Toyota Australia will boost production at its Altona, Victoria manufacturing plant by more than 22 per cent this year.
The plant, which manufacturers Toyota Camry, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Toyota Aurion models, will see a total production rise to approximately 120,000 cars in 2010. Last year, the facility saw just under 100,000 units roll off the assembly line.
Speaking with Toyota Australia’s senior executive director of sales and marketing, David Buttner, at the launch of Adelaide’s newest Toyota dealership on Tuesday, CarAdvice discovered the increase in production reflects an upturn in domestic and export sales as local and global economies begin to improve.
“Sales of Camry in Australia have risen more than 25 per cent this year and Aurion sales are also stronger on the domestic market,” Mr Buttner said.
“We will continuously monitor our production rate as we are expecting further strong demand with our recent introduction of the Hybrid Camry,
“Export orders, principally from the Middle East, are also rebounding – even in the face of a strong Australian dollar.”
The plant, a mainstay of the local auto industry, buys more than $2.4 billion in parts from local suppliers each year.
“Toyota provides local component suppliers with a large and stable customer and a partner in the pursuit of quality, efficiency and opportunity,” Mr Buttner said.
“Whenever Camry drivers check the side mirros, open a door or turn the steering wheel, they are using just some of the hundreds of parts made by Australian businesses.”
Joining the growing trend of revealing new models over social networking sites, General Motors has released another picture of the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro convertible.
The above photo was added to the Chevy Camaro Facebook page earlier this morning, following the initial front-on shot released last month.
It now confirms the conclusion already reached by many Camaro fans, who were asked in March: "Anything about this Camaro look different to you?"
So far more than 1400 fans have "liked" the new picture, giving it the thumbs up, while more than 650 have commented on it.
After being pushed back from a late 2009 launch, the Chevrolet Camaro convertible is now expected to go on sale in the US from February 2011.
Ford Motor Co will launch three more EcoBoost engines by the end of 2010, including the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit that may be destined for the Falcon in 2011.
The new I-4 is expected to generate around 172kW/325Nm and consume as little as 8.0 litres/100km and has been confirmed for the next generation models of the Ford Explorer and Ford Edge.
The other new engines include a 1.6-litre four-cylinder for the European C-Max people-mover and a 3.5-litre V6 for the F-150 truck.
The new fuel-saving engines are part of Ford's plan to ramp up EcoBoost production to 1.5 million units globally by 2013, 200,000 more than originally anticipated.
Ford vice president of powertrain engineering, Barb Samardzich, said the company expects around half of those to be sold outside North America, with the aim to have an EcoBoost engine available across 80 percent of its global nameplates.
"We are focused on sustainable technology solutions that can be used not for hundreds or thousands of cars, but for millions of cars, because that's how Ford will truly make a difference," she said.
While the first generation of EcoBoost engines are steadily rolling out, Ford director of powertrain research and advanced engineering, Dan Kapp, revealed work is already underway on the second-generation technology.
"We are trying to get in front of the pack in leveraging EcoBoost for fuel economy.
"It's going to be a trend in the industry, and we can't rest on our laurels for one minute. We are going to keep wringing more efficiency out of EcoBoost," Mr Kapp said.
The new technology will continue to focus on downsizing engines and incorporating more efficient turbochargers, more precisely controlled direct-injection systems and optimum gearing of transmissions, all aimed at running the engine in its "sweet spot" more often.
By the end of 2012, Ford says 98 percent of its North American vehicles will be equipped with six-speed transmissions with the goal to improve fuel economy by four to six percent.
By 2014 the ambition is to equip as many as 20 percent of Ford's global nameplates with stop/start engine technology, which can also reduce fuel and emissions by around five percent.
Ford has already committed $US1 billion to its electric vehicle future. The Transit Connect Electric will be launched later this year, followed by the Focus Electric in 2011. A hybrid and plug-in hybrid will also be built off Ford's global C platform in the near future.
The Nissan 370Z Coupe has been a sales success for the Japanese brand since going on sale last May, and with more than 800 examples already sold, has already defied Nissan’s initial sales expectations. In fact, Nissan’s Z models have been the brand’s best-selling sports nameplate since the first example, the Datsun 240Z, went on sale back in 1969.
So when Nissan introduced an exciting open-air version of its well renowned Z car last month, its plans to continue down that winning sales road were well and truly set in stone, and as we found out this week, the topless version of the 370Z ideally compliments its tin-top sibling in terms of performance, driving dynamics and curvaceous good looks.
When you think of soft-top sports cars, “soft” is usually the key word – nasty scuttle shake, poor poise and nervous handling the typical trade-offs for the joy of some wind in your hair. But not this time. The 370Z Roadster is equally as capable and exhilarating to drive as its full-framed counterpart and boasts added bracing through its ‘A’ pillars, side sills, doors and boot to ensure none of that taut, composed on-road feel is lost.
The additional weight (some 60kg) required to keep the Roadster in shape is barely recognisable from behind the wheel. The car certainly doesn’t feel any heavier, its revised double wishbone (front) / four-link (rear) suspension arrangement perfectly tuned for grippy and balanced mid-corner feel, sharp turn-in response and perfectly settled braking. Surprisingly, the 370Z Roadster is still pliant enough to remain comfortable when cruising at a more leisurely pace, even if the lightweight low-profile 19-inch forged alloy wheels radiate their fair share of road noise.
Steering feel is sublime, easily on par with Z’s more expensive European rivals offering a precise, linear action that delivers a firm, meaty feel as you turn from centre. The leather-clad wheel is pleasant to the touch yet remains small enough in diametre to still feel purposeful and sporty. Disappointingly the steering column is only adjustable for tilt, not for reach.
Brake pedal feel is another highlight of this fast-paced package being firm but still tactile enough to allow a fine level of control over those large 355 x 32mm discs (front, 350 x 20mm discs at the rear). The braking system is further enhanced by ABS anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) for added peace of mind.
Under that big bulging bonnet, Nissan’s award-winning 3.7-litre V6 engine delivers a cracking 245kW of power from 7000rpm. The free-revving DOHC unit offers aggressive acceleration with the 0-100km/h run managed in just a whisker over 5.6 seconds. In-gear performance is suitably strong, the masterful six-cylinder unit undeviating in its run to the top of the tacho, a brawny 363Nm of torque (@ 5200rpm) more than enough to break traction with a sharp stab of the loud pedal.
In this instance, the 370Z Roadster is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox with Nissan’s SynchroRev Match system taking care of the footwork when downshifting (a seven-speed automatic is also available). It’s a nifty system, and works flawlessly to match the speed of your gearshifts with a well-timed throttle blip preceding each click back through the close-ratio ‘box. The only real downfall, if you can call it that, is that the exhaust note isn’t as aggressive as it could be in complimenting the car’s muscular orientation, and lacks any real ‘bark’ from inside the cockpit, even with the roof off.
Powering along the open highway 370Z Roadster is settled, comfortable. It’s grip on the road steadfast as you head into meandering B roads for an enjoyable weekend at the wheel. Reassuringly, drive to the rear wheels is positive and smooth in transition though quick switchback turns thanks to Nissan’s Viscouse Limited Slip Differential (VSLD)… when you want it to be.
Pleasingly for the hip pocket, the powerful V6 is also quite efficient, our week of 50:50 stop-start city traffic and fast-paced highway cruising resulting in a combined fuel consumption figure of 12.1L/100km, less than a litre more than the official ADR result of 11.2L/100km. CO2 emissions are 247 grams per kilometre (combined). The 370Z sips only premium unleaded fuel (95-98 RON).
Inside, the 370Z’s twin cockpit layout presents a driver-orientated array of the latest first-rate equipment including a pumping Bose six-CD tuner, satellite navigation with seven-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth & iPod connectivity, and two of the best sports seats in the business. The driving position is comfortable, supportive, yet obvious in its sports car intent with the deep, legs-forward leather and suede upholstered pews both heated and electrically adjustable.
Fit and finish is exceptional throughout the modern cabin. All switchgear has a tactile, quality feel. The instrument panel tilts with the steering column so as to always be in view, and houses the tachometre front-and-centre for that race-car feel. The dashboard and instrumentation is back-lit if orange for sharp night time illumination while upfront, dusk-sensing xenon headlamps offer a clear view of the road ahead after dark.
Unlike most cars with fancy polished pedals, the 370Z Roadster’s stainless steel offerings do not lose grip when your shoes are damp thanks to protruding soft rubber grips. The pedal box is well-spaced with a responsive, connected feel ideally suited to the car’s performance credentials.
In fact, the only real downside to the cabin is slightly awkward ‘C’ pillar visibility with the roof in place and the subsequent lack of reversing sensors or a rear view camera. The omissions feeling a little out of place in comparison to the rest of the car’s well appointed kit list.
Taller drivers may also find the headroom a little tight, especially on entry and egress. Annoyingly the folding canvas roof is also a touch noisy with a few ‘clunks’ noticed as its stows behind the seats. Additionally, there’s a little buffeting noticed when the roof’s off, but it’s not so bad as to detract from the freedom topless motoring adds to this impressive little package.
On ths plus side, the roof’s operation takes less than 20 seconds to deploy or retract, meaning a quick costume change at the traffic lights is managed without fear of being beeped at. It also doesn’t impinge on cargo space like some folding metal lids. The boot, Nissan says, is big enough to swallow a single set of golf clubs, and even offers a “how to” placard inside the lid.
With dual front, side and door-mounted curtain airbags, fixed roll over bars (located behind the seats) and three-point inertia reel seatbelts with pyrotechnic pretensioners, the Nissan 370Z Roadster boasts a comprehensive level of safety equipment that’s right up there with Europe’s finest. Add to this Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control and it’s a given the car will achieve a five-star safety rating when testing is carried out later in the year.
At a touch under $75,000, the Nissan 370Z Roadster represents tremendous value for money, and is without doubt one of the best examples of a real soft-top sports car this side of 100-grand. It’s exciting to drive, beautifully styled, thoroughly modern and packs a real push in the back when you bury the right foot – and who doesn’t love that.
Ratings:
CarAdvice Overall Rating: How does it Drive: How does it Look: How does it Go:
New research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that 80 per cent of young drivers admitted to speeding during their past 10 trips.
Conducted with the RACV and the TAC, The Driver's Seat II – Beyond the Early Driving Years compared the driving habits of 1000 23-24 year olds to earlier data recorded when they were 19-20.
Speeding was a major issue, with 12.2 per cent of those surveyed being caught over the limit at least four times, however speeding and driving without a seatbelt did decrease marginally over the four year period as drivers become more experienced.
Sixty percent of those surveyed had been in an accident since getting their license while 25 percent had been in two or more stacks.
Giving up the phone proved difficult, with 55 percent admitting to talking on a hand-held phone while driving, and two-thirds have driven while texting or when tired.
Drink driving became increasingly prevalent with age, increasing nine percent to 23 percent between the two survey periods. Around 20 percent admitted to driving over or near 0.05 in the past month.
The study found that young men were more likely to speed and drink drive while young women drive when tired more often.
The report suggested there was only a small downturn in overall unsafe driving from the ages of 19-20 to 23-24.
Although little is known about the car shown, it’s believed the new model features the same platform as the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, though in these shots at least, the new CLS appears to be somewhat wider.
The car pictured also features daytime LED running lights, a new addition to the CLS, and some rather warm front disc brakes.
We also get to see the rear of the new model for the first time.
China's Great Wall Motor Co will take another step closer to European invasion next week when it unveils the Great Wall Tengyi C30 at the 2010 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.
The all-new sedan has been specifically designed to meet European emissions and safety standards with the view to sell it in European and domestic markets.
The Tengyi C30 is similar in size to Toyota's Yaris sedan with a 2610mm wheelbase, 510 litre boot and weighing 1136kg.
It will be powered by a 77kW/138Nm 1.5-litre all-aluminium VVT engine and CVT, and also features ABS, EBD, dual airbags, anti-theft system, leather seats and a sunroof.
Daniel Cotterill from Great Wall's Australian distributor Ateco Automotive said the car was not currently on the horizon for a local launch but admitted he was going to Beijing next week to take a look at the Show.
He confirmed that Great Wall's plans to release a small car in Australia by the end of 2010 were still on track.
The 2010 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition runs from April 25 to May 2 at the China International Exhibition Centre, with prices and specific sales markets for the Tengyi C30 to be revealed closer to its release.
Four other Bulgarian-assembled Great Wall vehicles will join the European line-up in 2011: the Florid and Coolbear sedans, the Hover 5 SUV and the Wingle ute.
VACC Executive Director, David Purchase says Victorians are missing out when it comes to paying their registration, and has called for the state to review its vehicle registration payment system.
Currently, Victoria is the only state in Australia where motorists have to pay their annual vehicle registration fees in one lump sum (excluding concession card holders) with other states and territories offering three or six month payment options.
The VACC is asking the Victorian Government to enable the state’s road body, VicRoads to introduce a six month payment option in time for next month’s state budget.
“An up-front, lump sum puts pressure on the household budget. For example, the total fee payable for renewing a light motor vehicle registration in Victoria is typically $516.60, $567.20 or $612.30, depending on the postcode. They are big hits to have to pay in one go,” said Mr Purchase.
“We recommend that the Government considers an alternative and user-friendly method of payment. We propose a six month payment option for vehicle owners which we believe will help spread the financial burden,
“Australians already have various options to pay for other essential goods and services. Mortgages, rates, utilities, motor finance and insurance are all available at monthly, quarterly or half-yearly installments,
“It is not as if the infrastructure and technology are not available, after all, concession card holders in Victoria are entitled to a half yearly payment option,
“A flexible payment scheme would also be in line with other States. ACT and South Australia even offer payments in three month chunks. Why should Victorians miss out?
“Variable payment options will also have a benefit for the local economy. Licensed Motor Car Traders (LMCTs), registering cars, motorcycles, or commercial vehicles on behalf of consumers, or for stock, could choose to pay a six month fee,
“Currently, payment of a twelve month fee represents a cost unlikely to be recovered as the vehicle is not held for that length of time. Options for a shorter term of registration and payment would improve cash flow and be a more equitable outcome,
“VACC considers a six month vehicle registration payment option to be viable and workable. We call on the Victorian Government to include this in the State Budget, on May 4.”
Vehicle registration payment options in other states & territories:
ACT: 3, 6 or 12 months
NSW: 6 or 12 months (depending on payment method)
NT: 6 or 12 months
QLD: 6 or 12 months (depending on engine size)
SA: 3, 6, 9 or 12 months
TAS: 6 or 12 months (passenger/light commercial) 3, 6 or 12 months (heavy vehicles)
VIC: 12 months (concession card holders have 6 month option)
Mazda Australia will run its turbocharged Mazda RX-8 SP on E85 ethanol blend fuel at the upcoming Targa Tasmania rally.
As the event moves to encourage more eco-friendly themes, alternate fuels such as E85 have allowed the team at Mazda Motorsport to power its rotary engine rally car on the low-emitting blend.
Ethanol, which in this instance is derived from sugar cane crops, produces less than half the amount of CO2 emissions of petrol. It also enhances performance via its natural cooling properties.
Targa Tasmania will become the second major motorsport event in Asutralia to use E85, the fuel already successfully used in V8 Supercars. Event orgnaisers plan to deliver zero net emissions by next year, in time for the event’s 20th anniversary.
“Covering long distances at competition speed can really put a lot of pressure on an engine, particularly one that is turbocharged,” explains Mazda Motorsport chief Allan Horsley.
“In short, engine cooling in an endurance rally like Targa can make or break your campaign – so it’s absolutely vital to get it right,
“It was a long and fiddly process making the turbocharged rotary compatible with E85 but because all petrol-powered Mazda passenger vehicles can run on E10 blend fuel, it made the process a lot easier.”
The Mazda RX-8 SP (pictured), which made its debut at last year’s event, finished the rally in 10th outright position. But Mr Horsley said the campaign was not without its fair share of temperature issues.
“After last year’s event we knew we had some work to do on ensuring a consistent engine temperature for its next outing,” explained Mr Horsley.
“I’m confident that our move to E85 is a step in the right direction towards achieving this for Targa 2010.”
Targa Tasmania Event Director, Mark Perry, say he believes the move to E85 blend fuel move is an important one for both Mazda, and the event in general.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase ethanol as a quality renewable fuel being used in high-performance road cars,” said Mr Perry.
“The use of E85 will see high-performance sports cars cut their CO2 emissions in half,
“It’s a great innovation and we are thrilled to see Mazda embrace this technology, which is helping us ensure that Targa remains relevant and doesn’t become a dinosaur of the past.”
This year’s event will also utilise two new Mazda6 Diesels for official course cars while Sydney-based privateer, Peter Brown will also enter a Mazda3 Diesel in Targa’s Showroom competition.
Targa Tasmania will be held from April 27 to May 3. More information on Mazda’s participation in this year’s event can be found at www.mazdamotorsport.com.au
US-based tuner Hennessey Performance has released the first teaser clip of its Hennessey Venom GT supercar on the streets of England just outside the Silverstone race circuit in the lead-up to its appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The Hennessey Venom GT is poised to become one of the most insane cars on the planet, shoehorning a 6.2-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine – based on the powerplant in the Corvette Zr1 – into the rear of a stretched-out Lotus Elise.
Production of the Venom GT is limited to just ten vehicles per year, with Australia included in the list of countries where Hennessey plans to establish a dealer network.
Following the marathon 12 hour gridlock on the F3 freeway between Sydney and Newcastle, RTA chief executive officer, Michael Bushby, has been stood aside pending an investigation into the matter.
However it isn’t all bad news for Mr Bushby who will continue to receive his salary despite the massive delays experienced by motorists as a result of the $28 million contra-flow system not being put into effect.
The decision to temporarily relieve Mr Bushby of his position was made by Premier Kristina Keneally, although Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell says this is merely a stunt to shift the blame from transport minister David Campbell.
“The community will see straight through it,” Mr O’Farrell said today. “They know David Campbell and his staff didn’t lift a finger on Monday to prevent the F3 fiasco.
Ms Keneally defended her decision, saying that it was not the transport minister’s job to direct in an emergency situation and should instead focus on government policy – such as speeding fines.
“It would be grotesque in fact to have a minister coming in, in an emergency situation, and directing what operational action should occur,” she said.
Regardless, a tax payer funded independent enquiry into the matter is underway to determine who is responsible for the chaos on the F3, with the likely result only confirming what New South Wales motorists already know.
The clip may last just ten seconds, but this is our first glimpse of the new performance BMW 1 Series from BMW’s M-division in motion as it laps the Nurburgring circuit in Germany.
With the standard BMW 135i already a potent little performance coupe, the pumped guards, wider track and boosted engine should deliver a package which would have even BMW M3 owners worried.
While not quite the bark of the classic six-cylinder BMW M3, the sound from the exhaust pipe reinforces the idea that a beefed-up version of the turbocharged six-cylinder engine from the 135i remains under the bonnet.
Early speculation expects power levels to rise to over 260kW, with wider rubber, lightweight wheels and an impressive brake package rounding out the most obvious performance enhancements.
Kia has announced its global sales figures for passenger and commercial vehicles in March of 177,351 units, a year-on-year increase of 41 per cent.
Regional results also show strong growth for the Korean company with the following breakdown demonstrating an impressive increase over last year’s figures:
China: 28,792 units (up 98.0 per cent)
Europe: 40,471 units (up 33.4 per cent)
Korea: 38,051 units (up 26.5 per cent)
North America: 34,959 units (up 23.6 per cent)
All others: 35,114 units (up 55.7 per cent)
Cumulatively, for the first three months 2010, Kia’s global sales were up 46.9 per cent on the year prior, selling a total of 471,010 units. The company’s highest success rate was in China, where the sale of 90,131 units so far this year shows a 147.8 per cent increase on the same time in 2009.
In model terms, the best-sellers for March was the Kia Cerato (known as Forte in some markets) with 32,283 examples finding a new home. The soon to be replaced Kia Sportage earned second place with 17,029 sales, while the Kia Rio hatchback scored third position selling 16,970 units.
Other popular sellers include the Kia cee’d (not sold in Australia) with 13,916 models sold and the new Kia Sorento selling a near-identical figure of 13,481 units.
“Our momentum generated in 2009 by ending the year as the world’s fastest growing automaker is clearly being maintained in 2010 as we continue to see notable double-digit sales increases,” said Hyoung-Keun Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation.
“What is equally encouraging is the regional balance of sales so far this year, particularly, with Europe, China and North America posting similar cumulative sales results of around 90,000 units each.”
Locally, the news was equally as positive for Kia with year-to-date figures up 27.8 per cent over the same period last year (for a total of 5638 units).
March was an especially good month for the brand with 2117 cars and light commercials being officially registered. Of particular interest, the Kia Sorento SUV, as currently on long term evaluation here at CarAdvice, sold very well over the month of March with figures up 104.5 per cent over the same time last year.
“The continued increase in sales demonstrates that buyers recognise that something really positive is going on at Kia, with new products, sensational equipment, strong safety, low cost of ownership and unlimited-kilometre, 5-year warranty for private buyers making a Kia purchase a smart choice,” said Mr Lee.
Kia Motors Australia is likely to continue its strong sales figures in 2010 with a number of new models set to join the range. The Kia Rio and Kia Carnival will both receive a facelift before the middle of the year while the all-new Kia Sportage is expected early in the second-half of the year. Additionally, the new Kia Cerato hatch and Kia Optima will join the lineup in Q4 of 2010.
The Stephane Ratel Organisiation (SRO) promoters of the new FIA GT1 World Championship and Nissan have announced an agreement, which will see Nissan as the Official Car Supplier of the FIA GT1 World Championship for the 2010 inaugural season.
Nissan will supply four cars at each event as well as a GT-R becoming the official Series Safety Car.
The GT1 Series has been awarded full world championship status by the FIA World Motor Sport Council and will compete in 10 countries across four continents featuring automotive brands such as Aston Martin, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford, Lamborghini, Maserati and of course, Nissan themselves.
The first race of the season will kick off at the stunning Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on April 17 and ends with an event around a volcanic lake at the San Luis track in Argentina on December 5.
Nissan will campaign two Nissan GT-R teams, Sumo Power (love the name) out of the UK and the Swiss Racing Team, from you guessed it, Switzerland.
The GT1 Series marks Nissan's first move into an FIA World Championship in over 20 years. The platform will allow the Japanese car company to showcase their cars alongside their full-blown GT1 race spec GT-R's.
If you've seen the You Tube footage of the stock standard Nissan GT-R lapping Nurburgring in a time of 7:26.7 in 2009, you can expect some intense competition from these two teams.
NISMO President, Soichi Miyatani, said: "At Nissan the idea of the FIA GT1 World Championship is a very exciting one, seeing the GT-R on track in competition with these other world famous brands will be spectacular.
The Series has also secured strong Television coverage, which they believe will heighten the brand's exposure with a core car-loving audience on a worldwide scale.
There is no question that Nissan will use the Series exposure to push other high performance models such as the Z-line of cars.
Let's just hope the GT1 Series will be broadcast on Australian Pay Television, as I for one, will be watching.
Ford Australia has today announced a $20 million upgrade of its Geelong Casting Plant.
The plant’s workforce will grow by 50 per cent as a result of the upgrade which includes technical and environmental modifications aimed at modernising the facility. The decision also secures the jobs of the plant’s existing 100 employees, and supports further employment through the automotive industry supply chain.
The deal will see the plant manufacture nearly one million brake components annually for Bosch Chassis Systems Australia, a supplier of automotive brake systems, in addition to casting brake components and engines for the locally-built Falcon and Territory.
Prior to today’s announcement, the new production work was scheduled to head to China. Ford Australia president and CEO, Marin Burela saying today’s announcement proves the company is leading local industry in discovering innovative new ways to bolster Australian automotive parts manufacturing.
“Our $20 million investment is great news for local jobs, great news for the environment, great news for the automotive sector and great news for Ford Australia,” said Mr Burela.
“It keeps in Australia work that could otherwise have gone to Chinese manufacturers, which is a fantastic testament to the skills and productivity of our workforce,
“It is vital that automotive manufacturing skills remain in Australia for the viability and strength of the entire sector, and we're very pleased the Australian and Victorian Governments have recognised this through their support.”
The upgrade investment comes in addition to the $230 million in sustainability initiatives for Falcon and Territory announced last year, part of the company’s ten year, $1.8 billion investment in Australian operations.
“It's no secret we were looking at a range of options for the Plant, including new ownership, however after careful consideration we have a growth plan that takes the Plant to full capacity and, importantly, creates new jobs at Ford,” said Mr Burela.
The Geelong Casting Plant also produces Euro IV compliant 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine blocks (I6) for use in Ford Falcon and Ford Territory models.
As well, the plant is set to produce the new Territory diesel and petrol variants, supported by the Australian Government under the Automotive Competitiveness and Investment Scheme program.
“Our I6 engine continues to be the cornerstone of our success in Australia and its evolution over the last 50 years is testament to the engineering ingenuity we have at Ford Australia,” Mr Burela said.
“Its upgrade to Euro IV emissions standards proves that it is possible to enjoy the benefits of a large car along with improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.”
Upgrades to the Geelong Casting Plant will take place over the next three years and will include environmental benefits such as:
An electricity efficiency gain of more than 5100kW hours each day, obtained by reducing furnace idle times
Increased use of recycled stormwater to 77,000 litres a week, or 3.7 million litres a year – around 20 per cent of all water used at the Plant will be from recycled stormwater, up from the current 5 per cent
Increased use of recycled shredded metal, increasing from 32 per cent to 70 per cent – 67 tonnes of metal a day will be recycled, or almost 15,000 tonnes a year
Sand reclamation to increase to almost 100 per cent by selling around 138 tonnes of surplus sand each week for cement production, reducing sand landfill requirements to zero
Mr Burela said the announcement demonstrates the on-going strength of Ford's Australian operations.
“Ford Australia enjoyed a strong 2009 and we're looking even stronger in 2010. In fact we've had to schedule overtime days for five of the last six months to keep up with customer demand and we're currently selling almost 100 per cent of our vehicle supply each month,” explained Mr Burela.
“Building on this growth, in coming months we'll be unveiling a range of upgrades and innovations to celebrate Falcon's 50th year, in addition to already announced enhancements such as Falcon EcoBoost and Falcon LPi.”
French publication, L’Automobile has reported that Volkswagen is considering a two-wheel drive version of its popular Touareg SUV.
The French motoring website suggests VW will offer the Touareg in rear-wheel drive guise to reduce weight and, at the same time, improve fuel consumption. It also said an unnamed member of the Touareg’s research and development team believes the switch to RWD would be an easy one considering the vehicle’s existing platform configuration.
Assuming the rumours are true, a Volkswagen Touareg 2MOTION would be considerably cheaper than the current AWD model, lending the nameplate greater mass-market appeal.
Taut & composed dynamics; sharp performance; head-turning looks
Clunky roof mechanism; no steering reach adjustment; exhaust note
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