GoAutonews

More documents

Recommendations

Info

John Mellor's GoAuto news IS-F to match C63 Continued from previous page The 260 IS-Xs revealed last year were sold out in six weeks, and Lexus says the 450 examples of the newest IS250X should prove just as popular. The new LX570 SUV fl agship also goes on sale this month, with more than 100 examples already pre-sold. Representing far greater sales potential is the all-new RX, due on sale here in February next year. Loosely previewed at the 2007 Tokyo motor show, the redesigned RX will look smaller and more aggressive than the current model, which still found more than 4000 buyers last year and is now entering its sixth year on sale. Despite the fact that it will offer more space inside, the new RX will remain strictly a fi veseater. Australia’s second-generation luxury crossover will arrive fi rst in RX350 guise, with a replacement for the current RX400h hybrid to arrive three months later. An internal “study tour” of the new RX will take place in July, prior to the redesigned soft-roader’s world debut later this year, possibly at the Paris motor show in September. Next cab off the rank in Lexus’ quest to wrest sales dominance from the established Germans will be the IS250 coupe-convertible, to match BMW’s folding hard-topped 3 Series CC and both coupe and convertible versions of the Mercedes-Benz CLK, which will be renewed next year. The folding metal- SALES EXECUTIVE John Roca with the LF-A roofed IS250 is slated to arrive here in the fourth quarter of next year, and is currently undergoing local durability testing. Mr Roca said an F-badged IS-CC was not guaranteed to eventuate, and that a GS large sedan – powered by the IS- F’s 5.0-litre V8 and badged as the GS-F – was more likely to appear fi rst. Meantime, Lexus continues development of a new entry-level model to be positioned below the IS sedan, as previously reported. Assuming the offi cial working title of C- Premium, the new passenger car will not be a sub-RX compact SUV based on the RAV4 as originally planned, but a hatch or sedan passenger car that is expected to become Lexus’ volume-selling model. “We’ll know more in a couple of months and they’re still very coy about it, but I think they’re leaning towards a hatch,” said Mr Roca, adding that the smallest Lexus ever SUBSCRIBE FREE: www.mellor.net A PRIL 16, 2008 Page 20 ‘BE PART OF THE FG FALCON SALES DOMINANCE’ Thomson Ford is all set to lead the Ford Falcon revival, and is putting the finishing touches to its sales team in readiness for the most exciting new Falcon to hit the forecourt; EVER. If you are a quality retail sales person who is passionate about the Ford brand and want to be part of the high volume sales that will be generated from this innovative and exciting new model, then call us today. Thomson Ford is a premier Ford dealership perfectly positioned in Auto Alley on the corner of Great Western Highway and Church Street, Parramatta; our sales and service teams are amongst the best in the country so you will be in good company. Combine all of the above with a progressive management team and you should see a recipe for making an exorbitant income. Let your sales potential out of the bag and be rewarded – only winners apply. Confidential contact: Trevor Paterson on (02) 9635 7466 www.thomsonford.com.au/employment LF-Xh was unlikely to enter production before 2012. Potentially positioned further upstream between the IS and GS is an all-new dedicated hybrid model to appear WHAT’S COMING: in concept guise at the IS250X limited edition April 2009 Detroit motor LX570 SUV redesign April show next January. IS-F sedan October A concept version of RX350 SUV redesign Feb 2009 the new, exclusively RX400h SUV redesign May 2009 petrol-electric model, IS250 coupe-convertible 4th qtr 2009 which would essentially GS-F sedan 2010 be a luxury version LF-A supercar 2011 of Toyota’s hotly Small sedan/hatch 2012 anticipated thirdgeneration Prius, was promised at this year’s Detroit show. Finally, development of the fl agship LF- A supercar, which has been revealed in numerous concept guises at numerous motor shows, is now concentrating on wind tunnel testing in an effort to increase its top speed. But the wildest Lexus ever is not confi rmed for Australia because, even if it enters production, it may not be built in right-hand drive. “The chief engineer doesn’t want to launch the car without being faster than a Ferrari and they can’t do that by increasing power, so they’re now concentrating on styling and aerodynamics,” a Lexus insider told GoAuto, adding that the retarded development program has not likely to reap production results until 2011.
John Mellor's GoAuto news Dodge MPV soon Chrysler mounts a twin MPV attack with the Journey joining Voyager By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS CHRYSLER Group Australia is embarking on a two-model people-mover assault starting September with the release of the Dodge Journey. Dubbed a CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle), the Journey is based on Chrysler’s ‘D’ segment (JS) platform that also underpins the mid-sized Sebring and Dodge Avenger, as well as the Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass compact SUVs and the Dodge Caliber small car. It will effectively give the company a sub-$50,000 presence in the seven-seater SUV segment, and will also allow for the established Grand Voyager people-mover to edge upmarket. Speaking to GoAuto at the recent RT-series Grand Voyager launch in Melbourne, marketing and product strategy general manager Craig Bradshaw outlined the Journey’s positioning within Chrysler’s people-mover portfolio. “The strategy for the company is to reduce the amount of overlap between the segments, and introducing a product like the Journey is effectively a short-wheelbase Voyager replacement,” he said. Chrysler discontinued the short-wheelbase Voyager midway through the previousgeneration RG version’s model life in late 2004, when it retailed for $53,490. The base-model RT Grand Voyager kicks off at $56,990. There will not be a short-wheelbase version of the RT Grand Voyager, as demand for it was low. Grand Voyager “The decision was made to focus only on the long wheelbase,” Mr Bradshaw explained. “For most international markets it was the preferred vehicle, although there was a small market for the short-wheelbase vehicle in Europe.” Chrysler hopes the RT Grand Voyager’s new-found diesel availability and new luxury features will snag more traditional SUV buyers who are tired of the expensive running costs and creeping social stigma. “I think with the current climate – with fuel prices and everything else – we’re going to see, as we have with large 4WDs overall declining fairly rapidly, that we will pick up some of that SUV segment as people become more rational with their buying choices,” Mr Bradshaw said. Chrysler Australia managing director Gerry Jenkins added that the introduction of the Kia Carnival in late 1999 and the price realignment of the current-generation Honda Odyssey in the middle of 2004 presented a challenge for the Voyager. The Voyager’s market share began to contract from its 1997/98 high of 105-plus monthly sales to around 40 per month over the last two years. “That’s why we’re really at the high end of the market. We’re not really competing against those vehicles (anymore),” Mr Jenkins said. Nevertheless, Chrysler says there is a healthy level of interest in a vehicle Automotive Photography and Inventory Distribution ph: 1300 11 22 34 email: info@carkey.com.au SUBSCRIBE FREE: www.mellor.net A PRIL 16, 2008 Page 21 specifi cally like the Grand Voyager. “My experience has been that people who have bought the old one have not been interested in a whole lot of other cars other than the Voyager,” Mr Jenkins said. “They’re well researched, well informed, and that’s what they want. “They got either US experience, or experience abroad, and they want something like this that meets all of their needs and have certain luxury appointments with all the bells and whistles. And that market isn’t a very large market but it’s a very interested market. “And they seem to be very satisfi ed. A lot of people who have put in orders for the new one are existing (Voyager) owners, so there is a fair amount of loyalty regarding Voyager buyers.” Mr Jenkins is confi dent that once people are given the chance to sit inside the Grand Voyager, they will be more inclined to buy this sort of people-mover. “The key is that they got to drive it. A lot of people ... a lot of my mates don’t want anything to do with this ... (so) then what I do is that I force it on them,” he said. “It’s absolutely great to drive. You’ve got great visibility, great handling, and you’ve got the comfort that everybody with you is enjoying the ride as well. They’re not stuffedin in any way, not squeezed up against one another ... they’re very comfortable. “Of all the ones I’ve personally sold, at least 75 per cent are with families.” Chrysler’s own Tiida – page 26 A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND “CLICKS”... automotive photographers Dodge Journey
Page 1 and 2: John Mellor's Australia’s Number
Page 3 and 4: John Mellor's GoAuto news SUBSCRIBE
Page 5 and 6: John Mellor's GoAuto news Motor sho
Page 7 and 8: John Mellor's GoAuto news Bringing
Page 9 and 10: John Mellor's GoAuto news ESC manda
Page 11 and 12: John Mellor's GoAuto news Cayenne
Page 13 and 14: John Mellor's GoAuto news TRD in lo
Page 15 and 16: John Mellor's GoAuto news Continued
Page 17 and 18: John Mellor's GoAuto news Eco A4 th
Page 19: John Mellor's GoAuto news Join the
Page 23 and 24: John Mellor's GoAuto By DAVID HASSA
Page 25 and 26: John Mellor's GoAuto news Dealer Pr

GoAutonews

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?