Articles by Neil McDonald

And in the case of Hyundai, the Korean carmaker's sharp pricing has bolstered its 2009 sales start as popular rivals plunge into the red. Hyundai is the only volume brand to post a sales lift last month compared with the same period last year. Two months into the sales year and Hyundai is 9.3 per cent up over the same period last year. Its success is in stark contrast to its Korean ally and other budget carmaker, Kia. Kia sales are down 20 per cent this year. With 4151 vehicles sold, Hyundai achieved a 5.9 per cent market share last month, the company's best result since the factory took over distribution in 2003. Director of sales and marketing, Kevin McCann, says more consumers are getting the value message. Of the Hyundai models, the budget Getz and small i30 performed strongly, helped by the iLoad and iMax. The i30 had its best-ever result with 1234 sold. With the exception of Hyundai, Audi and Jaguar, the economic downturn is ravaging local carmakers and most imports. Audi lifted its share 5.4 per cent and Jaguar by 22 per cent, largely on the back of the success of its XF sedan. Fiat and Dodge also had spikes on the back of big incentives. Sales were down across all segments and fleets, which normally return to the market in February, were noticeably absent. Of the three local volume players Toyota remains market leader but had a 31 per cent sales drop last month, selling 14,274 vehicles compared to 20,703 in February 2008. Holden was down 27 per cent and Ford 21 per cent for the month. The Commodore and Aurion were the biggest local big six losers in February, down 22 per cent and 48 per cent respectively compared to February 2008. However, the Commodore managed to snatch back No1 sales spot off the Mazda3. In January the Commodore was overtaken by the Mazda3, but it reclaimed top billing last month, with 3376 sales. Mazda3 was second with 2989 sales. The FG Falcon came in fifth behind the Toyota Corolla and HiLux. Economic uncertainty is also hitting the luxury segment this year. Mercedes-Benz sales are down 22 per cent, BMW 21 per cent, Alfa Romeo 52 per cent, Lexus 30 per cent, Volvo 30 per cent and VW 13 per cent. Sportscar maker Porsche has taken a big hit, with sales down 47 per cent. However, auto analyst David Gelb of KPMG warns that comparisons between the first half of 2008 and January and February this year are relative because the first six months of 2008 was a bumper sales period. "In this market you'd have to be a brave person to make any predictions that provide any credibility," he says.   TOP TEN MAKES (*February) 1 Toyota 14,274 2 Holden 9029 3 Ford 7396 4 Mazda 6376 5 Nissan 4441 6 Mitsubishi 4301 7 Hyundai 4151 8 Honda 3445 9 Subaru 2848 10 Volkswagen 2443   TOP SELLERS 1 Holden Commodore 3376 2 Mazda 3 2989 3 Toyota Corolla, 2769 4 Toyota HiLux, 2619 5 Ford Falcon, 2386 6 Hyundai Getz 1583 7 Toyota Camry 1564 8 Mitsubishi Lancer 1551 9 Toyota Yaris, 1548 10 Hyundai i30 1234  

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this week, the newest member of the VW family is safer, lighter and has a range of new, more economical petrol and diesel engines. In Europe five new engines are available, two using VW’s TSI petrol technology, joined by three of the latest common rail TDI engines. All will be available with manual and dual clutch gearboxes. With fuel economy of 3.8 litres/100km and 96g/km C02 for the 66kW 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion model, the Polo now sets a benchmark for five-seaters. Polo was specifically designed to attain the recently established, stricter and more comprehensive, 5-star EuroNCAP rating. The car has a stiffer bodyshell and in the footwell area alone, intrusion – related to the car body’s deformation strength in a frontal crash – was lowered by 50 per cent. In the case of a side impact, the intrusion value was reduced by 20 percent. Euro Polos will come with standard ESP with Hill Hold Control, as well as front airbags and combined side head-thorax airbags integrated in the front seatbacks, seatbelt tensioners and belt force limiters, active front headrests. VW has also managed to reduce the Polo’s weight by 7.5 per cent and fuel consumption has improved across the board thanks to TDI and TSI technology. The new 1.2 TSI turbo-charged four-cylinder direct injection petrol engine produces 77 kW, yet it consumes just 5.5 litres/100 kilometres, 19 per cent less than on the equivalent model of the previous generation. In total, seven different engines will be available in Europe, four petrol and three diesel. The new Polo is expected to go on sale here early next year. Volkswagen Australia spokesman, Karl Gehling, said more information and prices will be available closer to launch. VW Australia is also looking at adding the BlueMotion cars to the lineup.

Lamborghini used the Geneva Motor Show to unveil its new Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, a more powerful, lighter and faster development of the Murcielago.The LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is even more powerful, lighter and faster than the Murcielago LP 640.With the output of the 6.5 litre V12 increased to 500kW and a 100kg weight reduction, the two-seater boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 2.3 kg per litre.This catapults it 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 342km/h via an all-wheel drive system that is split 35/65 front and rear.Distinctive design refinements ensure that each of the 350-unit limited edition cars looks distinctive.The sportscar has been extensively redesigned with a new front and rear, an innovative engine bonnet and a choice of two aerodynamic set-ups featuring either a small or large rear spoilers.The interior in Alcantara and carbon fibre provides a purist and minimalist approach.In order to slash the weight by 100kg the SuperVeloce was extensively reworked from chassis to engine and transmission, right through to the interior.The lift in engine power is the result of optimized valve timing and a reworked intake system.The significantly modified aerodynamics with substantially increased downforce brings considerable improvement to vehicle stability at very high speeds.With the small standard-fit rear spoiler, top speed stands at 342 km/h, while the large “Aeropack Wing” gives a top speed of 337 km/h.Visually the SuperVeloce gets plenty of matt black paint, carbon fibre front spoiler and redesigned front end.The large air intakes for the front brakes are more powerfully emphasized and new front mudguards have additional air intakes for brake ventilation. The air vent for the oil cooler located in the driver-side sill area is painted matt black to match the sills.The modifications are even more apparent around the engine bay.The 12-cylinder engine is presented under a transparent engine bonnet.The rear is dominated by a flat and extremely wide exhaust pipe and, on the underside, by a two-level diffuser system finished entirely in carbon fibre.The rear light clusters display their signals in that distinctive Y-shape that has been a fixed element of Lamborghini design since the Murcielago LP 640, Reventon and Gallardo LP 560-4.The panel between the lights is made from carbon fibre, while the large intake mesh below expands across the full width of the rear end. Made from thick-walled aluminum, the hexagonal pattern is laser-cut and a Teflon coating provides the necessary heat protection.The car’s structure uses a composite construction of extremely stiff carbon components and a tubular steel frame, as in a race car.The transmission tunnel and the floor are made of carbon fibre, attached to the steel frame using rivets and high-strength adhesives.The roof and the exterior door panels are formed in sheet steel, while the rest of the outer skin is made from carbon composite material.The SuperVeloce is equipped as standard with the sequential, automated manual transmission e.gear, which uses electro-hydraulics to shift gear extremely quickly and smoothly. A cockpit display informs the driver of the gear currently engaged.The car is also available with a six-speed manual transmission. 

The same technology that gives the Fiesta diesel a fuel economy figure of just 3.7 litres/100km is expected to make it into other Fords.Ford Australia president and CEO Burela admits that he would like to see a whole range of ECOnetic Fords.In the UK, ECOnetic models are available in Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo."We're looking and studying that as an option but it's too early to say," he says."We'll start off with the Fiesta though."Full local specifications and ECOnetic pricing will be released closer to the hatches on sale date around October.In the UK the five-door ECOnetic is $1000 less than the five-speed manual Titanium 1.6-litre petrol hatch, which closely equates to the Australian-spec $20,990 Zetec 1.6 five-speed.Burela describes the Fiesta ECOnetic is "an economy car without compromise".Since its launch in Janaury, the petrol Fiesta is proving a big hit for Ford.Demand is outstripping supply, particularly for Zetec models."We think that with the ECOnetic that will take that to another level," Burela says.He believes buyers are ready and prepared to pay for a car like the ECOnetic."We think that we need to offer the Australia customers a choice," he says."We thought why not introduce it to the range and give the consumers the choice of where they want to go."The Fiesta ECOnetic looks and drives just like the conventional hatch, using conventional diesel powertrain technology.Power comes from a 1.6-litre TDCi diesel with a particulate filter to reduce harmful emissions.The engine develops 66kW at 4000 revs and 200Nm from just 1750 revs.Apart from its hybrid-busting fuel economy, the modern direct-injection diesel has a C02 emissions figure of just 98 g/km.Burela says the car has the potential to deliver best-in-class CO2 emissions compared to the current crop of competitive vehicles, as well as against today's most popular hybrids.Apart from the specially calibrated diesel, the car uses low rolling resistance tyres, aerodynamic aids, longer final drive gear ratio and 10mm lower suspension for reduced drag.The driver also gets a green shift indicator light in the instrument cluster, which signals the best gear change point to maximise fuel economy.To help reduce weight there is a tyre mobility kit rather than a traditional spacesaver spare.Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it.

The small car the company will build at Broadmeadows from 2011, creating 300 new jobs and anchoring a major export drive, was revealed in Geneva yesterday.The Iosis Max is officially only a concept car but is actually the next-generation Focus hatch which is coming to Australia.It was previewed just days after GM Holden pulled the wraps off its compact Cruze at the opening of the Melbourne Motor Show.The Cruze is also set for local production from 2010, although there will also be sales of an imported version from Korea within three months.Ford Australia is reluctant to talk about its plans for the Focus, but admitted yesterday that elements of its design, aerodynamics and a new 1.6-litre four cylinder engine will make it into local production.The Iosis Max provides a "strong pointer to what the next-generation Focus will look like", Ford spokesperson, Sinead McAlary, said."Some of the aspects of the design and engineering will certainly make it into production."The Focus plan will see Ford build around 40,000 cars a year at Broadmeadows, with 15,000 set for export to Asia, in a move which should more than compensate for the downturn in demand for the home-grown Falcon and Territory.It is a major switch for Ford, which has not had a locally-made small car since it ended production of the Laser in the 1980s and closed its factory in Sydney.The design of the Iosis Max, which was a star on the opening day of the Geneva Motor Show, is much more dramatic than the current Focus but clearly linked to the style of the baby Fiesta.Innovations include a two-piece tailgate to allow easier opening of the rear hatchback, innovative doors and extensive use of lightweight materials.It is unclear how much of the concept car will survive for production, but the car's 1.6-litre EcoBoost sets a new standard for small-capacity, frugal fours.It uses a start-stop system on the engine for economical city driving as well as a new automatic transmission and is claimed to have 20 per cent better economy than similar conventional motors.McAlary said Ford Australia was still evaluating the new-generation engine in the show car."But we're certainly looking at it," she said.McAlary said Ford had a history of designing concepts that eventually became production cars."If you look at the Verve concept, that then became the new Fiesta," she said.The MAX also has a pedestrian-friendly bonnet that cushions the impact of a person on the car. 

Introducing the new Q5 off-roader, it was clear that showgoers were far happier to cast their eyes over Miss Hawkins’ curves rather than those of the new Q5 off-roader.The newest Audi joins the Q7 and arrives in March with prices starting at $59,900 for both the 2.0 TDI quattro and 2.0 TFSI quattro models. A powerful V6 3.2 FSI quattro follows at just $69,900 and the mighty $71,900 3.0 TDI aimed squarely at the BMW X3.Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann, says there is plenty of room in Audi’s model portfolio for the Q5.“It is priced very competitively, and offers strong performance from each of its four direct injection engines,” he said.The 2.0 TDI engine also has another ace up its sleeve as it is exempt from Luxury Car Tax due to its low consumption of less than 7.0 litres per 100km.Hofmann said he expects the Q5 to follow in the footsteps of the Q7, luring buyers from other luxury brands.The Q5 will come with four engine variants, all with direct injection turbo-charged engines and quattro permanent all-wheel drive.At launch, both the 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI will be available, closely followed by the 2.0 TDI and 3.2 FSI models in April. All Q5 models are equipped with an economical 7-speed S-tronic gearbox.This has super-slick gearchanges that take only a few hundredths of a second and deliver virtually uninterrupted power flow.The Q5 is the first model to feature this innovative dual-clutch transmission mounted to a longitudinal engine layout.It is matched to Audi’s quattro permanent all wheel drive system with a 40:60 torque split.The Q5 also boasts a luggage capacity of 540 litres with the rear seats up and 1560 litres with the seats folded.Innovative driver assistance systems such as a new MMI Plus Navigation system with 7-inch colour monitor and 40 GB hard drive with storage for up to 10,000 music files; blind spot warning system and “lane assist” to detect and prevent wandering out of your lan are among the car’s features.Also available is adaptive cruise control with a collision warning system that warns the driver and brakes when the car is too close to the car in front and an adjustable suspension system. ,p> The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show... 

Details are swiftly emerging about Mazda’s hot MPS hatch, after we revealed new photos of the car yesterday.

...which joins the Mondeo range in June. The Mondeo wagon was first shown at last year's show as a toe-in-the-water exercise to solicit consumer feedback. That feedback was good and the Zetec wagon will provide buyers with an alternative mid-size load-lugger, according to Ford Australia president and CEO, Marin Burela. The Zetec wagon is powered by a 118kW/208Nm 2.3-litre Duratec four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential sports shift. The Zetec wagon comes with the same high level of standard features as the Zetec hatch and sedan, including 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, dual zone climate control, a premium Sony audio system, automatic headlights, rain sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, capless refuelling and follow me home lights. It also has a safety package mirroring that of its hatch and sedan siblings. Key safety features include an enhanced Intelligent Protection System (IPS) complemented by an anti-skid brakes, brake assist, electronic stability control, an automatic hazard warning light and seven airbags, including a driver's knee airbag and full length side curtain airbags. Key wagon features include an impressive load carrying space, which provides a luggage capacity of 542 litres with the rear passenger seats in the upright position, increasing to a capacious 1733 litres with the rear passenger seats folded flat. Prices will be released closer to the car's launch date.   The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show...  

Ford Australia announced this morning that it will add a hybrid-beating turbo-diesel Fiesta to its lineup later this year. Unveiling what he describes as one of the most fuel-efficient hatches available, Ford Australia president and CEO Marin Burela, said the Fiesta ECOnetic was “an economy car without compromise”. The modern direct-injection 1.6-litre diesel Fiesta ECOnetic achieves a fuel economy figure of just 3.7 litres/100km with a C02 emissions figure of just 98 g/km. The ECOnetic is powered by a 1.6-litre TDCi diesel with a particulate filter that develops 66kW at 4000 revs and 200Nm from just 1750 revs. “The Fiesta ECOnetic will enable customers to drive a mainstream, fuel efficient and low CO2 emitting vehicle that is also stylish and affordable,” Burela said. “By launching a specific model, with dedicated Ford ECOnetic badging to designate its ultra-low CO2 results, we will be able to offer a clear alternative for those customers who prioritise low emission performance.” The Fiesta ECOnetic could also pave the way for other ECOnetic models. “Fiesta ECOnetic looks and functions just like conventional Fiesta, using conventional diesel powertrain technology,” Burela said. “Yet it has the potential to deliver best-in-class CO2 emissions compared to the current crop of competitive vehicles, as well as against today's most popular hybrids. The car uses a combination of the latest generation common rail diesel powertrain, together with low rolling resistance tyres, aerodynamic aids, longer final drive gear ratio, 10mm lower suspension and specially calibrated diesel. As well, the driver gets a green shift indicator light in the instrument cluster, which signals the optimal point to change gear to maximise fuel economy. The car gets a tyre mobility kit rather than a traditional spacesaver space to help further reduce weight. Full local specifications and pricing will be released at a later date. However, the UK-spec five-door ECOnetic costs $1000 less than the five-speed manual Titanium 1.6-litre petrol hatch, which closely equates to the Australian-spec $20,990 Zetec 1.6 five-speed.   The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show... Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it.

The Focus goes on sale next month and like the current car, will be available as a five-door hatch and four-door sedan. Prices have risen $300 and $1500 depending on the model but buyers get more equipment and improved safety levels. The new LV-series will be available in four core models, entry CL, LX and TDCi and Zetec. Anti-skid brakes are standard across the range while electronic stability control and traction control are standard on LX, TDCi and Zetec models. Apart from the refreshed exterior, Ford has answered criticism of the car's low-rent interior with vastly improved quality and enhanced comfort levels. There is a black soft-touch dash pad, along with the soft-touch upper door trims, contrasting with a tan coloured inner roof lining to visually lighten the cabin. The dark dashboard is designed to reduce reflection in bright conditions common in Australia. In front of the driver is a large-face tachometer and speedometer set deeply into individual binnacles. Positioned above are small-face water temperature and fuel gauges, with each surrounded by a silver bezel. And LCD information screen displays time, outside temperature, trip meter and odometer. The LCD screen also has a trip computer. The revised centre console and redesigned window and mirror switches accompany intuitive controls for air conditioning, heater and ventilation system. At night, the centre stack controls are illuminated in soft red light which is more soothing,versus the stark white of the previous generation Focus. The centre console is more user friendly with a sliding armrest, two cupholders and storage cubbies. The 107kW 2.0-litre Duratec engine carries over and can be mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Ford is also debuting its innovative six-speed PowerShift automatic in the TDCi, in combination with the potent 100kW/320Nm 2.0-litre Duratorq turbodiesel engine. The TDCi with Powershift returns a fuel economy figure of 5.9 litres/100km.   The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show...