long run,” he said. 

“Or you can step up to it and say: I’m going 

to produce what the market is looking for in 

the near term and I’m going to be as effi cient 

as I can at that level of production. But clearly 

it has an adverse impact.” 

Mr Gorman said many things had contributed 

to buyers moving away from large cars. 

“There has been a large move in the 

Australian dollar,” he said. 

“When we launched the BA Falcon the 

Australian dollar was trading at 56 cents 

to the US dollar and today it trades in the 

neighbourhood of 75 cents. 

“Imports have become far more attractive to 

consumers as all of the importers have been in 

the position to drive their prices down. 

“Domestic manufacturers – Mitsubishi, 

Holden, Toyota and us – have a slightly 

different situation in front of us. 

“You’ve also seen, as the market has 

expanded from that time point, an unbelievable 

list of new vehicles launched in the market in 

every segment.”

John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

All-new Corolla four-door 

breaks cover in Japan 



New Corolla sedan! 


TOYOTA has taken the covers off its 10thgeneration 

Corolla sedan and wagon. 

When unveiling the car in Japan last week, 

the Asian auto giant revealed the Corolla sedan 

had a new name – Axio, which is taken from 

the Greek word “axia” meaning “things of 

value” – to shed the car’s competitive-but-staid 

image in some markets. 

“With the new name, we want to expand our 

customer base and increase volumes,” TMC 

president Katsuaki Watanabe said in Tokyo last 

week, noting that the average age of existing 

Corolla buyers in Japan was around 60. 

The Axio name will be used in Japan and 

Europe while the wagon will be called the 

Fielder. However, all model variants sold in 

Australia will retain the Corolla name. 

While the wagon is unlikely to make it Down 

Under, the sedan is due in the fi rst quarter of 

2007. A hatchback should follow soon after, 

based on the Euro-inspired Auris “concept” 

shown at the recent Paris motor show. 

In Japan, the sedan and wagon are available 

in both 1.5-litre and 1.8-litre guises, mated to 

either fi ve-speed manual gearboxes or what 

Toyota calls its “super continuous variable 

transmission-intelligent” (Super CVT-i) 

automatic. Four-wheel drive is also offered, 

although this not likely to make it to Australia. 

Toyota claims both engines have improved 

economy and performance while reducing 

emissions. Most likely for Australia, the 1.8litre 

2ZR-FE unit develops 100kW at 6000rpm 

and 175Nm at 4400rpm, compared to the 

current car’s 93kW at 6000rpm and 161Nm 

at 4200rpm. The 2ZR-FE engine adopts dual 

variable valve timing-intelligent (dual VVTi) 

that optimises both intake and exhaust for 

smoother and more powerful acceleration. 

Apart from being slightly roomier, the 

Japanese-spec Axio adopts modern safety devices 

like a pre-crash safety system using radar, brake 

assist, radar cruise control, active headlights and 

an intelligent parking assist system. 

At 4410mm long, the newcomer is 20mm 

longer than the current Corolla but sits on the 

same 2600mm wheelbase; it is also the same 

width at 1695mm but is 10mm lower. The front 

track remains the same at 1480mm and the rear 

track is up 5mm to 1465mm. 

The company focused on enhancing 

basic performance and improving quality 

levels. Toyota said the new sedan and 

wagon were developed with “car-making 

by a new measure” as their basic theme. 

Despite the company’s claim of trying 

to improve the Corolla’s staid-but-solid 

looks, the Axio has not strayed too far 

from the Corolla’s conservatively styling. 

The front end follows the latest trend of 

headlights cutting sharply into the bumper 

line while the bonnet has a slight edge to it, 

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rising to meet the front pillar. 

The side glass pitches low from the leading 

edge of the front door, fl owing into the boot, 

while the roofl ine has a continuous curve from 

front to back. The rear pillars sweep downward 

to create a gently arcing character line that 

displays Corolla Axio’s stylish nature. At the 

back the boot has a wide opening, down to 

bumper level. 

The interior has a simple and clean design 

that follows the Camry principle of having all 

centre controls high-set for ease of use. The 

steering wheel is adjustable for reach as well 

as height. To enhance visibility, the top surface 

of the instrument panel is low while the front 

pillars have been extended forward and made 

slimmer. Japanese models also have a “smart 

key” access to unlock doors and a button to 

start the engine. 

The back seat fl oor hump is minimised to 

create a fl at surface for extra legroom. 

The Axio’s global outstanding assessment 

(GOA) construction has been further evolved 

to create a stronger crash safety frame while 

the bonnet and the front of the car are built 

around a pedestrian-friendly structure. The 

front seat structures have active headrests and 

seat frames. 

Since its debut in 1966, the Corolla has been 

a solid seller around the world. Last year in 

Australia, Toyota sold 46,415 Corollas, making 

it one of the best-selling passenger cars in the 

country.

John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

Z4 hard wired 

BMW programs its 

brutal Z4 Coupe to beat 

the Porsche Cayman 


BMW’s pumped-up, pint-sized Z4 Coupe has 

won the fi rst battle in its war against a gaggle 

of compact German coupe competitors by 

hitting Aussie shores narrowly ahead of Audi’s 

sexy new TT and an entry-level Cayman from 

Porsche. 

Technically all three models are hatchbacks, 

but that will not stop BMW claiming the M 

version of its Z4 Roadster-based hard-top is 

a “pocket GT” aimed directly at the top of 

a high-performance coupe market that also 

includes the Munich maker’s own M3. 

BMW openly admits its top-shelf Z4 M 

Coupe, which is claimed to be among the 

stiffest models it has ever produced, can lap 

Germany’s famed Nurburgring quicker than 

the current M3, with which it shares its glorious 

3.2-litre straight six. 

Offering 252kW at a frenetic 7900rpm 

(more than Ford’s turbocharged 4.0-litre six) 

and 365Nm at 4900rpm, the latest iteration of 

BMW’s six-cylinder M engine was introduced 

way back in the E46 M3 of May 2001, and also 

powers the Z4 M Roadster launched here as 

part of an upgraded Z4 convertible range in 

April this year. It returns claimed (EU) average 

fuel consumption of 12.1L/100km and emits 

292g/km of CO2 emissions. 

When BMW’s next-generation M3 – to be 

based on the redesigned E92 3 Series coupe 

also released in October, led by the twin-turbo 

3.0si 

335i – adopts V8 fi repower from late 2007, 

both Z4 M models will live on as faithful 

recipients of the fi nest (and fi nal) six-cylinder 

from BMW’s M-division skunkworks. 

Until then, short of the V10-powered M6 

(0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds) 

coupe, the hard-top Z4-M 

is BMW’s quickest coupe, 

offi cially blasting to 100km/ 

h in fi ve seconds dead – the 

same time BMW claims for 

the Z4 M Roadster, which 

weighs 10kg less at 1410kg, 

and two-tenths quicker than 

the E46 M3. 

While the M6 coupe enters Porsche 911 

territory by lapping the Nordschleife in around 

eight minutes, the Z4 M Coupe is not far behind 

at 8:15. Although that is marginally quicker 

than the M3, crucially, it is also fi ve seconds 

better than a standard Porsche Cayman S, the 

M Coupe’s closest rival. 

Priced at $127,200, the sixspeed 

manual-only M Coupe is 

almost $10,000 lower than its 

(pre-GST) predecessor and the 

last two-seater BMW tin-top, 

the fi ve-speed Z3 M Coupe. It 

is also $21,300 cheaper than 

the 1340kg Cayman S manual 

($148,500), which is powered 

by a 217kW/340Nm 3.4-litre 

PRICING: 

2.5si Roadster $78,000 

2.5si Roadster (a) $80,600 

3.0si Coupe $87,900 

3.0si Coupe (a) $90,500 

3.0si Roadster $91,200 

3.0si Roadster (a) $93,800 

M Coupe $127,200 

M Roadster $130,500 

 

 



fl at six and also comes as a fi ve-speed auto 

($153,100). 

The Z4 3.0si Coupe, which shares its superlight 

195kW/315Nm 3.0-litre magnesiumalloy 

six with the Z4 3.0si Roadster, is priced at 

$87,900 for the (same Getrag) 

six-speed manual and $90,500 

for the six-speed ZF-sourced 

auto with paddle-shifters. The 

3.0-litre offers 0-100km/h 

sprinting in a claimed 5.7 

seconds (six for the auto), 

weighs 1320kg (auto: 1350kg), 

returns claimed average fuel 

consumption of 8.9L/100km 

(auto: 9.0L/100km) and produces offi cial CO2 

emissions of 213g/km (auto: 216g/km). 

It lines up closest with this month’s new 

base Cayman, powered by a 180kW/273Nm 

2.7-litre boxer six and priced at $118,000 

(six-speed manual) and $122,600 (fi ve-speed 

auto). Porsche claims 6.1 seconds for the 2.7 

manual. 

Just as the twin-seat Cayman is based 

on Porsche’s second-generation Boxster 

convertible, so too does the two-pew M Coupe 

sprout from the Z3-replacing Z4 Roadster 

launched here in July 2003 – but the obvious 

difference is Porsche charges a $16,000 

premium while BMW offers a discount. 

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE 

DRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE 

Dealership For Sale – NSW South Coast 

 

 

 

M Coupe

John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

Kiss of life 

Volkswagen gives some 

artifi cial respiration to 

its fl agging luxury SUV 


IN A desperate bid to lift sales, Volkswagen 

Group Australia (VGA) has slashed pricing 

on its luxury Touareg SUV ahead of a mid-life 

facelift arriving next year. 

VGA has also revised the line-up, dropping 

the $99,990 224kW/410Nm 4.2-litre V8 petrol 

model and introducing two new V6 engines. 

The company has increased specifi cations 

but trimmed $5000 off the entry six-speed 

Tiptronic automatic 2.5-litre R5 TDI and 

cut $15,000 off the range-topping V10 TDI 

by deleting the standard sunroof, satellite 

navigation and wood/leather steering wheel. 

These items are now optional. 

The two new V6s are a 3.0-litre TDI and 

latest-generation 3.6-litre FSI petrol engine. 

The price revisions come just as a refreshed 

Touareg was unveiled at the Paris motor show 

last month, featuring a new 257kW/440Nm V8 

FSI petrol engine and mildly upgraded exterior 

and interior styling. 

Although unconfi rmed for Australia, the 

new petrol V8, and possibly Audi’s 4.2-litre V8 

TDI, could eventually be seen in local Touareg 

models if there is demand. 

The facelifted Touareg will not arrive until 

mid-2007, but VGA managing director Jutta 

Call me now to increase profit and control in aftermarket 

Tina Knezovic – 13 14 96 www.sixstarsolutions.com.au 



“They listened................AND WE DOUBLED OUR SALES” 

Mario Kordovolos – Managing Director CLINTONS TOYOTA 

The aftermarket specialist company 

• Superior people 

• Superior systems 

• Six star service 

Dierks said the company needed to become 

more aggressive with Touareg sales ahead of 

the facelift. 

“There was no time to wait,” she said. “We 

are in launch mode.” 

She was confi dent the latest 

price cuts and availability of a 

torquey 3.0-litre V6 TDI would 

lift sales and buyer awareness 

without having to resort to fi nance 

deals or other sales incentives 

used in the past for the slow-selling SUV. 

Over the past 12 months, VW has embarked 

on an unprecedented launch attack across 

its range, including new Passat, Jetta, Golf 

R32, Polo GTi and Transporter variants. This 

Touareg repositioning represents the last piece 

of the VW puzzle to be put into place. 

VW sales are up 39 per cent 

this year, sitting at 15,737 YTD – 

4412 more than last year. This has 

positioned the brand in 11th place 

behind Kia (which is 500 units 

ahead YTD) and enables it to claim 

the title as the strongest European 

importer this year. 

VGA general manager marketing 

Peter Dierks said the price 

alignment on Touareg was required 

and the SUV needed more specifi c 

marketing attention “in an increasing 

competitor environment”. 

PRICING: 

2.5 R5 TDI $64,990 

3.6 V6 FSI $74,990 

3.0 V6 TDI $74,990 

5.0 V10 TDI $121,990 

The big off-roader has been on sale in 

Australia since September 2003, but has failed 

to gain traction among luxury SUV buyers, 

selling just 561 last year in a luxury SUV 

market that has experienced strong growth 

against other declining SUV 

segments. VW has sold 359 

units YTD, down 13.9 per cent 

on the same period last year. 

Apart from keener pricing, 

the entry-level fi ve-cylinder R5 

TDI, with 128kW at 3500rpm and 400Nm at 

2000rpm, also benefi ts from the bulk of the 

equipment changes. 

R5 standard equipment runs to 4Motion 

4WD system with low-range, dual-zone 

climate-control air-conditioning, six airbags, 

ABS and ESP, brake assist, hill hold and hill 

descent control, 17-inch “Canyon” alloys, 

cruise control, a trip computer, a multi-function 

steering wheel, net partition and luggage 

cover, front foglights, front and rear parking 

sensors, exterior chrome package, rain-sensing 

windscreen wipers, automatic headlights, 

heated side mirrors, a hinged rear window, 

remote central locking and a six-stack CD. 

The V6 FSI and V6 TDI models add an alarm 

system, walnut wood and brushed aluminium 

highlights, cricket leather, and electrically 

adjustable and heated front seats. 


DRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE

John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

F&I Sales 

Professional 

• World’s leading warranty, CCI and 

Gap insurance provider 

• Major new global organisational 

initiative 

• Excellent remuneration and career 

growth 

As a result of a major worldwide organisational 

initiative the worlds leading 

supplier of warranty, CCI and Gap 

insurance products to the motor industry 

is about to get even stronger in the 

Australian market. 

This well recognized company is looking 

to complement its existing NSW sales 

team with a senior sales professional 

that will take responsibility for developing 

existing customers and winning new 

business in NSW. 

You will be an enthusiastic and well 

connected sales professional with 

experience of selling business solutions 

to the motor industry. Ideally you will also 

have a well developed knowledge of the 

finance, insurance and warranty market 

as it relates to the automotive sector. 

The successful candidate will be joining 

a company that is already setting new 

standards in the market and will not only 

enjoy an attractive salary and incentive 

package but also career opportunities 

that can only come from being associated 

with the best in the industry. 

In order to be considered for this role you 

must be conversant with PC applications 

such as Outlook, Word and Excel. 

For further information email: 

fandisales@optusnet.com.au 

TYNAN MOTOR GROUP 

Professional Business Managers 



Lexus LS460hL 

The ‘hy life’ 

By TIM BRITTEN 

LEXUS is committed to hybrid technology to 

the extent that the Toyota offshoot is predicting 

it could represent as much as 20 per cent of its 

total Australian sales by the middle of 2007. 

This comes in the wake of the luxury carmaker’s 

second hybrid launch here this year, 

and precedes the arrival of the V8-engined, allwheel 

drive LS600hL hybrid in 2007. 

When this happens, it will give the Japanese 

company a commanding lead in bringing 

hybrid technology to the market as other carmakers 

– according to Lexus – are engaged in 

catch-up mode. 

The reference here is to the hybrid project 

being undertaken in a combined exercise 

involving DaimlerChrylser, General Motors 

and BMW, which represents a change in 

thinking from a group that had previously 

discounted the Lexus position on hybrids. 

The system to come out of this program 

shares similarities with the Lexus system but, 

according to the executive director of hybrid 

powertrain programs for DaimlerChrysler, Dr 

Andreas Truckenbrodt, there are things that 

make the joint development better. 

Using technology such as separate high- and 

low-speed modes and four fi xed gear ratios in 

its continuously variable transmission (CVT), 

the system is claimed to offer better real-life 

fuel economy and better towing capacity while, 

according to Dr Truckenbrodt, embracing 

Tynan Financial Services require the services of professional and experienced BusinessManagers for numerous 

positions within our multi franchised dealerships. 

Applicants must be, computer literate, have excellent communication, sales and organizational skills and above all be able 

to demonstrate a true desire to succeed. Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate proven results achieved as 

a Business Manager or finance assistant in a Motor Vehicle Dealership or similar position. 

Excellent working conditions and generous performance based salary package for the successful applicant. 

Please forward your resume in strictest confidence to 

Mr Grant Major – General Manager Finance at grantm@tynan.com.au or call Direct 02 954 58634 

some “smart control concepts which we want 

to apply”. 

But the system will be on the road in the US 

until late next year (with BMW and Mercedes 

models further away again) and, so far, has not 

been designed for right-hand drive. 

In Australia recently for the RX400h launch, 

the general manager and chief engineer for the 

Lexus planning division Yoshihiko Matsuda 

exercised diplomacy by declining to comment 

on the relative merits of either his company’s 

system or that of GM/BMW/DaimlerChrysler. 

“I am not familiar with the (GM/BMW/ 

DaimlerChrysler) system,” he claimed at the 

launch. “So I am not saying which is better.” 

However, he did concede that Lexus believes 

its system, which comprises a planetary gearbased 

CVT and electric motors to supplement 

a conventional petrol engine, is the “most 

promising” of those being applied at the 

moment, including “milder” systems like those 

being used in the Honda Civic hybrid. 

Lexus is clearly quite comfortable with its 

signifi cant hybrid lead right now as it deftly 

builds what appears to be an unassailable lead 

for the foreseeable future, covering all-wheel 

drive (RX400h), performance/luxury V6 

(GS450h) and upper luxury V8 (LS600hL). 

At the RX400h launch, Mr Matsuda was also 

asked a question many observers have wanted to 

ask since the fi rst Toyota Prius came to the market 

here in 2001: why not a turbo-diesel hybrid? 

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

Up Up Up Close Close Close on on on Personnel 

Personnel 

Personnel 

Up Close on Personnel motor staff 

Brought to you by Motor Staff - The Motor Industry’s No1 Recruitment Specialist 

LOTUS HAS CONFIDENCE IN KIMBERLEY 

GROUP Lotus has confi rmed Mike Kimberley 

as its chief executive offi cer, charging him with 

implementing the fi ve-year business plan he 

presented to the board of the Proton-owned British 

sportscar marque late last month. A former Lotus 

managing director during the Colin Chapman era 

(and CEO Colin Chapman’s successor from 1983- 

1991), Mr Kimberley returned in May to review 

Lotus’ business and operations. Among his tasks 

will be to introduce a joint Lotus/Proton high-performance model in 

May 2008 and a new mid-range sportscar in December 2008. Over 

the past three decades Mr Kimberley has worked for General Motors, 

Jaguar and Lamborghini. 

Eye on the i 

Mitsu committed to micro 

car, despite ADR stumble 


MITSUBISHI Australia remains committed to 

offering a micro “i” car in its line-up, despite 

Australian Design Rules related to the car’s side 

intrusion safety emerging as a stumbling block. 

Mitsubishi’s president and chief executive 

offi cer Robert McEniry said he was not 

dissuaded to add another small car to the lineup, 

considering the slow take-up of the underperforming 

Colt hatch – a car he said would 

start to improve now that it was available with 

a fi ve-speed manual gearbox and its price point 

had come down to $15,990. 

“It will start to pick up – watch this space,” 

he said. 

Mr McEniry said the “i” car would target a 

completely different buyer. 

“It will bring totally new buyers in, the younger 

professional type of person. It would be only a car 

for the major capital cities,” he said. “I think it’s 

one of those cars that shows an enormous degree 

of responsibility given fuel prices.” 

Despite his enthusiasm, Mr McEniry 

said no timeframe had been set for the car’s 

launch, although Mitsubishi previously said 

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sales•service•parts•admin 

BILL FORD ADVISER OUT THE DOOR 

FORD announced the departure of another senior 

executive last week – chief of staff Steve Hamp, who 

will leave the American auto giant on October 31. 

The position, which involved advising executive 

chairman Bill Ford and other top management on 

strategic matters, is being eliminated. His specifi c 

focus was the co-ordination and management of 

the offi ce of chairman and CEO, “alignment” of 

Mike Kimberley the senior management team and co-ordination Steve Hamp 

of the “corporate strategic dialogue and integration of strategy into 

company operations”. “His unique organisational, leadership and 

communications skills were an enormous help to me as I determined 

the next steps for our company,” Mr Ford said. 

the car would go on sale within 12 to 18 

months. Mitsubishi Japan is working on a rearengined 

1.0-litre naturally aspirated MIVEC 

petrol version – which Australia will get – to 

supplement the 660cc turbocharged model. 

The latter is powered by a 47kW/94Nm 

turbocharged MIVEC three-cylinder engine, 

which returns a claimed 5.4L/100km. 

“They are looking at expanding the range too 

and actually looking at making a slightly wider 

version,” Mr McEniry said. “It’s certainly not 

a dead subject for us, but it’s not going to be as 

quick as I like. I would have liked to launch it 

in two weeks’ time at the Sydney show.” 

i-car 

Mr McEniry believes the “i” could also help 

bolster sales of the Colt as the pair would be a 

good fi t on showroom fl oors. 

The Colt order intake is moving in the right 

direction thanks in part to the “Revolution 

2006” ad campaigns, and once the Cabrio 

version arrives in a few weeks, Mr McEniry is 

confi dent the hatch will do better. 

He sees the Cabrio as a nice halo-car for the 

Colt range and one that will bring a greater 

awareness of the rest of the range, including 

the new $29,990 1.5-litre turbocharged Ralliart 

version. 


Sales • Service • Parts • Admin

John Mellor's 

GoAutonews 

VE RECALL 

HOLDEN’S billion-dollar VE Commodore 

and WM Statesman/Caprice have been hit by 

their fi rst national recall. The company has 

recalled 1521 V8 models because of a fuel leak. 

According to Product Recalls Australia, “in 

extreme cases the vehicle may develop a fuel 

leak and a fuel smell may become evident to the 

driver”. The leak has been tracked to VE and 

WM series Holdens fi tted with a V8 engine that 

were built in July and August. “A condition can 

occur where a fuel hose that connects the main 

fuel line and the injector rail in the engine bay 

may have been manufactured incorrectly,” PRA 

said. “If damaged, the location may not be visible 

as it is covered by an outer sleeve band.” 

CAMRY AT-X V6? 

WAS it a mistake, or something to read into? 

Toyota Australia’s website last week carried 

a model list for Camry showing an AT-X V6 

model variant, priced from $39,900. A GoAuto 

reader who alerted us to the “new model” said 

the price list was online for a short period before 

being removed. Toyota has denied an AT-X (or 

even a V6) Camry are under consideration. 

And not least because the listed price is well 

above the $34,990 Aurion AT-X, it seems it 

was nothing more than a point of interest. 

MORE THUNDER CLAPS 

HOLDEN has introduced another VZ-series SS 

Thunder ute, offering a claimed $3000 worth of 

extras including 18-inch alloy wheels (pinched 

from Monaro CV8-R), red front brake callipers, a 

twin aero form hard tonneau cover, leather-faced 

seat and door trim, and two VE Commodore 

colours. Priced from $42,990, the SS ute uses 

Holden’s 260kW/510Nm Gen IV 6.0-litre V8. 

Volkswagen Jetta TDI sedan 

GM DAEWOO SLOWDOWN 

HOLDEN’S South Korean affi liate GM 

Daewoo Auto & Technology (GMDAT) 

expects its sales growth to fall from 38 per cent 

YTD to 12.5 per cent in 2007 as the impact of 

new-vehicle launches such as the Captiva SUV 

wears off, according to GMDAT’s new chief 

executive Michael Grimaldi. 

Quoted in a Reuters report last week, Mr 

Grimaldi said 2007 sales were forecast to rise 

to 1.7-1.8 million – mainly on the back of 

exports to destinations such as Australia – from 

a 2006 target of 1.6 million. 

He also reportedly said GM Daewoo would 

reach two million annual sales in the “near 

future” but declined to elaborate. More than 

90 per cent of the company’s vehicles are 

exported. 



GoAuto’s latest road test www.goauto.com.au 

THE Volkswagen Golf has a new sedan brother with a new name – Jetta. Bigger than the Bora that it 

supersedes and in possession of a mighty boot to compensate for its lack of hatchback versatility, 

the Jetta satisfi es those not wishing to think beyond conventional sedan design. The Jetta 

greets passengers with a measurably more spacious interior than the Bora and accesses 

that boot via a split-fold backrest so it’s not all that impractical. And it comes in three 

versions: the smooth, refi ned 2.0 FSI, the punchy 2.0 FSI turbo and the enticingly thrifty, 

yet powerful turbo-diesel TDI. Generally a little more refi ned than the Golf because 

that’s the way sedans are, the Jetta extends the VW range and will undoubtedly fi ll the 

order books with increasing rapidity. 

Launch Pad 

brought to you by 

OCTOBER: 

Alfa Romeo Spider convertible 

BMW Z4 Coupe 

Ferrari 599 coupe 

Ford Falcon BFII range 

FPV BFII range 

FPV BFII luxury sedan 

Holden Captiva SUV range 

Mazda6 diesel 

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van 

Mercedes-Benz CLS/CLK/E/ML63 AMG 

Porsche Cayman 2.7 coupe 

Porsche Boxster convertible 

Toyota Aurion sedan range 

Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI 

New model diary: CLICK HERE 

BMW Z4 Coupe 

Ferrari 599 

Toyota Aurion 

ROAD TEST: CLICK HERE 

380 PLATINUM 

MITSUBISHI Motors Australia has released a 

limited-issue “Platinum Edition” of its Adelaidebuilt 

380 large car, which has a claimed $4000 

extra value over the 380 SX grade. Priced from 

$30,990 for the fi ve-speed manual variant, 

or $32,990 for the fi ve-speed automatic, the 

380 Platinum adds reverse parking sensors, a 

sunroof, a rear spoiler, platinum-coloured grille 

and bumper inserts, “Platinum” decals, colourcoded 

foglamp bezels, a silver dash stack insert, 

Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and a 

second 12V power socket. 

166 Ti UPGRADE 

ALFA Romeo Australia has held pricing fi rm 

for its Ti-badged 166 model, which is now 

available from $84,950. The sole 166 model 

variant on offer in Australia, the sports-oriented 

Ti has, as GoAuto revealed last month, several 

extra features including unique 18-inch alloy 

wheels, high intensity discharge headlights, 

rear parking sensors, black leather cabin 

upholstery, a sunroof and Ti badging. Sat-nav 

is also included. The suspension continues 

unchanged, as does the 162kW/265Nm 3.0litre 

V6. 

PUNTO GETS DUALOGIC 

FIAT has introduced its “DuaLogic” 

transmission to the Punto small-car range. A 

version of Alfa Romeo’s Selespeed clutch-less 

sequential-manual transmission, the fi ve-speed 

gearbox is available in fi ve-door Dynamic 

model variants, which are available with either 

a 57kW 1.4-litre petrol engine or a 66kW 1.3litre 

turbo-diesel. DuaLogic adds $1500 onto 

the 1.4 petrol (to retail from $21,490) and $500 

onto the 1.3 JTD (from $23,490). 

More buyers. More prospects. More cars sold.

Aurion attack

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