Mazda Australia has confirmed the top-selling medium car, the Mazda6, will receive a facelift in 2010, with the new range adding design and specification upgrades and an all-new Touring wagon.

Set to make its global debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, facelift Mazda6 is due to arrive in Australia around autumn boasting an evolved exterior design in keeping with Mazda6’s ‘emotional and sporty’ original design theme.

Specific exterior design upgrades will incorporate Mazda’s expressive signature ‘family face’, a look in keeping with other new Mazda vehicles including New Generation Mazda3 and CX-7.

Redesigned front headlamps, tail-lights and alloy wheels contribute to new Mazda6’s evolved exterior guise.

Engines remain unchanged with Mazda6’s 2.5 litre petrol and 2.2 litre turbodiesel engines powering the facelift model.

BMW has announced pricing for its new X1 SUV, with the range starting at $43,500.

The X1 will officially go on sale on Saturday 10 April.

In line with the very high level of pre-launch customer interest, the company has announced it is expanding the X1 line-up with the addition of two petrol models.

For those who desire typical BMW rear-wheel drive agility and driving pleasure, the company has also confirmed the availability of the sDrive system, which delivers even more impressive fuel economy.
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Toyota has made moves to alleviate any concerns car buyers may have about the technology in their new Camry Hybrid, offering fixed price servicing and an eight-year battery warranty.

Under Toyota Service Advantage, Hybrid Camry owners will pay just $130 for up to four standard scheduled services during the first three years or 60,000 kilometres driven (whichever comes first).

Toyota Service Advantage has been available to new Camry owners since 2006. 
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The reopening of Australia’s only automotive glass manufacturing facility in Geelong today demonstrates the power of partnerships between industry and Government says Innovation Minister, senator Kim Carr.

“This reopening is not just great news for the working families of Geelong, but for our resilient and innovative automotive industry,” senator Carr says.

“Not only have 68 automotive jobs and critical industrial capacity been preserved, but we have even succeeded in securing new investment.

“This is a credit to all concerned, and especially to the new owners, MHG. The company has demonstrated great courage and vision in the hardest of economic times.

“The reopening has been assisted by $4.5 million from the Automotive Industry Structural Adjustment Program, part of the Rudd Government’s New Car Plan for a Greener Future.

“The announcement comes at a time when automotive manufacturers worldwide are seeking to trim their balance sheets in the aftermath of the worst global recession in a generation.

“MHG’s acquisition of the Geelong plant is an important example of the supply chain consolidation we need, and a great gesture of faith in Australia’s automotive future.

“Rationalisation is never easy, but it is absolutely essential if the supply chain is to keep winning business locally and internationally.

“We have made it work in glass manufacturing, and we can make it work in other areas as well.

“This announcement also demonstrates the close working relationship between Federal and Victorian Governments, and their role in minimising the impact of the financial crisis on business and families.

“The Rudd Government will continue to work in partnership to transform automotive manufacturing and support high-wage, high skill jobs in Geelong and across the country.”

Leading Ford drivers Layton Crambrook and Craig Dontas will hang up the blue flag and step into a Holden VE Commodore SS V8 Ute for the tenth year of the Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series.

Crambrook, the 2008 Champion will sport new Ice Break coffee colours on his Holden VE purchased from Ray Sidebottom who will be stepping out of the V8 Ute Series in 2010.

“Our new sponsor Ice Break has a relationship with Holden and we had to be in a Holden,” says Crambrook.

Crambrook is confident the red colours will help him regain his 2008 title, which he is keen to reclaim after a frustrating 2009.

“We are hoping for three years in a row,” commented Crambrook, still hopeful his judicial hearing from 2009 will be overturned in his favour which is still under CAMS investigation.

South Australian Craig Dontas who is gearing up for the “Ten Years of Legends Race” in his home town with race-partner Leanne Tander is feeling good about the Holden move.

“I suppose the biggest thing is Thirsty Camel wanted a change, a fresh look and to run a Holden,” says Dontas.

Dontas’ ute was recently purchased by David Murphy (Kim Jane Racing head mechanic), which was driven by Kurt Wimmer in 2009.

The Thirsty Camel Racing driver, will still sport the Green Camel colours but will change his number to 22.

“I suppose it’s one of those things… 45 was my number for a long time, since I was a kid and it was time for a change. It’s sentimental as it’s the day of my birthday and also my little fella is born on the 2nd of the 2nd so it all just made sense really,” explains Dontas.

Both drivers will take to the track  in their Holden’s over March 11 – 14 at the Clipsal 500 for the “Ten Years of Legends Race”, which is a two driver format and a celebration of the V8 Utes tenth year. Each driver will have 1 practice, 1 qualifying and 1 race with the final race a two driver format with mid race driver change. The Clipsal event will be round 1 of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All.

The V8 Utes had their inaugural race at the Clipsal 500 in 2001 and have competed at the Adelaide street race every year since.”

{jcomments on}A new report has made interesting reading for the automotive industry with confidence rising, the internet now becoming the more useful media for car sales and Holden leading in the brand currency stakes.

The Roy Morgan Research Automotive Currency Report covers key consumer marketing metrics of  new car buying intention, brand awareness, consideration, advertising recall, brand rejection, brand loyalty and satisfaction.

According to the report, consumer confidence has returned to a comparable level to prior to the ‘global financial crisis.’

According to Roy Morgan, rising consumer confidence points to the automotive market returning to health in 2010, as it is usually consumer reaction to an event, rather than the event itself, that has the greatest impact on the economy.

Interestingly for dealers, the report notes that the internet, which includes traditional content now delivered online, has clearly overtaken newspaper as the media ‘considered most useful’ when it comes to purchasing a new car, and is a vital medium for automotive communications strategy (refer chart below).
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{jcomments on}Another major dealership development has begun, as Australian dealers continue to shake off the economic downturn and financing difficulties of the last year.

Audi Centre Gold Coast has officially turned the first sod on the site where the company will build its brand new $18 million dealership facility. The ground-breaking ceremony represents the first of at least eight new developments commencing construction this year within the Audi network.

Following five years of record growth Downunder, Audi will have invested more than $170 million in facility developments by the end of this year.

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The Victorian Government has identified France and Germany as key growth markets for Australian car aftermarket manufacturers with a strong focus on niche products in the next few years.

According to a report commissioned by the Victorian Government, Automotive Aftermarket Opportunities in Europe, new trade opportunities are emerging as the European car market begins to age and consumers choose to replace parts rather than buy new cars.
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Kia Motors Australia has used the Federal Government’s reduction in import tariffs to sharpen its pricing from this month.

Recommended selling prices for the Kia Cerato sedan, Kia Rondo7 and Kia Grand Carnival models have all been reduced to take advantage of the tariff reductions.

The new pricing for the Kia Cerato sedan range starts at $18,990 driveaway. The Kia Rondo7 range starts at $24,990 driveaway and the Kia Grand Carnival range starts at $38,990 driveaway.

Mitsubishi has released images of its new compact SUV, to be revealed officially next month.

The ASX crossover will be revealed at the Geneva International Motor Show.

The ASX is the European-spec version of the Japanese RVR, which is slated to go on sale in Japan from February 2010. MMC’s new compact crossover will seat five and will be sequentially introduced in European countries from late spring 2010, aimed at expanding MMC’s passenger car footprint in the region, following in the footsteps of the larger and recently redesigned Outlander mid-size crossover.

Amongst other available powertrains, the European-spec version will be fitted with an all-new Euro 5-compliant 1.8L turbocharged direct-injection diesel engine jointly developed by MMC and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and will feature ‘automatic stop & go’ technology. Together with a 6-speed manual transmission, this combination will provide high environmental efficiency.