Mazda will unveil its new, Chinese-built Mazda8 people mover later this month at the Beijing Motor Show.
The bigger brother to the popular Mazda5, the Mazda8 will be aimed primarily at the Chinese market and will be assembled with Mazda’s local Chinese partner, First Automobile Works (FAW). Mazda already sells its Japanese-built Mazda8 in Hong Kong, Thailand and Japan.
Although specifications and pricing of the new Mazda8 are yet to be released, it is believed the model is a revised version of the current Mazda MPV (already sold as Mazda8 in some markets), which itself has been on sale since 2006.
Currently, Mazda8 models offer the choice of naturally aspirated and turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engines. The engines are mated to five-speed and six-speed automatic transmissions respectively. The Mazda8 is available in both front- and all-wheel-drive variants.
The Mazda8 offers three rows of seating for up to seven passengers. The third-row can fold flat in to the floor to increase cargo capacity, much like those found in the Honda Odyssey. People movers are very popular throughout China, and with top-sellers including the Honda Odyssey and Buick GL8, the new Mazda8 could face some stiff competition.
Mazda will display a total of 16 models at the Beijing Motor Show including the Mazda Kiyora concept car. The Beijing Motor Show will run from April 27 to May 2.
It is unlikely the Mazda8 will be offered in Australia.
It’s official: General Motors has today announced it will shutter its Hummer brand following the collapse of sales talks with China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery.
GM’s Director of Network Support, Jim Bunnell made the announcement to the brand’s 153 US dealers today, saying that although GM is still open to other offers for its premium off-road division, it has yet to receive any viable bids.
Hummer, which has been up for sale since 2007, is the third brand closure for GM in recent times with Saturn and Pontiac also going the way of the dodo.
GM also sold its Swedish premium vehicle manufacturer Saab to Dutch-based Spyker Cars earlier this year.
General Motors will offer zero per cent finance over 72 months to US customers wishing to buy one of the 2200 remaining Hummers in inventory. It will also offer a $4000 discount on all 2010 plated models, $5000 on 2009 plated H3T models and $6000 on 2009 built H2 and H3 models.
Hummer’s CEO, Jim Taylor will retire, effective immediately.
CarAdvice has approached Holden Australia, the local representative for Hummer, for comment on what the end of the brand means for local dealers and existing customers. We will update this post as soon as we know more.
Renault has developed an innovative new swivel seat that allows customers with limited mobility easier access to its new Clio range.
The new seat, developed by Renault Tech, is operated by a simple lever that allows it to rotate 90-degrees on its base for easier entry and egress. The seat retains all the usual levels of comfort, adjustment, and most importantly, safety.
Although many after-market products of a similar design do exist, this factory-fitted option has no effect on any of the seat’s standard specifications, its trim also matches the rest of the vehicle’s upholstery.
Importantly, as a factory fitted item, the swivel seat complies with all passive safety requirements and is fully covered under the manufacturer’s new vehicle warranty.
Renault will make the swivel seat available in six western European markets from June this year as an option on its Clio range of cars. Currently, Renault has no plans to release the swivel seat in Australian models.
Lotus Australia has secured three limited edition Lotus Exige S Type 72 sports cars for the local market.
Celebrating the most successful Lotus Formula One car of all time, which achieved 20 Grand Prix victories between 1970 and 1975, the Type 72 features a number of enhancements that draw on the history of Lotus racing.
The Australian version comes with Sport and Performance packs as standard as well as a torque-sensing limited slip differential.
The Performance Pack adds 20hp over the standard Exige S taking power to 240hp (179kW) and torque from 215Nm to 230. A new ECU and upgraded fuel injectors help the supercharged 1.8-litre engine reach even greater heights.
Other racing additions include a new clutch plate and cover, front AP Racing four piston brake callipers with 308mm discs, variable slip traction control and a full-length roof scoop.
The Sport Pack features twin oil coolers, steel main roll hoop, adjustable front anti-roll bar and black microfibre ProBax sports seats with gold Type 72 stitching.
The black and gold colour scheme continues inside and out with the Type 72 livery finished by the same sign writer responsible for painting Team Lotus racing cars. Each car also comes with a build plate commemorating one of the F1's 20 victories.
Staying true to the Lotus philosophy of "performance through light weight", the 935kg Exige S Type 72 races from 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 235km/h. Not that it really matters, but environmentally it does alright too, managing fuel economy of 6.5 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 199g/km on the extra-urban cycle.
Lotus Australia's three Exige S Type 72s will go on sale for $109,000 (plus dealer delivery and statutory government charges).
As hinted at earlier this week, Renault-Nissan and Daimler have announced a wide-ranging strategic cooperation that spans from powertrain sharing and co-development on future products to cross-shareholding.
Meeting in Brussels, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dr Dieter Zetsche, and Chairman and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Carlos Ghosn, announced an equity exchange that will give Renault and Nissan each a 1.55 percent stake in Daimler and Daimler a 3.1 percent stake in Renault and 3.1 percent in Nissan.
But the exchange is largely symbolic, with the real effects to be seen in the collaboration and sharing between the manufacturers.
Renault-Nissan and Daimler will share a common architecture for new small vehicles. The successor to the smart fortwo, a new four-seat smart and the next-generation Renault Twingo will all be engineered off a jointly developed rear-wheel drive platform.
The three models will be produced in plants in France and Slovenia and each will offer an electric variant from launch beginning in 2013.
Extensive powertrain sharing was a focus of the new alliance with fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines high on the priority list.
Renault-Nissan will provide Daimler three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel units for future premium compact cars, and in return Daimler will provide four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines for larger Infiniti vehicles.
Renault, Nissan and Daimler will also collaborate on future petrol and diesel engines in a move that Renault says will not jeopardise the "clear distinctiveness of the individual respective brand and product identities, while at the same time providing a highly competitive cost structure".
Mercedes-Benz will add an entry-level van to its line-up in 2012. It will be based on the Renault Kangoo and built in the same factory in Maubeuge, France. Renualt-Nissan will also share transmissions and a small diesel engine with Daimler for the mid-sized Mercedes-Benz Vito.
Both groups have stated their intentions of making the cooperation a long-term one, with plans already in place for future collaborative works.
Daimler and Nissan are looking at possible module and component sharing opportunities for Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the US, Japan and China. Renault, Nissan and Daimler are also investigating co-development of battery and electric vehicle technologies.
Dr Zetsche expressed his enthusiasm for a number of "very concrete and attractive project cooperations" between Renault-Nissan and his company.
"Our skills complement each other very well. Right away, we are strengthening our competitiveness in the small and compact car segment and are reducing our CO2 footprint – both on a long-term basis.
“We know that we can make brand-typical products based on shared architectures. The individual brand identities will remain unaffected," Dr Zetsche said.
Mr Ghosn was similarly buoyed by the agreement:
"The Renault-Nissan Alliance knows how to work successfully in collaborative partnerships and this experience is extremely valuable in today's and even more tomorrow's global auto industry," he said.
Spotted on a small transport trailer, this new BMW 6 Series Coupe prototype displays a different roofline, ‘B’ pillars and larger side and rear glass. Our spy photographers said the lines on the roof are a disguise only and that this model is indeed a traditional hard-top Coupe.
It’s believed the new 6 Series will share the same engine lineup as the current 7 Series, including a diesel-powered option. Rumours say an M6 version will not be offered this time round, instead a dedicated sports car model will be introduced.
A BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo (GT) is also expected. The four door hatch/coupe ready to tackle the new Audi A7.
According to a recent survey, Mahindra Automotive Australia (MAA), distributors of the Mahindra Pik-Up ute, say the gender divide no longer exists when it comes to driving a ute.
MAA said 78.5 per cent of those surveyed thought perceptions of women driving utes had completely changed with only 21.5 per cent of respondents saying utes were a “man’s car”.
“Our research showed that people generally view the ute as an all-purpose family vehicle rather than just a workhorse, so have no qualms in seeing women drive vehicles with grunt,” said Claire Tynan, CEO, Mahindra Automotive Australia.
The survey also found that 37.3 per cent believe vehicles are not gender specific, 27.1 per cent said a ute was a great all-purpose vehicle that can suit women too, and 14.1 per cent saying work-roles were no longer gender specific.
Some respondents (21.9 per cent), even said that female ute drivers looked independent and sexy.
“What's interesting is that at the dealer level we're seeing more and more women coming in to look at the vehicle as part of their purchasing process,” said Ms Tynan.
“And we have many female Pik-Up drivers who do a range of jobs, anything from farming to bird breeding, where space and durability is the key,
“Many of our male buyers also see their purchase very much as a joint decision, taking into account what their partners will appreciate.”
The survey found that only 3.1 per cent of those surveyed thought a ute was an “unbecoming” vehicle for a woman to drive.
Mahindra also surveyed prospective female ute buyers as to the purpose the car would serve with 42.8 per cent saying they would happily consider a dual-cab ute as their family car.
CarAdvice will be road testing the new 2010 Mahindra Pik-Up shortly, stay tuned.
Hyundai has posted its best ever March result and its second best month yet since the Korean brand first went on sale in Australia back in 1986.
Selling 7797 units, Hyundai increased its total market share by 25.2 per cent compared to the same time last year and has achieved an overall sales increase of 58.9 per cent over the last 15 consecutive months.
Leading the brand’s strong sales, the Hyundai i30 range continues to prove a great success, leading its segment for the first time in March. Hyundai sold 3678 i30s in March to now hold a 16.4 per cent segment share.
“The team at Hyundai and the Hyundai Dealer network are delighted that more and more Australians are discovering the quality and value of today’s Hyundai range. Over 800,000 new Hyundais have now been delivered to Australian customers since the brand entered the market,” said Damien Meredith, Hyundai’s Director of Sales.
“Today, the i-series range of products continues to grow. We will be launching the new i45 mid-sized sedan next month followed by the i20 compact hatch in the middle of the year.”
Hyundai also continues to enjoy strong overseas sales with global figures up 35.7 per cent (March YTD 2010 vs. March YTD 2009). In America, Hyundai announced an all-time sales record for Q1 and for the month of March selling 47,002 vehicles, up 15.4 per cent on the same time last year.
The new Hyundai i45, sold as Sonata in North America, is already proving popular with retail-only sales figures showing the medium sedan is now the third best-selling vehicle in its segment.
The Hyundai i45 will go on sale in Australia next month.
A potent version of the BMW 1 Series from its M-division has long been speculated and further denied, although as these spy shots reveal the performance flagship is indeed in development.
Perhaps spurred on by the success of the BMW 135i Coupe, it seems BMW has finally given an M version the green light and the results should be nothing short of spectacular.
Despite the retro BMW camouflage, it can be seen that the front air-dam resembles the aggressive face of its much bigger brother – the BMW X6 M.
This is complimented by massively pumped guards front and rear which house the mesh-design wheels.
Any doubt that this is the newest model from BMW’s M-division subsides after just one look at the enormous brake package comprising bigger callipers and cross drilled rotors.
With the standard BMW 135i already churning out 225kW, early estimates suggest the power levels of the M version will exceed 260kW.
The dilemma which BMW is now facing is what name to give to its newest performance model, with the M1 nameplate already reserved for the brand’s stillborn supercar flagship.
I've got four large adults (one of these guys is 195cm and of solid build) in Mitsubishi's 100 percent electric car, known as the i-MiEV and we're punting up a fairly decent slope around the Rocks in Sydney, easier than any K-class petrol equivalent could ever hope to manage. My initial thoughts are, it’s impressive.
In fact, I'd go so fas as to call it quick and surprisingly effortless, in its ability to negotiate hills and perform quick getaways from the lights. Wind it up, and it’s good for 130km/h and that’s basically speed limited.
Better still, during the last 15 minutes behind the wheel, we haven't used a single drop of petrol, despite my becoming attached to that feeling of 180 Newton-metres of thrust, from the very instant you jump on the throttle.
It's 2010 and Electric Vehicles (EVs) have well and truly arrived folks, and if the i-MiEV is any indication of how things will be in the very near future, then I'm all in.
If you walked into a Mitsubishi dealership in Tokyo today, you could buy an i-MiEV exactly the same as this car for the equivalent of AUD$45,000 after various government incentives and subsidies, which drive down the price of this brand new technology.
But in Australia, you'll have to wait in line a while longer for your i-MiEV, as Mitsubishi Motors competes with much of Europe for its allocation of this rather smart looking K-Class EV.
In addition, state and federal governments will need to get on board with similar incentives to those adopted in other parts of the world, or the price for this EV could be as high as AUD$60,000.
Congested super cities such as Paris and London, where there are major cost benefits for both the upfront purchase and running of an electric vehicle, will most likely be well ahead of Australia in the i-MiEV queue.
And big cities are where you're going find the vast majority of i-MiEVs living, particularly when you factor in their maximum range of between 100-160 kilometres on a full charge, depending on which drive mode you select, and how you treat the throttle.
I know what you're thinking, 100-160 kilometres is nothing! You're right, if you compare it to the average range you get out of your petrol powered car, but here's the catch. 87 percent of daily trips undertaken by drivers in Sydney are less than 100 kilometres per day.
If you look at a smaller city such as Adelaide by comparison, the rationale for the i-MiEV is even more compelling, with no less than 98 percent of trips being less than 100 kilometres.
Just think about the implications of owning an EV for a minute. That's no more stopping at petrol stations to and from work (they'll be as obsolete as a Panasonic VHS player). Simply park the car in your garage and plug it into the nearest single phase 15-amp power point (make sure the power is on) and forget about it until morning, by which time, you'll have a full charge of juice to tackle another day, brilliant!
But is the i-MiEV effective in reducing harmful CO2 emissions and reducing our addiction to fossil fuels?
It most definitely is, but only if you charge the car using renewable energy, otherwise the case for EV's doesn't yet stack up. In fact, there are plenty of highly efficient small cars on the road today, which are a cleaner proposition than the i-MiEV, when you factor in the amount of 'dirty' electricity needed to continually charge the car.
Clean power, from the likes of solar panels or wind turbines, is what it's all about with EV's. That may be as easy as installing several solar panels on your rooftop (subsidised of course) and charging the car at night when the demand and price for electricity drops dramatically.
To a certain extent, Australia is well behind in the EV stakes. In Tokyo and Paris, there are already so called 'fast charge' stations in operation, which can provide an 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes. No doubt, you can have an espresso while you wait too.
But that's the here and now. There are literally dozens of high-tech companies around the world working on advanced batteries for electric vehicles such as nano-scale ultracapacitors, which could triple the power and range of an EV, eliminating the need for fast charge facilities, altogether.
The i-MiEV is powered by banks of high-density Lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the floor of the vehicle and make up about 20 percent of the car's 1,080-kilogram weight while generating 330Volts of electricity.
The small highly efficient 'permanent magnet synchronous electric motor produces just 47 Kilowatts of power, and that's more than adequate to move the i-MiEV along rapidly, when you factor in the torque output.
Driving the –MiEV actually feels no different to driving any small car. You have a 'smart' key, which you can leave in your pocket, as you won't need it to switch on the electric motor.
To do that, turn the toggle as you would a normal key on the steering column and it all comes to life although, you wouldn't know it, but for the graphics on the power metre and a short 'ding', which means that you're good to go.
Then, you can choose what drive mode you want to use D: Drive, E: Eco (Economy), B: Brake although, they're all quite useful depending on your driving needs at the time.
In Drive mode, you get the most torque, and believe me, this thing really does get moving, and that's with a full carload of people.
What will take some getting used to, is motoring along in dead silence, I mean, you could here a pin drop in here. On the other hand, it's a rather calming experience, although we wonder about the safety aspects of a 'run silent' vehicle from a pedestrian's perspective.
One of my colleagues suggested a digital engine note feature, which would allow you to select the engine note of an exotic marque such as a Ferrari or Maserati, could be the answer.
Choosing E: Eco, meant slightly less juice for take offs but still more than enough torque for everyday driving needs.
The B: Brake mode offers regenerative braking, which reduces your speed by converting the kinetic energy into battery energy. That meant I barely needed to use the brake pedal, as the moment I took my foot off it, the car slowed dramatically.
After only a few minutes behind the wheel of the MiEV, it felt like any other small car but for a few small quirks, and something I could easily get used to.
Mitsubishi has done exceptionally well to bring a proper electric vehicle to market so quickly.
How popular EV's become here in Australia, will depend largely on how serious our government is about renewable energy.
Citroen Brazil has used Twitter to reveal the first official images of its latest youth-focused crossover – the Citroen AirCross.
Based on the Citroen C3 Picasso, the AirCross has been redesigned for a more masculine, off-road-ready appearance. Ground clearance has been increased thanks to raised suspension settings while the spare tyre has been mounted on the rear door for that serious 4WD look.
Other styling revisions include the new grille, front and rear bumpers, silver roof rails and side steps and black plastic wheel arches.
Citroen is yet to reveal drivetrain or performance data but there is speculation the AirCross will be powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder flex-fuel engine when it goes on sale in the second half of 2010.
A recent study commissioned by Engineers Australia, finds Australians have identified hybrid cars as the most important global engineering feat of the past decade.
The results show that Australian’s consider motoring and environmental issues of considerable concern with over 40 per cent of participants highlighting the development of hybrid vehicle technology as the most impressive recent engineering project.
Another 20 per cent of participants said daily traffic congestion issues and faulting public transport networks were other areas engineers should focus their future attention.
“Engineers have the knowledge and resources to create the technologies that make things so in the community,” said director of communications and marketing at Engineers Australia, Mr Jamie Penrose.
“Engineering teams have been integral in working with the motoring industry to present new technologies that have improved every facet of today's vehicles.”
Mark McCrindle, a renowned social commentator who conducted the study on behalf of Engineers Australia, said he agrees with the findings and is pleased that Australians are aware of the bigger picture.
“Australians are realists – they acknowledge cars as a part of everyday life but they are also becoming increasingly aware of the environmental issues that owning a car can bring,” said Mr McCrindle.
“Hybrid cars address both of these concerns and therefore are highly valued by Australians,
“Transport has become a necessity in the modern world – the engineering profession will need to continue to assist the sector in providing the Australian public with new technologies and innovations to make daily life that little bit easier.”
As part of the study, the Australian public can contribute its own ideas in a world-first competition dubbed “Make it so”. The winning entry will be “made so” by a team of engineers.
To date, over 4400 ideas have been submitted including some automotive themed responses that have already been selected as weekly winners:
Make it so… my remote controlled key lock has a small display with an indicating arrow towards the car’s position so that I can find it.
Make it so… cars can run on solar energy since fuel prices are increasing and global warming is becoming a major problem. “Solar panel like” cars!
Make it so… that cars can switch on an electromagnetic force when a crash is imminent between two cars, repelling the cars and reducing the impact.
When Formula One regulations changed this season, no mid-race refueling meant the Shell fuel and lubricants team, who work side-by-side with the Scuderia Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy, were faced with a big challenge in reformulating their Shell V-Power high octane petrol (yes, it’s a very similar fuel to that found at the servo) to suit the demanding new race structure.
With just over six months notice, more than 50 of Shell’s dedicated Formula One Research and Development staff busied themselves with preparing a fuel that would endure the additional heat of being carried the full race distance, whilst also ensuring adequate fuel economy was achieved to get the cars over the finish line – and hopefully in first place.
Speaking with Shell Fuel Technology Manager for Ferrari, Lisa Lilley (pictured above) at the Melbourne round of the Formula One Grand Prix, CarAdvice learnt that logistics were also a challenge for the Shell team with the first batch of fuel – required to service the first three rounds of the 2010 season – needed well ahead of time to ensure compliance with FIA approval.
Formula One fuel is one of the most tightly controlled fuels within the motorsport world, with the chemical and physical parameters dictated by the FIA. The regulations imposed are designed to foster the development of road car fuels and as such specific power-boosting chemical compounds are banned and all chemical ingredients are highly monitored.
After the introduction of 5.75 per cent by weight of bio-oxygenate in Formula One fuel in 2008, the FIA continues its quest to develop technological innovation through the pinnacle of motorsport. Shell will, once again, be working alongside Scuderia Ferrari to develop new fuel blends within the regulations and keep Ferrari one step ahead of the competition.
Once developed, a fuel is rigorously tested by Shell and Ferrari and then submitted to the FIA for approval. Having gained approval the fuel is then ready to race and it is here that the Shell Track Lab comes into its own. The Shell Track Lab, located within the Ferrari compound and present at every Formula One race of the season.
The Shell Track Lab is a mobile unit where Shell technicians provide Scuderia Ferrari with a full analysis of fuel and lubricant samples at every race, using cutting-edge technology. In the Shell Track Lab, Shell scientists conduct more than 40 tests per race weekend on the Shell V-Power and Shell Helix race products used in the cars, to ensure that the drivers will be able to get the maximum performance at all times.
Using the gas chromatography method, the Shell trackside team regularly analyses the fuel, taking extreme care to ensure that it remains legal and in prime condition during the race weekend. The FIA can take a sample of fuel at any time during the race weekend. If a sample taken by the FIA doesn't match the pre-approved fuel profile, the team can ultimately be disqualified.
Working within these boundaries, Shell chemists still have the flexibility to excel and develop fuel in the constant battle to increase performance.
Shell, who already consider their fuels and lubricants actual components of the car, has to date helped Ferrari to win 12 Formula One Drivers’ World Titles and 10 Formula One Constructors’ World Championships, and in continuing that successful relationship under the new fuel rules, spent many hundreds of hours and carried out over 10,000 kilometres of testing of their new formula.
Over 60 years of shared passion for performance with Scuderia Ferrari has seen the Shell team continuously advance their fuel and lubricant formulas to meet the needs of changing engine technology. Shell has a database of over 11,000 samples of fuels and lubricants, used on daily basis to aid product development.
Shell says its technical partnership with Ferrari provides the perfect test bed for Shell road products – including the fuels and lubricants readily available for our road-going cars – and that its continued involvement with Ferrari and motor racing in general will further help develop and produce better fuels and lubricants well in to the future.
Despite recording a $US4.3 billion loss after bankruptcy in July last year, General Motors is hopeful of paying off its government loans by June and possibly returning to profitability this year.
GM CEO Ed Whitaker has made repaying the company's $US6.7 billion government loan a priority. Although it has until 2015 to pay back the money, GM has already paid back $US2.4 billion and has internally set June as the latest acceptable date to settle the outstanding amount.
GM owes the government a further $US45.3 billion which GM CFO Chris Liddell says will be repaid when GM makes a public stock offering "when the markets and the company are ready".
There are some positive signs that GM is heading in the right direction. At the beginning of 2009 GM had $US104 billion in debt and $US14 billion in cash. This year debt has decreased by $44 billion while cash is up by $US22 billion.
Between July 10, when it came out of bankruptcy protection, and December 31 last year, GM collected $US57.5 billion in revenue. GM puts much of the $US4.3 billion loss down to one-off payments, such as $US2.6 billion to the United Auto Workers union for retiree health care.
Mr Liddell said based on strengthening production and sales in the first quarter there was a good possibility GM would make a profit in 2010 but stopped short of predicting a January-March profit, admitting he was wary of "overpromising and underdelivering".
One thing he was steadfast on was that GM had put a disastrous 2009 behind it.
"General Motors should never again be in the financial position it found itself in last year," he said.
GM finished 2009 with around 27,000 fewer employees than it started the year with. Since July it has completely reshuffled its management board and has relieved itself of Hummer, Pontiac, Saturn and Saab.
GM's global production rose by 300,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2009 and the company experienced a gain in US market share over the first three months of 2010.
Strong & economical diesel engine; generous standard feature list; spacious cabin & cargo area ‘C’ & ‘D’ pillar visibility; driving position; firm ride; rear seat ventilation; no standard Bluetooth
CarAdvice Rating:
Words by Matt Brogan | Photos by Josh Thomas & Hyundai Australia
Hyundai’s Tucson replacement, the all-new ix35, is an intriguingly styled and thoroughly modern compact SUV that boasts a generous standard equipment list, a strong and economical turbo-diesel engine and, despite its seemingly diminutive proportions, a spacious, intelligently designed five-seat cabin and accommodating cargo area – more than adequate for the needs of a growing family.
Best of all at just $37,990*, the top-spec Hyundai ix35 Highlander (as tested this week) is more than ready to give well-established Japanese stalwarts a real run for their money in meeting the street-savvy SUV buyer’s unsparing expectations of safety, performance, practicality and value. But does it succeed?
The short answer is yes. The ix35 is infinitely better than its dated predecessor, and will undoubtedly impress even the most finicky of SUV customers to no end. But in saying that, Hyundai haven’t topped its segment rivals just yet – even if they are about to give some staunch market nameplates a good old-fashioned kicking.
What Hyundai have succeeded in doing with the new ix35 is leveling the SUV playing field, closing the Japanese-Korean divide, and now have a product that is equally as good as any same-priced market competitor. Not a bad achievement given the brand’s comparatively brief history.
In keeping with Hyundai’s value-driven one-upmanship, the range-topping ix35 Highlander boasts an impressive and extensive list of standard features, many of which other brands only offer as pricey optional extras.
Inside and out ix35 Highlander clearly prides itself on packing more value in to every last nook and cranny of the car with standard Bluetooth connectivity and rear seat ventilation outlets the only obvious omissions in an otherwise satisfying kit list.
Pleasingly, the ix35 offers a spacious, quiet and airy cabin made all the more bright by its panoramic, electrically-operated dual sunroof. Heated (front only), leather-clad seating is electrically operated on the driver’s side and also features lumbar support. The seats are well contoured and quite supportive, but annoyingly have the headrest positioned too far forward to optimise your driving position – the poor driver’s stance is further exacerbated by the lack of reach adjustment from the steering wheel.
If however you do find the driving position doesn’t phase you, your back seat passengers will enjoy a most comfortable and roomy experience with acres of leg room and an elevated seating position for better visibility. A shame then only floor-level ventilation is offered to the rear pews. All three rear seat positions offer three-point inertia reel seatbelts, head restraints and ISOFIX preparation for child seats and baby capsules. Four cup holders and a fold down centre armrest are rest are also included.
Maneuvering the ix35 through tight city lanes and narrow parking buildings is a cinch, its combination of light steering and a tight turning circle (10.58 metres) make parking a breeze. The rear-view mirror is equipped with a reversing camera (with overlay guidance lines) and an auto-dimming function for night driving. Sadly, the otherwise excellent visibility from the driver’s seat is let down by a chunky ‘C’ and ‘D’ pillars and small, upswept cargo bay window that hinders the view of traffic when backing on a 45-degree angle.
As Hyundai’s quality fit and finish continues to impress, we find all of ix35’s swtichgear and instrumentation to be of a very high standard. All controls are well placed, easy to operate and intuitive of function. Highlights include the punchy six-CD tuner with full iPod connectivity and steering wheel-mounted remote controls, keyless push-button start and classy blue back-lit instrument cluster. Cruise control, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, dusk-sensing headlamps, power windows and mirrors are also offered as standard.
But the real hero of the ix35 has to be Hyundai’s brawny 2.0-litre R Series turbo-diesel engine. The four-cylinder unit is smooth, reasonably quiet (especially when cruising) and delivers an impressive 135kW of power from 4000rpm while still managing a combined fuel economy figure of just 7.5L/100km. This week, we achieved 7.8L/100km through a 50:50 blend of city and highway driving.
As with most modern diesels, the ix35’s powerplant uses common rail technology to ensure more precise fuel delivery and an electronically controlled variable vane turbocharger for gutsy low-down pulling power (392Nm @ 1800-2500rpm). Turbo lag is so minute it’s barely worth a mention, and because of Hyundai’s smooth, decisive six-speed automatic transmission, acceleration from standstill is purposeful and brisk (0-100km/h is managed in 10.2 seconds).
Equally impressive is the ix35’s in-gear acceleration, and even with a car full of passengers and their baggage, the diesel-powered SUV manages overtaking with ease. Large hills are ironed flat, the rev counter barely moving a mil’, and when it comes to tackling some semi-serious off-roading, ix35 has plenty of torque to spare.
To help out in those slippery situations, the ix35 features on-demand all-wheel drive which can be locked in 4WD mode below 30km/h. Approach, ramp brake over and departure angles (28.1-degrees/17.0-degrees/26.9-degrees) will also allow access in to more places than you’d expect, while ground clearance (at 170mm) is suitable for moderate soft-roading duties. The ix35 Highlander also includes Hill Descent Control, Electronic Stability Program and Traction Control as standard.
On the road, the ix35 is a stable and confident handling SUV, its nimble cornering abilities and sharp steering feel offering a driving experience closer to that of a mid-sized hatchback. The only real let down here is that there’s a noticeable compromise between grippy handling and a comfy ride, the strut (front) / multi-link (rear) arrangement – which Hyundai say has been tuned for local conditions – almost too firm for the car’s family orientation.
Up the back, a 591-litre cargo area offers plenty of room for those family weekends away and comes standard with a retractable – and removable – two-position retractable cargo blind that stows neatly out of the way when not in use. Should you need to carry bulky items, the ix35’s 60:40 split fold rear seats fold flat to expand the total area to 1436-litres. Standard roof rails add an additional 100kg of cargo capacity, and if that’s still not enough, the ix35 will tow up to 1600 kilograms (braked) when fitted with a diesel engine.
With Hill-Start Assist Control, Hill Descent Control, six airbags (front, side and curtain), Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control and ABS braking with Electronic Brake-force Distribution the ix35 Highlander offers an excellent level of standard safety equipment. We expect the Hyundai ix35 to achieve a five-star ANCAP safety rating when it is tested later this year.
In a market full to the brim with competition (we counted 16 direct rivals), the sub-$40K SUV sector can be a minefield for the uninformed buyer. But with the Hyundai ix35 showing a maturity we now expect from the Korean brand, there’s no reason this one shouldn’t be on your shopping list.
As VFACTS sales figures continue to roll in, Subaru has announced its March figures show 3679 vehicles were sold for the month, 7.7 per cent better than the same time last year.
Leading the sales charge was Subaru’s Forester SUV with March sales of 1382 units, a 4.5 per cent improvement over March 2009 figures. The result sees Forester retain its position as the best-selling compact SUV for both the month of March, and year-to-date (YTD).
Outback sales were also strong with 531 units sold during March, an impressive 73.5 per cent rise on last year’s numbers and a 109.4 per cent YTD improvement.
Combined, Outback and Forester sales figures gave Subaru a 19.8 per cent share of the compact SUV segment for the month of March.
The new Subaru Liberty range, including the new Subaru Exiga people mover models, sold 576 units to be up 54.1 per cent YTD, while Impreza sales of 1065 and Tribeca sales of 125 round out the month.
Overall, Subaru sales are up 7.7 per cent over this time last year and 10.0 per cent YTD.
Before its award for the World Car Design of the Year for the Camaro has even hit the mantelpiece, Chevrolet has unveiled plans to produce a replica of the Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car in limited numbers.
The limited edition Chevrolet Camaro has been based on the top-of-the-line Camaro 2SS model with an RS appearance package and adds features unique to the actual pace car to be driven by Robin Roberts, anchor of "Good Morning America".
Featuring a 6.2-litre V8 engine as standard, the Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car adds 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, white rally stripes, heritage front grille, Inferno Orange engine cover and 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo decals on both doors and embroidered on driver and passenger headrests.
"We set out to build a collectible vehicle that will appeal to the die-hard Camaro and Indianapolis 500 fan," said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Chevrolet Marketing. "We believe we've done just that with the 2010 Chevy Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Limited Edition."
A build limit of 200 pace car replicas has been set, marking only the fourth time Chevrolet has offered a Camaro pace car replica and the first time it has done so since 1993.
The BMW Z4 GT3 has undertaken its first lap of the gruelling Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit with hi-def camera in tow to capture all the action.
With Richarad Göransson behind the wheel for the Schubert Motorsport Team, the M3-derived V8 engine can be heard at full song, dwarfed only by the whine from the six-speed sequential gearbox.
According to VFACTS figures released today, Mazda Australia had its second-best ever March sales result with 7453 new vehicles registered last month - a 21 per cent increase over the same time last year.
The news comes as Mazda celebrates its most successful end to a Japanese financial year in history with 79,829 vehicles sold.
Locally, the figures show Mazda’s core models achieved the biggest results for the brand with its popular Mazda3 – Australia’s best-selling small car – recording 3562 sales, a 27.2 per cent increase on March 2009 numbers.
The recently revised Mazda6 also enjoyed a good month with 758 examples sold. The March figure saw Mazda6 reclaim its title as Australia’s favourite imported medium car, giving it a 14.5 per cent share of the market segment.
“Mazda has two great reasons to celebrate this month,” said Mazda Australia Managing Director, Mr Doug Dickson.
“A best-ever end to a Japanese Financial year and an outstanding March result has placed us in good stead for another outstanding year ahead.”
Elsewhere in the range, Mazda sold 228 per cent more CX-7 models than this time last year, with a total of 944 vehicles registered.
Holden continues its strong start to 2010 with the Australian company recording a 28 per cent increase in sales for the month of March (as compared to the same time last year).
Today’s monthly sales figures, released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), show Holden sold a total of 11,795 vehicles in March with its popular Commodore model maintaining its position as Australia’s best selling car. The numbers show the Holden Commodore enjoyed its highest March sales volume since 2007.
Strong sellers elsewhere in the Holden lineup include the Captiva SUV, which had its best sales month since being introduced in 2006, and the Holden Barina.
Holden sold 1455 Captiva models in March, a 153 per cent increase on the same month last year, and 1213 Barinas – the small car’s best sales result since 2006.
“March saw us build on the sales momentum generated earlier in the year, to achieve a very strong first quarter for 2010,” said Holden Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, Mr John Elsworth.
“Commodore continues to be mainstay of our range, proving popular in showrooms time after time. "We are also very pleased with the Captiva range which has really found the sweet spot in the SUV market,
“We have some great offers in the marketplace at the moment, right across the Holden range, that we believe will entice customers into our showrooms and continue the sales momentum that we have seen in the first quarter of 2010.”
As the new BMW X1 gets ready to hit Australian showrooms, the German manufacturer has today announced its best-ever Australian first quarter sales result.
In the first three months of 2010, BMW registered 4316 new cars – its best Q1 result since 2007 and a 16 per cent increase over the same period last year.
March also proved a highly successful month for the brand with 1479 new BMW vehicles registered and 249 MINI models finding new homes. The figure, which narrowly beat the August 2007 result of 240 units, represents the best monthly sales numbers for MINI since it was first introduced here back in 2002.
“It's particularly pleasing to witness a strong first quarter on the back of a very strong end to 2009,” said Managing Director of BMW Group Australia, Mr Stavros Yallouridis.
“With a number of exciting new products on the horizon we're confident we have the model range and competitive advantage to cater for the growing requirements of the market.”
BMW hopes that its strong sales will continue through 2010 with a number of new models – including the all-new BMW 5 Series sedan and touring – on the way.
Strong & economical diesel engine; generous standard feature list; spacious cabin & cargo area
‘C’ & ‘D’ pillar visibility; driving position; firm ride; rear seat ventilation; no standard Bluetooth
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