The fastest car to emerge from the hot Holden shop is now pegged at a production run of 200 cars, and not the 427 optimistically forecast when the car was launched earlier this year.
HSV believes the 200 cap will be a better deal for its owners, as it has held limited-edition numbers to a similar level in the past.
"Today's announcement clarifies the final build number for this ambitious, ground breaking program," says HSV's managing director, Phil Harding.
"With the W427 we have designed, built and sold our most exclusive vehicle ever.
Production has already reached 95 cars and there are up to 40 orders in the pipeline at Clayton, where HSV created a special mini production line to create the 7-litre monster.
Final orders will be taken in June and Harding confirms the price will be held at $155,500.
While the W427 program will finish by the end of '09, Harding does not rule out something similar in coming years.
The Malaysian maker has been searching for a 'big brother' for more than three years and has finally gone back where it began, linking to the Japanese company which helped to establish Proton in the 1980s.
It is a product connection with benefits on both sides, as Mitsubishi gets access to Proton's small cars and factory in Malaysia and its renewed partner can tap into a Japanese source for larger, semi-luxury cars.
The new deal has only just been completed and and details are being kept secret.
"It's too early to be saying anything. These are long-term model plans which obviously need to stay confidential," says the CEO of Proton Cars Australia, John Startari.
Proton originally intended to create a strategic partnership with Volkswagen for Asia but, when that plan floundered off the back of political infighting in Malaysia, it spoke to many other companies including Peugeot, Fiat and — through Holden — General Motors.
It eventually settled on a deal with Mitsubishi as it prepares to spend more than $1.8 billion over the next five years on future models.
"It's good news. It secures a technology partner for Proton," says Startari.
"It's also a company that Proton knows well and is a strong and credible partner."
Proton is likely to do the work for a shared city car, which would become the replacement for its current Savvy, with Mitsubishi lining up a replacement for the Waja which could be based on its new Lancer.
The Malaysian company also plans to tap Mitsubishi's experience to improve its quality and design vehicles which will be more acceptable outside its home country.
While the deal is an obvious win for Proton, Startari says the company is doing surprisingly well despite poor sales in Australia.
"Proton is one of the few companies anywhere in the world that's making a profit right now," he says.
While Proton is struggling for cut-through in Australia, it is pushing ahead with new-model plans including its first people mover. It is about to go into production in Malaysia but local demand will delay its arrival downunder.
"We will definitely be getting the MPV, but it won't be coming until 2010," says Startari.
Ford Australia and GM Holden are waiting to hear the outcome of a last- ditch appeal by their American parents for $15 billion in critical short-term funding to prevent them going into bankruptcy.
"We don't know how it could play out if they fail. That's not a prospect that anyone wants to contemplate," the chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Andrew McKellar, said yesterday.
"The fortunes of all the local manufacturers are intrinsically tied to their global parents. The situation for the American companies is obviously extremely serious. They are not bluffing."
There is no direct threat to either Ford Australia or GM Holden, and company chiefs insist there is no crisis at Broadmeadows or Fishermans Bend, but the drama in the American motor industry continues to create ripples of confidence in Australia.
"It is business as usual. But it is ever-more imperative that we continue to sell our cars and run our business correctly," the spokesperson for Ford Australia, Sinead McAlary, said yesterday.
"At Holden it's business as usual, just as it has been throughout the entire US process. We are continuing our efforts to address local market conditions," said Jonathan Rose of GM Holden.
The 'Big Three' have appealed to President Bush for bridging loans to carry them through the first half of 2009 after the American Senate voted-down their original proposal for a bail-out. New-vehicle sales in the USA have collapsed as a result of the American financial meltdown, with analysts forecasting a 17-million market will drop to around 10 million next year.
Chrysler, which is only an importer here, will also be affected by any decision in Washington.
"I don't know very much," Chrysler Australia's managing director, Gerry Jenkins, admitted yesterday.
"We all know in our heart of heart that the US economy is going to get better. We just don't know where the bottom is. We are riding the bronco.
"Everything is unfortunately about the US. The economy will have to turn before any positive comes out."
A peace deal between the rival organisers of the Melbourne and Sydney motor shows has produced a joint venture which will run an Australian national show, most likely in the middle of the year, from 2010.
The final Melbourne show organised by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce will run as planned in February but there will be no Sydney show next year.
Full details of the new deal will not be announced until next week, once the joint venture between the VACC and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries is finalised.
The single-show deal comes after the cancellation of next year's satellite shows in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth and following a major manufacturer boycott of the Sydney show in October which contributed to a 40 per cent drop in the attendance.
The move to a single show is likely to win support across the motor industry, as it can cost from $500,000 to more than $1 million to mount a major display.
"It is reasonable to expect that there will eventually only be one show," the chief executive of the FCAI, Andrew McKellar, said yesterday.
Development of the joint venture began with talks in June, but accelerated following the unsuccessful running of the Sydney show this year.
"We've had very constructive discussions aimed at developing a sustainable motor show model into the future. Formal documentation is yet to be signed, but those discussions have led to the agreement of a joint venture and an alternating-show model," said the executive director of the VACC, David Purchase.
"It is our clear understanding that there will not be a Sydney show in 2009 and the first Sydney show will be in 2010."
There is no agreement yet on a date for future shows, partly because of the need to make long-term bookings at venues in both Sydney and Melbourne and to find an opening on the international motor show roster.
The macho two-seater hardtop has been dropped as the German brand goes for a lighter touch with an all-new Z4 which will reach Australia next June.
BMW has rolled its roadster and coupe into a single car with a much more elegant look and the coupe-convertible body which has become the default setting for European sunshine cars.
Prices will rise slightly in Australia, with a bottom line in the $80,000-plus range, but BMW is promising more go, better value and a range of high-tech equipment including the driver-adjustable performance packing from the upcoming 7 Series flagship.
"The new Z4 will have the same Dynamic Drive Control used in the 7 Series, with three settings to vary the drivetrain and suspension," says Toni Andreevski of BMW Australia.
"The car will be a little more expensive but it will still be very competitive with its competition. We believe it will still be the best value and with the best performance."
The new Z4 has just been revealed in pre-Christmas pictures which are sure to spark an international gift drive, with the first cars expected to hit the road in time for the next European spring.
The shots show a car which will have much more appeal to women, as the previous Z4 — which was launched in the middle of 2003 — hit hardest with men who wanted an M-style muscle machine.
The new Z4 is considerably longer, and a little lower and wider, with a cabin that gives more space for people and luggage. There is a ute- style storage area behind the twin buckets and boot capacity has been raised to as much as 310 litres.
Its two-piece hardtop roof can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds.
The Z4 will only come with six-cylinder engines, with three powerplants up to a 3-litre twin-turbo with 225kW and 400Nm of torque. The basic engine has 150kW and the speedy flagship can make a 0-100km/h sprint in 5.1 seconds.
The cars will have a standard six-speed manual gearbox, with a six- speed auto except for a double-clutch seven-speeder on the 3-litre pacesetter.
BMW is also touting the cars' green ability, with fuel economy as good as 8.9 litres/100km.
But the new Z4 also picks up the crazy new number-and-name system introduced by BMW with the X6, which means the cars will be called the Z4 sDrive23i, the Z4 sDrive30i and Z4 sDrive35i.
BMW says the naming reflects the sports driving of the Z4, where the X6 is called the xDrive, and allows it to highlight the difference between models.
"The badges reflect the performance, not the engine capacity, and give us the ability to differentiate between two engines with the same capacity when one is a turbo," Andreevski says.
A lot of work has gone into the new Z4 on everything from larger side windows and wider-opening doors to improved performance and driving feel.
But the car is 170 kilograms heavier than the outgoing coupe.
The styling is claimed to be more elegant, and has picked up some cues from the limited-edition Z8 roadster used by James Bond before 007 was lured back to Aston Martin. It is considerable longer in the nose, probably in part to satisfy pedestrian-protection rules in Europe.
"It has a long bonnet and you will sit lower and still just ahead of the rear axle. It's classic sports car," says Andreevski.
"The wider-opening doors mean it is easier to get in and out. And visibility has been improved, with more shoulder and elbow room in the cabin."
Standard equipment will include the Dynamic Drive Control and a 12- gigabyte music hard drive, although final details will not be set until just ahead of the Australian arrival.
BMW Australia knows the Z4 will be up against the Mercedes SLK and Audi TT but believes its good looking newcomer will have a couple of crucial advantages.
"It maintains the dynamic lead. And there is a lot more storage space, not just in the boot but also behind the seats," Andreevski says.
The arrival of the Z4 will come during a big push by BMW Australia, which lands the high-performance version of the X6 in January, the new flagship 7 Series from April and the 330d in June, as well as the Mini Cabrio in April.
"The timing means drivers will have it perfectly run-in in time for spring 2009," Andreevski laughs.
Only 10,000 copies of the Pirelli Calendar are printed each year, and it’s not for sale. The calendar is only ever given away, with the mailing list held as a closely-guarded secret, and only about 400 come to Australia.
Carsguide has managed to get hold of one of those, and together with Pirelli, is offering the chance to win it.
As usual, it features beautiful girls, but this year they have been put in some bizarre situations, in one case in tears with a huge insect crawling on the model’s face.
To enter Carsguide’s calendar competition, tell us below if you think the 2009 Pirelli Calendar is beautiful or bizarre – and why. The best comment before January 16 will win the calendar, a couple of early examples of which have already sold on ebay for around $1000.
The Italian tyre company is also offering the chance to win a Volkswagen Pirelli Golf GTI and other prizes – including $100,000 in cash. To enter their competition, buy a Pirelli tyre at any of the participating stores before 30 April 2009, go to pirelliclub.com.au/golf to enter your purchase details.
Eagle-eyed Carsguide reader David Fairley has snared the first shots of the new Holden Cruze undergoing local testing.
The heavily camouflaged car was spotted parked at Buxton, east of Melbourne.
Fairley says it looks like a cut-down version of the VE Commodore.
"Except that the roof line is sharper and the boot is different," he says.
Holden will not confirm it but this car is tipped to hit local showrooms next year as a replacement for the lacklustre Viva sedan.
Codenamed GMX071, it is obvious by the photos that Holden engineers are in the final stages of tuning the car for Australian conditions judging by the boxes filled with electronic measuring equipment taken out of the boot.
When the Cruze does hit showrooms, buyers can expect a substantial lift in quality, safety, performance and handling with the newcomer, as well as prices close to the current car's $18,490.
The stylish Cruze is also destined to be a global car for GM and will wear Daewoo and Chevrolet badges in other markets.
The front-driver goes on sale in Europe in March with the choice of either a 1.6-litre or 1.8-litre petrol four cylinder engines and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.
A turbocharged 1.4-litre four cylinder is also expected in some European markets.
Gearboxes are expected to be a choice of a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic.
The Cruze first aired at the Paris Motor Show in October, badged as a Chevrolet.
General Motors' vice president of global design, Ed Welburn, described the sedan as having a "sense of substance and style".
"Tight panel fits and shut lines, a restrained use of exterior trim, a dual bezel design on the headlights, an integrated rear spoiler _ everywhere your eye settles there are fine details," he says.
Just the sedan will initially be available with wagon and hatch variants expected to follow.
Compared to the Viva, the Cruze is 85mm longer, 65mm wider and 30mm higher.
The wheelbase, at 2600mm, is also 85mm longer, liberating more interior space.
The newcomer will be the first of the second-generation of Korean sourced cars that promises to be substantially better than the cars they replace.
Apart from the Cruze, Holden engineers are believed to be having more substantial input into the new-generation Barina, Epica and Captiva from styling and safety to quality and performance.
Other colours have tried to stake a claim as the most popular hues but several shades of white dominate DuPont's latest international car colour survey.
Buyers are also being influenced by new green technologies and more environmental awareness in their colour choices.
Soft or water-like colours of nature are becoming popular.
But for the second year in a row, white is the predominant colour across North America.
It also dominates in India, Mexico, Brazil and Japan.
The DuPont annual automotive colour popularity report says white is also becoming a strong colour preference across other markets, including Europe, where black remains top of the list.
Dupont Australia's marketing manager, Steven Jakopovic, says the Australian experience mirrors North America.
"Although Australia was not specifically included in this global study, through our connection with local vehicle manufacturers, we're seeing strong trends continue with silver and white, as per North American trends," he says.
"Various greens and blues and gaining increased popularity as well as some of the softer browns."
Jakopovic anecdotal evidence suggests we are trend followers.
"We're also seeing a that in some of the pearl whites locally," he says.
Jakopovic's US counterpart, Karen Surcina, says black, white and silver continue to be the main players in North America.
"But consumers are looking for differentiation with tri-coat and other effects," she says.
"These colours and effects provide a higher degree of customisation and luxury-effect which allow consumers a conservative differentiation from the traditional colour palette," she says.
A tri-coat paint system consists of a basecoat, a mid-layer which contains the colour and specialised "effect" pigments followed by a clear coat.
Surcina says there are clear colour trends developing.
"The popularity of true chromatic colours such as blue and red are on the rise, with blue growing worldwide as consumers look to more environmental themes and lifestyles," she says.
Growing awareness and adoption of "green" technology and environmentalism is influencing colour choices.
DuPont says the soft or water-like colours of nature are growing in popularity.
It says the demand for brilliant, chromatic colours is expected to grow across global markets.
To keep the accountants happy and eco-warriors in their place, BMW will add a frugal turbo-diesel to its new 7 Series line-up next June.
Announcing prices for its petrol 7 Series models this week, BMW Australia spokesman Toni Andreevski, says the turbo-diesel will have wide appeal with its blend of performance and economy.
The 3.0-litre 730d has a combined fuel economy figure of 7.2 litres/100km yet will hit 100km/h in 7.2 seconds.
It is the first time the company has added a turbo-diesel 7 Series to the lineup.
The same engine will be available in the 330d sedan from mid-2009, but with 20Nm less torque.
In Europe, diesel 7 Series' account for almost 50 per cent of total sales.
Although Andreevski refused to put a figure on local sales numbers, he says the 180kW/540Nm six-cylinder diesel had a sense of "social responsibility" about it.
Apart from the fact that both Audi and Mercedes-Benz have diesels in their big luxury A8 and S-Class sedans, Andreevski says adding a 7 Series diesel to the line-up made sense for the Munich-based carmaker.
"The fuel economy of the 730d is something you'd be happy with in a mid-size car," he says.
This also made it easier for upper-luxury buyers to feel better about their purchase, he says.
"Even luxury buyers are becoming more conscious about fuel consumption," he says.
Andreevski expects the luxury diesel segment to continue to grow.
"It's important to be represented in that segment and show people the type of technology BMW has," he says.
Andreevski says specifications and pricing for the 730d are still to be set but it is expected to be about $200,000.
"It really could be the price leader for the 7 Series," he says.
Prices for petrol lineup are the same as the outgoing model.
Four petrol models will be available from early next year.
The 740i and 740Li will be powered by 240kW/450Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six cylinder engines while the 750i and 750Li gets a new twin-turbo 300kW/600Nm 4.4-litre V8 engine.
The V8 is shared with the new X6 xDrive50i, which has just gone on sale.
BMW says both engines are among the most frugal technologically advanced it has built for its big luxury sedan.
Like other BMW sedans, the 7 Series makes extensive use of lightweight aluminium suspension members front and rear.
External panels like the roof and doors are also aluminium, saving about 30kg over conventional steel panels.
Standard equipment levels are high with swags of leather, brake energy regeneration, four-wheel steering, night vision with integrated human-shape recognition and warning, lane change warning system, lane departure warning, head-up display, runflat tyres, active cruise control and adaptive headlights.
The 7 Series will also get dynamic damper control.
This has a choice of five different damping settings as well as adjusting shift points for the transmission and the level of intervention from the dynamic stability control and traction control systems.
Pricing for the 740i starts at $203,000 while the 750i is $274.000.
Long wheelbase versions add $15,000 and $17,000.
Visually, the car's styling has evolved into a contemporary less-polarising look than the previous model.
Or maybe the boss won’t give you the night off? Here’s the solution… watch the entire show online (see video at bottom of page) . All the stunts, smoke, noise, presposterous cars … Jeremy Clarkson’s words, not ours …
Some enterprising person has filmed the entire show during its run in the United Kingdom and Ireland last month. And you can watch all the video footage here.
Fireworks, bands, dancing girls … yes, more girls than an entire season of Sabine running Ford Transit vans around the Nurburgring … Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. And that’s a bit of a bonus for Aussie viewers because the version of the show coming here doesn’t include May.
Of course nothing beats being there for the live show. But if you can’t make it, you can watch the whole extravanganza here. Turn up your volume.
