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John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
Oct 12, 2011 Australia’s No.1 Automotive Industry Journal No. 602 70,000 Readers Weekly
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Aussies jag
super-cat
Jaguar’s million-dollar C-X75 hybrid supercar lures at least two Australian buyers
By MARTON PETTENDY
JAGUAR’S smoking new C-X75 hybrid
super-coupe has seduced at least two
cashed-up Australian fans, despite its
million-dollar pricetag and an agonising
two-year wait.
First revealed a year ago at the 2010 Paris
motor show, the slinky jet-powered super-
Jaguar has been confi rmed for a limited
global production run of just 250 examples
from 2013.
Now GoAuto has learned that two wellheeled
local Jaguar enthusiasts have put
up their hands to purchase the sleek hybrid
supercar, indicative pricing for which was
announced in May at between £700,000 and
£900,000 ($A1.1-1.4 million) “depending
on market and local taxes”.
“Yes, we already have two people
interested – two potential clients are part
of the purchase process,” Jaguar Australia
brand manager Kevin Goult confi rmed
to GoAuto at this week’s launch of the
facelifted XF sedan.
Mr Goult said fi nal pricing and the next
stage of the C-X75 purchase process were
yet to be announced, but confi rmed there
had been strong interest from potential
customers in Australia, the UK and Dubai.
Jaguar is already taking expressions
of interest via its UK public website and
dedicated phone numbers for British,
Chinese and global customers, and will
begin taking fi rm deposits later this year.
Jaguar’s fi rst million-dollar model – and
fi rst hybrid – has been confi rmed for righthand-drive
production and will be certifi ed
for Australian Design Rules, meaning that
– unlike its most direct rival in Porsche’s
million-dollar 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid
supercar – it will be street-legal here.
Porsche will begin producing 918
examples of the 918, which will cost $A1.29
million including Australian taxes, from
September 2013.
Of course, Australia’s fi ve per cent import
tariff and 33 per cent luxury car tax could
push the exclusive new British supercar’s
local price to more than two million dollars,
but if there is no change to the current tax
regime within two years then Aussie C-X75
buyers will at least be exempt from paying
LCT for the fi rst $70,000.
That is when LCT currently kicks in for
vehicles that consume less than 7.0L/100km,
and with a CO2 emissions target of 99g/km
(which equates to about 3.9L/100km), the
C-X75 will be among the most effi cient new
cars available in Australia.
It will also be far cheaper than another
stratospherically priced new limited-edition
British supercar, Aston Martin’s circa-$A4
million One-77, fi rst deliveries of which are
now taking place in Europe from a global
production run of just 77.
Fellow British car-maker McLaren’s
all-new MP4-12C supercar is about to be
released in Australia at a price of about
$500,000 – midway between Mercedes-
AMG’s new SLS super-coupe ($468,820)
and established segment leaders like the
Ferrari 458 ($526,950).
Continued next page
LAUNCHED VW TIGUAN JAGUAR XF
BMW 1 SERIES CITROEN C4 LEXUS LFA
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Volvo’s road ahead
Vast product program and
strong balance sheet bode
well for Volvo, says CEO
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS in SWEDEN
VOLVO Car Corporation president and
CEO Stefan Jacoby admits it will take
up to three years before the Swedish carmaker
settles into its post-Ford state of
independence, and a further two years for
the fi rst phase of its new-model strategy to
be fully realised in the marketplace.
This is despite a “very successful” fi rst
year of operation under the ownership of
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group of China,
which has seen Volvo deliver a better-thanexpected
$US1 billion dollar profi t in 2010,
a further healthy profi t forecast for 2011, a
drastic increase in operating effi ciencies and
a strong start for the relatively new S60 and
V60 model ranges.
Speaking to Australian media at the
company’s Gothenburg headquarters this
week, Mr Jacoby revealed the transition
period from Ford control last August
had commenced more smoothly than
anticipated, with an unprecedented level of
independence for the Swedish manufacturer.
John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
PUBLISHER: John Mellor
EDITOR: Terry Martin
MANAGING EDITOR: Marton Pettendy
JOURNALISTS: Ron Hammerton, Haitham Razagui
Byron Mathioudakis, James Stanford
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factory in Australia.
“We need time. It is a long-cycle
investment,” Mr Jacoby said. “The decisions
I make today will not come to life before
2015. This is how our industry is.
“And I say we would need a further two
to three years before we are truly stable,
and for the renewal of our product range we
will need maybe another fi ve years until we
really have in the market what we want, and
what we want to do in the future.”
Emphasising that Chinese ownership
does not mean an end of independent design
and engineering for Volvo – comments
which echo those made when Geely sealed
the $US1.8 billion deal with Ford in August
last year – Mr Jacoby added that there will
be no Geely interference or infl uence on the
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 2
Jaguar’s C-X75 lures at least two Australian buyers
Continued from previous page
As we have reported, the Paris concept
car ran a gas turbine that generated
energy for its in-wheel motors, but most
production versions will employ a “stateof-the-art
small-capacity highly boosted
internal combustion engine” – likely to
be a high-revving 1.6-litre four-cylinder
petrol engine that develops up to 400kW
and will be sourced from, or at least heavily
developed by, Williams.
In line with next year’s new Formula
One rules, the F1 team is switching to
four-cylinder engines and team boss
Frank Williams attended the production
Stefan Jacoby and the Concept You
future product portfolio.
These will include the 2014 replacement
for the ageing XC90 seven-seater luxury
SUV, which has still proved useful for Volvo
nearly a decade on from launch, with global
sales up four per cent this year.
Debuting the company’s all-new and
in-house-developed ‘scalable platform
architecture’ (SPA), the redesigned XC90
will also sire the successor to the S80
fl agship that may be known as the S90
owing to its larger overall size.
It is said to share visual similarities to the
well received Concept Universe and Concept
You show cars at this year’s respective
Shanghai and Frankfurt motor expos.
Continued next page
announcement of the C-X75 – a name that
may not be seen in showrooms.
While European reports suggest the
fi nal 50 of the 250 C-X75s to be built
will be gas turbine-powered – and
Jaguar has said that at least 50 will be
racing versions – all versions of the
UK’s super-hybrid will offer some kind
of on-demand energy boost system, like
the F1-style Kinetic Energy Recovery
System (KERS) with which drivers can
call on extra electric energy.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
XF diesel makes its mark – page 18
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GoAuto News
Toyota dispute rolls on
Staggered shutdown at
Altona in force as talks
continue over pay deal
By RON HAMMERTON and TERRY MARTIN
TOYOTA Australia workers have rejected the
company’s latest pay offer, with the majority
voting ‘no’ in a secret ballot late last week.
The result is a slap in the face for the
company, which forced the vote on its 3300
workers at its Altona car plant in Victoria
and parts distribution centres in Melbourne
and Sydney in an effort to bring the longrunning
dispute over a new pay agreement
to a conclusion.
The vote outcome was announced on
Monday by Toyota Australia, which sought
the electronic poll under the Fair Work Act
after weeks of deadlocked talks and strikes.
No exact fi gures were given.
Australia’s biggest motor company now
faces the prospect of more unrest as it tries
to prepare its plant for the introduction of
the crucial all-new Camry that it had been
hoping to launch before the end of the year.
The dispute has already forced a delay in
Do you have what it takes
to be a SALES TRAINER?
DOUG TAME General Manager
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 3
Vast future product program, continued profi tability underscore Volvo’s road ahead
Continued from previous page
Other SPA recipients will be the replacements
for today’s V70 and XC70 (2014) as well as the
next-generation XC60, S60 and V60 models
set for launch in the latter half of this decade.
Volvo is also working on a thirdgeneration
C70 coupe/convertible expected
in about 2014, which has been confi rmed as
a project in the pipeline by Mr Jacoby this
week, after production of the fi ve-year-old
current model co-devised with Pininfarina
the start of new-Camry production this month
as a result of fi ve lost working days since the
start of September as workers walked off the
job under protected strike action.
Toyota Australia public affairs manager
Glenn Campbell told GoAuto on Tuesday
that the company was back in negotiations
with union representatives at Fair Work
Australia “to achieve an outcome”.
He also said Altona workers had been
stood down over an eight-day period for an
“unplanned shutdown” to prepare for the
new model.
“Due to the delay in the ‘build out’ of
the current model caused by the industrial
action, an unplanned shutdown period is
required to prepare for production of the
ceases at the Uddevalla plant in Sweden.
Whether that model is twinned or based
on the replacement for the 2006-era C30
due around the same time is unknown.
Before that, however, one of the last
Ford-era projects will surface at next
March’s Geneva motor show in the guise of
the so-called ‘C40’ hatch.
To supplement rather than replace the
current C30, the C40 will arm Volvo with
a serious weapon against the Volkswagen
Altona production
new model,” he said.
“A staggered shutdown will occur from
October 11 to Wednesday, October 19, so
that’s starting today, but I should make the
point that when we say ‘shutdown’ there is
still a requirement for some employees to be
at work because we are preparing the lines
for conversion for the new model.”
Toyota had offered workers an 11 per
cent pay rise over 36 months, while unions
representing the workers – the Australian
Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU)
and Communications Electrical Plumbing
Union (CEPU) – have been seeking 12 per
cent over 36 months.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Golf, BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Mercedes
A/B-class segments in the form of a ‘proper’
fi ve-seater, fi ve-door premium hatch.
The latter will eventually take over from
the eight-year-old S40/V50 models in
the Swedish brand’s line-up, hitting “the
sweet spot” against its German rivals in a
way that its slightly out-of-step size-wise
predecessors have been unable to.
FULL STORY, TIMETABLE: CLICK HERE
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• Are you a gregarious, enthusiastic, professional and self-motivated personality?
• Do you also have a sense of humour, with the ability to motivate staff at any level?
• Are you willing to put in long hours and travel interstate (Monday-to-Friday only)?
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• Are you computer literate, systems orientated with an understanding of other departments?
If you answer ‘YES’ to all the above, please send a brief resumé to Doug Tame on: careers@motorstaff.com.au

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
Here comes Colorado
GM unveils production
Colorado ute as Holden
gears up for 2012 debut
By DAVID HASSALL
GENERAL Motors has unveiled the fi nal
production version of its all-new Colorado,
which will join the growing and increasingly
important light commercial vehicle market in
Australia around March 2012.
GM chose to introduce the vehicle in
Thailand, where the Australian models will
soon go into production.
Following the all-new Ford Ranger, Mazda
BT-50 and Volkswagen Amarok models to
market – not to mention a facelifted version
of the segment-leading Toyota HiLux – the
Colorado will arrive as Holden’s fi rst all-new
one-tonner for eight years.
It will be a vital cog in Holden’s bid to
restore its LCV presence and is expected to
arrive here in the full gamut of variants, with
Single Cab, Crew Cab and Extra Cab body
styles, 4x4 and 4x2 drivelines, and with
pick-up and cab-chassis rear ends.
The Colorado goes on sale this month in
Thailand with a pair of new Duramax turbodiesel
four-cylinder engines being produced at
a new $200 million facility in Thailand recently
built alongside the Colorado assembly plant.
Holden will certainly employ the larger of
the two – a 2.8-litre unit developing 132kW of
power and 470Nm of torque – but the company
has yet to reveal if the smaller 110kW/350Nm
2.5-litre unit will also come here.
The GM-designed 2.8-litre Duramax
engine, which replaces the current Isuzusupplied
130kW 3.0-litre diesel, features a
balance shaft for smoothness and a variablegeometry
turbocharger for optimal power
and effi ciency across a wider rev range.
It will be linked to a new six-speed
automatic transmission, but will also be
available with a fi ve-speed manual (with
maximum torque reduced to 440Nm).
Two petrol engines are also anticipated –
a four-cylinder price leader, possibly with
the new 2.5-litre unit from the Malibu, and a
V6 shipped from Holden’s Port Melbourne
engine plant, probably again in 3.0-litre
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 4
guise but potentially with SIDI (spark
ignition, direct injection) upgrades for more
power and improved fuel effi ciency.
The new Colorado was launched in
Thailand in three specifi cation levels: the
entry-level LS, mid-range LT and rangetopping
LTZ.
Designed in Brazil, where GM’s Colorado
“home room” was based, the all-new vehicle
is the product of a fi ve-year, $2 billion program
developed across fi ve continents for customers
in more than 60 markets around the world,
with Australia being one of the most important.
Its styling was previewed by a number
of show vehicles that appeared around the
world, including the Australian International
Motor Show in Melbourne in July.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Next D-Max laid bare – next page
Based in Kingsgrove, the role reports
directly to the State Manager. Regional
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Applicants should be qualified with a
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John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
Next D-Max laid bare
All-new Isuzu ute turns
up in Thailand ahead of
Q2 2012 Aussie launch
By RON HAMMERTON
ISUZU has revealed details of its newgeneration
D-Max ute, just days after
General Motors unveiled the related
Chevrolet Colorado that will be sold under
Holden badges in Australia from about
March next year.
Images show that the Isuzu version will
get different sheetmetal forward of the
A-pillars and rear of the cabin – including
more macho wheelarch fl ares – compared
with the Colorado, but the core of the
vehicle, including the roof and the doors,
appears to be common.
And like the Colorado, the D-Max gets
a massive injection of safety, graduating
from just dual airbags in the current range
to six – including curtain airbags – in the
new model, along with electronic stability
control (ESC) across the range.
The D-Max is just one of several new utes
descending on the Australian market, with
the recently arrived all-new Ford Ranger
and facelifted Toyota HiLux set to be joined
by the Mazda BT-50 and Holden Colorado
before the D-Max hits our shores in 2012.
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Announcing details of the new model,
Isuzu Ute Australia (IUA) said it would arrive
in Australia in the second quarter of next year
in single, space and crew-cab body styles, all
powered by the carryover 130kW/380Nm
3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine.
GM employed that Isuzu-sourced engine
in the current Colorado, but has indicated
it will be ditched in favour of an all-new
2.8-litre diesel producing similar power –
132kW – but a lot more torque – 470Nm.
Four-cylinder and V6 petrol engine
options are also likely to be offered in the
new Colorado that, like the D-Max, will
be built for Australia in Thailand, but at a
different plant to the Isuzu version.
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 5
The Isuzu one-tonner will get a new fi vespeed
automatic transmission as an option
to the carryover fi ve-speed manual gearbox.
Australian pricing for the D-Max range
will be announced closer to launch, when
it will replace the current model that started
life in Australia as the Holden Rodeo in
2006 before Isuzu and GM went their
separate ways in 2008.
IUA managing director Yasuhiro
Takeuchi said the news of the new
generation D-Max represented a new and
exciting chapter for IUA and the Isuzu
D-Max brand.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
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John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
New Nissan parts plan
Nissan Australia reveals
aluminium castings bid
for new electric vehicle
By RON HAMMERTON
NISSAN Australia has made a pitch to
export aluminium castings for a future,
unnamed Nissan electric vehicle as part
of a plan to expand its local component
manufacturing business that is already
preparing to make castings for the allelectric
Leaf from next year.
The company’s local parts operation –
which currently produces two million castaluminium
parts a year for 28 Nissan models
made around the world – is also talking with
its Japanese head offi ce about a proposal
to expand into complex, value-added
components such as suspension assemblies.
And with the start of local production
last week of Nissan genuine accessories
at the Nissan Casting Plant at Dandenong,
Victoria, as a sideline to its casting business,
the company is eyeing accessory sales to
other car companies in Australia, as well as
Nissan distributors overseas.
However, the bold plans for the future
are dependent on business cases that add
up under the cost burden of the federal
government’s carbon tax that the company
says will gravely impact the plant’s costs.
The 30-year-old plant – which came close
to being shut last year as it struggled to be costcompetitive
– currently makes 42 different
parts for Nissan vehicles made in Britain,
Thailand, Mexico, the United States and
Japan. From next year, these parts will include
three castings for the all-electric Nissan Leaf,
to be produced at the rate of 22,000 a month.
The casting of the Leaf components is
already being trialled at the factory, which
received a federal Green Car Innovation
Fund grant to help fund the project.
The electric vehicle casting business
might grow in future, with Nissan Australia
bidding for a supply contract for another,
unnamed electric vehicle to be built by the
Japanese company.
Nissan is on record as saying it will
expand its EV range beyond Leaf, with an
all-electric van being one of three or four
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 6
Leaf production
EVs under development.
Nissan corporate vice-president in charge
of powertrain, Atushi Hirose, said at last
Wednesday’s ceremony to mark the start of
accessory production that the Australian plant
was unique in that it combined both casting
and fabricated component production.
He said the combination of these processes
on the same site could provide future
opportunities for Nissan manufacturing.
“My feeling is that there is a major
opportunity,” he said, adding that the cost
equation of manufacturing in Australia
remained “diffi cult”.
These components might include
accessories or car component assemblies that
include both cast and fabricated components,
all produced and assembled at the one point.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Nissan blasts carbon tax – next page
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John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
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Nissan blasts carbon tax
Carbon tax would have
‘signifi cant impact’ on
Victorian casting plant
By RON HAMMERTON
NISSAN Australia enlisted federal
opposition leader Tony Abbott as it went
on the attack last week against the federal
government’s proposed carbon tax which
the company says will have a “signifi cant
impact” on its aluminium car parts casting
business in Victoria.
Government ministers were nowhere in
sight as Mr Abbott offi ciated with company
executives in a ceremony to start production
of accessories at the Dandenong plant that
currently makes 22 million car parts a year for
Nissan vehicles assembled around the world.
Ironically, the plant received $3.3 million
from the federal government’s now-defunct
Green Car Innovation Fund earlier this year
to gear up to make cast aluminium parts
for the world’s fi rst all-electric fi ve-door
hatchback, the Nissan Leaf, from next year.
Nissan Australia managing director
and CEO Dan Thompson said the factory
was a major consumer of utilities and raw
materials – a fact that would not change.
“What might change, and what we do not
welcome, is the prospect of rapidly infl ating
resources costs which will drive up costs
and have the effect of limiting or stalling
growth at this facility,” he said.
Mr Thompson said the carbon tax
was looming as a hurdle to Australian
manufacturing and “won’t help” the company’s
drive to secure the plant’s continued viability.
He said Nissan was investing aggressively
to grow the business, but “within an
environment where manufacturing in
Australia has never been tougher”.
“We cross our fi ngers that any additional
and unnecessary tax burden won’t lead us
to change our plans,” he said. “After all our
employees’ hard work, we are not in a mood
to see that happen.”
Mr Abbott said 40 per cent of the cost of
manufacturing at the Nissan casting plant
went in aluminium for castings and a further
20 per cent in electricity. He described the
tax as a “dark cloud on the horizon” for such
manufacturers – one that he hoped to relieve
when in government.
The 30-year-old Nissan Casting Plant in
Dandenong – a remnant of Nissan’s carmaking
capability in Australia before it
closed its assembly plant in Clayton in 1991
– came perilously close to shutting last year
in the wake of the global fi nancial crisis and
Oct 12, 2011 Page 7
Tony Abbott (left) with Dan Thompson
in the face of competition from other Nissan
casting plants around the world.
A change of plant management, improved
productivity and the good prospect of
winning the new Nissan Leaf casting contract
all combined to convince Nissan’s head
offi ce in Yokohama to keep the plant open.
When the Leaf contract was subsequently
announced, Mr Thompson said it would
provide a secure foundation for the
Australian operation for fi ve years.
However, new factories in places such as
China, Indonesia and Thailand would “put
a fence around us” within 10 years, he said.
At the line-off ceremony for the new locally
built towbar last week, Mr Thompson said
the factory had won critical business against
“some staunch overseas competition from
much bigger and strategically advantaged
Nissan facilities in aggressively competitive
regions such as China, Mexico and Thailand”.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Congestion in Canberra – next page
Hyundai wishes to appoint an experienced professional to drive product planning strategy across its
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John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
Congestion in Canberra
Tax forum heats up over
congestion tax issue, but
treasurer ‘rejects the call’
By DAVID HASSALL
CONGESTION charges for Australian
cities were back on the agenda at last week’s
tax summit in Canberra, but there seemed to
be little support for the additional Londonstyle
fees for motorists.
Although the federal treasurer Wayne
Swan put the vehicle congestion tax on the
forum agenda and was present throughout
the two days, he was conspicuously quiet on
the issue, perhaps because prime minister
Julia Gillard ruled out federal support some
weeks ago.
According to News Limited reports,
Mr Swan “rejected the call” to introduce
congestion charges.
The treasurer may also have been
infl uenced by union heavyweight Paul
Howes, the national secretary of the
Australian Workers Union, who said any
politician who backed a congestion tax
would be a fool.
Mr Howes said a congestion tax would
unfairly burden the wrong people, adding
that shift workers had no alternative and
could not afford another tax hit.
“It’s all well and good when you walk
down the garden path with the fairies to try
and work out how these things will operate
in a perfect world,” he said. “But how do
you change the behaviour of an AWU
member who … has to drive to work and
has no alternative?
“Yes, congestion is a huge issue, but cost
of living is the key issue.”
As the peak body of the motor industry, the
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
has no offi cial stance on congestion charging,
but new chief executive Ian Chalmers was
an interested observer throughout the two
days of the tax forum and said the issue
“got a bit of a run because some cities are
looking at the possibility” of introducing the
new tax.
Mr Chalmers told GoAuto that much of the
discussion involved London’s experience,
which was initially quite successful in
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 8
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reducing unnecessary trips into the city.
“But it seems that over time people
became inured to the tax and returned to
pre-tax levels of travel,” he said. “So the
conclusion was that it can be highly effective
in the short term, but then just becomes part
of the accepted cost of getting into town.”
Nevertheless, two Melbourne-based
professors came out in support of a
congestion tax.
Melbourne University economics
professor John Freebairn quoted a study
estimating the cost of congestion at $20
billion a year, while professor of economics
at La Trobe University, Harry Clarke, said
he supported the tax on the grounds that
“congestion costs will double in Sydney
and Melbourne through to about 2020 if we
don’t address the issue”.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
‘Absurd’ LCT under fi re
Luxury car tax critics line
up at summit, but no sign
of law reform from Labor
By DAVID HASSALL
WHILE the automotive attention at last week’s
tax forum in Canberra centred on proposals for
a congestion tax in our capital cities, motoring
bodies took the opportunity to reapply the
blowtorch to the government on the subject of
the much-hated luxury car tax (LCT).
The former head of treasury and author of
last year’s Henry Report on the future of the
Australian tax system, Ken Henry, told the
summit the LCT was “truly absurd”.
Speaking in the presence of prime
minister Julia Gillard and treasurer
Wayne Swan, the chief executive of
the Federal Chamber of Automotive
Industries (FCAI) Ian Chalmers
told the forum that the LCT was
increasingly a tax on regular
Australians than a tax on luxury.
Mr Chalmers said the LCT
now applied to 14 per cent of new
vehicles sold, whereas it impacted on just
2.9 per cent of sales when introduced.
And the lack of indexation has seen the
threshold rise only 3.6 per cent in the past
decade to $57,466, whereas the rise in
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The right candidate should have at least 15 years business experience,
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You’ll preferably have management experience in both vehicle sales and
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average weekly earnings should have pushed
the threshold out to something like $85,000.
His predecessor at the FCAI, Andrew
McKellar, who is now the chief executive
of the Australian Automobile Association –
whose members include the NRMA, RACV
and RACQ motorist groups – told
GoAuto the AAA agreed the luxury
car tax should be abolished.
“Our view is that it is a poorly
designed and unnecessary tax,” Mr
McKellar said. “It was not talked
about a lot at the tax forum, but it
should be on the reform agenda. We
don’t see any point in retaining it.”
Mr McKellar said the AAA was
looking for a better deal for heavily taxed
motorists and has also proposed abolishing
fuel excise and state imposts on new cars
such as stamp duty and registration fees,
saying they were “being short-changed”.
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DEALERSHIP
EQUITY
MELBOURNE
OPPORTUNITY
Oct 12, 2011 Page 9
At the least, the AAA wants the
government to direct more of the $13.5
billion in petrol and diesel fuel excise it will
raise in 2011-12 to be spent on roads and
other transport infrastructure.
The LCT hit the headlines in 1990 when
then-treasurer Paul Keating announced it as
a 50 per cent addition to the wholesale tax –
causing Mercedes-Benz to launch a “stripper”
180E model to get under the threshold– only
to reduce it a year or two later.
In 2000, when wholesale tax was abolished
as part of the GST introduction, the Howard
government made the LCT 25 per cent on
the retail price. That was increased to 33 per
cent in 2008 by the Rudd government, with
a higher threshold ($75,000) for cars with
average fuel consumption of 7.0 litres per
100km or better.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
strategies that have made a difference will stand strongly in your favour, as
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John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
Toyota back in charge
Aussie auto sector still on
million-unit sales track as
Toyota tops 11 segments
By RON HAMMERTON
MARKET leader Toyota turned on the sales
afterburners in September as it made up ground
lost in the wake of the Japanese earthquake
and tsunami, regaining market leadership in
no fewer than 11 vehicle segments as fresh
stocks fl owed from the factories.
Its Corolla small car was the top-selling
vehicle for the month, its 3766 sales tipping
the Holden Commodore (3712), Toyota
HiLux (3191) and Mazda3 (2703) off the
best-seller perch, according to offi cial
VFACTS sales fi gures from the Federal
Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
The resumption of normal business
at Toyota helped the market to a second
successive month of growth, although the
industry’s September tally of 86,819 vehicles
was up only 2.1 per cent compared with
Top 10 Brands in Sept
Pos Brand Sales % Share
1 Toyota 17,378 20.0
2 Holden 11,008 12.7
3 Ford 8161 9.4
4 Hyundai 7508 8.6
5 Mazda 6037 7.0
6 Nissan 5892 6.8
7 Mitsubishi 4798 5.5
8 Volkswagen 4407 5.1
9 Subaru 2503 2.9
10 Kia 2222 2.6
Source: VFACTS, October 2011
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
85,054 sales for the same month last year.
Year to date, the market is still trailing by
3.7 per cent – 752,128 to 780,720 – but with
a major breakout of special offers among
major players already this month, a millionunit
market is again a real possibility.
FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers said
he expected sales to top one million this year,
although it would be more challenging to
achieve compared with the three previous years
when the industry achieved this landmark.
“Reduced sales in the second quarter of
2011 have set a challenging target for the
fi nal three months of the year, but industry
resolve is high,” he said. “Sales stimulus by
means of competition in the marketplace
saw the third quarter end strongly, and we
are now looking toward continued growth
through to the end of the year.”
Toyota’s 17,378 sales in September
represent a 7.4 per cent gain on the same month
last year, restoring it to 20 per cent market
share for the month. However, Toyota’s ninemonth
total of 131,371 vehicles is still down
16.6 per cent on the 157,538 units sold by the
company in the fi rst three quarters of 2010.
Toyota’s good September helped to lift its
year-to-date market share another notch, to
17.5 per cent – but still short of the 20.2 per
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 10
VFACTS
WRAP
cent it held at the same time last year.
Holden last month also clawed a 2.7 per
cent sales gain, to 11,008 units and second
place on the rankings, putting it well ahead
of third-placed Ford, which slipped a gear,
down 1.5 per cent to 8161 units.
September marked the fi rst month since
January that the Toyota Corolla has outpointed
the Commodore and taken the monthly crown,
although the big Holden nevertheless regained
its YTD sales lead from Mazda3 that jumped
into fi rst place last month.
With three quarters of the year gone,
Holden has sold 31,977 Commodores –
down 7.6 per cent on the fi rst nine months
of 2010 – compared with 31,439 Mazda3s
(down 4.6 per cent).
A big push by the Mazda sales network in
August cleared much of the Mazda3 run-out
stock ahead of the introduction this month
of the facelifted model, leaving the leading
Japanese importer with not so many bullets
to fi re in September.
But with the upgraded Mazda3 now
coming on stream, the race for the 2011
sales crown is far from over.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
More reports – page 22, 25
CRÉATIVE TECHNOLOGIE
Corolla

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
World Cup takes shine
off Kiwi new-car sales,
but positive signs ahead
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Rugby tackles NZ sales
By JACQUI MADELIN in NEW ZEALAND
NEW Zealand new-vehicle sales ended the
third quarter up 6.6 per cent year to date, at
63,810 units, despite a September drop of
four per cent to 7628, partly blamed on the
Rugby World Cup.
NZ Motor Industry Association CEO
Perry Kerr said rugby-impacted September
sales capped off a bumpy ride for the
industry so far this year.
“There is some catch-up in the market, so
hopefully sales will remain positive for the
last quarter of the year,” he said.
Year-to-date passenger car sales are up
four per cent, commercial vehicle volumes
have climbed 16.5 per cent, while used
vehicle imports are down 8.4 per cent.
Toyota has dominated new vehicle
registrations with 11,826 sales to the end of
NZ Top 10 Brands in Sept
Pos Brand Sales % Share
1 Toyota 1523 20.0
2 Holden 755 9.9
3 Ford 616 8.1
4 Mazda 586 7.7
5 Hyundai 550 7.2
6 Mitsubishi 519 6.8
7 Nissan 406 5.3
8 Volkswagen 400 5.2
9 Suzuki 375 4.9
10 Honda 244 3.2
Source: MIA NZ, October 2011
September, down 4.5 per cent, for 18.5 per
cent share.
Toyota NZ CEO Alistair Davis said he
was confi dent the company would end the
year better than expected.
“Our initial estimate of tsunami impact
was we’d have dropped $300 million of
revenue, but we will have lost less than
$100 million by year end, and by the end of
the fi scal year we may be close to where we
would have been,” he said.
Mr Davis said last year’s stronger result
refl ected buyer belief that the recession was
apparently over, with a softer market this
year due partly to a realisation it is not.
“Those still buying are in growth sectors
or infrastructure, which will be a growth
economy for another fi ve years,” he said.
Ford sits second at 6417 sales YTD, down
6.7 per cent at 10 per cent share. Incoming
managing director Neale Hill said the brand
had been impacted by a faster-than-expected
run-out of Ranger and Focus, with new
versions now on sale.
He said the company plans to offset a
decline in the Falcon bracket with growing
share in smaller cars, assisted by the arrival
of the Kuga compact SUV in November.
Oct 12, 2011 Page 11
NZ
SALES
Mr Hill said he did not expect New
Zealand’s lowered credit rating to impact
vehicle sales.
“We’ve been living under the threat of a
global downturn on an ongoing basis, and
we’ve become fairly steeled to it,” he said.
“A signifi cant move – especially in Europe
– will get people to hold back on purchases,
but we’ll be cushioned by Australia and
Asia, and don’t expect a signifi cant negative
impact on New Zealand at this point.”
Holden is running third on 5879 sales
YTD, up 1.3 per cent, followed by Hyundai
with 5163, up 25.2 per cent.
Hyundai NZ chief operating offi cer Tom
Ruddenklau cited a strong model line-up
and a good mix of business and private,
government and rental sales, adding “we’re
into our sixth year of leading the charge
with diesel” which account for 40 per cent
of Hyundai sales.
Mazda is down 5.1 per cent to 4588 sales
for fi fth place YTD, while Nissan has risen
1.7 per cent to 4155. Suzuki is up 11.5 per
cent on 3886 units, thanks to strong sales
of Swift and a good fi rst month for Splash.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
HiLux

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
US market high
American auto sales up 10 per cent – and set for 13m
By HAITHAM RAZAGUI
DRAMAS in the US economy and fears
of GFC embers reigniting in a double-dip
recession appear to be having little effect on
the automotive industry there, which is up
10 per cent year to date, putting it on track
to hit 13 million sales by the end of 2011.
Strong truck and SUV sales offset slower
passenger car growth, enabling each of the
‘Detroit Three’ to contribute double-digit
sales gains to the end of September – which
was the fastest-growing month since April.
Fiat-rejuvenated Chrysler led with a 23
per cent surge, while General Motors and
Ford posted increases of 16.1 per cent and
11.4 per cent respectively, comfortably
beating the market average.
GM leads the YTD sales charts on
1,902,172 sales, followed by Ford with
1,603,998 and Toyota, which sold 1,194,524
vehicles, staving off an advancing Chrysler
(1,009,411) which in September knocked
the Japanese giant to fourth position in
the monthly sales race for the second
consecutive month.
Both Toyota and Honda were clearly still
reeling from the March 11 earthquake and
tsunami, down 9.3 per cent and 6.2 per cent
respectively YTD, with sales plummeting
17.9 per cent for Toyota in Q3 and 20.8 per
cent for Honda.
However, compatriots Nissan and Mazda
apparently swerved the problems, with YTD
sales up 14.9 per cent (774,079 units) and
9.5 per cent (191,315) respectively.
What’s more, Mazda reported its best-ever
September, with 25,521 sales representing a
stonking 37.4 per cent leap, while Nissan
had its best September in 26 years, selling
65,900 units – up 26.3 per cent.
Despite the economic conditions,
Chrysler has enjoyed an impressive yearand-a-half
of continuous growth in the US
and is booming under Fiat stewardship, and
Dodge brand president and CEO and head
of US sales Reid Bigland attributes the
success to a strong product line-up.
“Strong products equal strong sales,”
he said. “September was also our 18th
consecutive month of year-over-year sales
growth and we have now gained more
retail market share than anyone else in the
country. There is no double-dip downturn
going on around here.”
FULL STORY, TABLE: CLICK HERE
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 12
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Ram Ra Ram R Ram m
Japan car sales climb for
fi rst time in 13 months
By DAVID HASSALL
JAPAN new-vehicle sales are fi nally
showing signs of recovery, recording a
1.7 per cent rise in September – the fi rst
rise in 13 months.
After a year in which vehicle sales have
been severely disrupted by the economic
situation and the devastating earthquake
and tsunami in March, fi gures released
last week revealed a lift to 313,790 units
(excluding mini-cars) in September.
There were also increases in vehicle
sales around the globe, specifi cally in the
United States (up 9.9 per cent), Germany
(8.1 per cent), South Korea (3.7 per cent)
and South Africa (30.0 per cent).
However, sales declined in Canada,
Britain, France, Spain and Italy.
A spokesman for the Japan Automobile
Dealers Association said the country’s supply
chain was gradually getting back to normal,
allowing car-makers to ramp up production.
“The balance between the supply and
demand has fi nally begun to come back,”
the spokesman said.
However, cumulative sales are still well
down on last year, being some 25.9 per
cent lower YTD at 1,966,951 units.
Passenger car sales in September were
just a 0.8 per cent higher at 280,379 units,
while truck sales improved 10.1 per cent
to 32,565 and bus sales rose 5.5 per cent
to 846. Sales of mini-vehicles with engines
up to 660cc in September dropped 9.1 per
cent to 148,402 units.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Founding Member of
Nis Ni Nissan san Cu Cube be

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 13
Massive midlife upgrade brings $28,490 4x2 Blue-tech model - and much more
By MATHIEU RAUDONIKIS
VOLKSWAGEN Group Australia has
lowered the entry price to its Tiguan compact
SUV range by $5500 with the introduction
of an economical two-wheel-drive 1.4-litre
118TSI petrol model variant, starting from
just $28,490 (plus on-road costs).
Dropping the Tiguan baseline below $30,000
for the fi rst time, the substantial midlife upgrade
for the small SUV range launched this week
enables the German brand to compete with rival
manufacturers offering 2WD variants in the
incredibly popular segment and should provide
a big boost in sales volume.
Available with a six-speed manual only,
the 118kW/240Nm 118TSI ‘Twincharger’
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VW reignites
becomes the most fuel-effi cient petrolfuelled
Tiguan with a combined-cycle
economy fi gure of 6.9 litres per 100km, a
fi gure achieved with the inclusion of VW’s
BlueMotion Technology including engine
idle-stop and a ‘smart charging’ system that
only charges the electrical system when
engine power is not being used.
Carbon dioxide emissions are rated at 162
grams per kilometre.
The 118TSI joins the three model variants
previously available in the Tiguan range,
although all have been updated and revised.
The two other petrol engines comprise a
132kW/280Nm 2.0-litre 132TSI, available with
a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed
DSG dual-clutch transmission starting from
$33,490 and $35,990 respectively, plus a topof-the-range
155kW/280Nm 2.0-litre 155TSI
that is only available with DSG at $42,990.
The 132TSI price represents a $500 drop
compared to the outgoing 125TSI, while
the 155TSI holds fi rm compared to the
previous 147TSI.
Tiguan
103 1 103 03 03TDI TDI TD TDI TD TDI TD TDI TTD TDI
The sole diesel choice remains the
familiar 103kW/320Nm 103TDI engine that
comes standard with a six-speed manual for
$35,990 – down $700 – or with the sevenspeed
DSG for $38,490.
Signifi cantly, the 103TDI also now
employs BlueMotion Technology with
idle-stop and, when combined with DSG, a
‘coasting’ function. The latter is enabled via
the multifunction display and disengages
the clutch pack, allowing the vehicle to
roll without engine braking and using the
momentum of the vehicle to save fuel.
When the brake, accelerator pedal or the
gearshift lever is operated, the clutch is
re-engaged and engine braking again takes
effect.
The 103TDI now returns 6.0L/100km
(DSG: 6.2) and 156g/km of CO2 (DSG:
164).
All 132TSI, 155TSI and 103TDI variants
use VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system
as standard and are not available in 2WD.
Continued next page
Call Polk today to arrange for a live
demonstration. Telephone . www.polk.com

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
VW reignites Tiguan
Continued from previous page
The heavily revised Tiguan was fi rst seen
at the Geneva motor show in March ahead
of its launch three months later in Germany,
where it is the top-selling SUV on the market.
The Tiguan’s fi ve-door wagon body
remains essentially unchanged but adapts the
now standard Volkswagen face shared with the
likes of the latest Golf, Amarok and Touareg.
This comprises a redesigned grille
that runs the full width between the
updated headlights to form a single unit.
A new-design front bumper incorporates
a trapezoidal lower air intake opening and
foglights, while at the rear new L-shaped
tail-lights add the style of the latest Touareg.
Standard features across the Tiguan range
run to electronic stability and traction control,
ABS brakes, brake assist, a hill holder,
electronic diff lock, six airbags (front, front
side and front and rear curtain), remote central
locking, 60/40-split folding and sliding rear
seats, cruise control, Bluetooth phone and
audio streaming, daytime running lights,
heated door mirrors, air-conditioning, a multifunction
display, multi-function leather-clad
steering wheel and an eight-speaker ‘RCD310’
audio system with USB connection.
All models bar the 155TSI are fi tted as
standard with 16-inch alloy wheels while
the 155 gets 17-inch alloys. A selection of
18-inch alloys is optionally available and
the spare wheel is a space-saver.
Other features on the 155TSI over the
lower-spec models include front foglights
with static cornering lights, a tyre pressure
indicator, driver ‘fatigue detection’,
chrome-plated side mouldings, roof rails
and window surrounds, tinted windows,
dual-zone climate-control, sports front seats
with height and lumbar adjustment, storage
drawers under the front seats, a premium
touchscreen audio system, automatic
headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers
and rear parking distance sensors.
The updated model also maintains its
fi ve-star ANCAP safety rating.
The body features the
same dimensions as the
original and the stubby rear
end makes it the shortest
wagon in its class at 4427mm
in overall length. Most of the
length is missing from the
boot that has a claimed 395
litres capacity or up to 1510
litres with the seats folded.
Tiguan was one of the pioneers of
autonomous parking systems that park the
vehicle without driver assistance and was the
fi rst to offer such technology in an affordable,
non-luxury vehicle. Park Assist continues to
be offered as an option on Tiguan with ‘Park
Assist 2’, which can now park the vehicle in
both 90 degree and parallel spots.
Park Assist 2 is a $1400 option on all
models bar the 155TSI, in which it costs $900.
Another hi-tech feature now fi tted to
Tiguan is ‘fatigue detection’.
For the fi rst 15 minutes of a journey, fatigue
detection analyses the driver’s characteristic
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 14
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PRICING:
Tiguan 118TSI 2WD $28,490
Tiguan 132TSI $33,490
Tiguan 132TSI (a) $35,990
Tiguan 103TDI $35,990
Tiguan 103TDI (a) $38,490
Tiguan 155TSI (a) $42,990
With this!
Call: 1300 744 005 or visit www.ezikey.com
To book an on site demonstration & consultation
118TSI
steering and driving behaviour.
Further into the journey the system
continually evaluates signals such as
steering angle, use of pedals and transverse
acceleration and if the monitored parameters
indicate a deviation from
the behaviour recorded at
the beginning of the trip,
then waning concentration
is assumed and a warning
is issued in the form of a
fi ve-second alarm.
If the driver does not
take a break within the next
15 minutes, the warning is repeated.
Australian-spec Tiguans previously had
the option of an off-road pack which altered
the calibration of the centre differential
lock, throttle mapping, traction and stability
control and ABS calibration, and added hill
descent control.
However, this off-road option has been
deleted due to the low uptake. Thus, hill
descent control is no longer available on the
Tiguan here.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
For drive impressions, go to
www.GoAuto.com.au from this afternoon

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 15
Class
act
Strong value, Euro fl air and smart tech abound in Citroen’s redesigned C4 series
By HAITHAM RAZAGUI
THE second generation of Citroen’s smallsegment
C4 has arrived in Australia priced
from a keen $22,990 plus on-roads – a drop
of $4000 compared with its predecessor –
and available in three specifi cation levels
with two petrol engines, one diesel engine
and manual or automatic transmissions.
Entry to the new C4 range is exactly $1000
more expensive than base variants of the Ford
Focus and Volkswagen Golf, and lineball
with French rivals in the shape of sister brand
Peugeot’s 308 and the Renault Megane.
The new C4 is Citroen Australia’s opening
salvo in what is shaping up to be a busy year
for the niche French brand. It has confi rmed
all members of its local line-up will undergo
a refresh for the 2012 model year.
The C4 range opens with a naturally aspirated
1.6-litre petrol engine – in either the base
Attraction variant available solely with a fourspeed
automatic transmission or the higherspec
Seduction with a fi ve-speed manual.
An extra $2000 adds the four-speed
automatic to a Seduction specifi cation petrol,
with 1.6-litre diesel power available from
$26,990 with a six-speed manual or $27,990
in fuel-sipping e-HDi guise featuring a sixspeed
robotised manual ‘EGS’ transmission.
From $31,990, fl agship Exclusive variants
get an EGS-only 1.6-litre turbo-petrol unit,
or a diesel manual for the same money. An
extra $1000 adds the EGS transmission and
e-HDi badge.
Citroen has taken a step back from the
award-winning original’s fl amboyant
styling – especially that of the three-door
– to now reserve design fl ourishes for its
premium DS models.
However, the comparatively conservative
new fi ve-door still has an assertive, almost
aggressive look while the previously wacky
interior has been toned down in favour of a
step upmarket – with plenty of technology
on offer in top-spec Exclusive trim.
Importer Ateco Automotive’s general
manager for Citroen in Australia, Miles
Williams, said the new C4 “adds a new
maturity to the original car, a new standard of
technology and comfort, a new level of value
for money and, as such, is more than well
placed to repeat the success of its predecessor”.
Ateco is keen to restore C4 sales to levels
reminiscent of its predecessor, which in
its heyday from April 2005 launch until
mid-2008 regularly achieved triple-fi gure
monthly volumes – peaking at 162 units in
August 2007.
The new model is expected to reverse the
sales tail-off that hit the C4 amid the global
fi nancial crisis, after which it was rare for more
than 60 examples to fi nd homes each month.
Continued next page
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John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
Class act
Continued from previous page
Ateco believes there is a “growing desire
for image, style and ability, rather than just
basic transport”, citing the example of a
growing preference here for the Mazda3
over Toyota’s Corolla.
As befi ts a new European car, all C4s benefi t
from a fi ve-star Euro NCAP safety rating, in
which the C4 attained 90 per cent for adult
protection, 85 per cent for child protection
and a class-leading 97 per cent for its safety
assistance features including speed limiter,
electronic stability control (ESC) and seatbelt
reminders for the driver and all passengers.
In addition to ESC, the C4’s standard
safety kit includes six airbags, anti-lock
brakes, emergency brake assist (with
automatic hazard light activation under hard
braking) and traction control.
Blind-spot monitoring is available on
Exclusive variants and Citroen claims this
is a fi rst for this technology in the smallcar
segment.
The petrol manual Seduction variant –
which shares its entry-level pricing with
the lower-specifi ed but automatic Attraction
– compares favourably with well-specifi ed
Euro rivals like the Ford Focus Ambiente
hatch (which lacks alloy wheels) and
Renault Megane Dynamique (which also
gets automatic wipers and headlights)
while being clearly ahead of the low-spec
Volkswagen Golf 77TSI.
However, the steel-wheeled, auto-only C4
Attraction’s specifi cation is quite sparse and,
like the aforementioned Golf variant, lacks
equipment like Bluetooth and steering wheel
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 16
HARRIER NATIONAL
MECHANICAL
PROTECTION
PLANS
NATIONAL
ROADSIDE
ASSIST
controls. The C4 does trump the Golf in having
standard cruise control but the German car has
rear electric windows and a trip computer.
All C4s get air-conditioning, a sixspeaker
sound system with auxiliary input,
and the aforementioned cruise control
(with speed limiter), while Seduction spec
adds 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth,
USB, automatic handbrake, foglights
(with cornering function), trip computer,
exterior temperature display, rear privacy
glass, leather multi-function steering
wheel and ‘favourite’ speed memories for
the cruise control.
Top-fl ight Exclusive variants are a
technology showcase, featuring blindspot
monitoring, front and rear parking
sensors, massaging front seats (with electric
lumbar adjustment), colour-customisable
instruments, selectable polyphonic alert
chimes and dual-zone climate-control with
three intensity settings plus engine-off
operation for up to eight minutes.
The spec sheet goes on to include 17-inch
alloy wheels, ‘follow me home’ headlights,
GIFT
REWARDS
LICENCED
WARRANTIES
PRICING:
Attraction 1.6 petrol (a) $22,990
Seduction 1.6 petrol $22,990
Seduction 1.6 petrol (a) $24,990
Seduction 1.6 HDi $26,990
Seduction 1.6 e-HDi (a) $27,990
Exclusive 1.6 turbo-petrol (a) $31,990
Exclusive 1.6 HDi $31,990
Exclusive 1.6 e-HDi (a) $32,990
folding door mirrors with LED lights,
interior LED reading lights, automatic
wipers, self-dimming rearview mirror, partleather
upholstery, illuminated footwells,
12-volt rechargeable torch in the boot and a
centre rear armrest with ski hatch.
Storage is a C4 strong point, starting with
a generous 380-litre seats-up boot capacity –
close to the class-leading 385 litres offered
by the Focus and Kia Cerato hatches – and
1183 litres with the rear seats folded.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
For drive impressions, go to
www.GoAuto.com.au from this afternoon
AUGIW RKS
AUSTRALIA’S LEADING AUTOMOTIVE CUSTOMER RETENTION SPECIALISTS
NUMBER ONE FOR OVER 25 YEARS
www.harrier.com.au

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
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Call Tim McGrath or Matt Barry on 1300 807 177
Dealer Performance Groups
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Sydney Melbourne Adelaide Shanghai
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New 1, great and small
BMW’s 1.6 ‘TwinPower’
engine gives the 1 Series
big heart, but small thirst
By RON HAMMERTON
BMW is banking on its all-new secondgeneration
entry-level 1 Series hatch to
meet a growing demand for small prestige
cars with frugal engines but no sacrifi ce of
amenity over the next decade.
With an even smaller city car still about
three years away, the German manufacturer
has employed a new-generation 1.6-litre
turbocharged TwinPower petrol engine and
eight-speed automatic transmission in the
fi ve-door, rear-drive 1 Series hatchback to
drive down fuel consumption while meeting
the performance expectations of customers.
The Munich-based company has stretched
the 1 Series body in most dimensions to
address accommodation shortcomings of the
previous generation, while also sharpening
the price of all models.
The cost of BMW entry has been cut by
more than fi ve per cent to $36,900 in a move
that the importer expects will drag even
more fi rst-time buyers to the brand.
BMW Australia managing director Phil
Horton said at the Australian launch of the
second-generation 1 Series this week that
BMW expected most of the growth in its car
sales to come at the small end of the market
between now and 2020, when BMW expects
to sell two million vehicles a year.
But Mr Horton said he expected the topselling
3 Series – which is due for a new
generation about March next year – to remain
the best-selling BMW for the life of the next
3, which would be about seven years.
The new 1 Series continues the march
of turbocharging across the BMW range,
with all three engines in the new,
bigger F20 model getting forced
induction as its engineers chase a
balance of power and economy,
without losing drivability.
The model line-up has been
slimmed down from four to
three at launch – 116i, 118i and
118d – with the top-of-the-range
twin-turbo diesel 123d dropped.
However, that range is expected to return
to four this time next year with the arrival
of a turbo-six performance leader, in the
mould of the 130i, perhaps using the 3.0litre
turbo six-cylinder engine of the 135i in
the recently facelifted 1 Series Coupe and
Convertible ranges.
While the 116i opens the hatch range at
$36,900 (plus on-road costs), the mid-range
118i is priced at $42,800 – midway between
the previous 118i and 120i – while the
118d is $43,500 – $1000 cheaper than the
previous 118d.
The price of the 116i undercuts the most
affordable Mercedes-Benz – the $37,875
B-class 180 – and cheapest Audi A3, the
1.4-litre TFSI Attraction ($41,000).
BMW has dismissed the normally
aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine of the
previous 118i and 120i, replacing it with the
PRICING:
116i $36,900
116i (a) $39,593
118i $42,800
118i (a) $45,493
118d $43,500
118d (a) $46,193
Oct 12, 2011 Page 17
all-new TwinPower turbocharged 1.6-litre
petrol engine in the 116i, and – in a higher
state of tune – mid-range 118i.
The new 1 Series hatch is the fi rst model
in the Munich brand’s line-up to
get the N13 1.6-litre TwinPower
engine, although a 2.0-litre
version surfaced in the new Z4
earlier this year.
Using the same alloy cylinder
block as the 1.6-litre engine
from the Mini Cooper S, the
engine is nevertheless new in
most other regards, using a twin-scroll turbo
and what BMW calls high-precision fuel
injection.
Thanks to the forced induction and other
technical enhancements, the engine produces
the same 100kW of power as the previous
2.0-litre engine, along with substantially
more torque – up from 180Nm to 220Nm,
delivered at a handy 1350-4300rpm.
This slices almost a second off the base
1 Series 0-100km/h sprint time, from 9.4 to
8.5 seconds.
The smaller engine capacity pays
dividends at the petrol pump, cutting the
combined average fuel consumption by
almost 23 per cent, from 7.4 litres per 100km
to 5.7L/100km in manual form (auto: 5.8).
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
For drive impressions, go to
www.GoAuto.com.au from this afternoon
Recently, we helped a dealership move their manufacturer CSI score from low 70s to mid 90s...
They were very, very pleased.
Fusion’s CSI Coaching programme for manufacturers, auto dealers, financiers & insurers to improve loyalty and retention

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XF diesel makes its mark
Frugal 2.2D diesel engine
headlines XF upgrade and
sends baseline to $78,900
By MARTON PETTENDY
JAGUAR’S most effi cient model ever
has arrived in Australia, where its low
5.4L/100km combined fuel consumption
fi gure will help make the new 2.2D the
cheapest XF ever sold here.
Powered by a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel
engine, the fi rst four-cylinder XF headlines
an upgraded 12MY range that arrives in
local showrooms on October 24, more than
three years after the sleek new XF replaced
the S-Type as Jaguar’s large sedan offering.
Pricing for the rest of the 12MY XF range
will be announced later this week, when Jaguar
Australia will reveal a reshuffl ed line-up
of V6 petrol and diesel and V8 petrol and
supercharged XFR variants with pricing and
specifi cation to compete more aggressively
with their most direct German rivals.
Apart from the 2.2D, pricing has been
confi rmed only for the supercharged XFR
range-topper, which rises from $207,905 to
$210,990.
For now, Jaguar is fi rmly focused on
the entry-level XF 2.2D, which is now the
British brand’s most affordable model at
a nationwide driveaway price of $84,990,
fi tted with satellite-navigation (normally
$2495) but not metallic paint ($2780).
While a better equipped XF 2.2D
Premium Luxury version is also available
for $86,100, the base 2.2D Luxury arrives
with a manufacturer’s list price of just
$78,900 plus on-road costs – almost $5000
less than the least expensive Jaguar currently
available, the XF 3.0 V6 ($93,815).
AHG / ZUPPS CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Oct 12, 2011 Page 18
Part of Australia’s largest motor retailer, AHG Group, Zupps have been a Queensland icon for 60 years. With thirteen vehicle dealerships and two truck
centres as well as a large parts distribution network, we employ approximately 800 staff throughout Queensland.
BUYER/WHOLESALER: Zupps Mt Gravatt Holden
Due to continuous company growth, we have an opportunity for an experienced
Buyer/Wholesaler to ensure high level of customer service and profitability for the
company. Reporting directly to the Sales Manager this key management position
is responsible for:
• The appraisal and valuation of vehicles for trade-in purposes.
• Obtaining retailable stock for the Used Vehicle Department.
• Maximising profit on disposal of any non-retailable used vehicle stock.
• Carrying out appraisals and maintaining a sound knowledge of trade/retail prices.
Required Skills and Knowledge:
• Sound knowledge of the automotive industry, especially wholesale vehicles.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Current driver’s licence.
Zupps Mt Gravatt Holden offers:
• Excellent remuneration package.
• Above industry salary and commission structures.
More importantly, the new XF diesel-four
is $4400 cheaper than its two fi ercest German
rivals – the BMW 520d and Mercedes-
Benz E220 CDI sedan, which both open
their respective 5 Series and E-class model
ranges at $83,300 plus
on-road costs.
With diesels
accounting for almost
half of all luxury car sales in Australia,
Jaguar expects the fi rst sub-$80,000 XF to
attract a raft of new customers to the brand,
and to bring back buyers of the discontinued
X-Type mid-size sedan – at least those who
purchased premium versions, or the base
model before run-out pricing was slashed to
less than $50,000.
Jaguar Australia brand manager Kevin
Goult said the XF 2.2D has allowed the
British brand, which has always traded on
its exclusivity, to lower its price boundary to
let more people in.
“Yes, the Jaguar brand is an exclusive
club,” he said. “What we want to do is
increase the number of members in it. That
exclusivity remains, but we want more
customers and we know how to target them.
“We’re heading to a broader demographic.
Diesel addresses 46 per cent of a market we
PRICING:
2.2D Luxury (a) $78,900
2.2D Premium Luxury (a) $86,100
haven’t been able to target as a demographic.
We all know who they are – the German trio
– but the XF 2.2D gives us the opportunity
to talk to them.”
Spearheading the midlife makeover for
the XF that includes
a number of technical
and cosmetic upgrades
inside and out, the
2.2D represents the third entry-level price
reduction for the XF since it was introduced
here in April 2008 with a base price of
$109,450 for the 3.0 V6 petrol version.
The 3.0D became the fi rst sub-$100,000
diesel XF last September, when it arrived
with less equipment than the $116,250 XF S
Diesel, while the new 3.0 V6 petrol variant
lowered base XF pricing by $12,000 to
$93,900 in July 2010.
Jaguar will not reveal its sales ambitions for
the new 2.2D or revised 12MY XF line-up,
other than to say it expects “big changes to
customer and retail numbers”, but says it
expects a strong proportion of conquest sales
as well as more business buyers.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
For drive impressions, go to
www.GoAuto.com.au from this afternoon
• Career path and development opportunities.
• Great team environment.
If you have a positive outlook and enjoy working in a dynamic environment
then please send your details to David O’Connor, Sales Manager, on email:
doconnor@zupps.com.au
This is an excellent opportunity for you to further your career with Australia’s
largest automotive retailer.
All applications will be treated in strict confidence. Zupps is an equal opportunity employer.

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
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First private LFA arrives
Lexus launches its $700K
LFA superhero this week,
but all cars are spoken for
By DAVID HASSALL
LEXUS has sold all 10 of its LFA supercar
allocation for Australia and yesterday
displayed the fi rst customer car to be delivered
here – a white example of the $700,000,
325km/h, V10-powered supermodel that
now belongs to an anonymous buyer.
The white car is the second LFA in
Australia, the other being the blue Melbourne
motor show car that Lexus Australia uses as
a promotional car and in which GoAuto and
other Australian media this week took a fi rst
local drive.
At least four more are understood to have
been snapped up by Lexus dealers for personal
and promotional purposes, but the rest are
believed to be destined for private customers
– including a couple of well-known wealthy
car collectors and a few self-made millionaires
keen to drive the cars regularly.
One is understood to be a 40-year-old
Queensland roofi ng contractor keen to enjoy
the fruits of his labours who said he “simply
must have one”, and another is a benefi ciary
of Australia’s resources boom.
“Reaction to the LFA in Australia has
been overwhelming,” said Lexus Australia
chief executive Tony Cramb. “Our initial
allocation of fi ve doubled due solely to
customer demand.
“We now expect the last of our 10 LFA to
be delivered in late 2012.”
Although the LFA was only formally
launched this week to the Australian
motoring media at the Sandown race circuit
in Melbourne, it seems to have been around
for a long time – which is not altogether
surprising given its lengthy and largely
public gestation period.
Started as a research and development
program in 2000, the LFA – which stands
for Lexus Future Apex – soon became a
distinct model and the fi rst prototype was
completed in mid-2003.
A prototype lapped the Nurburgring
race circuit in Germany for the fi rst time
in October 2004 and three months later a
design study was unveiled at the Detroit
auto show.
Lexus has since raced the car at the
Nurburgring each year from 2008 to 2011
– and in the 2009 24-hour race one of the
drivers was the company chief himself,
Toyota Motor Corporation president and
race fan Akio Toyoda.
The covers were taken off a productionready
LFA at the Tokyo motor show in
PATTERSON CHENEY is a very successful dealership group with a great reputation,
distinguished history, and an excellent record of staff retention and satisfaction. The Group
operates 11 franchises and employs over 450 staff, and is currently seeking the skills and
enthusiasm of two senior people to join its New World Honda Berwick dealership.
MARKETING MANAGER ONLINE DIGITAL MEDIA
Responsibilities will include:
• Development and implementation of outsourced group websites.
• Media Planning, Managing Social and Media Campaigns.
• Online sales facilitation – whole dealership via all channels.
• Support to internal and external sales Lead/database management, and Monthly Reporting.
To be considered for this role the following is desired:
• Knowledge of Lead management programs ie. AutoGatePro, Vital Software, SalesForce, Pentana.
• Knowledge of Digital Media policies SEO, SEM, PPC, CPA, CPC and Google Ad words/Analytics.
• Tertiary qualifications in Marketing/related field and experience in a similar online role.
GROUP
Oct 12, 2011 Page 19
October 2009 and the supercar is now being
hand-built at the company’s Motomachi
plant in Japan at the rate of just 20 cars a
month for 25 months – a total of 500 cars.
Australia has always been one of the
strongest Lexus markets in the world and
our allocation of 10 of those cars is twice as
many as fi rst allocated – although none will
be the slightly more powerful track-based
‘Nurburgring Edition’, only 50 of which
will be built next year.
LFA project leader Haruhiko Tanahashi
realises that very few customers will get to
appreciate the driving brilliance of the LFA,
but believes all Lexus owners will benefi t
from the development program.
Speaking in Melbourne this week, Mr
Tanahashi said the 11-year program to
create “a world-class supercar” was even
more demanding than creating the RX series
or the Lexus range of hybrid models.
“The development of the LFA was a
challenge of a higher order, with the goal of
obtaining an unprecedented level of sensual
and emotional appeal,” he said.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
For drive impressions, go to
www.GoAuto.com.au from this afternoon
HOLDEN • HONDA • HONDA MOTORCYCLES & POWER EQUIPMENT • ISUZU TRUCKS • ISUZU UTE • MAN • MERCEDES-BENZ • TOYOTA • WESTERN STAR TRUCKS
NEW VEHICLE SALES MANAGER
Responsibilities will include:
• Drive an experienced sales team to achieve KPI’s.
• Provide leadership, exceed customer expectations.
• Develop management responsibilities and work within
a large dealership network.
To be considered for this role the following is desired:
• Experience as a Sales Manager.
• Demonstrated CSI, Margin, People management ability.
• Knowledge of online sales programs and systems.
The successful applicants will receive excellent salary packages including a generous performance bonus. Applications treated in strict confidence.
Please email your resumé and cover letter/or enquiries to: hr@pattersoncheney.com.au
www.pattersoncheney.com.au

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
‘Worth the wait’
By MIKE COSTELLO
RENAULT wants to offer a greater range
of Clio variants in Australia than it does
at present once the next-generation model
surfaces overseas in September next year.
The French car-maker currently sells
only RS hot-hatch versions of the Clio in
Australia, with prices starting from $36,490,
but is keen to tap into the burgeoning lightcar
segment against European rivals such as
the Volkswagen Polo.
Set for its global debut at next year’s Paris
motor show from September 29, the next Clio
should be the fi rst new model to take on the
daring trends set out by design boss Laurens
van den Acker with the curvaceous Dezir and
Zoe concepts at the French show in 2010.
The car-maker’s facelifted Twingo city
hatch became its fi rst production car to take
on hints of the new design direction in August
this year, with a front-end treatment featuring
sleeker headlights and a slim-line grille
integrated with an oversized Renault badge.
Details on the next-generation Clio are still
scarce, but expect an array of frugal diesel
and petrol engines, with the range once again
headlined by a Clio Sport hot hatch.
Renault has also invested heavily in electric
vehicle technology alongside alliance partner
Nissan, but with the Clio-sized Zoe EV set for
production from mid-2012 it seems unlikely
that the Clio will come in zero-emissions
guise for the foreseeable future.
The French car-maker’s Australian arm
has indicated that the next Clio would go on
sale here within six months of overseas sales
commencing if it gets the green light from
headquarters, meaning a likely debut around
mid-2013.
Renault Australia managing director
Justin Hocevar said at the recent Megane
diesel launch that he was “disappointed we
don’t have it (current Clio) now, but it’s
getting on in its design life”.
Mr Hocevar said the business case for
introducing more next-generation Clio
variants to the local market was “looking
promising” and that he had already seen the
forthcoming model, which he described as
being “defi nitely worth the wait”.
A re-entry into the prospering light-size
vehicle segment would be a timely addition to
the brand’s local portfolio and allow it to keep
its current sales growth fi rmly on the boil.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Zoe Zo
Renault Oz sees big future for Zoe-inspired next Clio
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 20
Ateco secures fresh batch
of Ferrari-fettled hatch
By HAITHAM RAZAGUI
A SECOND shipment comprising 45
examples of Abarth’s 695 Tributo Ferrari hot
hatch has arrived, giving people who missed
out on the fi rst batch of 40 that sold out before
reaching our shores a second and fi nal chance.
The little Fiat 500-based Abarth is
Australia’s most expensive light car with
a $70,000 pricetag, matching that of a
Mercedes-Benz C250 coupe.
Public relations manager for Abarth
importer Ateco Automotive, Edward
Rowe, told GoAuto the fi rst shipment went
predominantly to “Ferrari owners who knew
the vehicle was coming and expressed their
desire to buy it before the deliveries started”.
He expected “a fair proportion” of the
second set also to be purchased by Ferrari
owners, although the greater availability
would at least provide customers with the
opportunity to view the vehicle before
committing to buying.
Asked whether customers were buying
the 695 as a collector’s piece, Mr Rowe said
it could be a possibility but how the cars are
being used will not become clear until their
owners start bringing them in for servicing.
Dripping in carbon-fi bre, packing a
Ferrari-fettled 132kW/250Nm punch from
its 1.4-litre petrol engine and available
in four colours including Scuderia Red
and Modena Yellow, the exclusive 695
commands twice the price of Abarth’s 500
Esseesse on which it is based.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
General Manager – Allpower New Zealand
Rapidly growing privately owned importer and distributor of Outdoor Power Equipment
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Offi cer
Make a difference. Make YOUR mark!
Allpower Industries is the fastest growing privately owned importer and distributor of Outdoor Power Equipment in New Zealand
and Australia. At Allpower we are committed to expanding our business in harmony with our network of independently owned
servicing dealers who provide the best retail and on-going support to purchasers of our products.
The company is seeking the services of an experienced professional and highly motivated General Manager for the New Zealand
division based in Wiri, Auckland. The successful candidate will assume full responsibility for the delivery of high quality services to
our Dealer Network through excellent strategic, operational and people leadership, budgetary control and successful risk planning.
The role requires an experienced and credible operator with a ‘values’ driven approach and an excellent ability to operate on a
strategic and operational level.
If you are highly motivated, hard working and desire a challenging and diverse role you are invited to apply for this position.
Potential applicants who do not meet this criteria need not apply.
Please call +613 8726 1405 or email applications to naomi@allpower.com.au
SANLI

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
Just two stars for J11
Chery working on safety
of small SUV as ANCAP
delivers a two-star rating
By HAITHAM RAZAGUI
CHINESE car brand Chery has received
another disappointing Australasian New Car
Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash-test
result, its J11 compact SUV scoring just two
stars and performing worse than the smaller
J1 hatch that achieved three stars in May.
The J11 is the only passenger vehicle
currently on sale to achieve less than
three stars and joins the lowly two-starrated
Chinese Great Wall V240 and Indian
Mahindra Pik-Up utilities – although it
performed better than the one-star Proton
Jumbuk ute and Mitsubishi Express van.
Due to all J11s in Australia being
recalled last month to fi t safety-enhancing
replacement front-seat backrests – as was
carried out for the J1 in August in response
to its three-star rating – ANCAP delayed the
side-impact test.
However, the J11’s poor score of just two
out of 16 for occupant safety in the frontal
offset crash test – which involves slamming
the car into a deformable barrier at 64km/h
– meant that even with full points awarded
for side impact, it was impossible for the car
to qualify for more than two stars.
ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh
said the organisation acted “in the interests of
consumers” by publishing the J11’s test results
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before the side impact test had been carried
out, but that the test will go ahead “following
completion of the recall campaign”.
“Under ANCAP’s rating system, the
poor result in the frontal offset test restricts
the Chery J11 to a maximum two-star
rating – irrespective of the outcome of the
side impact test,” he said. “The passenger
compartment lost structural integrity and
there was excessive pedal displacement.
Protection from serious chest, leg and foot
injury was poor for the driver.”
In testing, the J11’s brake pedal moved
rearwards 138mm and the clutch pedal moved
upwards 103mm. The steering wheel hub
moved 138mm rearwards, 58mm upwards and
11mm sideways, but the airbag “cushioned the
head of the driver and contact was stable”.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 21
Ford to add 12,000 jobs, invest $16b under UAW pact
By DAVID HASSALL
THE Ford Motor Company announced last
week that it had reached a tentative fouryear
agreement with the major US auto
union that limits hourly pay rises in return
for the creation of 12,000 new jobs by 2015.
The Ford agreement – which remains subject
to ratifi cation by 41,000 UAW members – also
includes $16 billion in local investments to
design, engineer and produce more new and
upgraded vehicles and components by 2015.
Perhaps the biggest problem facing
the three traditional US car-makers has
been the high cost of labour as a result
of previous union agreements that see
long-serving production line employees
earning as much as $28 an hour whereas
“transplant” manufacturers such as Toyota
and Honda pay considerably less.
The new agreement will see Ford’s 12,000
new employees earn little more than half that
hourly fi gure – initially about $17 an hour –
making the Blue Oval more cost-competitive.
CRUZE HATCH STARS
THE forthcoming Holden Cruze hatch has
been awarded a fi ve-star ANCAP safety
rating without a panel being scratched.
An assessment by ANCAP engineers of
the Australian-designed small car deemed
it to be the same in all critical structural
and safety aspects as the Cruze sedan that
was awarded the maximum safety rating
after crash tests at Sydney’s Crashlab
in 2009 when the car was being built in
South Korea.
This means the safety rating for the
hatch version can be rubber-stamped
under ANCAP’s variant policy without the
expense of a separate series of crash tests.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
UAW’s Bob King (left) and Alan Mulally
Having been hauled away from the edge
of fi nancial ruin in recent years, Ford has
recovered remarkably well in recent years
and was involved in lengthy negotiations
with the United Auto Workers union – as
have General Motors and Chrysler.
Early this year Ford announced a $6.6
billion profi t – one of its best ever – and
rewarded hourly workers with a $5000
bonus, but that did not prevent criticism of
Ford CEO Alan Mulally’s new pay package
of $26.5 million last year.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
J11

John Mellor’s
GoAuto Market Insight
Mazda, Hyundai to fi ght
for top full-line importer
spot as Nissan closes gap
By RON HAMMERTON
THE unoffi cial title of Australia’s top fullline
vehicle importer looks set to go down to
the wire this year, with Mazda and Hyundai
ready to battle it out over the fi nal quarter.
The rivals have both sold more than
65,000 vehicles so far this year, with Mazda
edging out its Korean rival by just 826 sales
– 65,955 to 65,129 – to the end of September.
This translates to an 8.76 per cent share
of the market for Mazda against 8.65 per
cent for Hyundai – suffi ciently close for one
good or bad month to make the difference.
The result might come down to who
wants to force the market the most, and who
has the stock to do it.
Mazda Australia managing director Doug
Dickson recently predicted a “bloodbath”
of discounting in the market over the last
few months of the year as companies such
as Toyota try to make up lost market share.
And despite Mazda’s carefully crafted
brand image that eschews discounting, Mr
Dickson indicated Mazda would not be left
behind when he said: “Bring it on.”
In recent years, Hyundai has indulged in
careful brand building of its own to elevate
its lowly image as a purveyor of cheap cars,
recently highlighting its fi ve-star safety
performance across the passenger car range –
now that the four-star Getz has fi nally run out –
and new sense of style with cars such as the i45.
However, no one expects the Korean
company to walk away from a shot at the
crown, and its “end of year sale” campaign
now in full swing will ensure the company
is well in the hunt.
GoAuto Market Insight is brought
to you by Dealer Solutions
10
9
8
7
6
%
5
4
3
2
1
0
Hyundai will have to challenge without
its volume king, the now-defunct Getz,
which was supplying about a quarter of
Hyundai’s sales at this time last year.
But with other models such as the
Accent, i20 and new Elantra all shouldering
more of the load and new models such as
the i40 coming on stream, it has not missed
a beat recently.
Thanks to a big September, in which its
sales soared 22.7 per cent over the same
month last year, Hyundai sales are now
running 5.8 per cent ahead of last year.
By contrast, Mazda slipped into reverse
in September, mainly because of a sales
hangover in the wake of August’s big ‘M
Day’ push that drove the Japanese importer
to record levels.
With its top-seller, the Mazda3, in runout
and stock in short supply after the
Japanese earthquake earlier in the year,
Mazda’s September sales were down 31.8
per cent, trimming its year-to-date gain to
just 0.6 per cent.
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 22
Mazda
Hyundai
Nissan
Mitsubishi
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Mr Dickson said he was expecting
average stocks of the facelifted Mazda3
through the last quarter of 2011, which
means Mazda dealers should have about
3200 of the small cars a month to fi ght with
once supply ramps up.
Mazda is also preparing to introduce its
new-generation BT-50 ute and, while this
will generate lots of good vibes and plenty
of customer enquiry, stock might be at a
premium with Mazda distributors around
the globe clamouring for their share.
Run-out BT-50 sales were already
slowing noticeably last month, with the
popular 4x4 model down 50 per cent.
The full force of Mazda’s new-model
rollout is more likely to be felt in 2012,
when the Mazda3 and BT-50 will be joined
about March by the all-new CX-5 crossover
– the fi rst vehicle to employ a full suite of
Mazda SkyActiv technologies, including
chassis and body.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
1300 66 11 33
www.dealersolutions.com.au

John Mellor’s
GoAuto Green
By RON HAMMERTON
A NATIONAL strategy to help light-vehicle
fl eets slice fuel consumption has taken
another step forward with the introduction of
the FleetWise program in Victoria.
The low-emissions fl eet scheme was
pioneered in New South Wales almost
two years ago and picked up nationally
by the Council of Australia Governments
(COAG) as a plank of its national strategy
on energy effi ciency.
Greenhouse gas savings of between eight
and 12 per cent have been made by fl eets
that have signed up to the program in NSW,
prompting the push for a national rollout.
Victoria has become the second state to
sign up, with that state’s transport department
holding information seminars to get the ball
rolling with light-vehicle fl eet operators to
explain how the program can help with vehicle
procurement, options to reduce travel and
information on emerging vehicle technologies.
Other states and territories are expected to
Green issues in the auto world
GoAuto Green is brought
to you by Custom Fleet
follow over time, depending on resources.
Victorian transport department director
of strategy and resource effi ciencies Fiona
Calvert told GoAuto that the program gave
fl eet operators the tools and information
to maximise fl eet fuel effi ciency, not only
cutting greenhouse gas emissions but also
saving money.
She said the scheme was piloted for a year
in NSW and then introduced permanently in
partnership with Rare Consulting, which also
had a team working on FleetWise in Victoria.
“It found that there is a real need and a
real opportunity for people to make quite
considerable savings in their fl eets in terms of
their ongoing costs of their fuel bills,” she said.
“This program seems to be quite
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 23
successful at giving people the tools and
the information, or working with them
to develop the tools and helping them to
access the information they need to unlock
those potential savings.
“It is a very fl exible program and that’s
one of the things that we liked about it.
“It doesn’t decree this is what you must
do. It is a process of working with the fl eet
for them to decide what they want to do, so
the decisions stay with the people that need
to be making them.
“It is about helping them to unlock that,
rather than imposing something from big
brother government.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Mazda and Nissan embrace super-strong steel to reduce weight of future models
By RON HAMMERTON
JAPANESE car companies Nissan and
Mazda have separately announced plans to
adopt super-strong steel to shave the weight
of future cars without loss of strength, after
engineers overcame production hurdles.
Nissan says it will use the ultra-high-tensile
steel – rated at 1200 megapascals on the scale of
steel toughness – in vehicle bodies from 2013,
saving up to 15kg over conventional steel.
Mazda is also pressing ahead with the
introduction of ultra-high-strength steels in
Nissan production
its new SkyActiv bodies, starting with bars
of steel rated at 1800 megapascals in the
bumpers of its all-new CX-5 compact SUV
due in showrooms in 2012.
The race for ever-stronger materials for
car bodies – particularly critical areas such as
B-pillars and roof rails – is the result of the car
industry pursuit of the twin goals of improved
crash test results and lower weight to cut fuel
consumption and raise performance.
Nissan said the breakthrough steel – in its case
developed by two Japanese steel companies –
would allow it to cold-press structural body
parts such as centre pillar reinforcements and
front and side roof rails in what it described as
a signifi cant step in improving environmental
impact as well as performance.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

John Mellor’s
GoAuto Personnel
Australia’s No.1
Recruitment Specialist
UP CLOSE ON PERSONNEL
Brought to you by Motor Staff – Australia’s Largest Supplier of Qualifi ed Applicants
KATO STEPS IN AS SUZUKI AUSTRALIA’S NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR
By TERRY MARTIN
SUZUKI Australia has announced the
appointment of Masaaki (Mac) Kato as its
new managing director, replacing Takeshi
Hayasaki who has returned to Japan after
fi ve years here to take responsibility
for the African and Latin American
motorcycle market.
Mr Kato brings to the position almost
three decades’ experience with Suzuki
Motor Corporation, having joined the
company in 1982 after graduating in
political and economic studies.
He has held senior sales and marketing
positions for Suzuki in North America,
Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India
and South East Asia, and most recently
was based at Suzuki’s head offi ce in
Hamamatsu, Japan, managing the
Oceania and Latin America automobile
marketing department.
Mr Kato’s experience covers both car
and motorcycle
sides of the Suzuki
business, the
latter including
responsibility for
North American and
Oceania markets
and, from 2002 to
2009, the role of
vice-president of
motorcycle and
Masaaki Kato
ATV operations
for American Suzuki Motor Corp in the
United States.
“I am very excited to be here in
Australia, and to build on the tremendous
work undertaken by my predecessor Mr
Hayasaki and the team here in Australia,”
said Mr Kato.
“Australia is one of the most successful
distributorships in the Suzuki family and
I am honoured to have been selected to
TOP SUBARU TECHIE TAKES ON WORLD’S BEST
By TERRY MARTIN
SUBARU technician Michael Cooper from
Suttons in Rosebery, NSW, will compete
in the fi nal of the Japanese manufacturer’s
2011 World Technical Competition in
Hachioji, Japan, next month, following his
win at national level.
Mr Cooper will represent his dealership
and Subaru Australia in the fi nal of the
competition, which is held every two years.
He received the inaugural Gary Matthews
Trophy for winning the Australian fi nal. Mr
Matthews, who died earlier this year, was
a master technician at Eblens in Adelaide
and a former representative at the World
Technical Competition.
Sixty technicians entered this year’s national
competition, with an online questionnaire
among the tools used to select fi ve fi nalists who
competed over a week of “intensive testing
and screening” at Subaru Australia’s technical
training centre at Eastern Creek in Sydney.
Michael Cooper (centre) with Suttons
Rosebery DP David Forsyth (left) and
Subaru Australia MD Nick Senior
The other fi nalists were Mathew Fiorenza
(Subaru Artarmon, NSW), Peter Hearne
(Carlin and Gazzard, Mount Gambier, SA),
Matthew Moller (Subaru Penrith, NSW) and
Rajnesh Prasad (Subaru Toowong, Qld).
Subaru Australia managing director Nick
Senior said he was “mighty impressed with
the standard of the entire competition, but
most importantly with the fi ve fi nalists”.
“Congratulations to those guys for making
the fi nal,” he said. “Michael did a fantastic
job in all fi ve disciplines tested in the fi nal.”
Anne Taylor
Les Land
George Hennessy
Sharon Hunter
Sonya Poci
Doug Tame
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xxxxxxxx
Takeshi Hayasaki
Oct 12, 2011 Page 24
lead such a dynamic
team.”
VFACTS industry
fi gures released last
week show Suzuki
new-vehicle sales
are down 2.2 per
cent this year after a
20.6 per cent fall in
September.
Last year,
Suzuki sold almost
25,000 vehicles (excluding motorcycles)
after climbing 22.1 per cent over 2009,
more than double the overall industry
improvement of 10.5 per cent.
Mr Hayasaki was appointed managing
director of Suzuki Australia in July 2006
– a year in which Suzuki sold 15,798
new cars.
He has worked for the Japanese
manufacturer since 1981.
ROACH GIVEN THE NOD
GM HOLDEN last
week offi cially approved
the appointment of
Mark Roach as dealer
principal of Hunter
Holden in Ryde, NSW.
As previously
reported, Mr Roach
was appointed to the
Mark Roach
role in February, but GM
Holden subsequently wrote to its NSW
dealers saying the GoAuto report was
wrong because the appointment would not
take effect until it was approved by the
factory.
Mr Roach had been in the role of ‘acting
DP’ at Hunter Holden until last week,
when offi cial approval came through.
– JOHN MELLOR
If you have any car industry personnel
announcements, please email them to
Terry Martin at tmartin@mellor.net
sales•service•parts•admin
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For more information please call 1300 666 562 or visit www.motorstaff.com.au

John Mellor’s
GoAuto News
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Oct 12, 2011 Page 25
GoAuto’s latest car review www.GoAuto.com.au
MAZDA2 CURTAIN CALL
AS TOYOTA prepares to launch its
redesigned Yaris light car later this month,
Mazda Australia has bolstered the position
of its segment-leading Mazda2, adding
side and curtain airbags, cruise control and
steering-mounted audio controls to its entrylevel
Neo variant – for no additional cost.
The Neo still kicks off the range from
$15,790 (plus on-road costs), with automatic
adding $1650, while the mid-series Maxx
– also now picking up cruise control as
standard – starts from $17,690. The rangetopping
Genki remains priced from $20,495.
The safety upgrade for Neo now means
all Mazda2 variants are fi tted standard with
six airbags, ESC and ABS brakes with
EBD and brake assist.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
BETTER ‘EQUIPED’ VE
HOLDEN has introduced special Equipe
versions of its best-selling Commodore
sedan and Sportwagon range with a claimed
$9500 worth of extra equipment alongside a
cheaper starting price than the current entrylevel
Omega.
All Equipe variants get extra features such
as 18-inch alloy wheels, a rearview camera
with park assist, leather-appointed seats
and steering wheel, foglights and chrome
highlights on the grille and instrument fascia.
All sedans also pick up a chrome moulding
on the bootlid, while the wagon version gets
a rear cargo blind. Both body styles also get
free prestige paint fi nish.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE
AT THE RIGHT TIME
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Volkswagen Jetta 118TSI Comfortline sedan
Launch Pad
October:
Audi A6 2.0 TDI/TFSI variants
BMW 1 Series hatch redesign
Citroen C4 hatch redesign
Holden Cruze hatch
Hyundai i40 Tourer
Jaguar XF 2.2D sedan
Lexus LFA coupe
Mitsubishi MY12 Lancer
Mitsubishi MY12 ASX
Mitsubishi MY12 Outlander
Mitsubishi MY12 Pajero
Mitsubishi MY12 Challenger
Mitsubishi MY12 Triton
Mitsubishi MY12 iMiEV
Mazda BT-50 ute redesign
Skoda Yeti SUV
Toyota Yaris hatch redesign
Volkswagen Tiguan facelift
NISSAN’S JUKE ‘GT-R’
NISSAN is developing what it calls the
world’s fi rst ‘super crossover’, combining
the running gear from the GT-R supercar
with the bodyshell of its Juke mini-SUV to
create the Juke-R.
Underneath the quirky crossover’s newly
ventilated bonnet will be the GT-R’s familiar
3.8-litre twin-turbo V6, which produces
some 390kW of power and 612Nm of torque
– enough to accelerate from 0-100km/h in
3.0 seconds. That should come down even
further in the lightweight Juke-R.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
• Limited availability
• Quali ed audience
• Cut ad-wastage
• Stay ahead of the competition
VOLKSWAGEN is really two car companies – one offering quality Euro-focused
products like the Polo, Golf, Passat, Eos, Tiguan and Touareg, and the other
selling more price-sensitive fare for the Americas such as the Beetle, Golf
wagon and Jetta. And that’s okay, for the Jetta under scrutiny here is a
small/medium in-between model with sights on unseating the dominating
Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in the US. But, while it may look like a
(slightly) shrunken Passat, it neither feels nor pleases quite like one.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Australia’s No.1 because it works!
Citroen C4 hatch
Holden Cruze hatch
Hyundai i40 Tourer
Holden Barina
Toyota Yaris YYariis hatch hhatch
h
New model diary: CLICK HERE
GRAND VITARA SPORT
SUZUKI Australia has added a new variant
to its ageing Grand Vitara line-up, fewer than
two weeks after cutting prices across most
of the range and adding standard Bluetooth
connectivity to the base model fi ve-door.
The Grand Vitara Sport fi ve-door gets Hill
Hold Control and Hill Descent Control fi tted
as standard. Both of these off-road assistance
features were previously available on the
fl agship Prestige 3.2-litre V6 model only.
Cosmetically, it gets new 18-inch alloy
wheels, grey-and-black ‘Bombora Aqua’
seat fabric, a freshened grille design and
new silver-fi nish roof rails and side fi ns.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
TOYOTA BRAND VALUE
TOYOTA has retained its position as the
world’s top-rated automotive brand in the
latest global brand value report, despite
negative publicity over a series of global
product recalls during 2010.
In fact, Toyota improved its performance
by six per cent on its 2010 score to a brand
value of $27.8 billion.
The report, which is produced by leading
branding consultancy Interbrand, ranked
Toyota 11th overall – narrowly ahead of
Mercedes-Benz in 12th.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Call 03 8685 9098 or visit mediamotive.com.au