Articles by Joshua Dowling

Motorists to pay more for car servicing under new regulations.Local mechanics could soon become extinct and motorists may be forced to pay more for vehicle servicing after the car industry blocked independent repairers from getting access to complete maintenance data and specialist tools to fix modern cars.The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries — the body that represents car companies — has walked away from negotiations with independent repairers and issued its own voluntary code of conduct on car servicing.But the Australian Automobile Association, which represents 7 million motorists nationally, says the code threatens to strip away the basic rights of consumers and local mechanics because it blocks access to critical information, computer upgrades and diagnostics equipment.RELATED: Capped-price servicing for 1.1 million carsMORE: Seven-year warranty sets new Australian recordMORE: Probe into insurance companies and smash repairersAbout 20,000 independent workshops across Australia and approximately 1500 new-car dealer service centres maintain 17 million vehicles nationally.Independent operators argue that as cars become complex “computers on wheels”, smaller workshops need complete access to maintenance information and better diagnostics tools, rather than the bare essentials covered by the code.In Europe and North America it is compulsory for car companies to make available to independent workshops the same complete maintenance data and diagnostics equipment provided to new-car dealership service centres.In most cases, independent mechanics in Europe and North America pay a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly subscription fee to access the most up to date information and diagnostics tools to work on certain cars.But in Australia the car industry has been accused of locking motorists into dealership servicing programs.“This shows complete arrogance and contempt on behalf of the car makers,” said Andrew McKellar, the chief executive of the Australian Automobile Association, the peak body representing the NRMA, RACQ, RACV, RAA, RAC and other motoring groups in each state and territory.“(The FCAI) is demonstrating little concern for the consumer and they are gunning for independent repairers and service providers. That’s a bad thing for consumers as it reduces choice and reduces competition.”Figures from market analysts Deloitte show, on average, service and parts account for more than 50 per cent of a dealership’s profit; new-car sales contribute just 5 per cent to the bottom line.“The new code has so many loopholes and so many exclusions as to make it utterly worthless,” said Mr McKellar.“It is a complete con. They’re putting forward the appearance they’re doing the right thing but if you dig into the detail it heavily restricts what is available (to independent repairers).”Stuart Charity the executive director of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association, which represents independent mechanics, repairers and parts suppliers, said: “This is not a dealer-bashing exercise, dealers are the meat in the sandwich in this”.“New-car dealerships are forced by car companies to have expensive showrooms and they need to recoup those costs by charging more for servicing,” said Mr Charity. “That means car owners end up paying more for routine maintenance.”The AAA is concerned that restricting access to up-to-date servicing data could also have a negative impact on car safety.“If people don’t get their cars properly maintained because they are concerned about costs, then absolutely there is a risk this could affect vehicle safety,” said Mr McKellar.The chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Tony Weber said a 2012 Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council (CCAAC) review found there “does not appear to be any evidence of systemic consumer detriment regarding the sharing of service and repair information in the automotive industry”.The advisory council recommended the automotive industry develop “within a reasonable period of time” a code of practice that “ensures there is a process for independent repairers to access repair information”.“Now, 23 months later, we are the only ones that appear to be making progress on this matter,” said Mr Webber.“If there is such a crisis according to others, why have they not issued their recommendations? Where is their commitment to the consumer? It’s one thing for them to jump up and down but what are they doing?”The Australian Automotive Dealers Association claims independent repairers already get access to relevant information.The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has offered to make their extensive repair information library available to independent repairers nationwide for a fee. The VACC claims it answers 98 per cent of technical enquiries in the first phone call.But independent repairers claim the new code does not give them access to enough information because it lists 16 exemptions, including access to the latest diagnostics tools, and important vehicle updates that do not qualify as a recall but are fixed discreetly during routine servicing.“Independent repairers in Europe and North America get access to this information and the right diagnostics tools, so why are the car companies blocking these in Australia? It’s blatant anti-competitive behaviour,” said Mr Charity.“These days cars are computers on wheels, if you don’t get access to the complete technical information, then a car owner is not going to get the same level of service,” he said.The Federal Minister for small business, Bruce Billson, said it was important that independent repairers had a “level playing field” when competing with car dealership service centres.“While respecting that the FCAI may seek to introduce a voluntary code for its members, I would be concerned if agreement on the broader industry code was not reached,” said Mr Billson.“I have been contacted by (independent repairers) concerned that the FCAI does not address key aspects raised in the CCAAC report. Codes should be developed to ensure choice for consumers as to who repairs their vehicle.”

Joshua Dowling tests the world's fastest ute, the HSV GTS Maloo.

Ford fans might not want to believe it, but the exclusive story by News Corp Australia’s James Phelps in the lead-up to last weekend’s Bathurst 1000 is true.Ford is planning to pull out of V8 Supercars once it stops making cars in Australia at the end of 2016.It has already cut funding and will trim the budgets even further over the next two years -- even though the last official Ford-funded team just delivered the company back-to-back wins on the mountain, in an unprecedented last-to-first victoryPlease, Ford. Rethink this decision.But emotion carries little weight in such heavy boardroom decisions. Ford won’t say this publicly, but privately it thinks motor racing is bad for its image. It wants to reposition as a technology leader, and move upmarket.I have one word for Ford on this: Toyota.The Japanese giant sells more blokey four-wheel-drives and utes than any other brand in Australia. Toyota also sells a tonne of hybrid cars globally (it just passed the 7 million mark this week). In other words: you can market both. Successfully.I completely understand why Ford wants to move its brand upmarket. Even Ford dealers admit the cars are better than the brand’s image.But to walk away from the core V8 audience is madness. Ford walked away from motorsport and V8s before. And the fans forgave them when they came back. I’m not so sure fans will be so forgiving a second time around.One more thought: if the V8 Supercar audience isn’t worth talking to, why did Ford have so many advertisements all through the telecast on Sunday?Please, Ford. Rethink this decision. Ford race teams need genuine financial support to remain competitive, not a few body panels donated in kind.

Australian drivers are about to become real-life crash-test dummies, because from next year it will be easier for less safe cars to earn a five-star safety rating.The peak body that proudly closed a number of loopholes for crash rating requirements two years ago is about to reopen them so they are more closely aligned with European results, which are less stringent in two key areas. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) currently requires five-star cars to provide airbag protection for back seat passengers, and to score a minimum 12.5 points out of 16 in a head-on crash test, which measures a car’s ability to protect front seat passengers. However, from next year, Australia will accept EuroNCAP results even though they do not require five-star cars to provide airbag protection for back seat passengers. The European crash test body is also happy to elevate a car to five stars even if it scores less than 12.5 out of 16 in the critical frontal crash test. RELATED: Chinese ute safety slammed againMORE: Indian ute scores two stars ahead of upgradeVIDEO: Why side airbags are life savers“Any move to water down safety standards is a raw deal for the consumer,” said Tom Godfrey, the spokesman for Australia’s peak consumer body Choice. “Any move to compromise these ratings in a bid to align with apparently weaker international criteria would not be a good thing for consumers.” Choice said ANCAP had done good work in the past at improving vehicle safety, but adopting Europe’s weaker testing measures was a step backwards. “Choice believes Australia should maintain the highest standards possible when it comes to car safety,” said Mr Godfrey.Frontal crashes are more common but side impacts are more deadly, which is why ANCAP initially made side airbags mandatory for five-star cars. ANCAP is making the changes so its results become more closely aligned with EuroNCAP, to cut confusion among buyers, even though ANCAP preceded its European counterpart when it was established in 1993. The changes mean cars that would not qualify for a five-star rating in Australia today will get a five-star rating under the new rules. For example, the Renault Captur SUV, if it were launched in Australia this year as planned, would earn a four-star rating under the current guidelines because it lacks rear airbags.But because Renault has delayed the launch until 2015 — when the relaxed rules are introduced — it will get a five-star rating. Renault Australia spokeswoman Emily Fadeyev insists the late arrival is due to “global demand and shipping delays” and not to take advantage of the rule change. EuroNCAP is not due to make rear airbags mandatory for five-star ratings until 2016, and currently has no plans to reinstate the minimum requirement of a 12.5 score out of 16 in the frontal crash test. ANCAP chief executive officer Nicholas Clarke told News Corp Australia: “Rear airbags are important, there’s no doubt about that. But Europe will require them (for five star ratings) in due course. There might be room for a little bit of confusion but we will respond to consumers as they arise. It’s really those that have a very active interest in safety that would pursue issues of rear airbags over no rear airbags.”ANCAP is an independent body funded by the Federal Government, the roads and traffic authorities in each state and territory and some insurance companies. It has no power to stop a car from going on sale; instead it tests cars independently and then publishes the results in a star-rating system so consumers can distinguish the safety of new cars. ANCAP was the first body of its type in the world to insist cars must have airbag protection for back seat passengers if they are to be awarded five stars. ANCAP was also the first to mandate electronic stability control, which can prevent a skid in a corner and is viewed as the next big lifesaver after the seatbelt. The rules requiring rear airbags were initially made by ANCAP after a number of cars, including the 2008 Ford Falcon, scored a five-star rating even though they were not fitted with rear airbags. ANCAP changed the rules in 2013 to close the loophole and raise safety standards for family cars.However after just two years, following pressure from some car makers who sell some models without rear airbag protection, ANCAP has announced it will relax this rule and align its testing criteria with its European counterparts. 

Holden has issued its thirteenth safety recall notice this year — more than any other brand in Australian automotive history.The latest recalls affect three models. Manual transmission versions of the Holden Barina small car and Trax SUV can unintentionally “bunny hop” should the driver leave the car in gear, turn the engine off and then leave the key in the ignition.And the two seatbelts in the back row of the Colorado SUV can lock into position if the car is parked on a hill.Holden says it has received at least five reports of the unintentional Barina “bunny hop” but “there have been no reports of accidents or injuries relating to this condition”.RELATED: Holden issues record 11 recallsMORE: Holden Commodore recalled five timesVIDEO: Holden here to stay after factory closureHolden will now recall approximately 9188 Barina and Trax models and 3116 Colorado SUVs. The repairs will be made free of charge.Australian-made Holdens account for more than half of the recalls so far this year.The locally-made Holden Commodore has been recalled five times this year and the Holden Cruze has been recalled twice (one of which was the third recall for the same fault initially reported last year).But Holden still insists the Commodore does not need to be recalled for a faulty ignition switch even though 46,000 export versions of the Australian-made Commodore and Caprice were recalled in the US earlier this month, as part of a safety campaign involving a record 2.6 million cars there.In doing so Holden has avoided what would become the biggest single recall in Australian automotive history as it would involve approximately 432,000 Commodores made since 2006.Holden engineers insist the General Motors ignition fault linked to at least 19 deaths across a number of models sold in the US does not affect Commodores in Australia because the position of the key is different.Holden says it has issued a record number of recalls locally because it is erring on the side caution after its parent company General Motors became involved in a recall scandal in the US, which also cost the jobs of several top executives following years of cover-ups.When asked why Holden had issued so many recalls, spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale said: “This is consistent with the approach being taken across (General Motors).”The latest round of safety notices means Australia is on track to recall almost as many cars as have been sold in 2014.In the first eight months of this year, 789,000 vehicles had been recalled compared with 737,000 new vehicles sold over the same period.But the tally to September means the number of new cars sold (832,000) has edged ahead of those recalled so far this year (803,000).The last time more cars were recalled than sold in a year was in 2001, according to Wheels magazine.Jeep has the second-highest number of recalls in Australia so far this year with nine bulletins, ahead of top-seller Toyota with seven.Among the other Top Five brands Mazda has issued three recalls, Hyundai has issued two and Ford has issued one.The Commodore and Cruze are made at Holden’s factory in Elizabeth on the outskirts of Adelaide, but the Barina and Trax models are made in South Korea and the Colorado is made in Thailand, where Holden is likely to source more cars from once it closes its Australian factories in 2017.Holden already sources most of the vehicles in its line-up from South Korea or Thailand but the company says in the future it will source vehicles from several divisions across the General Motors world.The next Commodore is likely to be sourced from Opel in Germany along with the Astra hatch.Meanwhile, authorities in the US found that General Motors knew of the ignition faults for 10 years but hid them and failed to take appropriate action.The scandal prompted US Senators to propose “life in prison” for car executives who try to hide recalls, and has led to a class-action lawsuit against General Motors by at least 650 owners of the affected cars.

HiLux limited edition is Black ... but that colour costs more.Black is the new black when it comes to utes.Toyota has released the HiLux Black Edition, joining the recently announced Holden Colorado Black Edition and the Volkswagen Amarok Dark Label accessory packs.The special edition HiLux is the last high-profile hurrah for Australia's favourite workhorse before an all-new model arrives in the second half of next year.There is just one catch, however: the Black Edition Toyota HiLux costs extra if you want a black one.The white version of the Black Edition starts at $53,240 but a black one will be $550 more because that option is metallic paint.A five-speed manual is standard; a five-speed automatic transmission adds $2750. It may seem unusual that Toyota can charge more for a black one when it is called the Black Edition but the company says orders are strong and fewer than 1000 will be imported.All models are powered by the HiLux's proven 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine. There are no enhancements in power, efficiency, payload or towing capacity. Changes include unique front and rear bumpers, black sports bar and sideskirts, LED daytime running lights (for the first time on a HiLux), unique alloy wheels, badging and rear-view camera.Inside, there are partial leather seat trim, six-way power driver's seat and a navigation system with live traffic alerts is standard.The Black Edition is a pointer to a super-luxury version of the HiLux that will sit above the current SR5 flagship in the model range when next year's model arrives.The next HiLux is expected to be unveiled next April at the motor show in Thailand, where the HiLux is built, before arriving in Australian showrooms in October. Meanwhile, the Black Edition is due here next month.

The only thing Craig Lowndes and I have in common is that I'm driving a car with his name on it around the most daunting race track in Australia. No, I haven't suddenly landed a seat on the V8 Supercar grid in this weekend's Bathurst 1000, I'm driving the first Holden road car to wear Lowndes' name. He put his name to 650 Ford Falcon utes in 2007. Following in the tyre tracks of his fallen hero, the late great Peter Brock, Craig Lowndes now has his name on a special edition Holden Commodore. If this one sells well, more may follow. To see what Job One is like, Holden invited a group of media for a test drive with a twist: we would get to blast around Australia's mecca of motorsport, during a gap in practice sessions for the V8 Supercars in race week. This meant there was an added risk. Not only were there concrete barriers to be avoided, if something did go wrong it would happen in front of a crowd. And we all know how supportive and understanding race fans can be when confronted with a car wreck. After initially planning to build just 161 cars (a tribute to the number of laps to complete the Bathurst 1000) demand was so strong Holden will now build 233 of these (all hand finished near the end of the production line at Elizabeth). That's one per dealer, and most cars are already spoken for. And I don't want to leave Holden with only 232 to sell. So with the pressure that I can only imagine race drivers feel at the start of a hot lap, Holden racers Luke Youlden and Nathan Pretty lead us out in two groups of four cars, single file. The plan: follow the lead driver's line, do as you're told over the radio, and yell out if you're feeling giddy or overwhelmed. It's great in theory but if the car ahead of you and the car ahead of him gets the line slightly wrong, then you end up all over the place. Racing line? It was more like Chinese whispers. It's a good thing, then, the Commodore feels so sure-footed. Changes to the electric power steering have given a more precise feel, while the brakes (now with extra stopping power thanks to Brembo calipers on the rear as well as the front) are a lot more resistant to fade. I don't pretend to be able to give any worthwhile feedback to the engineers in pit lane, but it's safe to say the minor changes to the suspension (new bushes if you're curious) and the massive 20-inch wheels and tyres (staggered so the rears are wider than the fronts) make the Lowndes edition feel more planted than any Commodore to date. The best additions, though, are the paddle shifters on the steering wheel so you can now get the best out of the automatic. Tap 'up' or 'down' and it will select the next gear. But if you hold the 'down' paddle long enough, while braking heavily, it will snap into the lower gear as soon as the engine revs will allow it. Never before have two tiny bits of plastic made such a massive improvement to a big brute of a car.  Driving up mountain straight, and then tapping back down the gears for the trip up, over and down the mountain, had me converted from a diehard manual fan to a believer in the new world order of automatics with paddle shifters. There's no extra power in the 6.0-litre V8 from the Craig Lowndes edition Commodore (indeed, the automatic still has a 10kW power deficit compared with the manual: 260kW versus 270kW) but for now it's enough. Although our speed was limited to about 140km/h on our high speed test drive, it was still daunting, especially when most corners are blind from The Cutting to The Dipper and all the way down to Forrest's Elbow.  What a place. What an epic experience. Forget bungee jumping, this will do me thanks very much. Being able to enjoy a car like this, in its element, albeit over just four laps, gives you a new appreciation for why so many young race drivers -- and international stars -- make it their life's mission to compete at Bathurst. The place is addictive, scary, and exhilarating all in one. It is without question one of the best tracks in the world.  So it is with great sadness to think that this won't happen again. It really is the end of an era. Driving an Australian-made car named after an Australian legend, on Australia's best race track. We lost the Ford Falcon GT this week, as the last one rolled off the Broadmeadows assembly line and Ford starts its countdown to closure two years from now.  The following year, Holden will do the same. And then Toyota will close months later, and the lights will be out on Australian car manufacturing forever. No wonder Holden says 37 per cent of all Commodores sold nowadays are V8s -- the highest in the 36-year history of the Commodore. Australians are snapping them up, buying one last one before it's too late.

Holden unveils the Craig Lowndes special edition Commodore in Bathurst today ahead of its arrival in showrooms next month.Holden hero Craig Lowndes has followed in the tyre tracks of his fallen mentor and idol Peter Brock, unveiling a limited edition Commodore ahead of this weekend's Bathurst 1000 car race.Holden originally planned to build just 161 Craig Lowndes Edition Commodores -- a tribute to the number of laps in the Bathurst 1000 endurance race -- but demand was so strong Holden increased production to 233 cars, one per Holden dealer.The car costs $60,000 and comes with no more power than a regular Commodore V8 but does get a load of extras that are fitted in a special projects area on the production line at Elizabeth, near Adelaide.RELATED: Brock Commodore concept revived with Craig LowndesMORE: Holden builds the 'Collingwoodore'The car goes into production next week and all models will be built by the end of this year.Buyers will also get a "money can't buy package" including a tour of Lowndes' Triple 8 V8 Supercar race team headquarters in Queensland.The Lowndes special edition comes as Holden figures reveal 37 per cent of all new Commodores sold are a V8: more than any other time in the model's 36-year history.I think (Peter) Brock would be proud of what Holden has done with this oneLowndes, who celebrates his 20th anniversary at the Bathurst 1000 this weekend, says he is humbled to have his name on a limited edition road car."I think (Peter) Brock would be proud of what Holden has done with this one," Lowndes told News Corp Australia."It's no secret that Brock was a great mentor and an idol to me. To be able to emulate what he did and get some recognition from Holden by putting my name to a Commodore has been a very humbling experience and very much an honour. For me, it's a dream come true."Lowndes says Holden came to him earlier this year with the idea of a limited edition road car. His reward: the first one built."I'm getting car number one," said Lowndes. "I'm hoping to wheel it out in pristine condition in the years to come and that it will become collectible over time."Although Lowndes raced for Ford between 2001 and 2006, he launched his V8 Supercar career in a Holden 20 years ago when, as a rookie driver, he challenged for the lead in the final laps of the Bathurst 1000, finishing a close second."I was never ear-marked to do the last stint (of the race) because I was the rookie guy," said Lowndes. "But (co-driver Brad Jones) did a double stint in the middle of the day so it forced the team to put me back in the car at the end of the race. And that was the beginning of my career. It's a moment I will never forget."Lowndes says he is saddened by the end of car manufacturing in Australia. Ford will close its factories in 2016 and Toyota and Holden will follow in 2017."Growing up I always watched the Ford and Holden rivalry and was very proud to have cars made in Australia," said Lowndes. "It was something I never thought would change. But of course times have changed and it's going to be a very sad day to see Holden and Ford cease to be manufactured locally."Lowndes said he feels for the thousands of factory workers at Holden, Ford and Toyota."During my time with Ford I got to know the guys at Broadmeadows and Geelong, I know how much that's going to impact workers those areas, and of course all the guys at Holden and Toyota. It really is sad what is happening," he said.As for this weekend's race, Lowndes is of course in it to win it -- and is still a chance at taking out this year's V8 Supercar championship, despite being 273 points behind series leader and teammate Jamie Whincup."I think we can win it still, yes," said Lowndes. "It really hinges on the Bathurst 1000 and the Sydney 500. We're only a couple of points in front of Frosty (Ford driver Mark Winterbottom) so these next two races will make or break the championship."Fast facts: the Holden Commodore by Craig LowndesPrice: $57,990 plus on-road costsEngine: 6.0-litre V8Power: 270kW and 530Nm0 to 100km/h: 5.5 secondsExtras: Brembo brakes front and rear, 20-inch wheels and tyres (wider at the rear), retuned suspension bushings, Craig Lowndes signature on dash, doors and boot, invidual build plate, roof painted black (the body colour of all cars are red or white). Just 233 will be built.The Craig Lowndes Q and AWhose idea was it to do a Craig Lowndes special edition Commodore?Holden were keen to do something, they approached us earlier this year and we were keen to be a part of it. It fell into place quite quickly in terms of the changes to the car and the design. It was great to work with the Holden engineers to get the 20-inch wheels on there, the different suspension bushing, the bigger brakes on the rear and the paddle shifters on the automatic models. I'm really pleased with the outcome and very proud to put my name to.Did you have input into the design? Did they come to you with a few proposals?Yes they did, Holden went through quite a few design changes and I went to Fishermens Bend a few times to see the car in different liveries. We looked at one stripe on the bonnet we looked at two, but we ended up with three and something that looks quite different. Having the black roof was something that was very special. It's not a vinyl stick-on, it's actually painted at Elizabeth at the factory in Adelaide.Did you have input into the engineering changes or were those changes coming any way?The changes were coming but it was great to have them first on the Craig Lowndes edition Commodore. Holden engineers had planned to introduce these changes but our car brought them forward. We changed the suspension bushes to suit the 20-inch wheels. To be honest the engineers were scratching their heads trying to make it better because it's already so good in the first place.Did you push for more power?There was a discussion about more horsepower. As a race driver you always want more power. But it was made pretty clear pretty quickly that Holden wanted to stay with the proven 6.0-litre V8. Let's face it, it's already a quick car. We did ask for more power but it was not negotiable. Instead we focused on the handling package, starting with the Redline version of the SS and then building on it from there.If this goes well would you do another one?I hope to look at an Evolution II, but it's something that Holden has to decide. They're as keen as we are to see how well it sells. I know Holden has done some limited edition Commodores for AFL, such as the 'Collingwoodore', to go with Holden's sponsorship of the team.Are you proud to be following in the footsteps on your mentor, the late great Peter Brock, who also put his signature on limited edition Commodore?I'm just really delighted to have the career that I've had. It's no secret that Brock was a great mentor and an idol to me. To be able to emulate what he did and get some recognition from Holden by putting my name to a Commodore has been a very humbling experience and very much an honour. For me, it's a dream come true.Is this what a Brock Commodore would look like today?Peter Champion has the HDT retro cars … but I think Brock would be proud of what Holden has done with this one. Like me, he probably would have liked more power, but as an overall package, as a complete driver's car, this is right up there.How many cars will be built?The original plan was to build 161 cars as a nod to the number of laps in a Bathurst 1000, but demand at the dealers has been so strong I believe we're going to build more than 200. That's about one car per dealer, but some dealers have told me they are holding orders for eight or nine cars. So there'll probably be a bit if scrambling among the dealers to secure the cars.Do you get a fee from each car or is your reward getting car number one?I'm getting car number one and I'm hoping to wheel it out in pristine condition in the years to come and that it will become collectible over time.Did you choose manual or automatic transmission?The automatic with the paddle shift is really good and the gear-changes are fast and easy, but as a race driver I prefer a manual, so I've ordered a six-speed manual.This car celebrates your 20th anniversary at Bathurst in a Holden but you raced Fords for six years from 2001 to 2006. Do you think you'll finish your career in a Holden?I hope to keep racing for Holden and for Triple 8. That said, with other manufacturers getting involved in the sport you just don't know what the future holds. But Holden have been very good to me over the years and I have a soft spot for Holden. When I did the cross-over from Holden to Ford and then back to Holden, the fans were very forgiving of me and most of them came with me and I'm always grateful for that. How long will you stay in V8 Supercars?I think I have at least another five years left in me. As long as I'm competitive and having fun I will stay in the game. I don't want to be at the back of the grid making up the numbers. I was lucky enough to get a start as a young driver so I don't want deny some young person an opportunity to become a star.Your first Bathurst race in a Holden got off to a bad start: you crashed the car in the warm up. Does that still haunt you?I remember it like yesterday. Wayne Gardner's car dropped oil, I hit it and then nosed the car into the fence. I drove the car back but what I didn't know is that one of the coolers split and the engine ran without oil pressure. The team repaired the car in time for the race but we didn't know if it was going to make it all the way to the finish. We went on to have a great battle with John Bowe challenging for the lead.You very nearly won the Bathurst 1000 in your rookie year.The plan of attack was for Brad Jones to finish the race. I was never ear-marked to do the last stint because I was the rookie guy. But Brad did a double stint in the middle of the day so it forced the team to put me back in the car at the end of the race. And that was the beginning of my career. It's a moment I will never forget.Are you sad about the demise of car manufacturing in Australia?Absolutely. Growing up I always watched the Ford and Holden rivalry and was very proud to have cars made in Australia. It was something I never thought would change. But of course times have changed and it's going to be a very sad day to see Holden and Ford cease to be manufactured locally. During my time with Ford I got to know the guys at Broadmeadows and Geelong, I know how much that's going to impact workers those areas, and of course all the guys at Holden and Toyota. It really is sad what is happening.The imported Commodore in 2018 will not be available with a V8. Will still be able to race in V8 Supercars?Absolutely. Holden have always indicated to us that they want to continue in V8s beyond 2017. They're committed to continuing in the sport. Nissan and Volvo don't have V8 sedans but they compete, so there is no reason we can't have a Commodore on the grid. The one question we don't have answered yet is what type of engines we will run in V8 Supercars, will we have smaller engines or will we stick with the V8s? We don't know.You're 273 points behind your teammate and series leader Jamie Whincup. Can you win this year's championship?I think we can win it still, yes. It really hinges on the Bathurst 1000 and the Sydney 500. We're only a couple of points in front of Frosty (Ford driver Mark Winterbottom) so these next two races will make or break the championship.

Last ever Ford Falcon GT gets a hero's send-off at the end of an era on the Broadmeadows production line.The last ever Ford Falcon GT rolled off the Broadmeadows production line yesterday as more than 600 workers gathered for the emotional send-off.It was the end of an era and the beginning of the countdown to Ford's factory closure in October 2016 as production began on the updated Falcon and Territory that will see out Australia's oldest car maker.Ford will keep building the Falcon sedan and ute -- and Territory SUV -- for two more years but this is the last Falcon GT of all time.Car number 500 from a batch of 500 was sold in a charity auction last month for $236,100 -- three times its RRP -- to car enthusiast Steven Clarke, from Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, who briefly owned one of the very first Falcon GT sedans, and has regretted selling it ever since.RELATED: Last Ford Falcon GT sedans raise $393,700MORE: Ford unveils last ever Falcon GT sedanFord allowed the winning bidder to select the colour of the final Falcon GT and Mr Clarke chose a one-off "victory gold", the closest Ford could match to the original 1967 Falcon GT.In an unprecedented move, Ford also allowed the winning bidder to help build the car from start to finish, including turning the spanners on the supercharged V8 engine in Geelong. Mr Clarke even stamped his initials on the V8 engine, and fitted some of the parts to the car on the assembly line."It's mixed emotions for me," said Mr Clarke, who drove the car off the line at Broadmeadows yesterday, but won't take delivery until next month. "I'm excited to finally see the car, but I'm sad about the end of manufacturing in Australia. I've gotten to know a lot of the workers over the past month … and they're just a great bunch of people. They really wear their hearts on their sleeves."The respect seemed to be mutual: some of the workers asked for Mr Clarke's autograph. "They're the heroes as far as I'm concerned, for turning out a truly world class car," said Mr Clarke. "It's sad that our country won't be doing this for much longer."Some of Ford's longest serving factory workers were there for the final Falcon GT send-off."I'm really proud," said Mick Velevski, a quality supervisor, who started with Ford in 1975. "What the company did today, and got us all together to celebrate this car, is really fantastic," said the 39-year veteran of the factory floor. "I have friends that work at different manufacturing companies, but we work for the best company."It was the first time in 37 years that a Falcon GT had been completed on the Ford production lineMr Velevski said he wasn't sure where he will work once Ford closes its factory but said he had "two years to worry about it". "Right now we are working on the new Falcon and Territory."Boris Grujovski, who has been working on the Falcon GT as a team leader for the past two years, is a 38-year veteran of the company, joining Ford just one year after Mr Velevski. The pair were childhood friends from the same village in Macedonia and moved to Australia as teenagers."At Ford we have the skill, the experience, we can do anything," said Mr Grujovski.Ford brought production of the Falcon GT in-house at Broadmeadows in February 2013; the final assembly had been outsourced from 1992 to 2012. It was the first time in 37 years that a Falcon GT had been completed on the Ford production line and many detractors said Ford couldn't handle the extra complexity. Yesterday, the detractors were proved wrong as the last car was completed without a hitch.Meanwhile, Mr Clarke says he has already been offered $100,000 more than what he paid for the last Falcon GT but "it's not for sale".Unlike many collector cars that get locked away, Mr Clarke says he is going to drive the final Ford Falcon GT and it will appear at car shows, so fans can enjoy it as well."It won't be a daily driver but it's absolutely not going to be locked away," said Mr Clarke.Mr Clarke, 44, owned his first Ford when he was 20 before he upgraded to a restored original Falcon GT, which he bought and sold 10 years ago.However, Mr Clarke describes himself as a car enthusiast rather than a Ford fanatic. He previously owned a current generation Nissan GT-R, and now has a Toyota LandCruiser as his daily driver.Mr Clarke said he was prepared to pay up to $250,000 to secure the final Falcon GT and the last 40 seconds of the online bidding process was "the most nervous I've ever been in my life". The proceeds went to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Car 001 of 500 of the last Falcon GT series fetched $157,600 in the same auction and was bought by a car collector in West Australia.Ford Falcon GT: making them like they used toXR GT (1967)Price: $3890Engine: 4.7-litre V8 (168kW)Bathurst: 1st and 2nd place596 builtXT GT (1968)Price: $4050Engine: 4.9-litre V8 (172kW)Bathurst: 7th place1415 builtXW GTHO Phase I (1969)Price: $4495Engine: 5.8-litre V8 (216kW)Bathurst: 2nd place260 builtXW GTHO Phase II (1970)Price: $4830Engine: 5.8-litre V8 (224kW)Bathurst: 1st and 2nd place402 builtXY GTHO Phase III (1971)Price: $5250Engine: 5.8-litre V8 (283kW)Bathurst: 1st, 2nd, 3rd  (1971), 2nd (1972)300 builtXA GT (1972 to 1974)Price: $5100Engine: 5.8-litre V8 (224kW)Bathurst: 1st (1973 and 1974)1868 sedans, 891 coupes builtXB GT (1974 to 1976)Price: $6203Engine: 5.8-litre V8 (224kW)Bathurst: DNF (1975), 31st (1976)1950 sedans, 949 coupes builtFord Falcon GT (2013)Price: $70,790Engine: Supercharged 5.0-litre V8 (335kW)Ford Falcon's most recent Bathurst 1000 victories: 2006, 2007 and 2008.Approximately 3000 built between October 2010 and December 2012.Returns to Broadmeadows production line 18 February, 2013.Ford Falcon GT-F (2014)Price: $77,990Engine: Supercharged 5.0-litre V8 (351kW)Ford built 500 Falcon GT-F sedans (F for "final edition") for Australia and 50 for New Zealand. The power was uprated to 351kW, a nod to the engine capacity in cubic inches of the Bathurst winning GTHO of 1970 and 1971. Car 500 of 500 was built at Broadmeadows on 8 October 2014.Did you know...The Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III driven to Bathurst victory in 1971 by Allan Moffat cost $5250 when new, then a hefty sum. Moffatt told Ford executives at the time "no-one will ever pay that for a Falcon". Decades later immaculate GTHO Phase IIIs sold for up to $700,000, although prices have settled back to about half that in recent years. Today, the racing legend says not buying a Phase III GTHO is his biggest regret.

Australian heads new Holden Commodore development in Germany as Opel confirms more than a third of Holdens will come from Europe.The Holden Commodore of the future will have an Australian accent even though it will be made in Germany.News Corp Australia can exclusively reveal one of Holden’s most senior engineers has been based in Germany on a top-secret assignment for the past four years working on the car that will become the next Commodore.Marinos Panayiotou, who worked at Holden from 2001, has been based at Opel in Germany since 2010 as the Lead Program Manager.In car industry terms this means he is the person in charge of taking a vehicle from a design sketch to production.Despite the posting to Germany almost four years ago, Holden insiders insist the company had no plans at that stage to end local production of the Commodore.RELATED: Global GM boss says Holden can beat ToyotaMORE:Car factories could close early if funding cutVIDEO:Holden says we're here to staybusiness networking website LinkedInthe Commodore of the future will be a rebadged version of Germany’s Opel Insignia sedanannounced last December it would end manufacturing in Australia in 2017has already confirmed certain models from the Astra range, as well as the current generation Insignia sedan and Cascada convertible are coming next yearThe story so far on the new Holden CommodoreWhy is the next Holden Commodore coming from Germany?Because Opel already builds more cars there and can export them more profitably. Opel has made 687,000 Insignia sedans and wagons since December 2008 and exported them to China, North America, the rest of Europe and parts of Asia. Over the same period Holden has sold 218,000 Commodores in Australia.Why is there no V8 in the new Commodore?Why is there no ute version of the new Commodore?Will Holden call the new car a Commodore?What will happen to Holden Commodores in V8 Supercars?