GoAutonews

John Mellor's
March 7, 2007
Show and tell
By TERRY MARTIN
FORD Australia president Tom Gorman has
defended his decision to reintroduce the Mondeo
Down Under, arguing that the advantages the
new-generation medium-sized car will bring
for consumers and dealers will outweigh the
damage it could infl ict on Falcon sales and the
Australian manufacturing sector in general.
Driving another wedge between the Blue
Oval brand and its archrival Holden, which
has just abandoned Europe as the source for
its medium-sized car (Vectra) for the South
Korean-built Epica, Mr Gorman said the
Belgium-built Mondeo – which is due for
release here in October – would give it a
much-needed diesel and four-cylinder option
in the medium/large-car segment while still
preserving Ford’s core “DNA”.
“It’s critical that if the market is moving,
we have to go where our customers are – we
have a responsibility to our customer base,
Australia’s Number One Automotive Industry Journal
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No. 375
and a responsibility to our dealer franchise,”
Mr Gorman told GoAuto at the Melbourne
International Motor Show last week. “We
can’t tell our dealers – no, let’s buck the trend
and just go out there and sell a product that the
market isn’t coming to in the same numbers.
“When you see the new Falcon, it’s going to
be a stunning car, it’s going to put us in great
stead in that segment, but that segment is a lot
smaller than it was even two years ago. So it
would be irresponsible of us not to go where
the customer wants us to go – and in certain
cases, actually lead the customer (such as)
with the TDCi engine in this vehicle.”
Gorman brushes aside Mondeo’s threat
to Falcon as he drives another wedge
between Ford and Holden
Tom Gorman with the
Euro Mondeo, ahead
of the Korean Epica
DIGITAL IMAGE:
Chris Harris
Mr Gorman confi rmed that three engines
(including diesel) would be available in the
Mondeo range, along with sedan and hatch
bodystyles and three trim levels. He said the
car – which is known to have a number of
design cues that will be used on the all-new
Falcon due around March 2008 – would be on
sale before the Australian International Motor
Show in Sydney in October, but declined to
nominate an expected sales volume.
He also took this swipe at Holden: “We think
we are miles apart from the red team – we have
a completely different strategy. Our strategy is
to be consistent with our brand, and our brand
is all about great-style cars – beautiful vehicles
…and it’s about outstanding driving dynamics.
Continued next page
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John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Show and tell
Continued from previous page
“We have that in every product, from a
Focus up through Falcon, our cars are fantastic
driving cars. That’s really what’s inherent in the
DNA of the Ford brand in Australia, and we’re
sticking to that. And that’s why Mondeo’s
going to work for us.
“We think that we have to be true to what our
brand is delivering. If it’s all about just buying
cheap, that may work in the short term but in
the long term what are you really doing to your
brand strength over time? Holden has a very,
very different strategy. Their strategy is to take
a Daewoo and put a Holden brand on it.”
It remains to be seen whether Ford Australia
can make a success out of a European-built
medium-sized car – something Holden has
struggled with, and which Ford, too, has failed
before with previous iterations of the Mondeo.
“From an overall sales performance,
and the fact that we don’t sell the car
today, you’re correct in saying that it
wasn’t a home run for us,” Mr Gorman
said. “But the owners that have Mondeo
are incredibly loyal, very satisfi ed.
There was great quality in the car, great
durability, good resale value, so from
that standpoint it worked well.
“Some of the criticism was that maybe
the styling wasn’t as advanced as we would
have liked in this market, and maybe some
of the performance issues – it was a little
bit underpowered. So when were looking at
relaunching the Mondeo name, we thought,
well, should we change the name, should we
keep it, but when we talked to customers, the
name wasn’t a problem.”
Performance, and perceptions thereof, is
crucial. The Australian Mondeo will be sold
with a 96kW 2.0-litre “Duratorq TDCi” turbodiesel
engine paired with a six-speed automatic
transmission, while a 103kW version, combined
with a six-speed manual gearbox, should also
be made available. The remaining two engines
on offer in Australia are almost certain to be
Proven to reduce business costs.
Call us and we’ll explain exactly how.
a 107kW 2.3-litre “Duratec HE” four-cylinder
petrol (paired with a six-speed auto) and a
162kW 2.5-litre Duratec fi ve-cylinder petrol
(with six-speed manual).
“We think we can put the two vehicles
(Mondeo and Falcon) side-by-side,” Mr
Gorman said. “I think they’re distinct vehicles
– when you get to look at the new Falcon you’ll
see that there are design differences –
and the powertrain line-up is going to
be different enough that we can think
we can separate the two and make
really good sense in the showroom.
“It’s less looking at the size of
the (mid-size) segment than it is
really looking at from a price-point
standpoint and from a powertrain
line-up. And it’s a stunning vehicle … that’s
going to sell the car as well.”
Ford Australia’s vice-president of marketing
and sales Mark Winslow was also unconcerned
about potential cannibalisation of Falcon
sales.
“We think a lot of the people that are going
to come to Mondeo probably haven’t been to
a Ford showroom for a while, so we don’t see
a lot of substitution there,” he told GoAuto.
“And if you look at where that market is going,
I think we’ve got the right product at the right
time.
“If the reaction of our dealers is anything
to show by, they actually agree with us
– we’re going to see people into the Ford
showrooms just like we saw new customers
Mark Winslow
World debut: Mondeo in Melbourne
Substantially.
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 PAGE 2
with Territory.”
Interestingly, Mondeo pricing in the UK will
range from £14,995 ($A37,229) to £24,195
($A60,098) when it hits the streets in June
– about the same price range as the current
Aussie-built Falcon. The Brits will offer four
specifi cations (Edge, Zetec, Ghia and Titanium
X) and all models will be fi tted standard
with seven airbags (including a driver’s knee
airbag), stability control, ABS brakes, “follow
me home” lighting, an alarm and an MP3compatible
stereo.
Zetec will have 16-inch alloy wheels, front
foglights and climate-control air-conditioning,
while Ghia will get 17-inch alloys, automatic
headlights, rain-sensing wipers, powerfold
door mirrors and a higher-grade stereo.
Titanium X will be fi tted with full Alcantara/
leather trim, a start button, adaptive headlights
(with cornering function), blue tinted glass and
a premium instrument cluster.
As for the 2007 Falcon, Mr Gorman said
“nothing in our plans has slowed us down” and
that “development has gone extremely well
and we’re really pleased with the early builds”.
And why was it not on show in Melbourne?
“Each kid needs to stand on its own, right?
When one of your children does well, you
don’t talk about all three kids, you talk about
the one kid that did the best that day. This is a
day about the products that we revealed today
– there will be plenty of time to talk about
Falcon.”
FPV MD search continues - page 16
Phone: +61 3 9349 3062 | E-mail: sales@auto-it.com.au www.auto-it.com.au
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Ph: (03) 9598 6477 PO Box 18, Sandringham VIC 3191 PUBLISHER: John Mellor

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
VE cuts
Holden to slash 600 jobs
at Adelaide plant in April
By JAMES STANFORD
GM HOLDEN will slash 600 white- and bluecollar
jobs at its Elizabeth, South Australia
assembly plant in April, despite a resurgence in
Commodore sales last month and new export
deals announced in recent weeks that will send
up to 30,000 vehicles to the United States alone.
Announcing the redundancies on Monday,
Holden claimed the job cuts were the result of
production effi ciency gains brought about by
the introduction of the VE Commodore and an
associated $532 million factory upgrade.
The maker of Australia’s top-selling vehicle
told its South Australian manufacturing staff of
the redundancies just hours after VFACTS sales
fi gures were released showing VE Commodore
sales improved to their best levels in February,
when Holden sold 5544 Commodore sedans
and wagons.
The announcement also comes less
than a month after Holden trumpeted an
unprecedented export deal to the US, via a VE
Commodore SS badged as a Pontiac G8 sedan,
and just three days after Holden’s go-fast HSV
brand announced its VE Commodore-based
ClubSport model will be exported to the UK.
The company said it would soon wind up
production of VZ Commodore-based models
FOR LEASE
at Elizabeth, including the current utility and
station wagon, which clears the way for the
workforce reduction.
This week’s job cuts come 15 months after
Holden culled 1400 jobs from its Elizabeth
workforce as it reduced its production shifts
from three to two in August 2005.
Holden executive director of manufacturing
operations Rod Keane said the job cuts were
necessary to ensure the viability of the plant.
“To remain one of the world’s most
competitive and most fl exible plants, we need
to be as effi cient as possible,” Mr Keane said.
“The business is tough; we need to continue
to improve the business.”
Holden will reduce its daily production rate
at Elizabeth by 100 cars to 520, well down
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M ARCH 7, 2007 PAGE 3
on the 2005 level of 800 cars a day when the
company was running three shifts. However,
Holden said the Elizabeth plant is expected
to return to the current level of production in
October when the G8 Pontiac export program
starts, without taking on any more staff.
“I’d like to point out that our capacity at this
facility is 145,000 cars (a year). We have made
this decision in the full knowledge that, at the
end of this year, that is the rate we will have to
be producing at and effectively 3450 people is
the number of people that we need to produce
that volume,” said Mr Keane.
“What we are trying to do is…have a viable
business plan that says we have one more car
to build rather than one less.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
• 9,900m 2 (approx) potential to be split
• Parramatta Road exposure
• Functional Improvements
• Retail and Fixed operations
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* Source RTA 2005 AUTOMOTIVE PROPERTY SERVICES
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U74881

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Camaro nod
Simcoe gives Chev coupe
the green light for Oz
By TERRY MARTIN and DAVID HASSALL
FORMER Holden design chief and now
General Motors’ executive director of global
car design Mike Simcoe has confi rmed that the
Chevrolet Camaro coupe will be “a specialist
market that works” in Australia, attracting a
different sort of customer than for the Monaro.
After revealing to GoAuto last year that the
VE Commodore-based Monaro “will come,
eventually” – built on the same Australiandeveloped
rear-wheel drive architecture that
underpins the Camaro – Mr Simcoe said in
Melbourne last week that the Camaro had
enough appeal to be sold here as a niche
vehicle under its own brand.
Both the Camaro and an altogether
different-looking Monaro are expected
to begin right-hand drive production
late in 2009 or early 2010.
“If there was a Monaro, it would be
competition clearly, but it’s a different
sort of customer,” he said.
“It (Camaro) would be a specialist vehicle
because you couldn’t sell it as anything other
than with a Chevrolet brand on it. But, hey,
there’s a bunch of nostalgia here for Camaro
because people did import the things and
certainly they got raced. It won’t be huge
bnwCUS3022/GAN/HP
volumes, but it will be a specialist market that
works.
“It is a household name in the States, so it’s
going to do well there, that will be its primary
(market), but it will be available – we will
attempt to make it available – in some
other markets,” he said.
Although he confi rmed that the socalled
Zeta architecture was fl exible
enough to be used on a range of reardrive
and all-wheel drive vehicles
– “our stock in trade is to have an
architecture that can fl ex to do lots and
lots of jobs” – Mr Simcoe would not
be drawn on whether a medium-sized Pontiac
G6 sedan or a smaller Chevrolet hatchback
rivalling BMW’s 1 Series would also emerge.
“Clearly, if you had everything else in front
of you, and you had enough money to do
whatever you wanted to do, you’d do a mid-
Mike Simcoe
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 4
Chevrolet Camaro
sized car because it would give you access to
that premium segment of the market,” he said.
“Can we be there in a hurry? Are we going
there? … There’s lots of work to do at the
moment, there’s lots of things happening.”
In relation to the export potential to the US
of the forthcoming VE Commodore-based
utility, Mr Simcoe said: “Again, if you had the
luxury to be able to try things out, that’s clearly
one of the things that you’d go back and try,
because of the history of both Chevrolet (El
Camino) and GMC (Sprint).”
Is the American market ready for the return
of small pick-ups such as these? “Yeah. But are
those people in large enough numbers? I don’t
know. There’s a lot of work to be done, a lot
of market to be tapped with vehicles that are
already in the plan, before we start getting into a
lot of the outliers we might be thinking about.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Ralliart boost
Mitsubishi gets serious
with its fast-car division
By JAMES STANFORD
MITSUBISHI Motors Australia is working
on a plan to energise its Ralliart performance
division, moving from a small outfi t in Victoria
to a bigger operation at its Tonsley Park
assembly plant in Adelaide.
The Adelaide-based car-maker intends to
put more emphasis on performance cars and
is expected to announce production of its
supercharged 380 Team Mitsubishi Ralliart next
month. It is also working on a Ralliart version of
the three-door Pajero – a model that at one stage
was planned to be a Ralliart model exclusively
– to build off the brand’s Dakar rally success.
Ralliart models are currently prepared
in Dandenong by Alan Heaphy, who has
previously run Mitsubishi’s rally program and
who also built the 380 Ralliart show car.
As part of its plan, Mitsubishi is looking
at having Ralliart preparation work done at
Tonsley Park. It is currently considering doing
the work itself, but is also talking to interested
third parties that could do the modifi cations onsite
in the same way Prodrive will modify TRD
cars at Toyota’s Altona plant.
Mitsubishi sources have confi rmed Prodrive
is one of the operations in discussions with
Mitsubishi. When contacted by GoAuto this
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week, Prodrive’s Asia-Pacifi c general manager
Bryan Mears declined to comment.
“Whether we set up our own workshop …or
whether we outsource it, that is really what
we are going through at the moment,” said
Mitsubishi Motors Australia president Robert
McEniry. “You could take some of it in-house,
but we are just working through the logistics of
that at the moment.”
Mr McEniry said it was important that
Mitsubishi made more of its Ralliart brand.
“I think Ralliart is an under-leveraged brand
for Mitsubishi. It’s something I would have
liked to have spent more time on last year, but
as you can probably understand there were a
few other priorities.”
The TMR 380 could be on the road within
months, but there are some technical hurdles it
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M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 5
TMR 380
must overcome fi rst. With no stability control
systems currently available for the 380, the
supercharged prototype has proven to be a
handful when accelerating out of tight corners.
Mr McEniry told GoAuto that Mitsubishi
is currently in discussions with two suppliers
regarding a possible solution.
The Pajero project is not yet confi rmed, but
Mr McEniry said the three-door model was
the perfect candidate for Ralliart work. He said
the upgrades would include styling, wheel and
suspension changes, but there would be no
engine performance upgrades in the short-term.
Two performance models – the Evo X and
more affordable turbo AWD Ralliart Lancer
– will also be part of the new Lancer range
that was unveiled at last week’s opening of the
Melbourne International Motor Show.

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Power
struggle
TRD Aurion delayed as
Toyota craves more power
By MARTON PETTENDY
MITSUBISHI’S quest to transform its 380
sedan into a supercharged Ralliart-badged sports
sedan may be hampered by the lack of stability
control to harness its extra urge, but it seems
Toyota cannot extract enough power from its
direct rival, the force-fed Aurion TRD.
Expected to appear in fi nal production guise
at the Melbourne International Motor Show
ahead of a March release, the supercharged
Aurion – the fi rst salvo from the new Toyota
Racing Development brand that was offi cially
launched in Melbourne – has now been delayed
until the third quarter of 2007.
Instead of a production-ready version of
the blown Aurion, Toyota showed a “nearproduction”
development of
the Aurion Sports Concept
that debuted at last October’s
Sydney show, alongside a
concept of its second TRD
model, the supercharged 4.0litre
HiLux TRD.
“We brought a surprise as
part of the kick-off for the
brand in Australia,” said Toyota
Australia sales and marketing
boss David Buttner. “We
wanted to show the concept
vehicle so people have an understanding this is
not just a one-model brand, that we’ll have more
than one model and that over time we can draw
on any of the product in the Toyota stable to do
performance enhancement work.
“The HiLux TRD will become available.
This year we’ll launch both the TRD Aurion
and the TRD HiLux, and the TRD HiLux will
be available towards the end of the fourth
quarter,” he said.
While the lack of stability control for its 380
donor car has created problems for Mitsubishi
in its attempt to deliver a production version
of the 230kW/442Nm TMR concept, the
Aurion TRD’s delay appears to be due to the
unexpected work required to lift performance
by meaningful levels over the Aurion’s
standard 200kW/336Nm 3.5-litre V6, which
incorporates traction and stability control as
standard.
Traction control is
optional on the base 380 and
standard on the rest of the
range, but stability control
is not yet available for the
380, which is powered by
a 175kW/343Nm 3.8-litre
V6. The Ralliart version
is alleged to accelerate to
100km/h in six seconds
and to 400 metres in 14
seconds.
Toyota has publicly targeted 235kW for
the Aurion TRD and Toyota spokesman Mike
Breen told GoAuto last week: “As it turns out,
the standard engine’s 200kW output is just
about perfect, so it’s taking more work than
expected to achieve the extra performance in
terms of durability and reliability.”
GoAuto has learned that attempts to extract
enough power to better the TMR 380’s outputs,
via an intercooled and supercharged version
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 6
of the Aurion V6, have failed and that Toyota
now hopes to become the fi rst manufacturer to
employ a new-generation twin-screw Eaton
supercharger, which is not yet available in
Australia, in its search for more power.
“We’re going through what we call our
fi rst trial build stage at the moment and we’ll
launch in the third quarter. But we’re very, very
close,” said Mr Buttner on Friday. “We had
some issues along the way and we wanted to
make sure that we brought to market a vehicle
that was 100 per cent ready and that will be a
credit to the Toyota brand.
“We’d rather put to market our best product
at the most appropriate time.”
Mr Buttner denied durability issues were
involved in the delay. “No. We just wanted to
make sure that every component was ready. We
have a number of suppliers, some of who are
new to the Toyota camp. We’re working with
them to ensure that every component on that
car is 100 per cent before we go to market,”
he said.
Mr Buttner said the basis for a third TRD
model had not yet been decided, but hosed
down suggestions its redesigned Corolla,
which goes on sale in May, was a shoe-in.
“We’ve got the crystal ball out at the moment.
A lot of people are doing a lot of work but we
hope to decide on the third model within the
next two months,” he said.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Aurion TRD

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Rebound!
Big sixes bounce back as
sales surge continues
By MARTON PETTENDY
THE Federal Chamber of Automotive
Industries (FCAI) has revised upwards its 2007
new-car sales forecast to a near-record 980,000
vehicles in the wake of revived large-car sales
in February. The FCAI’s latest estimate is
within 9000 vehicles of the total recorded in
the Australian automotive industry’s best-ever
year of sales – 2005, when a total of 988,269
vehicles were sold.
According to offi cial VFACTS fi gures
released on Monday, a total of 83,740 cars, trucks
and buses were sold last month, representing an
8.1 per cent increase on February 2006 levels
and a 2600-vehicle increase on February 2005,
making an all-time record for the month.
The stronger February result equates to a
seasonally adjusted annualised rate (SAAR) of
1.064 million vehicle sales.
Toyota was again the top-selling brand in
a total market that saw passenger car sales
rise by 8.5 per cent over the same month last
year, SUV sales increase 10.4 per cent, heavy
commercial vehicle sales rise by 14.0 per
cent and light truck sales increase by 3.4 per
cent. After two months of 2007, Toyota leads
Holden with a margin of 10,499 vehicle sales,
or 6.6 market share points.
Following a lacklustre start to the year, all
of the passenger vehicle segments experienced
growth in February, with the small-car sector
up 12.8 per cent month-on-month, light cars
up 9.8 per cent, medium cars up 6.2 per cent,
people-movers up a big 35.7 per cent and upper
large cars up a massive 50.3 per cent.
Only large cars (up 0.2%) and sportscars
(up 0.3%) showed static results in February,
when compact SUVs were up 18.3 per cent and
medium SUVs were up 12.1 per cent. Luxury
and large SUVs were down, by 8.1 per cent
and 14.4 per cent respectively.
Within the still-dominant large-car segment,
Holden had its best VE Commodore sale result
since its September launch, by selling a total
of 5544 Commodore sedans and (VZ) wagons
– 15.8 per cent up month-on-month and 8.2 per
cent up year-to-date.
Ford’s ageing Falcon bounced back from
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VFACTS
WRAP
Holden Calais
an horrifi c January sales result to attract
3086 buyers, which is 34.9 per cent down on
February 2006 levels and sees Falcon sales
a big 31.3 per cent adrift of 2006 numbers
in YTD terms. Unsurprisingly, while it is
upbeat about the spike in February sales, Ford
remains circumspect about the long-term sales
prospects of the large-car sector, which has
shrunk in proportionate terms to the growth in
small-car sales over the past two years.
“The industry was incredibly strong in
January and also came in very strong in
February, but the large-car market held a better
position,” said Ford Australia president Tom
Gorman on Friday. “I would never extrapolate
from one month but I do believe that February
gives you a better idea of the running rate than
January did, because all the major corporates
are back in buying.”
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Late last night, the covers began to come off at the Geneva motor show...
2 good
Mazda reveals full details
of its all-new light hatch
By MARTON PETTENDY
MAZDA has revealed full details of the fi rst
new-generation model to come in for renewal
since the Japanese car-maker began its
Noughties resurgence, following the offi cial
global debut of an all-new Mazda2 at the last
night’s Geneva motor show opening.
The redesigned Mazda2 hatch, which is
slated for release following its local unveiling
at the Australian International Motor Show in
October, is claimed to be more frugal, more
compact, lighter and more responsive than its
light-sized predecessor forebear launched here
in December 2002.
The MkII Two was fi rst revealed in offi cial
images last month ahead of its public premiere
in Geneva, where it banished the original
Mazda2’s breadbox styling for good. A fi vedoor
hatch bodystyle is expected to join the
fi ve-door revealed in Geneva.
Mazda claims that beneath the lithe new
exterior, which was fi rst previewed by the
1.0-litre Sassou concept at the 2005 Frankfurt
show, lies a lower centre of gravity that makes
the new Two handle more crisply.
Lightness, compactness and effi ciency will
be key sales pitches as Mazda attempts to
seize a bigger slice of Europe’s booming Bcar
segment (and Australia’s equally buoyant
light-car class, as it is known here), which now
comprises more than a quarter of all passengercar
sales and is 10 per cent up over the past six
years. Globally, Mazda has sold just 410,000
Twos in the four years since 2003.
As revealed last month, three four-cylinder
MZR petrol engines will be available
initially in Europe: an SOHC 1.3-litre
offering 55kW/118Nm and a DOHC version
that produces 62kW/121Nm, as well as a
76kW/136Nm DOHC 1.5-litre.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
LAMBORGHINI Australia has
ordered eight examples of the
ultra-light Gallardo Superleggera,
which was unveiled to the world
last night (Australian time) at
the Geneva motor show. The
Superleggera is the fastest
version of the Gallardo ever built
and will arrive in Australia in
May with a price tag of around
$450,000.
Even rarer on Australian roads
will be the Gallardo Nera, which
is on show for the fi rst time in this country
at the Melbourne International Motor Show.
Only 185 examples of the car are being built
and only two of them are coming here, priced
at $444,000. One has already been sold
to an anonymous local collector who takes
one of almost every Lamborghini model sold
here. One-third of Nera production has been
earmarked for the US.
Powered by the same 382kW 5.0-litre
V10 as the standard Gallardo, the Nera
is essentially a styling exercise, with eyecatching
paintwork that includes matt black
paintwork on the side mirrors, rear spoiler,
rear body panels, roof, front guards and door
sills, set off by matt black wheels.
The new Superleggera (which means
“lightweight” in Italian) gets an 8kW boost
in power, but is some 100kg lighter than the
standard Gallardo, resulting in a 0.2-second
reduction in the 0-100km/h sprint time to 3.8
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 8
Order books open as ‘Super’ Gallardo stuns Geneva
Superleggera
seconds. It retains AWD for traction, despite
the obvious weight penalty.
Lamborghini achieved its 100kg target
weight reduction by using carbon-fi bre
extensively – including the rear underbody,
door panels, central tunnel covering, the
seats and even the rear wing mirrors – while
certain glass surfaces were replaced with
polycarbonate. The Superleggera is one of
the fi rst cars in the world to be homologated
with a four-point racing-style harness.
If you are lucky enough to consider
purchasing one of the eight Superleggeras
coming to Australia, you can choose from
four body colours – yellow, orange, grey
and black. Lamborghini sales have been
increasing rapidly in the last three years. In
2006, Lamborghini sold 38 cars here and
spokesman Andrew Smith said the target for
2007 was between 45 and 50 cars.
– DAVID HASSALL

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Eos blows in
Long-awaited Golf cabrio
successor arrives Down
Under, priced from $47,990
By MARTON PETTENDY
A REPLACEMENT for Volkswagen’s
venerable Golf Cabriolet has offi cially gone on
sale in Australia – precisely three years after
the concept upon which it was based debuted
at the 2004 Geneva motor show.
Priced keenly from $47,990 for the TDI
turbo-diesel and $49,990 for the TFSI turbopetrol
(VW’s famed six-speed Direct Shift
Gearbox costs an extra $2300 for both
variants), the all-new Eos features a fi ve-piece
folding steel roof that comprises a world-fi rst
tilting/sliding glass sunroof.
Volkswagen dubs the revolutionary new
hard-top system the CSC (for “convertible,
sliding coupe”) roof – a mechanism that is
produced by Webasto and delivered justin-time
to the company’s Palmela plant in
Portugal, where Eos is manufactured alongside
the Sharan and Seat Alhambra.
Of course, Eos follows a long line of droptop
Volkswagens, beginning with the fi rst
Beetle Cabriolet of 1949 and including the
Karmann Ghia (1955), the fi rst Golf Cabriolet
(1979), the Golf III Cab (1993), the Golf IV
Cab (1998) and the New Beetle Cabriolet,
Deloitte Motor Industry Services
Same team . . . new name . . . exceptional service
Your Deloitte motor industry contacts are:
which replaced the topless Golf here from
2003.
However, the CSC roof also enables VW
to join the burgeoning coupe-convertible
ranks, all of which claim to offer year-round
motoring pleasure by doubling as both a fourseater
cabriolet for dry days and a coupe for
rainy days.
With a sub-$48,000 starting price for the
TDI, the Eos is priced almost $20,000 lower
than Australia’s only other turbo-diesel
cabriolet – Saab’s new 9-3 1.9 TiD Linear
Convertible, which offers a soft-top roof.
Borrowed from the Golf, the Eos TDI’s
2.0-litre oil-burning engine delivers 7kW less
power than the Saab with 103kW at 4000rpm,
Victoria John Flynn & Grant Cameron Ph: +61 (0) 3 9208 7015
Queensland David Cowper, Peter Axiom & Terry Giffin Ph: +61 (0) 7 3308 7217
SA/NT/TAS Henry Veronese Ph: +61 (0) 8 8407 7236
WA Wayne Pearson & John Gavljak Ph: +61 (0) 8 9365 7015
NSW Stavroula Papadatos, John Flynn & David Cowper Ph: +61 (0) 2 9322 7000
NZ Gavin Sebire Ph: +64 (0) 4 721 677
Asia Wayne Pearson & Danny Rezek Ph: +61 (0) 2 9322 7000
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 9
and the same torque – 320Nm from 1750rpm.
According to VW, the Eos TDI is more frugal
(6.0L/100km combined versus 6.3L/100km
for the Saab in six-speed manual guise, and
6.9L/100km in DSG form versus 7.1L/100km
in six-speed auto form). The Eos TDI is also
claimed to be quicker to 100km/h than the
roofl ess 9-3 diesel, completing the dash in 10.3
seconds in both manual and DSG guises (Saab:
10.4 manual/11.8 auto).
The Eos TDI also comes well equipped as
standard, offering extras over the 9-3 like 17inch
alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, a six-
CD stacker, an auto-dimming interior mirror
and a tyre pressure monitor.
Continued next page

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Eos blows in
Continued from previous page
Other standard Eos features include twin
front and twin front side/head airbags, stability
and traction control, ABS, dual-zone climatecontrol,
an eight-speaker sound system, rainsensing
wipers, automatic headlights, cruise
control, a trip computer, a multi-function leather
steering wheel, power windows/mirrors, LED
tail-lights, black cloth trim and foglights.
At $49,990, the 147kW/280Nm Eos TFSI
manual also offers more power and torque than
its three key rivals in Peugeot’s 103kW/200Nm
307 CC 2.0 Dynamic ($47,990), Renault’s
98kW/191Nm Megane CC 2.0 Dynamic
($48,990) and Holden’s 110kW/210Nm Astra
TwinTop 2.2 ($45,490) – all
of which come with optional
four-speed autos.
While Ford’s forthcoming
Focus CC will also be a direct
Eos rival, Volkswagen lists
the Saab 9-3 2.0T ($64,900), Volvo’s new
C70 2.4 LE coupe-convertible ($69,950),
Mazda’s MX-5 Hardtop Coupe, Audi’s TT,
the Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabrio, Audi’s A4
Convertible and BMW’s upcoming 3 Series
Convertible as secondary Eos competitors.
Eos resides on a new platform, dubbed PQ45,
which employs the Golf and Jetta’s MacPherson
strut suspension up-front and the Passat’s multilink
IRS with aluminium hub carriers – and which
could form the basis for Audi’s next-generation
PRICING:
2.0 TDI $47,990
2.0 TDI (DSG) $50,290
2.0 TFSI $49,990
2.0 TFSI (DSG) $52,290
ADP Dealer Services Australia is Expanding!
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 10
ADP, one of the world’s leading automotive systems suppliers, entered the Australian market in December 2005 through the
acquisition of Kerridge Automotive Systems. As part of its business strategy the company is now expanding its operations and
offers a number of exciting and challenging opportunities for the right people to join the team. Successful applicants will be
working with Autoline, one of the world’s most successful dealer management systems.
Project Manager (APM0611)
Business Analyst (ABA0611)
Installation Consultants x4 (AC0611)
Support Analysts x4 (ASA0611)
A4 model range. A second-generation electromechanical
steering system is fi tted.
Eos measures 1790mm wide, 4410mm long
and 1440mm high, and has a wheelbase of
2580mm – midway between Jetta and Passat.
It borrows design cues from
both the Passat and Golf, with
a Passat-like chrome grille and
large headlights and Golf-like
interior trim. At the rear, the
Eos has a near-fl at bootlid
deck, which melds seamlessly with the coupelike
roof profi le.
The sophisticated Eos roof incorporates a
unique sliding and tilting glass section that offers
the practicality of a sunroof with unimpeded
year-round visibility – a fi rst for a convertible
and one better than the Megane’s fi xed glass
roof. Even in bad weather, the interior is bright
thanks to the sliding/tilting glass roof, while a
blind protects its occupants.
The roof’s hard shell makes life harder for
thieves, while the sunroof slides backwards
or can also be opened upwards 35mm. When
open, a manually operated wind defl ector
reduces cabin buffeting, while a pricey,
optional wind blocker aims to do the same with
the roof down – but cannot be used when the
rear seats are occupied.
The electric roof itself can be opened and
closed in 25 seconds (which is not as quick as the
new 3 Series Convertible’s folding roof system)
and, unlike some rivals, the windscreen header
frame does not impede front seat headroom. It
cannot be operated on the move, however.
The CSC roof comprises 470 different
components and its mechanicals weigh just
22kg. With the roof down the boot offers 205
litres of luggage space; when the roof is up
space is 380 litres. The boot also closes via
a powered latching system as standard and a
space-saver spare wheel is fi tted.
FULL STORY AND
DRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE
ADP Dealer Services Australia will be opening a new Sydney office in early 2007. This office will be co-located with sister
division ADP Employer Services and the above positions will be based in this facility.
To apply for the above positions please send your resume to recruitment_dsi@au.adp.com quoting the reference number shown.
Come join the team and be a part of the company’s future.

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Light shines
on 207
Peugeot’s 206 replacement
spans the light-car and
small-car segments
By NEIL McDONALD
PEUGEOT Cars Australia is confi dently
pitching its bigger and better-equipped 207
across both the ultra-competitive light- and
small-car segments.
On sale during March, the 207 will be
offered in 14 different variants – double the
number of the old 206 – as it tackles both the
price-driven light-car and equipment-driven
small-car segments.
Featuring newly developed 1.6-litre VVT
four-cylinder petrol and turbo-diesel HDi
engines co-developed with BMW and shared
with the Mini Cooper and Cooper S, the 207
also has a fi ve-star Euro NCAP crash rating
and vastly improved quality over the 206.
The line-up starts with the entry $19,990
1.4-litre XR and includes a $33,490 1.6-litre
turbocharged GTi, along with the rangetopping
$39,990 1.6-litre 207CC turbo, both
of which arrive in June. A normally aspirated
207CC will cost around $34,990.
The volume model is expected to be the 1.6litre
petrol $24,990 XT petrol with more than
10 per cent of buyers opting for the 1.6-litre
$27,990 XT HDi.
A Touring (station wagon) will be available
in both petrol and turbo-diesel variants from
October and is expected to add $1700 to the
price of an equivalent XT hatch.
Dimensionally, the 207 is closer in size
to the venerable 306 than the old 206. It is
200mm longer than the
206, 65mm wider, 56mm
higher, and has a 97mm
longer wheelbase at
2540mm than the 306.
Both the front and
rear tracks have also
increased by 38mm,
while kerb weights have
risen between 113kg
and 123kg depending on
the model, in part due
to more equipment and
better safety levels.
While the MacPherson
strut front suspension
remains largely the
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 11
same as the 206, the rear independent trailing
arm and torsion bar set-up of the old car has
been replaced by a torsion beam with vertical
dampers and coil springs. An electric-assist
power steering system is also now used.
The XR three-door is available with dual
airbags, ABS, brake assist, front seatbelt
pretensioners, remote central locking, electric
front windows, manually adjustable exterior
mirrors, height-adjustable headlights, rear
foglights, air-conditioning, 15-inch steel
wheels and a trip computer. The fi ve-door
gains electrically adjustable mirrors and bodycoloured
doorhandles.
The XR is powered by carryover engines
from the 206 in 1.4-litre guise, developing
55kW at 5400rpm and 120Nm at 3300rpm
in the three door and 65kW at 5250rpm and
133Nm at 3250rpm.
The XT models up the ante by adding
side and curtain airbags, one-touch electric
windows, a heat-refl ective windscreen, multifunctional
display, a leather steering wheel,
alloy-look trim, 16-inch steel wheels, “sports”
front styling with chrome-surround front
foglights, automatic windscreen wipers and
headlights and sports front seats.
The XT will be available in either 1.6-litre
petrol or HDi guises while the new four-speed
automatic-only luxury XE comes as a 1.6-litre
petrol offering only. The XE sits above the XT
but below the turbocharged GT.
Continued next page
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John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Light shines on 207
Continued from previous page
Both the XE and GT have electronic
stability and traction control, a tyre-pressure
monitoring system, 16-inch alloys (17-inch
on the GT), electric-folding mirrors, fragrance
diffuser, rear parking sonar, carbon fi bre-look
interior highlights, alloy pedals, and leather
and cloth trim.
In both the XT and XE, the 1.6-litre four
develops 88kW at 4000rpm and 240Nm at
1750rpm while the GT gains a “warmed over”
1.6-litre turbocharged engine that develops
110kW at 5800rpm and 240Nm from 1400rpm.
The auto is a $2200 option on the XT.
The XT offers improved fuel economy
over the previous model with 8.4L/100km
(city), 4.8L/100km (highway)
and 6.1L/100km (combined) for
the manual fi ve-speed versus
8.7L/100km, 5.5L/100km and
6.7L/100km for the 206.
For the HDi model, it is the fi rst
time Peugeot has offered a turbodiesel
locally at this level. The XT
HDi is the latest-generation 1.6-litre
engine with particulate fi lter and
variable geometry turbocharging.
It develops 80kW at 4000rpm
and 240Nm from 1750rpm, with an overboost
function that lifts torque briefl y to 260Nm.
In June, the 206 range will be joined by a
three-door GTi, powered by a hotter direct-
PRICING:
XR 3dr $19,990
XR 5dr $21,490
XT 5dr $24,990
XT 5dr (a) $27,190
XT HDi 5dr $27,990
XE 5dr (a) $32,490
GT 3dr $31,490
GTi 3dr $33,490
CC 1.6 $34,990
CC 1.6T $39,990
injection 1.6-litre four-cylinder that develops
128kW/240Nm and is expected to cost
$33,490. The GTi hits 100km/h in 7.1 seconds
and has a top speed of 220km/h.
Among the options is a fullglass
sunroof for $1350 and full
leather interior for $2750. Cruise
control is also a $250 option.
Peugeot Automobiles Australia
forecasts about 8600 sales this
year but sales could reach 9000,
with the 207 hatch conservatively
accounting for more than 250 a
month. Last year Peugeot sold
8107 vehicles, up 15.4 per cent
over 2005, with the 307 hatch and wagon being
the volume sellers, representing 41.5 per cent of
overall sales.
The 207 could emerge as the brand’s most
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 12
popular seller in Australia, even eclipsing the
307, which currently accounts for more than
40 per cent of sales. Key rivals include the
Suzuki Swift, Mini Cooper, Mitsubishi Colt,
Renault Clio, VW Polo, Ford Fiesta, Citroen
C3 and Honda Jazz. Peugeot also believes the
car will appeal to buyers shopping in the smallcar
segment against the Holden Astra, Ford
Focus and VW Golf.
Over the life of the 206, Peugeot sold 11,000
models and expects many buyers to be repeat
customers for the 207, as well as conquests.
The 206 will still soldier on in Europe, where
it continues to be built at Peugeot’s Poissy
plant near Paris, as well as in China and Iran.
The 206 was launched in Europe in 1998 and
has become one of Peugeot’s best-selling cars,
with 5.5 million built so far.
DRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Captain Diesel!
GMH rocks the mid-size
SUV segment with a
$35,000 Captiva diesel
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS
HOLDEN is set to shake the medium-sized
SUV segment, pricing its new diesel-powered
Captiva model variant from $34,990 – just
$1000 more than its V6 petrol counterpart and
about 10 per cent below the Hyundai Santa Fe
CRDi.
On sale from next month, the Koreanbuilt
Captiva diesel will be fi tted standard
with stability and traction control, “active
rollover protection”, a hill-descent device
and ABS brakes with electronic brake-force
distribution.
The engine in question is a 1991cc single
overhead cam 16-valve four-cylinder unit
featuring a Bosch common-rail system with
direct-injection of fuel at up to 1600bar
pressure, a variable geometry turbocharger and
a diesel particulate fi lter.
Built by GM Daewoo in South Korea but
devised in collaboration with Italy’s VM
Motori engineering group, this Euro IV
emissions-compliant 2.0-litre engine produces
110kW of power at 4000rpm and 320Nm of
torque at 2000rpm.
Its fuel consumption fi gures read
7.6L/100km for the manual and 8.7L/100km
for the auto. This contrasts with 11.5L/100km
returned by the auto-only, 169kW/297Nm 3.2litre
Alloytec V6 petrol models.
The manual emits 197 grams of CO2 per
kilometre, and the auto 233g/km, as opposed to
around 246g/km-plus for the V6.
In contrast, the Santa Fe’s 2.2-litre CRDi
develops 114kW at 4000rpm and 343Nm at
1800rpm, uses slightly less fuel and
produces a cleaner CO2 tally – but
then Hyundai charges about $3000
more for the diesel privileges than
the Santa Fe petrol models.
Interestingly, the Captiva 2.0-litre
diesel’s power and torque outputs are identical
to those of the Astra 1.9-litre twin-cam CDTi
diesel unit. A Holden spokesman said that
an agreement with Fiat
– co-owner of the CDTi
diesel engine technology
– precluded its use in GM
Daewoo product. It would
also be too expensive in
such a price-sensitive
vehicle.
Three Captiva diesel
model variants are available
– the base fi ve-seater SX,
mid-range seven-seater CX
and top-line seven-seater
LX, with only the former
Australia’s Own Automotive Data Service
Vehicle identification and pricing for more than 50 years
enquiries Michaela Donovan 02 9310 7622 michaela@redbook.com.au
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 13
offering a manual (fi ve-speed) gearbox. The
automatic SX kicks off at $36,990.
Holden is planning to import the diesel
Maxx (the rebodied Captiva it launched in
January), but is holding off to assess how the
other models sell.
In the standard features department, the
Captiva diesel concedes nothing to its petrol-
powered equivalents, so items like
PRICING: air-conditioning, dual front airbags,
SX $34,990
and cruise control are included.
SX (a) $36,990
Holden expects to sell 150 to 200
CX (a) $39,990
Captiva diesels per month, with
LX (a) $42,990
the new engine adding incremental
sales of about 20 per cent to the range, while
only swaying around 10 per cent of buyers
away from the petrol model.
With the Maxx now up and running, the
Captiva found approximately 700 buyers in
February, placing it third behind the Ford
Territory and Toyota Prado in the mid-sized
SUV sector.
Holden’s research of Captiva V6 owners
suggests that 37 per cent would have purchased
a diesel version if it was available at the time
and the price was right. It also found that 44
per cent of buyers had considered the Territory
and just six per cent bought one over a VE
Commodore.
For drive impressions, go to
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www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 14
Soft focus for Lotus
Sportscar marque moves from track bias into ‘business class’ with the Europa S
By DAVID HASSALL
LOTUS has had a long and chequered history,
especially in the production car fi eld, but it
plans a rejuvenation under the ownership of
Malaysian car-maker Proton with an aggressive
new-model program.
The next two years will see a pair of all-new
upmarket models released that should restore
the marque’s former reputation, but in the
meantime the company has released a car that
steps gently away from its recent track-based
mould – the Europa S.
Being based on the platform devised for the
sporty Elise and which also spawned the even
more hardcore Exige, the Europa S certainly
does not move Lotus into Grand Tourer
territory, but is designed to be more userfriendly
for road use.
The British car-maker has moved away from
its original position that the Europa would be
a GT classifi cation, now preferring the phrase
“Business Class by Lotus” to indicate a level
of comfort with which Elise
and Exige drivers would not be
familiar.
In reality, a solid roof, leather
interior, slightly larger door
openings and softer suspension do
not quite spell the same Business
Class comfort recognised by
airline customers, and nor
would the sparse list of standard
equipment in what remains a
fairly hardcore sportscar.
Lotus plans to build only 500
Europa S models a year, with only
30 to 40 earmarked for Australia.
It is priced from $109,900, which places it
a hefty $40,000 ahead of its 1.8-litre Toyotapowered
Elise S sibling ($69,990), but midway
between the base and supercharged Exige
models ($99,990 and $114,990 respectively).
By comparison, the BMW Z4 Coupe range
starts around $90,000 while the Boxster-based
Porsche Cayman starts at around $120,000,
putting the Europa S in formidable company.
Lotus launched the Europa S in the UK a year
ago and previewed it at the Sydney motor show
last October, but held back the local release in
order to better space its new-model launches.
At the heart of the new Lotus is the
turbocharged 2.0-litre Opel engine that we
know locally from the mighty Holden Astra
SRi Turbo, mounted east-west behind the
cockpit and driving the rear wheels.
With 0.6bar of boost, it delivers the same
147kW of power, but some tweaking of the
Bosch engine management system by Lotus
engineers has resulted in a small increase in
torque to 272Nm – 90 per cent of which is
available from 2000rpm. Combined average
fuel economy is a respectable 9.3L/100km.
Continued next page

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
Continued from previous page
Driving through a six-speed manual gearbox,
the Europa S will accelerate from 0-100km/h
in 5.8 seconds, will reach 160km/h in 14.0
seconds and has a top speed of 230km/h.
The Europa S is 115mm longer than the
Elise, providing a reasonably usable boot,
and is 135kg heavier due to the solid roof and
extra equipment. Getting in and out of either
the Elise or Exige is something of a challenge,
so Lotus has attempted to alleviate the problem
by lowering the prominent sills by about 25mm
and raising the roofl ine a similar amount,
providing an overall 55mm-larger opening.
Standard equipment includes dual airbags,
ABS brakes, air-conditioning, leather
upholstery, an Alpine audio system with four
speakers and MP3/iPod connection, remote
immobiliser/alarm, front driving lamps and
interior carpet.
There are no options and the only
specifi cation variation is the choice of tan trim
on the otherwise all-black seats.
The car rides on Lotus-designed lightweight
17-inch alloy wheels shod with Bridgestone
Potenza tyres that measure 175/55 on the
front and 225/45 on the rear. These tyres are
somewhat softer than used on other Lotus
Industry Professional – Position Wanted
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 15
Soft focus
models, in keeping with the car’s more comfortoriented
nature.
The neat styling, penned by Lotus design
chief Russell Carr, includes a subtle spoiler
on the tail but is essentially designed for low
downforce so that softer springs can be used.
Lotus Cars Australia sales and marketing
chief Jonathan Stretton, who is in the middle of
a two-year assignment here from the UK, said
the car was designed to be easier to live with on
a daily basis than the Elise or Exige.
“Lotus customers will still be able to enjoy
the outrageous fun and exhilaration of driving
a true Lotus without having to make as many
compromises when it comes to the practicality
of living with their pride and joy day-to-day,”
Mr Stretton said. “We have retained the purity
and simplicity of the Elise and the Exige while
recognising that for some the experience
from these cars may sometimes be just a little
extreme.”
Lotus last built a Europa from 1966 to 1974,
when its unique slab-sided rear-end styling
earned it the nickname “the bread van”. No
doubt the cash-strapped British marque will be
hoping the latest version will earn some ‘bread’
for its benevolent new owners in Malaysia.
DRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE
A motor industry professional, with extensive senior management experience in sales and marketing, seeks a new
role within the industry.
Having held a variety of positions in premium brands, both with importers and in retail dealerships, a new
challenging role in either sector would be of great interest to me.
With a proven track record, I work as a team builder to deliver outstanding customer service, engaging all staff to
deliver great results through constant improvement and innovation.
I have a resume prepared, and would be pleased to attend an interview anywhere, anytime. I am mobile, able to
travel extensively if required and would like to start work as soon as possible. If you have a role which you feel
could be of mutual interest lets meet and discuss it.
Please contact me at the following e-mail address: goodpositionwanted@gmail.com

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
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M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 16
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AUTO-IT MOVE
AUSTRALIAN software
company Auto-IT,
which develops Dealer
Management systems for
small and large dealerships
alike, has announced that
Aaran Newman has taken
on the role of national sales
and marketing manager. A
director of Auto-IT, and most recently PMDS
(Newmans) product manager and NSW state
manager, Mr Newman will be responsible
for business development, marketing and
ongoing account management. He replaces
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sales•service•parts•admin
FPV SEARCH CONTINUES AS SAK BREAKS HIS SILENCE
By TERRY MARTIN
PRODRIVE and Ford Australia are still
searching for a sales and marketing general
manager for Ford Performance Vehicles
(FPV), several weeks after the fi rst round
of candidates were interviewed and almost
two months after FPV’s previous senior
management team was sacked.
Presenting a united front at the Melbourne
International Motor Show last week, Ford
Australia president Tom Gorman and
Prodrive Automotive Technology (Asia
Pacifi c) managing director Bryan Mears
said the joint-venture partners were not
attempting to reorganise FPV under a
new management structure but wanted to
“accelerate growth”.
“One of the things I want to emphasise
on that question is that we are after a person
with particular skills and experience, and
we’re determined to have the right person
in the job to take the business forward,” Mr
Mears said. “We’ve got a lot of work to be
done in the next 12 months/two years, and
so we’re not going to hasten into that.”
As well as bringing new products such as
an FPV Territory to market, the incoming FPV
chief will be responsible for maintaining sales
volume this year at 2144 units – the record
number it achieved in 2006 – and, according
to Mr Mears, achieving “a bit more of what I
Aaran Newman
Bryan Mears (left) and Tom Gorman
would call our rightful share” in 2008 when
the new-generation Falcon-based range hits
the streets.
“Our (new) general manager is going
to be, in his brief, much more active in the
fi eld (with dealers) … more direct, and not
passive, in that role,” he said. Mr Gorman
added: “We’ve had some really good
success in the last several years. It’s how we
accelerate that growth that I think is what
Bryan’s driving at – so that does mean better
coverage in the marketplace.”
Former FPV managing director Sak
Ryopponen, who was sacked after just
seven months in the job, has also spoken
publicly for the fi rst time since his departure
in January. He told GoAuto last week: “I
absolutely have no problem with Ford, no
problem with Tom – Tom is a terrifi c guy
and he’s a man with integrity … He has my
continuing support.”
Peter Thatcher, who has taken a position with
Oracle Corporation.
Formerly of the Newmans Motor Group,
Mr Newman is the fourth generation of his
family to be involved in the motor industry
with his great-grandfather starting a Chrysler
dealership in the early 1920s. He joined Auto-
IT at its inception when KGM Management
merged with Newmans Information Services
in 2000 to form the second-largest dealer
management system supplier on the Australian
market in terms of clients.
If you have any car industry personnel
announcements, please email them to
Terry Martin at
Sales • Service • Parts • Admin

John Mellor's
GoAutonews
AUDI fi nally commits itself to the SUV market with its massive new Q7. Those who have
been looking at the A6-based Allroad for years will fi nally understand why the German
company has been such a latecomer to a segment where practically everybody else
is extraordinarily busy. The Q7 is, in some ways, a new interpretation of luxury SUVs
where sheer bulk is disguised by sleek, relatively low-slung lines in a way no
others have yet managed. With the size comes an expansive interior with van-like
dimensions and the possibility of optioning-up to a third-row seat. Three engines
are available and none are slouches: a 171kW 3.6-litre direct-injection V6, a 500Nm
3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and a 250kW petrol V8. Being an Audi means there’s no
slacking on technology, with air suspension standard on the V8 and optional on the
V6s, full-time 4WD and a host of electronic safety items including a standard rearview
camera. But watch the options box carefully. ROAD TEST: CLICK HERE
www.mellor.net
M ARCH 7, 2007 Page 17
GoAuto’s latest car review www.goauto.com.au
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI fi ve-door wagon
NO VE OR FALCON DIESEL
HOLDEN has no plans to introduce a dieselengined
Commodore in Australia, despite doing
the engineering work and producing an evaluation
model. Sales and marketing executive director
Alan Batey said at the Melbourne International
Motor Show last week that there was currently
“no business case for it”.
“The technology is available,” Mr Batey
said. “Putting a diesel in a Commodore is not
that much of a drama and we are going to do
that from an evaluation and an engineering
perspective – the issue for Australia is that
there isn’t a business case for it.”
Holden last week launched a turbo-diesel
version of its Captiva SUV, which uses a
110kW/320Nm 2.0-litre TDi jointly developed by
GM Daewoo and Italian company VM Motori.
Ford Australia also has no intention to produce
a diesel version of its Falcon any time soon, with
president Tom Gorman reiterating last week that
“in the short-term, the answer is no”. “When we
look at diesel for a locally produced vehicle, the
fi rst step for us, if we go down this path, is really
going to be on Territory,” he said.
PROTON ALLIANCE CLOSE
PROTON is due to announce a new alliance deal
this month, and General Motors looks to be the
frontrunner after PSA Peugeot Citroen broke off
discussions this week. VW is also still in the frame.
“An in-depth study of the automobile market and
the economic conditions for co-producing vehicles
with Proton concluded that the conditions for the
project’s success were not present,” PSA Peugeot
Citroen said in a statement.
FORD LWB ON SKID ROW
FORD Australia recorded 196 Fairlane sales
last month (and its fi rst LTD sale for the year),
however it was not evidence of a revival – and,
we should add, cause for a stay of execution – for
the long-wheelbase models. “We increased our
volume substantially, but I have to tell you that in
that number we did quite a bit of rental business
in the month,” said Ford Australia president Tom
Gorman. “In the long-run we really have to see
retail customers coming back to that product –
and I’m not going to pull a punch here, it’s going
to be very, very hard for us on long-wheelbase
going forward. We’ll make a decision in the next
couple of months on that one.”
PORSCHE HYBRID COMING
PORSCHE has confi rmed it will bring a petrolelectric
hybrid version of its Cayenne SUV to
Australia. Due in 2010, the hybrid powertrain
derives from a joint venture with the VW Group.
“Some ask why are we later than other
manufacturers; the answer is simply that the
technology as it is today, from our point of
view, isn’t in line with what we want to achieve
performance-wise,” said Porsche Cars Australia
managing director Michael Winkler.
He said hybrid power split transmissions
were not yet strong enough to handle the
torque output of Porsche models, and that new
technology was also being developed to reduce
the weight of the hybrid powertrain to be used
in the Cayenne. The SUV is the only Porsche to
be offered as a hybrid in the short-term because
it is the only model with enough room to house
the hybrid components.
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MARCH:
Alfa Romeo 159 auto
Alfa Romeo Brera auto
Alfa Romeo Spider auto
Bentley Continental GT Diamond Series LE
BMW X5 SUV
Citroen C4 hatch EGS
Citroen C5 twin-turbo HDi sedan
Fiat Punto DuaLogic
Ford Falcon ES sedan limited-edition
Ford Falcon XR Rip Curl ute LE
Ford Falcon Tradesman ute LE
Ford Territory SR SUV
FPV GT sedan 40th anniversary LE
Holden Captiva diesel
Holden Rodeo diesel
Hyundai Terracan SLX
Jeep Wrangler 4WD
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4WD
Jeep Compass SUV
Kia Rio LX hatch
Kia Grand Carnival Platinum LE
Lamborghini Murcielago LP460 coupe
Lamborghini Gallardo Nera LE
Lotus Europa S coupe
Maserati Quattroporte auto
Mitsubishi Triton 4x2 2.4
Mercedes-Benz CL-class
Porsche Cayenne SUV
Porsche Cayenne V6
Subaru Liberty sedan/wagon STi LE
Volkswagen Eos convertible
Volvo C30 hatch
Alfa Romeo Spider
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