July 2008
July 28th, 2008
General Motors researchers are working on a windscreen that combines lasers, infrared sensors and a camera to enhance what's happening on the road, so drivers with vision problems are able to see more clearly.
In the research stage, the technology will help as the proportion of people over 65 rises and spend more time driving.
The windscreen won't improve vision, but it will make objects stand out that may go unnoticed by an aged eye.
Developers say the technology won't cause drivers to plough into trees. It is enhancing a few objects that are in a driver's view, not splashing distracting information onto the glass.
During a foggy drive, a laser projects a blue line on to the windshield that follows the edge of the road. If infrared sensors detect a person or animal in the driver's path at night, its outline is projected on the windshield to highlight its location.
It is possible because of a transparent coating on the windscreen that lights up when struck by ultraviolet light.
Sensors determine the position of the car in relation to the road, while other devices track the driver's head and eye movement to make sure the image on the windscreen isn't skewed.
Technological issues mean it will be a while before the windscreen goes into production.
GM researcher Thomas Seder says there are sceptics.
“They say, `That would be very frustrating or confusing, to have things on my windscreen. I need to see the world',” Seder says.
“I'm enhancing the world. I'll take a feature that should be important to you, like the edge of the road, and paint a line over the real edge.”
July 28th, 2008
Opel's stunt prior to the 2008 British motor show injected excitement into the launch of their mid-size car.
The launch of the latest Insignia (Vauxhall Vectra in the UK) started with an orb plunging to the ground.
It was hoisted atop the Tower Bridge where it stayed until its mid-week opening revealing the car, which was lowered earthwards … plunging 45m in six seconds.
The Insignia debuts GM's Epsilon2 platform that will underpin future models, including Saab's next-generation 9-3, with front-wheel and all-wheel-drive.
It will be powered by four cylinder and V6 petrol engines and turbo diesels.
Holden wouldn't comment but may be forced to consider the mid-sizer, given that sales of the Daewoo-built Epica match its underwhelming performance.
July 28th, 2008
The GT gets the four-leaf clover badge, 18-inch alloys, red painted calipers, red seat-stitching, other shiny bits and rear parking sensors.
Fitted with the Alfa Romeo 2.0-litre JTS engine from the 156 range, the GT Monza is $53,990 in manual and $55,990 with the manual-matic Selespeed. The 147 also gets 18s, sports seats and chrome bits.
Powered by the 2.0-litre Twin Spark, the three-door 147 Monza is $36,990 for five-speed manual and $38,990 with Selespeed.
For five doors, it's $38,990 (manual) and $40,990 (Selespeed) The diesel is $41,990.
July 26th, 2008
The figures, released this week, show that of 349 vehicles tested there were 26 deemed to have performed “significantly better than average”.
The ratings are produced by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) with help from the RACV, TAC and VicRoads.
The ratings are based on the MUARC team's analysis of more than 3.2 million car crashes in Australia and New Zealand between 1986 and 2006.
That means that unlike the ANCAP testing, which is done under control conditions in a special testing facility, the Used Car Safety Ratings are based on real world accidents.
The survey rates vehicles in five marks: significantly better than average; better than average; average; worse than average; and significantly worse than average.
The ratings expose the myth that larger cars are safer in an accident with bigger cars putting occupants at a greater risk of serious injury in an accident.
Small and medium sized cars fared the best with the smallest category offering up nine cars with the eight medium sized cars pulling the top result.
Once again large cars fared the worst with only the 2002-06 Holden Commodore awarded the significantly better than average honour.
The Subaru Forester 1997-2002 model was the best performer outright in the survey, just ahead of another compact four-wheel-driver, the 1997-2001 Honda CR-V.
Light cars fared badly with none achieving the top rating and only three scoring a better than average mark.
Also performing poorly were commercial vehicles, both vans and utes. Only the Ford Transit van scored better than average across the two categories.
BEST PERFORMING VEHICLES
Subaru Forester 97-02
Honda CR-V 97-01
Ford Explorer 01-05
Mercedes-Benz
M-Class 98-05
Mitsubishi Pajero 00-06
Jeep Cherokee 01-04
Ford Transit 01-06
Holden Commodore 02-06
Mazda6 02-06
Subaru Liberty 99-03
WORST PERFORMING VEHICLES
Daihatsu Rocky 85-98
Toyota Landcruiser 82-89
Holden Rodeo 89-95
Subaru Brumby 82-92
Suzuki Mighty Boy 85-88
Toyota Hiace 87-89
Toyota Hiace 90-95
Daihatsu Handivan 82-90
Holden Scurry/Suzuki Carry 82-00
Toyota Hiace 82-86
LIGHT CARS
BEST PERFORMERS
Mazda 121 97-02
Holden Barina 01-06
Volkswagen Polo 96-00
Daihatsu Sirion 96-04
Toyota Echo 99-05
WORST PERFORMERS
Hyundai Getz 02-06
Suzuki Alto 85-00
Daihatsu Mira 90-96
Subaru Sherpa 89-92
Mitsubishi Mirage 82-88
SMALL CARS
BEST PERFORMERS
Volkswagen Golf 99-04
Mazda3 03-06
Peugeot 306 94-01
Volkswagen Golf 04-06
Peugeot 307 01-06
WORST PERFORMERS
Mitsubishi Cordia 83-87
Nissan Exa 83-86
Nissan NX 91-96
Hyundai Excel 86-90
Honda Civic 84-87
MEDIUM CARS
BEST PERFORMERS
Mazda6 02-06
Subaru Liberty 99-03
BMW 5- Series 96-03
Saab 9000 86-97
Saab 9-3 94-02
WORST PERFORMERS
Mitsubishi Starion 82-87
Holden Camira 82-89
Toyota Corona 82-88
Nissan Bluebird 82-86
Nissan Pintara 89-92
LARGE CARS
BEST PERFORMERS
Holden Commodore 02-06
Ford Falcon 98-02
Ford Falcon 02-06
Holden Commodore 97-02
Mitsubishi Magna 03-06
WORST PERFORMERS
Toyota Supra 82-90
Holden Commodore 82-88
Ford Falcon 82-88
Nissan Skyline 83-88
Mitsubishi Magna 86-90
LARGE 4WD
BEST PERFORMERS
Ford Explorer 01-05
Mercedes M-Class 98-05
Nissan Patrol 98-04
Nissan Patrol 88-97
Toyota Landcruiser 99-06
WORST PERFORMERS
Toyota Landcruiser 82-89
Nissan Patrol 82-87
Toyota Landcruiser 90-97
Range Rover 96-02
Jeep Cherokee 96-99
PEOPLE-MOVERS
BEST PERFORMERS
Mitsubishi Nimbus 99-03
Kia Carnival 99-06
Toyota Tarago 91-99
Honda Odyssey 95-00
Nissan Serena 92-95
WORST PERFORMERS
Mitsubishi Starwagon 83-86
Toyota Tarago 83-89
Mitsubishi Starwagon 87-93
Mazda MPV 94-99
Mitsubishi Starwagon 95-98
July 26th, 2008
Ford is marking the 100th anniversary of the Model T, the first low-priced car that introduced motoring to the masses, at a time when motorists are cringing at the cost of fuel. But a week-long celebration of the Model T in its birthplace offered some nostalgic balm for fans.
About 750 of the iconic vehicles were on display in the US this week in what is being called the largest gathering of Model Ts since they left the factory. Edsel Ford II, great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford, addressed the crowd at Richmond, Indiana, at an opening banquet.
The gathering transformed the Wayne County Fairgrounds into what looked like a movie set for a motion picture depicting life in the early 1900s.
Drivers created Model T traffic jams as they picked their way among the barns. Jay Klehfoth, the CEO of the Model T Ford Club of America, which is based in nearby Centerville, says owners of the Model T are like a big extended family.
“Sometimes we refer to ourselves as the similarly afflicted,” Klehfoth says.
“We recognise we are only temporary custodians of these rolling pieces of history.”
Roger Peterson, 71, of Greeneville, Tennessee, has owned 11 of the Model Ts over the years.
“You don't own just one Model T,” Peterson says. “You buy another one ... and another one ... and another one.”
John Heitmann, a history professor at the University of Dayton who has taught classes on motor vehicle history and its impact on American life, says the Model T is one of the most historically significant cars of the 20th century — and possibly the single most important American car. Henry Ford realised there was a big market for cars, and not just for the wealthy.
He knew people would keep buying them, Heitmann says, adding: “It was kind of the common car for the common person.”
The first production Model T Ford was assembled in Detroit on October 1, 1908. With the development of the sturdy, low-priced car, Henry Ford made his company the biggest in the industry, according to the Henry Ford Museum.
In a span of 19 years, Ford would build 15 million cars with the Model T engine.
The Model T, nicknamed the “Tin Lizzie”, was probably the most important vehicle in leading to social change in America, Heitmann says. It helped transform the nation's cities, enabling residents to move away from the city and create the first ring of suburbs.
Australian celebrations will include a charity drive across Australia in September.
Six of the delicate old vehicles will make the drive across the Nullarbor Plain from Perth to Adelaide, and then possibly on to Melbourne.
But the organiser, Perth businessman Alan Rose, says it won't be a quick trip.
“The 1913 four-seat Tourer has the most powerful engine and a two-speed differential,” he says. “It'll go as fast as 70km/h ... [but] the others will do 50km/h.”
Original plans were to leave on September 7, reaching Adelaide on Sunday, September 14.
However, Ford Australia says it is interested in the convoy continuing on to Melbourne. But this plan is yet to be cemented.
Rose's car was upgraded by its previous, Sydney-based owner. It sports features unavailable for the age of the chassis, including an overhead-valve engine with a proper ignition distributor and a “Buffalo” brake system that combines the braking efficiency of the rear wheels with the transmission.
The rear axle is a two-speed Ruckstell that effectively doubles the number of forward gears to four. It also has wire wheels in place of the standard model's wooden spokes.
It has electric lights, not the factory-issue acetylene lamps. Clearly, the Ferrari of the fleet.
July 25th, 2008
THE Mini brand makes no bones about it: its new cars will be `a pair of red-hot racers for the road'.
Cashing in on the interest of the Mini Challenge race car series around Australia, the new John Cooper Works Mini and Clubman (station wagon) will run high-performance versions of the 1.6-litre engines used to power the familiar Cooper S along with other hot-up bits. Light alloy 17in diameter wheels, red caliper performance brakes and a new exhaust system are part of the go-faster kit on the John Cooper Works versions.
“These cars will bring the thrill of the race track to the road,” says Mini national manager Justin Hocevar. “We are excited that these red-hot models will be coming to Australia at the same time as our Mini Challenge race series will be showcasing Mini handling and performance prowess at race tracks around Australia.”
The engine has been uprated to generate 155kW of power at 6000rpm - not bad from a 1.6-litre motor. Torque is a good 260Nm on tap from 1850rpm to 5600rpm. But there's an over-boost system in the turbocharging, allowing a temporary 280Nm between 2000rpm and 5300rpm.
The engines use aluminium cylinder blocks and bearing housings, twin camshafts and exhaust valves filled with sodium to better handle the cooling requirements.
The John Cooper Works cars have reinforced and specially-ground pistons and special material for intake valves and valve seat rings to make them more resilient. The two-door and Clubman wagon have aero packages and sports chassis of springs finished in red, as well as rear spoilers and perforated brake discs.
Mini says the cars are the first front-wheel drives to have the Dynamic Stability Control from parent company BMW.
It allows the threshold at which these systems intervene to be raised, so allowing an amount of slip on the driving wheels. Stability control can be switched off, too.
The standard Mini Cooper is no slug, especially if the road has some tighter twists and turns. It will accelerate to 100km/h in 9.1 seconds and run to 203km/h. The Cooper S does the sprint in 7.1 seconds on the way to 225km/h. The John Cooper version clocks 6.5 seconds and 238km/h or in the Clubman wagon 6.8 seconds and 238km/h. The Clubman weighs 75kg more than the two-door.
The John Cooper Works versions get a six-speed manual gearbox (no auto option) that has been beefed up to take the high torque loads.
They are performance cars but are still gentle on petrol use and emissions. The two-door Works car averages 6.9 litres/100km and the Clubman 7 litres/100km. Emissions are 165g/km and 167g/km.
July 25th, 2008
The mid-engined Mastretta MXT sportscar — the first car designed and built in Mexico — is capable of 240km/h and does 0-100km/h in less than five seconds.
National pride as well as a burning ambition for their new car motivates the Mastretta brothers, Carlos and Daniel, who have taken the car from idea through concept to reality.
“We needed to create a great car because Mexico has no tradition of sophisticated sports car manufacturing,” says Daniel Mastretta.
“It is most important that our customers are delighted by the new MXT. That's what we aimed to do from the first drawing of the car, but we also want to make our country proud of the MXT and to show the world what we can do.”
Carlos Mastretta said there was a chance the car could come to Australia. “It is a market where we would like to have presence,” he said. “The car will be right-hand drive so that may help.”
Mastretta-Tecnoidea has designed a host of products from buses to oil bottles and has built a Beetle-based coupe, dune buggy and a faux 1962 Corvette from a VWBeetle and GM components.
But the 900kg two-seater MXT coupe is the first fully designed car they have produced.
It is powered by a Ford Duratec two-litre 178kW turbocharged four-cylinder engine and will sell in the US and Europe for between $55,000 and $67,000.
Constructed from bonded aluminium, the semi-monocoque chassis features aircraft-style technology. Closed mould techniques sculpt the body from fibreglass and the air-conditioned interior is leather-trimmed.
It features 293mm ventilated brake discs with ABS and double wishbone suspension front and rear.
See: www.mastrettadesign.com
Mastretta MXT
PRICE: $67,700
ENGINE: Ford Duratec 2-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder 2.3-litre 16-valve, four-cylinder
POWER: 178kW
TORQUE: 250Nm
POWER/WEIGHT: 267kW/tonne
DIMENSIONS: (mm) 3900 (l), 1790 (w), 1150 (h)
TYRES: 205/45 R17 (front), 235/45 R17 (rear)
WEIGHT: 900kg
July 25th, 2008
The ageing Australian population is reducing demand for traditional Aussie sixes.
Fuel prices have hit hard in the Falcon-Commodore-Aurion class, slashing sales and contributing to demand for LPG conversions, but new research also points to a change in buying patterns.
Demand for traditional family cars is falling with younger buyers, according to Roy Morgan Research.
It says there is a growing divide between young and old.
Its latest research reveals the percentage of 25 to 34-year-olds among people intending to buy a new large car has been in steady decline in the past five years, and now represents only 16 per cent of car-buying `intenders'.
The percentage of large-car `intenders' for people over 50 has grown from 32 to 40 per cent during the same period.
“Some may consider this shift in age group to be a positive in the context of Australia's ageing population, because there will be more potential buyers in the older age groups, but the bad news for the local manufacturers is that the older owners are hanging on to their cars much longer,” says Sak Ryopponen, of Roy Morgan.
“The 65-plus age group are the least likely to have bought their vehicle one year ago and most likely to have bought it nine or more years ago, followed by the 50-64 age group.”
Research also shows buyers in the Gen-X age group are being drawn to imported cars.
They are also looking much more closely at greener car choices, including diesels.
“It would seem that the days of the traditional Falcon versus Kingswood/Commodore families are rapidly becoming folklore rather than fact,” Ryopponen says.
“Our research shows professional young urban males in particular are more likely to be opting for the likes of smaller Euro diesels, rather than following their father's brand and model loyalty in the large-car segment. As Australia's population continues to age, the challenge for the local manufacturers is to bring younger buyers back into large cars, otherwise they face a continuing decline of private purchases.”
He says changes to powerplants in the locally made cars, with Holden about to introduce cylinder de-activation on the Commodore and Toyota committed to a Camry hybrid from 2010, are a step in the right direction.
July 24th, 2008
July 23rd, 2008
This is the car HSV always wanted to build – the W427 -- and now we just have to wait and see whether they’ll get to build 427 of them.
What we do know is that 2008’s allocation of 90 sold out within three weeks.
After it debuted at Melbourne Motor Show earlier this year, more 1500 expressions of interest were taken from dealer and website enquires.
Applicants supplied information about themselves, and were essentially auditioned for their chance to buy the car.
Of the first 90 cars, 57 were allocated at one each to the 57 HSV dealers around Australia. But if a dealer has 15 orders, he’s been forced to decide which lucky customer will get the car.
The cars will be built to order only, not built for stock, and that means there’ll be no test drives at the dealership.
All vehicles will be delivered with a W427 certificate and a letter from Tom Walkinshaw, and all owners will be invited to HSV’s production line at Clayton to view the build process, and given special W427 desk sets so that even people who haven’t seen the owner’s garage will know what’s in there.
And some of those cars are destined to stay in those garages, undriven, with the buyers betting they’ll simply rise in value.
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