Mark Reuss has been named the fresh prince of product as part of the massive shake-up following the bankruptcy of what was − until last year − the world’s number one carmaker.

Reuss effectively became the ‘new Bob Lutz’ with global responsibility for all new product engineering. His official title is Vice President, global vehicle engineering, replacing both Jim Queen (global engineering) and Ed Koerner (engineering) who retire on 1 October.

He has a meteoric rise up the ranks partly off the back of his pioneering work in Australia including the radical plan to add a small car to the local manufacturing roster in Adelaide

Reuss is only 45, but was already part of GM royalty as the son of Lloyd Reuss, who was President of GM in the 1990s. Mark Reuss’ path to the top product job was cleared this week by the early retirement of a number of senior GM executives including former Holden chairman Denny Mooney.

Reuss leaves to take up his new post at the end of August and Holden insiders are already hoping for the early revival of a Commodore export program to the US.

The company already gets the Escape off-roader from Taiwan and Ranger ute out of Thailand, which will be joined mid-2010 by the Fiesta hatch. Now an as-yet unnamed Asian plant will build the next-generation global Focus sedan and hatch for local launch in 2011.

"But in terms of the detail and what location in Asia it is still to be finalised," according to Ford Australia president, Marin Burela. A decision is expected within a few months. Thailand is unlikely despite a $608 million upgrade to the Auto Alliance Thailand joint-venture plant at Rayong south-east of Bangkok.

Ford announced earlier this year that the upgrade would allow AAT to lift production capacity from 175,000 to 275,000 vehicles a year, building the Mazda2 and Fiesta for export markets. If AAT had the capacity for Focus, Thailand would be attractive as Australia enjoys a free trade agreement with zero tariffs with the Asian country.

Burela backs his decision to cancel local Focus production. He says the global car industry was different back in July 2007 when Ford originally announced it would build 40,000 Focuses a year at Broadmeadows, with 15,000 exported to Asian and African markets.

Since then the industry has been rocked by the global financial crisis. "The economic climate has changed," Burela says. "When we made this decision in 2007 it was the right decision at that time. Since then the world has changed and the rules have changed completely."

The decision to abandon the Focus Broadmeadows plan was not taken lightly. "I think we're responding absolutely appropriately with the direction that we're taking," he says. "We came to the conclusion that to make a small car viable with the right level of technology, feature, content, styling in this country we needed to bring the most competitive levels of opportunity with that vehicle"

"We recognised, after studying this to death, that there was just no appropriate way for us to be able to do that by producing the vehicle locally."

Burela is confident the next-generation Focus will lift the company's ability to compete in the C-car segment. "The C-car segment is very crowded," he says. "There are 24 different competitors fighting for 180,000 units in this country.

"The key for success here is you have to make it right, it has to be competitive and it has to have the highest level of technology, features and content. We are so confident we will deliver."

...but it says it is here for the long term and its revised Pik-Up is proof positive of its commitment.

Key among the changes the Indian carmaker has made to its tough workhorse are those aimed at lifting its safety rating to an anticipated three stars once it is tested by ANCAP. With dual front airbags and antiskid ABS brakes standard across the Pik-Up range Mahindra is confident it will achieve a three-star ANCAP rating.

While some Pik-Up customers, notably farmers, might not appreciate the addition of airbags as they prevent them from using their vehicles to push and shove gates, equipment and stock around their farms, but the extra safety features are sure to appeal to city slickers.

Town dwellers are also likely to be attracted to the new grille, headlights, fog lamps, bumper and bonnet scoop that combine to give the Pik-Up a fresh new face and make it more appealing.

Add to the external makeover new ergonomically designed seats for improved comfort, a sporty gear knob and park brake lever, tilt-adjustable steering column, new fabric trim, a new CD sound system with MP3 compatibility and steering wheel controls, and powered mirrors, and you get the impression Mahindra is trying to reach out to buyers wanting more from their utes than the rugged reliability Mahindra has been relying on to win over sceptical Australians.

As it was in the first generation of the Pik-Up the range consists of single and dual-cab utes and cab-chassis models, with either two or four-wheel drive, and powered by a 2.5-litre common rail turbo diesel engine boasting 79 kW at 3800 revs and 247 Nm at 1800-2200 revs.

A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, there is no auto available, and the four-wheel drive transfer case has electric selection.

The suspension is a proven tough combination of front torsion bars and rear leaf springs, the steering is power assisted and the brakes are a combo of front discs and rear drums with standard ABS antiskid electronics.

All models boast a payload of at least one-tonne, the single-cab two-wheel drive boasting the highest at 1160 kg, and all will tow up to 2.5-tonne.

Mahindra's warranty is for three years or 100,000 km and there's also 24-hour roadside assistance for three years.

Mahindra launched in the Australian market with the Pik-Up two years ago as partner in a joint venture with Tynan Motor Industries, but has since taken control of the operation by acquiring an 80 per cent share and renaming the company Mahindra Automotive Australia.

Taking control was necessary to advance the Mahindra cause in Australia, said Pravin Shah, Mahindra's Executive Vic President of International Operation in the Automotive Sector. Shah said he was satisfied with the progress the company had made to date, and reconfirmed its commitment to stay in Australia for the long term.

When asked about sales to date, Shah refused to elaborate, saying he preferred not to speak about sales as they simply provided a yardstick for others outside the Mahindra to measure his company's success. All he would say is that they were in the thousands. "The number has four figures," was all he would say. "That means they are between 1000 and 9999."

While preferring not to talk about current sales Shah was keen to talk up the future, saying Mahindra was likely to release an SUV in the coming months, and had plans for all-new SUV and Pik-Up models for 2011. The new global models are currently being developed on all-new platforms with the intention of selling them in markets all around the world, including Australia.

GM Holden is less than two months from an economy-based update of its VE Commodore, Ford is promising a four-cylinder Falcon and more in 2010, and Toyota has just slashed the consumption of its family focussed Camry.

The four-cylinder Toyota now tips the bowsers at an official rating of 8.8L/100km, trumping the best Commodore at 10.6 and the most efficient of the Falcons, the six-speed automatic XT build after April, at 9.9.

But Holden is promising a double-digit improvement to its economy when the updated VE hits the road, probably in early September, while Toyota will only hold the line at 9.9 when it does a similar update job to the Camry on its V6 Aurion in September.

"Fuel economy is an important issue for consumers. It's important that we remain competitive," says Toyota's head of sales and marketing, Dave Buttner. "There is no denying there have been improvements by some of our competitors. We are focussed on our customer's needs."

That focus is reflected in a facelift which gives the Camry a slight visual lift and a significant value hike.

Toyota says all models now come with six airbags and Bluetooth phone connection, while the Ateva and Grande get a rear parking camera. The Grande also keyless entry and starting, reversing sonar and an upgraded sound system.

The bottom line is also sharper, with a $1200 price cut on the Atevo and Sportivo.

"We've got improve value. So we're excited about the facelift," Buttner says.

Camry sales are averaging around 1500 a month, down from previous years, but Buttner says the car is still holding its share of the medium class and he expects a significant boost through the back end of the year.

It intends to tickle the Corolla and RAV4 in a similar style to increase buyer interest and win back some of the ground lost through the first half of the year. Toyota sales have been hit worse than the showroom average, even though it is still Australia's favourite brand.

The basic Yaris picks up alloy wheels, a six-stack CD sound system, Bluetooth telephone, mats and badges with an 'Edge' badge.

Toyota says the result is a $1000 value boost for an extra $500 on the bottom line. Similar stuff is expected when the Edge versions of the Corolla and RAV4 hit Australia.

"The strategy allows us to talk to customers on issues beyond price. And it's a lift beyond the base model to give us a lift in the showroom," says Dave Buttner.

"We've got a package out of Japan, so the cars are direct from the factory. These are on our base-grade vehicles, and our intention with the Edge models is to get some incremental volume by driving customer value."

Other technological innovations include cruise control that works with satellite navigation to slow vehicles for corners, an automatic transmission that selects a higher gear ratio for quicker starts and injecting certain aromas into the cabin to reduce boredom and stimulate the driver's brain.

Nissan Australia senior corporate communications manager Jeffrey Fisher said the innovations may go into production over the next few years.

"But they are not necessarily for us (Australia). Some may but it's probably down the track," he said. "We will look to see if they are available and cost effective and whether they fit certain models. "Some may be included as a standard feature, so then we would get them, but that's not yet decided."

Nissan's ‘Forest’ airconditioning is the result of the company's studies into the effect of forest air on people. The study found that a combination of fragrant kapur wood, lavendar and essential oils promotes calm and focus in the brain.

It also found that leaf alcohol in most plants has a calming effect that also reduces fatigue. These aromas would be periodically sprayed into the vehicle's cabin using an interchangeable aroma cartridge with a one-year lifespan.

The airconditioning system also detects odours and smells such as smoke to increase or decrease outside airflow, regulates the humidity to keep the windows demisted while avoiding the "over-drying" of conventional systems, filters allergens and pollens, and generates plasmacluster ions in the cabin air to kill germs and minimise odour.

Nissan has also developed two driver-aid systems which synchronise the vehicle's satellite navigation, engine, braking and steering. The Navigation-Cooperative Intelligent Pedal lifts the accelerator when the satnav recognises an approaching corner. The lifting pedal prompts the drivers to take their foot off the accelerator, slowing the vehicle.

It doesn't take control from the driver, but Nissan claims it will reduce the driver's workload.

Nissan's Driver Stability Assist system synchronises brakes, steering and engine response to control the vehicle on winding roads.

It senses an increase in driver input on the steering wheel and brake and accelerator pedals and acts to stabilise the vehicle with optimum distribution of force at each wheel depending on the radius of the corner.

The driver-air systems will be available in the new Japanese Fuga this year which is not destined for Australia, Fisher said.

"The Fuga is just a technology mule for some of their innovations," he said.

...as Europe and Japan push ahead with some cutting edge designs. Apart from the Citroen GT, the Mercedes-Benz SLS, Ferrari 458 Italia, Audi R8 V10 supercars and affordable Honda CR-Z and Peugeot RCZ, are destined for showrooms near you.

Citroen GT

The Citroen GT is an example of life imitating art. The company's space-age two-seater GT was originally created for the virtual world of the Gran Turismo 5 racing games on PlayStation 3.

Now the company has decided to build six examples, with an expected price tag of more than $3 million.

The carbon-fibre GT was revealed last year during the Paris auto show and was never intended for production. However, there has been keen interest in the car.

Like the computer game car, the GT is tipped to get the same aggressive exterior, complete with gull-wing doors, huge gaping air intakes and large rear diffuser. The concept was a joint effort between Citroen and designers at Polyphony Digital, creators of the Gran Turismo racing game series.

The GT will be Citroen's first production supercar and the production version is likely to be aired at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. A production version is expected to be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The GT is tipped to become the company's halo car for its way-out design.

The limited edition car is expected to use some cutting-edge safety and engine technologies. But the real thing will not get the computer game version's 481kW hydrogen fuel-cell with a 100kW over-boost function.

The more humble road-going car may use a mid-mounted V8 from either Ford or General Motors.

Mercedes-Benz SLS

Gullwings are back in fashion. The new Mercedes-Benz SLS is leading the way but now the German carmaker has reacquainted itself with the unusual doors, other brands are tipped to follow.

Already two wealthy Australians have handed over deposit cheques for one of the world's most anticipated supercars.

The car's design pays homage to the classic 1950s 300 SL, which was called ‘gullwing’ for its lift-up doors integrated into the roof. The Benz supercar is in final development at AMG Mercedes-Benz in Germany and will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Already some of the car's performance figures have been leaked.

The car sports a hand-built 6.3-litre V8 AMG engine developing 420kW/650Nm. This enormous powerplant delivers a zero to 100km/h sprint in just 3.8 seconds and its 300km/h-plus top speed puts it in the exclusive supercar club.

The SLS makes extensive use of alloy for its body and chassis to keep its weight down to about 1600kg.

The engine, which is mid-front-mounted to deliver a 48/52 front-to-rear weight balance, is mated to a standard AMG seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and limited-slip differential.

Local deliveries start in the middle of next year for the 315km/h coupe, according to Mercedes-Benz passenger cars chief, Horst Von Sanden. However, Von Sanden expects global demand to be greater than the planned output.

"We want to maintain exclusivity," he says.

The new-age gullwing's $500,000-plus price will makes it even more expensive than the $492,331 SL65 AMG.

Ferrari 458 Italia

There’s a new prancing horse and it's called the Italia. Ferrari's F458 Italia is the newest Italian supercar to carry the famous badge.

The red-blooded F458 aired earlier this week in production-ready form as a successor to the F430. Already Ferrari is saying the Italia's performance will be as good, or better, than the lightweight 430 Scuderia. That means owners can expect a top speed beyond 330km/ h and a 0-100km/h time well under four seconds.

The Australian importer, European Automotive Imports, says more than 24 potential buyers are already lining up.

"We are into double figures on orders. As soon as there was even a hint there was a new car coming we were contacted by enthusiastic owners keen to move up to the latest model," spokesman, Edward Rowe, says.

However, entry into the Ferrari club will be exclusive, and expensive. The F458 is expected to cost more than $450,000 in Australia when it arrives in the second half of 2010.

The mechanical package of the F458 - its name comes from the 4.5- litre, eight-cylinder engine - is familiar to anyone who has tracked Ferrari history since the 308.

It is a mid-engined car with a V8 motor and rear-wheel drive. The F458 will sit alongside the California and below the V12 models in the Ferrari family.

The car gets its first official airing at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Full details are being kept secret until then but some things are obvious from the pictures.

The F458 is considerably lower than the 430 and it has lost the signature side vents for the cooling system. It is also stripped of any sort of wings or spoilers.

Space has also been created in the tail for a large diffuser by siting the exhaust high in the back end. But the pictures show three pipes, pointing to an active exhaust which switches mode depending on speed and load.

The F458 will take electronics to the next level, with more driver adjustment of the chassis and engine parameters, including stability control.

Audi R8 5.2

If you think the R8's 4.2-litre V8 is a little on the lean side when it comes to performance, say hello to the 5.2-litre V10. The two extra cylinders in the newest muscular Audi will help push the pricetag north of $330,000 when the V10 hits the road here next month.

Not surprisingly the engine has been borrowed from the Audi-owned Lamborghini group's Gallardo supercar.

In the R8, the V10 develops 386kW/530Nm and is mated to Audi's expected technologies such as quattro permanent all-wheel drive, magnetic ride control and lightweight aluminium body that tips the scales around 1600kg. This means the car will reach 100kmh in 3.9 seconds and like the Ferrari and SLS, joins the 300km/h club.

The V10 takes its cues from Audi's great motorsport tradition, which means it will sing right up to 8700 revs through its six-speed manual gearbox or optional R-tronic sequential gearbox.

A launch control program is also available with both transmissions to catapult the car forward from a standing start. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system delivers most of the power to the rear wheels.

Despite the extra bulk of the V10 sitting behind the seats, the R8 5.2's weight distribution is 44/56 per cent front to rear.

Visually there's little to distinguish the V8 from the V10, apart from the innovative all-LED lights and 19-inch 10-spoke Y-design alloys.

The car is luxuriously equipped with heated Nappa leather seats, navigation system, Bang & Olufsen sound system and automatic air conditioning.

Peugeot RCZ

Although the SLS and Ferrari rank as dream machines, Peugeot's RCZ fits the category of being an affordable coupe. The sleek 2+2 borrows some cues from the Audi TT and arrives around July next year.

Enthusiasts can expect pricing well under the $70,000 Audi TT.

Peugeot has been able to keep the production car very close in looks to the concept, with its sweeping alloy roof rails and bubble-top roof. The general manager, director of Peugeot Automobiles Australia, Ken Thomas, says the RCZ represents a huge opportunity for the brand as a true halo car.

"The RCZ got a lot of attention when it was unveiled as a concept car and we are confident it will receive even more attention on the road," he says.

"Peugeot has definitely maintained the spirit and flair of that original design."

The RCZ will use a range of 1.6-litre four cylinder turbo petrol and diesel engines when it goes on sale. The concept was first unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007.

Honda CR-Z

The CR-Z is proof that hybrids can be racy. CR-Z stands for Compact Renaissance Zero - and according to Honda is designed to capture the idea of a design renaissance for compact sportscars combined with the arrival of new drive systems like hybrid power.

Details are still sketchy but the two-door coupe could use a 1.5-litre four cylinder mated to the Insight's hybrid powertrain when it goes on sale in Japan early next year with other markets to follow.

Honda Australia is looking at the CR-Z with interest. Spokesman, Mark Higgins, says he is confident it will arrive here but is reluctant to put a timeframe on the sporty hatch.

"It largely depends on production schedules in Japan and the take up in other markets," he says.

But its lighter weight and advanced engineering materials are expected to deliver a faster and more agile car, in keeping with its sports credentials.For its frontal view, an over-sized grill with a high-performance look is offset by openings on each side that lighten the overall feel.

In the rear, tube-shaped rear combination lamps ensure better rearward visibility.

Design details include LED eyebrow headlights and tail-lights. The rear hatch also incorporates a wagon-like glass window. The concept's large, 19-inch wheels and ultra-thin rear view mirrors are not expected to make it into showrooms though.

Honda says like the exterior, the production CR-Z's cabin will be a mix of hi-tech with sporty touches. From next year 10 per cent of the company's global output will be hybrids.

This makes the arrival of the sporty CR-Z the perfect springboard for the company's hybrid expansion.

The engine investment secures the jobs of the company's Broadmeadows and Geelong workers.

The new Falcon four will be the greenest large family car available in Australia when it hits the road in 2011. It is one of three new engines planned for the locally made Falcon and Territory. All three engines are part of Ford's global EcoBoost engine strategy announced in the United States earlier this week.

Apart from the four-cylinder, the Falcon will also get a hi-tech dedicated LPG six-cylinder engine from next July and the Territory will get a turbodiesel in 2011. But because of the decision, Ford Australia has axed plans to build the Focus small car at Broadmeadows. Focus production was due to start from 2011.

However, Ford Australia president, Marin Burela, said no jobs would be lost and the EcoBoost plan would provide jobs stability. Burela said the global financial crisis had made local Focus production unviable and it would have been unprofitable.

"The economic climate has changed," he said. "To make a small car viable in this country we needed to bring the most competitive levels of opportunities with that vehicle. "After studying it there was no appropriate way of producing the vehicle locally."

The Federal Government will contribute $42 million to Ford's engine plan under its Green Car Innovation Fund as part of its $6.2 billion investment package for the local car industry. The Victorian Government has also contributed an unnamed amount.

Industry Minister Senator Kim Carr and the federal secretary of the AMWU vehicle division, Ian Jones, welcomed the decision.

"It is an investment in confidence," Jones said. "The workers have been praying for this for some time."

Carr said the investment came at a time when the world was going through the worst recession in 100 years.

"The global car industry is going through the most radical shake-up in living memory and in this environment the Australian industry is attracting new investment," he said. "The green car fund has given this industry certainty."

Burela said the EcoBoost four cylinder would have the same performance but better economy and lower greenhouse emissions than an equivalent six-cylinder engine. It will be sold side-by-side with the Falcon six.

Ford will source the four-cylinder engine abroad while the existing Falcon six will continue to be built at Ford's Geelong engine plant. The turbodiesel will also be sourced from overseas.

Last November, Ford renewed its commitment to the six-cylinder Falcon engine in place of an imported V6 engine.

With the arrival of the Soul, Cerato and Sorento, Kia adopted the new ‘H’ signature grille from chief designer Peter Schreyer. Now it's the Rio's turn.

Kia Australia spokesman, Jonathan Fletcher, says the new-look Rio sedan and hatch are perhaps the most important models to get the signature Schreyer treatment. "They are our volume sellers so the family association is very important," he says. This leaves the Rondo and Carnival as the only two remaining local Kias that do not have the new family face.

Fletcher says an updated Sportage is expected to get some cosmetic improvements in September but it may not get the new family face as the next-generation off-roader is due next-year. "My guess is that they will hold off the new face for the Sportage until the new model," he says.

"The nose design precludes dramatically altering the grille." The new-look Rio is expected to arrive in local showrooms by October at the earliest. Apart from the family grille the Rio gets a revised front bumper with larger air intakes and new foglights.

Equipment has been upgraded and the cabin gets higher-quality materials. Inside, there are new instruments, centre console and upgraded CD-stereo system with Bluetooth connectivity.

The car's green instrument lighting has been changed to red backlighting. On the outside, some models are tipped to get five-spoke alloys and there are Euro-style indicator lights in the mirrors.

Called Kia Pride in South Korea, the current Rio has been on sale here since 2005. Apart from being the brand's local best seller it has also been one of the top-five selling Kia cars globally.

Like the Cerato and Soul, the Rio also gets the new three-spoke steering-wheel design.

Under the bonnet, the 1.4-litre four cylinder is likely to carry over but buyers will get an updated 1.6-litre petrol engine that has been tweaked for better fuel economy and lower emissions.

Prices are expected to remain close to the current car's $14,990 entry point.

The 81kW/235Nm 1.5-litre CRDi turbo-diesel engine available in Europe remains unlikely for Australia.

The only Ute ever to claim the title of Australia’s most popular vehicle doubles as a tradies workhorse and family transporter and has gone through six generations of updates and modifications worldwide.

First generation

The First generation Hilux, nicknamed RN10, was a short wheel base truck made between 1968 and 1971, and ran with a 1.5 litre engine. A long wheel base version became available in 1969 and a 1.6 litre engine was added in 1971.

Second generation

Halfway through 1972 the MY73 Hilux came out with a more comfortable interior and some updates to the exterior. From 1972-1978 a 1.6 litre engine was available and from 1977-1978 a two litre engine was also used.

In 1975 the Hilux went through a significant design change including a much more luxurious interior. It also gained a new 20R 2.2 litre engine, an optional five-speed manual and for the first time, an SR5 upscale package became available.

Third generation

The third generation Hilux was introduced as a 4WD for the first time. Automatic transmission makes its debut as well.

In America in 1981 Toyota made a move into the SUV market by going into business with Winnebago. Out of that partnership the Trekker(Winnebago) was born, and via research and development on the Trekker, the 4Runner – sold in Australia among other countries – was produced.

From 1981-1983 there was the choice of a 2.4 litre petrol and 2.2 litre diesel endine.

Fourth generation

There was an optional fuel injection engine in 1985 – the 22R-E – with a turbo charged option. A V6 engine was introduced in 1988.

Design-wise, the introduction of an Xtracab two-row extended cab option was the major change.

Fifth generation

A longer wheelbase and one piece box cargo walls were introduced as part of the 1988 redesign. A three litre V6 engine was also added. Progress was relatively slow through this period. The fifth generation went right through to 2005.

Sixth generation

The sixth generation Hilux – the one we see today – is bigger and more luxurious than previous editions and truly is a family car.

For a more information on the late model Hilux see the attached Related Articles..