Peugeot 307 News

With the local car industry now at the halfway point in the 2007 sales race, it is easy to see who's winning and who's losing.Toyota is basking in the glory of not only being No.1, but also cementing its sales lead so convincingly that — barring a catastrophe — it will take out the sales crown this year.The Altona-based Japanese company is 40,404 vehicles clear of its nearest rival, Holden. It is also relishing the positive spin of the Corolla knocking off the Holden Commodore last month.But apart from Toyota, other players are also revelling in the good times.Of the importers, Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki and Peugeot managed strong June sales.Mazda sold 6932 cars, with the Mazda3 being the strongest seller on 3037.The company experienced the biggest market share gain of any importer.Its record half-yearly result is 20.3 per cent up on the same time last year, lifting market share from 6.7 per cent in 2006 to 7.5 per cent, a gain of 0.7 percentage points.Subaru's tally was 4085 for the month, with the Forester, Impreza and Liberty all breaking through 1000 sales.Suzuki, like many importers, was buoyed by keen end-of-financial year deals.It sold 2368 cars for the month, bringing its year-to-date tally to 10,910 vehicles, a 43 per cent lift over last year.Of the French, an ever-expanding Peugeot line-up continues to bolster sales, but Renault flops around due to a lack of new product.Peugeot sold 1016 vehicles last month, bringing its year-to-date run-rate to 4549, a 13 per cent lift over last year. The 307 continues to be Peugeot's best seller.By contrast, Renault has a year-to-date total of 1431 vehicles, 32 cars fewer than last year.Even Saab experienced some solid growth, albeit off a low base, as the 9-3 turbodiesel helped lift the marque's appeal.Saab sold 336 cars last month, its best month for 10 years, taking its year-to-date tally to 1148, a 170 per cent lift over last year.The X-Trail, Tiida and Navara continue to drive Nissan sales. The Japanese importer sold 5845 vehicles last month with 31,176 year-to-date, a 20 per cent lift over last year.The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries monthly Vfacts figures show that most of the extra volume last month was generated by the light, small and medium car segments.A breakdown of large car sales shows that Holden sold 5588 Commodores last month, Ford 3206 Falcons, Toyota 2626 Aurions and Mitsubishi just 877 380 V6s.All three were eclipsed by the new four-cylinder Corolla, which secured 5890 sales.But a finer look at the figures shows that much of the Corolla's success was down to fleet purchases and pent-up demand for the new car, which spiked figures.But a sale is a sale. Holden's own figures point out that 29 per cent of VE Commodores are bought by private buyers, as opposed to 18.6 per cent for the VT Commodore.Apart from the Corolla, other small car stars were the Mitsubishi Lancer with 2143 sales, Holden Astra 1763 and Ford Focus 1550.Of the tiddlers, Toyota again ruled last month. The Yaris managed 2926 sales against 2486 for the Hyundai Getz, 1361 for the Kia Rio, 1351 for the Suzuki Swift and 1392 for the Honda Jazz.Despite the dominance of the light, small and medium segments, large cars were up 3.7 per cent in June and, in year-to-date terms, are running 5.1 per cent ahead of last year.However, Ford's overall market share has slipped 2 per cent and Holden's by almost 1 per cent, despite its Korean strategy, which was hoping to deliver an increased share.Mitsubishi is a bit stronger, experiencing a 0.6 per cent overall drop in share and, despite Toyota's increasing sales, its share has increased by only about 0.6 per cent.One of the more interesting results was for the Ford Fairlane.Ford sold 149 Fairlanes, bolstered by the news that the long-wheelbase sedan will be axed at the end of the year.Dealers are also reporting a slight pick-up in interest for the car from fleets.Overall, the year-to-date sales figure of 524,376 means that a record 1 million market is likely by December.   Top 10 makes  1 Toyota 24,5392 Holden 14,2563 Ford 10,3044 Mitsubishi 81945 Mazda 69326 Nissan 58457 Honda 57508 Hyundai 50239 Subaru 408510 Volkswagen 2848 Top 10 models1 Toyota Corolla 58902 Holden Commodore 55883 Toyota HiLux 42494 Ford Falcon 32065 Mazda3 30376 Toyota Yaris 29267 Toyota Camry 26458 Toyota Aurion 26269 Hyundai Getz 248610 Mitsubishi Lancer 2143 

Ten years.The average life expectancy of a Hybrid car. The average number of years it would take to break even in fuel savings after investing in a premium diesel engine.And the average number of years that some industry experts expect the current crop of petrol engines with manual transmissions to last before emissions standards render them useless.A sobering statistic, yes, but for years manufacturers have been working around the problem of emissions, pollutants, and waste to produce not only a cleaner, eco-friendly car, but one that does not compromise on performance, luxury or price.Though you would not know that this was the future of motoring from the empty green stands at this year’s show.The place to show off the future tech is, as always, the motor show stand, and this year saw an absence of previous shows’ futuristic displays of alternative fuels.However, there were some exciting models that are not simply concept, but close to, or in, production.Saab brought out its BioPower models, which are specifically designed to run up to 90 per cent ethanol - though the car can run on petrol if an ethanol pump cannot be found.Saab claims the use of ethanol as an environmentally friendly renewable fuel source with low emissions. And the green goodness produced by the crops such as sugar cane from which ethanol is produced can statistically counteract the resulting emissions from both the manufacturing process and the cars that use the fuel.Ethanol’s premium over petrol at the bowser is also supposedly negligible.While BioPower production cars were on display, the show is stolen by the Aero X concept that floored the floor at Geneva.Running a 2.8-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 engine and with a jet-fighter inspired design and cutaway cockpit (even the wheels look like propellors), the 100 per cent ethanol green machine claims no carbon emmissions while producing a supposed 4.9 second 0-100km/h sprint time (it is yet to be taken to a drag strip for official performance testing). Ethanol and performance?Theoretically, no problem…But the biggest selling production alternative is still the petrol-electric hybrid.Honda’s Civic Hybrid and Toyota’s Prius models have the market almost exclusively to themselves, but the luxury genre has entered the greenhouse with Lexus.Toyota has lent its technology to sister company Lexus this year with the GS450h, and more recently, the big RX400h SUV which sits atop the Lexus stand.This uses the combination of front and rear electric motors with a 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine to power the car.When accelerating, the systems work together to give the car a combined 200kW, and capturing the energy usually wasted during deceleration and braking to recharge the electric motor. So no cords or power points necessary.There is a catch - the estimated life of the battery in this type of hybrid is estimated at ten years.As no hybrid has been around that long (the Prius first hit the market in 1997), and Toyota has never replaced a hybrid’s battery as yet, we will have to wait until 2007to see whether we have power, Y2K, or the start of expensive battery replacements.And it will be in 2007that we slap eyes on Lexus’ (and the worlds’) first hybrid V8; the AWD LS600hL limo version of the petrol LS460 seen at this year’s show.Not to be outdone, BMW is scheduling a hydrogen duel-fuel V8 for 2008, which combines the company’s stalwart 4.4-litre petrol engine with liquid hydrogen fuel cells.It is being kept under wraps for the moment, and the fact that hydrogen would cost over $4 a litre here does not make for a clean start in Oz.But while some of this cool tech was never going to make it to Sydney, the anticipated concept-come-production-car, the Peugeot 307CC Hybride diesel, was due to be revealed – and wasn’t. Reliable technology? Hmmm.The 307CC Hybride is a cool concept. The combination of a diesel engine with an electric motor in the cool convertible produces a teeny fuel consumption figure of just 3.7L/100km.Unfortunately, like so many of the fantastic fuel alternative ideas and ideals, the tech is too expensive at present to make a production car viable, and its release is scheduled for 2010.Not to mention the fact that it missed the plane to Sydney from the Paris show, and we had to settle for the new 207 and a half-naked woman on the stand instead (yes, we are mentioning her again – but that particular model was a literal show-stopper).One thing is for sure: environmental concerns are weighing heavy on all car maker's strategic decisions for new models. But at this stage most are still not revealing their long term plans to deal with emissions and fuel efficiency.Who knows what kind of alternative fuels and cars will be on the market in ten years time? And will the old Prius be running, or running out of battery?Either way, it won’t be long before we are all driving with a smug, earth-saving smile of some sort on our faces.Hopefully, the future of green motoring will be cars like the Aero X…

Conventional hybrid technology overwhelmingly involves the union of a petrol engine and an electric motor but Peugeot says a diesel-electric hybrid vehicle allows a 30 per cent improvement in fuel economy over a conventional car and 25 per cent better economy over a petrol-electric hybrid.This vehicle highlights the company's commitment to protecting the environment by reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions, while operating within the practical parameters of real world use.By combining an 80kW, 1.6-litre HDi diesel engine with DPFS (Diesel Particle Filter System) and an electric power train, the 307 CC Hybride HDi joins the 307 Hatchback, announced in January, to lead diesel-electric hybrid development in readiness for possible mass-production in 2010.The coupe is a hybrid in stylistic, as well as powertrain, terms. It transforms, via electric assistance, into a genuine convertible in a matter of seconds.In use, the hybrid electric/diesel powertrain heralds a genuine new benchmark in terms of fuel efficiency, combining the low thirst of the 1.6- litre HDi diesel engine with an electric assist motor. A staggeringly low mixed-cycle fuel consumption of 4.1 litres per 100km – almost nearly 70mpg – represents a gain of some 30 per cent compared with the standalone HDi model.In addition to the diesel engine's 80kW, the driver benefits from the additional power available from the electric motor – up to 32kW. This means the performance of the Hybride HDi Coupé Cabriolet is roughly the same as the production model with 100kW 2.0-litre HDi with DPFS.The layout chosen for operational efficiency was the 'parallel hybrid power train', in which the diesel engine is used mainly to move the vehicle. It is combined with a transmission that functions in the traditional way, and the electric motor is powered by energy stored in Ni-MH batteries.

And, for the first time in Australia, a leading design company will join manufacturers at the exhibition as the local branch of the German design and engineering company EDAG

Car makers are following in the footsteps of Mercedes-Benz and Lexus by putting folding metal hard-tops within the reach of more car buyers than ever before.It's a case of Viva la France in this instance, as Renault and Peugeot have folding metal hardtops starting well under the $50,000 mark, with the Pug 307CC Sport the only transgressor at $55,000.The rest of the Peugeot drop-top range – the two 206CC models and the 307CC Dynamic – will feature on the Peugeot display at Wayville, giving wind in the hair motoring with French fl air for a $32,990 starting price.The base 206CC is powered by a 1.6-litre engine – there's a two-litre model as well – and it's only got decent room for two people, although it offi cially seats four. The 206 is nearing the end of its model life so stay tuned for a drop-top 207.The 307CC offers a little more room for the rearseat occupants, although it uses similar drivetrains. Holden might be sourcing its light and small car entrants from Korea, but its fashionable two-seater drop-top is still from Europe. The two-seater is keenly priced and, while only available in manual, will get plenty of attention from new car buyers. Holden's present Astra has a soft-top but expect the next one to follow in the Tigra's tyre tracks, although it's no sure thing for Australia.Mitsubishi will be showing something close to its drop-top contender, the Colt coupe-cabriolet, which has started production in Italy.The folding metal hardtop is built from the Colt fi ve-door platform and rather than the three-door, the 2+2 convertible will join a revamped Mitsubishi light car range.But don't think the rag-top has gone the way of the dodo – anything but.The reigning Wheels Car of the Year is Mazda's new MX-5, which retained its manual folding soft-top for the sake of saving weight.BMW's 6-Series drop-top might cost more than $200,000 but that pricetag buys a soft-top, albeit one that is well-insulated. The company's Z4 has retained a rag-top, as has the BMWowned Mini range.Chrysler's Crossfire – a feature of the brand's stand at this year's show – also has a rag-top.Volvo's new open-topped star, the C70, has ditched the cloth roof for a solid top, while the Lexus SC430 has offered buyers of the brand the security of a metal roof with wind-in-hair enjoyment since its inception.Bentley and Lamborghini will be wellrepresented in the megabuck drop-top realm with cloth lids, as will the all-new Jaguar XK convertible.

The show was brought forward because of the Commonwealth Games, a date that has taken it away from its regular place alongside the Australian Grand Prix.But the timing has not hurt and even led to a first-weekend record.Show boss Russ Tyrie of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce says: "We had a fantastic first weekend. We were up about 13 per cent on our opening weekend last year."By the end of Sunday night we had almost 90,000 people to the show. It's right up there with our best weekends."Tyrie says the momentum continued through to the early days this week as people flocked to see the range of new and improved models."I'm not really surprised by the size of the crowds, because we have an absolutely fantastic package of vehicles at the show. We have a lot of new releases and feature cars," Tyrie says.He also believes the date change may have worked for the show by separating it from the Grand Prix."We have had a strong history with the show before the days when it was run at the same time as the Grand Prix. So it's not really a surprise that the move has helped."But Tyrie has ruled out a permanent shift to February."I wouldn't go that far. At this stage it wouldn't be an easy move, just in practical terms," he says."We have certainly proved that the show can exist and be successful in its own right. That is the main thing."The show has received a big tick from the chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Peter Sturrock."It's a good-looking show. It shows the breathtaking pace of new developments in the industry," he says."And value. It's almost a demonstration of the pace of change."The end result is that buyers are directly benefiting. Buyers are the winners every time."If the early lift in attendances continues for all 10 days of the event, Tyrie believes the record - 257,000 people in 2004 - could get a shake."If we can keep up this pace we'll go close. We're not sure if we can sustain the boost from the first weekend, but we're hoping," Tyrie says."Even if we don't break the record, we will still have a sizeable audience."The final three days of the show include the Shannons Auction at 3pm on Sunday and the final driving displays by stunt pilot Russ Swift in his Peugeot 307.

"I spent three months rolling on my roof until I mastered it. I have been able to keep my nose clean since then," Swift says.The British stunt master is thrilling Melbourne Motor Show crowds with tyre-squealing shows on a loading zone at the southern end of the Exhibition Centre.He will appear four times a day, until this Sunday night, in Peugeot 307 hatches.The show is an amazing mix of high-speed handbrake turns, big slides and an incredible example of how to parallel park — between two cars — in a hurry.Then there is the two-wheeled display. Swift uses a small ramp to pop the car's two left wheels up into the air and drives along in this precarious position.He does it with such ease that I can pop out of the window for a photo opportunity.Swift works away at the steering wheel, making slight adjustments to make sure the car stays on two wheels.The 307s Swift uses for his sliding show are standard, but he disconnects the anti-skid brakes and puts some adhesive tape over the handbrake button so it is easier to use in a hurry.The 307 he uses for his two-wheel stunts is standard, but runs a locked differential.Swift, 54, who often performs stunt shows at racetracks around the world, says he can drive on two wheels for about 5km at a time until the tyres give up.He says you need good reactions to drive a car on two wheels."It is like balancing a stick on your finger; you have to react so quickly, you don't have time to think about it," Swift says.Doing crazy stunts in cars full time is a job Swift loves."I've done nothing else for the past 25 years. I find road driving a little bit boring, but this gets it out of the system and I am very calm on the road," he says.Swift started his motorsport career as a navigator for a rally driver who tended to crash a lot.He took up motorkhana, a range of skill tests around witches' hats.Swift became the British motorkhana champion four times and decided to make a career out of driving.

It will take nearly eight days to get things set for the 11th show.The cars will not be put in place under spotlights until a couple of hours before the industry preview next Thursday morning, before the public opening at 5pm.The battle for best in show is running hot, though Ford and Holden are still refusing to talk about their cars.Show organiser Russ Tyrie, of the VACC, says: "We still have no idea what they are doing."But there's a group of $1 million-plus exotics, and a concept has been shipped from Europe for the show."I suppose the most expensive car is the Senso (inset) concept. It is probably about $3 million with all the technology," Tyrie says."The most expensive production car at the show is probably a toss-up between the Rolls-Royce Phantom (above), the Maybach 57S and the Pagani Zonda."There are 42 manufacturers this year. The show space was sold out in July. There will be hundreds of cars, so you don't have to work hard to get to $25 million worth of cars."There is plenty of hard work to get the show built and ready."It is almost like building a house in just over a week," Tyrie says. "Many of the stands are very complex, both in their construction and set-up."Some are double-storey and some are shipped in from overseas. Many have audio-visual elements that anyone would love to have as a home theatre."There will also be action outside the show itself, with stunt driver Russ Swift arriving from Britain at the weekend for his second appearance in Melbourne."He will be driving a Peugeot 307 this year. And it promises to be pretty spectacular, Tyrie says.Swift is famous for his high-speed parking, handbrake turns, skids, slide and two-wheeling antics. He will practise in the car park at the exhibition centre from Wednesday, and give four performances each day of the show.This year's event will start at lunchtime on Tuesday with a street parade featuring some of the show's biggest drawcards."We are expecting to have 10 cars in the parade. They will be the most exotic cars from the show and they will all be driven from the corner of Burke and Swanston streets, along Swanston St to Federation Square."The cars will be displayed afterwards and there will be a series of interviews, including one with Russ Swift," Tyrie says.The Melbourne Motor Show opens next Thursday at 5pm and runs until 6pm on February 19.