Articles by Neil McDonald

It has just signed an agreement with CITIC Guoan Mengguli Corp in China to build the wheels for Chinese carmakers and anyone else who wants it.First revealed exclusively in Carsguide last year, the company's head of research, Philippe Denimal says the wheel could revolutionise the car industry.Michelin previewed the system 12 months ago at the Challenge Bibendum in Beijing.The Michelin active wheel uses two electric motors, one for power and braking and another for an integrated active suspension system.Each sits inside the wheel hub, allowing the car's drivetrain to fit neatly inside the wheel.Michelin believes the innovative design will help revolutionise how a car is built, allowing a diverse range of designs and chassis combinations.The French tyre-specialist believes it could be applied to virtually any type of car.The active wheel's lithium-ion battery development will be done in China where test-mules equipped with lithium-powered wheels are already running around city streets.Michelin executives believe a production ready system could be available by the end of the year.Engineers from both companies have been working hard to reduce the wheel's weight and deliver similar damping characteristics available with conventional suspension systems.Each wheel tips the scales at 42kg.Earlier this year Michelin and CITIC Guoan Mengguli, known as MGL, signed an agreement to develop electric powertrain systems for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.The system will integrate the active wheel technology with MGL's lithium-ion batteries.The active wheel is Michelin's proprietary design aimed at electric and fuel cell-powered vehicles.MGL executives say the system should be available to carmakers in China by the end of the year but most of the demand is expected from export markets.MGL was the exclusive battery supplier for 50 electric buses used in the Olympic villages during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.Michelin and MGL have already developed a pure electric car based on the Lifan 520 that has been fitted with the in-wheel system.The Lifan 520 electric car has a maximum speed of 150km/h and can travel up to 180km when fully charged. 

"There's a lot of speculation about what brand that car would be but I can tell you it will have a `Lion' on the front of it," GM-Holden managing director, Mark Reuss, says."It's going to be a Holden Volt."Last week the petrol-electric Volt shot to international prominence when General Motors CEO, Rick Wagoner, drove a prototype mule of one part way to Washington to help secure funding for the US car industry.The car is being developed in Detroit for GM's global markets.General Motors describes it as a "range extending electric vehicle" that will be powered by batteries with a small four cylinder petrol engine used as a generator for the battery pack.Initially likely to be available as a hatch, the green car will spawn a range of models, including wagons and possibly a two-door sportscar.GM-Holden unveiled the Volt locally at the Sydney Motor Show early this year, confirming that it would be on sale here around 2012.It will be able to travel up to 64km purely on its electric batteries alone.Owners can expect to save thousands in petrol costs.GM also expects to have a range of powertrains to back up the electric batteries.Pricing is yet to be confirmed but it is tipped to cost about $35,000 and go head-to-head with the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.The car is similar in size to a $20,000 Toyota Corolla.The Volt will be an important part of Holden's `Ecoline’ strategy to push fuel saving measures and alternative fuels.Ecoline is designed to deliver fuel savings across all Holden models with high-tech alternative fuelled cars, active fuel management and other technological advances.Active fuel management, which shuts down cylinders when not needed, becomes available on V8 Commodores from next month.The company also plans to have an E85 Commodore on sale by 2010.GM-Holden already sells an E85 compatible Saab through its Premium Brands, which includes Cadillac and Hummer. 

"We are committed to having locally built Holdens running E85 in the market by 2010," GM-Holden managing director, Mark Reuss, said yesterday.Biofuels, including ethanol, will become a lead alternative fuel for the company, he said."Ethanol is a renewable fuel and the costs are relatively small to modify existing technologies to make it viable."It has great potential, particularly the ability to produce it from waste."E85 fuel has a mix of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol. Reuss wants to reduce Aussie motorists dependence on foreign oil.GM-Holden is already well advanced on development work on an E85 Commodore. It is also in discussions with biofuels company Coskata in the US to build the first local cellulosic ethanol plant in Australia.Cellulosic biofuel is produced from wood, grasses and non-edible plants.Reuss remains confident that 2009 will be a better year for the car industry. It would also mark the transformation of Holden, he said."The key to success will be innovation and an eye for using less foreign oil by increasing efficiency or replacing it altogether with Australian energy alternatives," he said."Shifting consumer sentiment and the need to address climate change is driving a fundamental and permanent shift in the type of vehicle technologies the Australia car buyers need and want."Reuss said the only thing certain about petrol prices was its volatility.Ethanol is already in use in other parts of the world, including Brazil, where Holden already exports an ethanol fuelled Commodore sold as a Chevrolet.  

Audi's skilled surgeons have taken a designer scalpel to the roof of the A5 coupe and delivered a sexy soft-top.The newest cabrio from Ingolstadt arrives here around September next year with prices starting under $90,000 for the entry 155kW 2.0-litre TFSI model.The same engine will make an appearance in the A5 coupe with an expected price of around $80,000.Rather than follow the trend with a folding metal roof, Audi is sticking with a folding fabric roof, which is available in four colours.The fully automatic lightweight soft-top opens in 15 seconds and closes in 17 seconds.For those seeking a more cossetting feel, an acoustic top is optional.This reduces wind noise to almost hardtop levels.Audi Australia spokesperson, Anna Burgdorf, says a soft-top is better suited to the buyer profile of the A5.“We believe a convertible should be a purists convertible, which means a soft-top,” she says.“There are also significant benefits in terms of luggage space with a soft-top and also weight savings, which translates into fuel economy benefits.”The compact packaging of the soft-top allows boot space of 320 litres with the roof down.Like its smaller A3 cabrio sibling, the A5 cabrio has a split-fold rear seat backrest that increases luggage space to 750 litres.Automatic seat belt extenders round out the cabin comfort levels while Mercedes-Benz style neck-level heating will be optional for front seat occupants.Like BMW, Audi has coated the A5 cabrio's leather seats with a special layer to reduce solar heating when the roof is down.To maintain structural strength Audi has used ultra-high-strength steels and a reinforced body to ensure maximal rigidity and crash safety.Burgdorf says final cabrio pricing and specifications are still being finalised but she expects two other engines to join the 2.0-litre four cylinder, a 3.2-litre V6 and supercharged V6 for the S5 cabrio.A turbo-diesel could also join the lineup.Apart from front-wheel drive models, Audi's quattro all-wheel drive will also be available on the A5 cabrio.Like the RS6 Avant, buyers will be able to option high-end quattro models with a sport differential, which variably distributes the propulsive power between the rear wheels.Audi has sold more than 550 A5 coupes since it was launched more than 12 months ago.“We've been waiting for the 3.0-litre TDI because it's such a strong engine, and this will boost sales even further because it's a good package,” she says.“The 3.2-litre has also been popular.”Burgdorf expects strong interest in the cabrio.“It's a true four-seater and there's also plenty of luggage space,” she says. 

Subaru Australia managing director, Nick Senior, is close to signing off on the multi-purpose Exiga minivan.

With a pricepoint of $43,890, the turbo-diesel hatch is being pitched right into the European sports turbo-diesel territory

Subaru Australia managing director, Nick Senior, credits the Impreza with having driven sales, particularly since the arrival of a sedan model earlier this year.Next week the range will get another boost with the updated 2.5-litre WRX sedan and hatch.Senior says that despite the recent new car sales slowdown, Subaru is on track to achieve its 11th consecutive record sales year.The Impreza is a big contributor, he says.“We've seen Impreza sales up 7 per cent this year in a small car market that is up only marginally up year to date and that is despite the fact that we haven't had a sedan, which accounted for 50 per cent of our sales in the previous Impreza,” he says.“We launched the Impreza sedan in May and next week we launch the 2.5-litre WRX in sedan and hatch variants.“We are anticipating that our WRX sales will also increase.”Senior admitted that the past six months had been difficult but the company was performing solidly on the back of the Impreza and new Forester.When the Impreza was launched last year it pushed sales up 7 per cent without the added bonus of the sedan by attracting new buyers.“We had a thorough look at Impreza and in terms of a pure marketing campaign it has been a success in attracting those new audiences, particularly the professional womens' segment... female buyers from 25-30 right through to 50-55 that are working business professionals,” he says.“So we have grown that audience despite not having a sedan model.”Subaru will go into 2009 with the existing Liberty and Outback range, which is not due to be replaced until the end of the year.Senior says the company is also close to signing off on the Exiga minivan.“We're having a look at Exiga,” he says.“We've done clinics here.“There's one running around at the moment doing some preliminary work on testing.“We haven't pressed the button on it, yet, that's probably going to come after a few more discussions in late January.“So I imagine in January we'll be making a decision and if it is coming it's probably late next year.”Senior says unlike Japan, which has both turbo and non-turbo Exigas, only one normally aspirated model will be available here.That is expected to be a 2.0-litre four cylinder.In Japan that engine produces 108kW at 6000 revs and 191Nm at 3200 revs. 

The freedom of a racetrack taught him respect for getting into, and out of, potentially hazardous situations and also saw him become an advanced and defensive driving instructor for a brief period.With more than 12 years at the coalface of the motoring industry, both reporting and road testing, he's now looking to find a car that provides the same thrills as his original RS2000 Escort.

However, Ford Australia boss, Marin Burela, has left the door ajar if a self-shifter becomes available. "The fact is that 95 per cent of that market is automatic," he says. "We don't have an auto in the Ka so that's the first problem. I'm not sure it would work (as a manual). "I think what we'll do is see how we go with Fiesta first. "Let's get some traction there and then we'll look at whether or not we need to complement Fiesta with anything underpinning it below the D segment." Since taking the top job Burela has turned his focus on the light, small, medium and large car segments and believes there are opportunities to plug gaps. A car like the new Fiesta-based B-Max, just announced in Europe, is one car that could fit into the local scene. Ford of Europe has confirmed that production starts on the sporty B-Max wagon in Romania from 2010. It will replace the slow-selling Fusion. "I actually think Australia has an opportunity that hasn't been exploited," he says. "If you look at the demographic changes and ageing population, one of the things that is missing is a stylish looking vehicle that gives you a high H-point with easy ingress/egress for older people. "That actually doesn't exist." Burela says older buyers are restricted to a big van or off-roader "but the other area in between could present an opportunity". The Ka, which shares its underpinnings with the Fiat 500, was part of Burela's portfolio of European cars he was responsible for launching. It's this car Burela thinks might have legs in Australia. "It's an opportunity that has not been exploited here," he says. "One of the things missing is a stylish bigger car with a high H-point (hip-point)." Burela is also taking a close look at the local small car scene. Like one of his predecessors, Tom Gorman, Burela has identified the Sydney metropolitan area as Ford's toughest market for Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo. "In fact 50 per cent all car sales within the Sydney metro area are pretty much small to medium cars," he said. "That's an area that we're not achieving the level of penetration that we'd like to and we're working with our dealers on how to change that dynamic. "Some of it's driven by brand, some of it product offering and some of it's driven by way we actually go to market." He says the Mondeo is "one of the best kept secrets". "We have to get to work on how to make the Mondeo more relevant versus the Camry and the other competitors," he says.  

The company announced yesterday that it will re-engineer the engine to continue beyond 2010 in its Falcon and Territory models, saving hundreds of jobs. "It is good news not only for our employees at Geelong, but our suppliers and the surrounding community," Ford Australia chief, Marin Burela, said. The decision saves 1700 jobs, 400 directly at the plant and 900 through the supply chain. Just 18 months ago Ford announced that the Geelong engine plant would close, with a loss of 600 jobs to make way for an imported V6 engine from the United States. At the time unions warned as many as 3000 more jobs in and around Geelong would be under threat. By sticking with the in-line six, Ford will save millions of dollars in testing and developing a new V6 engine for the Falcon and Territory, as well as the cost of re-engineering the vehicles. Ford executives say new developments in emission technology just in the last 12 months will allow the Geelong built I6 engine to be re-engineered to comply with tough Euro IV emission standards coming into force from 2010. However, he would not be drawn on what the decision means for the Falcon's ongoing future as a rear-drive sedan. The current model FG Falcon was launched early this year and is expected to stay in production until 2015. Burela was not prepared to speculate on the Falcon's future beyond that. "We haven't made a decision about front-wheel or rear-wheel drive," he said. "And that discussion is ongoing. "So no firm decision has been made one way or the other." Burela said Ford would remain committed to the Falcon "until the Australian buyer says to us that plan is no longer viable". The company will invest $21 million to ensure the Geelong-built six cylinder engine meets stringent Euro IV emissions targets. Additional funding will come from the Federal and Victorian governments. The Federal Government will inject $13 million through the Automotive Competitiveness and Investment Scheme and a lesser amount from the Victorian State government, although the Premier, John Brumby, would not say what the State was handing over. Automotive manufacturing made a huge contribution to the state and Australian economy, he said. "It's positive for our suppliers, it means hundreds of jobs are saved here in Geelong but also car component company jobs," Brumby said. "Victoria is the engine room of Australia's automotive industry," he said. "It accounts for 57 per cent of the country's automotive production, 66 per cent of component manufacturing and 74 per cent of the nation's research and development, we want to keep it that way." Burela said the Euro IV I6 engine was part of a "broad product strategy" to improve fuel economy across its range. This is expected to include putting the next-generation LPG technology into the car. "We will be detailing and making some further announcements in the next few months," Burela said. Burela said he believed volatile fuel prices meant there was a strong future for LPG in the Falcon. The AMWU vehicle division national secretary Ian Jones said Ford's move to rescind that decision would mean "a very good Christmas for a large number of people". "It is an expression of absolute confidence in the future of Ford Australia," he said. "It is more than preserving the in-line six engine at Ford Geelong. "It says to the world that Ford is here not to shrink back as an assembler but it is here for the long haul in automotive manufacturing in all of its facets."