Mitsubishi Lancer 2008 News

A hectic 2007 proved to be lucrative for the car industry with a plethora of new cars launched and more than a million sales throughout the year. And there's no indication that it will be slowing down in 2008.AUDI The new A4, to rival the 3 Series and C-Class is expected here about April, while July will see the hot sports wagon, the RS6 Avant and the A3 Cabrio. Extra A5 variants will follow. BMWBMW has a busy year ahead, starting with the 320d and 335i touring this month. The 1 Series Coupe will go on sale around April, followed by the convertible in May-June. But its big one for the year will be the new X6 Sports Activity Coupe, arriving between July and September. It comes with three engine variants, all twin-turbo, an in-line six, a 3.0-litre diesel and a 300kW 4.4-litre V8. Pricing is expected to start at just under $100,000. And the X5 scores a new engine in February, with the first variable twin turbo diesel offered in the range. CHRYSLER/JEEPJanuary will be a busy month for Chrysler, with the Sebring Cabrio and Grand Voyager people mover both arriving in Australia. The Jeep Cherokee will also get a total makeover. CITROENBased on the C4 Picasso, but bigger and better equipped, Citroen will introduce the Berlingo van between July and September, with a mainly diesel range. This will make room in the line-up for the new Nemo small van mid-year. The C5 will also get a new V6 diesel engine.FERRARIDeliveries of the exquisite F430 Scuderia, priced at about $550,000, will start mid year. Only about 40 will come to Australia and New Zealand. FIAT The reincarnation of the 1960s Bambino will arrive in March, but Fiat has already sold the first four months' supply. The new Fiat 500 will have three engine choices, a 1.2-litre petrol, a 75kW 1.4-litre petrol engine or a 56kW 1.3-litre turbo diesel. Pricing is expected to start from $22,000. The new Ritmo will join the Fiat 500 in March with pricing from $30,000. FORD One of the biggest launches for the year will be the new Falcon. Ford will release details of the new model in February and it's expected to be followed by an unveiling at the Melbourne motor show in the same month, with the official launch around May.FPV FPV will start the year with a new model, the hot turbo Territory, known as the F6 X model. It's the first non-Falcon model from FPV, with 270kW and 550Nm. The FPV Falcon range will also arrive this year. HOLDEN/CADILLACWith Ford's big year planned, you can't expect Holden to keep quiet. But so far, Holden has only announced it is expecting the VE Sportwagon, due in the first half of the year. GM-Holden is also introducing Cadillac with the first model due late in 2008. HONDA Honda will start the year with the new Accord model, due to be launched in February. The small Jazz is also getting an update after the middle of the year. Details on the new generation will be released closer to the launch. The Accord Euro is also expected to arrive later this year. HYUNDAI No big launches just yet, although an upgraded Sonata is expected mid year. JAGUARJaguar's major release for the year will be the new XF in June, with pricing expected to start from $105,000. It will be available in a V6 diesel, as well as a V6 and V8 petrol. KIAPreviewed at the Sydney motor show last year, Kia will launch its new seven-seater Rondo crossover in February. It is expected to start from as low as the mid-$20,000 mark. LEXUSNew for Lexus will be the LX570 around April or May, followed by the IS-F towards the end of the year. Details still to come. MAZDAThe second-generation Mazda6 will go on sale at the end of February with pricing from less than $30,000. It will be powered by a 2.5-litre, four cylinder engine, with 125kW and 226Nm.MERCEDES-BENZThe first arrival for Mercedes-Benz is expected to be the C 63 AMG in mid March. It will be followed by the S 320CDI, priced at $189,874 and the C-Class wagon, which will carry a $3000 premium over the sedan, coming in just under $60,000. MINIAnother new version of a 1960s cult car is also headed our way, with the Mini Clubman launched in February. The modern successor of the Morris Mini Traveller, the Austin Mini Countryman and the Mini Clubman Estate won't get into showrooms until March or April. Pricing will start in the mid-$30,000 area. MITSUBISHIMitsubishi will release two turbocharged Lancers this year. The top-level Lancer Evo X GSR will be here in April and sell for about $58,000. The 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo engine pumps out 200kW and 422Nm. Joining it will be the detuned version in the Ralliart all-wheel drive, at about $40,000. NISSANNissan's first addition for the year will be the all-wheel-drive wagon, the Dualis. Starting at $28,990 and stretching to $35,990, it's powered by a 102kW, 2.0-litre engine. PEUGEOTThe big launch for Peugeot will be the 308 replacing the 307 range, which will start with the 308 hatch in February in both petrol and diesel guises. The touring will follow in June or July, with the 308cc model a prospect for late 2008 or early 2009. PROTONProton has announced the Persona, based on the Gen2 hatch platform, will make its debut at the Melbourne motor show in late February, going on sale in March. It will be priced around the mid-teens. The Gen2 will also get engine updates and minor styling changes. RENAULTThe all-new Laguna will go on sale mid-year with a 2.0-litre diesel engine. SAABJune sees the arrival of the Turbo X AWD. SSANGYONGThe South Korean company will go completely diesel in 2008, with no more petrol engines on offer in Australia. SMARTThe new Fortwo arrives in Australia in February. The one-model brand will get both the 52kW and 62kW models, in hatch and cabrio, being bigger than the current models. SUBARUThe star WRX STi comes in February with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, although pricing is still to come. The third generation Forester arrives in March. SUZUKIFebruary's proving to be a busy month, with Suzuki also launching its Grand Vitara diesel. TOYOTAAfter a big year in 2007, Toyota is expecting a quiet year, with only the TRD Hilux due to be launched in April-June. VOLKSWAGENVolkswagen will kick off the year with the SUV, the Touareg R50, to be released in April. It's powered by a 258kW V10 TDI engine. The Tiguan also arrives about October.  VOLVOThe recently launched XC70 arrives in showrooms this month, joined by the C30 diesel also in January. It's priced at $43,950. A base model C30 will also enter the line-up, at $34,450. A 3.0-litre six-cylinder engined V70 will arrive in March. 

The car company with safety tattooed on every model it makes is changing direction.Volvo has been focused on passive safety systems — the seat belts, airbags, crumple zones and other technologies that protect you — as a core belief since it produced its first laminated windscreen.Now it is looking at ways to prevent crashes.The Swedish company is increasingly turning its attention to active safety systems, looking at big-brother electronics that will help you avoid hitting other cars and pedestrians.They will steer you back into your lane if you wander, warn you if your driving is becoming erratic and let you know of dangers still out of sight.“Though Volvo is world-renowned for its passive safety systems, we're still constantly developing the safety of our vehicles, particularly in active safety,” Volvo Cars Australia public affairs manager Laurissa Mirabelli says.“Though manufacturers have been working on active safety systems for a number of years, active safety hasn't really been on the public agenda until recently. The traditional focus was on passive safety such as airbags, seat belts, stronger passenger cells — all the things that protect you if you crash.“But with the active safety systems we have in development, we can move another step towards the ultimate goal: preventing avoidable crashes.”Volvo is not alone. Companies including Mercedes-Benz, which is probably the world's safest brand, and a group of others are all making a greater effort on passive safety.Renault has stability control on everything it makes, and a growing number of carmakers, including Mitsubishi with its latest Lancer, are making this lifesaving system standard.But Volvo is going further and now has a system called Collision Warning with Auto Brake that detects vehicle-to-vehicle crash risks, already seen here in the XC70 soft-roader.It is being further developed to identify pedestrians with wide-angle radar that sweeps the area to the front and around the car.Like a car-to-car collision-avoidance system, which is intended to prevent rear-end crashes, the pedestrian-sensing technology will give audible and visual alerts, pre-charge the brakes and then start to apply them, increasing the hydraulic pressure as needed to assist panic braking.If the driver doesn't start braking and collision is imminent, the car's brakes are activated automatically.The automatic braking can reduce the car's speed by about 30km/h, which means that in certain situations a collision won't be completely avoided.Another technology being developed is Volvo's Lane Departure Warning system, which sounds an alarm if you stray across the lane markers without having used your indicators.Volvo is working on a more advanced version called Collision Avoidance by Auto Steering.It will use cameras and increased radar capability to automatically pilot you back into your lane.The company is conducting tests to determine the appropriate amounts of steering intervention and speed range the system will be able to operate within.Volvo's radar-based City Safe system is designed to avoid low-speed collisions, such as rear-enders at roundabouts, when the car in front fails to move with the traffic.At speeds of up to 30km/h, the technology senses speed differences of up to 15km/h between your car and the one in front and applies the brakes to slow you or bring you to a stop.Meanwhile, Driver Alert Control uses cameras to monitor your vehicle's movement between lane markings, sounding an alarm and flashing a “cuppa” symbol on the instrument display if your driving pattern becomes erratic.And, like Mercedes-Benz and other companies, Volvo is also researching car-to-car communication that warns drivers of dangers well ahead of them.For example, your car could pick up the information that another car around the next corner has just slammed on the brakes, allowing you more time to slow down and prepare to brake if necessary.Volvo has several test vehicles already communicating with each other, but says a global system would need a standard language so all vehicles — no matter what make or model — can talk to each other.But while the inter-car communication could take up to a decade to develop, the other technologies will be here within the next few years, Mirabelli says.“The city-safe, pedestrian-avoidance and driver-alert systems will be here in the next couple of years, with the lane-correcting auto-steering not far behind,” she says.“As for the car communication system, it depends on how soon all the car manufacturers can get together with a single communication platform. It will depend on finding that common language, so we are unlikely to see the technology on cars before 2015. It's just a matter of finding common ground.”

The big, bold car grille is emerging as the styling feature of cars to come.

Just one week after its world debut in Frankfurt, the highly anticipated Evolution X made its appearance as the star of the Mitsubishi stand at the Australian international Motor Show.Capping off the new Lancer sedan range, the Evo X is the most technologically advanced, fastest model crammed with evolved and new technology, including a twin-clutch SST gearbox.Lancer is Mitsubishi’s volume seller and earlier this month the 2.0-litre Lancer ES, VR and VR-X models should offered a big boost in Mitsubishi’s bottom line. Well equipped with a host of safety and convenience equipment, running a 2.0-litre four-cylinder across the range and priced competitively, the styling of the new Lancer also lessens the gap to the fire-breathing rally-bred Evo model.Stuffed full of electronic trickery, a 2.0-litre turbo four with MIVEC produces the same 206kW as the previous Evolution IX, but weight increases around 100kg.This may dull straight line performance but chassis refinements and computer chips help bring it back. Try AYC (active yaw control), S-ACW (Super All-Wheel Control), ACD (active diff control) and ASC (Active Skid Control).But significantly it’s also the introduction of Mitsubishi’s SST gearbox, an automated paddle-shifted sequential six-speed manual that promises to be both smoother and faster than the conventional six-speed.With 18-inch wheels and a relocation of the turbocharger to the rear of the engine to help weight distribution, the Evolution X carries over its Brembo brakes but features more aluminium including bonnet, boot, guards and doors. The cabin is driver focussed with deeply contoured buckets featuring high-grip suede to prevent sliding, along with a lap-timer for track days.Mitsubishi CEO Rob McEniry also announced the Evo X will be available in three specifications. The two road registrable versions include the regular version with leather interior, chrome trim on the grille and spot lights, as featured on the red Evo X at the Sydney Motor Show. A similar blue Evo X is the more sporting, slightly lighter MR version, sans spotlight but sporting firmer Bilstein suspension and BBS alloy wheels.For motorsport competitors; of which many choose the Evolution; McEniry also announced the lightweight competition spec model would be made available for those interested in tarmac rallies. Like previous Evolutions, this would continue to be sold through the Ralliart motorsport division.The Mitsubishi stand also features a range of Panther concept vehicles. Built at Sydney Motor Show concepts, the quartet of matching Panther prototypes based on the Colt, Grandis, Triton and Pajero three-door feature black paintwork, lowered suspension, chrome alloys and silver ‘cat scratch’ stripes. The likelihood of them going on sale is slim, but we can look forward to the Evolution X arriving in February 2008. Check out the Evo X on video at the Australian International Motor Show 

The show has been expanded this year with additional internal and external displays.More than 50 new models will be unveiled amongst the 500 cars on display.Headliners include the world premieres of Mitsubishi's Evolution X cult car, the new generation Toyota LandCruiser featuring new Australian-developed suspension technology, and Holden's new sportswagon. Several other world premieres are expected.Other highlights include a Lexus that parks itself, and cutting-edge concept cars from BMW, Hyundai and Škoda, and new sportscars from Bufori, Lamborghini, Lotus and Maserati.View all the latest news and action on the official Australian International Motorshow website at www.australianmotorshow.com

A 2.4-litre Lancer VRX sedan will be available next year, and there are also plans for a Ralliart sedan and Sportback in the new compact family, but Mitsubishi is worried about their potential impact.The cars are being assessed for local sales, but could be rejected because they put too much price and performance pressure on the upcoming Evo X hero car and confuse customers with too much choice."We think Ralliart in the Lancer sedan will be popular but there’s a risk of cannibalising too much from the Evo,” the managing director of Mitsubishi Motors Australia, Rob McEniry, says."There in fact may be too much in that end of the range."Mitsubishi has been working for more than a year on a Ralliart plan for its locally-made 380 sedan, without going into production, but has too many choices for the all-new Lancer. It is now deciding which models to take and how it will work up through the Ralliart range to the Evo X."If we have a Ralliart on the sedan and the Sportback, and then Evo only on the sedan, whether in fact we might re-mix it and only have Ralliart on the Sportback rather than on the sedan as well," McEniry says."Then we’d step up to the Evo in the sedan, so you’ve got a gap. Then on the hatchback, you’ve got a sports line that goes out."They’re the things we’re playing with at the moment , we’ve got it all in the product program at the moment and it’s all available. It’s just how we mesh it in the final analysis.”McEniry will not even hint at the possible price tag of a Ralliart Lancer sedan, except to say it "won’t be extraordinarily more” than the donor car.Still, to sit between the new 2-litre VRX and the upcoming Evo, the 2.4-litre VRX would need to be around $35,000 with the Ralliart at not much more than $40,000 to stay competitive.While Mitsubishi struggles with its compact choices it has a firm plan for the Evo X."When you step up to the Evo there will be three levels ; a stripped- out model for the rally competitors, then the second level will be a manual so they’ll be more street cars, and then there’s the top level with the double-clutch auto and that’s got a bit more luxury associated with it,” McEniry says.Yet there will need to be careful positioning."There will potentially being some cannibalisation from Ralliart Lancer. In terms of strategy, what we might do is not have the bottom- level Evo freely available, but more on customer order or dealer confirm order so that it is directed then at the track driver more than being more freely available as a road car," he says."So then the step up is more obvious."How we just manage that bit so we get the mix right as well, that’s going to be fun and games.”However, despite his concerns and planning problems, one of McEniry’s personal priorities at the Mitsubishi helm is to stretch the Ralliart halo over more of the brand."Ralliart could become a bigger opportunity for us,” he says."I’ve put up business cases to Japan on different aspects of it.There’s just a totally new area there that’s untapped and they see it as well."They’ve got some pretty excited people looking at it and they want to get back into it as well. It’s part of their fundamental strategy.”"McEniry says the first step is expanding the Ralliart network in Australia to get a bigger sales base."At the moment have 37 dealers who are both Ralliart dealers and Evo dealers. We want to take it up to a maximum of 90 who are Ralliart, but we’ll restrict the Evo to what it is today as a maximum in fact."And there’s a good reason for that restriction in that an Evo customer is probably a step up so the technical support, the ability of the car deserves that restricted, very specialist support.Extending the network will give us broader product base and allow the dealers to step the customer up as well.” 

Mitsubishi has launched its all-new Lancer in Japan as the Galant Fortis. “It is much the same car we will be launching here within weeks but they have chosen to go with the Galant name,” says Mitsubishi Australia's Lenore Fletcher. He says Australian specifications will be announced at the launch but confirmed there will be no all-wheel-drive offered initially.Aussie buyers who want their Lancer with all-wheel grip will have to wait longer and dig deeper to secure the performance Evo X due in Australian showrooms early next year.The local Lancer will share the styling on the Japanese car and its basic 2.0-litre front-wheel drive train. The four-cylinder DOHC MIVEC engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission with a six-speed pre-set sports mode. The Japanese Lancer comes standard with driver and passenger airbags in the entry-level Exceed while side, curtain and knee bags are either standard on higher trim levels or available as an option.Also available across the range as a factory-fitted option is a vehicle-stability program. 

As Australia's new car juggernaut rolls on towards the magic million sales mark, the number of available models continues to swell. Already recognised as one of the most diverse and competitive car markets in the world, Australian importers continue to add to the mix.With half the year nearly gone, buyers have taken almost 500,000 new vehicles into their garages with some of the traditional biggest selling months still to come.At least three new marques will arrive in Australian showrooms in the second half of  the year; Hummer, Mahindra and Skoda,  testament to the vibrancy of what is, in world terms, a minor market.However, it is the expanding model range within existing brands that will drive the Aussie market over the million mark for the first time.Over the next six months more than 50 new or revised models will arrive in Australian new car showrooms. Here's a look at what's coming soon:ASTON MARTINDip your lid in style in September with the V8 Roadster, a gorgeous extension of the Vantage. AUDI Audi starts its end-of-year program in September with the R8, the biggest, baddest Audi in the garage The Supercar looks with enough performance to keep most on their toes. Also on the cards for October is the A5, Audi's first coupe since the TT. An all-new platform which comes as a front-wheel-drive and quattro. In November the V8 4.2 TDi may answer some questions for the Q7, including on fuel economy. BMW You'll have to wait until October for the new M3, but the latest offering from the M garage has something special. It's the first V8 for an M3. CHRYSLER A Sebring convertible, topless cousin of the sedan launched in early 2007, arrives in December. DODGE The Nitro SUV joins the Caliber for Dodge next month and the US marque backs that up with its Avenger sedan in August. FIAT The baby Ritmo, sold as the Bravo in Europe, will be Fiat's second passenger offering in Australia when it lands in October. Expect petrol and diesel. FORD The rush to oil-burners continues with the Focus getting the honour of being Ford's first passenger diesel next month before the Focus CC, the drop-top concept that set hearts aflutter at Frankfurt two years ago lands in October. The other big news for Ford is the return in November of the Mondeo for a third tilt at Australia. HOLDEN The key second-half model from the General is the VE Ute, bringing all the developments in the VE sedan to the working man's Holden. HONDA The Civic Type-R is razor-sharp styling built around a high-revving fun package. Next month. HUMMER The iconic offroader from the land of the large truck opens its Aussie account in October, a couple of months later than anticipated as a result of production delays for the H3. Surprisingly agile with real offroad ability. HYUNDAI An important second-half for the Korean marque. It starts with the popular Santa Fe SUV finally getting the 3.3-litre V6 from the Sonata to give it some extra punch. In October, the new Elantra hatch joins the sedan in the Aussie line-up after a wait of almost 12 months. JAGUAR An October styling refresh for the marque's luxury sedan, the XJ, is all from the Big Cat this year before a big 2008. JEEP The second of Jeep's non-Rubicon Trail-rated soft-roaders arrives in August to join the Compass for duty around town. KIA The Carens compact people mover has never really taken off here. The new generation is a little bigger and more stylish. It will be powered by a four-cylinder petrol or diesel engine with five- or seven-seat capacity. On sale in October. LAND ROVERThe baby Freelander gets a complete makeover for this generational change. New engines and a new family look all go on show in July. MAHINDRAIndia's workhorse ute, the Pik-Up, starts to roll out to Australia in July. MAZDA A new generation and a new look for the little Mazda2. Sharper styling is the key to this one's October debut. At the same time Mazda will add a diesel option to its top-selling Mazda3 range. MERCEDES-BENZThe key model for Mercedes this year is the meat-and-potatoes C-Class. Bigger, brighter and ready to meet the masses it is available from July. Also on Mercedes' new-model list is an upgraded ML500 and R-Class in September, both getting the 285kW V8 engine. October is a big month for the three-pointed star with the crackingCL65 AMG (a bi-turbo V12 with 450kW and 1000Nm) and the more sociable S320 CDi, which marries diesel with uber-luxury. MITSUBISHI You have to love a fighter. Australia's “other” family car, the 380, wins a minor refresh with some interior updates from next month. In August the automatic turbo diesel, traditionally the model's top seller, completes the Triton range while in October the point guard for the red-hot Evo X (due late in the year), the new Lancer, promises look-at-me-styling and more punch than the current model. NISSANThe baby Micra finally gets the green light for Australia with an October date with sales. In November the X-Trail, a core model for Nissan and the compact SUV that set the benchmark for those who actually can go off-road, gets a full generational change. The Dualis arrives in December. A softer option to the X-Trail, it sits on a similar platform but is more plush. PEUGEOT It's all about size for the French manufacturer. In July the 207CC, the previous generation of which set the standard for accessorising small cars, is back and promising to reclaim the crown. Its far more focused and athletic sibling, the GTi arrives in August with its turbocharged 1.6-litre engine. The station wagon derivative of the base 207 goes on sale in October. PORSCHEThe 911 turbo cabriolet proves Porsche's belief that if you can go fast in a sedan you should be able to go just as fast in a cabriolet. In September you can prove it for yourself. RENAULT August sees the Megane diesel join the Renault fleet, while the Clio Sport returns in November in an all-new guise. SAAB The new 9-3 will highlight Saab's first all-wheel-drive system in a completely renewed model range. All models arrive in November. SKODA Launches into Australia with a two-pronged attack in October. The Octavia medium-sized hatch and the quaintly named Roomster compact MPV will carry the flag initially. SMARTIn September the next next-generation smart ForTwo arrives, a little bigger and a little smarter. SUBARU The new Impreza is one of the most polarising styling departures of the year. In basic and WRX fettle the hatch arrives in September. A cult car heads mainstream and the jury is out. SUZUKIIf it ain't broke ... A freshen-up for the car that put punch back in Suzuki's local range, the brilliant Swift is in showrooms in October with the sedan version of the SX4 “tall hatch” joining the stable in September. TOYOTA The first product from Toyota's new “hot shop”, the Aurion TRD, arrives in August with a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 with sports manners and a load of plastic kit. Also in August is the generational change for Kluger with the SUV getting a substantial facelift and the 3.5-litre V6 from the Aurion. November brings the Landcruiser 200 Series and a TRD version of the HiLux. VOLVO The highlight for the Swedes in the second half of the year is the all-new generation of the XC70 due in November. About the same time the C30 will get the in-line five-cylinder diesel. VW A hot version of the Passat, the R36, is heading Down Under in November. 

However, Mitsubishi Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher is reluctant to confirm if this is the actual production car. “Obviously though, it is very close to production,” she says. Although not due to go on sale here until early next year, the Evo X is already causing a stir among local enthusiasts with some prospective buyers contacting Mitsubishi Australia with deposits for the new car. However, they will have to wait. The next-generation Lancer sedan and hatch are first to arrive in September ahead of the turbocharged all-wheel-drive Evo X. Australia will also continue with the Lancer name on both the bread-and-butter models and Evo X, despite a name change in Japan, where the newcomer will be called the Galant Fortis. Fortis is Latin for strong and determined. “There is a lot of credibility in the local Lancer name,” Fletcher says. But the new car will follow the traditions of the Lancer in offering a low-cost entry vehicle and other high-spec models, she says. Mitsubishi is also looking at adding a slightly lower-spec performance Ralliart model to the range to sit under the Evo X. “We are looking at it because the Ralliart name is important to the brand,” Fletcher says. Visually there are minor differences between the Evo X in the photos and the Prototype X shown at this year's Detroit motor show. These include a new grille, foglights, different mirrors, more detailed tail-lights, slightly different headlights with amber indicators and new wheels. The bonnet from the Prototype X is carried over, as is the vent aft of the front-wheel well. As with the show car, the latest Evo X study sports Brembos with red-painted callipers. The new model has Mitsubishi's S-AWC-3 traction and handling system, which integrates the control of drive torque and braking management with the four-wheel-drive system. The Evo X's engine is a new highperformance lightweight aluminium 2.0-litre turbocharged MIVEC-4 engine mated to a six-speed automated manual transmission. Entry-level Lancers will be powered by a new MIVEC 2.0-litre four-cylinder with more power and economy than the current 2.4-litre Lancer. The new models come as Mitsubishi Motors has returned a profit for the fiscal year through March. It marks the first time Mitsubishi Motors has moved into the black at all levels (operating, ordinary and net profits) for a full financial year since 2002. The company credited the turnaround to favourable exchange rates, new models and improved profitability of its financial services operations. Consolidated sales for Mitsubishi Motors' for fiscal 2006 totalled $22.3 billion, an increase of $837.5 million over the previous fiscal year. Its operating profit of $406.5 million was an improvement of $337.7 million over the previous fiscal year. It posted an ordinary profit of $187.1 million, a year-on-year gain of $367.1 million. The company reported a net income of $87.9 million an improvement of $1.02 billion.

Mitsubishi, Ford and Holden all showed off production or concept cars that are designed to move fast and get the blood pumping.But the big news came from Toyota, which launched its new TRD performance brand in Australia at the show.The launch of TRD represents first time Toyota has marketed under the TRD banner anywhere in the world. It is timed to celebrate the car manufacturer’s 50th anniversary of involvement in motorsport globally.Several models sporting new TRD livery were unveiled at the show, including an Aurion and a HiLux concept car. There are several more models on the way.Also previewed at the Toyota stand was the new Corolla hatch and a new Corolla rally car, which is based on the new production model to be launched soon.Mitsubishi opened the show with a Lancer concept “Sportback”.But Ford and Holden went all-out in the performance stakes. Ford revealed a new Fiesta XR4 which will be on sale in July this year. It will feature a variant with a two-litre diesel engine – the first diesel car to grace Ford Australia’s line-up.Also on show was a 40th Anniversary GT from FPV.Holden tried to top that with the unveiling of a Chevrolet Camaro concept car which attracted great interest from the assembled press. It was the first time this car had been seen in Australia.The company said although there are no plans to launch the Camaro here, it was on the stand in Melbourne to gauge customer reaction. The implication was that if interest is strong enough it may launch here.