e

John Mellor's

FFRR E
E EE
GoAuto -news No.N246
SUBSCRIPTION!
Go to www.mellor.net or

Holden's power
Ju ly 1 4 2 0 0 4 o. 180 CLICK HERE

pair

The base
Alloytec

VZ Commodore will be powered

by two versions of Holden’s
all-new 3.6-litre V6
By MARTON PETTENDY
HOLDEN will replace the trusty but tired V6 that has powered Commodore
since mid-1988 with not one, but two all-new Australian-made V6s in August,
when the facelifted VZ Commodore is launched.
Dubbed Alloytec, Holden’s all-aluminium, 24-valve DOHC 3.6-litre V6 with
variable valve timing will replace the current 3.8-litre cast-iron, pushrod Ecotec
V6 in both VZ Commodore and WL Statesman after about 16 years of service.
But as part of an uncharted, two-pronged fightback against its six-cylinder
large car rivals including Falcon, Camry and Magna, Australia’s most popular
model will be available in either 175kW base or 190kW premium guise.
Holden will not say which engine will power which VZ (or WL) variant until
next month’s official launch. But in a move believed to be aimed at keeping the
new powertrain’s spiralling costs down at base level, Holden has confirmed
that only Alloytec 190 engine variants will employ a new 5L40-codenamed ZF
five-speed automatic transmission.
That means while a new six-speed manual transmission will replace the
five-speed manual currently available at Commodore Executive and S level,
these and other entry level Commodores will continue with a revised version
of General Motors’ antiquated 4L60 four-speed auto.
Holden is also yet to reveal details of the V8 engine and transmission
line-up for VZ and WL models. But it’s likely there will be little change from
The premium
Alloytec 190
the 235kW (Calais and Statesman) and 245kW (SS, SV8, CV8 and Caprice)
outputs currently offered by the 5.7-litre Gen III V8, which should also continue
with GM six-speed manual and four-speed auto transmissions.
It’s unknown, however, whether the tiered V6 power approach will extend
to the all-new VE Commodore due in 2006, or if the 5L40 five-speed auto will
be the exclusive Commodore transmission.
In a move Holden says enables it to “meet different segments of the market
and maintain the level of value Holden is renowned for, as well as provide a
premium arrangement for other models”, the Alloytec V6 will produce peak
power of 175kW at 6000rpm and a substantial 320Nm of torque from just
2800rpm. That’s 23kW and 15Nm up on the current Ecotec V6’s peaks of
152kW/305kW – as well as having a decided advantage over both Toyota’s
3.0-litre V6 and Mitsubishi’s 3.5-litre Magna V6.
But it still falls short of the 182kW and 380Nm outputs offered by Falcon’s
4.0-litre DOHC cast-iron straight six – although Holden says its 175kW
(ECE) peak converts to roughly the same power as Ford’s 182kW (DIN)
figure, which is not expected to change for this year’s cosmetically facelifted
BA II Falcon.
Meantime, the Alloytec 190 produces about 190kW at 6500rpm and a
slightly healthier 340Nm at 3200rpm, thanks to the use of a more sophisticated
variable valve timing system.
Continued next page

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 John Mellor's

GoAuto e -news J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 Page 2

Holden
rollin'
out the
power New 5L40 auto
mates to Alloytec 190.

By MARTON PETTENDY
HOLDEN'S all-new Global V6 finally puts
Commodore on an equal footing with the 24-
valve, overhead camshaft six-cylinder engines
available in the other locally-built large cars from
Ford, Toyota and Mitsubishi.
Banishing cast-iron, pushrods and just two
valves per cylinder to history, the new engine
also goes one better than that offered by its most
direct rival Falcon by being all-aluminium, and
also betters Magna by featuring twin overhead
camshafts.
Fuel consumption figures will not be available
until launch, but it is believed the Alloytec V6
will also bring fuel economy advantages over
both Falcon (11.5L/100km combined ADR 81/
01) and the outgoing Ecotec V6 (11.3), while
virtually matching the class-leading inline six
for peak power.
But neither the base Alloytec or the premium
Alloytec 190 version of Holden’s higher-revving
Global V6 can match the long-stroke Falcon
engine’s benchmark 380Nm torque peak.
With cylinder dimensions of 94 x 85.6mm
(Falcon: 92 x 99mm), the 60-degree, 3.564-litre
24-valve DOHC Alloytec V6 features variable
inlet valve timing to deliver 175kW at 6000rpm
(Falcon: 182kW at 5000rpm) and 320Nm of
torque from just 2800rpm (Falcon: 380Nm at
3250rpm).
That’s 14 per cent more peak power than the
outgoing Ecotec V6 and a specific output of
48.6kW per litre.
Alloytec produces 90 per cent of its torque
between 1600 and 5400rpm.
Benefitting from the addition of variable valve
timing for all four camshafts and a two-stage inlet
manifold, Alloytec 190 produces peaks of 190kW
at 6500rpm and 340Nm at 3200rpm – bettering
Falcon for power but not torque.
While Alloytec 190 produces 90 per cent of
its torque between 1570 and 5870rpm (a 59 per
cent increase over the supercharged Ecotec V6 it
replaces), it also delivers 11 per cent more power
than the SV6.
For the full report, go to
www.goauto.com.au from this afternoon

POWER:
GLOBAL V6 VERSUS RIVALS The power pair
Alloytec (3.6): 175kW @ 6000rpm Continued from previous page
Alloytec 190 (3.6): 190kW @ 6500rpm GoAuto understands Commodore’s new, locally-built
Ectotec V6 (3.8): 152kW @ 5200rpm V6 is considerably more expensive per unit than the
Falcon (4.0): 182kW @ 5000rpm Buick-based Ecotec V6 it replaces, but Holden insiders
Magna (3.5): 155kW @ 5250rpm claim Commodore’s resulting price increase won’t be as
Avalon (3.0): 145kW @ 5200rpm dramatic as some reports have suggested.
Camry (3.0): 141kW @ 5200rpm While the reveal of Holden’s two-tiered V6 engine
and (auto) transmission strategy disproves some media
TORQUE: theories that Commodore would continue exclusively
Alloytec: 320Nm @ 2800rpm with either its current four-speed auto or a locally-built
Alloytec 190: 340Nm @ 3200rpm unit similar to the sequential-shift four-speed auto found
Ecotec: 305Nm @ 3600rpm in Falcon, it could also prove to have valuable marketing
Falcon: 380Nm @ 3250rpm and cost-saving advantages.
Magna: 316Nm @ 4000rpm Commodore’s most direct rival Falcon currently sells
Alloytec 190 produces peaks of
Avalon: 284Nm @ 4400rpm 190kW at 6500rpm and 340Nm at at $33,860 in base XT manual form, rising to $34,660 for
Camry: 279Nm @ 4400rpm 3200rpm. the auto. VYII Commodore pricing starts at $31,970, but
becomes $34,990 with auto and air-conditioning.

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e GoAuto -news J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 Page 3

Ford commits With interest

from China
to Fairlane fix By BRUCE NEWTON
THE new Territory cross-over
and LTD have generated interest
both from the public and Ford
Motor China while on display in
Beijing at Auto China 2004.
But Ford Australia president
FORD Australia is determined to fight its way back Tom Gorman cautioned: “It’s a
into the locally manufactured long wheelbase luxury long walk from interest to oppor-
market with Fairlane and LTD, it just hasn’t finalised tunity”.
how it is going to do it yet. Mr Gorman was at China’s
Company president Tom Gorman has identified biggest motor show primarily
the performance of his LWB models as one of the for regional Ford meetings, but
two main sales problems he faces, the other being also because of the unveiling
the Focus. of the Ford Focus sedan con-
While the small car issue can be addressed in the cept, which was worked on at
short term with pricing and deals, and next year by the Broadmeadows.
arrival of the second generation Focus, Mr Gorman While Ford is a late entrant into
admits the Fairlane/LTD is a harder nut to crack. the booming Chinese market, it
But the company is considering some changes to is making a huge effort to catch
flow through in 2005. up with the Focus the highlight
“Long wheelbase is not a huge volume for us, but it of its Beijing presence, while
is very important to us,” Mr Gorman said. LWB, the styling similarity to the short wheelbase cars the Territory and LTD made up a
“I am personally – and we are as a company – com- inside and out has played an important role in sales not substantial support act. The two
mitted to it. We have not done a good job there and we lifting significantly. Australian-built cars have stayed
need to fix that – and we are working on it. “We’ve done a lot of market research and that (styl- in China for more assessment.
“Next year you will see some stuff if we are going ing) has been raised as one issue but there are some “Interest (from Ford Motor
to do it … We haven’t pulled the trigger on anything, things you can fix and some things you can’t, and China) was in both LWB sedan
we are still evaluating at this point. It isn’t just pricing exterior changes are very difficult in the short term,” and Territory, so the interest
… because price elasticity isn’t as severe here as it is in Mr Gorman said. was in the platform, because if
the small car segment or the light segment.” “But there are some things we can do and we are you do the platform you can do
The AU series Fairlane and LTD were hammered by looking at all of them. So we are taking that very seri- whatever you want,” Mr Gorman
the W-car based Holden Statesman and Caprice from ously even though the volume is small. We have got a said.
their release just months apart in 1999, as our chart “There is definitely interest but
lot of people working on it at the moment.
which traces sales since 2000 shows. it is far too early to say if any-
“It’s an important part of what we present in the
thing comes of it. But I think the
The Fairlane and LTD were upgraded with new market and I don’t think we can exit it.
encouraging thing for Australia
exterior and interior treatments and much of the BA “I think we have to make it work, and if you don’t
is that we were there.”
Falcon’s mechanical package in July 2003, with a get on it and talk yourself into it not being important,
Mr Gorman said the next step
sporty G220 Fairlane V8 model new to the range. then you spiral down. If you are not there the other guy
would be up to the chairman &
While they drew widespread praise for improved is going to make hay in that segment and we have to CEO of Ford Motor China, Mei
dynamics and sound isolation compared to the AU make sure that we stay competitive there.” Wei Cheng.

Ford LWB v Holden LWB sales

June 20 Dec 2003 Dec 2002 Dec 2001 Dec 2000
Fairlane 1095 (317)* 2389 2001 2306 2779
Statesman 1822 (2256) 4363 4347 4971 5566

LTD 72 (8) 146 100 149 297

Caprice 532 (239) 1061 611 547 804
* June 2003 in brackets
Territory in Beijing

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 John Mellor's

GoAuto e -news J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 Page 4

VZ Commodore
breaks cover
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS
UNDISGUISED images of the still secret new
Holden VZ Commodore have been published
on the independent LS1.com.au Holden fan
website.
The photos were taken by an LS1
reader on a mobile phone camera in Port
Melbourne last month. The car does not
go on sale until August.
The ‘scoop’ shots are the latest to
embarrass Holden leading up to a major
Commodore release. In 2002 official PR
photographs of the VY model leaked onto the
web after the “long lead” media launch.
The recent SS pictures show it painted in a new
lively blue hue very similar to that found on the
current Ford Falcon BA XR series.
Much of the speculation centring around the VZ
has concerned its new HFV6 drivetrain, but very
little about the revised Holden’s look has come out
until now.
These spy photos reveal a slightly more rounded
nose with the bonnet and bumper sitting flush with
one another in profile.
The bonnet now houses a “bull nosed” raised
centre section (to accommodate the new engines)
that runs the length of the larger grille.
LEFT: The LS1 website featuring spy photos of the VZ Commodore.
The grille shape itself is a development of the VY
SS’, but now looks like a “Holdenised” version of the
five-point Mazda grille.
As in today’s VY II, the Holden logo sits in the
middle of a black single horizontal bar, although for
the VZ the badge is significantly larger.
The raised grille section forms part of a vertical 2005
Audi A6-style snout that runs down below the front
number plate valance to also incorporate an equally
sized bumper air dam.
New, significantly larger rectangular headlights
featuring new rounded lenses (that include semi-clear
indicators) complete the nose job.
In the high-series SS model pictured, the current VY
II’s small round “running lights” disappear.
It appears the front mudguards are also new. The SS
features a very Aston Martin-like air-vent
complete with a chromed horizontal bar through it.
It may contain the indicator repeater that used to live
there.
Redesigned tail-lights, now incorporating three circles
within the VY II’s triangular housing, complete the
VZ SS’ look. An oversized “SS” script lives in the
bottom right hand corner of the boot lid, just above
the bumper bar.
The VZ is the final styling update of the V-car
platform based Commodore before the all-new Zeta
architecture-based VE arrives in the first half of 2006.

Kia aims to be the Number One from Korea

KIA has set itself the heady target of becoming the biggest South
Korean player in the Aussie new vehicle market, by doubling its
sales from just under 18,000 in 2003 to 35,000 in 2005.
If achieved it would cement the company in the top 10 sellers
list. Based on 2003 VFACTS sales results, Kia would also eclipse
highly respected brands like Honda and Subaru as well as out-pace
traditional South Korean number one Hyundai.
This year Kia Automotive Australia expects to sell 27,000 vehi-
cles, up from an initial estimate of 25,000 sales, which will ensure it
finishes top 10 for the first time in a 12-month period in Australia.
KAA boss Ric Hull – who has previously achieved big sales
results with both Hyundai and Daewoo in Australia – based
his bullish growth estimate on the continued supply of new
products and a refurbished dealer network now marching past
110 outlets.
He said Kia was unlikely to go through the same boom and bust
cycle as its two South Korean rivals because it employed a different
product strategy.
“If you look back at Hyundai’s performance it really was all
Excel, and all three-door Excel,” Mr Hull said. “They have a ter-
rible problem if the bloom goes off the Excel rose and I think that’s
exactly what happened. The other trick is to make sure you put the
infrastructure in, particularly into your network, as you grow.”
More impetus should be provided from this month by the Cerato
small sedan, which starts at $18,990 driveaway and is forecast to
sell at 400 per month, as well as an updated Pregio.
The all-new monocoque chassis Sportage compact SUV is
launched at the Sydney motor show in October and goes on sale in
November, with 4000 sales forecast per annum.
Next year comes a new generation Carnival people-mover, long
wheelbase Sorento, the hatchback version of Cerato and an all-new
Rio replacement. All are scheduled for October or later. Ric Hull

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 John Mellor's
GoAuto e -news
New and
facelifted
versions of
key models
could triple
sales
Citroen shakes it up
By MARTON PETTENDY
A FACELIFTED C5 sedan and new C4 small
car will spearhead a major shake-up for Citroen
Australia, which will undergo an extensive dealer
network expansion as the French brand strives
to triple sales volumes within just a couple of
years.
Citroen’s first all-new cab off the rank will be
the quirky C3 Pluriel, which can morph between
five different bodystyles and will go on sale here
in September in a single, 1.6-litre Sensodrive
specification. Despite being expected to undercut
Peugeot’s popular entry level 206CC at under
$35,000, it should attract niche sales numbers
only.
Citroen’s first hope for a significant sales lift
will come from its facelifted C5 medium sedan,
which will debut at the Paris motor show in
September before going on sale here in January
next year.
It will feature a new 2.2-litre version of its
popular 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine offering more
power and torque, and is expected to increase C5
sales substantially. To May this year 285 C5s had
been sold, down from 344 during the same period
last year.
Also making its debut at Paris will be Citroen’s
all-new small car, the C4. To be available here in
both 1.6 and 1.9-litre guise around June 2005, fol-
lowing its local premiere at the Melbourne motor
show, C4 will replace the slow selling Xsara as
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Citroen’s small car competitor for new premium
small cars like Renault’s Megane.
Unlike the ageing Xsara line-up, which ranges
from the 83kW/150Nm 1.6 VTR coupe at $23,990
to the 124kW/196Nm 2.0 VTS coupe at $32,990,
C4 is expected to become the top-selling Citroen
here. To May 2004, Citroen had sold just 40 Xsara
hatches and 51 coupes – down from 75 and 82
respectively in the same period last year.
WHAT'S COMING
All-new Pluriel 1.6 Sensodrive
– September 2004
Facelifted C5 sedan – January 2005
New C4 small car – June 2005
New C6 large sedan – 2006
C4 is critical to Citroen Australia’s hopes of
increasing annual sales from a current 2800 to
some 9000 units – or around one per cent of the
Australian market.
“I think we did around 2300 (units) with
Citroen last year and we’ll do 2800 this year,” said
Citroen importer Ateco Automotive's governing
director Neville Crichton.
“That’s a big jump from where we were. We
certainly need to open more Citroen dealerships
around the country, so you’ll see a serious push for
the Citroen brand over the next 18 months to two
years – with both dealerships and volumes.”
To May this year Citroen sales of 980 were
K cker
Y
E
Tr a
J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 Page 5
C3 Pluriel
lineball with 2003, but will fall short of the
company’s forecast. Underestimation of the new
C2 hatch’s popularity Down Under, which will
see its sales restricted to between 15 and 18 per
month for the remainder of the year, won’t help
matters.
The company’s order book far exceeds those
sales volumes at the rate of around 40 per month,
and so far just 71 C2s have been delivered.
“That’s probably our own fault – we didn’t
see the thing excelling at the rate it has,” said Mr
Crichton.
Citroen Australia will also consider importing
a forthcoming higher performance version of
C2, along with another Paris debutante, the C3
Stop and Start – featuring for the first time on a
petrol engine a shutdown function when stopped,
for up to a claimed 10 per cent reduction in fuel
consumption.
While the on-again/off-again Xsara-based
Picasso compact people-mover now appears
unlikely for sale here, further afield there’s also
the replacement for Citroen’s V6-powered XM
large sedan not sold here since June 2000.
But in the meantime Citroen will make hay with
a free supply of its car-based Berlingo commercial
for the first time since its launch earlier this year,
and will push the cause with a limited-time offer
of $15,990 – about $2000 off. A new sliding door
version will be available at $16,740. Berlingo sales
to May totalled 172 – up from 139 during the same
period last year.
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John Mellor's

GoAuto e -news J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 Page 6

Fiat Stilo Abarth

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financial centres.
under cloud
By MARTON PETTENDY
THE future of Fiat passenger cars in Australia
looks grim, if comments by the man who holds
the local distribution rights for the Italian brand
are any guide.
Asked at the recent Alfa Romeo GT launch
what the likely timeframe for the return of pas-
senger car sales here was, Ateco Automotive
governing director Neville Crichton said: “I’m
not prepared to comment. I don’t know.”
Reminded that 2006 was Ateco’s most recent
estimate for the relaunch of Fiat here, Mr Crichton
said: “Yeah, I’d like to think it would be earlier
than that but I guess we’ve got to see where Fiat’s
going too. I mean it costs us a fortune to launch a
new brand ... and to suddenly find someone else
owns Fiat.
“At this stage Fiat passenger cars aren’t coming
but as the new models come on stream we will
evaluate it. We’re being cautious.”
At present the Ducato two-tonne van, 500 of
which are expected to be sold this year, is the only
Fiat product currently imported by Ateco.
And despite a raft of new and forthcoming
models from the financially troubled Italian
brand, the Australian dollar’s weak conversion
rate with the Euro could see it stay that way.
According to Ateco spokesman Edward Rowe,
the Euro dollar has to be around 68 Australian
cents to both launch Fiat in Australia and to
make it competitive with brands like Ateco’s own
Alfa Romeo. It is currently around the 55 to 56
Australian cent mark.
Specifically, if imported, the recently facelifted
Stilo Abarth, for example, must undercut Alfa’s
147 entry model, as it does in New Zealand. A
new Punto Abarth and the Trepiuno Abarth are
also being considered and two of these models
have already undergone expensive modification
programs to meet Australia’s stringent design
rules estimated at $500,000 per model.
It is believed Ateco has developed a bolt-in
child restraint system, the final hurdle in ADR
homologation of the new models, as a back-up
if new international vehicle standards (that are
expected to harmonise with ADRs and should
certify Fiat models’ Isofix child restraint system)
developed by UN-sanction group Working Party
29 fail to materialise.

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John Mellor's

GoAuto e -news J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 Page 7

http://www.professional.goauto.com.au

SUV backlash could be costly

We warned subscribers two weeks ago about European anti-SUV sentiment and the risk of it
spreading to the Australian media. Now the SUV owner abuse tactics are getting a life of their
own in this market.
GoAuto Professional comments on the kind of insults being used to deter buyers from SUVs
and what companies have the most to lose – and to gain – from a fully-fledged frenzy if SUV
abuse were to gain momentum in the chattering media.
There is serious investment in SUVs in the market and the industry needs to be looking at the
cost of the downside. Finance companies – especially – need to watch this one closely.

New Man At Mazda Outlines

Game Plan
Service saved Mazda when times were tough and now
service is on the agenda again. Doug Dixon has taken
the reins at Mazda Australia and sees the workshop as
fundamental to the company’s future. Stories and a full
interview in GoAuto Professional.

It Doesn’t Get Any Easier

Malcolm Gough’s parting shot for dealers: It will get
tougher from here.
As the former Mazda Australia chief moves on to
a senior assignment in Hiroshima, he tells dealers
they have serious challenges ahead.
GoAuto Professional details his main areas of
concern.
For the full report go to
www.professional.goauto.com.au

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 John Mellor's
GoAuto e -news
Double
up for
Astra
By BRUCE NEWTON
HOLDEN will continue to sell a cut-price
“TS” Astra Classic sourced from Poland
alongside the new generation “AH” ver-
sion when it is launched here in the fourth
quarter of 2004.
There is no end date put on release of the
Classic because it comes from the Gliwice
plant where production is ongoing, rather than
GM’s Antwerp plant, the traditional source for
Aussie Astras.
The Classic has been on sale since the start of
July as a sedan and five-door hatchback.
Selling the old model in tandem with the new
version is rare in Australia, but an accepted mar-
keting strategy overseas.
While it is sometimes done when moving to a
new nameplate, in this case it signals a price rise
for the new Astra.
It also reflects Holden’s desire to offer buyers
more than one Astra bodystyle, as AH will ini-
tially only be available as a five-door hatchback.
This is also the latest in a series of revisions
that Holden has introduced in the new financial
year, slashing the price of the Barina light car and
the Adventra V8 cross-over.
These moves are an obvious sign of Holden’s
determination to get back on terms in the sales
race with Toyota, the clear market leader.
Maintaining Astra volume is an important part
of such a strategy.
It is Holden’s second most popular model
and has run a consistent number two to Toyota’s
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Holden plans to sell the current Astra
alongside the new version
Corolla in the small car segment.
The Classic hatch and sedan will sell from
$18,990 while the CD Classic sedan will start
from $21,990, both now with standard air-condi-
tioning, while the CD also gets ABS and traction
control.
Automatic transmission is a $2000 option for
both models.
This is introductory pricing, with the actual
RRP set at $19,990 and $22,990 respectively,
although Holden is not saying when the offer
expires.
That’s still below the outgoing pricing though.
Currently the City five-door officially retails for
$20,990 and the CD sedan for $23,990. Air-con-
ditioning adds $1880.
The Astra Convertible will remain on sale
while the other TS Astra models – CDX, SXi,
three-door SRi and SRi Turbo – will be phased
out over the coming months.
Both Astra Classic models are powered by a
92kW 1.8 DOHC four-cylinder engine, teamed
with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic
transmission.
Other standard features include driver and pas-
senger airbags, pyrotechnic seatbelt pretensioners
Automotive
S T A R T Y O U R T
Road test editor: Marton Pettendy Production: Malcolm Livermore
Editor: Bruce Newton Advertising manager: Steve Butcher – phone: 0419 562 110
J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 Page 8
Astra
Classic
and six-speaker Blaupunkt CD stereo.
Astra CD Classic gets 15-inch alloy wheels,
while the base model upgrades from 14-inch to
15-inch steel wheels as part of a $990 option pack
that also includes ABS, traction control and front
and rear power windows.
There are no significant deletions from either
version.
In a press release, Holden’s marketing man-
ager passenger cars, Alan Blazevic, said the Astra
Classics would enable Holden to continue to
cover various price points and suit the broadest
possible range of Astra buyers.
“Astra is a consistently popular performer and
remains Holden’s second biggest-selling pas-
senger car. Holden has sold more than 120,000
Astras since the TS was introduced in 1998,” Mr
Blazevic said.
“The reaction to the new AH Astra in Europe
has been fantastic and we believe there will be a
place for both bodystyles in the Australian market
when it is released here.
“We will introduce the AH model in hatch
bodystyle, as we did with the current Astra. The
range will be extended over time as they become
available from Europe.”
info@ausautoauctions.com.au
9715 4028
R A D I N G !
Graphics: Norm Robinson
John Mellor's

GoAuto e -news J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 Page 9

http://www.professional.goauto.com.au

Toyota 2004 June Week ending

Week ending 05/06 12/06 19/06 26/06 Total
Counting Toyota Eyeballs
By JOHN MELLOR lowest of any Toyota model despite
Readership a massive advertising campaign built
ONE unique feature of the internet is around Toyota as the friend of the
2301 1674 340 195
News 4510 that it can literally count the eyeballs
41.22% 32.49% 8.64% 6.9% environment.
reading the content – as this table of Interest in Kluger remains stronger
393 300 1699 361
Future Models 2753 Toyota readership for June shows. than in Prado and Camry.
4.06% 3.1% 17.03% 5.07%
The table reveals the number of More than 2100 requests were made
2095 1451 675 533 Toyota new model stories and car
New Models 4754 to read about the facelifted Corolla in
25.89% 16.26% 8.58% 6.21%
reviews requested by readers of GoAuto the first week of June – a record for any
1148 1331 1117 973 Online across 13 different websites
Latest Car Reviews 4569 Toyota model.
8.4% 9.34% 8.69% 8.53% – three of which are in the top 10 auto The high news readership reflected
Previous Model Car 51 113 86 64 web sites in Australia.
Reviews 5.68% 10.54% 8.34% 6.52%
314 strong interest in the Sportivo Coupe
The figures reflect the number of concept car being sent to Japan.
Total
5988 4869 3917 2126
16900
stories requested by week for each You can view these tables for each
15.79% 12.46% 10.98% 6.88% Toyota model and are an indictor of the car company by going to GoAuto
level of interest Toyota is generating in
Latest Car Reviews and New Model articles Professional and clicking on GoAuto
those vehicles in the marketplace. Stats at:
Avalon 87 66 47 54 The share of readership reflects the www.professional.goauto.com.au
Avensis 47 55 22 21 private market and user chooser buyers,
Camry 137 170 164 156 rather than a company’s total market
Celica 46 34 20 30 share.
Therefore a company like Toyota, with
Corolla 2152 1505 721 596
a very large element of government and
Echo 100 125 103 65 business fleet purchasing, has a lower
HiLux 80 65 73 58 share of GoAuto Online readership
Kluger 190 279 209 208 than overall sales share because
LandCruiser 100 74 77 67 48 many business fleets still stipulate the
LandCruiser 78 17 23 20 9
company car their employees can drive.
These GoAuto Stats show for the
LandCruiser Prado 170 185 165 131
first time that marketers can measure
MR2 16 20 15 13 the actual interest they are generating in
Prius 11 10 13 11 one of their products.
RAV4 77 120 117 71 No other media can produce this
Spacia 14 15 9 6 data in such detail. The table at left
shows the on-going weekly interest
Tarago 25 33 27 29
for a car like the Prius remains the

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John Mellor's

GoAuto e -news J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 Page 10

UP CLOSE on PERSONNEL
MAZDA SALES MANAGER
VINESH Bhindi has been appointed Mazda Australia’s national
vehicle sales manager, replacing Doug Dickson, who is now
managing director.
Mr Bhindi will coordinate dealer planning, stock control,
government and direct sales and sales planning.
A Mazda veteran of almost 10 years, Mr Bhindi has spent the
past three years as national sales support manager, during
which time he managed Mazda’s sales programs.
Fiona Dickson has been appointed Mazda’s national service
manager. In this newly created role, Ms Dickson will coordinate
First look at Colt figure
a number of previously independent areas including technical MITSUBSIHI has given us the first official look at the production
services and warranty, customer service, learning and version of its brand new three-door Colt, and confirmed a turbo
development and service development. hot hatch tops the range.
Ms Dickson has been with Mazda for just over three years. The Colt CZ3 will be revealed in the metal for the first time at the
Paris motor show in September, before going on sale in Europe
early in 2005.
PORSCHE BY DESIGN Arrival in Australia, let alone an on-sale date, is yet to be
ROLAND Heiler has been appointed managing director of
confirmed, but there’s no doubt that Mitsubishi’s local division
Porsche Design GmbH, Zell am See, and head of its Porsche
wants the car. REPORT: CLICK HERE
design studio. Based in Zell am See, Austria, Porsche Design is
responsible for Porsche fashion and accessories.
Since 1984 Mr Heiler, 46, has held various positions as a
SAABURU CROSS-OVER VEHICLE
SUBARU and Saab have announced they will extend their vehicle collaboration
designer at Porsche. In 1997 he moved to Audi AG as its head
to jointly develop a new cross-over vehicle to be built at Subaru’s Indiana plant
of exterior.
in the US.
In 2000 Mr Heiler returned to Porsche where he became the
While the first joint offering by the two companies was a badge-engineered
head designer in the Porsche styling studio in Huntington Beach,
Impreza WRX called the 9-2X aimed at the US market, this latest project is
California, before being made its manager two years later.
being presented as a ground-up co-operation that will have a much higher degree
Fashion and accessories designer Christophe Blondin, 36, who
of separation.
has already worked for brands such as Lanvin, Lagerfeld and
While the 9-2X attracted controversy and has been barred from local sale
Kenzo, will also join the team in Zell am See as design director
because of the opposition of Subaru, Saab Australia is hopeful this latest co-
fashion.
venture will make its way to Australia, even though at its core it will still be a
Karsten Martens, 41, managing director of the French
Subaru product.
accessories manufacturer Montblanc in North America since
Subaru Australia is seeking further information from Japan before making any
1997, has been appointed head of Porsche Design of America,
comment about this latest project.
a newly formed subsidiary based in New York.
“We’ll have some discussions with them in the next month or so on that issue,”
said company general manager Nick Senior.
RICE FOR CHINA Saab is a fully-owned General Motors subsidiary, while GM holds a 20 per cent
BOB Rice has been appointed China manager of Fiat Auto, stake in Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries.
directly reporting to Gianni Coda, president of the Fiat/Lancia Meanwhile, Saab has ditched plans to bring a turbo-diesel version of the 9-3
business unit. sedan to Australia. The new 1.9 TiD version has just been launched in Europe
Mr Rice takes over the position from Flavio Ciappa, who will but a study ruled it would be to expensive to set up for here, with training the
assume other responsibilities within Fiat Auto in Italy. biggest cost hurdle to overcome.
Fiat Auto’s presence in China is centered on Nanjing Fiat, a
50-50 joint-venture between Fiat Auto and Yuejin Motor Group. MITSUBISHI ANNOUNCES RECALL
Mr Rice, 54, has spent more than 20 years in Asia, where MITSUBISHI Motors Australia has announced that 288 WA Starwagon
he has accumulated experience in various fields of the metal people-movers built before September 1994 will be voluntarily recalled in
and automotive industries including sales and marketing, Australia as part of the global recall of 164,000 vehicles announced in Japan
strategy development and project implementation, and alliance/ on June 2, 2004. These are the only vehicles in Australia affected by this
partnership management. announcement. It has been established that there is a possibility that the left-
From 1993 to 2003 he held numerous positions with General hand rear brake pipe may contact the shock absorber while driving, and the
Motors in China and in Japan including vice-president and chief brake pipe could be damaged. In the worst case the brake pipe assembly may
representative of GM China in Beijing. leak, resulting in the loss of braking performance.

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 John Mellor's

GoAuto e -news J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 0 4 Page 11

GoAuto latest road test

Toyota Prius i-Tech 5-dr hatch
NOW we have a low-emission, low fuel consumption hybrid car that
makes sense. Almost amazing sense, when you consider that the lat-
est Toyota Prius is priced lower at entry level than the original,
yet offers more of everything including passenger space,
fuel economy and performance. The Toyota petrol-electric
hybrid is a thoroughly useable car of the future that is
not about to scare anybody with its functionality and
general on-road get up and go. If the fuel economy fig-
ures in real-world use prove slightly less than stagger-
ingly good, they are still much better than anything
else with the Prius’ levels of performance and are
accompanied by equal reductions in exhaust emis-
sions. It’s a taste of the future and it’s available at your
local Toyota dealer right now. ROAD TEST: CLICK HERE

The brand has now set itself the target of

TOYOTA OPENS NEW HQ
MORE than 300 business leaders joined Prime
Minister John Howard, Victorian Premier Steve
Bracks and the president of Toyota Motor
Corporation Fujio Cho at the opening of its
new Australian headquarters in Melbourne
yesterday.
The ceremony included speeches from the Prime
Minister, Premier and Mr Cho and musical
performances by Marina Prior and James
Morrison.
The $50 million, three-level building will
accommodate about 340 people in 11,000 square
metres of floor space on the original site where
Toyota began making cars in Australia more than
40 years ago.
CLS GETS
AMG ACTION
MERCEDES-Benz has wasted
no time giving its new CLS
four-door coupe a
performance edge, releasing
first pictures and details of
the 55 AMG version.
REPORT: CLICK HERE
LAUNCH PAD
JULY:
Alfa Romeo 166 sedan facelift
Alfa Romeo GT coupe
BMW X5 4.8is SUV facelift
Kia Cerato sedan
Kia Pregio van facelift
MG ZT220S sedan and wagon
Mitsubishi Magna VR-X AWD sedan
Mitsubishi Outlander SUV facelift
Noble M12 GTO 3R supercar
Ssangyong Chairman sedan
New model diary: CLICK HERE
PEUGEOT PROFIT RECORD
FRENCH manufacturer Peugeot has achieved its
best ever half-year sales result, selling 1.021
million vehicles during the first half-year of
2004 compared with 963,400 in the first
half-year of 2003, an increase of six per cent.
exceeding the best annual result it has ever had
of 1.955 million sales, reached in 2002.
The record half-year performance was achieved
thanks to a 39.1 per cent growth of sales outside
Western Europe (331,000 vehicles sold
compared with 238,100 during the same period
of 2003).
Peugeot is the Australian passenger car market
leader in diesel – not Citroen, as reported last
week. Citroen’s popular C5 HDi turbo-diesel
accounts for more than half of all C5s sold in
Australia, but Peugeot sells about half of all
diesel passenger cars here, with Citroen next
best with a share of about 25 per cent.
PHAETON ‘A MISTAKE’
VOLKSWAGEN CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder has
branded the Phaeton luxury car a “mistake”, just
months before the car’s Australian launch at the
Sydney motor show.
“The Phaeton fails to sell because it is not
distinctive enough,” he was quoted as saying in
the August edition of the UK’s CAR magazine.
“The marketing people said the luxury buyers
would insist on a saloon. That was a mistake.”
He added that Phaeton would continue, but the
second generation “will definitely not be a
normal saloon”.
Dr Pischetsrieder didn’t stop there, adding: “Dr
Piech (Pischetsrieder’s predecessor and current
VW supervisory board chairman Ferdinand
Piech) possibly emphasised engineering too
much, and his predecessor Dr Hahn possibly
emphasised employment too much. My goal is
very clear. It is to make money.”

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