Pulsar SSS turbo!

John Mellor’s 

GoAuto News 

Oct 17, 2012 Australia’s No.1 Automotive Industry Journal No. 652 70,000 Readers Weekly 

 

 

THE NEW CASTROL PROFESSIONAL RANGE IS NOW 

BETTER THAN EVER. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE. 

Pulsar SSS turbo! 

Nissan to show off piping-hot Pulsar and other all-important new models at AIMS 

By HAITHAM RAZAGUI 

NISSAN’S sporty Pulsar SSS is back, and 

Australians will get their fi rst view of the 

hot turbocharged version of the new Thaibuilt 

small car when it makes its debut at 

the Sydney motor show tomorrow. 

Australia will become the world’s 

second market for the newly created 

sports model of Nissan’s Tiida 

replacement after China – where it is 

badged Tiida GTS – and the iconic SSS 

nameplate will be unique to this country. 

The body-kitted fi ve-door SSS 

will add a touch of glamour to the 

simultaneous Australian debut of 

Nissan’s Pulsar sedan, which will hit 

showrooms from February 1 with the 

historically signifi cant $19,990 opening 

price maintained. 

Pricing and specifi cations for the SSS 

will be announced closer to its arrival 

in showrooms, when regular variants 

of the Pulsar hatchback will also be 

introduced, between three and four 

months later than the sedan. 

Nissan’s new Patrol V8 SUV will also 

make its right-hand-drive world debut in 

Sydney – with pricing confi rmed from 

$82,200 – along with other cars from the 

Japanese brand’s current line-up. 

GoAuto suspects some surprises 

are in store from Nissan at Thursday’s 

AIMS media preview, as the zany Juke 

crossover, all-new Pathfi nder medium 

SUV and Altima mid-size sedan have 

all been spotted in the Harbour City. 

Nissan describes the new Pulsar as a 

“cornerstone of its Australian product 

renaissance” and, as the range’s fl agship, 

the SSS is uniquely powered by a 1.6-litre 

turbo-petrol engine with direct injection. 

The Juke-derived powerplant sends 

140kW of power and 240Nm of torque 

to the front wheels through either a 

standard six-speed manual or optional 

$2250 CVT (continuously variable 

transmission) auto with manual override 

– but no paddle-shifters. 

Data from the Chinese market 

suggests the SSS will crack 0-100km/h 

in around eight seconds and consume 

less than seven litres of fuel per 100km. 

The SSS show car previewed by 

Nissan yesterday featured a bodykit 

comprising aerodynamic front and rear 

bumper extensions, side skirts and a 

roof spoiler plus 17-inch alloy wheels 

and red SSS badging. 

GoAuto found its impressively 

spacious leather-upholstered interior 

with satellite navigation appeared to 

share much in terms of specifi cation 

with the top-spec $28,990 CVT-only 

Pulsar Ti sedan, suggesting it will be 

similarly priced as a manual and could 

top $30,000 as an auto. 

Continued next page 

IN THIS ISSUE 

GIANT SYDNEY SHOW PREVIEW 

NEW MODEL LAUNCHES 

FORD FOCUS ST 

AUDI A4 ALLROAD 

AND MUCH MORE 

KIA SORENTO 

AUDI A6 ALLROAD 

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GoAuto News 

Pulsar SSS turbo! 

Continued from previous page 

Nissan Australia managing director 

and CEO Bill Peffer told journalists 

at the preview event for the Pulsar 

and Patrol that the company hopes the 

Pulsar range will eventually outsell the 

Toyota Corolla, but would not commit 

to a timeline. 

He said that before the Tiida replaced 

the Pulsar six years ago, the Pulsar 

“was for decades the C-segment in 

Australia” and that the nameplate still 

has a 71 per cent awareness rate with 

the Australian public. 

The new Pulsar will major on 

generous levels of interior space, 

luggage capacity and standard 

equipment, which Mr Peffer said puts it 

“a class above the competition”. 

All models come with six airbags, 

electronic stability and traction control, 

anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce 

distribution and brake assist. 

Mr Peffer said he expected ANCAP 


GoAuto News 

PUBLISHER: John Mellor 

EDITOR: Terry Martin 

MANAGING EDITOR: Ron Hammerton 

JOURNALISTS: Haitham Razagui, Mike Costello, 

Byron Mathioudakis, Ian Porter 

PRODUCTION: Luc Britten, Ian James 

SUB-EDITOR: David Hassall 

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Tim Nicholson 

Produced by GoAutoMedia: Ph: (03) 9598 6477 

newsroom@mellor.net 

ADVERTISE: Steve Butcher 

Ph: 0419 562 110 ads@mellor.net 

SUBSCRIBE FREE: www.GoAutoMedia.com 

to test the Pulsar sedan and hatch due to 

their anticipated popularity – but would 

not speculate on what kind of rating 

they might attain. 

Both sedan and hatch have been 

subject to development specifi cally for 

the Australian market so they meet local 

tastes and have the correct ride, handling 

and steering feel characteristics. 

At $19,990 for the six-speed manual, 

the entry-level Pulsar ST sedan comes 

with air-conditioning, cruise control, 

16-inch alloy wheels, a multifunction 

steering wheel, remote keyless entry 

and a six-speaker audio system with 

Bluetooth phone connectivity, MP3 and 

iPod compatibility. 

Upping to mid-range ST-L ($23,650 

manual) adds a colour audio system 

display, LED daytime running lights, 

front foglights, a rear spoiler, mirrorintegrated 

indicators and leather trim 

for the steering wheel and gear selector. 

Top-spec Ti variants ($28,990 with 

Learn about the fastest growing DMS in Australia. | sales@auto-it.com.au 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 2 

CVT only) extend the spec sheet to 

include satellite navigation, leather 

upholstery, dual-zone air-conditioning, 

Xenon headlights, keyless entry/start, 

17-inch alloy wheels and a wide-angle 

reversing camera. 

The Pulsar sedan’s 510-litre boot 

capacity matches that of the Volkswagen 

Passat from the next segment up and 

beats the even larger Holden Commodore 

by 14 litres – but there is no fold-down 

rear bench, only a ski hatch. 

FULL STORY, PRICING: CLICK HERE 

NISSAN PRICES VALUE-LADEN NEW 

PATROL FROM $82,200: CLICK HERE 

Your Dealer Management System 

can make or break your dealership.


GoAuto News 

A Class act hits town 

Benz reveals pricing for 

new small car ahead of 

Sydney debut, Q1 sales 


MERCEDES-BENZ is looking 

forward to “dramatic” growth in 

Australia next year, which will be due 

in no small part to the vital all-new 

A-Class small car that enters showrooms 

in March priced from $35,600 plus onroad 

costs. 

Dealers are now taking orders for 

the car, and Australians will get their 

fi rst glimpse of the new A-Class in the 

metal on the Mercedes-Benz stand at 

the Sydney motor show from Thursday 

– eight months after its world debut at 

the Geneva show. 

Not only will the auto-only A-Class 

undercut the BMW 1 Series (from 

$36,900 as a manual) and crash the 

party of the third-generation Audi A3 

that also arrives early next year at prices 

yet to be announced, Benz is going 

after mid- and up-spec variants of the 

humbler Volkswagen Golf. 

Announcing the German luxury 

brand’s comprehensive Australian 

International Motor Show line-up at 

a special pre-show event on Monday, 

Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia 

PRICING: 

A180 BlueEffi ciency 1.6 petrol (a) $35,600 

A200 BlueEffi ciency 1.6 petrol (a) $40,900 

A200 CDI BlueEffi ciency 1.8 diesel (a) $40,900 

A250 Sport 2.0 petrol (a) $49,900 

WORLDWIDE RECRUITMENT SPECIALISTS 

AUTOMOTIVE 

PERSONNEL 

INTERNATIONAL 

CRAIG WARREN 

Mobile 0417 248 884 

BROOKE JONES 

Mobile 0438 533 699 

info@automotivepersonnel.com.au 

Suite 211, Level 2 / 80 William Street, 

East Sydney, NSW 2011 

Phone 02 9331 3477 

www.automotivepersonnel.com.au 

DRIVING THE MOTOR INDUSTRY 

managing director Horst von Sanden 

said 2013 will be “one of the most 

important years in our brand’s 

Australian history”. 

In addition to the A-Class, Mercedes 

will launch the new S-Class, a facelifted 

E-Class and the CLA compact fourdoor 

coupe next year. 

“We will continue to do what we do 

well,” said Mr von Sanden. “That’s to 

guide the Australian prestige market 

in a direction that makes our vehicles 

and technology accessible to a broader 

demographic.” 

The A-Class will be sold in Australia 

with a choice of three petrol engines 

and a diesel – all featuring fuel-saving 

idle-stop technology and a seven-speed 

dual-clutch automatic transmission 

with paddle-shifters. 

The company expects the mid-range 

A200 – available in petrol and diesel 

form – to account for the 

majority of A-Class sales here 

but did not reveal expected 

volumes or whether the 

A-Class will eventually oust 

the C-Class as Mercedes’ best- 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 3 

A-Class 

selling model in this country. 

Recently appointed Mercedes-Benz 

Australia/Pacifi c CEO Juergen Sauer 

told GoAuto the success of the A-Class 

here depends on how much supply can 

be obtained from the factory, especially 

initially, as production is still ramping up. 

“I am confi dent we will fulfi l our 

plans, but we will see how many cars 

we get from the production; that is 

maybe another issue,” he said. 

“If the perception with customers is 

good, it might come to the situation 

where you need more cars.” 

Benz is confi dent the A-Class will 

follow in the wheel tracks of the larger 

B-Class in achieving a top ANCAP 

crash-test rating. 

It will come with a comprehensive suite 

of standard safety equipment, including 

a radar-based collision warning system, 

nine airbags, electronic driver fatigue 

detection and Pre-Safe, which readies the 

car for maximum occupant protection if 

it detects an inevitable collision. 

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE 

Mercedes-AMG menagerie – next page 

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GoAuto News 

Trio of AMG specials to 

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Mercedes model line-up 

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Oct 17, 2012 Page 4 

Mercedes-AMG menagerie 


MERCEDES-BENZ will celebrate 45 

years of in-house tuning shop AMG – 

and Australia’s status as one of AMG’s 

biggest markets – with a separate stand 

at this week’s Sydney motor show, 

hosting three unveilings and a total of 

eight AMG products. 

The AMG menagerie will sit beside 

the Mercedes-Benz display, which will 

have 17 cars on show, giving the German 

luxury brand the third-largest stand 

at this year’s Australian International 

Motor Show and the largest display of 

any importer. 

Three one-off AMG models built 

specially for the Sydney show will be 

unveiled, centred around Affalterbach’s 

famous naturally aspirated V8 engine. 

GoAuto witnessed the unveiling of an 

SLK55 and a C63 coupe at a pre-show 

preview event in Sydney earlier this 

week, leaving the third a secret until 

show day – although we can reveal 

CLS Shooting Brake 

it will be the fl agship SLS supercar 

fi nished in special ‘Coarse Silver’ paint 

said to “bring new meaning to the word 

metallic”. 

The new CLS Shooting Brake will 

make its Australian debut at Sydney in 

super-exclusive CLS63 AMG ‘Edition 

1’ guise – of which just fi ve will come 

to Australia three months earlier than 

the AMG’s offi cial launch next year, 

meaning they should arrive along with 

the standard cars in December. 

Mercedes also revealed basic 

specifi cations for the CLS250 and 

CLS350 Shooting Brake variants, 

which come with more standard kit 

than the four-door coupe version and 

are now available to pre-order. 

As well, Benz will debut Sport 

upgrade packs for C-Class C250 coupe 

variants and Elegance or Avantgarde 

variants of the E-Class sedan, coupe 

and convertible – and the volume- 

boosting new A-Class hatch will make 

its fi rst Australian appearance. 

The SLK55 Sydney show special is 

kitted out with an optional handling 

package and rides on matte-black 18inch 

multi-spoke alloy wheels that 

contrast with the matte-look ‘Cashmere 

White’ metallic paint fi nish. 

Carbon-fi bre trim strips adorn the 

cockpit, which is almost completely 

lined in ‘Mystic Blue Exclusive’ 

leather with white stitching and AMG 

embroidery, while opening the doors 

reveals white-illuminated AMG sill 

plates. 

The C63 coupe show special is fi tted 

with the power-boosting Performance 

Pack and is fi nished in Mystic Blue 

metallic paint and carbon-fi bre 

exterior trim, with 19-inch titaniumlook 

alloy wheels. 


SLK55 AMG 

apply 

Please contact Stephen Moir 

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Email applicationssm@ 

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www.moirgroup.com.au


GoAuto News 

There are several brands not fronting up in Sydney this year, but the quality 

of the fi eld that will be showing their wares has come to the fore in recent 

weeks. Global premieres, southern hemisphere debuts, stunning supercars 

and key new models will all combine to make this a world-class event... 

ASTON MARTIN RTIN 

THE only example of Aston Martin’s 

ultra-exclusive and super-expensive 

One-77 coupe to be sold in Australia 

will take centre stage at this week’s 

Sydney motor show. 

A cashed-up car enthusiast from 

Queensland became the lucky owner 

of the fi re-breathing Aston earlier this 

year after putting down a $200,000 

deposit for it in 2008 during the global 

fi nancial crisis. 

As its name suggests, the local One- 

77 is one of just 77 examples of the car 

built worldwide. 

Handcrafted in England, the One- 

77 had an initial pricetag of just 

over £1.2 million, which equates to 

approximately $A1.85 million. 

FORD / FPV 

FORD Australia will put showgoers 

behind the wheel of the Focus small 

car and Ranger Wildtrak ute on a small 

test circuit outside the front doors of 

the Darling Harbour venue at this 

week’s Australian International Motor 

Show in Sydney. 

A large 4600-square-metre outdoor 

stand will complement Ford’s presence 

inside the venue, which at 480 square 

metres will be around a third the size 

of fellow local car-makers Holden 

and Toyota, and will “showcase the 

future direction of Ford’s vehicles and 

technology”. 

As we have reported, the Blue Oval 

will also stage the local premieres of a 

pair of crucial new SUV models – the 

EcoSport and Kuga – months out from 

their local launches. 

Gradient 

One-77 

As GoAuto has reported, after 

import duties, taxes, insurance and 

other costs, the total amount for the 

local One-77 would be around $2.7 

million, making it the most expensive 

new car in Australia. 

Australian International Motor 

Show director Russ Tyrie said he was 

proud that one of the most exclusive 

cars in the world would be shown at 

the Sydney extravaganza. 

The outdoor course has been 

constructed from blue shipping 

containers, with up to seven vehicles 

circulating around the mini-circuit over 

the course of the show. 

The test circuit will enable punters 

to test the automatic parking and 

autonomous braking systems on the 

Focus, and the hill-start ascent and 

descent programs on the Ranger, while 

the new four-cylinder EcoBoost Falcon 

will be strapped to a ‘dyno’ display. 

Visitors will be able to get close to the 

next-generation Kuga compact SUV well 

before it goes on sale here in the fi rst half 

of next year, with Ford staff demonstrating 

its automatic tailgate, which operates with 

a motion-detecting sensor. 

The new Kuga will launch less 

than 18 months after Ford Australia 

GRADIENT 

AUTOMOTIVE 

INFORMATION 

SYSTEMS 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 5 

“The One-77 was fi rst revealed to 

the world in concept form three years 

ago, and this year Australians will be 

able to see one in all its glory after its 

owner has generously allowed for it to 

be on public display, only months after 

taking possession,” he said. 

The striking design of the One- 

77 combines the traditional Aston 

look with a more aggressive, almost 

futuristic style. 

The One-77 was built using a 

carbon-fi bre monocoque structure and 

aluminium body panels, but under the 

bonnet is where it reveals itself to be a 

true supercar. TIM NICHOLSON 


belatedly released the current model 

here in February this year, and will 

feature a much broader range to tackle 

the market-leading Mazda CX-5, 

Nissan X-Trail, Subaru Forester and 

Toyota RAV4. 

The high-riding EcoSport is based on 

the Fiesta city car and will go up against 

rivals including the forthcoming Holden 

Trax, Peugeot 2008 and potentially the 

Nissan Juke. MIKE COSTELLO 


EcoSport 

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GoAuto News 

HOLDEN / HSV 

HOLDEN will showcase six new 

imported products at the Sydney motor 

show this week, headlined by a full 

range reveal of the beefy new sevenseat 

Colorado 7 SUV, joined by the 

fi rst public look at the Camry-fi ghting 

Malibu mid-size sedan. 

Also on show will be the load-lugging 

Cruze wagon and revolutionary Volt 

electric range-extender, while tweaks 

to familiar products will include an 

automatic variant of the Barina Spark 

city car and a high-spec CDX variant of 

the light-sized Barina CDX. 

Waving the fl ag for Australian-built 

vehicles at Sydney will be the specialedition 

Z-Series Commodore line-up 

and the Cruze hatch and sedan but 

Holden is keeping its powder dry on 

the highly anticipated VF Commodore 

until next year. 

Holden hot-shop HSV will also put in 

an appearance with the limited-run 25th 

Anniversary GTS, which gets lightweight 

alloy wheels, cosmetic tweaks and 

Malibu 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

upgraded brakes – but no power boost. 

Holden external communications 

director Craig Cheetham told GoAuto 

the company’s Sydney show stand will 

focus on what it calls the “global product 

renaissance” but promised next year’s 

Melbourne show will be “all about our 

domestically produced models”. 

Little is known about the pricing and 

specifi cation of the Colorado 7 other 

than it will adopt the same Chevroletinspired 

two-port grille as the recently 

launched Colorado one-tonne ute on 

HSV 25th Anniversary GTS 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 6 

which it is based. 

Despite the styling, Holden engineers 

have been busy testing and tweaking the 

Brazilian-developed, Thai-built Colorado 

7 – called Trailblazer in other markets – 

for Australian tastes and conditions. 

The spiritual successor to Holden’s 

Isuzu-derived Jackaroo is odds-on to 

feature the same grunty yet effi cient 

2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel 

engine as the Colorado. 

As with the Colorado 7, Holden 

engineers are also testing and calibrating 

the Malibu sedan in Australia for local 

relevance – in addition to development 

work for overseas markets – but unlike 

the SUV, the mid-size sedan will get a 

more traditional Holden grille design. 

HAITHAM RAZAGUI 


Colorado 7


GoAuto News 

HONDA 

HONDA Australia will stage a pair 

of new model debuts at AIMS this 

year, with the crucial new CR-V and 

petrol-electric Jazz Hybrid making a 

fi rst local appearance shortly before 

arriving in local showrooms. 

The CR-V has been one of Honda’s 

top-selling models in Australia since 

the fi rst generation launched in 1997, 

and the new version will confront 

best-selling compact SUVs like the 

Mazda CX-5 and Nissan X-Trail 

when it hits showrooms in November. 

In order to achieve this, Honda will 

arm itself with its most comprehensive 

CR-V range to date, with three 

specifi cation levels, front- and allwheel-drive 

confi gurations and – from 

the middle of 2013 – both petrol and 

diesel engines (a brand fi rst). 

All models at launch will 

be sourced from Thailand and 

HYUNDAI 

HYUNDAI is expected to announce 

the expansion of its SR-badged 

performance car portfolio beyond the 

Veloster Turbo at this week’s Australian 

International Motor Show in Sydney. 

The company confi rmed to GoAuto 

two months ago that a number of SRbadged 

passenger cars were under 

evaluation ahead of a potential release 

in 2013, and that an announcement was 

likely to be made in Sydney. 

Hyundai is playing its cards close to 

its chest, but is expected to premiere 

several of the cars in concept form, led 

by a sporty i30 hot hatch designed to 

give the brand an answer to the popular 

Mazda3 SP25. 

It is possible the fi rst SR model to 

be revealed in Sydney will be a global 

model produced in Korea featuring a 

more powerful engine and a number of 

locally specifi ed suspension, steering, 

braking and wheel/tyre components, 

powered by a revised version of 

the old model’s 2.4-litre naturally 

aspirated petrol engine, developing 

138kW and 221Nm, but a UK-built 

110kW/350Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel 

version will arrive soon after. 

Sales of the current-shape CR-V 

– launched here at the start of 2007 

– are down 39.3 per cent this year 

due to the hangover from Thailand’s 

devastating fl oods that crippled CR-V 

supplies in the fi rst half. 

Meanwhile, the addition of the Jazz 

and with durability and suitability 

testing conducted in Australia. 

Alternately, the concept/s could be 

local initiatives largely developed by 

Hyundai Motor Co Australia (HMCA) at 

the company’s extensive local facilities, 

where it calibrated Australian-specifi c 

chassis and suspension tuning for the 

Veloster Turbo, i30, i40 and Santa Fe. 

Whichever is the case, any future 

SR models will have more in common 

with the hottest Veloster – launched in 

August as a toe in the performance-car 

waters and featuring a punchy turbo 

engine – than the previous-generation 

i30 SR special edition, which was 

essentially stock but with cosmetic 

tweaks. 

HMCA senior product planning 

manager Scott Williams said in August 

that future SRs will “have the sausage 

with the sizzle”. 

Potential powertrains for the 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 7 

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CR-V Jazz Hybrid 

Hybrid – sales commence early 2013 

– will bring the number of petrolelectric 

models in Honda Australia’s 

range to four, alongside the Civic 

sedan, Insight hatch and CR-Z coupe. 

The Thai-built Jazz will certainly 

be the most affordable of this quartet, 

and will duke it out with the Toyota 

Prius C light car, which retails from 

$23,990 plus on-road costs. 

MIKE COSTELLO 


Veloster SR Turbo 

i30 SR include the Veloster SR’s 

150kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged 

engine or, perhaps more likely, the 

2.0-litre GDi petrol unit from the i40. 

The company added that any SR 

model to enter production would need 

signifi cant, bespoke suspension tuning 

and a more aggressive styling package. 

Hyundai will, of course, also display 

the rest of its growing local line-up 

at the Sydney show, including recent 

releases such as the new-generation 

Santa Fe and i30 hatch, Veloster SR 

Turbo and i40 sedan. MIKE COSTELLO 

 

 

 

 

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GoAuto News 

INFINITI 

INFINITI will bring its highly 

anticipated G37 coupe and convertible 

to the Australian International Motor 

Show this year, just weeks before 

going on sale in December. 

It will be the fi rst time the Japanese 

prestige marque has exhibited at the 

show, despite a brief stint in Australia 

from 1993 as a Lexus rival when it 

released the slow-selling Q45 luxury 

sedan. 

Only the convertible and coupe 

versions of the current-shape G37 

are on the agenda for Infi niti Cars 

Australia at this stage. 

Plans to introduce the sedan variant 

locally will have to wait as a new 

model is currently being developed 

and will be revealed at the Detroit 

motor show in January. 

This will follow a likely 

international launch for the new sedan 

in the second quarter of next year and 

ISUZU UTE 

ISUZU Ute Australia says it is not 

planning any big surprises for this 

week’s Sydney motor show but seven 

versions of its rugged D-Max one-tonne 

ute will be on display. 

Although widely expected to introduce 

a D-Max based SUV, Isuzu Ute has not 

yet made an announcement and has 

denied it will unveil one at Sydney. 

Holden, on the other hand, is 

D-Max 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 8 

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Australia in late 2013 or early 2014. 

When the next-generation G series 

does arrive, it will be developed and 

built in Japan on a new real-wheeldrive 

platform specifi cally designed 

for Infi niti. 

The G37 is Infi niti’s entrant in the 

premium small-car segment, with 

competitors including the Lexus IS, 

Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4 and 

BMW 3 Series. 

A number of G37 coupes can 

already be seen on Australian roads 

as grey imports from Japan, where the 

vehicle is sold as the Nissan Skyline. 

Each model in the G range is 

powered by a 231kW 3.7-litre V6 

engine that is closely related to the 

powerplant from parent company 

Nissan’s 370Z sportscar. 

The G37 shares other mechanical 

links with the 370Z, but the Infi niti is 

the larger of the two, incorporating a 

using the show to present its related 

Colorado 7 SUV. 

In recognition of Australia’s booming 

resources sector will be a D-Max 

equipped to go mining, while Aussies 

with a penchant for off-road adventures 

in the bush will be attracted to a ute 

with a catalogue worth of accessories 

thrown at it. 

As well, travelling Freestyle motocross 

G37 Coupe 

second row of seats and pitching itself 

as a more luxurious and exclusive 

offering. 

Infi niti launched in Australia in 

September with an initial two-model 

line-up, featuring the M large sedan 

and FX SUV. 

The M faces a tough task stealing 

sales from rivals in the large segment, 

facing the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and 

recently launched Lexus GS, while the 

FX is taking on the BMW X5 and the 

recently facelifted Lexus RX. 

TIM NICHOLSON 

group Showtime FMX – who are 

sponsored by Isuzu – will have its trickedup 

ramp-towing D-Max on display. 

Several standard variants of the 

D-Max will be dotted around the 

stand, including an entry-level 4x2 

single cab-chassis, a 4x4 LS-Terrain 

fl agship, mid-spec 4x4 LS-M and 4x4 

LS-U and base SX versions of the 

crew cab and space cab. 

Uptake of the new D-Max, launched 

in June this year, has so far been strong 

with monthly sales averaging around 

650 units compared with a long-term 

average closer to 400. 

Five specifi cation levels and three 

body confi gurations are offered across 

4x2 and 4x4 drivelines, all powered by 

a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. 


FULL STORY: CLICK HERE


GoAuto News 

JAGUAR 

JAGUAR will fl aunt a pair of its hottest 

convertibles at the Sydney motor show 

this week, with its all-new F-Type 

two-seat sportscar and fi re-breathing 

XKR-S to appear side-by-side on the 

British brand’s stand. 

The latest MY2013 versions of 

Jaguar’s XF and XJ luxury sedans 

will also be shown at Sydney, packing 

new powertrains that improve fuel 

effi ciency by up to 11 per cent plus 

interior technology upgrades. 

Australian pricing for the new 

F-Type, arriving in Sydney fresh from 

its world debut at the Paris motor show, 

will also be announced and is expected 

to kick off from around $190,000. 

For comparison, the XKR-S, the 

most powerful convertible Jaguar has 

yet produced, sells for a cool $363,500 

plus on-road costs – but with only 

10 examples bound for Australia the 

Sydney show will be the closest most 

Australians will get to one. 

While the XKR-S may have the bigger 

guns under the bonnet, the smaller, lighter 

F-Type can outrun it when fi tted with the 

fl agship supercharged V8 engine. 

The 364kW/625Nm V8 F-Type is 

able to hit 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds 

XKR-S 

PERFORMANCE INNOVATION 

DEVELOPED BY, WITH AND FOR EXPERTS 

– a tenth of a second quicker than the 

beefi er 405kW/680Nm XKR-S – and 

both cars share an electronically limited 

300km/h top speed. 

At 4470mm long, the F-Type is 

504mm shorter than the XK and rides 

on a 2622mm wheelbase that is 130mm 

less than that of the XK but the new car 

is wider at 1923mm and 33mm lower 

at 1296mm, giving it a purposeful 

stance, while its 200-litre boot capacity 

matches the XK. 

The base F-Type weighs 99kg less 

than the lightest XK convertible, while 

the range-topping V8 is 88kg less hefty 

than the XKR-S and weight distribution 

has been aided by locating the battery and 

windscreen washer fl uid tank in the boot. 

Entry-level F-Types come with a 

250kW/450Nm supercharged 3.0-litre V6 

petrol engine, while mid-range cars have 

a version of the same powerplant tweaked 

up to produce 280kW and 460Nm. 

Now micro fi ltered to some of the world’s leading new car manufacturer 

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Oct 17, 2012 Page 9 

All drive the rear wheels through 

an eight-speed ‘quickshift’ automatic 

transmission that can be operated 

manually using the centre console 

selector or steering wheel paddles. 

The F-Type’s body is 10 per cent 

stiffer than that of the XKR-S and the 

steering rack is the quickest Jaguar has 

yet fi tted to one of its cars. 

Jaguar fi rst gave the world a preview 

of the F-Type at the Frankfurt motor 

show last September with the hybridpowered 

C-X16 coupe concept. 

The company resisted the temptation 

to reference its classic E-Type in the 

design, even dropping the oval grille 

design that featured on most of its 

sportscars over the decades. Apart from 

the transition to soft-top, the production 

F-Type remains faithful to the C-X16. 



F-Type


GoAuto News 

KIA 

KIA has confi rmed the sporty, Soulbased 

Track’ster concept for the 

Australian International Motor Show 

in Sydney this week, to be presented 

alongside the just-launched new Sorento 

SUV and some other still-to-be-revealed 

surprises that will preview future models 

and showcase new technology. 

Kia Motors Australia (KMAu) 

Track’ster Sorento 

LAMBORGHINI 

ONE of the star cars from the latest 

Batman movie will make its fi rst global 

public appearance on the Lamborghini 

stand at this week’s Sydney motor show. 

The menacing Grigio Antares (dark 

metallic grey) left-hand-drive Aventador 

LP700-4 – complete with black alloy 

wheels and Gotham City numberplate 

– was driven in the movie by the Caped 

Crusader’s alter ego, Bruce Wayne. 

The movie star car will be joined at 

the Sydney show by Lamborghini’s 

fastest convertible, the Gallardo LP570- 

4 Spyder Performante. 

And, while the production cars 

are likely to send showgoers batty, 

Lamborghini is also planning to unveil 

another show-stopper never before seen 

in Australia. 

national PR manager Kevin Hepworth 

told GoAuto that while the three-door 

Track’ster is not confi rmed for production, 

it would be looked at for import as a halo 

model if given the green light. 

“At the Paris motor show Peter 

Schreyer said both the Track’ster and 

the GT were still alive as production 

cars ... nothing is confi rmed but they are 

It has been speculated the Urus SUV 

concept that stepped out at the Beijing 

motor show in April will be shipped to 

Sydney, but Lambo could dip further 

into its back-catalogue of concepts and 

one-off show cars. 

Lamborghini’s Sydney show 

presentation will be attended by the 

company’s Australian-bred commercial 

director, Fintan Knight. 

The $754,600 Aventador was one 

of the biggest crowd-pullers during its 

Australian debut at last year’s Melbourne 

show, where at least one well-heeled 

Raging Bull fan placed an order. 

With a 6.5-litre V12 delivering 

515kW and 690Nm to the road through 

all four wheels, the Aventador can 

blast from standstill to 100km/h in just 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 10 

still on his wish-list,” he said. 

“We would certainly look at them 

(for import). Track’ster would be an 

attractive production car if it translates 

as it is now.” 

Mr Hepworth described KMAu’s 

motivation for bringing the Track’ster 

to Sydney was “to underscore the 

excitement of Kia’s design”. 

“We want to emphasise that Kia 

has a desire to produce something 

different and exciting and is prepared 

to show those ideas ... ultimately 

motor shows should be about having 

a bit of fun.” HAITHAM RAZAGUI 


2.9 seconds, with a further 250km/h 

available before the angular scissordoored 

supercar reaches its top speed. 

The Gallardo Spyder Performante 

is an exclusive soft-top version of 

the Superleggera coupe, in which the 

liberal use of carbon-fi bre saves 65kg 

of weight over the standard Spyder. 



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GoAuto News 

LAND ROVER 

LAND Rover’s Australian International 

Motor Show stand in Sydney will be a 

new-product bonanza, led by the all-new 

all-aluminium Range Rover fl agship 

making its second public appearance 

fresh from its world debut in Paris. 

At the other end of the British SUV 

specialist’s price range will be the 

facelifted Freelander, which has been 

glammed up with a more luxurious, 

Evoque-inspired interior, exterior 

tweaks, new colour schemes and a new 

four-cylinder petrol engine. 

The Freelander’s bigger brother, 

the Discovery 4, will also be present 

in updated MY2013 trim that brings 

big fuel effi ciency gains due to a new 

diesel engine and eight-speed automatic 

transmission. 

Representing current Land Rover 

models on the stand will be the Range 

Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque. 

The new Freelander will arrive in 

Australian showrooms before the end 

of this year, while the Range Rover and 

Discovery will land in January 2013. 

With its fi rst ground-up redevelopment 

of the iconic Range Rover in a decade, 

Freelander 

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Land Rover has attempted to rewrite the 

rule book with the use of an innovative 

aluminium monocoque body structure 

incorporating a one-piece fl oorpan 

claimed to be the world’s largest 

automotive panel. 

The entry-level model is 420kg lighter 

than its predecessor – other variants are 

350kg lighter – and the body structure’s 

39 per cent weight loss is said to have 

resulted in it being lighter than that of a 

BMW 3 Series. 

Luxury and refi nement levels 

are up and Land Rover claims the 

new Rangie will give occupants “a 

sensation of serene isolation from the 

Discovery 4 

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Serious about Success ® 

Oct 17, 2012 Page 11 

Range Rover 

hectic world outside”. 

An even plusher new interior with 

simplifi ed dashboard layout takes the 

Evoque’s touchscreen-centred design to 

the next level while boosting the quality 

of wood, leather and milled aluminium 

fi nishes around the cabin. 

Rear occupants get more legroom 

and an optional pair of individual, fully 

adjustable rear seats can be fi tted. 

Land Rover’s fi rst production hybrid, 

combining a diesel engine with an 

electric motor, will join the Range 

Rover line-up by the end of next year, 

yielding fuel effi ciency of 6.3L/100km 

– similar to a Ford Focus. 

Entry-level V8 diesels have been 

supplanted by a more effi cient V6 with 

eight-speed automatic transmission, 

achieving fuel savings of up to 22 per 

cent, meaning the 85-litre fuel tank has 

a theoretical 1150km driving range. 




GoAuto News 

LEXUS 

LEXUS will downsize its stand at this 

year’s Australian International Motor 

Show (AIMS) by focusing solely on 

the LF-LC hybrid sportscar concept. 

The Japanese luxury brand says its 

stand will “centre exclusively” on the 

show-stopping LF-LC hybrid coupe 

which will be a “further development” 

of the concept that was fi rst shown at 

the Detroit auto show earlier this year. 

The second iteration of the LF-LC 

that will appear at AIMS will feature 

all-wheel drive, unlike the original 

concept which was rear-drive only. 

Power has also been tweaked slightly 

from the original concept with the stunning 

coupe now producing over 370kW from 

its V8 petrol-electric drivetrain. 

Calling the reveal a “global fi rst”, 

Lexus Australia will use the new 

LF-LC to showcase technological 

MAZDA 

MAZDA’S world debut of the 

facelifted CX-9 seven-seat SUV at 

this week’s Sydney motor show will 

be joined by the Australian premiere 

of the all-new mid-size Mazda6 sedan 

and wagon plus the fi rst local glimpse 

of its updated MX-5 sportscar. 

An exhibit extolling the virtues 

of Mazda’s fuel-saving SkyActiv 

technologies will also feature alongside 

the brand’s current products, comprising 

the Mazda2 light car, Mazda3 small car, 

Mazda3 MPS hot hatch, the current 

Mazda6, CX-5 compact SUV and BT- 

50 utility. 

The company’s global CEO and 

chairman, Takashi Yamanouchi, will 

take to the stage at Darling Harbour 

to whip the covers off all the new 

models in recognition of the Australian 

market’s high standing within the 

Japanese company. 

Australia is one of Mazda’s largest 

global markets for the CX-9 and the 

 

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advancements, including the Japanese 

car-maker’s “use of advanced materials”. 

Lexus Australia chief executive Tony 

Cramb said that the LF-LC concept 

“will highlight Lexus’ design and 

engineering expertise, marrying design 

with function to deliver a glimpse into 

the future of supercars”. 

Its limited presence in Sydney means 

Lexus is unlikely to showcase any 

of its current models, including the 

recently released GS mid-size range 

and facelifted RX SUV. 

GoAuto has already reported that a local 

showing of the recently unveiled 2013 

LS fl agship looks set to take place at the 

Melbourne Cup Carnival in November. 

Having just one car on show means 

Australia will also miss out on seeing 

the sexy LF-CC concept revealed at 

Paris in September that previews the 

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CX-9 

brand is ranked top vehicle importer 

here, where its 9.5 per cent market 

share is well above its position in its 

other major markets. 

As much as is possible for a midlife 

facelift, the new CX-9 adopts Mazda’s 

‘Kodo’ design theme, bringing it more 

into line with the smaller CX-5 and new 

Mazda6. 

Hi-tech additions include forward 

collision warning, lane departure 

warning and automatic high-beam 

headlights plus an upgraded infotainment 

system with voice recognition, the 

latest satellite navigation technology 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 12 

redesigned 2013 IS series. 

At the initial unveiling of the LF-LC in 

Detroit, Lexus confi rmed that despite its 

looks the model would not be in the same 

category as its LFA supercar sibling. 

Instead, Lexus sees it as a competitor 

to the Porsche 911 and, if it goes into 

production, would be looking at a 

sticker price between $US100,000 and 

$US130,000. TIM NICHOLSON 


and audio system tweaks. 

Meanwhile, the 3.7-litre V6 engine 

and six-speed automatic transmission 

will remain the sole powertrain on offer 

when the updated CX-9 hits Australian 

showrooms later this year. 

The Mazda6 mid-sizer is likely to 

further boost sales for the brand when 

it arrives Down Under early next year, 

especially as it closely resembles the 

sleek Takeri concept fi rst outed at the 

Tokyo motor show last November. 



LF-LC 

MX-5


GoAuto News 

MITSUBISHI 

MITSUBISHI will give its vital Mirage 

light car its fi rst Australian public 

outing at this week’s Sydney motor 

show alongside the next-generation 

Outlander SUV – although we will have 

to wait longer to see the hi-tech plug-in 

hybrid version Down Under. 

Also making an appearance will be 

the modifi ed but street-legal Pikes Peak 

i-MiEV race car that off-road racer 

Beccy Gordon piloted to sixth place in 

the EV class with a time of 15 minutes 

and 10.557 seconds. 

Most of Mitsubishi’s 2013 model 

year products will also be shown, 

including the recently launched facelift 

of the ASX compact SUV, better-value 

Lancer small car and rally-bred Lancer 

Evolution sports sedan. 

Updates to the Triton one-tonne ute 

plus the Challenger and Pajero SUVs 

are also promised, which like the 

aforementioned models are expected 

to become less expensive as Mitsubishi 

passes on the savings from ditching its 

10-year powertrain warranty. 

Mitsubishi has promised to tweak and 

upgrade the Mirage before its January 

arrival in Australian showrooms, using 

feedback from members of the local 

motoring media – including GoAuto – 

after driving the car in Thailand, where 

it is built. 

The lightweight, fuel-effi cient Colt 

successor is powered by a 1.2-litre 

three-pot petrol engine tied to either 

a fi ve-speed manual gearbox or 

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automatic continuously variable 

transmission (CVT). 

It will go up against the Nissan Micra, 

Volkswagen Up and Holden Barina Spark 

in the $13,000-$15,000 city-car market 

and Mitsubishi expects to sell around 

6000 Mirages per year in Australia. 

In contrast with the simple 

engineering practices that enabled 

Mitsubishi to create such a low-cost, 

fuel-effi cient light car with the Mirage, 

the Outlander SUV will be packed 

with technology when it hits local 

A revolutionary product with aviation DNA is about to enter the Australian luxury dealer market. 

Oct 17, 2012 Page 13 

showrooms in December. 

Safety features debuting on the 

Outlander include adaptive cruise 

control, lane departure warning, 

autonomous braking and powerful 

‘wide-vision’ Xenon headlights. 

Improved comfort and convenience 

will come in the shape of dual-zone airconditioning, 

a split-fold rear seat and 

reach adjustment for the steering wheel. 



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GoAuto News 

OPEL 

ONE of the oldest companies in the 

automotive business will be the newest 

exhibitor at this year’s Australian 

International Motor Show, with Opel 

making its debut appearance under its 

own banner. 

As GoAuto reported exclusively last 

week, the European arm of General 

Motors – celebrating 150 years as a 

manufacturer this year – will mark its 

fi rst Aussie show with the local debut 

of Europe’s hottest front-drive fourcylinder 

hatchback, the Astra OPC. 

The three-door 206kW/400Nm 

turbocharged fi rebrand will be shown off 

ahead of its early 2013 showroom launch 

in Australia where it will instantly become 

the performance halo car of the Opel 

range introduced locally in September. 

It will be joined on the Sydney stand 

by a selection of other models from the 

Opel range, including the Corsa light 

hatchback, Astra hatch and Sports Tourer 

wagon, Astra GTC and Insignia sedan. 

Founded as a sewing machine 

manufacturer by German Adam Opel in 

1862, Opel started making bicycles in 

1886 and then cars in 1899. 

Taken over by GM in 1929, Opel has 

Corsa Insignia 


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Oct 17, 2012 Page 14 

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Based on the coupe-like Astra GTC 

hatch, the OPC version can charge 

from zero to 100km/h in six seconds – 

matching the current class leader, the 

Renault Megane RS265, and is faster 

by about six tenths of a second than 

Volkswagen’s new-generation Golf 

GTI due in 2013. 

The Opel hatch puts its driving force 

to the tarmac via the front wheels, but 

tames the torque steer with Opel’s 

HiPerStrut front chassis design and a 

limited-slip differential. 

The Astra is enhanced by Opel 

Performance Centre (OPC), and is sold 

as the Vauxhall VRX in Britain. 

The previous VRX, with a 

176kW/320Nm turbocharged fourcylinder 

engine, was marketed in 

Australia under Holden Special Vehicles 

badges between 2006 and 2009. 

RON HAMMERTON 


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GoAuto News 

PEUGEOT 

PEUGEOT Australia will fl y in an 

example of the facelifted RCZ coupe – 

hot from its debut in Paris last month 

– to headline its stand at this week’s 

Australian International Motor Show. 

The updated version of its slinky 

coupe will be the only member of a 

clutch of Peugeots premiered in Paris 

to make the long journey to Sydney, 

leaving the 208 GTi, Onyx supercar and 

2008 crossover in Europe. 

Joining the tweaked RCZ on the stand 

RCZ 208 

PORSCHE 

PORSCHE’S latest all-wheel-drive 

911, the Carrera 4, is the star of the 

German sportscar-maker’s stand at the 

Australian International Motor Show 

starting this week. 

Fresh off the plane from Stuttgart, 

the coupe was rushed to Australia after 

being built in right-hand drive especially 

for the Sydney show so Porsche fans and 

potential buyers – including those who 

have already laid down deposits – could 

check it out in the fl esh ahead of its local 

showroom launch early next year. 

The Carrera 4 was given its global 

public debut at the Paris motor show 

only last month, fl eshing out the latest 

911 range – dubbed 991 Series – that 

was unveiled 12 months earlier in rearwheel-drive 

form at the 2011 Frankfurt 

motor show. 

Like all new-generation 911s, the 

Carrera 4 is new from the ground 

up, incorporating a new platform 

that employs more aluminium, highstrength 

steel and composites to slice 

will be the regular 208 range, launched 

last month but offi cially going on 

sale last weekend, plus other Peugeot 

models including the 4008, 508, 308 

and 3008. 

Peugeot Australia PR and promotions 

manager Jaedene Hudson told GoAuto 

the company was unable to secure the 

hot 208 GTi here for the show before 

the production version hits local 

showrooms around May next year. 

The 2008 crossover appeared in 

weight by about 45kg for better fuel 

economy and faster acceleration. 

In the Carrera 4, the biggest 

difference is the AWD Porsche Traction 

Management system that shares the 

driving force around all four wheels. 

This time, however, the driver can see 

this happening via an indicator in the 

instrument cluster that shows how the 

power is being distributed between the 

front and rear axles. 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 15 

almost production-ready guise in Paris, 

but will not launch here until the end of 

2013, while the jaw-dropping dieselelectric 

Onyx supercar – regarded by 

many as the star of the Paris show – is 

strictly a concept at this stage. 

Ms Hudson told us not to expect an 

announcement at the show regarding 

Peugeot importer Sime Darby’s 

expected move to acquire the Australian 

franchise for fellow PSA brand Citroen. 

Current Citroen importer Ateco 

Automotive told us in July it would 

hand over the reins to an independent 

distributor early next year, and in 

September announced it had attained 

the SsangYong rights for Australia from 

Sime Darby. MIKE COSTELLO 


Visually, the AWD ‘4’ models are 

distinguished by the wide-bodied rear 

end that accommodates the broader rear 

wheels. 

As well, a tail-light panel runs the full 

width of the car under the rear spoiler, 

illuminating when the lights are on to 

distinguish the all-wheel-drive models 

from the base cars. RON HAMMERTON 


911 Carrera 4 

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GoAuto News 

PROTON 

PROTON Cars Australia will present 

two future models on its stand at the 

Australian International Motor Show in 

Sydney – the Prevé small car and the 

Exora seven-seat people-mover – that 

will go on sale here in 2013. 

Prevé will ultimately replace the 

Persona in Australia, but Proton 

Australia general manager of sales and 

marketing Billy Falconer said they will 

be sold alongside one another until 

November next year. 

At that time, the Persona – which has 

been on the Australian market since 

2008 in its current generation – will 

have to be discontinued because it 

does not come with electronic stability 

control as required by legislation. 

Launched in Malaysia back in April, 

the Prevé will go on sale in Australia 

SKODA 

SKODA’S all-new Rapid small car is 

the main event at the rapidly expanding 

Volkswagen Group’s Czech brand stand 

in Sydney this week, arriving for its 

southern hemisphere debut just weeks 

after appearing in the metal for the fi rst 

time at the Paris motor show. 

Although not anticipated in Sydney, 

GoAuto can also reveal that Skoda 

looks poised to introduce an MY13 

upgrade of its Fabia light car, with 

offi cial homologation documents 

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in January, initially only in base GX 

specifi cation and powered by a 1.6-litre 

petrol engine linked to a fi ve-speed 

manual gearbox or a CVT (continuously 

variable transmission) auto option. 

Three months later it will be joined 

by the GXR variant, which will be 

powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged 

engine producing 102kW of power and 

205Nm of torque, driving exclusively 

through the CVT. 

The CFE ‘light-pressure’ turbo engine 

showing that a 77kW 1.6-litre fourcylinder 

turbo-diesel 77TDI and 63kW 

1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol ‘63 MPI’ 

have both received ADR approval and 

are expected to soon join the range. 

The normally aspirated 1.6-litre 

engine will provide Skoda with a 

new entry model for the Fabia hatch 

range, which currently starts from 

$18,990 (plus on-road costs) for the 

smaller-capacity but higher-output 

77kW/175Nm 1.2-litre turbo-petrol 

77TSI. 

While the 1.6 petrol is not slated 

for the wagon version at this stage, 

the 77TDI – Fabia’s fi rst diesel – 

has been homologated for the MY13 

Fabia wagon. 

The Octavia mid-size sedan and 

wagon range is also in line for a sales- 

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Oct 17, 2012 Page 16 

Prevé Exora 

has been the subject of considerable reengineering 

of the turbocharger unit in 

Malaysia to overcome shudder on takeoff, 

a problem that has forced a lengthy 

delay in the launch of the new Exora in 

Australia as it uses the same engine. 

The seven-seater had been expected 

to go on sale here as early as last month 

but it will now be launched locally in 

mid-2013. DAVID HASSALL 


boosting MY13 upgrade including new 

engines for both body styles. 

Skoda has received ADR approval 

for a normally aspirated 75kW 1.6-litre 

four-cylinder petrol engine (dubbed 

the 75FSI) that would slot below the 

current base 90kW 1.4-litre turbo-petrol 

90TSI, as well as a mid-range 81TDI 

(81kW) turbo-diesel – a slightly loweroutput 

version of the 2.0-litre 103TDI 

(103kW) that slots in just above the 

current 1.9-litre 77TDI (77kW). 

The new-generation Octavia is 

understood to be just weeks away from 

a global premiere, but no surprises are 

expected on Skoda’s Sydney motor show 

stand to take the limelight away from the 

Rapid’s unveiling. TERRY MARTIN 


Course details are on our website: 

www.eprofitfocus.com.au or contact: 

Kerry O’Neill 

Director of Training 

Tel: +61 2 9322 3651 

keoneill@deloitte.com.au 

Kristal Gibb 

Training Coordinator 

Tel: +61 2 9322 7594 

krgibb@deloitte.com.au


GoAuto News 

SUBARU 

SUBARU Australia is keeping its cards 

close to its chest on the star attraction 

at its Sydney motor show presentation 

this week, but has confi rmed to GoAuto 

that it will be of particular interest to 

sportscar fans. 

That is not likely to be the hotly 

anticipated convertible version of the 

Japanese brand’s all-new BRZ sportscar, 

nor a higher-performance turbocharged 

variant that is also understood to be in 

the works. 

But with interest in the hot-ticket 

BRZ still strong and the waiting list 

now extending well into 2013, Subaru 

could be on the verge of showing its 

fi rst special edition of the rear-wheeldrive 

boxer-engined two-door. 

Of course, special editions of the 

WRX and STI are also in the mix, 

following the limited-edition (300 

units) WRX Club Spec sedan released 

in August and featuring tangerine or 

black body colour, black-coated 17inch 

alloy wheels and door mirrors, a 

black STI rear wing, leather upholstery 

and special numbered badges. 

The new-generation WRX and STI 

are not far away, with the rally-bred 

SUZUKI 

THE chief engineer of the Swift Sport, 

Suzuki Motor Corporation’s Naoyuki 

Takeuchi, has created a stunning 

one-of-a-kind extreme version of the 

hot light-sized hatch that makes its 

Australasian debut at the Sydney motor 

show this week. 

Suzuki Australia communications 

manager Andrew Ellis told GoAuto that 

the vehicle was Takeuchi-san’s “own 

personal interpretation” of the Swift 

Sport, modifi ed with a unique exterior 

and cabin treatment that has shades of 

the wilder S-Concept which previewed 

the production car. 

In its second-ever outing following 

an appearance at the 2012 Tokyo 

Auto Salon, Takeuchi-san’s Swift 

Sport cuts the mustard with its custom 

paintwork, unique bodykit, striking 

use of chrome and high-gloss black 

detailing, aggressive front lip spoiler, 

massive rear wing, fully redesigned rear 

diffuser, and 18-inch black fi ve-spoke 

light-alloy wheels wrapped in ultralow-profi 

le rubber. 

Inside, the engineer clearly has an eye 

for interior design as he continues the 

contrasting light/dark theme, applying 

chrome trim and gloss black paint 

high-performance turbo twins – now 

without the Impreza prefi x but still 

based on the small-car series that 

entered its fourth generation earlier 

this year – due for release in the fi rst 

half of 2013. 

And the full MY13 Liberty range is 

also on our doorstep, to be released 

in the coming weeks to sit alongside 

the new high-riding ‘Liberty X’ line 

introduced last month after making 

its world debut at the Beijing motor 

show in April. 

As such, this will be the MY13 

Liberty’s Australian motor show debut, 

along with the production version of its 

Impreza-based XV, which was shown 

in concept form at the Melbourne leg 

of the Australian International Motor 

across the dash and doors, laying dark 

Alcantara (with light stitching) along 

the way, slotting in Recaro racing seats 

and wrapping them and other key ‘touch 

points’ in high-grade charcoal-grey and 

light-grey leather trim. 

There are currently no plans for 

production of the Takeuchi Swift 

Sport, although it does highlight the 

customisation possibilities for the hot 

hatch. 

And, alas, there are no mechanical 

changes to the Sport, which from $23,990 

(plus on-road costs) remains one of 

the most affordable hot hatches on the 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 17 

Liberty X WRX Club Spec 

Show last year but has been on sale 

since January and sparked plenty of 

interest among Australian consumers. 

The XV and Impreza also both won 

a ‘Good Design Award 2012’ earlier 

this month from the infl uential Japan 

Industrial Design Promotion. 

The Liberty X is available with either 

a 123kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder (2.5X) 

or 195kW 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine 

(3.6X) and sits 50mm higher off the 

ground than regular Liberty models 

to offer improved ground clearance of 

200mm (13mm shy of the Outback), 

making it particularly suitable for 

driving in rural and regional areas. 

TERRY MARTIN 


Swift Takeuchi 

Australian market and is powered by a 

high-revving 1.6-litre four-cylinder ‘M16’ 

engine that produces 100kW at 6900rpm 

and 160Nm of torque at 4400rpm. 

It drives the front wheels through a 

specially developed six-speed manual 

gearbox (or optional continuously 

variable auto with rally-inspired shift 

paddles and ‘seven-gear’ manual 

mode), and enables the head-turning 

fi ve-door hatch to hit 100km/h from 

standstill in around eight seconds. 

TERRY MARTIN 



GoAuto News 

TOYOTA 

TOYOTA will present one of the 

most important cars of the Australian 

International Motor Show when it 

tears the covers from the eleventhgeneration 

Corolla hatch in Sydney 

this week. 

With the ageing current-generation 

Corolla (launched in 2007) still among 

the nation’s top-selling cars, the edgier 

new version is a strong contender to 

wrest the title of most popular small car 

in the land from the Mazda3 next year. 

Pricing and specifi cation for the 

more Euro-style Corolla will not be 

announced at the October 18 media day 

unveiling, but will instead be held back 

until the offi cial Australian launch later 

that same evening. 

Australian examples of the car will 

feature a more powerful version of the 

existing 1.8-litre engine developing 

103kW (up 3kW) and matched to either 

a six-speed manual gearbox or a new 

CVT automatic transmission. 

Europe will receive sporty RS, petrolelectric 

hybrid and diesel versions – the 

VOLKSWAGEN 

VOLKSWAGEN Group Australia’s 

new-generation Beetle and Passat 

Alltrack series are the headline acts 

on its stand at this week’s Australian 

International Motor Show (AIMS), two 

key forthcoming models that should 

bolster the German brand’s strong 

standing in the marketplace. 

Limited-issue models such as the 

Caddy Edition 30, and recent releases 

like the Up city car and MY13 Touareg 

and Passat will also be prominent in 

Sydney, although the Australian public’s 

fi rst taste of the seventh-generation 

Golf will have to wait until closer to 

the crucial new small car’s arrival in 

the fi rst half of next year, possibly when 

Melbourne hosts the show in June. 

VW is also expected to announce a 

capped-price servicing deal for the Up 

at the show. 

Full Australian-spec details of the 

Passat Alltrack will be revealed closer 

to its showroom arrival on November 1, 

although Volkswagen has confi rmed it 

will be priced from below $50,000 – well 

within sight of the $45,990 Passat 125TDI 

Highline wagon upon which it is based. 

As GoAuto reported from Austria 

earlier this year when we fi rst drove the 

off-road-oriented Alltrack, Volkswagen 

will offer the model in a single, highly 

specifi ed diesel variant that comes with a 

Corolla 

latter of which will use BMW engines 

from early 2014 – as well as a wagon 

body style that premiered at the Paris 

show last month, but none of these are 

confi rmed for Australia. 

The new-generation sedan version is 

not due until the end of 2013, meaning 

the current model will soldier on 

alongside its newer hatchback sibling 

for some time yet. 

Joining the Corolla in making its 

fi rst Australian appearance will be the 

successful GAZOO Racing 86 coupe, 

which won the SP3 category in the 

Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race in 

Germany fi ve months ago. 

Adding to the performance fl avour 

will be a classic and rare – just 337 

Passat Alltrack 

raised body, cosmetic enhancements, extra 

undercarriage protection, 4Motion parttime 

four-wheel-drive, retuned electronic 

driver assistance systems and a 2000kg 

braked towing capacity (up 500kg). 

The Alltrack has a higher ground 

clearance than the regular Passat – up 

40mm to a still relatively low 165mm 

– while the front, ramp and departure 

angles also rise, from 13.5 to 16 

degrees, 9.5 to 12.8 degrees, and 11.9 to 

13.6 degrees respectively. 

Combining with a six-speed dualclutch 

DSG automatic transmission, 

the 125TDI’s 2.0-litre direct-injection 

common-rail turbo-diesel engine produces 

125kW of power at 4200rpm and 350Nm 

of torque from 1750-2500rpm. 

The European-spec Alltrack is capable 

of combined-cycle fuel consumption of 

5.9 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions 

of 155g/km, fi gures that are only slightly 

higher than the equivalent front-drive 

Passat despite the 1725kg Alltrack 

carrying a weight penalty of around 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 18 

GAZOO 

Racing 86 

examples were produced between 1967 

and 1970 – 2000GT coupe, the ancestor 

of the modern 86 and other well-known 

Toyota coupes like the Celica and Supra. 

Naturally, the Toyota stand will also 

feature the rest of its passenger and 

commercial range, notably the recently 

released 70 Series dual cab, the lauded 

86 coupe, and the newly expanded 

Prius hybrid range – including the Prius 

C hatch and Prius V people-mover. 

The Australian-made Camry, Camry 

Hybrid and Aurion sedans will also 

feature, plus the Yaris light car, topselling 

HiLux ute, and Toyota’s SUV 

family including the RAV4, Kluger, 

Prado and 200 Series LandCruiser. 

MIKE COSTELLO 

170kg. Acceleration from 0-100km/h is 

a claimed 8.9 seconds. 

The latest Beetle, meanwhile, is sure 

to be a crowd favourite as it appears in 

Australia for the fi rst time ahead of its 

sales launch early next year. 

Pricing and full Australian details 

will be revealed closer to launch, but 

as GoAuto reported exclusively in 

August, the second-generation ‘New 

Beetle’ looks set to launch with a 

single powertrain – a 118TSI (118kW) 

1.4-litre four-cylinder ‘Twincharger’ 

(turbocharged and supercharged) petrol 

engine, combining with either a sixspeed 

manual gearbox or seven-speed 

DSG dual-clutch automatic. 

VW is also still to confi rm the local 

introduction of the cabriolet version of 

the redesigned Beetle, which broke cover 

earlier this month ahead of its debut at the 

Los Angeles auto show next month. 

TERRY MARTIN 


Beetle


GoAuto News 


Right note for ST 

Oct 17, 2012 Page 19 

‘Active sound symposer’ technology adds bark to Ford Focus ST’s big bite 

By DAVID HASSALL 

NO FEWER than 30 engineers in fi ve 

countries were employed to get just 

the right engine note inside the new 

Ford Focus ST, which was offi cially 

launched in Australia last week. 

The Blue Oval’s latest hot hatch 

arrives as a clear challenger to the iconic 

Volkswagen Golf GTI, undercutting 

the perennial segment leader on price 

(as announced two months ago) while 

exceeding it on performance. 

At $38,290, the Focus ST is $2200 

cheaper than the equivalent fi ve-door 

Golf and even $700 less than the threedoor, 

giving VW something to think 

about ahead of the launch next year of 

the next-generation model revealed at 

the recent Paris motor show. 

Ford describes the German-built 

Focus ST as its fi rst global performance 

car because it is sold in the same 

specifi cation in 40 countries. 

The ST develops 184kW of power 

and 340Nm of torque (360Nm when 

using the overboost function) from its 

2.0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost fourcylinder 

engine. 

This puts it in the middle of the 

front-drive hot hatch war, placing 

it ahead of the Golf GTI (currently 

with 155kW/280Nm and next year 

with up to 169kW/350Nm), on a 

par with the upcoming Volvo V40 

T5 R-Design (187kW/360Nm), but 

behind both the Renault Megane 

RS265 (198kW/360Nm) and the car 

that will be the new king of the hill 

from early 2013, Opel’s remarkable 

206kW/400Nm Astra OPC. 

Aside from its sharp price and a 

hot new hero colour called Tangerine 

Scream, Ford Australia hopes one of 

the factors that will set the Focus ST 

apart from its hot hatch rivals will 

be the company’s new ‘active sound 

symposer’ that amplifi es specifi c engine 

frequencies into the cabin. 

A development of the ‘sound tube’ 

concept used on the previous Focus 

XR5, the symposer employs an 

electronically controlled valve attached 

directly to the intake manifold – rather 

than between the manifold and air 

intake as on the previous version – that 

opens and closes according to driver 

inputs measured by engine revs, throttle 

position and gear selection. 

The goal was to boost engine volumes 

into the cabin in the 200-450Hz 

frequency range that Ford assessed 

as the most pleasing to performance 

enthusiasts. 

This is achieved through the use of 

a composite ‘paddle’ that vibrates with 

air impulses at low frequencies to create 

a “throaty” engine note, but is much 

quieter when cruising in higher gears. 

According to Ford, the international 

team of 30 engineers from suppliers of 

the intake manifold, electrical hardware 

and software, battery tray and electrical 

connectors came together with the carmaker 

to accelerate development of the 

symposer. 

They had to “balance noise, vibration 

and harshness issues, materials, 

manufacturing and assembly 

considerations to bring the symposer 

to life”. 

Ford air induction system engineer 

Christopher Myers said discerning 

hot hatch drivers not only want their 

engines to sing, they want them to roar. 

“For ST drivers, it’s not enough to 

have a car that is fast or feels fast – it 

also has to sound fast,” he said. 

“Part of this is the design of the 

exhaust, but we went further and 

engineered the symposer both to dial up 

the nice sounds the EcoBoost delivers 

under the hood but dial back the interior 

sound volumes at part throttle. 

“The turbo gives us great power 

across the rev range, but it presents 

a special challenge from a sound 

perspective as it absorbs much of the 

beautiful engine music. 

Continued next page


GoAuto News 

Right note for ST 


“The symposer helps us bring the 

throaty sounds that drivers love.” 

The Focus ST ups the ante over the 

previous fi ve-door Focus hot hatch, the 

XR5 Turbo, which was discontinued in 

June after more than six years on the 

market. 

Powered by a turbocharged Volvo 

2.5-litre fi ve-cylinder engine producing 

a relatively modest 166kW and 320Nm, 

the XR5 Turbo was priced from 

$36,490 with a standard six-speed 

manual gearbox. 

For almost two years, though, Ford 

Australia sold a limited edition called the 

Focus RS, a three-door model with fl ared 

wheelarches priced at $59,990 and with 

the turbo boost turned way up to produce 

some 224kW and 440Nm – putting even 

more grunt through the front wheels than 

the forthcoming Opel Astra OPC. 

No automatic transmission was 

available on either the XR5 or the RS, 

and the same applies to the new ST, 

putting it at a disadvantage to its rivals, 

even though hot hatch drivers may 

traditionally prefer a manual. 

Harnessing the performance, taming 

torque steer and reducing understeer 

were the dynamic challenges that faced 

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the ST engineers, resulting in the car 

coming with a bunch of electronic 

systems with the requisite acronyms. 

These include Electronic Power 

Assisted Steering (EPAS), Torque 

Steer Compensation (TSC), Torque 

Vectoring Control (TVC), Cornering 

Under Steer Control (CUSC) and three 

settings for the Dynamic Stability 

Control (DSC) system. 

Of course, the suspension has also 

been uprated with stiffer springs and 

shock absorbers, a different rear sway 

bar and fi rmer suspension joints, and 

lowered 10mm. 

As GoAuto reported in August, the 

ST features a unique steering wheel, 

gearshift knob and pedals, darker 

headlining and cabin trim, and lowered 

Recaro front bucket seats with partial 

leather/cloth inserts and cushions 

that adjust and tilt, cruise control 

(unavailable in the XR5 Turbo), dual- 

DEALER TO DEALER ONLINE AUCTION 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 20 

zone climate-control air-conditioning, 

automatic bi-Xenon headlights with 

distinctive model-specifi c black 

surrounds, an auto-dimming interior 

mirror and rain-sensing wipers. 

Also standard are satellite navigation, 

tyre-pressure sensors, a rearview 

camera, daytime running lights, 

Bluetooth connectivity, nine-speaker 

Sony sound system, keyless entry/ 

start, and additional instrumentation (a 

three-gauge cluster for oil pressure, oil 

temperature and boost pressure). 

The Focus ST is distinguished by 

a one-piece interpretation of Ford’s 

signature trapezoidal grille, side skirts, a 

diffuser in the rear bumper, a roof spoiler, 

a dual centre exhaust outlet (shaped like 

a Kia grille) and 18-inch alloy wheels 

fi tted with Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres. 

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GoAuto News 


Sorento booster shot 

Massive upgrade and more 2WD petrol 

variants set to improve sales of Kia SUV 


KIA has launched its facelifted Sorento 

seven-seat SUV range in Australia with 

more front-wheel-drive variants based 

on the 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine, ahead 

of the family wagon’s public debut at 

this week’s Sydney motor show. 

Previously the six-speed auto- and 

2WD-only 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine 

was available only in base Si trim, but 

Kia has added mid-spec SLi ($40,490 

plus on-road costs) and and SLi 

Navigation ($41,990) variants. 

Kia expects the new petrol SLi will 

become the Sorento’s volume leader, 

whereas most customers previously 

went for the top-spec, all-wheel-drive 

diesel Platinum. 

Kia Motors Australia (KMAu) senior 

product manager Jeff Shafer said the 

expected boost in petrol Sorento sales 

was in part due to the fact that more than 

half of Ford Territory and Toyota Kluger 

customers opted for 2WD variants. 

Mr Shafer said he expected the extra 

petrol variants to help push monthly 

Sorento sales toward 400 units, 

compared with the recent average 

of 270, while continuing to take 

advantage of the fast-growing SUV 

segment, which is up 26.3 per cent 

year to date and has seen Sorento sales 

rise 19.7 per cent. 

Reshuffl ed pricing of carryover 

variants means entry to the Sorento 

range is now $500 

more expensive 

at $37,490 for the 

petrol Si, while 

the range now tops 

out $1200 higher 

at $50,390 for the 

diesel Platinum. 

On the other 

hand, Kia has cut 

the price of the Si 

diesel by $1000 to $38,990 (manual) 

and $40,990 (auto), while the price 

of the mid-spec SLi diesel has been 

slashed by $3000, to $43,990. 

As before, the only variant available 

with a six-speed manual is the Si 

diesel, and engine outputs remain 

at 145kW of power at 3800rpm and 

421Nm of torque (between 1800rpm 

and 2500rpm) for manual diesels, with 

torque boosted to 436Nm on (sixspeed) 

automatic diesels. 

The petrol V6 continues to pump 

out 204kW at 6300rpm and 335Nm at 

5000rpm, but combined fuel use across 

Oct 17, 2012 Page 21 

the range has been slightly improved, 

meaning manual diesels now sip 6.6 

litres per 100km, automatic diesels 

use 7.3L/100km and petrols consume 

9.8L/100km. 

Representing more than the average 

midlife update, the new Sorento may 

not look radically different but it retains 

only the outgoing model’s bonnet, roof 

and door panels. 

PRICING: 

It is built on 

lighter yet stiffer 

and stronger new 

underpinnings – 

shared with the 

new Hyundai 

Santa Fe launched 

here last month – 

resulting in petrol 

variants being up 

to 93kg lighter than before. 

Despite the all-new platform, the 

new Sorento’s exterior dimensions and 

wheelbase remain the same, apart from a 

10mm lower ride height that Kia attributes 

to the overhauled suspension set-up. 

Kia claims to have improved 

legroom by 30mm for centre 

row occupants and 9mm for rear 

occupants, while cargo space remains 

at 258 litres with all three rows of 

seats up, 1047 litres with the third row 

folded and 2052 litres with both sets 

of rear seats folded. 

Continued next page 

Si 3.5 petrol 2WD (a) $37,490 

SLi 3.5 petrol 2WD (a) $40,490 

SLi Nav 3.5 petrol 2WD (a) $41,990 

Si 2.2 diesel 4WD $38,990 

Si 2.2 diesel 4WD (a) $40,990 

SLi 2.2 diesel 4WD (a) $43,990 

SLi Nav 2.2 diesel 4WD (a) $45,490 

Platinum 2.2 diesel 4WD (a) $50,390


GoAuto News 

Sorento booster shot 


As is now usual for Kia products sold 

in Australia, the Sorento was put through 

a local ride and handling development 

process, which the company claims 

has delivered a “premium European” 

driving experience. 

KMAu national marketing manager 

Steve Watt said the tuning exercise 

required engineering cars to cover 

thousands of kilometres in the Victorian 

Alps and Sydney, and that the Sorento 

was benchmarked against the Ford 

Territory for cruising comfort and the 

BMW X5 for dynamics. 

Standard safety equipment across 

the Sorento range includes an alphabet 

soup of electronic acronyms, six airbags 

and three-point seatbelts plus adjustable 

head restraints for all seats. 

Front and rear parking sensors plus 

LED daylight running lights are new to 

Si, and all Sorentos get bigger 320mm 

front discs, up from 298mm. 

Dual-zone climate-control airconditioning, 

cruise control, Bluetooth 

for phone and audio streaming and a 

tilt/reach-adjustable leather-clad multifunction 

steering wheel are on the 

standard equipment list, along with a 

six-speaker MP3-compatible sound 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 22 

Get your career in gear 

Sales Coordinator 

Sales – New & Used Vehicles 

Sales Trainee 

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system with USB and iPod connectivity. 

Other standard items include 

electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, 

two 12-volt power outlets, a trip computer, 

60/40 split-fold centre bench seat with a 

fl ip-down armrest with cupholders and 

a third-row 50/50-split seat that can fold 

fl ush with the boot fl oor. 

All models now have electric power 

steering, front foglights with static 

cornering lights, while Si models ride 

on 17-inch alloy wheels and have black 

cloth upholstery. 

Upgrading to SLi adds a digital 

speedometer with integrated multifunction 

display, a reversing camera, 

a 4.3-inch touchscreen for the audio 

system, leather upholstery, eight-way 

electric driver’s seat adjustment, roof 

rails, ventilation controls for rearmost 

passengers and UV-resistant windows. 

Also included are automatic 

Service Advisors - 

City & Country 

Technicians - 

Light & Heavy Vehicles 

To discover more about the positions we currently have 

available, visit aim2xl.com.au or call 08 7225 0893. 

headlights, a self-dimming interior 

mirror, alloy pedals and a FlexSteer 

system – enabled by the move to 

electric power steering – that offers 

three settings for steering weight, 

ranging from Comfort (lightest) through 

Normal to Sport (heaviest). 

As the name suggests, the newly 

created SLi Navigation brings a seveninch 

touchscreen satellite navigation 

system with SUNA traffi c updates plus 

a premium audio set-up with external 

amplifi er and subwoofer. 

Top-spec Platinum variants come 

with the sat-nav and stereo upgrade as 

standard and add a panoramic glass roof 

(which can be opened), keyless entry/ 

start, rear privacy glass and a washer 

fl uid level sensor. 



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GoAuto News 

A4 heads bush 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 23 

Allroad version of Audi’s A4 Avant wagon arrives Down Under for the fi rst time 

By MIKE COSTELLO 

THE high-riding Audi A4 Allroad 

quattro is now available in Australia for 

the fi rst time, launching simultaneously 

with the larger but conceptually similar 

A6 version and priced at $69,900 plus 

on-road costs. 

However, prospective buyers need 

to be quick as Audi has limited local 

supply to just 150 units, all powered by 

the regular A4’s 2.0-litre turbo-diesel 

engine and matched to a seven-speed 

dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

Although the wagon was launched 

in Europe in manual form in 2009, 

Audi Australia steered clear until it 

could source it with an automatic 

transmission, and until its Q5 SUV was 

better established on the market. 

The company says the fi rst 150 units 

are a toe-in-the-water exercise, and 

claims the exclusivity will appeal to 

target customers who want something 

outside the norm. 

GoAuto understands the local 

subsidiary had an easier time making 

the business case for a limited run 

of cars than offering the vehicle as a 

regular model, although the company 

says factory supply is not an issue, 

despite strong global demand from 

Europe and the US. 

With a monthly sales target of about 

20 units, the local allocation is expected 

to be sold out by the middle of next 

year – supply will be staggered – but 

Audi has not ruled out bringing in more 

units, albeit with a different level of 

specifi cation. 

The starting price makes the allwheel-drive 

Allroad $9000 more 

expensive than the regular front-drive 

A4 wagon with the same engine, or 

$2400 dearer than the regular petrolpowered 

2.0 TFSI Avant quattro – the 

only other all-wheel-drive A4 wagon on 

sale. 

For the outlay over the regular A4 

wagon, buyers get extras such as 37mm 

more ground clearance – 180mm all up 

when unloaded – wider wheel tracks 

(19mm front/23mm rear) and an offroad 

driving program that identifi es the 

road surface and adjusts the stability 

control accordingly. 

Externally, the Allroad gets stainlesssilver 

roof rails and front/rear underbody 

cladding for protection off the beaten 

path, plus signature fl ared wheelarches 

as found on its A6 sibling. 

In launching the A4 Allroad and 

its larger A6 cousin – two previous 

generations of which have been sold 

here previously – Audi has brought the 

number of crossover and SUV models 

in its Australian fl eet to fi ve, with the 

others being the Q3, Q5 and Q7. 

Closest in size is the Q5 quattro, which 

retails for $62,200 when powered by 

a similarly powerful 2.0 TDI engine – 

$7700 cheaper than the lower A4 Allroad. 

Audi claims the Allroad models 

attract a different sort of buyer to its 

‘Q’ range, and is pitching the A4 as an 

alternative for those who do not want a 

full-fat SUV. 

The 2.0-litre TDI engine produces 

130kW of power and 380Nm of torque 

directed to all four wheels via a sevenspeed 

S-tronic dual-clutch automatic. 

The quattro mechanical AWD system 

has 40:60 rear-wheel bias, and can send 

up to 85 per cent of torque to the rear 

axle if required. 

Audi claims a standing sprint 

time of 8.1 seconds to 100km/h, and 

combined-cycle fuel consumption of 

6.0 litres per 100km. 

Standard features include 17inch 

alloy wheels, Xenon headlights 

with LED daytime running lights, a 

seven-inch touchscreen with satellite 

navigation and rearview parking 

camera, Bluetooth mobile phone 

connectivity, 10-speaker sound system, 

a tyre pressure monitor and steeringwheel-mounted 

paddle shifters. 

Luggage capacity with the rear seats in 

place is 490 litres, and can be increased 

to 1430 litres and a length of 1780mm by 

folding them fl at, while the loading area 

is 1000mm wide between the arches. 



Trail blazer – next page


GoAuto News 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 24 

Audi launches redesigned A6 Allroad in limited numbers, priced from $117,900 


THE third-generation Audi A6 Allroad 

quattro will be a strictly niche model, 

with just 150 units to be made available 

to Australian customers from last week, 

starting at $117,900 plus on-road costs. 

The new model is larger, quicker and 

more frugal than before, while Audi 

claims it has almost $20,000 worth 

of extra standard equipment over its 

predecessor to offset the corresponding 

$11,900 price hike. 

The company expects the model 

will fi ll a small void in the market for 

adventurous buyers who do not want 

a comparatively mainstream luxury 

SUV like the Q7, instead preferring the 

dynamism and lower body profi le of a 

crossover-style vehicle. 

This differentiation is furthered by the 

Allroad’s substantial $27,900 premium 

over the equivalent 3.0 TDI Q7, which 

starts from $90,000. 

Many buyers of the fi rst-generation 

Allroad launched in 2001 switched to the 

follow-up in 2007, and Audi naturally 

Trail blazer 

expects many of those customers to 

move into the latest version. 

While the limited supply is partially 

attributed to strong global demand, 

Audi Australia said limiting the number 

of cars to a neat 150 units was also a 

ploy to add a further level of exclusivity. 

The company also took this approach 

to the conceptually similar – but smaller 

and far cheaper – A4 Allroad quattro 

launched alongside the A6 last week 

(see previous page). 

With sales projections of at least 

10 units per month, the company’s 

staggered local supply will likely run 

out toward the end of next year, but the 

company said there was potential to 

order another batch down the track. 

Power for the A6 version comes 

exclusively from a 3.0-litre turbodiesel 

V6 engine, which sends 180kW 

of power and a thumping 580Nm of 

torque (available from 1750rpm) 

through all four wheels via a sevenspeed 

S-tronic dual-clutch automatic 

transmission. 

The Allroad thus becomes the sole A6 

Avant variant offered in Australia with 

either six-cylinder power or quattro 

AWD (the two existing regular variants 

are four-cylinder and front-drive), 

while the equivalent 3.0 TDI A6 quattro 

sedan costs $116,500 – just $1400 less 

than the Allroad. 

Audi claims this engine is strong 

enough to hustle the big crossover – 

which tips the scales at 1855kg unladen – 

from standstill to 100km/h in 6.6 seconds, 

while combined fuel consumption is kept 

to 6.3 litres per 100km, down 16 per cent 

on the old one. 

The new model also has a towing 

capacity of 2500kg – an important 

fi gure, says Audi, since many 

prospective buyers will want to hitch 

their Allroad up to a boat trailer. 

As with previous iterations of the 

Allroad, the new model is differentiated 

from the regular A6 Avant by additions 

like fl ared wheelarches, stainless-steel 

underbody protection and adaptive air 

suspension that can raise or lower the 

ride height depending on the driving 

mode selected. 

When stationary, the Allroad sits 

60mm higher than the regular A6 Avant 

on which it is based, but the air suspension 

system automatically lowers the ride by 

15mm when travelling above 80km/h 

and can raise it by 35mm when the ‘drive 

select’ system is set to ‘comfort’. 


DRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE


GoAuto News 

Job cuts to be less severe 

than fi rst thought as Ford 

boosts development work 


Ford eases on cutbacks 


FORD Australia will spare around 25 

per cent of the workers due to be cut 

from its local operations in November 

after creating more than 100 new jobs 

in product development and its Ford 

Performance Vehicles (FPV) division, 

which offi cially goes in-house from 

January 1. 

The company announced in July 

it would shed 440 staff from its 

Broadmeadows and Geelong facilities 

near the end of the year, shortly after 

it cuts vehicle output by 30 per cent in 

response to the continuing decline of its 

staple car – the Falcon sedan. 

Despite the welcome news, Ford 

will still need to lay-off more than 

200 people after only 118 staff at its 

Victorian operations accepted voluntary 

redundancy. The call for voluntary 

redundancies was fi nalised last week 

and was in effect from mid-September. 

Both the 118 voluntary and 212 

involuntary retrenchments will come 

into effect in the weeks immediately 

following the “downgrade” of the 

Broadmeadows manufacturing plant – 

THINKING OF 

SELLING YOUR 

DEALERSHIP? 

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or in the early stages of considering 

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which produces the Falcon, Falcon Ute 

and the Territory SUV – on November 7. 

Ford Australia public affairs director 

Sinead Phipps told GoAuto that many 

of the workers saved would be offered 

trade roles in product development, the 

department responsible for the design, 

engineering and capability testing 

of vehicles for both Australia and 

overseas markets. 

The Blue Oval’s local arm has 

previously designed and engineered 

global vehicles such as the Figo light 

car and Ranger ute, and has confi rmed 

that it has more in the works, including 

at least one new model based on the 

T6 Ranger platform – tipped to be a 

hardcore SUV. 

As we have reported, the company 

unveiled its redeveloped research and 

Oct 17, 2012 Page 25 

FPV GT RSPEC 

design facility in August this year – one 

of just three of its kind alongside Ford’s 

other facilities in Cologne and Detroit 

– as a hub for the Asia-Pacifi c region. 

“As product development has 

been expanding, we’ve found some 

opportunities there,” said Ms Phipps. 

“I can’t give you specifi c roles 

because we need to talk to the various 

individuals about them, but there are 

trade-qualifi ed people we’ve found 

roles for in product development. 

“It may not just be people on the 

(manufacturing) line, it could be trades 

like electricians and other things as well. 

It’s great for the company, but it’s even 

better for the people involved, so we’re 

very pleased about that component.” 


Four-star blow for Holden and Isuzu Ute models 

By RON HAMMERTON 

HOLDEN and Isuzu have defended 

the safety performance of their related 

Colorado and D-Max utes after some 

variants were awarded only four 

stars by the Australasian New Car 

Assessment Program (ANCAP) last 

week – a blow that could cost them 

fl eet sales. 

The failure to make the fi ve-star 

grade has been blamed on the lack 

of dual pretensioners on the front 

seatbelts of the Colorado single cab 

and space cab workhorse models and 

Isuzu’s fl agship D-Max crew cab. 

This meant that these models 

equipped with a single pretensioner 

on each front seat are deemed to have 

missed ANCAP’s minimum standard of 

adult occupant protection in the frontal 

offset impact test, with driver chest 

protection being rated as ‘marginal’. 

By contrast, Holden’s fl agship 

four-door Colorado crew cab that is 

equipped with dual pretensioners for 

front-seat occupants was awarded fi ve 

stars and an ‘acceptable’ driver chest 

defl ection score when it was launched 

in July. 

An increasing number of major fl eets 

– led by mining giant BHP Billiton – 

exclude four-star models under their 

fi ve-star safety buying policies. 


D-Max


GoAuto InBrief 

‘On a winner’ 

Aussie F1 GP celebrity race to feature new Mazda6 

By RON HAMMERTON 

MAZDA will use next year’s Australian 

Formula One Grand Prix celebrity race 

in Melbourne to underscore the sporting 

credentials of its new-generation 

Mazda6 that is destined for local 

showrooms in the fi rst quarter of 2013. 

Australia’s leading full-line car 

importer was last week named as 

sponsor and car supplier for the bashand-biff 

event which pits various sports 

stars and show-business personalities 

against each other in the traditional GP 

pipe-opener at the Albert Park circuit. 

The celebrities will race dieselpowered 

Mazda6 sedans with the 

standard automatic transmission in the 

sprint, which is a one-off for Mazda 

at this stage, although it says it will 

consider extending the arrangement. 

The race was not held this year 

due to a lack of willing car company 

sponsors after Lexus pulled out 

following the 2011 event, but Mazda 

has stepped up to the plate with 20 

Subaru BRZ 

Matthew Cowdrey and Anna Meares 

new Mazda6 sedans for 2013. 

Mazda joins a long list of companies 

to throw their hat into the celebrity race 

ring, with the likes of Ford, Holden, 

Nissan, Fiat, BMW, Mini and Lexus 

all using the event to drive publicity for 

their models since the event was fi rst 

staged in Adelaide in the mid-1980s. 

Mazda Australia national marketing 

manager Alastair Doak said the race 

would be an important part of the 

company’s launch strategy for the 

Mazda6. 

“New technology such as i-Eloop (a 

capacitor-based energy regeneration 

system) is just one of the many reasons 

that we feel we’re on to a winner,” he 

said. “All-new Mazda6 is the fi rst car 

to feature i-Eloop, which is the next 

step in the rollout of our innovative 

SkyActiv technologies designed to 

improve fuel effi ciency and to enhance 

the joy of driving.” 


THE quest for quietness, the crusade against consumption, 

the scramble for safety and the race for refi nement have 

conspired to jettison much of the joy from driving. Even cars 

marketed as sporty often miss the mark for driver involvement 

or are so over-capable that they only become satisfying 

when taken to the ragged edge of their abilities. This usually 

means risking life and licence on the public road or paying 

to participate in a track day, rendering the daily commute 

even more frustrating and dull than it would be in a cheaper, 

more rational alternative. Subaru and Toyota collaborated to 

turn this concept on its head with the rear-drive BRZ and 86 

coupes – but has it paid off? 



Oct 17, 2012 Page 26 

BOLT GT-R IN WORKS 

NISSAN has extended its brand 

ambassador role with the world’s 

fastest man – Olympic 100-metre 

and 200-metre champion Usain Bolt 

– who is the company’s “Director of 

Excitement”. 


ANCAP SET FOR AIMS 

THE Australasian New Car 

Assessment Program (ANCAP) will 

participate for the fi rst time at a motor 

show, confi rming its appearance at 

this week’s Australian International 

Motor Show in Sydney. 


BIG TOYOTA RECALL 

TOYOTA is recalling 297,931 Aurion, 

Camry, Corolla, Kluger and Yaris 

models in Australia over the potential 

sticky operation of the electric window 

master switch located on the driver’s 

armrest. 

The Japanese giant says the recall 

is a precautionary measure due to the 

“non-uniform application of lubricating 

grease resulting in wear to the internal 

sliding contact points”. 


Usain Bolt 

FORD RANGER RECALL: CLICK HERE 

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

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GoAuto Market Insight 

By DAVID HASSALL 

FORD Australia claims that sales for 

its Focus small car increased so quickly 

as a result of its sponsorship of reality 

TV show ‘The Voice’ that for two 

months afterwards it could not keep up 

with demand. 

The company is naturally keen to 

repeat the exercise when The Voice 

returns to our screens early next year, 

but Ford Australia general marketing 

manager David Katic told GoAuto that 

negotiations were still taking place 

with Channel Nine. 

Mr Katic said Focus sales had 

jumped by one-third this year despite 

constrained supply out of Europe, 

but described that growth rate as 

unsustainable in the long term, even 

with production now being sourced 

from Thailand. 

The MkII Focus out of Thailand 

comes with extra features and price 

cuts of up to $2410, which should keep 

Focus sales momentum going to the 

end of the year. 

Mr Katic said searches for people 

looking at Focus online went up 500 per 

cent on Google while The Voice was on 

and that web traffi c to the Focus area of 

ford.com.au was up 46 per cent, “which 

was just an astonishing increase”. 

“We’ve had a really structured plan 

over the last 12 months to build the Focus 

brand and the nameplate because we have 

GoAuto Market Insight – brought 

to you by Dealer Solutions 

a tremendous confi dence in the Focus 

brand and what it can do for us in terms 

of sales,” he said at last week’s launch of 

the Focus ST performance model. 

“The Voice was the highest-rating TV 

show in Australia this year – it absolutely 

smashed every ratings record for any 

reality show over the last few years. 

“We were one of the key sponsors 

and it really worked an absolute treat in 

terms of awareness of the Focus brand. 

“Through the period that The Voice 

was on – basically the second quarter 

this year – we well exceeded our sales 

targets, so much so that we actually 

started to run out of stock in July and 

August on Focus.” 

He said Ford had more Focus stock in 

September and consequently sold 1687 

units – more than twice as many as it 

managed in the same month last year. 

Offi cial sales data from VFACTS 

shows Focus up 39.7 per cent to the end 

of September compared with the fi rst 

nine months of 2011, making Focus 

the Blue Oval’s outstanding achiever in 


Dealer 

Solutions 

Means Performance. 

Ford ticks The Voice box 

Blue Oval sings praises 

of television promotion 

as Focus sales improve 

18,000 

16,000 

14,000 

12,000 

10,000 

8000 

6000 

4000 

2000 

0 

Source: VFAC VFACTS TS 

Make your models the focus 

Ford Focus sales in Australia 2003-2012 

Oct 17, 2012 Page 28 

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 

A picture says a thousand words. 

On-site Photography 

Focus on sales. Contact Dealer Solutions today. 

Projected 

Australia this year. 

With 13,011 sales on the board, it 

has already beaten its full-year tally 

from last year (which itself was up 30.6 

per cent up on the previous year) and 

fi nally put the highly acclaimed small 

car on track to return Focus to the 

levels it achieved in 2006 and 2007. 

The 2006 record of 17,483 Focus 

sales might still be within reach, and 

that is a signifi cant turnaround from 

the low of 2010 when 9848 sales saw 

the Focus beaten by its humble Fiesta 

sibling. 

“We’ve been working really hard 

on building the Focus brand,” said Mr 

Katic. 

“We’ve been centering all of our 

communications around technology 

on Focus – Sync, active park assist, 

adaptive cruise, ‘active city stop’. The 

Focus platform has got a lot of really 

cool technologies on it and we think 

we’ve got a really good story there.” 


1300 66 11 33 

www.dealersolutions.com.au


GoAuto Green 

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS 

STRONG international demand for 

Renault’s highly anticipated Zoe 

electric city car is likely to delay its 

introduction until mid-2014. 

Billed as the world’s fi rst affordable 

mainstream EV, the Holden Barinasized 

fi ve-seater hatch made its global 

debut at the Geneva motor in March 

and will soon be launched in Europe 

after undergoing fi nal-phase testing in 

Australia and other countries in recent 

months. 

Right-hand-drive production was 

scheduled to commence in the 

second half of 2013, paving the 

way for shipments to Australia 

either late next year or early in 

2014. 

Speaking to GoAuto on 

the eve of the recent Paris 

motor show, Renault Australia 

managing director Justin 

Hocevar said a local announcement on 

Zoe was expected soon, but indicated 

that the vehicle might not arrive here 

until around mid-2014. 

“Our chances of getting the Zoe 

are very good,” said Mr Hocevar, 

adding that the company had “strong 

support” from Renault’s Asia-Pacifi c 

headquarters. 

“We hope we can launch it within 

a realistic timeframe of the global 

rollout.” 

Green issues in the auto world 

GoAuto o GGreen 

reen is brought 

to you by by y Better 

Place 

Waiting on Zoe 

Renault Australia works 

on case for cute EV amid 

strong demand in Europe 

While no pricing has been announced 

for Australia, the Zoe is expected to 

start from the low-$30,000 region, 

putting the electric ‘supermini’ within 

reach of buyers who might otherwise 

consider a high-spec European light 

car like a highly specifi ed 

Volkswagen Polo TDI. 

The Zoe will be Renault’s 

second EV after the Fluence 

ZE, which is earmarked to 

begin sales Down Under from 

December. 

Fulfi lling demand in Europe 

is Renault’s priority at the 

moment, with most markets receiving 

the Zoe in the fi rst half of 2013. 

The entry-level Zoe Life in France 

is available for B-segment hatch diesel 

money at €13,700 ($A17,000), but 

that is only after a €7000 ($A8690) 

government subsidy is included. The 

up-spec Zen and Intense models each 

begin at €15,500 ($A19,240) postincentive. 

Although these fi gures do not include 

the monthly battery rental charge of 

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or visit www.betterplace.com.au 

If you have any queries, please contact Sarah Cox on (03) 8679 0800 

or email your query to fl eetsales@betterplace.com.au 


Oct 17, 2012 Page 29 

€79 ($A98), Renault says that a Zoe 

that exceeds 9000km annually will be 

cheaper to run in France – with the 

government incentives included – than 

an equivalently sized and priced diesel. 

Right now Renault will not divulge 

what the Zoe’s lithium-ion battery pack 

is likely to cost to rent each month in 

Australia, but speculation suggests that 

it will easily eclipse the $100 mark. 

Despite the lack of any meaningful 

government incentives for EVs, Mr 

Hocevar is confi dent the Zoe would do 

well in Australia. 

“I think it is very well suited to 

Australia,” he said. 

“The electric range is at a level that 

people would accept. And from what 

we understand, it will be the most 

affordable mass-produced vehicle on 

the market. 

“Of course, if the Australian 

government put in incentives for 

EVs, then it would be an even more 

affordable proposition for Australia.” 


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GoAuto Personnel – brought 

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SAE-A AWARDS PROGRAM RECOGNISES YOUNG AUSSIE AUTO ENGINEERS 

By TERRY MARTIN 

GM HOLDEN specialist engineer 

(fuel systems) Christopher Jones 

received the 2012 Young Engineer 

Award at the Society of Automotive 

Engineers – Australasia’s annual 

Automotive Engineering Excellence 

Awards presentation held in Melbourne 

this month. 

Mr Jones was 

described by the 

awards judging panel, 

which was made up 

of senior engineering 

academics and 

professionals and led 

by SAE-A director 

Shane Richardson, as “an enthusiastic 

and highly capable engineer who has 

demonstrated capacity to work well 

above his expected level”. 

Mr Jones played a key role in Holden’s 

technical team that developed the new 

LPG system for the Commodore. 

His award citation said that he 

“contributed to development and testing 

of the gaseous phase LPG tar fi lter, the 

conformable aluminium LPG pressure 

Australia’s No.1 

Recruitment Specialist 

– Established 1992 – 

Chris Jones 

By TERRY MARTIN 

HYUNDAI Motor Co Australia (HMCA) 

sponsorship and events manager Guido 

Schenken has moved into a new role as 

public relations manager. 

Mr Schenken has worked for HMCA 

since 2010, having joined the South 

Korean brand after four years as a 

public affairs executive at Jaguar Land 

Rover Australia. 

He also has experience working 

with Ford motorsport, and spent four 

years with BMW Group Australia in a 

1300 666 562 

fuel tank and associated valving, fuel 

pump hardware and control software, 

and the heated KPG vaporiser and 

associated control system algorithms 

to enable successful cold starts without 

the expense of liquid LPG systems or 

the use of petrol.” 

Mr Jones’ work was instrumental 

to the development 

of a new Australian 

standard in LPG 

engineering and also 

to a new standard 

that GM itself has 

adopted. 

He received his 

award from his 

Sian Hong Teoh 

department head, GM Holden executive 

director of engineering Greg Tyus. 

Other entries received for the Young 

Engineer award included Toyota 

Technical Centre Australia design/ 

chassis engineer Marwan Zogheib 

(leaf spring simulation tool), Holden 

lead calibration engineer Henry Wright 

(automatic transmission hill mode) and 

Holden senior engineer Tim Lothian 

(statistical problem-solving applied to 

number of key marketing and corporate 

communications roles. 

At HMCA, Mr Schenken will report 

to newly appointed general manager 

of public relations Bill Thomas, the 

former Wheels magazine editor who 

joined the company this week. 

Natalie Lague continues in the role of 

public relations co-ordinator, a position 

she has held since July last year. 

As previously reported, HMCA’s 

former senior manager of PR and 

events Ben Hershman has taken on 

• Australia’s largest database of qualified 

applicants (receptionists to Dealer Principals) 

• Australia’s largest choice of automotive positions 

(sales, service, parts and administration) 

• Australia’s most professional, ethical and 

comprehensive recruitment service 

• Servicing the Australian Motor 

Industry for over 20 years 

Oct 17, 2012 Page 30 

vehicle cabin noise improvement). 

An award was also given to the top 

engineering student project, which this 

year went to members of the University 

of Melbourne’s Formula SAE-A team 

Sian Hong Teoh and Ruoyu Ding. 

These students presented a paper on 

the ‘analysis of the static friction between 

steel and aluminium 

alloy clamped 

surfaces under dry and 

lubricated conditions, 

for a Formula SAE-A 

vehicle sway bar 

design’. 

Other entries received 

in this category were 

Ruoyu Ding 

from Melbourne University’s Cheng Wing 

Hei (Formula SAE cockpit design with 

the aid of an ergonomic rig), Swinburne 

University’s Mitchell Phillips and Andrew 

Porter (electric Formula SAE vehicle 

architecture), RMIT University’s Thomas 

O’Halloran (variable intake manifold 

transient control strategies), and Toyota 

Technical Centre Australia’s John Lai 

(standardised analysis and visualisation of 

automotive warranty data). 

SCHENKEN IN NEW ROLE AT HYUNDAI AS PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER 

the role of regional 

sales manager 

(eastern region) for 

the company, while 

former assistant PR 

manager Stephen 

Howard left in June to 

become PR manager 

Guido Schenken 

for QT Hotels at 

Amalgamated Holdings Limited. 

The company has advised that it will 

be looking to fi ll the sponsorship and 

events manager position. 

salesservicepartsadmin 

SEEKING 

QUALITY STAFF? 

www.motorstaff.com.au 

“Our Recruitment Specialists take the stress out of hiring the Best People for your business”

GoAuto New Car Diary 

LAUNCH 

OCT 


Audi A4 Allroad 

Audi A6 Allroad 

Audi S6 

Audi S7 

BMW M135i ► 

Ford Focus ST 

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 

Kia Sorento 

Mazda MX-5 facelift 

Toyota Corolla ► 

Volkswagen Passat Alltrack 

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to you by carsales.com.au 

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Oct 17, 2012 Page 31 

Australia will have a new king of the hot hatches 

when BMW introduces the 235kW/450Nm 

M135i this month, priced from $68,400 (plus 

on-road costs) and capable of accelerating 

from 0-100km/h in just 4.9 seconds with the 

optional eight-speed automatic transmission 

- nearly as fast as the mighty M3. 

Sure to be a contender for Australia’s 

top-selling car next year is Toyota’s ninthgeneration 

Corolla, which will be unveiled in 

hatch guise for the fi rst time Down Under at 

the Australian International Motor Show in 

Sydney this week. 

FULL NEW CAR DIARY: CLICK HERE 

Cracking 405kW Porsche Cayenne Turbo S to start from $294K at launch in February 


PORSCHE has unveiled its Cayenne 

Turbo S fl agship SUV ahead of fi rst 

Australian deliveries in February, 

when it will cost $46,500 more than the 

standard Turbo at $294,000 plus onroad 

costs. 

Packing 405kW of peak power and 

750Nm of torque, the Turbo S has 

the wick of its twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 

wound up 37kW and 50Nm, which is 

slightly higher than the standard Turbo 

with the optional Powerkit upgrade 

applied. 

As a result, the sprint to 100km/h 

is dispatched in just 4.5 seconds, two 

tenths quicker than the standard Turbo 

and a tenth quicker than the Powerkitequipped 

Turbo, while the 283km/h top 

speed is up 5km/h. 

Like the Powerkit-equipped Turbo, the 

Turbo S consumes the same 11.5 litres of 

fuel per 100km as the standard car. 

Over and above the standard Turbo’s 

air suspension and active damping, the 

Turbo S gets Porsche Dynamic Chassis 

Control as standard, which Porsche 

claims reduces bodyroll to “practically 

zero” for increased comfort and agility. 

Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus 

increases traction by combining torque 

vectoring at the rear wheels with an 

electronically controlled locking rear 

differential. 

The Sport Chrono package comes 

standard on the Turbo S, comprising a 

dash-top analogue and digital dial that 

records lap times, lap distance covered 

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and total driving time. 

High-gloss black air intake grilles, 

headlight housings and mirror trims 

plus an exclusive 21-inch two-tone 

alloy wheel design mark the Cayenne 

Turbo S out as a fl agship model. 

Inside is a two-tone leather package 

specifi c to the Turbo S, with colour 

combinations including black and red or 

black and beige, both featuring contrast 

piping, while carbon-fi bre interior 

trim “highlights the sophistication of 

vehicle and materials”. 

The popular Cayenne range is also 

being boosted on the diesel side, with a 

new twin-turbo 4.2-litre V8 oil-burner 

punching out 281kW of power and 

850Nm of torque set to arrive in April, 

priced at $155,000 – $45,100 more 

than the standard V6 diesel variant. 

Meanwhile, the handling-oriented 

naturally aspirated V8 Cayenne GTS 

has just gone on sale in Australia at 

$164,900. 

NOW AVAILABLE IN 

AUTOGATE! 

Call 03 8685 9000 or 

Email sales@datamotive.com.au

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