Mitsubishi Triton 2015 News

Cars are either being built worse -- or companies are getting better at detecting faults.a range of models made over the last 10 years replacing potentially deadly Takata airbags in 1.3 million cars in Australia. a second, airbag-related recall for the Priusreplacing potentially deadly Takata airbags in 1.3 million cars in Australia

We're hungry for imports - SUVs above all - and cool on big sedans.

New-car sales are powering as we near the end of the year — and it looks set to remain a buyer's market.

Australians are continuing to gorge themselves on new cars, taking advantage of low interest rates before currency pressures force prices to rise later in the year.

But if you missed out there are still good deals to be found.As one dealer told us this week: "now we've got to push a rock back up a hill again". We're pretty sure that's industry jargon for selling more cars to meet monthly sales targets.Hyundai is backing up again this month, after the i30 hatch became the top-selling car in June.This time the deal is on the Active X, which is the next model up from the base grade and comes with automatic transmission, a rear-view camera, alloy wheels and leather seats for $21,990 drive-away, a massive saving of $7000 off full retail price.Need something smaller? You won't see the price advertised widely but a Toyota Yaris automatic hatch can be had for $17,590 drive-away if you ask nicely (the price premium for auto is back down to $1600, after a few months at $2000 above the $15,990 drive-away for the manual).The Ford Kuga MkII petrol automatic SUV makes good buying at $29,990 drive-away, sweetened by a 1.9 per cent finance offer. The low interest rate also applies to the diesel Territory at $41,490 drive-away.Holden's Colorado LS crew cab 4WD ute is now at "fleet price" ($36,865 drive-away for the manual and $37,865 drive-away for the auto) but the five-year warranty deal offered in June has ended.There are a handful of superseded Mitsubishi Tritons left in stock at $29,990 drive-away, and the about-to-be superseded Mitsubishi Challenger SUV is a rock bottom $39,990 drive-away, close to $10,000 off.Nissan is offering sharp finance deals but is still not putting the price of its cars in a headline number.But we can tell you a Pulsar auto hatch or sedan can be had for $24,990 drive-away with 0 per cent finance over three years. There is still some wriggle room in that price, so be sure to haggle.

The Hyundai i30 shot to the top of the sales charts last month, recording 5500 sales as people snapped up the $19,990 drive-away deal for the Korean hatchback.The sticker price, which was roughly $7000 off the full retail ask, worked because it made life simple for buyers and Hyundai dealers alike.No need to haggle, no worrying whether other buyers got a better deal, just choose a colour and sign on the dotted line. No doubt the five-year warranty and rear-view camera sealed many a deal as well.The same applies to the Volkswagen Golf, which came within a whisker of bumping the once-mighty Holden Commodore into eighth place on the sales charts. The simple and attractive $24,990 drive-away deal helped sell 2680 examples.Ditto the Mitsubishi Triton, which is the third most popular vehicle with private buyers this year, largely because of a cheap — and transparent — $29,990 drive-away deal.Overall, the car industry remains on course for another record yearPerhaps other brands need to take a leaf from Hyundai's book rather than hide their margins by inviting customers to "do a deal" or take advantage of complicated low-interest loans.For example, Nissan was offering "extra value" on some models but no headline drive-away deals — sales were down 17 per cent on last year.Overall, the car industry remains on course for another record year, driven mainly by low interest rates.Weekly repayments on a $20,000 car today can be as low as $387 a month — three years ago the same car cost about $486. You also pay much less interest on a five-year loan — $3200 today against more than $9000 three years ago.Alternatively, you could buy a $25,000 car now with the same repayments as a $20,000 car three years ago.

A cheap and cheerful car brand introduced to Australia in 1986 by a savvy Perth car dealer and colourful businessman, the late Alan Bond, has done the unthinkable.Hyundai has shocked the Australian motor industry by becoming the top-selling car last month. It is the first time the South Korean brand has been in the top spot since the plucky Hyundai Excel knocked the Holden Commodore off its perch in June 1998.Driven by a special offer of $19,990 drive-away with automatic transmission and a rear-view camera -- about $7000 off full price -- the Hyundai i30 hatchback outsold the reigning champions the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 in June, according to preliminary figures.More than three out of every four Hyundai i30s sold were of the cut-price $19,990 model, dealer sources have told News Corp Australia.Sales of utes were also strong in the rush to the end of the financial yearMore than 5500 Hyundai i30 hatchbacks were delivered last month, easily eclipsing the tally of 4150 Toyota Corollas and 4130 Mazda3s.The result is more remarkable once you take into account the Hyundai i30 tally is for hatchback sales alone, whereas the Toyota and Mazda totals include both sedans and hatches.The sedan version of the Hyundai i30 is sold with another badge, otherwise the leading margin would have been even greater (more than 680 Hyundai Elantra sedans were sold in June).Sales of utes were also strong in the rush to the end of the financial year, filling three of the Top 10 places and the Toyota HiLux claiming second outright.Industry insiders believe the car industry is on track for a new record yearIn other upsets, the Volkswagen Golf, driven by sharp discounting to $24,990 drive-away, edged ahead of the Toyota Camry and just behind the Holden Commodore.Seven of the Top 10 brands posted significant sales gains, but Holden, Ford and Nissan were down on the same month last year.The Ford Falcon was once again outsold by the Mercedes-Benz C Class (530 deliveries versus 900).Figures for the total market are not due to be published until Friday, however industry insiders believe the car industry is on track for a new record year.Record low interest rates -- rather than the $20,000 tax incentive for small businesses announced in the latest Federal Budget -- are the driving force behind the sales surge, say dealer sources."People are still trying to get their head around what the $20,000 tax break means for their business, but they also need to have the money to spend in the first place," said a finance expert at a leading metropolitan Toyota dealership."The biggest driver is interest rates. People are figuring out they can pay less than what they were paying three or four years ago and get a brand-new car. Or they can make the same repayments and get a dearer car."Figures supplied to News Corp Australia show that the weekly repayments on a $20,000 car today can be as low as $387 per month, or $89 a week, in a best-case scenario of 6 per cent interest.But three years ago, a $20,000 car typically cost about $486 per month, with the buyer paying more than $9000 in interest over five years, versus $3200 in interest over the same period today.Alternatively, the repayments of $486 per month at today's low interest rates will buy a $25,000 car rather than a $20,000 car.Meanwhile, the industry is still coming to grips with Hyundai’s shock result just 29 years after arriving in Australia.Hyundai cars were introduced locally in 1986 by Perth car dealer John Hughes — who went on to become the company’s biggest retail outlet in the southern hemisphere from 1997 to 2003 — with financial backing by Alan Bond.But with Bond Corporation suffering financial difficulties, the distribution rights in Australia were then handled by a Singapore-based company from 1990 until Hyundai established a head office locally in 2003.Indeed, Hyundai is now a challenger for third place outright if it can overtake Holden and push the former Number One to fourth by the end of the year.Holden is currently third place behind Toyota and Mazda when the year-to-date tally is calculated, but is locked in a bumper-to-bumper battle with Hyundai.Hyundai has been ahead of Holden for three of the first six months of this year, and the two brands are separated by just 1100 sales.After being beaten by Hyundai in May, Holden leapt ahead in the June sales tally thanks to the biggest month ever for the Trax baby SUV, Captiva5 compact SUV, the Colorado ute, and Colorado7 seven-seater.It was also the best result in 18 months for the Barina hatch and the Commodore ute, while the Captiva7 posted its highest sales in a year.Hyundai i30 - 5520Toyota HiLux - 4280Toyota Corolla - 4150Mazda3 - 4130Mitsubishi Triton - 3530Ford Ranger - 3370Holden Commodore - 2770Volkswagen Golf - 2680Toyota Camry - 2600Mazda CX5 - 2510Toyota - 21,500 - up 3.3 per centHolden - 11,930 - down 3.3 per centMazda - 11,520 - up 23 per centHyundai - 11,005 - up 10 per centMitsubishi - 9015 - up 8.9 per centFord - 7250 - down 16.8 per centVolkswagen - 7105 - up 7.7 per centNissan - 6645 - down 16.9 per centHonda - 5310 - up 70 per centSubaru - 4500 - up 16.9 per cent * Preliminary figures. Official VFACTS data published Friday 3 July, 2015.

The Mitsubishi Triton ranked third on the list, ahead of some of Australia's most popular passenger cars.Workhorse utes are increasingly bought as family vehicles but they are predominantly bought by tradies, farmers and fleets.According to the sales figures, 85 per cent of Tritons sold in the first three months of the year went to private customers. That compares with just 33 per cent for the Toyota HiLux.The Triton even attracted a higher percentage of private buyers than the Mazda3.Senior industry figures say the figures are rubbery.They claim Mitsubishi pumped huge volumes of Tritons into dealerships in the first three months of the year, then offered generous incentives to dealers to meet lofty sales targets.Critics argue that a large percentage of those Tritons were registered without buyers, inflating sales results.FCAI figures are based on registrations rather than sales transactionsThey say the maker was exploiting a loophole in the way the FCAI — the industry's sales monitor — keeps score.The FCAI figures are based on registrations rather than sales transactions. That allows dealers to reach their sales targets — and collect bonuses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars — without finding a customer.They then use those bonuses to fund big discounts to clear their overstocked yards, making it tough for Mitsubishi dealers who refuse to play the game. Without the bonus money, they can't match the discounts.Mitsubishi says the spike in private sales is solely due to Triton being several thousand dollars cheaper than rivals.Marketing boss Tony Principe says the ute's four-star rating made it tough to sell to fleets, so it chased retail buyers with sharp deals.He admits the local arm ordered a "bucketload" of Tritons for the first quarter of this year and dealers may be getting "antsy" about stock. He maintains the figures are not rubbery.

Cheap tradie utes bolted out showroom doors last month as small businesses appeared to be quick to take up the Federal Government's tax incentive on $20,000 company vehicles.Sales of the most basic versions of the Toyota HiLux ute increased by 12.4 per cent while the Mitsubishi Triton -- both of which scrape below the $20,000 threshold -- surged by a staggering 42.7 per cent, as both brands cleared old stock and took advantage of new tax rules.However, the actual number of bargain basement utes delivered was relatively small (996 Toyotas and 421 Mitsubishis), and they appear to be the only two winners in a dark month for the rest of the car industry.New-car sales hit the brakes for the first time in four months in May, figures due to be released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries at midday Wednesday are expected to show.The number of new cars reported as sold was down by 1.3 per cent compared with the same month the previous year, to 93,327 deliveries, making it the weakest May result in four years.The tally has surprised the industry as it had been forecasting another record after a strong start to the year. Sales year-to-date, however, are still up, by 2.5 per cent.Half of the Top 10 brands were down, including market leader Toyota, Holden, Ford, Hyundai and Nissan -- and German car maker Volkswagen closed to within just 460 sales of former top-seller Ford.The Toyota HiLux ute was the top-selling vehicle across all types -- for the 14th individual month since 2008 and the first time in almost two years -- however its sales were down by 4 per cent (once all versions of the HiLux are tallied) compared with the same month last year.Sales of utes in general were down by 0.9 per cent, as the majority of models fall outside the Federal Government's $20,000 threshold on company purchases.The car industry warns it is too early to determine if the Federal Government's stimulus package -- which is due to run until the end of the 2016/17 financial year -- is a success or a failure."None of us were ready for it, it was really only the last two weeks of the month, and there were really only a handful of cars across the entire market that were eligible," one Toyota dealer told News Corp Australia."This deal will be around for a while so I think you will find several brands try to put something together that meets the $20,000 criteria," said the industry veteran.Following changes announced in last month's Federal Budget, small businesses and sole traders will be able to claim a deduction on company assets valued up to $20,000 in this financial year, rather than have the refunds spread out over eight years, as is usually the case with motor vehicles.The changes mean sole traders will be eligible for a refund of up to $8500 on a $20,000 work vehicle, while small businesses could pocket up to $5400 -- providing quarterly tax instalments or pay-as-you-go taxes are up to date.Sole traders in the maximum tax bracket of 47 cents in the dollar stand to make the most gains, while companies with a turnover not exceeding $2 million may be eligible for an instant tax refund of 30 cents in the dollar on $20,000 purchases.Private buyers, however, will not benefit from the new scheme.Meanwhile, the industry is bracing for a boom in June, customarily the biggest month of the year for new-car sales.Toyota - 15,928 - down 7.6 per centMazda - 8717 - up 12.5 per centHyundai - 8269 - down 1.6 per centHolden - 7956 - down 11.7 per centMitsubishi - 6149 - up 6.4 per centFord - 5994 - down 13.8 per centVolkswagen - 5534 - up 12.5 per centNissan - 4467 - down 28.9 per centSubaru - 3776 - up 14.4 per centHonda - 3086 - up 21.5 per centToyota HiLux - 3173 - down 4 per centMazda3 - 2876 - down 12.6 per centToyota Corolla - 2688 - down 30.6 per centMitsubishi Triton - 2679 - up 18.8 per centFord Ranger - 2411 - up 4 per centHolden Commodore - 2217 - down 16.3 per centVolkswagen Golf - 2093 - down 9.0 per centMazda CX-5 - 1981 - up 15.5 per centHyundai i20 - 1920 - up 36.6 per centHyundai i30 - 1666 - down 34.7 per cent Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. Sales in May 2015 and the percentage change compared with the same month last year.

Are you still trying to figure out how the Budget tax changes affect your small business — and what it might amount to in savings on a new car? You're not alone.It's 10 days since Joe Hockey allowed immediate tax deductions for small businesses or sole traders for assets costing up to $20,000. The car industry is still grappling with the fine print and trying to establish which vehicles are eligible.Is the maximum amount on an eligible vehicle $20,000 plus on-road costs, $20,000 drive-away, or more?What happens if you pay the difference on the amount on a vehicle that costs more than $20,000?With some help from those in the know we've managed to zero-in on the best and worst case scenarios, and sort fact from fiction.Assets acquired and installed ready for use between 7.30pm 12 May 2015 and 30 June 2017For starters, the government will not write you a cheque for $20,000 if you buy a new car, as some believe.The changes also do not apply to private buyers, who typically account for more than half of all new-car sales.Further, the criteria for small businesses and sole traders are tougher than many may realise — and the deal doesn't last forever.The $20,000 threshold for goods that can be used as an immediate tax deduction (rather than spread over eight financial years, in the case of motor vehicles) applies to "assets acquired and installed ready for use between 7.30pm 12 May 2015 and 30 June 2017".Eligible businesses must turn over more than $20,000 and less than $2 million annually, the real estate assets of the business must be worth more than $500,000, other assets must worth be more than $100,000, and the business must have made a profit in three of the past five years. The aim is to prevent rorting.The amount each small business or sole trader may be entitled to as a tax refund will vary — even on identical vehicles — because the purchase price of the asset is counted against taxable income.In a best-case scenario, sole traders in the top tax bracket of 47 cents in the dollar could be eligible for a refund of up to $8500 on a $20,000 vehicle used exclusively for work. Small businesses taxed at 30 per cent could pocket up to $5400 — providing quarterly tax instalments or pay-as-you-go taxes are up to date."If people are rushing to buy a new car they need to consider the non-commercial loss provisions which apply to their business," says chartered tax adviser Amar Deep.In simpler terms, he says: "If your business is making a loss, you can't use that loss to offset your employment income and get a refund from the Tax Office."Meanwhile, dealers are scrambling to find out which vehicles fall under the $20,000 threshold, and how far customers can stretch the limit.The ATO says the asset must cost not a dollar more than $20,000.However, that amount is excluding GST, meaning the most basic $20,900 drive-away trayback utes are eligible.Further, given there is no GST on registration or stamp duty, an eligible vehicle in theory could be priced between $21,500 and $22,000 drive-away, which will bring in some small vans from Citroen, Renault and Volkswagen.You wouldn't be able to buy, for example, a $60,000 SUV and submit three $20,000 tax invoicesAccessories fall into a grey area. For example, experts we've spoken to say you could in theory add a larger ute tray or other accessories — taking the vehicle beyond the $20,000 threshold — providing they were on a separate tax invoice.If the dealer was prepared to split the invoice, already a common practice with some fleet leasing arrangements (where the individual and the employer pick up different parts of the tab), then you could arguably drive away in a $30,000 ute or van loaded to the hilt.But you wouldn't be able to buy, for example, a $60,000 SUV and submit three $20,000 tax invoices to offset against your taxable income. Work vehicles dearer than $20,000 will be deductible over eight years, as per usual.The $20,000 threshold applies to any goods, so it doesn't even have to be a new car. For example, it can be a used vehicle, or a small hatchback for a pizza delivery business or security company.But the amount you may get as a tax deduction depends on how much the vehicle is used for work and what your (or your company's) taxable income amounts to.Understandably, the industry has welcomed the Budget initiative, not least because it has jump-started showroom traffic before June, historically the biggest month for new-car sales."We applaud the government's small business initiative," says Patrick Tessier, chief executive officer of the Australia Automotive Dealer Association, representing 4000 franchises."We believe small business needs a stimulus and we think this will have an immediate benefit."Our dealers are already reporting a spike in interest in showroom traffic and phone calls. There is a lot of inquiry about what these changes mean and what savings might be available."The dealer group also predicts car companies will react quickly and introduce models in June to capitalise on the new arrangements."Some brands will be able to do more than others," Tessier says. "I think we will see more cars limbo closer to that $20,000 mark in June."Popular work vehicles and the deduction to which sole traders and small businesses may be entitled.Toyota HiLux ute: $20,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500Mitsubishi Triton ute: $20,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500VW Caddy van: $22,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500  Renault Kangoo van: $19,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500Kia Cerato hatch or sedan: $19,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500Toyota Yaris automatic: $17,990 drive-away, $5397 to $8455Nissan Micra automatic: $17,602 drive-away, $5280 to $8272Honda Jazz manual: $16,990 drive-away, $5097 to $7985Suzuki Celerio automatic: $13,990 drive-away, $4197 to $6575Hyundai i20 manual: $12,990 drive-away, $3897 to $6105Figures are a guide only and apply to vehicles solely used for work. Consult a tax professional for an accurate estimate on any new vehicle you may consider purchasing.