Articles by Stuart Martin

The South Korean brand's new luxury sedan, a production version of its KND-5 concept car, is suffering from the same fate as the recently-unveiled Venga — left-hand drive only for now. Kia Australia national public relations manager Jonathan Fletcher says the Cadenza is purely a left-hand drive proposition at this stage. "It's bigger than Magentis and is left-hand drive only, though that's not where the conversation ends," he says. The Cadenza will be sold in the large car segment against the likes of Commodore, Falcon, Aurion, Maxima and Camry among others — and Kia's Australian arm doesn't see a pressing need to compete in a shrinking market segment. Fletcher says Kia Australia will need other major right-hand drive markets to ask for the Cadenza before it is likely to be built in a form that could be sold here. The Cadenza is also a step up in size from the Magentis and is not seen as a replacement for the slow-selling (in Australia) sedan. Kia is expecting to get a new Magentis mid-2010, having opted out of receiving a mild face-lifted model that would have only been on sale for 12 months before the new car. It says Cadenza is "an all-new sedan designed to satisfy drivers’ desire for refinement, safety and emotional satisfaction by creating ideal driving conditions." The luxury sedan will debut at the Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Dubai international motor shows, later this year. The Cadenza — derived from an Italian musical term used to describe an elaborate, ornamental flourish for a concerto or aria, according to the carmaker — symbolizes the sedan's design philosophy and image. The Cadenza has a new-look headlight with LED surrounds — a strong snout, following the new Kia design direction. Kia says the interior is dominated by a floating dashboard, interior ‘mood’ strip lighting along the dash and door trims, with a features list including a heated steering wheel and power-adjustable seats (with extending seat cushions for extra thigh support. Overseas marketing group director for Kia, Soon-Nam Lee, says the new Cadenza will showcase the continuing evolution in Kia's striking design language. "It will also present a new concept in luxury sedans in terms of performance and technology," he says.

Mazda has broadened the appeal of its CX-7 range of SUVs with the addition of two new powerplants.  Neither of the engines will be unfamiliar to those pedalling around in other Mazda products - the 6 in particular - but the facelifted four-model CX-7 has a new price-point entry-level.The CX-7 Classic kicks the range off from $33,990, with the Classic Sports dropping by almost $3000 to $38,990. The new Diesel Sports enters the range at $43,640, while the flagship Luxury Sports has also dropped to start from $45,990 (almost $2000 down on its predecessor).The sales and marketing department expects the new Classic entry-level model to gather around 30 per cent of the expected 400 units a month volume, with the Classic Sports and Diesel Sports each taking 10 per cent. The CX-7 Luxury Sports is expected to drop from its previous share of 80 to around 50 per cent.Mazda CX-7 was launched in Australia in November 2006 and Australian sales to date are in excess of 14,000 units (as at September 2009), averaging out to the new model's target of 400 per month.Powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, teamed only with a five-speed auto and driving the front wheels, the new entry-level CX-7 Classic features standard stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist, dual front, front-side and full-length curtain airbags, the multi information display, a reversing camera and a trip computer.There's also climate control, a 6-disc in-dash MP3-compatible CD sound system, an auxiliary jack for an MP3 player, cruise control, a leather-wrapped gearshift and steering wheel, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, reach'n'rake adjustable steering and variable intermittent wipers and 17in alloys. The other new addition to the CX-7 range is the Diesel Sports, powered by the turbodiesel from the Mazda6 - albeit with an Australian passenger-car-first AdBlue NOX emissions control system.The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine is also doing without an automatic in the CX-7, using the same six- speed manual/all-wheel drive transmission to put its 127kW and 400Nm to ground.The diesel claims a fuel economy figure of 7.6 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 202g/km, with the AdBlue system cutting NOX emissions using a urea-based natural chemical reaction within the exhaust system. The added features on the diesel include satnav, powered and heated front seats, heated front exterior mirrors, leather trim and the up-spec Bose nine-speaker sound system.The Classic Sports and Luxury Sports all-wheel drive models retain the 175kW/350Nm 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, hooked up to the six-speed automatic. The Classic Sports starts from $38,990 with a features list that adds new 18in alloy wheels, front fog lamps and a dual chrome exhaust to the Classic model's list. The Luxury Sports flagship is priced from $45,990 and has much of the equipment from the Diesel Sports, as well as 19in alloy wheels and tilt and slide glass sunroof.You won't need to be a trainspotter to pick the new CX-7, with the family's new larger grille, new alloy wheels, a redesigned rear bumper and spoiler. Inside, the company is boasting improved-quality plastics, more sound deadening and better resistance to vibration.The dashboard and instrumentation has followed the path of the Mazda3, with the dashboard-mounted multi-information display to control satnav (when fitted), the Bluetooth phone link, the sound system, the reversing camera and the trip computer. The Mazda boffins are also boasting the new steering wheel design has a ‘more premium feel’.Mazda's SUV has sportscar aspirations and one of its new powerplants will help maintain that desire. The other engine will have a little more trouble doing that. The facelifted CX-7 brings with it a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, teamed only with a five-speed auto and driving the front wheels.It's a new price-point for the brand but it's not going to surprise anyone with pace - it's a metropolitan machine that is tuned for sedate cruising, requiring a solid prod for a climb or overtaking. It is smooth and quiet on all but the most pockmarked of surfaces, with the bulk of the noise seeming to come through the wheel-arches.Both new models - as expected with the outgoing model in mind - have good road manners, good body control, with steering that will not cause any concern for the driver. But the electro-hydraulic system on the diesel doesn't feel as meaty as the hydraulic set-up on the front-wheel drive model. The cabin has benefitted from the materials upgrade and the dash layout is improved, thankfully following the 3 and not the 6, with function buttons on the steering wheel working well with dash-mounted screen.Forward vision is generally good, although the A-pillars are wide and swept back, which can interfere a little with vision when doing metropolitan work. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel has plenty of grunt and is probably the pick of the CX-7 bunch. The AWD diesel manual can hustle on the strong torque offering but is also quiet and smooth.While the six-speed manual is a nice gearbox to use, the lack of an automatic option (as is the case in the 6 diesel) will hurt the sales of diesels.The new CX-7 range will have broader appeal for those looking for an SUV image, or buyers wanting good dirt road manners as well as bitumen abilities.

There’s a tinge of green punctuating the hard red colour of South Australia's Eyre Peninsula landscape for the launch of the Mitsubishi Triton and Outlander. But still more than enough red to promise a decent dust-gauntlet for seals and filters.On descent into Mt Ive Station, there's a line-up of pre-production machinery from Mitsubishi ready to test seals, tyre durability and underbody protection.The dirt strip at Mt Ive Station looks rougher than a shearer's chin but after a remarkably smooth touchdown we're wandering across the strip towards the new Outlander compact SUV and its Triton stablemate.One looks decidedly out of place, the other comfortable among the sheds, huts and homesteads of Mt Ive - but the new-look Outlander has more grit than first impressions suggest.The initial drive out of the homestead showed that despite decent rains there was still plenty of dust. And both models dealt with the journey over rough farm tracks and half-decent faster dirt roads in a reasonable manner.Drivetrain The new-look Triton is not a massive departure from the outgoing model and the six-speed manual turbodiesel 4WD GLX-R is quickly firming as the pick of the crop.The top-spec model is propelled by a new 2.5-litre variable-geometry turbodiesel that offers 131kW and 400Nm, which despite being 0.7 of a litre smaller than the outgoing powerplant offers 11 per cent more power, 17 per cent more torque and nine per cent better fuel economy at 8.3 litres per 100km.Mitsubishi says that's more power than the Toyota HiLux (which just pips the Triton on fuel use), Holden's Colorado, Nissan Navara (which is the only one with more torque), the Ford Ranger and the Mazda BT-50.The automatic models - four-speed autos on all bar the GLX-R, which gets a new five-speed - have to make do with 350Nm and claim 9.3l/100km, but the automatic drivetrain is not as sharp as the manual.The two-wheel drive models make do with the carry-over 2.4-litre 94kW/194Nm petrol and 2.5-litre 100kW/314Nm turbodiesel four-cylinder engines.Variants and pricing Mitsubishi indicated that there would be no big price rises within the upgrade and the prices have remained largely unchanged.The new Triton GLX single cab-chassis 4WD starts from $34,590 for the diesel manual, with the auto adding $2000 across the range; the GLX dual-cab 2.5 diesel manual pickup starts from $41,990.The GL-R dual-cab 4WD starts from $44,990 and the GLX-R dual-cab 4WD is priced from $47,990.Equipment and fit-out The GLX-R sits on 17in wheels and on faster unsealed roads points nicely - it feels better than smaller-wheeled Triton GL-R models that we sampled on the Gawler Ranges roads. The GLX-R gets standard Super Select on-the-fly four-wheel drive system, as well as stability and traction control, with the option of a rear diff lock.Range-wide safety gear includes dual front airbags and anti-lock brakes, with brakeforce distribution. Stability and traction control, as well as side and curtain airbags are available as options. The stability control is unobtrusive in its applications and even with the electronics off the Triton's all-wheel drive has ample traction.Driving The new diesel is quiet and delivers its outputs like a petrol engine. With road pressures in the tyres, a short sand dune stint showed the strong power delivery of the diesel, which maintained the Triton's progress despite thick, boggy sand.It was prone to push the nose wide and kept the driver busy at the wheel but much of that would be negated of normal sand driving pressures had been applied.The Tritons were also allowed onto hallowed speed-record ground - despite some water on the surface of Lake Gairdner, the salt crust was still more than hard enough to sustain a drive out to where the salt-racers would normally gather ... although our speeds were substantially less.The Outlanders were kept out of the serious rock-hopping and deep-sand components of the drive program, but were expected to keep up with the new Triton - as well as the Pajero lead and ‘tail-end Charlie’ cars - and did so over rutted rocky tracks, giving the underbody the odd clang along the way.The Tritons didn't escape unscathed either - the new Triton tray length now stands at 1505mm, with the tray height of 460mm, a 14 per cent increase. Rock shelfs and outcrops didn't take long to change the rear bumper's parallel alignment with the rear tailgate, the extra length of the new vehicle's rear tray contributing a little perhaps.A tow bar might offset some of the rear rearrangement, and with increased towing capacities the Triton will get on more shopping lists.The four-wheel drive range is up from 2500kg to 2700kg on 4WD long-bed dual-cab and 3000 kg on all other four-wheel drives - the boffins blaming the increased chassis length for the difference.The Outlander has undergone some major rhinoplasty, with the Lancer being the donor - the rear has been filled out a little but it’s the front end that now has the aggressive wide-open family snout.The new all-wheel drive system has Tarmac, Snow and Lock modes, offering similar choices to its sports Lancer Ralliart and Evo brethren via different means. Where the all-wheel drive system of the Lancer has hydraulics to apportion the drive, the Outlander uses electrics to limit wheelspin.The initial recommendation was to use the snow setting on the loose gravel tracks but the wandering nose and tail prompted a test of the lock mode, which dealt better with the loose surface.The road rubber on both models remained intact throughout the drive, despite some corporal punishment on the rocky roads, but grip suffers - tyres with more off-road bias would probably make quite a difference.Both models showed they could take on tough terrain without cause for concern. The more aggressive looking Outlander offers more to those looking to go a little further off the beaten track and the new turbodiesel will make sure the Triton has no problems maintaining the light-commercial's strong recent sales history.Mitsubishi Triton and Outlander Price: from $34,590.Engine: 2.5-litre DOHC 16-valve common-rail intercooled turbodiesel four-cylinder.Transmission: five-speed manual or four-speed (GLX-R five-speed) automatic, four-wheel drive.Power: 131kW @ 4000rpm.Torque: 400Nm @ 2000rpm (auto 350Nm).Economy: 9.3 litres/100km

The new compact SUV will be followed later this year by the new Challenger and a compact SUV Mitsubishi Australia president and CEO Robert McEniry said the brand would bolster its SUV ranks with a new Challenger and a production version of the Concept cX."We have a small, compact SUV mid next year, a Tiguan-sized vehicle." "We will put a diesel in Outlander ... we'll wait until we get an MMC diesel in it and we'll take that," he says. "We're going to be pretty strong in SUV and cross-over style vehicles, our Tiguan-style car will be in 2WD and 4WD, which will give us more smaller passenger opportunities as well," McEniry says.The new compact SUV has inherited the nose of the Lancer and has been given a make-over in terms of equipment and material quality, something the Mitsubishi staffers admit was within its customer research on the outgoing vehicle.Mitsubishi product planning manager Chris Maxted says the company's entrant in the compact SUV market was being bought - and re-purchased - by those interested in above-average off-road ability for the segment. "The market segment is maturing, 44 per cent are re-purchasing compact SUVs.Maxted says the majority of buyers are married, some with young kids, and below the market segment's average buyer age of 30-50. "Compact SUVs spend a lot of time running around town, but 30 per cent of the use is on unsealed roads, so they are genuine crossovers - Outlander rates higher in the 4WD aspect for interest in the segment, so it's a bit unique for that," he says.The 2010 Outlander continues with two pre-existing powerplants, albeit with minor changes to the V6, with suspension and braking unchanged. The 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine is unchanged at 125kW and 226Nm and sticks with a five-speed manual or optional continuously variable automatic transmission.The three-litre V6 now produces 169kW - up by seven kilo-Watts - and an extra 15Nm of torque, which rises to 291Nm. The latter is spread over a broader curve and Mitsubishi says the new V6 has five per cent better fuel economy at 10.4l/100km with the six-speed automatic.The model line-up has been rationalised to reduce the number of seven-seater models - the LS CVT model is the sole seven-seater. The 2.4-litre four-cylinder will be offered in LS manual or CVT, the mid-spec XLS and an XLS Luxury pack, both only on offer with the CVT. The three-litre V6 auto-only comes in VR and the VRX models, (V6 versions with six-speed automatic transmission only).The standard safety features list has dual front airbags, stability control, hillstart assist, ABS brakes, with side and curtain airbags on all models bar the LS, where an option box needs to be ticked. Other safety features standard on XLS, XLS Luxury and VRX models are high-intensity discharge bi-xenon adaptive headlights and rear parking sensors, which are supplemented on the XLS Luxury and VRX with a rear camera.The V6 has also benefitted from the addition of the Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system, above and beyond the standard set-up on the four-cylinder.The new system on the V6 uses an active front limited-slip differential, which co-ordinates drive with the electronically controlled four-wheel drive coupling, apportioning drive as required.The system uses electronics rather than the similar hydraulic system that is on the Lancer Evolution; the driver has the ability to change the system for tarmac, sand and locked.The LS features list retains the ZG's air-conditioning, power windows and remote-control locking, but adds Hill Start Assist, two-speed variable intermittent wipers, USB ports, new instrumentation and new synchronised washers to limit obscured vision when cleaning the windscreen.The XLS ups the wheel-size to 18in and adds Smart Key remote entry, upgraded cloth trim,climate control, alloy pedals, latest-generation Bluetooth 2.0 phone link; the XLS Luxury models gets different 18in alloys, leather trim, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a sunroof, the reversing camera, the mutli-media set-up with a top-grade Rockford Fosgate sound system, although the satnav system remains an option on this and the VRX.The V6 sports VR model's equipment list mimics the LS, with the addition of the S-AWC system, fog lights, reversing sensors, alloy pedals and enhanced interior trim. The VRX sports flagship has its own 18in alloy wheels, leather trim, auto headlights and wipers, auto headlights, rain sensing wipers, a sunroof, a reversing camera, the Rockford Fosgate sound system and the MMCS.Mitsubishi is expecting a sales jump from the average of around 550 a month up to 700; pricing is yet to be released but expect some small price increases, primarily reflecting the spec changes.McEniry says the new Outlander's flexibility and versatility is suited to an active lifestyle. "You can throw your surfboard or mountain bike in the back, plug your iPod into the USB port, and you - and up to six of your friends - can go places you've never been in comfort, style and safety," he says. "If you're the sort of person who likes to get up and go - anywhere - then the Outlander has all the technology and versatility to get you there."Mitsubishi ZH Outlander Engines:2.4 litre, DOHC 16 valve four-cylinder; three-litre V6, SOHC 24 valve.Transmission: five-speed manual or CVT auto (2.4); six-speed automatic (3.0).Power: 125kW @ 6000rpm; 169kW @ 6250rpm.Torque: 226Nm @ 4100rpm; 291Nm @ 3750rpm.Fuel consumption litres/100km: 9.5 (CVT 9.3), tank 60 litres (2.4); 10.4 (3.0).Emissions g/km: 227 (2.4 CVT 222); 247 (3.0).Rival:Toyota RAV4, from $33,490.Subaru Forester, from $30,990.Suzuki Grand Vitara, from $30,990.Nissan X-Trail, from $32,990. 

...before it is seen by the rest of the world. Even its home market was an hour or two behind the official Sydney unveiling of the newest addition to the off-road arm of Toyota's range.Toyota's executive sales and marketing director David Buttner says Australia is the fourth-largest market for LandCruiser — behind the Middle East, Europe and China. "It's important because they do the testing here, we always bring vehicles in for accessory fitment, you have to make sure of that, but it's a huge market here, the fourth largest in the world overall, that's pretty significant - we'd be close to the best per capita," he says.The fourth-generation Prado aims to provide more grunt, with less fuel use. The SUV model has retained a ladder-frame chassis but is aiming at better on-road manners while maintaining the off-road ability for which it is renowned.The new model will go on sale in November and is 80mm longer, 10mm wider but 15mm lower than the current model, which was the best-selling SUV in Australia for 2008 and is currently the top-selling medium SUV.The Japanese car maker said the new Prado's four-litre V6 petrol engine - which makes up just 20 per cent of the car's sales - will get variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust valves to improve fuel economy, as well as generating 10 per more power.The company is also boasting of fuel consumption improvments for the more popular turbodiesel engine, with the combined cycle claimed to fall below nine litres per 100km.Buttner says the company is aiming to retain the off-road ability for the 10 per cent of customers who use it for four-wheel driving and improving its on-road ability. "The off-road capability is really important because that's the heritage of the car, while only 10 per cent might go off-road, they know their spec and they use it."It's only 10 per cent but you don't want to go way from that, you still want a rugged SUV while at the same time satisfying the 90 per cent of people looking for ride, comfort and handling of a passenger car - we're confident it can achieve that," he says.While final specification is still being determined, the new model will get some flow-down features from both the Lexus and LandCruiser side of the company, with the Australian-developed kinetic suspension, off-road ‘crawl’ technology and external cameras likely to be added to a safety features list that will include seven airbags, vehicle stability control and traction control as standard.The Australian market has so far taken more than 148,000 Prados since it was born from the 70-Series range, but it was the second-generation model that took hold here in the late 1990s.The medium SUV segment's sales have doubled in the past six years, going from just under 34,000 in 2002 to just over 75,000 last year. 

Mitsubishi Australia boss Robert McEniry says the large car market is getting tougher and an imported replacement for the now-defunct Adelaide-built 380 sedan is not on the cards. "You look at the numbers being generated now by local manufacturers for the domestic market, look at what we were being held up as for the minimum number required, you start to do a comparison ...," he says.The company was reportedly looking at the production version of the Concept ZT for introduction as early as next year but those plans have been delayed. "I think we'll see a replacement model for the 380 but not in the near future," he says.The company's SUV ranks will be bolstered by the arrival of the Triton-based Challenger in November and an as-yet un-named compact SUV, based on the Concept-cX clean-diesel vehicle first seen at Frankfurt motor show in 2007. "We're going to be pretty strong in SUV and cross-over style vehicles, our Tiguan-style car will be in 2WD and 4WD, which will give us more small passenger opportunities as well," he says.The compact slots in below the face-lifted Outlander, which will get a turbodiesel variant but not using the engine powering the Citroen and Peugeot models. "We will put a diesel in it, we were looking at using the PSA diesel, but that's too expensive at the moment. We'll wait until we get an MMC diesel in it and we'll take that, you'll start to see over the next 12-18 months diesels coming into most of our range," he says.The company's Pajero off-road flagship is three years away from an all-new model, but Mr McEniry hinted that clues to its new-generation drivetrain might be seen at this year's Tokyo motor show.Mr McEniry is also extremely determined to get even a handful of the i-MiEV electric cars on Australian soil. "If it doesn't get here there will be trouble, we are desperately trying to shoehorn some, even if it is only 5, out of overseas markets. "The demand for the thing globally is making it difficult for us, otherwise we're in the production schedules for early next year," he says.The straight-talking Mitsubishi boss says like all new technology it is initially going to be expensive. "By this time next year they're aiming to have the price down close to half of what it will be when it's first released, the real issue is in the batteries," he says.Mr McEniry says the sale of the company's former manufacturing site at Tonsley Park in Adelaide's south is progressing. "We have three options on the go at the moment, we'll probably make a decision next month or the month after - I can't give you detail on them, but it would meet our requirements," he says. "We don't get the final environmental remediation plan until the end of next month as well, that's part of a buyer's due-diligence, we're on track with all of that," he says.A timetable for the site sale wasn't being rushed through given the market conditions, but the company has seen the market conditions show some positive signs. "The market is starting to come back, we noticed it a while back, in February - we went cold for a while but there were quite a few groups who are cashed up now," he says.The company has been decommissioning the plant and Mr McEniry says it’s an eerie place to be now. "We've pulled out all the tanks, we've started part of the remediation, we're pulling down the paint plant, inside the factory from the trusses down, everything has been taken out. It's pretty demoralising when you walk through it now, that's where we're at," he says.Conjecture about the future use of the site has been considerable but Mr McEniry says the site redevelopment will be a decade-plus proposition. "I don't think there will be residential, the main option is focussed on the SA government green path, education - which may have student accommodation - no big-box stuff, new technology and light industrial, I think you'll find the front would be retail-related, offices - there are some good ideas around for it but it could take 10 to 15 years, it's not going to be a fast development," he says.The Tonsley Park Plant was originally a Chrysler operation, opened by Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies in October, 1964. The first Mitsubishi rolled off the production line following a change of ownership in 1980 and the Tonsley Park plant manufactured more than 1.1 million vehicles, including 32,044 380 sedans.

The Fiesta RS and Focus RS are setting a new standard for compact performance in Europe but have yet to make the mark for Australia. Ford Australia says it is already beating its sales targets with the Fiesta and Focus and has no immediate plan to add the sporty go cars to the mix."You have to be smart about it, you can do niche models but you have to be really intentional about what you're going to do with it when you bring it," says Beth Donovan, vice-president for sales and marketing. "It's early days but we're pleased with the variety of buyers that we're getting, and we're certainly getting plenty of conquest, which is important in this market, it's about growth."She says Ford's feedback shows the latest compacts are bring buyers who have not looking at Ford for "a long time." The sales of Fiesta mean anyone waiting for the on-again, off-again RS Fiesta must still wait, although Ford hasn't ruled it out."We have Zetec, we're looking at something above that - we're selling a high-end model mix at the moment, a lot of the customers want it to look sporty but don't necessarily need the powertrain," Donovan says.There is already an XR5 turbo in the larger Focus and Donovan says there are plenty of people taking the car. "We still have XR5, which is a great little package - we do well with that car, the dealers have people lining up for them," she says.European Ford buyers can upgrade to the Focus RS, which is propelled by an upgraded version of the XR5's 2.5-litre in-line five-cylinder which produces 224kW and 440Nm.

The new Venga mini people-mover, wearing the svelte new looks penned by design chief Peter Schreyer, will be unveiled at Frankfurt motor show next month

The Jumbuck is set for a crash test by the Australian New Car Assessment Program. Proton Car Australia managing director John Startari admits to being a little perplexed by the decision to test a vehicle that is close to the end of its sales life here, having been on sale here since early 2003. "I found it a bit strange they'd be testing a car in run-out, it wasn't done in conjunction with us, but I don't know why they selected it when we have newer models to test." "I know that it passed all the ADR requirements for the area that it was imported under, it complies with all the rules of today, it hasn't been tested for NCAP," he says. Startari says he'd be as surprised as everyone else with the ANCAP crash test result for the little utility but couldn't nominate a star rating estimate. "It won't be a five—star car though, no airbags and the like, it still has to pass the ADR tests and it did that without airbags, but I have no idea what star rating it will get." "Jumbuck was launched in 2002, and designed five or six years earlier than that, so NCAP wasn't really on their mind then, maybe other brands being introduced without airbags has had something to do with it, maybe they want to be seen as impartial but it really doesn't make sense to me," he said. The country's cheapest utility is well into run-out now and Startari says a decision is yet to be made on its replacement. "It's in run-out now — it's the last car we have on the old Mitsubishi technology, it's been around since 2002, but the platform has been around since the 1990s. "The Jumbuck has served us well here … it's been a great car for us in Australia. Proton is looking at replacements — they're just deciding which way they're going to go." ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh says the Jumbuck crash test was part of a focus on light—commercial vehicles, in particular utilities. "We've bought one and we're going to test it, they're still being sold. We're testing a few utes at the moment, we've got a focus on commercial vehicles generally and the Jumbuck is part of that group," he says.

The Malaysian car maker is now export—focussed and with a revitalised pricing strategy, an all—new model, as well as entry—level price point variants of its existing range, in the Australian market. The company has brought forward the introduction of what it claims will be Australia's lowest priced sedan, which will now arrive in October this year instead of early next year. With a sub—$13,000 pricetag Proton Cars Australia managing director John Startari says the car's compliance process was completed early and he saw no point in delaying new product. "We're offering a four—door where many are three—door — you'd argue that the buyer, if they can get more for less, might switch to a sedan if the price is right." "Initially we'll get the manual with the 1.6, early next year we'll have other variants in automatic and manual, with the 1.3—litre engine — it's based on the Campro 1.6 engine." Startari says the new—entry level models of Satria Neo, Gen2 and Persona would be introduced here just before the end of the year, a big part of the sales increase strategy. "We're looking to triple our sales over a two—year period, that's on the back of a substantial increase in marketing, the introduction of a more price—competitive range — we see the volume growth at the lower end," he says. Brand awareness and its dealer network have been two of the brand's main issues - something Startari aims to address within the new plan. "Our dealer network has undergone substantial change, we've parted company with 17 of our 41 dealers by mutual consent, we went to them with our plan, with infrastructure that was required, which required some investment on their part, those that didn't want to do it agreed to cease trading." "We've recruited seven new dealers in the last two months, which we have to fast—track now because the car is coming quicker — we need to be at 50 dealers by the end of 2011 nationally. "We've parted company with nearly half our network, we wouldn't have done that ... things needed to change and in the last 18 months there's been some dramatic changes, I'm not saying it's the last throw of the dice but things needed to change." Startari says the brand erred with its buyer—direct strategy and had needed to raise its profile with consumers. "We're dealing with an awareness problem, we should be selling 4000—5000 a year, we've researched this and found out why - there's nothing out of the ordinary — at the end of the day it comes down to awareness … if they don't know us, they shy away because there are other more visible brands out there," he says. "Proton has already recruited a number of new dealers and they have told us that they had considered taking on other low cost brands but did not want to take the risk with brands that do not have an established record in Australia." With a number of Chinese brands coming into the market, as well as existing Japanese and Korean brands increasing small—car numbers, Proton sees its strength in its 15—year presence in the market. Startari says the Australian arm's four—year business plan has factory support. "The factory knows it will be tough in the early stages, the market has changed but the foundations of our business plan is still sound and we believe we can achieve it," he says. "Clearly there will be new low cost brands entering the market in the coming months, however Proton's strength is that it has been in this market for close to 15 years and is a factory owned operation with the full backing of our parent company in Malaysia. "Product, pricing and marketing support have received major boosts from our parent company to ensure that we have the tools to expand our market share in this country," he says. "The next 12 months will tell if we've got it right - or if we've got it horribly wrong.”