John Mellor's
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Ju ne 16, 2004
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Fast track to future
The Sportivo
concept offers
glimmers of a more
exciting future for
Toyota Australia.
Report – Page 6
SUVs reach top
By BRUCE NEWTON
THE cross-overs have crossed over for the first
time to lead the Australian new vehicle sales
market in May.
Figures compiled by Ford Australia confirm
that the four combined SUV segments outsold
both large cars and small cars to lead the market
in May.
That result is in line with long-term forecasting Ford used as a basis for its decision to invest
$500 million in developing the locally-built
Territory SUV, which has just gone on sale.
But the margin of victory was tight with the
compact, medium, large and luxury SUVs claiming 24.6 per cent of the market, while large cars
and small cars were both on 23.1 per cent.
In terms of actual sales that meant there were
15,052 SUVs sold, 14,159 large cars and 14,136
small cars.
But year-to-date, Large cars continues to be
Ford strategy bears fruit as
small cars and cross-overs
claw in large car market
the biggest individual market, albeit narrowly
ahead of Small cars – 71,329 to 71,211 while
there have been 67,564 SUVs sold.
In percentage terms that comes out at 23.8,
23.7 and 22.5 per cent YTD respectively.
Ironically, the 1046 Territorys registered in
May played a crucial role in the historic VFACTS
result.
In fact the growth in SUVs is coming from
Medium, where Territory is placed in both allwheel and rear-wheel drive form, and the Luxury
segments.
From this time on Ford predicts SUV, Large
and Small to be the three dominant segments,
carsales.com.au
splitting three-quarters of the market pretty
evenly between them.
It does not expect the SUV chart to continue
to climb dramatically, although it has increased
its share from 9 per cent 10 years ago. Small
cars have also climbed from 16.8 per cent, while
Large has fallen from 36.1 per cent.
“Our forecasting indicates that what we see in
2004 is going to an ongoing trend, as in those
three segments basically being equally important,
plus or minus a percentage point or two,” said
Ford Australia market and sales vice-president
Bruce McDonald.
Continued next page
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J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 Page 2
BOULAY 'RETIRED'
Facelift for
Honda Jazz
THIS picture is among the first published of Honda’s facelifted Jazz.
Known in Japan as the Fit, the five-door light car is expected locally
around October, in time for a Sydney motor show debut. The changes,
which are mainly cosmetic, are the first since the Jazz’s Australian
release in October 2002. It will take a keen eye to spot the new grille,
headlight cluster, front and rear bumpers and front air-intake design. Two
variations of the latter exist – one with a more aggressive cross-hatched
mesh-style opening that’s expected to feature on the sportier VTi-S version. More pictures, BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS' report: CLICK HERE
OLIVIER Boulay, the designer responsible for
the controversial styling of the TL/KL Mitsubishi
Magna/Verada range, has been ‘retired’ from his
job as the company’s global styling chief.
The move, effective June 29, is part of sweeping
personnel changes initiated at the top end of
the financially straitened company by new chief
Yoichiro Okazaki.
Mr Boulay was brought in by former controlling
shareholder DaimlerChrysler in mid-2001 to
oversee Mitsubishi’s then fragmented design
language and co-ordinated it into a twin nostril,
big headlamp look.
Mr Boulay has plenty of ex-DaimlerChrysler
mates at the exit gate with product planning
chief Kai-Uwe Seidenfuss, head of procurement
Stefan Buchner, Hans-Jurgen Storck from the
R&D department and Jochen Legewie from the
communications department, all getting their
marching orders.
The TL/KL was among Mr Boulay’s first
attempts at the new style and has received few
positive reviews. The downturn in Magna sales
has in part been blamed on the car’s styling.
Mr Boulay, 46, received more praise for the
adaptation of the Lancer to the new look, while
the all-new Colt small car and Grandis peoplemover also drew plaudits.
The former lead designer for the Mercedes
S and C-class cars, who also played a major
role in the Maybach, is now expected to return
to Mercedes-Benz.
No replacement for Mr Boulay has been
announced by MMC as yet.
More personnel reports, page 10
SUV crosses over to top spot
Continued from previous page
Mr McDonald argued that a continual slide in Large car
market share over the past decade would be halted because of
Ford and Holden’s substantial commitment to the category.
“I don’t think those competitors are going to literally sit
back and see the demise of the Large segment, so it will be a
product-supported maintenance,” he said.
“The reason they are off in my view is that there is a segment called the SUV which is now an appealing alternative.
When you looked back in the not too distant past it wasn’t
anywhere near as strong,” Mr McDonald said.
“The SUV market has become that much more visible and
there is just that much more choice for people, whether private
buyers or fleets.
“People are recognising there is an alternate way of trans-
porting their families that wasn’t available to the extent that
the choice now exists back in the mid-’90s.”
Mr McDonald said there was anecdotal evidence that some
potential buyers had held off their large car purchase until they
had a chance to look at Territory.
“We have heard from dealers they are reporting a high
interest – and I can’t tell you exactly what that means – from
people driving non-Ford vehicles. They are talking Jeep
Cherokee, they are talking Subarus, some small numbers of
Mercedes-Benz ML320 and X5,” he said.
“There appears to be a high interest and curiousity level in
Territory from people who don’t drive Ford vehicles.”
The 1046 Territory registrations in May were made up of
50 per cent dealer demos, pre-production vehicles and Ford
company cars, with the other 50 per cent customer deliveries.
Bruce McDonald
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J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 Page 3
Supercar
cost
crunch
Mark
Skaife
By BRUCE NEWTON
THE future of the high-flying V8 Supercar category is suddenly up for debate as differences
emerge at the top of the sport over proposed cost
containment measures to be rolled out starting
in 2005.
The sweeping changes were announced by the
category’s owner and administrator TEGA (the
Touringcar Entrants Group of Australia) at the
Darwin round last month, but already there are
signs of high-level concern.
Watching the debate unfurl with close attention
will be Ford and Holden, which now utilise the
incredibly popular championship as a core comAt a rough estimate, it takes about $6 million
ponent in the marketing and sales of their locally- to mount a full-blown two-car V8 Supercar attack
built Falcon and Commodore models.
that has championship winning potential. TEGA
A messy rules debate which impacts on the would like that figure cut to about $3 million.
quality of the racing, its perception among the
It has been examining the ways and means
fans and a drift in its popularity would be of great to achieve this for almost a year. The technical
concern to both companies. Not that it’s at that changes proposed are only stage one of a threepoint yet.
phase plan that would next look at the structure
But V8 team owners were
of the calendar, race meetpresented with a confidential Divisions emerge at the ings, race lengths and so
document by champion drivtop over the future of on. That lot is due to be
er Mark Skaife at Barbagallo
revealed this year.
Australia’s biggest
last weekend outlining the
The third phase, dealing
factory-backed Holden Racmotorsport category with car construction, will
ing Team’s view on cost
not be seen until 2005.
containment and its impact
Phase one includes
on the category.
banning live car to pit
Skaife is the owner of
telemetry and the reducHRT and his views would
tion of aero aids via the
be endorsed by Holden. But he is also one
removal of the front undertray and
of the four team owners who sit on the board of fixing of the rear wing, all from January 1, 2005.
TEGA.
But most of the more than 30 points primaThe document’s existence reveals Skaife is not rily revolve around the introduction of control or
as gung-ho about the proposed rules overhaul as control specification components, which could be
his fellow TEGA board members Mark Larkham, anything from brake rotors to rattle guns.
Roland Dane and Garry Rogers.
A final specifications recommendation is due
It is believed Skaife actually voted against the back with the TEGA board from its Technical
extensive plan revealed by TEGA in Darwin.
Advisory Panel in early July.
While Skaife’s document acknowledges
cost containment as a vital part of ensuring the
category’s future, it questions whether a massive job-lot of technical change will deliver the
required result.
“Change costs money,” the document reports.
“The savings achieved by introducing a control
component will be offset to some degree by the
purchase cost of the new component, the disposal
cost of the old component, the scrutineering and
administration cost associated with the change
and any development costs (in related areas) that
arise as a result of the specification change.
“At the point where these costs offset the
whole saving, the change is not worth having.”
It is known that HRT is concerned about the
telemetry and aero changes, but significantly
Skaife’s document does not object to any specific
item on the TEGA list.
Instead, the document lays out a process by
which each proposed change would be the subject
of a rigorous case-by-case business study.
The intention would be that only items that
provide a cost-benefit advantage should be proceeded with.
Skaife also argued that denuding the cars of
technology would damage the category’s widening fan base.
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J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 Page 4
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This exciting role will provide the appointee the opportunity of structuring fleet operations in a manner which
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is currently in a similar role with a smaller automotive company or alternatively is in a number two role but
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Candidates for this role will have extensive fleet experience with contacts at all levels and accordingly will
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As can be seen from the above this is a key appointment and the salary and benefits package negotiated will reflect
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Ph: (03) 8645 3700 Fax: (03) 9646 9019
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J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 Page 5
Boon for
Sirion
Daihatsu calls on
Toyota to help develop
its new small car
THIS is your first look at the replacement for small
car specialist Daihatsu’s spunky Sirion, launched
this week in Japan and due to arrive in Australia in
the first quarter of 2005.
This car is something of a landmark because it is
the first to have been jointly developed by Daihatsu
and its parent Toyota.
The car will be sold in Japan by Toyota Corolla
dealers as the Passo – Italian for “step” or “footstep”.
Through Daihatsu dealers it will be known as
the Boon. (No, not named after Tasmanian cricketer
David Boon, but after a sound that Japanese children use to imitate a car).
In Australia it will be sold only as a Daihatsu, but
the local distributor has yet to confirm the Sirion
name will continue.
Only 3595mm long, the five-door hatchback has
a wheels-at-each-corner wheelbase of 2440mm and
a miniature turning circle of 8.6 metres.
Daihatsu claims class-leading interior space and
versatility, including a moveable rear seat cushion
and 60:40 split folding rear seats.
Another interior trick is the instrument dials,
Sirion replacement is
named Boon in Japan.
read-outs and indicators mounted on the steering column, the intention
being to always keep them in view of the driver.
The exterior is less individual, but strong safety
claims are made with a lot of effort put into the
compatibility, a big issue for people driving small
cars. ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake-force
Distribution) is also part of the safety package.
Two power sources are available at launch in
Japan, a newly developed 1.0-litre codenamed
1KR-FE and the 1.3-litre K3-VE that’s already seen
here in the YRV mini people-mover.
The 1.0-litre design, which includes continuously
variable valve timing, produces 52kW at 6000rpm
and 94Nm at 3600rpm. The 1.3, which also has
continuously variable valve timing, produces 66kW
at 6000rpm and 123Nm at 3200rpm.
Daihatsu claims miserly fuel consumption of as
little as 21km per litre and that the engines easily
comply with Japanese low emission vehicle stand
ards. In Japan, the new vehicle is
fitted only with a four-speed automatic
transmission.
The front suspension uses MacPherson struts,
while the rear-end has a torsion beam with a toecorrect function.
There is also a “Hokkaido” specification full-time
four-wheel drive version that uses a rear suspension
design comprising triple links and lateral rods.
The current generation 40kW 1.0-litre Sirion
first went on sale in Australia in July 1998 and was
facelifted in April 2002.
The 75kW 1.3-litre GTvi went on sale in
September 2000 and was facelifted in April 2002.
An all-new Sirion will be a timely boost for
Sirion and Daihatsu, both of which dropped sales in
2003 after a strong 2002.
Daihatsu operations were integrated into Toyota
Australia in July 2002. That move was triggered
after Toyota Motor Company in Japan took control
of Daihatsu in September 1998, raising its stake to
51.2 per cent of the shareholding.
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J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 Page 6
Pictures courtesy New Zealand Autocar
Fast track to future
By BRUCE NEWTON
AS drives go we would never presume to claim this
as one of our most extensive or emphatic, but as
an eye-opener to the future our experience of the
Toyota Sportivo concept at Melbourne’s Sandown
racetrack proved to be very revealing.
If you haven’t heard of the Sportivo concept
by now then you obviously live somewhere very
remote, where even Toyota’s all pervasive spin doctors cannot penetrate.
But for once the PR merchants do not have to
go overboard to hype a Toyota product because the
Sportivo is as significant as they come.
It’s the second concept car Toyota Australia has
built, following precisely 12 months after the allwheel X-Runner utility, which made its debut at the
Melbourne motor show in 2003.
Sportivo goes a big step further. Cloaked in a
swooping carbon-fibre body complete with dihedral doors, it was designed by Nick Hogios, the
former young designer of the year award winner
who swapped from Ford to Toyota after leading the
BA XR design program.
There’s little production car relationship in the
shape to any current or future Toyota product. It’s
not the next Toyota Celica, or a future Camry coupe
– Toyota Style Australia boss Paul Beranger will
only concede there is a “hint” of the future in some
style elements.
We’re betting on the headlights and grille as fitting that bill, while classic concept car cues like the
exaggerated fenders and massive 21-inch wheels
and tyres along with the 380 LED lights won’t be
seen anywhere soon.
Inside it’s just as outlandish, featuring a bespoke
four-seat interior that has a driver-centric cockpit
area, including a flat-screen instrument panel, pushbutton start, a drivers’ seat design with different
contours and a four-point harness.
While Mr Hogios was in charge of the look, Mr
Beranger ran the project, which followed an unusual
and incredibly short creation process.
From go to whoa it took 30 weeks, and rather
than following the usual pattern Toyota wanted
Sportivo to reflect the thoughts of future generations of car buyers. So what the Sportivo became
is driven by the feedback of 100 14 to 18-year-old
Sydney and Melbourne teenagers.
“Personal mobility and communications were
what came out as being very important,” said Mr
Beranger.
“They saw the use of the car as being an urban
mobility thing, although some of them wanted to
have a bit more of a race around and enjoy the
performance, so it was a bit of a balance.”
Intrinsic to all that is a telematics system called
T-Link. This is based around the driver’s license,
which is a mobile phone-style SIM card that would
be embedded with a host of data.
The licence would not only allow the driver
access to the car, but also provide individual settings for driving position, radio stations, phone
numbers, GPS tracking data for friends and even
engine output.
The system even allows the personal electronic
licence number of the driver to be displayed on the
number plate, as well as P, L or handicap plates if
applicable.
Toyota says speeding fines, tollway charges and
even parking fines could be sent through T-Link to
the driver responsible, rather than the car owner.
The drivetrain also has very much a youthfull
skew. Underpinning it all is a ‘Hokkaido’ specification Camry platform which employs the all-wheel
drive system from the RAV4 compact soft-roader.
Where the local engineering comes in is the
turbocharging of the familiar 2AZ-FE 2.4-litre
four-cylinder engine and its combination with a
five-speed manual gearbox rather than the standard
four-speed auto.
Turbocharging work was done by Toyota
Australia supplier APS and despite minimal dyno
and sorting time, power was improved from 112kW
to 180kW and torque from 218Nm at 305Nm.
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J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 Page 7
Under the inFluence
Renault previews a possible sports coupe future with Fluence concept
RENAULT has hinted at future model plans to
build a sports coupe with its latest concept car.
Called Fluence, the four-seat hardtop made its public debut at the
prestigious Louis Vuitton Classic
in England in early June.
Fluence measures up at
4600mm long, has a 2750mm
wheelbase and is powered
by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol
engine producing 206kW and
385Nm.
“Fluence is both a drawing
and a sculpture. It blends bearing,
generosity, elegance and fluidity,” said
Renault design chief Patrick le Quement.
It also appears to be a precursor to a production
coupe, something Renault has been keen on for
a while. But no confirmation of that – or timing
– has been announced, although early 2006 was
suggested by one source.
Certainly it lines up as obvious competition for
great rival Peugeot’s 406 coupe.
It is also a further indication of Renault’s commitment to expanding its sports line-up in the
wake of the Wind convertible concept revealed at
the Geneva show in March, which was a Mazda
MX-5 rival.
Fluence contrasts a sloping nose with a vertical
rear-end. Up front there is a double strip of LEDs
behind two transparent curved glass lenses which
serve as headlights.
The diodes illuminate as the steering angle
changes to provide multi-directional lighting
when cornering.
At the rear there are wide wings, highlighted
by elongated, horizontal lights, and a taller central
section in a different colour. This section connects
the rear window with a twin centre exhaust outlet,
framed by an air extractor.
Front to rear the car is connected by a series
of horizontal lines, while a V-shaped rear window
connects to the windscreen by two strips of glass
that stretch the length of the roof before dropping
down towards the tailgate.
The look is completed by huge 22-inch wheels,
a size typical of concept cars.
In the predominantly red interior
are leather seats which have backs
and sides that fan out when the
doors open, waiting for occupants. The door armrests
are mounted on a runner
so they can adjust their
position in conjunction
with the seats.
The leather dashboard’s design resembles a leaf that has been
rolled then nipped at its
centre. This leaf theme is
repeated in the design of
the centre console.
Fluence also features Renault’s version of
a BMW-style iDrive controller. Using a joystick,
the driver selects the car’s main functions which
are shown on a fold-away screen in the upper part
of the dashboard.
In the rear Renault designers used home furnishing for their inspiration so there are reading
lamps that fit flush with the headlining and when
required are released by pulling a leather tab then
tilted to the ideal angle.
Flunce’s engine sits transversely in the engine
bay, mates to a six-speed automatic transmission
with sequential controls and drives the front
wheels.
Weighing 1500kg, Renault claims Fluence can
accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds.
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY AUSTRALIA
Position: FLEET SALES CO-ORDINATOR
HYUNDAI IS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST and most progressive passenger vehicle importers. The
company has a reputation for providing quality, value for money products in the market.
Hyundai currently has an opportunity for an enthusiastic and dynamic person to be appointed to the position of Fleet
Sales Manager based at our National Head Office, Homebush Bay.
The successful applicant will be responsible for promotion of fleet sales to ensure fleet customers are offered a broad
range of vehicles to meet fleet requirements. The person will also be required to develop and maintain a professional
and effective relationship with fleet owners / buyers and ensure sales targets for fleet sales are met.
To be successful in this position you will be able to demonstrate:
- Sound communication skills with the ability to develop strong business relationships with fleet customers
- Self confidence and persistence
- Self motivated expressing initiative and drive
- Previous experience dealing with sales budgets and margins
- Professional approach to tasks and team members
Written applications, clearly stating relevant qualification and experience should be sent to Human Resources:
Hyundai Motor Company Australia Pty Ltd, Locked Bag 18, Concord West NSW 2138
(or email: human_resources@hyundai.com.au) Applications close 5pm Friday 2nd July, 2004
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
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J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 Page 8
Insatiable
China
By MARTON PETTENDY
THE significance of China’s mushrooming automotive industry, which last year produced 4.39
million vehicles and surpassed Germany as the
world’s third largest car market, was underlined
in no uncertain terms at the 2004 Beijing motor
show.
Running from June 9 to 16, China’s largest
car show – officially dubbed Auto China 2004
– attracted no fewer than 600 vehicles from
manufacturers in 20 countries, including all of the
world’s major car-makers.
Keen to get in on the industry action that’s
actually slowed from the triple-digit sales growth
Chinese-made car sales experienced in 2002 (to
a 34 per cent increase last year), local makers
presented a number of new concepts as American,
European and Japanese brands wheeled out their
existing ranges to seemingly insatiable Chinese
buyers.
At least 70 new models were launched in China
in 2003 and that figure should easily be bettered
in 2004. Industry experts predict China’s vehicle market will
grow at an annual double-digit
rate over the next one to two
decades, making it second only
in size to the US by 2010.
But the world’s fastest growing car market
remains a controversial, fragmented industry, with
50 so-called “international” motor shows held
across China every year and the government forcing two rival motor shows to merge prior to this
Chang’an Chinese Dragon convertible
CHANG’AN’S second concept, dubbed Chinese Dragon, is a sports roadster with
MX-5 design cues, Corvette-style tail-lights and an Aston Martin-like grille.
It is powered by a 3.2-litre V8.
year’s event. Expected to attract 400,000 people to the newly completed China International
Exhibition Centre outside Beijing, Auto China
will be staged at a new purpose-built centre more
than double its size when the show is next held
in 2006.
That didn’t stop some major developments
underscoring the market’s importance this year
– not least of which was Volkswagen’s announcement it will be the official automobile partner for
the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
“We are very excited and proud to be appointed
the official partner for the
Olympics in Beijing and at
the same time we are aware
that it is also a responsibility
and challenge for us,” said the chairman of the
board of management of Volkswagen, Dr Bernd
Pischetsrieder,.
China’s largest car-maker Volkswagen-Audi,
which sold 697,000 cars in China last year (up
36 per cent) for a dominant market share of more
than 30 per cent, is involved in three joint-ventures in China, while all of the world’s top nine
car-makers have built either one or two joint-venture plants in China. VW plans to invest
$US7 billion by 2009 to double its
China manufacturing capacity to
1.6 million vehicles.
World number two car-maker Ford, a relative
late-comer to Chinese manufacture, had the biggest presence this year, with 5000 square metres
reserved to showcase four new concept cars,
including the surprise appearance of the Focus
Concept (CLICK HERE).
Ford group brands were equally active in
Beijing for the first time.
Mazda has upgraded Beijing to the same status
as the world’s premier shows and used the same
display stand it uses in Geneva and Frankfurt.
Jaguar exhibited at the Beijing show for the
first time and plans to start Chinese sales this
year,
Volvo is hoping for a 12 per cent increase on
the 2500 cars it sold in 2003 and Aston Martin
will begin sales in 2005.
Meantime, GM, which will begin assembly
of the Cadillac CTS in Shanghai later this year,
organised a number of reveals during the show
to launch Cadillac in China. GM last week
also announced a $US3 billion expansion of
its Chinese production capacity, from a current
550,000 to 1.3 million units by 2007.
The Blue Ovals’ Focus show car aside, new
concept car activity was led by China’s domestic
manufacturers.
More cars from the Beijing motor show
– next page
Chang’an Yangtze River Sturgeon MPV
A RADICAL departure from Chang’an Automotive’s existing range
of (largely Suzuki-derived) vans, the Yangtze River Sturgeon is a
future people-mover that with coupe-like profile and RX8-style side
barn-doors.
DEALERSHIP GRAND OPENING!
Staff Required :
weeks away, we are looking for self motivated and
professional staff to join our TEAM in the following areas.
NEW CAR MANAGER
NEW VEHICLE STOCK CONTROLLER
USED VEHICLE SALES
RECEPTIONIST
If you possess the relevant qualifications in any of the above
areas please contact us now for a strictly confidential interview.
Ph: 1800 808 676 Email: holden@jch.com.au
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J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 Page 9
Great Wall Hover CUV
Chery B14 MPV
GREAT Wall Motor Co is one of China’s largest off-road vehicle manufacturers
and its latest concept, the Isuzu-based Hover CUV (City Utility Vehicle), looks a
lot like Toyota’s Prado with its swept-back headlights and exaggerated wheel arch
cladding.
Codenamed K1, the Hover production car will be followed by K2 and K3 models
in a bid to lift sales from a current 70,000 units to 150,000 by 2005.
Great Wall recently listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange with shares selling
out quickly to raise $US180 million for increased production and product development.
ANOTHER new people-mover made in China is Chery
Automobile’s seven-seater B14 concept, which will feature GPS
navigation and DVD entertainment. It will spawn at least three
different engine variants (1.9, 2.0 and 2.4-litre) when it reaches
production. A five-door wagon that measures 4673mm long and
looks a little like a Chrysler Pacifica, the latest Chery departs from
the Chinese maker’s range of largely passenger sedans, including the
Oriental Son. The independent Chery concern built 91,000 vehicles
in 2003 and this month opens its first assembly plant abroad, in Iran.
How is your share holding up?
Fleet sales aside, cars are only sold one
at a time. The people who know this best
are car dealers.
Sit in a dealer principal or sales
manager’s office for any length of time
and they can be seen directing the sales
troops to pick up anyone who walks into
the forecourt.
At dealerships, their role is to engage
each person and create a desire to buy.
Car companies and advertising agencies
operate at a different level.
Their efforts are designed to drive
customers to the franchise on a grander
scale; to increase sales from, say, 4000
a month to 4200 or 4400. Or 20,000 a
month to 22,000 a month.
to people reading about cars on the
internet.
Since January last year, any car
company could have
talked to the people
who read more than
93,800 stories about
Here at GoAuto Online, we believe the
automotive internet operates more at the Honda on GoAuto Online.
To do that they require media that
delivers their messages cost-effectively
on a mass scale.
personal one-on-one dealer level rather
than at the mass media level.
People researching cars are buyers.
They have CHOSEN to read about a
Ford or a Toyota or a Volkswagen.
Car companies should strike up a
conversation with people reading about
cars and create a desire to buy their car
and not someone else’s car.
We say car companies should think
more like car dealers when it comes
Mazda understands this. Mazda is
presently Australia’s most successful car
company. It has been run for years by
a former car dealer. Mazda advertises
extensively on editorial web sites
because the company has made the
connection between people researching
cars on the web and people walking onto
the forecourt of a dealership.
We know that it is expensive to talk to
everyone. But at 0.011 cents for each
ad served to our readers, isn’t it worth
a simple: “Hello, how can we help you
buy a car today? Can we help with more
information? Would you like to know
about our special offers?”
How is your share holding up?
GoAuto is the featured
editorial content on:
To advertise to Honda readers call Steve Butcher on 03 9598 6477
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GoAuto
-news
J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 Page 10
UP CLOSE on PERSONNEL
NEW BOSS BRINGS IN CHANGES
NEW Mitsubishi Motors Corporation boss Yoichiro Okazaki has drafted in
several new appointments from his old company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,
including new financial controller Shuichi Aoto and new corporate planner Kenichi
Horinouchi.
In addition, two managers from Mitsubishi Corporation will be in charge of
operations in North America and Europe.
Kazuyuki Kikuchi has been named executive officer in charge of North America
and Toshifumi Sudo executive officer in charge of Europe.
Other key senior executive changes include:
Tetsuro Aikawa. New post: senior executive officer in charge of product
development. Old post: Head of C&D Segment Competence Centre, Research &
Development Office.
Shuichi Aoto. New post: senior executive officer in charge of controlling and
accounting. Old post: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Tadashi Ohmiya. New post: senior executive officer in charge of governmental
affairs and compliance. Old post: senior executive officer in charge of external
affairs.
Makoto Maeda. New post: senior executive officer in charge of production and
logistics. Old post: general manager of Mizushima Plant, Global Production Office
FORD CREDIT AUSTRALIA MD
ROBERT Stevens has been appointed managing director of Ford Credit Australia,
effective July 5.
Mr Stevens will replace Geoff Green, who has accepted the position of president,
Primus Financial Services Japan.
Mr Stevens joined Ford Credit in 1980 in Colorado Springs, US, as a customer
service representative and has held many positions including vice-president,
sales, purchasing and operations for Fairlane credit, and most recently the role of
director, operations for the Colorado Springs service centre.
DESIGNWORKS PRESIDENT
VERENA Kloos has been appointed president of Designworks, the California
design house owned by BMW AG.
Ms Kloos replaces Adrian van Hooydonk, who was recently named head of design
for BMW brand vehicles.
Most recently as head of DaimlerChrysler’s advanced design studio in Como, Italy,
Ms Kloos was responsible for interior design on future Mercedes and Chrysler
brand vehicles.
From 1991 to 1994 she was design director for Volkswagen’s US design centre in
California.
Designworks has led BMW design efforts on vehicles including the current
7 Series, 1 Series and Z4. The studio also does work for other clients.
BMW SALES MANAGER
KLAUS Berning has been appointed to take over management of the sales region
Asia, Pacific, Africa and Eastern Europe at the BMW Group, effective July 1.
He will replace Lueder Paysen, 60, who will retire.
Mr Berning, 46, was formerly president of BMW Ibérica S.A, the BMW Group
sales subsidiary in Spain.
In his new position, Mr Berning will report to Dr Michael Ganal, responsible for
sales and marketing on the board of management of BMW AG.
Pininfarina Enjoys
anniversary
PININFARINA has announced it will build 75
examples of its open-top Enjoy sports car in 2005
to celebrate the legendary coach-building
company’s 75th anniversary. The production
version of Enjoy follows on from the concept first
shown at Geneva in 2003 and stays true to that
car’s principles. FULL REPORT: CLICK HERE
SUBARU RANGE EXPANSION
SUBARU Australia will launch more model derivatives in
about two months, including a boxer six-cylinder version
of the Liberty medium car, a manual version of the Liberty
GT and a hatchback variant of the Impreza RS.
No official pricing or specifications have been announced
but the Impreza is tipped to line up roughly equivalent with
the existing RS sedan in the low $30,000 bracket and the
3.0-litre Liberty in the $50,000-$60,000 range alongside
the GT.
Subaru will also introduce side airbags to the full Forester
compact SUV range when model year 2005 versions are
launched in the next few months.
DRIVE ACROSS THE SEA
ENTREPRENEUR Richard Branson has set a new world
record by driving across the English Channel in an
amphibious sports car in under two hours, Reuters reports.
The flamboyant Virgin Group chairman, who has set world
records crossing the Atlantic by hot air balloon and speed
boat, slashed four-and-a-half-hours off the previous
amphibious channel crossing record set by two Frenchmen
in the 1960s.
Branson crossed the 35km stretch of water to Calais in
France on Monday in a smooth run in the Aquada sports car
in just one hour, 40 minutes and six seconds.
As the car drove up on to Calais’ sandy beach, its
windscreen wiper still going, a wet but elated Mr
Branson emerged – continuing the Bond theme in a dinner
jacket.
“A few big ferry waves engulfed us a bit, but it was rather
refreshing,” Branson said.
“It’s a remarkable car and it definitely gets a lot of smiles
from people on the ferries.”
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-news
J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 0 4 Page 11
GoAuto latest road test
Subaru Outback 3.0R 5-dr wagon
THE Subaru Outback is a car that can claim to be among the creators of the
cross-over wagon boom. It’s car-like behaviour – unsurprising considering
it is based on the Liberty road car – car-like ride height and carlike looks all keep it in favour in the suburbs, where it is liked
just as much for its suggestion of off-road ability. And in this
latest, third generation Outback – coinciding unsurprisingly
with the latest iteration of Liberty – the formula is as recognisable as ever. Here we are sampling the 3.0R Premium
Pack, with its significantly updated double overhead camshaft boxer engine, a car Subaru has lined up against some
top-notch luxury opposition. ROAD TEST: CLICK HERE
1966, when it sped to 201mph on the Mulsanne
straight. The supercharged V8 GT set the time
at Nardo during engineering testing for
high-speed stability and powertrain durability
“Driving the Ford GT at speeds above 200mph
was remarkably uneventful, which is a very
positive outcome,” said Mark McGowan, Ford
GT vehicle dynamics supervisor and driver
during the Nardo testing.
“I was able to drive around the 13km track with
my foot to the floor with complete confidence
in the stability and control of the car at 200mph
plus.
“My only limitation was the amount of fuel in
the tank!”
LAUNCH PAD
JUNE:
HONDA JAZZ FOR EXPORT
HONDA is planning to build 30,000 Jazz
models for export to Europe starting next year
– the first China-built cars to reach western
Europe.
According to Automotive News Europe, Honda
officials said Honda Automobile (China) – a
joint venture of Honda, Dongfeng Motor and
Guangzhou Auto Group – will begin producing
the Jazz exclusively for export by the end of
the year.
There are no plans for Australia’s Jazz supply
to shift from Japan to China at this point. The
first Chinese-built car to go on sale in Australia
will be the Volkswagen Polo sedan, the launch
date of which has been delayed until August.
MG RELEASES COUPE
MG Rover Australia has released the limited
edition MG TF Coupe, timed to coincide
with the arrival of the more inclement winter
months.
MG TF COUPE
Alfa Romeo GT coupe
Audi A3 three-door hatch
BMW 6 Series coupe/convertible
BMW X3 crossover
Ford Territory cross-over
Honda Odyssey people-mover
HSV Coupe 4 coupe
Kia Cerato sedan
Misubishi Magna VR-X
Mitsubishi Evo VIII sedan
New model diary: CLICK HERE
The car comes standard with three choices of
unique metallic paint, factory-fitted removable
hardtop, rear window deflector, wood trim kit,
wood and leather steering wheel and beige
leather trim.
Only 30 of these special TFs will be available
in Australia with the recommended retail price
of $52,240 for the TF 120 and $54,750 for the
TF 160.
That compares to $47,990 for the standard 120
and $51,490 for the standard 160.
CLUBSPORT SPECIAL
HSV is in run-out mode with its new VZ range
due for launch in the third quarter of 2004,
offering a Special Edition ClubSport VY
Series 2.
The unique part of the deal is a HSV helmet
mounted on a timber plinth and personally
signed by HRT drivers Mark Skaife and Todd
Kelly.
Skaife and Kelly also sign a build certificate for
the car, which goes on sale late June.
HSV claims an additional $3000 worth of
features in the special edition, for an increase
FORD GT TOPS 200mph
Clubsport
Special
Edition
THE GT supercar has become the first Fordbadged production car to exceed 200mph,
setting a top speed of 205mph at the Nardo
speed bowl in Italy.
The record has obvious symbolism for Ford,
as the orginal GT40 was the first race car to
break the 200mph barrier at Le Mans back in
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