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Issue 48 ● March 2013 

Bronzed Aussie 

Australia’s own takes on a new face

#48 

March 

2013 

Editorial 

GoAuto Newsroom 

PO Box 18 

Sandringham 

VIC 3191 

(03) 9598 6477 

newsroom@mellor.net 

Editor 

David Hassall 

dhassall@mellor.net 

Production 

Luc Britten 

Contributors 

Ron Hammerton 

Haitham Razagui 

Mike Costello 

Tim Nicholson 

Byron Mathioudakis 

Terry Martin 

Advertising enquiries 

Sally Mellor 

(03) 9598 6477 

0425 700 904 

sally@mellor.net 

SUBSCRIBE 

BACK ISSUES 

3 

Holden firm 

Commodore future assured 

as VF breaks cover months early 

8 

RS end of the Q 

Five-pot turbo RS Q3 to 

become Audi’s first hot SUV 

14 

11 

Chocolate Bavarian 

BMW reveals Gran spanking 

new 3 Series hatchback 

Putting the A into AMG 

Baby Benz spawns world’s 

most powerful four-cylinder car 

2 /16

By RON HAMMERTON 

HOLDEN has revealed its new 

high-tech VF Commodore – even 

though it is still months away from 

showrooms – and promised it would not 

be the last iconic Aussie large car from the 


company that started it all in 1948. 

The Australian-designed and engineered VF 

drips with electronic gadgets and is cloaked 

in some lightweight aluminium panels for the 

first time, prompting GM Holden boss Mike 

Devereux to describe it as “without a doubt” 

Holden Commodore VF // 

Holden firm 

Commodore future assured as VF 

breaks cover months early 

the most technologically advanced car ever 

built in Australia. 

He said the sophistication, technology and 

performance of the VF would make it a “noexcuses 

world-class vehicle – no asterisks”. 

To be released in June, the new Commodore 

line-up was revealed progressively, with the 

top sports model, the SS-V, shown in an event 

coinciding with the unveiling of the Chevrolet 

SS export version in the United States ahead 

of its ultimately victorious debut in the classic 

Daytona 500 NASCAR stock car race. 

3 /16

Hot shot: The next-generation SS performance 

model will be sold in the US as a Chevrolet. 


Mr Devereux announced to journalists 

that the VF Commodore would not be the 

last of the line, with an all-new model – 

dubbed ‘VJ’ – already under development 

at Holden’s Melbourne design and 

engineering centre. 

Many pundits had speculated that the 

VF Commodore – a major reworking of 

the current VE Commodore – would be 

killed off from the end of 2016. 

In the meantime, the VF will carry 

Holden’s hopes of reinvigorating 

Australia’s large-car segment and 

reversing its own sliding market share 

from June. 

Holden would have preferred not to 

have revealed the new model this far in 

advance of the showroom release, but its 

hand was forced by its American cousin 

Chevrolet and former Holden boss 

Mark Reuss – now GM North America 

president – who were adamant they 

wanted to preview the car in time for the 

NASCAR racing season. 

To minimise the impact on sales of 

the current VE Commodore, Holden 

has withheld pricing and critical 

product details such as powertrains, 

performance figures, full 

specifications or fuel economy 

figures, but we can tell you that 

the VF gets a raft of high-tech 

gadgets and safety features 

that until recently were only 

available on high-end luxury 

cars. 

All Commodores will get an 

anti-collision warning system that 

uses a camera mounted behind the 

windscreen to detect imminent danger, 

while at least some VFs will get an auto 

4 /16


parking system that, like Volkswagen’s 

Passat, can park both parallel to the 

kerb and end-on. 

Rear parking sensors not only beep 

when objects are detected behind the 

vehicle but also warn of approaching 

traffic, while other safety features 

include blind-spot alert, lane-departure 

warning and a head-up display that 

can show speedo, tacho, sat-nav 

instructions and other functions in 

colour on the windscreen. 

The Commodore’s interior has been 

totally reworked with the objective of 

lifting levels of ambience, comfort and 

features to luxury-car levels, though 

cabin space remains about the same. 

A large LCD touchscreen embedded 

in the middle of the dash is central to 

many new functions in the Commodore, 

including GM’s internet-connected 

MyLink system that can play web radio 

via a Bluetooth streaming connection 

to a mobile phone via Pandora app. 

New fronts seats have been installed, 

while the dash gets a totally new layout 

with new upmarket trim surfaces 

including stitched suede, chrome and, 

on the Calais-V, fake wood. 

Controls have all been reworked 

after feedback from both Australian 

and American customers, with no 

fewer than nine buttons on the new flatbottomed 

steering wheel to not only 

adjust the cruise control, audio volume 

and Bluetooth phone connectivity, but 

also control the new collision and lanedeparture 

warning systems. 

The centre console has been swept 

clean, with VE’s console-mounted 

electric window switches banished to 

5 /16


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the door grab handles and the parking brake 

handle replaced with an electric parking 

switch. This frees up more room for storage, 

including two big cupholders and storage bins 

fore and aft on the console, which is lit by “ice 

blue” ambient lighting. 

Outside, the VF Commodore’s sheetmetal is 

all new forward of the A-pillars and rear of the 

C-pillars. 

The bonnet and boot are now fashioned 

from aluminium alloy to save weight, with 

the bonnet getting a more prominent raised 

profile, while the rear of the vehicle echoes 

these stronger lines. 

Unsurprising, the effect is rather Chevrolet, 

with the American brand getting the same 

sheetmetal in its SS version that will be 

exported from Australia to North America 

later this year. 

Holden’s chief designer for creative design, 

Work and play: Holden’s latest Ute has a new 

nose, but unchanged sheetmetal at the rear. 

Richard Ferlazzo, said his team had raised the bar 

on the Commodore, keeping the strong elements 

of the VE – such as the pronounced front 

wheelarches – but adding greater sophistication. 

Calais gets a large chrome grille, but other 

models, including the SS and base Commodore, 

will get unique front and rear styling treatments, 

especially around the front air openings. 

Mr Ferlazzo said the design had been “tuned 

to the nth degree” to improve aerodynamic 

performance, and while he and other Holden 

executives would not divulge fuel economy 

figures, he said engineers had been getting 

“some great numbers”. 

As expected, the fuel economy will be 

enhanced with a new electric-assisted power 

steering system that was one of the fuel-saving 

features developed for Commodore with a 

$39.8 million federal government Green Car 

Innovation Fund co-development grant. 

6 /16

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\\ Audi Q3 RS 

RS end of the Q 

Five-pot turbo RS Q3 to become 

Audi’s first hot SUV 


AUDI is getting set to transplant the 

potent five-cylinder performance 

engine from the TT RS sports coupe 

into its Q3 to not only create its first RSrated 

SUV but also its most affordable model 

wearing the fabled RS badge. 


Audi Australia has promised the all-wheeldrive 

RS Q3 will be priced under $100,000 when 

it arrives in Australia in the first quarter of 2014. 

Currently, the new $139,900 TT RS Plus 

is the cheapest RennSport-enhanced Audi in 

Australia. Others include the just-released 

$149,400 RS4 Avant and $161,900 RS5 coupe. 

The bad news is that the new Q3 flagship 

will not share the same blistering speed and 

grunt as its RS stablemates, getting a detuned 

version of Audi’s 2.5-litre turbocharged directinjected 

petrol engine producing 228kW of 

power and 420Nm of torque – 37kW and 

40Nm shy of the 265kW/465Nm variants 

powering the TT RS Plus. 

The bulky 1730kg RS Q3, set to make its 

debut at this month’s Geneva motor show, 

will naturally also be slower in the 0-100km/h 

sprint than the TT RS, clocking 5.5 seconds 

compared with the TT flagship’s supercar-like 

4.1 seconds. 

8 /16

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However, it will be the quickest Q3 

by far, slaughtering the sprint time of the 

fastest current Q3, the 155kW 2.0 TFSI, 

which makes the dash in 6.9 seconds – and 

the fastest in the medium-SUV segment. 

It is also faster than BMW’s swiftest X1 

variant, the 180kW xDrive28i that goes 

from standstill to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds. 

While the RS Q3 will be the most 

affordable RS model from Audi’s Quattro 

hot shop, coming in under $100k, it will 

demand a large price premium over standard 

Q3 models, which top out at $56,000. 

The RS Q3 is one of four RS models 

in the pipeline this year, taking the RS 

family to eight. The others include the RS5 

Cabriolet, RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback, 

with all destined for Australia in 2013 or 

early 2014. 

It will be available exclusively with 

a seven-speed S-tronic automatic 

transmission with steering wheel paddles 

– no manual will be available – driving all 

four wheels via Audi’s quattro drivetrain. 

The engine gets an idle-stop function – a 

first for the five-cylinder engine – that, along 

with electric-assisted power steering, helps 

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keep fuel economy to 8.8 litres per 100km – 

1.1L/100km inferior to the Q3 2.0 TFSI. 

The engine, which has been named three 

times in the international Engine of the 

Year awards, develops peak power between 

5200rpm and 6700rpm, while maximum 

torque is delivered between 1500rpm and 

5200rpm. 

Drivers can select between three drive 

modes – auto, comfort and dynamic – with the 

latter opening up an exhaust flap for sharper 

performance and complete aural pleasure. 

As well, the RS Q3 comes equipped 

with launch control for quick getaways 

with maximum traction, while handling is 

enhanced with a sports suspension with a 

25mm-lower ride height. The electronic 

stability control can be turned off as well. 

The lightweight disc brakes have been 

upsized for greater stopping power, with 

365mm-diameter front discs gripped by eightpiston 

calipers painted black with RS logos. 

In Germany, the RS Q3 will get 19-inch alloy 

wheels, plus optional 20-inch units, while the 

body style is set apart from its average brethren 

by a roof spoiler, rear bumper with distinctive 

diffuser insert, big-bore elliptical tailpipes and 

RS Q3 badges. 

Inside, the sports seats are in black 

Alcantara, although Nappa leather in black or 

silver is optional. RS Q3 logos are embossed 

on the seats. 

Also in line for the ‘Q’ for Audi in Australia 

this year is the SQ5 TDI, which will be armed 

with a 3.0-litre bi-turbo diesel V6 developing 

230kW and 650Nm. 

10 /16

\\ Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG 

Putting the A into AMG 

Baby Benz spawns world’s most 

powerful four-cylinder car 

By MIKE COSTELLO 

THE sensational new Mercedes-Benz 

A45 AMG all-wheel-drive hot hatch 

will use what is claimed to the world’s 

most powerful four-cylinder engine when it 

launches in Australia around September. 


Set for a global premiere at the Geneva 

motor show in early March, the pocket missile 

will leap straight to the top of the new A-Class 

range and reach for the jugular of archnemeses 

such as the BMW M135i and Audi’s 

latest S3. 

Mercedes is pitching its smallest AMGtuned 

model at a younger crowd, hoping to 

expand the breadth of its performance arm by 

luring a predominately male audience aged 

between 30 and 45. 

“The A45 AMG will enable Mercedes- 

AMG to appeal to new customers and tap new 

markets,” said Mercedes-AMG chairman Ola 

Kallenius of the “extremely attractive model 

with exceptional performance data”. 

Local pricing is expected to hover 

somewhere near $80,000, with the AMG to 

11 /16


wrestle the title of range flagship from the 

sprightly $49,900 A250 Sport launched 

here last month. 

Mercedes-Benz Australia has enjoyed 

enormous success with its AMG range, 

with the local market being the sixthlargest 

in the world (number one in the 

southern hemisphere) and the single 

largest on a per-capita basis. 

The A45 will be a lynchpin in the 

brand’s plan to double AMG sales in 

Australia in the near future. 

Outstripping even generous predictions, 

the AMG’s fire-breathing (and handbuilt) 

2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine 

pumps out 265kW of power at 6000rpm 

and 450Nm of torque between 2250rpm 

and 5000rpm – enough for Mercedes to 

claim the title of the world’s most potent 

series-production four-pot. 

Mercedes-AMG board member Tobias 

Moers, who is also the head of overall 

vehicle development, said the A45 AMG 

was a worthy addition to the company’s 

acclaimed performance-car line-up. 

“With the new A 45 AMG we have 

well and truly achieved our aim 

of developing the most dynamic, 

powerful and efficient four-cylinder 

series production car,” he said. 

“With its impressive high-tech 

package and the performanceoriented 

AMG 4MATIC allwheel 

drive, the A45 AMG is a 

thoroughbred AMG through and 

through.” 

Power is sent to all four wheels 

via a seven-speed double-clutch 

transmission with paddle shifters, 

and the car can dash from zero to 

100km/h in 4.6 seconds on its way to an 

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BMW takes the High-line 

BMW has introduced a limited-edition High-line 

variant of its 1 and 3 Series Coupe and Cabriolet 

range in Australia, with prices on some models 

slashed by more than $11,000. 

> FULL STORY 

McLaren P1 blasts to 300km/h in 17s 

MCLAREN claims its hybrid P1 hypercar can 

accelerate to 100km/h in less than three seconds, 

reach 200km/h in under seven seconds and on to 

300km/h in less than 17 seconds. 

> FULL STORY 

First drive: VW Beetle Fender strums in 

VOLKSWAGEN’S $29,990 plus-on roads price 

for its tardy new Beetle manual might be $2290 

more expensive than its entry-level predecessor 

back in 2011, but the real surprise at the Australian 

launch this week came with the announcement of 

a Fender limited edition. 

> FULL STORY 

’Bahn to be Wild: AMG’s new baby screams 

from 0-100km/h in a just 4.6 seconds, half a 

second faster than its BMW and Audi rivals. 

electronically limited top speed of 250km/h 

– comfortably securing bragging rights from 

the BMW (5.1s) and Audi (5.0s). 

Mercedes-Benz designed the modular 

platform used across the A-Class range to 

accommodate AWD from the get-go, and 

the four-paw system under the A45 is said to 

be 25 per cent lighter than rival systems. In 

normal driving, it remains biased to the front 

wheels, but can split torque 50:50 in more 

slippery situations. 

The German company claims fuel 

consumption of just 6.9 litres per 100km 

on the official combined cycle – if you can 

keep your lead foot away from the throttle, of 

course. 

Despite having half as many cylinders as 

its AMG brethren, Mercedes claims to have 

retained the signature throaty exhaust note 

found on models such as the C63 thanks to a 

sports exhaust system that adjusts the sound 

according to driving style. 

Suspension, electro-mechanical speedsensitive 

power steering and highperformance 

brakes (350mm-diameter front 

discs and 330mm at the rear) have also been 

tuned by AMG. 

The big daddy of the A-Class range is 

differentiated externally from its more humble 

siblings by aggressive front and rear diffusers, 

side sills, AMG ‘twin-blade’ radiator grille, 

matte-grey front apron, black 18-inch alloy 

wheels, square chrome-tipped exhaust pipes 

and ‘Turbo AMG’ lettering. 

Inside the cabin are new additions including 

Artico artificial leather racing-style seats, a new 

multi-function steering wheel with paddles, 

carbonfibre-look dash trim, red highlights on 

the seats and vents, and a central multimedia 

display with race-timer function. 

13 /16

\\ BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo 

Chocolate Bavarian 

BMW reveals Gran spanking 

new 3 Series hatchback 


BMW has revealed the third and final 

body shape for its new-generation 

3 Series mid-size luxury car – the 

spacious and practical five-door Gran Turismo. 

Set to join the existing 3 Series sedan and 


upcoming Touring wagon in Australia in the 

third quarter of this year, the stretched, longwheelbase 

GT is the first such liftback body 

shape in BMW’s best-selling model range, and 

will be aimed directly at Audi’s A5 Sportback. 

The rear-drive 3 Series GT is similar in 

concept to BMW’s own 5 Series GT that 

was added to its large-vehicle range in 2010. 

However, BMW designers appear to have 

learned lessons from the larger car, which has 

been criticised for its awkward styling and 

ungainly ride height. 

The 3 Series version is lower and leaner, 

with more appropriate proportions. 

With a wheelbase 110mm longer than that 

of the 3 Series Touring and a body 200mm 

longer overall, the GT unleashes greater cabin 

space and a large and versatile 520-litre cargo 

14 /16


space – bigger by 25 litres than the 

wagon. 

Rear seat passengers get an extra 

70mm of legroom over both the 

sedan and wagon, while all seating 

positions have been raised 59mm for 

a grandstand view. 

As its name suggests, the GT is 

designed as a ‘grand tourer’, and we 

won’t see an M3 autobahn-blaster in 

this body shape. 

The vehicle will be launched in 

Australia with 2.0-litre four-cylinder 

turbocharged engines – both petrol 

and diesel – with potential for more 

exotic powertrains later on. 

BMW Group Australia product 

communications manager Scott 

Croaker said the Australian company 

had not yet decided if it would 

import the six-cylinder 335i model, 

and would probably test the water 

with the four-cylinder range first. 

In Europe, customers will be able 

to choose from three petrol and two 

diesel engines, offered with a choice 

of six-speed manual gearbox or eightspeed 

ZF automatic transmission. 

All engines are identical to those 

in the 3 Series sedan, and have fuelsaving 

idle-stop. More fuel is 

saved via regenerative braking 

and electric-assisted power 

steering, both taken directly 

from the 3 Series sedan that 

has been on the Australian 

market for a year. 

The 3 Series GT gets a rear 

seat that folds in a 40:20:40 split 

for a variety of load configurations, 

along with a massive under-floor 

15 /16

COOL 

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MEETS 

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HATCH 

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storage bucket that provides a secure place to 

store items out of sight and also doubles as a 

wet items cargo area. 

However, like other new-generation BMWs, 

the GT misses out on a spare wheel, making do 

with run-flat tyres. 

The cargo area is lit by strips of LED lights, 

and the big rear hatch/tailgate opens wide 

automatically, while the vehicle includes a rear 

spoiler that raises, Porsche-style, from the back 

of the vehicle at higher speeds – a first for the 

Munich company. 

Like other 3 Series models, the GT can be 

ordered in an entry-level version – with the Sport 

Line, Luxury Line or Modern Line equipment 

packages – and while a red-hot M3 version is 

not in the pipeline, customers can at least order 

Gran Slam: The GT includes a 

Porsche-style retractable rear spoiler. 

the GT with an optional M Sport package that 

will be available from launch. 

The GT completes the 3 Series body line-up 

this time around, as the coupe and convertible 

variants will be known henceforth as the 4 

Series. They will arrive in Australia around the 

same time as the 3 Series GT, in about July or 

August. 

Before then, the 3 Series Touring will go into 

showrooms from the end of February, with 

prices starting from $58,900 (plus on-road 

costs). Like the GT, the Touring will be armed 

only with BMW’s TwinPower four-cylinder 

engines, in both petrol and diesel. 

The flagship M3 sedan and M4 coupe 

models are scheduled to land in showrooms 

in 2014. 

16 /16

Bronzed Aussie

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