Articles by Daniel Zautsen

Audi’s new showrooms were built according to the German manufacturer’s global ‘terminal’ design. The Wagga Wagga facility is the first rural facility of its kind in the world in the ‘terminal’ design. Audi Australia’s managing director Uwe Hagen believes the facilities and an increased range of models represent the German company’s increasing influence in Australia. “This project, along with many others which are under construction around the country, represents Audi’s growing strength in Australia. It is part of our strategic development plan to prepare our facilities for the expansion of the Audi model range,” says Hagen. “Towards 2015 our model range will increase to 42 new models and our dealerships must be able to showcase these vehicles for customers, whether they are based in the major cities in the city or large regional centres like Wagga.” Dealer Principal of the new Mosman centre Ian Pagent says the new showrooms are indicative of Audi’s commitment to reaching the top of the Australian market. “We are committed to the growth of the Audi brand here. We now have in place the best facilities and the best people in the luxury car market,” says Pagent. “The next goal needs to be market leadership in each of our respective catchment areas.” The Mosman facility opened on the June 26 while the Wagga facility was unveiled on June 27.  

Pranksters around the world have been handed the perfect tool to irritate unsuspecting motorists in the form of a pop-up zebra crossing. While the Chaser team may be licking their lips in anticipation of playing havoc with the busy streets of the city, the pop up crossing does serve a much more worthwhile purpose. Concerned parents in Kingston-upon-Thames came up with the idea after their local council rejected a much needed safe crossing outside their children’s school due to a ridiculous $150,000 bill.  The materials used cost less than 100 hundred dollars and can be assembled in less than a minute. One of the parents behind the idea Yannick Read believes that although the idea is tongue-in-cheek it needs to be taken into serious consideration. “With over 2000 children killed or seriously injured each year on our roads, parents should never have to battle to have a genuine crossing installed,” says Read.  

The official Ferrari restoration department gets their hands on a lot of special cars, but this one is a standout even in that crowd.Steve McQueen’s 275 GTB4 was brought to Ferrari by its current owner for the authenticity certification process. But to meet Ferrari’s certification standards, the car can only be authenticated if it matches its factory specifications. And McQueen’s Ferrari 275 GTB4 no longer did.McQueen took delivery of the 275 GTB4 when while on the set of the classic thriller ‘Bullitt’ – perhaps not satisfied with the power of the Ford Mustang made famous in the film’s chase scene, he fell in love with the classic Ferrari.The Ferarri’s roof was later removed by a subsequent owner in the 80’s. So Classiche has taken to restoring it to its original coupe form at the current owner’s request.Interest in classic Ferraris has peaked in recent years due to the direct involvement of Ferrari in the form of Classiche which was established in 2006. Classic Ferraris smashed world record auction prices over a number of years culminating in the sale of a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO built for Sir Stirling Moss for US$35 million. 

A study has found 58 per cent of Australian drivers have consciously started driving more smoothly – and reducing hard acceleration -- to save fuel. The survey of 2119 motorists by Canstar Blue found Aussies are also taking other measures to reduce fuel bills.Of the survey respondents, 40 per cent are turning off the car’s air conditioner, while a further 20 per cent considered ditching their current cars in favour of a more economic option – a smaller car, bike or scooter.Canstar Blue Manager, Rebecca Logan says motorists are more conscious about petrol prices and tend to favour independent service stations more often.“Given renewed concerns about the world economic outlook, it is expected motorists will remain sensitive about petrol prices despite a slight drop predicted by economists,” says Logan.

You’ve picked out the perfect used car, it caught your eye the moment you walked into the yard, great colour, sleek exterior and a beast under the bonnet. But wait, what’s that smell? And how can you get rid of it? Ford has the answer. The Blue Oval brand has lined up alongside Paris Hilton, Jennifer Aniston and Beyonce as the newest celebrity fragrance. Teaming up with Bassat Ogilvy Madrid, Ford has created “Olor a Nuevo.” A fragrance designed to make even the most torturous sweat-filled car smell new again. The fragrance is part of Ford’s new olfactory marketing campaign aimed at boosting Ford Spain’s Selección used car line. Ford took the campaign into the real world with the promise of selling “the only used cars that smell new.”  The advertising campaign spreads the smell on public transportation and in the streets. Radio commercials use real phone calls to used car dealers asking if the cars they sold smelled new, the response? Negative. We’ll certainly take the new car smell over the Monday morning mustiness of football boots left in the back after Saturday’s game.  

UK research shows 36 per cent of Brits don’t know how to change a tyre -- and four per cent don’t know if they even have a spare. And the NRMA says Australians are reluctant to grab hold of a spare as well.The NRMA’s Tim Pomroy says that while a flat tyre is one of the most common call-outs for their roadside assistance, it’s not always because callers can’t change the flat.“Many people in Australia call for roadside assistance not because they can’t necessarily change a tyre but because they don’t want to,” Pomroy says. “A lot of people are on their way to work when it happens and don’t want to get their clothes dirty.”In the UK, the research into flat tyres by British repair company Kwik Fit, suggested that the poort result was a symptom of the confusion caused by differing practices among car manufacturers.Drivers reported varying methods offered by manufacturers to deal with a flat tyre, from smaller space saver tyres to providing a puncture repair kit instead of a spare tyre, Kwik Fit’s UK communications director Roger Griggs says.“The recent trend among car manufacturers to offer space-saver spares or puncture repair kits instead of full-size spare tyres could be the cause of this confusion among motorists,” said Griggs.“It’s is worrying how many drivers don’t know what provision they have for a puncture, but it’s even more of a concern to see how many have absolutely nothing in their car to deal with a deflated tyre.“There are clearly gaps in knowledge around how to change a tyre, and indeed many cars are missing tools, which means even if a spare is carried some motorists will struggle to swap it over.”Do you know how to change a tyre? Take our poll.