Renault has landed the new Mégane and Fluence with more value, more equipment but no diesels
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Renault Australia's new Mégane and Fluence small cars go on sale this weekend (November 1) with a loaded equipment list, driveaway pricing, but petrol powertrains only.
On its third relaunch of recent years, Renault Australia is banking heavily on the success of the new twins under the skin. Mégane and its various versions account for close to half the marque's sales Down Under.
In the new line-up, in addition to the five-door Mégane hatch and Fluence sedan, Renault is also launching Mégane Renault Sport 250 three-door hot hatch and a new coupe-cabriolet variant of the Mégane. Key to Renault's relaunch strategy, all four models have significantly simplified model ranges and limited options. Offsetting any potential flak will be boosted standard equipment list and what Renault describes as clear, consistent driveaway pricing.
New Renault Australia Managing Director, Justin Hocevar, announced his plans for the new-look range this week at the cars' local debut in Melbourne.
"All our new generation vehicles will be notable for their very high level of standard equipment and unique-to-class, user-friendly features... This is one of the key pillars of the new Renault in Australia, resetting expectations of what European cars can offer in the light and small car segments, by equipping them with the standard safety and convenience features previously only available optionally, or in larger, more expensive vehicles," Hocevar told the assembled media.
Buyers of the new Mégane and Fluence can choose from Dynamique and Privilege model grades only. The entry-level six-speed manual Dynamique model kicks off at $22,990 or, as will be advertised, $25,990 driveaway. Auto transmission (in the case of all Mégane and Fluence models, a constantly variable transmission) adds $2000. The auto-only Privilege is priced from $29,990 in both hatch and sedan versions.
Powered by a single 103kW/195Nm 2.0-litre DOHC petrol engine, the new range eschews a Euro staple -- the offer of turbodiesel torque. Hocevar says the lack of a suitable automatic transmission and home market diesel demand has hamstrung the brand in this regard. He says a new dual-clutch transmission under development will be matched to a turbodiesel in both hatch and sedan ranges, though cautioned it is unlikely to arrive Down Under until late 2011 at best.
Matched to the manual transmission, the petrol engine is Euro 5 compliant and returns a combined fuel economy rating of 8.2L/100km. The CVT/engine pairing satisfies Euro 4 but is more economical at 7.9L/100km.
Built in Turkey, the Mégane hatch is offered in a five-door body style only. Even at entry-level Dynamique grade it is well equipped with standard features including 16-inch alloys, Smart Card Key entry and start, auto lights and wipers, aircon, foglights, electric window and mirrors, cruise control with speed limiter, USB interface and streaming Bluetooth audio and hands-free. Metallic paint and satnav are offered as options.
Step up to the top-grade Mégane and a TomTom integrated satnav system, upgraded audio, electric glass sunroof and rear park sensors are added. Other 'Privilege' grade standards include dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, folding exterior mirrors and 17-inch alloys.
The Fluence pairing follows the Mégane's lead with only minor equipment differences compared to the hatch's corresponding grades.
All Australian delivery Renaults include a full safety kit of safety gear. With EuroNCAP five-star ratings for both Mégane and Fluence, standard features include stability control and antilock brakes as well as a minimum of six airbags including side curtains.
Launched at the Paris show two years ago, the latest generation Mégane is longer (now 4295mm, was 4228), wider (now 1808mm, was 1777) and sits on a longer wheelbase (now 2641mm, up from 2617) than the model it replaces. Renault claims it's more spacious, but hands-on experience suggests it's still one of the tighter cabins in the class.
The Fluence sedan features a stretch on the Megane's wheelbase of 61mm. Overall length is up 323mm (compared to Mégane) with front and rear overhangs substantially longer than the hatch's. Wedgy styling yields a large-car-like boot volume of 503 litres.
Front end styling is unique to the sedan and features a more traditional grille in comparison to the hatch's aero look.
New boss Hocevar believes the re-born Mégane range will bring new customers to the marque. It needs to! Renault's total local new vehicle sales are over 30 per cent down on September 2009, year to date.
"We are confident our improved product substance will resonate most strongly with customers... With these new cars we will be redefining the standards for the segments in which we compete, and saying clearly to our customers they no longer need to make any compromises. We have designed the cars and the specification with our customers in mind," he opined.
"Fundamentally, with our accent on safety equipment, quality and accessibility, we will make Renault the destination of choice for a far larger group of Australian consumers," Hocevar stated.
Renault Mégane Hatch
Renault Mégane Dynamique (Manual) -- $22,990
Renault Mégane Dynamique CVT (Auto) -- $24,990
Renault Mégane Privilege CVT (Auto) -- $29,990
Note: Dynamique manual is offered at $25,990 driveaway from launch
Renault Fluence
Renault Fluence Dynamique (Manual) -- $22,990
Renault Fluence Dynamique CVT (Auto) -- $24,990
Renault Fluence Privilege CVT (Auto) -- $29,990
Note: Dynamique Manual is offered at $25,990 driveaway from launch
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Thứ Tư, 28 tháng 3, 2012
Ford chief's legacy
Marin Burela's departure from the top job at Ford Australia closes a significant chapter in the company's history
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There's good luck and then there's good management. Marin Burela has probably drawn on both as head of Ford Australia. Burela has presided over Ford's local arm for the past two years, but has been offered a posting to China and will officially take up the new role from November 1.
There was some luck in steering Ford Australia through the rocks and shallows of the GFC, which hurt sales of Toyota's large car, the Aurion, and conversely boosted Ford's share of the large-car segment -- which looks good on paper. Falcon's figure of 22,951 is less than 400 units ahead of where it was for the same period in 2009. But at least it's ahead of last year's tally. The Aurion has lost over a thousand units over the same period.
Burela has relied much more on his marketing savvy than luck however, and he has additionally brought passion and commitment to the job here. For anyone who thinks Ford Australia was just a stepping stone for Burela on the way to bigger and better things, he has a message.
"I don't think you'll ever have a bigger supporter of Australia in China and in AP&A [the Asia/Pacific and Africa region] than the person that you're talking to..."
When he arrived back in Australia at the end of 2008, Burela found a company that was demoralised by the decision to close the Geelong engine factory and lay off 450 workers at the Broadmeadows car plant.
A plan to build the Focus small car on the same production line as Falcon and Territory was meeting unexpected resistance or ambivalence: from the media, from Ford fans -- and even from Toyota, based on that company's experience of building a small car in Australia, one that ultimately failed.
The FG Falcon, just six months old at that time, had received critical praise, but hadn't fired up the large-car market in the way that the company had hoped; consumers were holding their breath waiting for a global financial crisis to hit and new-car buying was off the agenda.
In this scenario, Burela's talk seemed at times over-ambitious, to say the least. Yet looking back with the benefit of two years' hindsight, what he has promised has been largely delivered. Some of those promises won't be fulfilled until after he has left these shores, but the end results are in sight.
While many of the gains Ford has made in Australia during Burela's tenure were either based on the groundwork of his predecessors or were proposed and implemented by his executive team, it was Burela who faced the media or government to relay the tidings. Many of the changes in Ford's situation during the past couple of years were due to the direct involvement of the bloke at the top himself. But during the teleconference earlier this week for the announcement of his new role, he was generous in his praise of those working under him.
"The last two years... I've felt incredibly blessed; working with true professionals that have really driven the organisation in a way that has delivered the results that we have. There would be no T6 and global Ranger if it wasn't for the development team in Australia, working the way they have in the last few years.
"If you look at our manufacturing organisation, just look at what they've delivered: the complexity, the changes, the movements, the quality, the launching... it's just been continuous change. They've done this without even a simple glimmer of a flaw... just launched 'Miami' [supercharged V8 for FPV models] -- look at Miami, look at the accolades we're receiving right now. [And] the team is now getting ready for the new Territory."
"As much as I'd love to continue the journey with the team here, they are such a strong, viable and professional team, that they will just continue to bat on and deliver great results in 2011 and beyond..."
Burela doesn't subscribe to the view that he leaves loose ends at Ford Australia. There are new models still in the pipeline, but these are virtually a fait accompli.
"I walk away from Ford Australia with my head held very high, because when I look at what this team has delivered in such a short period of time, one can write books about this.
"To take a company that lost nearly $300 million in 2008 and to make a profit in 2009; to stabilise our business; to go out there and launch a brand positioning that is equal to none in the world; to go out there and have the most fuel-efficient car in the world; to go out there and announce $230 million of further investment when we were in the middle of a global financial crisis -- we did that.
"And then to go out there and put in a strategic plan for our casting division in Geelong that will make it a viable component supplier -- not only to Ford, but to industry suppliers -- we've done this at a time when others were out there licking their wounds."
The question of profit is an important rebuttal of the argument that Ford's overall market share in Australia is on the wane -- a point put to him during the teleconference. In answer to that, Burela spoke of the richer mix of Falcon and Territory sales, among other things.
"2010 was going to be a year for us that we were driving and looking for the quality of the share, not necessarily the share itself. Why? Because we knew that we were going to go through turbulent times, with segmentation shifts, we knew that we were bringing in different products and new model line-ups, new derivatives from our overseas locations; we knew that we needed to continue to enhance our current product line-up in Australia. We also knew that we were going to be coming out of [Falcon] wagon, we also knew that we were going to be transitioning out of Euro III e-Gas into the Euro IV e-Gas -- and when you start to look at all of that, all of those things have impacted on our share.
"The great news is though, that the share that we're holding is very good and solid quality of share -- and it's very profitable share. That has driven us here in Ford Australia. Our objective has always been profitable growth...
"I'm very happy with where we are and where we're heading."
Where Ford is headed in 2011 includes the introduction of many new or upgraded products, according to Burela.
"You're going to see some exciting things going on. 80 to 85 per cent of our total showroom will be either new or fully updated for 2011. For us to be driving and delivering the profits that we will be this year -- and then bouncing into 2011 -- we're in a good place and we're charging forward."
On his watch, Burela, either alone or with prompting and assistance from his management team, can take credit for the following:
Successfully rolling out the WS Fiesta,
Giving the go-ahead for a diesel engine and upgrade for the locally-manufactured SUV (due next year),
Approving an EcoBoost four-cylinder and the long-awaited LPI system for the Falcon (also for 2011),
Resetting the framework for the company's marketing -- particularly the more 'visible' TV commercials,
Raising awareness of Falcon's fuel economy credentials with the six-speed ZF box,
Promoting sustainable production of the Territory and Falcon, producing individual cars to order and 'right-sizing' the company's production capacity,
Steering buyers into higher profit models of Falcon and Territory (with fleet queen Falcon XT reduced to just five per cent of total Falcon production),
Putting the Falcon wagon out to pasture finally,
Taking care to leverage the reduction of the imported passenger-vehicle tariff to five per cent without hurting the resale values of cars sold prior,
Obtaining significantly stronger sales from Territory, despite the subtlety of the facelift and upgrade,
Rescinding the decision to close the Geelong engine plant and end six-cylinder production,
Opening the ACART research facility,
Engaging Bosch as a customer for disc brake components from the Geelong casting plant,
Canning the move to build the Focus 'C-segment car' in Australia,
Supporting and promoting local R&D efforts, which will culminate in the T6 Ranger when it goes on sale here next year,
Turning around the company's financial situation -- from a $274 million loss in 2008 to $13 million in the black from 2009.
On the other side of the balance sheet, he and his team cannot take credit for:
Retreating from retail finance,
Doubling sales of Mondeo (just 19 per cent ahead of last year's figures, year to date),
Losing Team Vodafone (and Craig Lowndes) to Holden,
Securing the Kuga SUV for this market (still yet to happen, if it ever does),
Putting the Falcon wagon out to pasture finally (it depends on one's point of view).
So the scoreboard appears to hand Burela a win -- and you can bet that his record in Australia has not passed unnoticed in Dearborn, which is why he's moving to head up Ford's joint venture in China -- and join fellow Aussie Kevin Wale in one of the fastest-growing markets in the world.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
discount new cars » Get the best price on a new Ford
There's good luck and then there's good management. Marin Burela has probably drawn on both as head of Ford Australia. Burela has presided over Ford's local arm for the past two years, but has been offered a posting to China and will officially take up the new role from November 1.
There was some luck in steering Ford Australia through the rocks and shallows of the GFC, which hurt sales of Toyota's large car, the Aurion, and conversely boosted Ford's share of the large-car segment -- which looks good on paper. Falcon's figure of 22,951 is less than 400 units ahead of where it was for the same period in 2009. But at least it's ahead of last year's tally. The Aurion has lost over a thousand units over the same period.
Burela has relied much more on his marketing savvy than luck however, and he has additionally brought passion and commitment to the job here. For anyone who thinks Ford Australia was just a stepping stone for Burela on the way to bigger and better things, he has a message.
"I don't think you'll ever have a bigger supporter of Australia in China and in AP&A [the Asia/Pacific and Africa region] than the person that you're talking to..."
When he arrived back in Australia at the end of 2008, Burela found a company that was demoralised by the decision to close the Geelong engine factory and lay off 450 workers at the Broadmeadows car plant.
A plan to build the Focus small car on the same production line as Falcon and Territory was meeting unexpected resistance or ambivalence: from the media, from Ford fans -- and even from Toyota, based on that company's experience of building a small car in Australia, one that ultimately failed.
The FG Falcon, just six months old at that time, had received critical praise, but hadn't fired up the large-car market in the way that the company had hoped; consumers were holding their breath waiting for a global financial crisis to hit and new-car buying was off the agenda.
In this scenario, Burela's talk seemed at times over-ambitious, to say the least. Yet looking back with the benefit of two years' hindsight, what he has promised has been largely delivered. Some of those promises won't be fulfilled until after he has left these shores, but the end results are in sight.
While many of the gains Ford has made in Australia during Burela's tenure were either based on the groundwork of his predecessors or were proposed and implemented by his executive team, it was Burela who faced the media or government to relay the tidings. Many of the changes in Ford's situation during the past couple of years were due to the direct involvement of the bloke at the top himself. But during the teleconference earlier this week for the announcement of his new role, he was generous in his praise of those working under him.
"The last two years... I've felt incredibly blessed; working with true professionals that have really driven the organisation in a way that has delivered the results that we have. There would be no T6 and global Ranger if it wasn't for the development team in Australia, working the way they have in the last few years.
"If you look at our manufacturing organisation, just look at what they've delivered: the complexity, the changes, the movements, the quality, the launching... it's just been continuous change. They've done this without even a simple glimmer of a flaw... just launched 'Miami' [supercharged V8 for FPV models] -- look at Miami, look at the accolades we're receiving right now. [And] the team is now getting ready for the new Territory."
"As much as I'd love to continue the journey with the team here, they are such a strong, viable and professional team, that they will just continue to bat on and deliver great results in 2011 and beyond..."
Burela doesn't subscribe to the view that he leaves loose ends at Ford Australia. There are new models still in the pipeline, but these are virtually a fait accompli.
"I walk away from Ford Australia with my head held very high, because when I look at what this team has delivered in such a short period of time, one can write books about this.
"To take a company that lost nearly $300 million in 2008 and to make a profit in 2009; to stabilise our business; to go out there and launch a brand positioning that is equal to none in the world; to go out there and have the most fuel-efficient car in the world; to go out there and announce $230 million of further investment when we were in the middle of a global financial crisis -- we did that.
"And then to go out there and put in a strategic plan for our casting division in Geelong that will make it a viable component supplier -- not only to Ford, but to industry suppliers -- we've done this at a time when others were out there licking their wounds."
The question of profit is an important rebuttal of the argument that Ford's overall market share in Australia is on the wane -- a point put to him during the teleconference. In answer to that, Burela spoke of the richer mix of Falcon and Territory sales, among other things.
"2010 was going to be a year for us that we were driving and looking for the quality of the share, not necessarily the share itself. Why? Because we knew that we were going to go through turbulent times, with segmentation shifts, we knew that we were bringing in different products and new model line-ups, new derivatives from our overseas locations; we knew that we needed to continue to enhance our current product line-up in Australia. We also knew that we were going to be coming out of [Falcon] wagon, we also knew that we were going to be transitioning out of Euro III e-Gas into the Euro IV e-Gas -- and when you start to look at all of that, all of those things have impacted on our share.
"The great news is though, that the share that we're holding is very good and solid quality of share -- and it's very profitable share. That has driven us here in Ford Australia. Our objective has always been profitable growth...
"I'm very happy with where we are and where we're heading."
Where Ford is headed in 2011 includes the introduction of many new or upgraded products, according to Burela.
"You're going to see some exciting things going on. 80 to 85 per cent of our total showroom will be either new or fully updated for 2011. For us to be driving and delivering the profits that we will be this year -- and then bouncing into 2011 -- we're in a good place and we're charging forward."
On his watch, Burela, either alone or with prompting and assistance from his management team, can take credit for the following:
Successfully rolling out the WS Fiesta,
Giving the go-ahead for a diesel engine and upgrade for the locally-manufactured SUV (due next year),
Approving an EcoBoost four-cylinder and the long-awaited LPI system for the Falcon (also for 2011),
Resetting the framework for the company's marketing -- particularly the more 'visible' TV commercials,
Raising awareness of Falcon's fuel economy credentials with the six-speed ZF box,
Promoting sustainable production of the Territory and Falcon, producing individual cars to order and 'right-sizing' the company's production capacity,
Steering buyers into higher profit models of Falcon and Territory (with fleet queen Falcon XT reduced to just five per cent of total Falcon production),
Putting the Falcon wagon out to pasture finally,
Taking care to leverage the reduction of the imported passenger-vehicle tariff to five per cent without hurting the resale values of cars sold prior,
Obtaining significantly stronger sales from Territory, despite the subtlety of the facelift and upgrade,
Rescinding the decision to close the Geelong engine plant and end six-cylinder production,
Opening the ACART research facility,
Engaging Bosch as a customer for disc brake components from the Geelong casting plant,
Canning the move to build the Focus 'C-segment car' in Australia,
Supporting and promoting local R&D efforts, which will culminate in the T6 Ranger when it goes on sale here next year,
Turning around the company's financial situation -- from a $274 million loss in 2008 to $13 million in the black from 2009.
On the other side of the balance sheet, he and his team cannot take credit for:
Retreating from retail finance,
Doubling sales of Mondeo (just 19 per cent ahead of last year's figures, year to date),
Losing Team Vodafone (and Craig Lowndes) to Holden,
Securing the Kuga SUV for this market (still yet to happen, if it ever does),
Putting the Falcon wagon out to pasture finally (it depends on one's point of view).
So the scoreboard appears to hand Burela a win -- and you can bet that his record in Australia has not passed unnoticed in Dearborn, which is why he's moving to head up Ford's joint venture in China -- and join fellow Aussie Kevin Wale in one of the fastest-growing markets in the world.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
All the Lotus news from the Tasman Revival
Win a Lotus Elise for the price of $50 and support the Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival
The Historic Sports and Racing Car Association (HSRCA) is giving away a 2004 Lotus Elise in an art union lottery to be drawn next month. Some lucky punter -- one of 1250 with $50 to spare for a ticket -- will be named the winner at Sydney's Eastern Creek circuit, as the final act in the Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival.
Running over three days from November 26-28, the Revival is a race meeting that recalls the glory days of different racing categories -- everything from F1 and F5000 to touring cars. This year is the third occasion the HSRCA has held the event, which the organisers claim will be "New South Wales' biggest race meeting of the year".
Entries for the meeting are reportedly coming from overseas as well as local climes and are tipped to pull in big crowds. The event runs over three days with a three-day pass costing adults $50; children under 12 are admitted free. On the last day, Sunday, the lottery will be drawn and the winner of the Elise announced.
Restored by Lotus Australia, the 2004 Elise is said to be valued at $45,000 and has competed in the Lotus Trophy in the past. The car, which comes with registration and insurance, weighs 806kg and is powered by a 1.8-litre mid/rear-mounted engine driving through a five-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels.
For more information on the lottery and public admission to the event, check out the website at www.tasmanrevival.com.au or lottery tickets can be purchased directly from the HSRCA by snail mail: HSRCA PO Box 5063, Turramurra South, NSW 2074. The organisers request buyers provide a covering note with the buyer's name, address, contact phone number and number of tickets required. Tickets may be purchased by credit card, filling out a form online at the website and/or emailing details to members@hsrca.org.au.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
The Historic Sports and Racing Car Association (HSRCA) is giving away a 2004 Lotus Elise in an art union lottery to be drawn next month. Some lucky punter -- one of 1250 with $50 to spare for a ticket -- will be named the winner at Sydney's Eastern Creek circuit, as the final act in the Lotus Sydney Tasman Revival.
Running over three days from November 26-28, the Revival is a race meeting that recalls the glory days of different racing categories -- everything from F1 and F5000 to touring cars. This year is the third occasion the HSRCA has held the event, which the organisers claim will be "New South Wales' biggest race meeting of the year".
Entries for the meeting are reportedly coming from overseas as well as local climes and are tipped to pull in big crowds. The event runs over three days with a three-day pass costing adults $50; children under 12 are admitted free. On the last day, Sunday, the lottery will be drawn and the winner of the Elise announced.
Restored by Lotus Australia, the 2004 Elise is said to be valued at $45,000 and has competed in the Lotus Trophy in the past. The car, which comes with registration and insurance, weighs 806kg and is powered by a 1.8-litre mid/rear-mounted engine driving through a five-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels.
For more information on the lottery and public admission to the event, check out the website at www.tasmanrevival.com.au or lottery tickets can be purchased directly from the HSRCA by snail mail: HSRCA PO Box 5063, Turramurra South, NSW 2074. The organisers request buyers provide a covering note with the buyer's name, address, contact phone number and number of tickets required. Tickets may be purchased by credit card, filling out a form online at the website and/or emailing details to members@hsrca.org.au.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Thứ Hai, 26 tháng 3, 2012
BMW Museum pulls down the barriers between visitors and exhibits
For one night only, the BMW Museum lets the visitors loose on the exhibits. You can even go for a ride – but you have to dress for the occasion
prestige new cars games » Get the best price on a new BMW
Michael Jackson, your ride's here. It's Night of the White Gloves time at the BMW Museum in Munich. From 7.00 till midnight on one night only – tonight (Fri 26/11) – the annual thriller event turns expands an experience normally restricted to the visual into a multisensory one. With the donning of protective white gloves provided for the occasion, visitors are allowed to look with their fingers as well as their eyes.
The museum will open up the doors, bonnets and bootlids of 120 exhibits covering 90 years of BMW history, allowing visitors an intimate look through each. If the weather's okay, they'll even be able to take a chauffeured ride through the streets of north Munich in 1960s "New Class" models (the classification of sedans and two-doors from which the 2002 emerged – and no, not the beautiful 507 roadster, which even The Gloved One would have struggled to afford at the peak of his career...)
The program extends to what the museum calls "living workshops" giving visitors a detailed look into the myriad skills and attention to detail it takes to restore a car to museum standards of original authenticity.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site.
prestige new cars games » Get the best price on a new BMW
Michael Jackson, your ride's here. It's Night of the White Gloves time at the BMW Museum in Munich. From 7.00 till midnight on one night only – tonight (Fri 26/11) – the annual thriller event turns expands an experience normally restricted to the visual into a multisensory one. With the donning of protective white gloves provided for the occasion, visitors are allowed to look with their fingers as well as their eyes.
The museum will open up the doors, bonnets and bootlids of 120 exhibits covering 90 years of BMW history, allowing visitors an intimate look through each. If the weather's okay, they'll even be able to take a chauffeured ride through the streets of north Munich in 1960s "New Class" models (the classification of sedans and two-doors from which the 2002 emerged – and no, not the beautiful 507 roadster, which even The Gloved One would have struggled to afford at the peak of his career...)
The program extends to what the museum calls "living workshops" giving visitors a detailed look into the myriad skills and attention to detail it takes to restore a car to museum standards of original authenticity.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site.
MOTORSPORT: Perth's grand day of speed
Deprived of V8 Supercar racing this year, WA motorsport fans are set to get an adrenalin rush this weekend with Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo driving a Red Bull F1 car in Perth
Webber, Ricciardo, Jones head WA festivities
Western Australia missed out on a V8 Supercar Championship round this year but the state's petrol heads have been compensated with a new Festival of Speed at Perth's Barbagallo Raceway this Sunday.
The highlight of the festival will be three runs by Australia's grand prix driver Mark Webber in a Red Bull Formula One car.
Webber, third in this year's world championship, is expected to slash the circuit lap record by about 5 seconds.
Perth's emerging openwheeler star, 21-year-old Daniel Ricciardo, the Red Bull reserve driver and who topped the two-day test for potential GP drivers in Abu Dhabi last week, also will take a turn at wheel of the car at Barbagallo.
Ricciardo is awaiting word from Red Bull motorsport supremo Dr Helmut Marko on his program for next year, but European reports are increasingly suggesting that he may land an F1 race drive.
Red Bull Racing has its new world champion Sebastian Vettel and Webber contracted again for next season and sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso announced months ago that it would retain Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi and Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari.
However, speculation is strong in Europe that Buemi is under pressure to keep his seat.
Ricciardo has maintained a low profile since returning to Perth for a holiday but F1's official website has published an interview with him this week (see here) and he will be in the public spotlight at Barbagallo on Sunday.
While Webber and Ricciardo will demonstrate one Red Bull car in WA, German world champ Vettel will drive another in Berlin tomorrow, before traveling to Dusseldorf to compete in the annual Race of Champions, where the line-up also includes Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, rally superstar Sebastien Loeb and Australia's retired five-time motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Perth's Festival of Speed, Terry Mader, says he wants "to build an internationally-renowned motorsports event in Perth".
Fourteen types of motorsport are on Sunday's program, including a V8 Supercar of WA competitor Dean Fiore, rally cars, exotic supercars, historic Bathurst sedans and other vintage racing cars and motorbikes, drag cars, drifting, off-road V8s, superbikes, supermoto and quads. More details here.
The event is serving as a launch for 1980 world champion Alan Jones' new AJF1 Fusion Supercar that is to go on sale early next year. The car's specifications are here.
Geoff Brabham, the eldest of triple world champion Sir Jack Brabham's three sons and a Le Mans 24-hour winner, will drive and represent BMW at the festival.
Sydney remembers Tasman Series and Warwick Farm
It will be a nostalgic weekend in Sydney, with the third bi-annual Tasman Revival at Eastern Creek.
Not only will the meeting pay tribute to the halcyon days of the openwheeler Tasman Series of the 1960s and '70s but it coincides with the start of celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the first race meeting at the sadly now-defunct Warwick Farm circuit.
Among the 400 cars competing this weekend are 22 bearing the Lotus emblem -- the most famous being the Lotus 49/R8 driven for the factory team by dual world champion Graham Hill, father of 1996 champion Damon, in the 1969 Tasman Series.
There's heaps on information about the revival meeting here.
New TV rules ensure a live Bathurst 1000
The Federal Government's new sports television rules announced yesterday will ensure the Bathurst 1000 remains live on primary Australian free-to-air TV for the next five years.
And live seemingly means properly live, after the "pausing" in this year's telecast which meant viewers saw the finish almost half an hour after the chequered flag was waved at the track.
While Bathurst is classified as a "Tier A" event under the new rules, all other rounds of the V8 Supercar Championship are in "Tier B" -- meaning they can be shown on one of the new digital channels of the free-to-air networks and could be delayed up to four hours after the live start time.
The new digital multi-channels only reach three quarters of Australian households at the moment, although within a couple more years everyone in the country should have access to them.
While the rounds other than Bathurst fall into "Tier B" that's not to say that at least some of them could not remain on a primary channel -- Seven for the remainder of the existing contract and it or another free-to-air network beyond then.
That will be a test of the true value TV chiefs place on the sport -- and of the negotiating strength of V8 Supercars Australia.
Ominous silence in GP dispute
Still no word of an "Organisation Agreement" between the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and the Confederation of Australian Motors Sport.
It is now two weeks since CAMS issued this statement (read here) after the claim by AGPC chairman Ron Walker that the GP promoter was being overcharged by CAMS.
It also is a beyond the deadline CAMS set for an "Organisation Agreement" to be struck.
While it is most unlikely the Australian GP scheduled for next March 24-27 will not proceed, it will be interesting to see whether the upcoming meeting of the Federation Internationale de l'Automboile (FIA) World Motorsport Council retains the event on the calendar or perhaps places an asterisk on it, subject to an AGPC-CAMS agreement.
A positive for Ambrose - Petty reclaims RPM
NASCAR "King" Richard Petty reportedly has "finished financially restructuring" the team bearing his name to ensure it fields two cars in the Sprint Cup next year -- one of them for Australia's Marcos Ambrose.
Petty supposedly has taken control of Richard Petty Motorsports, in which he has been only a minority shareholder, from financially-embattled majority owner George Gillett, who has been saddled with US$90 million of debt on his investment in the team.
Petty is said to have completed negotiations to free RPM from the problems resulting from the squeeze on Gillett, who recently lost control of the Liverpool soccer club in Britain.
Gillett faces a raft of legal actions, including one from another RPM minority owner, Ray Evernham, who entered a partnership with him in 2007.
While things appear to be heading in the right direction for RPM to survive, we understand that dual V8 Supercar champion Ambrose has been keeping in touch with the Australian scene in case his American option dries up.
After completing his fifth year of US stock car racing with JTG Daugherty Racing, Ambrose said this week: "At times this year we had a tough go at it due to things that were out of our control, but we did the best we could with the hands we were dealt to persevere.
"We wrapped up the 2010 season 26th in the championship points standings following an 18th-place finish in our freshman year (2009).
"We had some solid finishes, but were entangled in some accidents not of our own accord this year that caused us to not finish. If it had not been for that, we would have easily finished in the top 20 -- there's no doubt."
RPM has named Todd Parrott crew chief for the Ford Fusion that Ambrose is to race next season.
Parrott has worked with drivers including Matt Kenseth, Ernie Irvan, Bobby Labonte and Elliott Sadler and was the 1999 Cup-winning crew chief for Dale Jarrett at Robert Yates Racing.
Parrott has had 29 wins -- the third most among active Sprint Cup crew chiefs.
"I've been spending time with Marcos ... we've been talking, working on communication," Parrott said. "He's been getting fitted for seats and has some ideas of what he wants, what he's looking for, so the conversations between us have been very good.
"Once the dust settles and the smoke clears, it will all be good. The cars continue to get better."
RPM cars finished fourth and fifth in the final round of this year's championship last weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway driven by Aric Almirola and A.J. Allmendinger.
Ford's Mustang will run in NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series next year and chief Edsel B. Ford wants it to replace the Fusion in the Sprint Cup soon.
"The sooner the better," Ford said. "Let's be frank: Motorsports enthusiasts are not going to buy Fusions because they see a Fusion win here (Sprint Cup), are they?
"To have a Mustang on the track in NASCAR is the right direction."
A perspective on where IndyCar is at
It's two years now since the IndyCar series last came to the Gold Coast but many Australian motorsport fans still have fond memories of it -- and a continuing interest in it, particularly in light of Will Power's recent success.
ESPN.com's John Oreovicz has written an enlightening and optimistic column on where IndyCar's at, see here.
NEXT WEEK: Sydney's V8 Supercar finale
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site
Webber, Ricciardo, Jones head WA festivities
Western Australia missed out on a V8 Supercar Championship round this year but the state's petrol heads have been compensated with a new Festival of Speed at Perth's Barbagallo Raceway this Sunday.
The highlight of the festival will be three runs by Australia's grand prix driver Mark Webber in a Red Bull Formula One car.
Webber, third in this year's world championship, is expected to slash the circuit lap record by about 5 seconds.
Perth's emerging openwheeler star, 21-year-old Daniel Ricciardo, the Red Bull reserve driver and who topped the two-day test for potential GP drivers in Abu Dhabi last week, also will take a turn at wheel of the car at Barbagallo.
Ricciardo is awaiting word from Red Bull motorsport supremo Dr Helmut Marko on his program for next year, but European reports are increasingly suggesting that he may land an F1 race drive.
Red Bull Racing has its new world champion Sebastian Vettel and Webber contracted again for next season and sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso announced months ago that it would retain Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi and Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari.
However, speculation is strong in Europe that Buemi is under pressure to keep his seat.
Ricciardo has maintained a low profile since returning to Perth for a holiday but F1's official website has published an interview with him this week (see here) and he will be in the public spotlight at Barbagallo on Sunday.
While Webber and Ricciardo will demonstrate one Red Bull car in WA, German world champ Vettel will drive another in Berlin tomorrow, before traveling to Dusseldorf to compete in the annual Race of Champions, where the line-up also includes Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, rally superstar Sebastien Loeb and Australia's retired five-time motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Perth's Festival of Speed, Terry Mader, says he wants "to build an internationally-renowned motorsports event in Perth".
Fourteen types of motorsport are on Sunday's program, including a V8 Supercar of WA competitor Dean Fiore, rally cars, exotic supercars, historic Bathurst sedans and other vintage racing cars and motorbikes, drag cars, drifting, off-road V8s, superbikes, supermoto and quads. More details here.
The event is serving as a launch for 1980 world champion Alan Jones' new AJF1 Fusion Supercar that is to go on sale early next year. The car's specifications are here.
Geoff Brabham, the eldest of triple world champion Sir Jack Brabham's three sons and a Le Mans 24-hour winner, will drive and represent BMW at the festival.
Sydney remembers Tasman Series and Warwick Farm
It will be a nostalgic weekend in Sydney, with the third bi-annual Tasman Revival at Eastern Creek.
Not only will the meeting pay tribute to the halcyon days of the openwheeler Tasman Series of the 1960s and '70s but it coincides with the start of celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the first race meeting at the sadly now-defunct Warwick Farm circuit.
Among the 400 cars competing this weekend are 22 bearing the Lotus emblem -- the most famous being the Lotus 49/R8 driven for the factory team by dual world champion Graham Hill, father of 1996 champion Damon, in the 1969 Tasman Series.
There's heaps on information about the revival meeting here.
New TV rules ensure a live Bathurst 1000
The Federal Government's new sports television rules announced yesterday will ensure the Bathurst 1000 remains live on primary Australian free-to-air TV for the next five years.
And live seemingly means properly live, after the "pausing" in this year's telecast which meant viewers saw the finish almost half an hour after the chequered flag was waved at the track.
While Bathurst is classified as a "Tier A" event under the new rules, all other rounds of the V8 Supercar Championship are in "Tier B" -- meaning they can be shown on one of the new digital channels of the free-to-air networks and could be delayed up to four hours after the live start time.
The new digital multi-channels only reach three quarters of Australian households at the moment, although within a couple more years everyone in the country should have access to them.
While the rounds other than Bathurst fall into "Tier B" that's not to say that at least some of them could not remain on a primary channel -- Seven for the remainder of the existing contract and it or another free-to-air network beyond then.
That will be a test of the true value TV chiefs place on the sport -- and of the negotiating strength of V8 Supercars Australia.
Ominous silence in GP dispute
Still no word of an "Organisation Agreement" between the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and the Confederation of Australian Motors Sport.
It is now two weeks since CAMS issued this statement (read here) after the claim by AGPC chairman Ron Walker that the GP promoter was being overcharged by CAMS.
It also is a beyond the deadline CAMS set for an "Organisation Agreement" to be struck.
While it is most unlikely the Australian GP scheduled for next March 24-27 will not proceed, it will be interesting to see whether the upcoming meeting of the Federation Internationale de l'Automboile (FIA) World Motorsport Council retains the event on the calendar or perhaps places an asterisk on it, subject to an AGPC-CAMS agreement.
A positive for Ambrose - Petty reclaims RPM
NASCAR "King" Richard Petty reportedly has "finished financially restructuring" the team bearing his name to ensure it fields two cars in the Sprint Cup next year -- one of them for Australia's Marcos Ambrose.
Petty supposedly has taken control of Richard Petty Motorsports, in which he has been only a minority shareholder, from financially-embattled majority owner George Gillett, who has been saddled with US$90 million of debt on his investment in the team.
Petty is said to have completed negotiations to free RPM from the problems resulting from the squeeze on Gillett, who recently lost control of the Liverpool soccer club in Britain.
Gillett faces a raft of legal actions, including one from another RPM minority owner, Ray Evernham, who entered a partnership with him in 2007.
While things appear to be heading in the right direction for RPM to survive, we understand that dual V8 Supercar champion Ambrose has been keeping in touch with the Australian scene in case his American option dries up.
After completing his fifth year of US stock car racing with JTG Daugherty Racing, Ambrose said this week: "At times this year we had a tough go at it due to things that were out of our control, but we did the best we could with the hands we were dealt to persevere.
"We wrapped up the 2010 season 26th in the championship points standings following an 18th-place finish in our freshman year (2009).
"We had some solid finishes, but were entangled in some accidents not of our own accord this year that caused us to not finish. If it had not been for that, we would have easily finished in the top 20 -- there's no doubt."
RPM has named Todd Parrott crew chief for the Ford Fusion that Ambrose is to race next season.
Parrott has worked with drivers including Matt Kenseth, Ernie Irvan, Bobby Labonte and Elliott Sadler and was the 1999 Cup-winning crew chief for Dale Jarrett at Robert Yates Racing.
Parrott has had 29 wins -- the third most among active Sprint Cup crew chiefs.
"I've been spending time with Marcos ... we've been talking, working on communication," Parrott said. "He's been getting fitted for seats and has some ideas of what he wants, what he's looking for, so the conversations between us have been very good.
"Once the dust settles and the smoke clears, it will all be good. The cars continue to get better."
RPM cars finished fourth and fifth in the final round of this year's championship last weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway driven by Aric Almirola and A.J. Allmendinger.
Ford's Mustang will run in NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series next year and chief Edsel B. Ford wants it to replace the Fusion in the Sprint Cup soon.
"The sooner the better," Ford said. "Let's be frank: Motorsports enthusiasts are not going to buy Fusions because they see a Fusion win here (Sprint Cup), are they?
"To have a Mustang on the track in NASCAR is the right direction."
A perspective on where IndyCar is at
It's two years now since the IndyCar series last came to the Gold Coast but many Australian motorsport fans still have fond memories of it -- and a continuing interest in it, particularly in light of Will Power's recent success.
ESPN.com's John Oreovicz has written an enlightening and optimistic column on where IndyCar's at, see here.
NEXT WEEK: Sydney's V8 Supercar finale
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site
HSV sold out for six months
Despite a supercharged re-entry from FPV, HSV's order bank is full
The new, supercharged Ford Falcon GT may have arrived with a bang, but it is yet to put a dent on sales of its arch rival, Holden Special Vehicles. In fact, such a long build-up to the all-new engine may have backfired on Ford.
Sales figures show that Ford Performance Vehicles is poised to have one of its weakest years on record -- heading for a tally of less than 1000 vehicles for 2010. HSV meanwhile is expected to post its third-strongest year on record -- and it claims its order book is full until April and May next year.
Speaking at the launch of the HSV range in Singapore overnight, HSV boss Phil Harding (pictured) told the Carsales Network: "We are flat out. If you want a GTS in Hazard yellow, it's sold out until April. Others are sold out until May production."
HSV says it has sold 2948 cars to the end of October, while FPV has tallied just 847 sales so far this year. FPV says this dip was caused by the much anticipated changeover to the new model.
HSV's best year on record was in 2007 -- the first full year of VE sales -- when it posted 5222 vehicle deliveries. This year HSV is on track to sell about 3400 vehicles, ahead of last year's tally of 3091.
Harding refused to comment on what impact the supercharged FPV has had on HSV.
"We know what's right for our customers and we're getting on with it. We're focussing on technology and the whole package, not just one element of a performance car.
"I know the media don't like to acknowledge it, but we see our rivals as European performance cars. That's what our feedback tells us, that's what we see from the trade-ins at the dealers," Harding stated.
The new, supercharged Ford Falcon GT may have arrived with a bang, but it is yet to put a dent on sales of its arch rival, Holden Special Vehicles. In fact, such a long build-up to the all-new engine may have backfired on Ford.
Sales figures show that Ford Performance Vehicles is poised to have one of its weakest years on record -- heading for a tally of less than 1000 vehicles for 2010. HSV meanwhile is expected to post its third-strongest year on record -- and it claims its order book is full until April and May next year.
Speaking at the launch of the HSV range in Singapore overnight, HSV boss Phil Harding (pictured) told the Carsales Network: "We are flat out. If you want a GTS in Hazard yellow, it's sold out until April. Others are sold out until May production."
HSV says it has sold 2948 cars to the end of October, while FPV has tallied just 847 sales so far this year. FPV says this dip was caused by the much anticipated changeover to the new model.
HSV's best year on record was in 2007 -- the first full year of VE sales -- when it posted 5222 vehicle deliveries. This year HSV is on track to sell about 3400 vehicles, ahead of last year's tally of 3091.
Harding refused to comment on what impact the supercharged FPV has had on HSV.
"We know what's right for our customers and we're getting on with it. We're focussing on technology and the whole package, not just one element of a performance car.
"I know the media don't like to acknowledge it, but we see our rivals as European performance cars. That's what our feedback tells us, that's what we see from the trade-ins at the dealers," Harding stated.
Next-gen Dodge Viper to remain unique
Dodge boss Ralph Gilles has publicly stated the MY2013 Viper will maintain the coupe's all-American heritage
Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles has reiterated that the next-generation Viper sports car games due in mid-2012 will retain its unique architecture, rather than pilfering from the parts bin of parent company Fiat.
The new Viper "is not based on anything else," he was recently quoted as saying by Detroit News, quelling speculation it would borrow its underpinnings from Ferrari or the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.
Some sources had been tipping the next-gen Viper would be based on the 8C, but Gilles says the proportions of the two vehicles are quite different.
"Where the cabin is, relative to the wheels, is unique. The Viper cabin is very rearward and the hood is very long. Few cars in the industry are designed with those proportions anymore."
Gilles said "There won't be a part of the car that's untouched", vis-à-vis its predecessor (which was discontinued five months ago), and it's believed the existing V10 could be upgraded with Fiat's Multiair induction technology.
He suggested Fiat would also help develop the car's dynamic capabilities. "We will use their expertise to open the performance envelope in the Viper," Gilles told Detroit News.
"Fiat has an awesome ability to tune cars. I want the new Viper to be a more forgiving car to drive and accessible to more people. We've never had stability control on a high-performance car, which is about to happen on the new car."
Despite its lack of technical sophistication, the original Viper was an enduring sportscar, with a lifespan that stretched from 1991 to 2010, albeit with four generational evolutions along the way.
Its straight-line credentials remained almost unparalleled (certainly in its price segment) and the series-ending Viper ACR lapped the Nurburgring in 7min 22.1sec, quicker than the likes of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS (7min 24sec), 2011 Nissan GT-R (7min 24.1sec) and Chevy Corvette ZR1 (7min 26.4sec).
The last Viper rolled off the production line at Chrysler's Conner Avenue plant in Detroit on July 2 this year.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles has reiterated that the next-generation Viper sports car games due in mid-2012 will retain its unique architecture, rather than pilfering from the parts bin of parent company Fiat.
The new Viper "is not based on anything else," he was recently quoted as saying by Detroit News, quelling speculation it would borrow its underpinnings from Ferrari or the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.
Some sources had been tipping the next-gen Viper would be based on the 8C, but Gilles says the proportions of the two vehicles are quite different.
"Where the cabin is, relative to the wheels, is unique. The Viper cabin is very rearward and the hood is very long. Few cars in the industry are designed with those proportions anymore."
Gilles said "There won't be a part of the car that's untouched", vis-à-vis its predecessor (which was discontinued five months ago), and it's believed the existing V10 could be upgraded with Fiat's Multiair induction technology.
He suggested Fiat would also help develop the car's dynamic capabilities. "We will use their expertise to open the performance envelope in the Viper," Gilles told Detroit News.
"Fiat has an awesome ability to tune cars. I want the new Viper to be a more forgiving car to drive and accessible to more people. We've never had stability control on a high-performance car, which is about to happen on the new car."
Despite its lack of technical sophistication, the original Viper was an enduring sportscar, with a lifespan that stretched from 1991 to 2010, albeit with four generational evolutions along the way.
Its straight-line credentials remained almost unparalleled (certainly in its price segment) and the series-ending Viper ACR lapped the Nurburgring in 7min 22.1sec, quicker than the likes of the Porsche 911 GT2 RS (7min 24sec), 2011 Nissan GT-R (7min 24.1sec) and Chevy Corvette ZR1 (7min 26.4sec).
The last Viper rolled off the production line at Chrysler's Conner Avenue plant in Detroit on July 2 this year.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
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