Volvo heroes

John Mellor’s 

GoAuto News 

June 20, 2012 Australia’s No.1 Automotive Industry Journal No. 635 70,000 Readers Weekly 

DI D GI G TA TAL A L IM I AGE: E: EEE Luc uc Bri ri r tt tten en 

Volvo heroes 

 

 

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BETTER THAN EVER. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE. 

Plug-in hybrid wagon and race-bred sports sedan to reshape Volvo’s image here 

By RON HAMMERTON 

in GOTHENBURG 

VOLVO Car Australia (VCA) is set to 

throw off the cloak of conservatism by 

introducing two groundbreaking midsized 

vehicles that will make waves for 

different reasons from next year. 

In the green corner, Volvo’s fi rst plugin 

hybrid V60 wagon looks ripe for a 

2013 launch in Australia, while in the 

blue corner, the politically incorrect, 

bitumen-tearing 374kW S60 Polestar 

sports sedan is an almost certain 

contender in the local market should 

Volvo give it the go-ahead for series 

production as expected. 

The latter was unveiled in concept 

form in a deceptively demure baby blue 

paint job at the weekend at Volvo’s home 

city of Gothenburg, Sweden, by Polestar 

– Volvo’s motor racing partner and hot- 

car specialist (see separate story). 

This week, VCA managing director 

Matt Braid confi rmed that his branch 

of Sweden’s biggest car-maker had put 

up its hand for both vehicles to provide 

some spark to the brand Down Under. 

The most likely of the duo to arrive 

in Australia fi rst is the diesel-electric 

V60 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle 

(PHEV) – dubbed D6 – that will go into 

production for Europe alongside the 

standard S60/V60 range in November. 

Mr Braid described the V60 D6 PHEV 

and S60 Polestar sedan as niche halo 

vehicles for the Volvo brand, appealing 

to small groups of distinct customers. 

Neither car will be cheap, however, 

with Mr Braid indicating both vehicles 

will be priced above Volvo’s most 

expensive current models, which top 

out at $81,450 (plus on-roads) for the 

S80 T6 R-Design. 

He said he expected the V60 D6 to 

slide into the range at a price premium 

of about $20,000 over the $67,990 V60 

T6 AWD, but it would benefi t from a 

luxury car tax discount of up to $7000 

because of its low fuel consumption. 

The V60 D6 can achieve a classleading 

1.9 litres per 100km on the 

European offi cial fuel economy 

combined test cycle, and yet can 

accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 6.2 

seconds – equal with the current fastest 

V60, the turbocharged T6. 

Continued next page 

NEW MODEL LAUNCHES 

Nissan Leaf 

Skoda Fabia 

Mahindra XUV500 

Skoda Roomster 

FULL DETAILS IN THIS ISSUE 

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GoAuto News 

Volvo heroes 

Continued from previous page 

By comparison, General Motors’ 

plug-in Volt manages between 2.5 and 

3.9 litres per 100km on the American 

fuel test, and accelerates to 100km/h in 

about nine seconds. 

Mr Braid said his company had 

started seriously looking at importing 

the V60 Plug-in Hybrid after showing 

the car in concept form at the Australian 

International Motor Show in Melbourne 

last year. 

He said the car had received a warm 

response from show-goers, and while 

the market for such a model would be 

small, it would provide a halo effect for 

the Volvo brand. 

“For us, this car will demonstrate the 

technology, as a niche model, and halo 

model,” he said. “Volumes won’t be 

massive.” 

Mr Braid said now that Volvo was to 

put the vehicle into production – and 

likely becoming the fi rst diesel-electric 


GoAuto News 

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EDITOR: Terry Martin 

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plug-in hybrid in the world – VCA 

was set to put up its hand to import it, 

hopefully in 2013. 

He said the V60 D6, which combines 

a fi ve-cylinder diesel engine driving 

the front wheels and an electric motor 

powering the rear wheels, was a better 

option for Australia than a full-electric 

car such as Volvo’s C30 DRIVe that has 

been trialled in a number of countries 

since last year. 

Mr Braid said the Volvo leasing 

system for the electric cars, with a 

guaranteed buy-back arrangement, 

would not work in Australia. 

“We think it is best to kick off with 

the plug-in V60,” he said. 

Volvo is set to begin a run of 1000 V60 

PHEVs in November, before stepping 

up to full production of between 4000 

and 6000 vehicles from next year. 

At that volume, the V60 D6 will 

comprise between 10 and 15 per cent of 

V60 production. 

Mr Braid said Australia would have 

to wait until full production started 

before it could import the vehicle. 

Learn about the fastest growing DMS in Australia. | sales@auto-it.com.au 


June 20, 2012 Page 2 

V60 Plug-in Hybrid 

He said he still did not know “the 

sweet spot” for the vehicle’s price, but 

it would be marketed as a halo model 

priced somewhere between the $67,990 

3.0-litre T6 AWD V60 and $100,000. 

The V60 D6 is a modifi ed version 

of the standard V60 D5, with the same 

158kW 2.4-litre fi ve-cylinder turbodiesel 

engine under the bonnet. 

However, Volvo has added a 

50kW/200Nm electric motor to the rear 

axle, powered by a lithium-ion battery 

that can be charged in between 3.5 

hours and 6.7 hours, depending on the 

amperage. 

Using a standard 10-amp household 

240-volt socket, the full charge takes 

4.5 hours. 

Dubbed the D6 in recognition of 

its D5 engine and electric motor, the 

vehicle can drive for up to 50km at 

100km/h on battery power alone before 

the diesel engine kicks in to extend the 

range to a total 1000km. 

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE 

Next XC90 to plug in – next page 

Your Dealer Management System 

can make or break your dealership.


GoAuto News 

Next XC90 XC90 to plug in 

Volvo confi rms next-gen 

SUV will feature a diesel 

plug-in hybrid powertrain 


in GOTHENBURG 

THE next-generation Volvo XC90 SUV 

is set to spawn another plug-in hybrid 

vehicle for the Swedish company, two 

years after the release in Europe later 

this year of the pioneering V60 D6 

diesel-electric wagon that is on the 

wish-list for Australian release in 2013. 

Volvo’s next fl agship SUV is due to 

arrive in Europe in 2014 on an all-new 

scalable platform with a range of fresh 

drivetrains, including totally new fourcylinder 

engine ranges in petrol, diesel 

and hybrid. 

Volvo Car Corporation 60 series 

product manager Fredrik Hofl ing 

confi rmed to GoAuto this week that the 

replacement for the current XC90 would 

include a plug-in hybrid powertrain, 

which he said would be a development 

of the system in the new V60 D6 plugin 

hybrid – Volvo’s fi rst such vehicle. 

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid will go into 

production in November, in both righthand 

drive and left-hand drive formats 

for global markets including Australia. 

But do not expect a full-electric vehicle 

from Volvo any time soon, as the company 

appears to be shying away from series EV 

production after a seemingly lacklustre 

trial of the C30 DRIVe electric car across 

a number of nations since last year. 

Volvo has been disappointed by the 

AUTOMOTIVE PERSONNEL 

INTERNATIONAL 

progress in both battery performance 

and cost reduction of components 

such as the battery, leaving EVs an 

unanswered conundrum. 

Instead, Volvo is pushing on with 

production of its plug-in hybrid models, 

starting with the diesel-electric V60 D6 

wagon that will combine a 2.4-litre fi vecylinder 

engine driving the front wheels 

and a 50kW electric motor turning the 

rear wheels. 

The vehicle is expected to go on sale 

in small numbers in Australia as an 

environmental fl agship from next year. 

Future Volvo models equipped with 

hybrid powertrains will benefi t from a 

new partnership with German company 

Siemens – a world leader in electric 

motor expertise. 

A motor from Siemens is expected 

to grace the hybrid version of the next 

XC90, which will be the fi rst vehicle 

built on a new platform that will underpin 

the next S60, V70, X60 and S80. 

Volvo commercial manager for the 

company’s only production EV to date, 

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June 20, 2012 Page 3 

Current XC90 

Johan Konnberg, told GoAuto that 

another batch of 100 C30 hatchbacks 

equipped with full-electric powertrains 

would go into production with the new 

Siemens motor next year, replacing the 

current unit made in Switzerland. 

But he said he did not know if 

another batch would follow, in C30 or 

another form. 

So far, a run of 250 C30 DRIVe 

electric hatchbacks has done duty in 

Europe, China and the United States, 

pouring data and personal experiences 

into the Volvo research system. 


S60 Polestar set to roar – next page 

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GoAuto News 

Production hopes high as 

Volvo unveils piping-hot 

374kW turbo-six concept 

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S60 Polestar set to roar 


in GOTHENBURG 

NEVER mind the benign baby-blue 

exterior – this Volvo S60 Polestar concept 

revealed in Sweden at the weekend is set to 

go hunting Germans with malicious intent. 

Armed with 374kW of power and 

575Nm of torque from its turbocharged 

3.0-litre engine – equating to more than 

120kW per litre – the mid-sized marauder 

will be the most powerful car in its class 

should it get the tick for production. 

Developed by Volvo’s Swedish racing 

partner Polestar, the all-wheel-drive 

sedan can cover 0-100km/h in just 3.9 

seconds – almost a full second faster 

than the 309kW 4.0-litre V8 BMW M3 

(4.8s) and 0.7 seconds quicker than the 

331kW 4.2-litre V8 Audi RS5 (4.6s). 

Top speed is said to be a supercar-like 

300km/h. 

The car – unveiled in Volvo’s home 

town during a round of the Swedish 

touring car championship – has been 

built for “one specifi c client”, but do 

not be surprised if Volvo signs off on a 

series production version. 

Polestar founder and CEO Christian 

Dahl said the car had been built to 

Polestar’s own preferences, which he 

said many “active drivers” shared. 

He said the main focus had been to 

combine a comfortable Volvo driving 

experience with a high level of power 

and handling. 

June 20, 2012 Page 4 

Volvo says it will seek customer 

feedback on the concept before making 

a decision on its production future. 

However, Volvo Car Australia 

managing director Matt Braid has 

confi rmed the company’s interest in the 

new model, saying talks were already 

underway with Polestar about potential 

projects such as the S60 Polestar concept. 

“We would love to have the car, but we 

have a few more hurdles to jump yet,” 

he said. “We have a good relationship 

with them (Polestar), which is why we 

are one of the fi rst subsidiaries to bring 

journalists to Sweden to drive the car.” 

FULL STORY: CLICK HERE


GoAuto News 

Saab switches to EVs 

Local distributor hopeful 

of Saab comeback under 

new electric vehicle deal 

By TERRY MARTIN 

THE resurrection of Saab took a new 

turn last week with the announcement 

that a Chinese-Japanese consortium 

had agreed to buy the bankrupt Swedish 

car-maker and plans to specialise as an 

electric vehicle manufacturer. 

Negotiations are still underway 

for use of the Saab brand name, but 

the consortium, known as National 

Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), has 

paid an undisclosed sum to secure 

the main assets of Saab Automobile 

including its manufacturing facilities 

in Trollhattan, Sweden, and rights to 

the current 9-3 and the new vehicle 

platform known as Phoenix. 

An electric vehicle based on the 9-3 

Phoenix 

 

 

and built at Trollhattan – albeit with a 

heavily reduced workforce of around 

200 staff, down from the 3500 Saab 

previously employed – will be the 

fi rst model produced under the plan 

and sold primarily in the fast-growing 

Chinese market from late next year or 

early in 2014. 

However, NEVS has confi rmed it has 

global sales and marketing aspirations, 

and that a second Phoenix-based model 

will follow using “additional cuttingedge 

technology” from Japan. 

Saab Cars Australia (SCA) 

managing director Stephen Nicholls, 

who currently oversees the sale and 

distribution of Saab parts in Australia 


June 20, 2012 Page 5 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9-3 ePower 

and New Zealand to 23 independent 

repairers – a vital cog in keeping some 

37,000 cars on the road – told GoAuto 

that SCA would likely be involved in 

any plan to bring the new EVs to the 

Antipodes. 

“I haven’t had any discussions with 

the team in Sweden yet, but that would 

be a fair assumption,” he said. 

While Mr Nicholls said he did not 

believe there would be any change in 

the Australian operations in the shortterm, 

but was excited by the prospect 

of Saab turning into an EV brand and 

being part of the movement. 



GoAuto News 

Nissan’s Leaf blows in 

Nissan aims for 300-plus 

EV sales in fi rst year with 

pioneering $51,500 Leaf 

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS 

NISSAN admits it is entering uncharted 

territory with Australia’s fi rst ‘mainstream’ 

electric vehicle, which has been priced 

from $51,500 plus on-road costs. 

Even without any meaningful 

government EV incentives, Nissan is 

confi dent of selling at least 300 Leafs in 

its fi rst year on sale, with fl eet business 

accounting for between 60 and 70 per 

cent of volume. 

Currently there are 37 fi rm orders, but 

Nissan Australia expects the publicity 

surrounding the car in the wake of its 

Australian media launch in Sydney last 

week to prompt people into visiting the 

13 dealerships handling the car. 

To help stimulate interest, a $599 

monthly lease package with a guaranteed 

buyback feature is being introduced, 

as well as a three-year free subscription 

to Nissan’s ‘Carwings’ in-car 

communications and telematics service. 

Token government gestures to help 

people into EVs include no stamp duty 

in the ACT and $100 off Victorian 

annual registration – though these pale 

against the signifi cant tax, toll road and 

parking discounts or exclusions (among 

other incentives) offered abroad. 

Created from the ground up as an 

EV, on an all-new platform that will 

underpin a bevy of future electrifi ed 

Nissans, the Leaf is slightly larger than 

a conventional C-segment hatchback. 

Leaf rides on a 2700mm wheelbase 

and is 4445mm long, 1770mm wide 

and 1550mm tall. 

Nissan’s global product chief, Francois 

Bancon, said the standard small-car size 

and shape are essential in easing the 

public into the idea of an EV, while the 

slightly homogenous styling is meant 

AREA SALES MANAGER – Victoria 


June 20, 2012 Page 6 

to reassure those who are resistant to 

change with something familiar. 

Powering the Leaf is a 24kWh 

lithium-ion battery pack consisting 

of 48 separate modules and weighing 

about 300kg, located below the fl oor in 

the back seat area and arranged in such 

a way as to maximise interior space as 

well as keep the centre of gravity as low 

as possible. 

The car tips the scales at 1521kg. 

Using the European NEDC fi gures, 

maximum range is 170km, although 

many factors including temperature, 

topography, driving style, use of in-car 

accessories and vehicle load can alter 

that fi gure signifi cantly. 

Continued next page 

Fiat Chrysler Group is seeking an Area Sales Manager who will be responsible for maximising parts sales for all Victorian 

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Hold Back! Please apply now to: Mietta.gibson@chrysler.com. Applications close Friday 29th June 2012.


GoAuto News 

Nissan’s Leaf blows in 

Continued from previous page 

At 4kWh of remaining battery charge 

(or about 15km of range on the display), 

visual and aural warnings will sound 

while the screen will show where to 

fi nd charging stations within range. 

Charging time from ‘empty’ depends 

on whether the operator uses a standard 

‘Level One’ 240-volt 10-amp household 

outlet (between eight and 12 hours) or 

a specially fi tted ‘Level Two’ 15-amp 

device (around 6.5 hours). 

Each Leaf dealership has a ‘Level 

Three’ 400-volt fast charger that 

provides up to 80 per cent battery 

capacity in around 30 minutes. 

As with other EV-makers, Nissan does 

not recommend regular fast charging, 

or repeated recharging at 80 per cent 

capacity, as both can reduce battery life 

signifi cantly. For the same reason, the 

battery never fully depletes or charges. 

Owners can expect the battery to 

service the car for at least eight years, 

when it can be on-sold for other 

industrial applications that will give the 

unit up to 12 more years of life. 

PARTS TECHNICAL TEAM LEADER 


June 20, 2012 Page 7 

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An opportunity has become available for a Parts Technical – Team Leader to lead, mentor and supervise a small team of Service Parts 

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You will be responsible for determining what parts/components our vehicles require to service our product line with the aim of reducing the 

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assistance, advice and deal with escalated concerns from Customer Assistance Services on technical issues. Above all, your ability to take 

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Driving the front wheels is an electric 

motor delivering 80kW of power from 

2730rpm to 9800rpm, and 280Nm of 

instantaneous torque (from zero to 

2730rpm) – about the same maximum 

torque as a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. 

Though not strictly silent since there 

is a distinctive whirr from the motor 

and single-speed direct-drive reducer 

gearbox, Nissan nevertheless has 

installed a pedestrian sound ‘beacon’ 

to warn of an approaching Leaf at up 

to 40km/h. 

Beyond the drivetrain, the Leaf’s 

underpinnings are purely conventional 

– from the MacPherson strut front and 

torsion beam rear suspension designs to 

the vehicle speed-sensitive electric rackand-pinion 

steering, electronic stability 

control and four-wheel disc brake 

(ventilated front/solid rear) system with 

ABS, EBD and brake assist. 

 

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With regenerative braking, 

decelerating with or without pressing 

on the brakes turns the electric motor 

into an electric generator, siphoning 

otherwise wasted energy to the battery. 

The electronic transmission shifter 

features an ‘eco’ mode that shaves 

motor power and air-conditioning 

outputs to maximise range. 

The Carwings information telematics 

not only informs the driver via the 

standard satellite-navigation system of 

the nearest charging locations, but also 

interacts with a smartphone or computer 

to monitor the state of charge, remotely 

commence a charging phase, activate or 

deactivate the climate-control system, 

and remind the owner to plug the car 

into a power source. 


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GoAuto News 

Key responsibilities include; 

• Drive the market forward 

– improving our already 

strong market share 

• Deliver against targets 

– revenue, sales, service, 

fi nancial, customer service 


Aussie idle-stop reform 

Local fi rm sets out on US 

trade mission to show off 

advanced supercapacitors 

By IAN PORTER 

SMALL Australian company CAP- 

XX is planning to help accelerate the 

adoption of idle-stop engine technology 

across the car industry with its worldleading 

supercapacitors. 

The company claims the addition of a 

supercapacitor to a normal automotive 

idle-stop system using a lead-acid 

battery will greatly extend the life of 

the battery and prevent the system from 

shutting down prematurely. 

CAP-XX founder and chief 

executive Anthony Kongats said 

a supercapacitor might add $50 

or $60 to the cost of a car, but 

could prevent several lead-acid 

battery failures during the life of 

the vehicle. 

A supercapacitor is a small 

electric energy storage device 

that cannot store as much energy as a 

lead-acid battery of the same size, but 

can release its energy far quicker and 

can be recharged on a trickle charge 

from the battery. 

The CAP-XX supercapacitors were 

developed in conjunction with four 

divisions of the CSIRO and are considered 

the most effi cient on the market. 

Sydney-based CAP-XX will take 

its products to the US in the federal 

government’s Team Australia Automotive 

trade mission later this month. 

Anthony Kongats 

It will be looking for partners to help 

manufacture and sell supercapacitors to 

the major car-makers. 

Mr Kongats said the advent of idlestop 

technology has greatly increased 

the load on lead-acid batteries, and 

this is where one of the big 

opportunities lies for CAP-XX 

in the automotive market. 

“Instead of doing two starts a 

day, one when leaving home in 

the morning and another when 

coming home at night, a battery 

might have to do 100 starts a 

day with a stop-start (idle-stop) 

system,” he said. 

“The problem is, lots of those actions 

on a battery damage a battery very 

quickly. Batteries are chemical devices 

and are not good at fast charging and 

discharging.” 

This heavy workload can lead to 

the idle-stop system being disabled, 

without the driver realising. 

Mr Kongats said that, as it stands, 

cars will meet all the emission and 

mileage tests when the battery is new, 

but as the battery starts to age the 

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June 20, 2012 Page 8 

CAP-XX capacitor (right) developed for a camera 

phone, alongside a similar-power regular capacitor 

battery management system – which 

manages the health of the battery – will 

eventually turn off the idle-stop system 

to prevent damage to the battery. 

Drivers may lose the idle-stop 

function in their cars in as little as three 

or six months, he said. 

“They could restore it by getting a 

new battery, but the consumer is not 

going to be real happy replacing a leadacid 

battery every six months.” 

However, if a supercapacitor is added 

to the system, it can handle all the 

starting needs brought on by an idlestop 

system. 

The lead-acid battery then only 

has to provide a slow charge to the 

supercapacitor and power the ancillary 

loads in the car such as the radio and the 

air-conditioning when the engine is off. 

Tests already done in conjunction 

with well-known car-makers have 

shown that the life of a lead-acid battery 

in an idle-stop system can be extended 

by between four and 10 times through 

the addition of a supercapacitor. 



GoAuto News 

$60K Volt ‘about right’ 

Anticipated price point 

for ‘non-profi t’ plug-in 

model fi rms at $60,000 

By HAITHAM RAZAGUI 

OFFICIAL pricing for the Holden Volt 

range-extender EV will be announced 

next month, but the brand’s sales, 

marketing and aftersales executive 

director John Elsworth revealed the 

speculated $60,000 pricetag is “about 

right”. 

Despite the price – which eclipses 

that of battery-only rivals in the Nissan 

Leaf ($51,500), Mitsubishi i-MiEV 

($48,800) and Renault Fluence ZE 

(expected to be around $40,000) – 

Mr Elsworth said Holden would lose 

money on every Volt sold. 

Speaking at last week’s Colorado 

launch, he confi rmed that Holden 

expected hundreds, rather than 

thousands, of annual sales of the USbuilt 

electric car, which will arrive 

in October or November in just one 

specifi cation level. 

Mr Elsworth would not be drawn on 

how many pre-orders have already been 

taken for the Volt, but said there had 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

been interest from both company and 

government fl eets, including the US 

embassy, while private customers were 

expected to contribute to 50 per cent of 

demand. 

Describing private Volt customers 

as “not typical Holden buyers”, Mr 

Elsworth said they were likely to be more 

interested in the car’s technology than its 

environmental benefi ts and “the type of 

people who bought the fi rst iPads”. 

Holden earlier this month revealed 

its Volt dealer network across 

Australia, and Mr Elsworth confi rmed 

Holden’s capped-price servicing plan 

would be offered. 

He suggested the Volt would not 

provide a great deal of profi t for dealers, 


June 20, 2012 Page 9 

but said that selling and servicing the 

car would enable the chosen 49 outlets 

to be “seen to be green”. 

A condition for dealers taking on 

the Volt was at least a level two Green 

Stamp Plus Accreditation through the 

Victorian Automobile Chamber of 

Commerce, and Mr Elsworth said a 

large factor was the ability of the chosen 

dealers to correctly service the vehicle. 

Speaking at the Colorado launch, 

Holden chairman and CEO Mike 

Devereux said the Volt was “the best 

manifestation of car and technology on 

the planet”. 


No Aussie Cruze wagon – next page


GoAuto News 


HOLDEN will offer the Cruze wagon 

in Australia from January next year, 

fi lling a gap in the market vacated by the 

Hyundai i30cw, but the Lion brand has 

ruled out Australian production for now. 

As a result, the 1.4-litre ‘iTi’ engine, 

Watts link rear suspension and electric 

power steering (EPS) set-up built into the 

Australian-made Cruze sedan and hatch 

are unlikely to be available, and some of 

the Australia-specifi c styling updates and 

colours may also be lost in translation. 

At last week’s Colorado ute launch, 

Holden chairman and CEO Mike 

Devereux confi rmed to GoAuto 

the Cruze wagon will have “a few 

differences” compared 

with the models built in 

Adelaide. 

However, he added 

that the wagon – which 

debuted at the Geneva 

show in March and 

received styling input 

from Holden designer Lee Mitchell – 

will also gain “quite a few new features” 

that will be announced closer to launch. 

On the question of local production of 

the wagon, Mr Devereux said: “We are 

not going to attempt to do three of those 

body styles at the plant. 

“Until you fi gure out what the volumes 

are going to be, it doesn’t make sense to 

try to localise it at this point in time.” 

Holden executive director of sales 

and marketing John Elsworth said takeup 

of the Cruze hatch had been lower 

than expected, with more customers 

still opting for the sedan. 

Now that Hyundai has stopped 

importing the i30cw, 

which started from 

$22,090 plus on-road 

costs, the Cruze wagon 

will have little in the 

way of competition in 

the segment apart from 

the Volkswagen Golf 

(from $26,990) and Peugeot 308 (from 

$31,990). 

The Skoda Octavia wagon (from 

$26,990) offi cially occupies the 

medium segment, but at 4569mm long 

it is 106mm shorter than the Cruze. 

Hyundai’s i30cw accounted for 20 per 

cent of Australian i30 sales, supporting 

a comment made by Mr Devereux 

that the wagon format is “not a dead 

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No Aussie Cruze wagon 

Imported wagon to miss 

local Cruze tweaks amid 

Holden launch schedule 

WHAT’S COMING: 

Volt Oct/Nov 

Cruze wagon Dec/Jan 

Colorado 7 Dec/Jan 

Malibu Q2 2013 

Trax Q3 2013 

VF Commodore Q4 2013 

Volkswagen General Manager – Parramatta 

June 20, 2012 Page 10 

Chevrolet Cruze wagon 

segment” here. 

“We do very, very well at some 

extremely nice price and content points 

with Sportwagon,” he said. 

“It’s a great product that will appeal 

to folks who don’t want a large wagon 

but don’t really have much choice in a 

small wagon. 

“I think it might be the best looking 

of the (Cruze) trio; it’s a great-looking 

wagon. 

“We think the Cruze wagon will do 

extremely well … I think, as a fourcylinder 

small wagon, this will be a 

good vehicle.” 

The Cruze wagon will provide useful 

extra cargo capacity for families and fl eet 

buyers, providing 500 litres of space – 55 

litres more than the sedan and 87 litres 

more than the hatch – with up to 1500 

litres on offer with the rear seats folded. 


More reports – next page 

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and Service


GoAuto News 

New Colorado will help 

loosen Toyota’s grip on 

the mining sector: GMH 

PERFORMANCE INNOVATION 

DEVELOPED BY, WITH AND FOR EXPERTS 

Now micro fi ltered to some of the world’s leading new car manufacturer 

requirements when fi lling new vehicle engines for the very fi rst time. 

IT’S MORE THAN JUST OIL. IT’S LIQUID ENGINEERING. 


Holden moves on HiLux 


HOLDEN believes stock shortages 

of rugged one-tonne utes caused by 

last year’s Japanese earthquake and 

tsunami, followed by the Thai fl oods, 

has resulted in a sales opportunity 

– despite natural disasters causing a 

six-month delay to the launch of its 

Colorado. 

Speaking at last week’s Colorado 

launch, Holden executive director of 

sales, marketing and aftersales John 

Elsworth said mining fl eets had been 

forced to consider replacing their 

HiLuxes with alternative products due 

to lack of supply. 

He said this had opened the minds 

of fl eet managers, who had previously 

defaulted to ordering ‘HiLux after 

HiLux’, and shown them the importance 

of diversifying their fl eet as a way of 

protecting against future stock shortages. 

In addition, Mr Elsworth pointed out 

that the timing of mining giant BHP 

Billiton’s recent announcement that 

it will only buy fi ve-star safety-rated 

vehicles will provide a “window of 

opportunity” if the Colorado – which 

is kitted out with electronic stability 

control and six airbags across the range 

– achieves fi ve ANCAP stars when it is 

tested in August. 

“I went over to the Pilbara in WA and 

all I saw was HiLuxes, white HiLuxes,” 

said Mr Elsworth, who stated Holden’s 

intent to “drive a wedge” into Toyota’s 

grip on the mining market. 

However, Toyota has confi rmed it 

will upgrade its top-selling HiLux 

to qualify for fi ve ANCAP stars next 

year and said a “grandfather clause” is 

included in its fl eet agreements to keep 

fl eets driving four-star-rated vehicles 

until the upgrades arrive. 

Mr Elsworth agreed the launch delay 

had caused Holden to miss the boat on 

some sales from fl eets that had already 

made their purchasing decisions for 

the fi rst half of the year but that the 

company would not dwell on that as it 

has long-term goals for the vehicle. 

He said 30 per cent of Colorado sales 

June 20, 2012 Page 11 

Colorado 

will go to the fl eet sector, including 

mining, government and large company 

buyers, whose requirements are 

“exclusively functional”, placing the 

emphasis on capability, fuel economy 

and safety. 

“To date we haven’t had the right 

product to be a strong contender, but the 

new range presents fresh opportunities 

for us,” he said. 


HOLDEN EFIJY SINGLED OUT AS GM 

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GoAuto News 

PUBLIC CONSULTATION 


June 20, 2012 Page 13 

Ford mulls ‘down balance’ 

Workers face week-long 

shutdown next month and 

prospect of more job cuts 

By MIKE COSTELLO 

FORD will consider longer-term job 

cuts after last week confi rming that 

it will shut the doors on its Victorian 

manufacturing plants in Broadmeadows 

and Geelong for a week in July. 

The temporary closure – from Friday, 

July 6 – comes as the company battles 

plummeting sales of its locally built Falcon 

large car, which have dropped a further 

25.2 per cent this year, with just 1008 

units sold in May, despite the introduction 

of a new four-cylinder variant. 

Ford Australia public affairs director 

Sinead Phipps told GoAuto that the 

company was looking for ways to 

match its production levels with market 

demand, and that a “down balance” 

of production lines – a corporate way 

of saying job cuts – was one possible 

alternative. 

“As we talked about with the union 

last week, we are looking at a number 

of ways in which we can manage our 

production,” she said. 

“We’re currently managing that by 

implementing down days, but we’re 

looking at other potential alternatives, 

one of which would be a potential 

down balance, but we have not made 

AUTOMOTIVE NEW MARKETS INITIATIVE 

The Automotive New Markets Initiative (ANMI) is a $35 million initiative that will assist the automotive industry develop new business 

opportunities domestically and internationally. The initiative will run over four years commencing in 2012–13 and has three key elements: 

Automotive New Markets Program (ANMP) 

Business Capability Support 

Automotive Envoy and Automotive Supplier Advocate 

any decision at this stage.” 

Ms Phipps said another possibility 

was to place more emphasis on the 

production of the Falcon-based 

Territory SUV, sales of which are up a 

substantial 57.4 per cent year-to-date 

following the introduction of a popular 

diesel variant early last year. 

“That (upping Territory production) 

is actually a slightly tricky thing to 

implement in terms of production down 

the line, but it’s one of the things we are 

looking at,” she said. 

The confi rmation of stand-downs 

came just one month after Ford 

Australia announced an after-tax loss 

of $290 million for the 2011 fi nancial 

year – its largest ever – much of which 

stemmed from a one-off tax impairment 

charge of $212 million. 


The draft ANMP framework is available for public comment and can be accessed on: 

Broadmeadows production 

GLOBAL ENGINE AWARD 

FORD has won the coveted 

International Engine of the Year title for 

its diminutive 1.0-litre EcoBoost threecylinder, 

beating a host of powertrains 

from the world’s top car-makers in a 

fi eld dominated by petrol power. 

The win marks the fi rst time the 

Blue Oval has taken out the top gong 

in the 13-year history of the awards, 

and is the second year in a row that 

a tiny-capacity engine has won the 

title after Fiat’s 875cc TwinAir twocylinder 

topped the tables last year. 


1.0 EcoBoost 

http://www.innovation.gov.au/anmi 

http://www.dbi.vic.gov.au/ 

http://www.southaustralia.biz/article/view/1173 

Public comment is invited on the draft framework and can be sent to anmp@innovation.gov.au. 

The closing date for submissions is 5 PM AEST, Thursday 28 June 2012. For queries about the ANMP and to subscribe to ANMP email 

updates, please send your details to anmp@innovation.gov.au.


GoAuto News 


Skoda’s Fab hot-four 

June 20, 2012 Page 14 

Long-awaited RS hot hatch headlines new Fabia range as wagon, DSG debut too 


SKODA Australia has launched its longawaited 

Fabia RS pocket rocket from 

$27,990 plus on-road costs, headlining 

a model range expansion that also 

includes the addition of wagon variants 

and – for the fi rst time – the availability 

of an automatic transmission option. 

The Fabia range had been a hatchonly 

proposition since its Australian 

debut in September last year, available 

solely with a fi ve-speed manual gearbox 

matched to a 77kW/175Nm 1.2-litre 

turbo-petrol engine. 

The new RS – available as both a fi vedoor 

hatch and a unique, elongated wagon 

– is based on the popular Volkswagen 

Polo GTI hot hatch and features the 

same 132kW/250Nm turbocharged and 

supercharged ‘Twincharged’ 1.4-litre 

four-cylinder petrol engine. 

This is enough to propel both the 

hatch and (more aerodynamic) wagon 

versions from standstill to 100km/h in 

7.3 seconds – 0.4 seconds slower than 

the 64kg-lighter Polo – while consuming 

a claimed 6.2 litres of 98 RON premium 

unleaded on the combined cycle. 

Like its Polo twin, the Fabia RS is not 

available with a manual gearbox, with 

power channelled to the front wheels 

via a standard seven-speed DSG dualclutch 

automatic with a manual mode 

and paddle shifters. 

PRICING: 

77TSI $18,990 

77TSI (a) $21,290 

77TSI Wagon $20,990 

77TSI Wagon (a) $23,290 

Monte Carlo 77TSI $21,990 

Monte Carlo 77TSI (a) $24,290 

RS 132TSI (a) $27,990 

RS 132TSI Wagon (a) $29,990 

This same transmission is now also 

available as a $2300 option to the 

existing fi ve-speed manual across 

the rest of the Fabia line-up (without 

paddles), including base 77TSI hatch 

and wagon variants and the Monte 

Carlo hatch. 

The $27,990 starting price for the 

RS hatch is $1000 lower than the 

equivalent fi ve-door Polo GTI, while 

the roomier RS wagon commands a 

$2000 premium over the RS hatch, 

kicking off at $29,990. 

As well as the Polo, the RS hatch will 

compete with less-powerful rivals like 

the Hyundai Veloster and Suzuki Swift 

Sport (both from $23,990 plus ORCs), 

and the three-door Honda CR-Z and 

Citroen DS3 DSport. 

However, there is no obvious direct 

rival for the wagon. 

Continued page 16 

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GoAuto News 

Skoda’s Fab hot-four 

Continued from page 14 

Said to have been inspired by the 

successful Fabia S2000 rally car, the RS is 

cosmetically distinguished from its lesser 

siblings by 17-inch ‘Gigaro’ alloy wheels, 

red brake callipers, dual exhausts, darker 

window tinting, chrome highlights, a rear 

spoiler and black rear diffuser. 

Like its Volkswagen twin-under-theskin, 

the RS also features what Skoda 

calls an Extended Electronic Differential 

Lock (XDL) system that brakes the 

inside front wheel to negate understeer, 

as well as lowered sports suspension. 

The RS range uses MacPherson strut 

suspension at the front, a “compound 

link crank-axle” at the rear and electrohydraulic 

rack-and-pinion steering. 

It also sits on wider 205/40 tyres and 

features four-wheel disc brakes (the 

base 77TSI continues with rear drums). 

Inside, the RS has front sports bucket 

seats, stainless-steel sports pedals, leatherclad 

steering wheel, handbrake and 

gearshifter, and chrome interior highlights. 

Standard features include rear 

parking sensors and climate-control 


SENIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER 

 

June 20, 2012 Page 16 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HELP US GO BETTER. APPLY TODAY. 

air-conditioning (both of which are 

optional on 77TSI and Monte Carlo 

variants), an eight-speaker sound 

system with MP3 inputs (though a 

USB plug is optional), multi-function 

steering wheel, Bluetooth phone 

streaming, LED daytime running lights, 

front foglights and cruise control. 

As well as the RS version, the all-new 

wagon body style is now available at the 

entry-level 77TSI specifi cation level 

with the same $2000 premium over the 

existing hatch, priced from $20,990, or 

$23,290 with the DSG self-shifter. 

Both manual and DSG versions of 

the 77kW/175Nm 1.2-litre wagon 

variants consume a claimed combined 

5.3L/100km on 95 RON premium 

unleaded – the same as the hatchback. 

Skoda Australia does not offer the 

wagon in higher-spec Monte Carlo 

guise, while both the 77TSI and RS 

 

www.holden.com.au/careers and search for reference number: CUS0000049 

RS 

wagon variants miss out on the range 

of optional contrasting roof colours 

offered on the hatch. 

The small entry-level wagon gives 

Skoda an almost unique presence in 

the light segment, with the only other 

comparatively sized load-lugger being 

the signifi cantly more expensive Peugeot 

207 Outdoor, priced from $26,990. 

The elongated body style – at 

4276mm, it is 250mm longer than the 

hatch – gives both the 77TSI and RS 

versions the same class-leading cargo 

space of 480 litres, expanding to 1460 

litres with the 60/40-split rear seats 

folded, making them roomier even than 

many larger hatches and small SUVs. 


For drive impressions, go to 

GoAuto.com.au from this afternoon 

Roomster returns – next page 

A CAREER THAT’S NOT DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLAND.


GoAuto News 

Roomster returns 

Skoda mini-MPV is back 

with a new look, 1.2-litre 

engine and lower pricing 


SKODA has given its quirky 

Roomster mini-MPV another crack 

at the Australian market – almost two 

years after the original model was 

discontinued – and this time is relying 

exclusively on petrol power in the form 

of the VW Group 1.2-litre TSI engine 

and a substantially lower price point. 

The small people-mover formed 

part of the Czech company’s inaugural 

Australian line-up in October 2007, 

but the brand went on to sell just 235 

units over a three-year period before 

swinging the axe and deleting it from 

its line-up in October 2010. 

Kicking off at $22,490 plus onroad 

costs (or an extra $2300 for the 

optional seven-speed DSG dual-clutch 

automatic), the revised Roomster range 

undercuts the previous starting price 

by $4500, while bringing a longer 

list of standard features and claimed 

improvements to interior quality. 

The most obvious rivals for the 

Roomster are the conceptually similar 

Kia Soul (from $21,490 plus on-road 

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costs) and passenger versions of light 

commercial vans like the Volkswagen 

Caddy Maxi Life, but the car will also 

compete on price with big-selling small 

hatches and front-drive SUVs. 

The previous iteration was powered 

here with the choice of a 1.6-litre 

petrol engine and 1.9-litre turbo- 

diesel (the latter a manualonly 

proposition), but the 

returning model relies 

exclusively on the 1.2-litre 

engine also used in the Fabia and Yeti, 

plus the Volkswagen Polo and Golf. 

As with those models, the fourcylinder 

turbocharged unit belies its 

tiny capacity by producing 77kW and 

175Nm of torque – available between 

1500 and 4100rpm – while consuming 

a claimed 5.9 litres of 95 RON premium 

unleaded on the combined cycle with 

either transmission. 

In comparison, the old 1.6 petrol 

produced the same 77kW of power but 

just 153Nm of torque at a much higher 

(therefore less usable) part of the rev 

band, and consumed 7.0L/100km of fuel. 

DEALER TO DEALER ONLINE AUCTION 


PRICING: 

77TSI $22,490 

77TSI (a) $24,790 

June 20, 2012 Page 17 

The divisive exterior styling of 

the previous model remains broadly 

recognisable, however Skoda has given 

the nose a facelift with a wider front 

grille and tweaked headlight design 

that brings claimed improvements to 

“road presence”. 

As before, the Roomster trades 

on the practicality of 

its fi ve-seat cabin, with 

family-friendly large side 

windows, elevated rear seat 

row and a variation of the innovative 

Variofl ex seating system used in the 

Yeti compact SUV. 

This system allows all three of the 

(16kg) rear seats to be completely 

removed, turning the Roomster into 

a light commercial van with a load 

capacity of 1780 litres. Removing just 

the centre-rear seat also enables the 

outer pews to move inwards, freeing up 

passenger shoulder room. 


For drive impressions, go to 

GoAuto.com.au from Thursday 

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GoAuto News 


Mahindra SUV from $30K 

High spec and appealing 

$29,900 price for Indian 

brand’s seven-seat XUV 

By DAVID HASSALL 

INDIAN car-maker Mahindra has 

priced its new diesel-engined XUV500 

SUV at $29,900 driveaway when it hits 

the Australian market at the end of July, 

with the all-wheel-drive version priced 

at $32,900. 

While this will make it the cheapest 

seven-seat SUV on the Australian 

market, undercutting the equivalent 

Korean-built Holden Captiva 7 diesel 

by about $5000, the Holden vitally 

comes with a standard automatic 

transmission, which effectively halves 

the price difference. 

Furthermore, Holden is offering the 

petrol-engined Captiva 7 SX, also with 

standard six-speed auto, at a driveaway 

price of $32,990 as part of an ‘end of 

fi nancial year’ sale – and with an extra 

two years of factory warranty, taking it 

to fi ve years compared with three years 

for the Mahindra. 

Automatic transmissions account 

for around 90 per cent of sales in this 

segment in Australia, but the Mahindra 

is only available with a six-speed 

manual gearbox and will not get an auto 

until the fi rst half of 2014. 

The new Indian SUV – Mahindra’s 

fi rst passenger vehicle – will cost $4000 

more than the slightly smaller fi ve-seat 

X200 of developing nation rival Great 

Wall from China. 

Mahindra Automotive 

international operations 

product and marketing 

head Satish Karandiker 

said the pricing was “in line with 

our philosophy to make the highest 

technology available to the most number 

of people at an affordable price”. 

However, he left the door open for a 

cheaper entry-level model with a lower 

level of specifi cation in the future. 

Mahindra will initially offer a 

single specifi cation for both the 2WD 

and AWD versions of the W8-series 

XUV500, including dual-zone climatecontrol, 

leather upholstery, satellitenavigation, 

an idle-stop system, 

tyre-pressure monitoring, cruise 

control, automatic ‘swivelling’ Xenon 

headlights, auto wipers, hill-start assist 

and parking sensors front and rear. 

A reversing camera is available 

as a dealer-fi tted accessory, but Mr 

Karandiker said this could become a 

factory-fi tted feature depending on the 

response of consumers. 

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PRICING: 

XUV500 2WD $29,900 

XUV500 AWD $32,900 

June 20, 2012 Page 18 

Power comes from the same 2.2-litre 

‘mHawk’ turbo-diesel engine as in the 

company’s Pik-Up ute, but with power 

boosted to 103kW at 3750rpm and 

torque to 330Nm between 

1600 and 2800rpm. 

With offi cial combined 

fuel consumption of 

only 6.7 litres per 100km for the frontdrive 

model and 7.2L/100km for the 

AWD, Mahindra claims best-in-class 

economy. 

Mahindra says the XUV500 – 

pronounced “fi ve-o-o” for “oomph” 

apparently – is the fi rst vehicle it has 

developed specifi cally for the global 

market, its previous light commercialbased 

vehicles having been designed 

for the Indian market and then offered 

for sale internationally. 

Although designed and developed 

entirely in India, testing and product 

validation was also done in a number 

of other countries, including ABS brake 

and electronic stability control system 

testing here in Australia. 


DRIVE IMPRESSIONS: CLICK HERE 

Mahindra revs up Reva – page 24 

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GoAuto News 

SQ5 breaks free 

Audi targets BMW’s M50d SUVs with hot diesel S 


AUDI has returned BMW’s fi re in the 

high-performance diesel SUV market 

with the SQ5 TDI, which the company 

claims can punch its way to 100km/h in 

5.1 seconds yet sip just 7.2 litres of fuel 

per 100 kilometres. 

Ingolstadt’s fi rst diesel S model – 

which has a top speed of some 250km/h 

– is yet to be confi rmed for Australian 

release, but Audi Australia corporate 

communications executive Shaun Cleary 

told GoAuto the company is “very 

interested in this exciting new model”. 

“The success of the Q5 model range in 

Australia and our country’s appetite for 

performance models in general means 

that we’ll look very closely at it if or 

when the opportunity arises,” he said. 

If it does come here, it will eventually 

become fl agship for the facelifted Q5 

range that is due to arrive Down Under 

this summer. 

Powered by the same 3.0-litre twinturbo 

V6 diesel engine that debuted in 

the European-market A6 BiTDI earlier 

this year, the SQ5’s power output of 

230kW is complemented by a 650Nm 

slug of torque available between 

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1450rpm and 2800rpm. 

These compare with the facelifted 

Q5’s standard 3.0-litre V6 TDI that 

produces 180kW and 580Nm, 4kW and 

80Nm more than the current model. 

The hot Audi diesel produces 50kW 

and 90Nm less than the triple-turbo 

straight-six diesel used in M50d variants 

of the BMW X5 and X6 that will launch 

in Australia next month. 

However, the smaller and lighter 

Q5 makes more of the available 

performance, shaving at least twotenths 

of a second off the 0-100km/h 

times posted by the BMWs while being 

up to 0.5L/100km more fuel effi cient. 

The SQ5’s engine sends power to 

the road via an eight-speed automatic 

transmission (with aluminium-look 

paddle-shifters) and Audi’s quattro 

torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. 

Sports suspension lowers the body 

by 30mm compared with a standard 

Q5, with the wheelarches fi lled by 

20-inch (or optional 21-inch) alloy 

wheels, behind which sit black 

S-badged brake callipers. 


Dealership profi ts – not just about the numbers 

Distinctively different – it’s how we see you 

AUDIT • TAX • ADVISORY 


June 20, 2012 Page 19 

Near-fi nal i3 turns up 

in fi rst BMW ‘i Store’ 


BMW has displayed a more advanced 

version of its i3 concept car while 

previewing the fi rst showroom 

dedicated to its new electric subbrand, 

in the heart of London. 

The revised i3 concept – featuring 

a new interior with extensive 

sustainable natural materials – is said 

to be representative of the production 

version that will hit European roads 

from late 2013. 

The German car-maker’s fi rst ‘i 

Store’ is next to existing BMW and 

Mini dealerships on Park Lane, and 

will initially display concept versions 

of the i3 and its i8 plug-in sportscar 

stablemate, both of which debuted in 

Frankfurt last year. 

As GoAuto has reported, the i8 

range-extender will go into production 

for global markets soon after the 

pioneering i3 and will hit overseas 

roads in 2014. Neither model is 

confi rmed for Australia, but both 

are believed to be a strong chance to 

arrive in our market within two years. 

BMW AG board member Ian 

Robertson said the new showroom 

– to formally open its doors on July 

25 – would help educate the public 

on electromobility and allow future 

customers to experience fi rst-hand the 

forthcoming range of EV and rangeextender 

vehicles. 


Latest research confi rms that 90% of car buyers use the internet to determine 

purchase decisions. However, the focus on state of the art facilities has taken 

priority over online tools which bring the customers to the dealership in the 

fi rst instance. 

At BDO we are not just about the numbers – we take a whole of business 

approach to our advice. Visit bdo.com.au/dealershipprofi ts for further details 

regarding the importance of an online presence.


GoAuto News 

Boxster booster shot 

Porsche aims to turn back 

clock with up to 400 sales 

a year from new roadster 


PORSCHE Cars Australia is hoping its 

new third-generation Boxster roadster 

will recapture the sales glory of the 

roadster’s halcyon days in the late 1990s 

and early 2000s when the fi rst generation 

racked up about 400 sales a year. 

Although PCA managing director 

Michael Winkler is reluctant to pin a 

number on his sales aspirations for the 

all-new model, he said he was expecting 

a jump in Boxster sales compared with 

recent years. 

“The fi rst model sold 350-400 a year 

in its heyday,” he said. “We would hope 

that it will at least emulate that. 

“We could be as bold as to say we 

might surprise ourselves.” 

In recent times, the only Porsche 

model to exceed 400 units in Australia 

has been the top-selling Cayenne SUV, 

which achieved 803 sales last year 

– about 60 per cent of Porsche’s total 

1343 units in 2011. 

Last year, Boxster managed 132 

Need to know Australia’s automotive industry & market? 

YEARBOOK 2012 

Your one-stop guide to all aspects of our market and 

industry from Australian Automotive Intelligence - 

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June 20, 2012 Page 20 

Model cycle set to put Porsche on record-breaking sales pace in Australia by 2014 

By DAVID HASSALL 

PORSCHE expects to return to the 

record sales level of 2007 in Australia 

by 2014, when its latest 911, Boxster 

and Cayman model ranges will be 

fl eshed out and joined by the vital new 

Macan compact SUV. 

The German company was heavily 

impacted by the global fi nancial crisis 

and was economically crippled, but is 

fi ghting back with the arrival of highly 

sales, which is about par for its run 

since the global fi nancial crisis struck 

in 2008, but well behind its stablemate, 

the 911, which achieved 201 units last 

year, even though the 911 was also in its 

last year before a major model change. 

The Boxster’s best sales performance 

in Australia was 409 units in 2001 – 

four years after the nameplate arrived in 

local showrooms. 

Mr Winkler said Boxster supply 

would not be an issue, saying: “We will 

get what we planned to have.” 

But he confessed it was diffi cult to 

judge customer demand ahead of launch, 

as Boxster customers tended to wait to 

see and touch the car before committing. 

“With 911 that has been through many 

generations, the customers have blind 

faith that the next one will be better,” he 

Macan 

acclaimed all-new versions of its three 

sportscar models within months of 

each other. 

And the icing on the cake will be the 

launch in 2014 of the Macan, which will 

CD or HARDCOPY 

OVER 130 COMPANY PROFILES 

said. “This is the fi rst real major change 

for the Boxster, and customers are being 

a bit cautious. They are waiting to see if 

we have stuffed it up fi rst!” 

However, he said the improvements 

to the Boxster gave Porsche confi dence 

that customers would be queuing up 

soon enough. 

The main criticism of the previous 

Boxster had been that it was “a bit soft”, 

but that has been addressed with the latest 

edition, which Porsche believes will stand 

on its own feet as a core model, without 

constant comparison with 911. 

The new car gets an all-new platform 

– the fi rst major change in that area since 

the topless two-seater was launched in 

Australia in 1997. 


be based on the Audi Q5 platform and 

will provide Porsche with a signifi cant 

volume seller below the Cayenne fullsize 

SUV, which vies with the 911 as the 

brand’s most popular model in Australia. 

The Macan is expected to debut on 

home turf at the Frankfurt motor show 

in September 2013 before coming to 

Australia in the fi rst half of 2014. 


UNIQUE DATA 

YEARBOOK 

2012 

Australian Automotive Intelligence 

11th EDITION 

OVER 300 PAGES 

INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS


GoAuto News 

Show shift 

Sydney motor show to move to Homebush in 2014 


IT’S offi cial. The Australian 

International Motor Show (AIMS) is 

moving to the Sydney Showgrounds 

in 2014 as the New South Wales 

government rebuilds the Darling 

Harbour precinct. 

As GoAuto reported exclusively 

in February, the Federal Chamber of 

Automotive Industries and the Victorian 

Automobile Chamber of Commerce 

– the joint organisers of AIMS – were 

forced to fi nd an alternative venue in 

the Harbour City with the impending 

demolition of the Sydney Convention 

and Exhibition Centre (SCEC) as part 

of a three-year redevelopment project. 

The Sydney Showgrounds at 

Homebush, which is on the site of 

the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 

city’s inner-west, is the only realistic 

alternative for Australia’s biggest motor 

show, which rotates between Sydney 

and Melbourne each year. 

AIMS event director Russ Tyrie last 

week confi rmed the move to Homebush 

for both 2014 and 2016. 

The current schedule will see the 

exhibition centre close at the end of 

next year. 

“Whilst the SCEC has been our home 

for 23 shows, we are very much looking 

forward to the opportunities presented 

to us and exhibitors alike at Sydney 

Showground,” said Mr Tyrie. 

“The Sydney Olympic Park venue 

will enable the motor show to grow 

and become a more diverse event, with 

the expansive outdoor areas giving 

exhibitors more room and the chance 

to host both on- and off-stand activities. 

The possibilities are practically 

endless.” 

Highlighting the “outdoor area” 

of some 15,000 square metres and 

encouraging exhibitors to think beyond 

conventional displays indicates that 

the organisers are acutely aware of the 

drawbacks with the Homebush site. 

The move will reduce the all-important 

indoor fl oor space for exhibitors, with 

a maximum 21,600 square metres 

available in the showground’s dome 

and three adjacent exhibition halls. 



June 20, 2012 Page 21 

Opel updates Astra range 

ahead of Aussie launch 


AUSTRALIAN Opel buyers will get 

the just-updated Astra line-up when 

the German brand arrives here in 

September, featuring styling tweaks 

and “customer-friendly innovations 

rarely seen in the segment”. 

The facelifted small car, which has 

just gone on sale in Europe, is expected 

to be joined by a new Astra-based – 

but not yet named – convertible at the 

Paris motor show in September. 

A revised Insignia mid-sizer has 

also been spied in testing, but this is 

expected to be unveiled at Geneva in 

March, meaning Opel will go with 

the current model for the Australian 

launch. 

Local Astra specifi cations, pricing 

and engine choices will be announced 

closer to the Australian launch, but 

some of the technologies offered on 

the revised European model include 

camera-based driver assistance aids 

such as road-sign recognition, lanedeparture 

warning and blind-spot 

monitoring. 

Other safety gadgets notify the 

driver if they are following the car 

in front too closely and alert them to 

potential collisions, and if the radarbased 

adaptive cruise control system 

is fi tted the car will automatically 

brake to avoid a crash. 


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GoAuto InBrief 

Sorento overhaul 

Subtle design update hides Kia SUV’s new platform 


IT MAY look like a mild facelift of 

Kia’s popular Sorento seven-seat SUV, 

but behind the familiar-looking skin 

are new underpinnings shared with the 

next-generation Santa Fe from sister 

company Hyundai that debuted at the 

New York motor show in April. 

Due for Australian release in the 

fourth quarter of this year, Kia says the 

updated Sorento will go upmarket with 

more soft-touch cabin surfaces, a new 

eight-inch multi-function display and 

an LCD instrument cluster. 

The optional panoramic sunroof has 

BMW 1 Series 116i 5-dr hatch 


June 20, 2012 Page 22 

GoAuto’s latest car review www.GoAuto.com.au 

BMW has rebooted its successful rear-drive rival to the 

Golf while sticking to the formula from the successful fi rstgeneration 

model. Bigger in every direction, with a stronger 

body but a 60kg weight drop, the F20 1 Series is an attempt 

to address the issues affl icting the E87 original, like the lack 

of rear-seat space, diffi cult entry and egress and choppy ride 

quality. But far from feeling like a poverty pack special (except 

if you’re in the back seat), today’s 116i rises above its lowly 

ranking and base specifi cation to provide a terrifi cally wellrounded 

driving and ownership experience. And especially 

so as a manual. This is a proper little BMW. FULL STORY: CLICK HERE 

Seeking motor dealership Financial Controller ... 

A well established multi motor franchise 

dealer in the Melbourne south eastern 

(bayside) suburbs requires the services 

of a qualified accountant to fill the role 

of dealership Financial Controller. 

Reporting to the Managing Director the 

role responsibilities include: 

been enlarged and Kia has ditched 

its cross-beam in the roof, while the 

redesigned centre console has a straight 

gate for automatic variants (rather than 

the outgoing model’s staggered shift) 

and the selector gets a leather boot. 

External changes also indicate the 

Sorento’s more upmarket aspirations, 

comprising a new headlight design 

with LED daytime running lights, a 

redesigned tailgate panel with reshaped 

LED tail-light clusters and new bumpers 

featuring more body-coloured areas. 


– Planning, monitoring and controlling the activities 

of the administration functions 

– Preparing monthly dealership financial statements 

– Reviewing/analysing departmental performance 

– Ensuring adherence to all statutory 

tax requirements 

– Liaising with the dealership financiers and advisors 

Please forward your application to: David Buckley, Partner, Fordham Motor Dealer Services 

GPO Box 4369, Melbourne Victoria 3001, E. dbuckley@fordhamgroup.com.au 

Fordham Business Advisors Pty Ltd ABN 77 140 981 853. Fordham Business Advisors is part of the Perpetual Group. 

MAZDA BT-50 TWEAKS 

MAZDA has tweaked its BT-50 onetonne 

ute line-up to offer a cab-chassis 

version of the 4x2 dual-cab and an 

automatic transmission for the 4x2 

single cab-chassis variant. 

In addition, eight-way electric adjustment 

for the driver’s seat is now standard on the 

fl agship 4x4 dual-cab GT utility. 

The new 4x2 dual cab-chassis costs 

$34,590 plus on-road costs, is powered 

by the 147kW/470Nm 3.2-litre fi vecylinder 

turbo-diesel engine and available 

in XT trim level only, which includes 

air-conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, 

cruise control, electric windows and 

power-adjustable mirrors. 


ALSO IN THE NEWS... 

► OFFICIAL TOYOTA 86 BODYKIT 

► PROTON UPGRADES S16 SERIES 

► DIESEL IS CARCINOGENIC: WHO 

► AUTO-MAKERS EMBRACE SIRI 

► BRISBANE CAR-SHARE LAUNCH 

We are seeking an energetic and enthusiastic 

person with Pentana DMS computer experience 

who wants to make a major contribution to the 

operation of a metropolitan dealership. 

A salary package, commensurate to the position 

will be negotiated with the successful applicant. 

motor dealer services


GoAuto Market Insight 

Four new models still to 

come in 2012 as HMCA 

looks for further growth 


HYUNDAI Motor Co Australia shows 

no sign of slowing down its rush of 

new models in the wake of the newly 

released i30 as it gears up for recordbreaking 

sales in 2012. 

The company will add four new or 

facelifted models to its range before the 

year is out as it chases a target of 93,000 

sales, which would be an increase of 

6.8 per cent over last year’s record. 

First up in a matter of weeks will be 

an upgraded version of the i20 light 

hatch, followed almost immediately 

by the mid-size i40 sedan around midyear, 

the Veloster Turbo sportscar in the 

third quarter and the all-new Santa Fe 

SUV around the last quarter. 

Up until last month, the company 

was well on track with a growth rate 

of 6.5 per cent to the end of May, 

leapfrogging Ford to sit fourth on the 

sales charts. 

The Korean brand slipped 7.5 per 

cent in May to be now 3.5 per cent 

ahead of last year, although it remains 

fourth overall – with 35,634 new 

registrations – in the Australian market. 

The continued growth comes 

courtesy of key models like the current 

i20 and Elantra, plus a strong start 

for the new non-turbo variant of the 

Veloster Coupe. 

The quirky sportscar is easily the 

biggest seller in its segment this year, 

despite having only gone on sale in 

GoAuto Market Insight – brought 

to you by Dealer Solutions 

Hyundai soldiers on 

12,000 

10,000 

8000 

6000 

4000 

2000 

0 

mid-February, racking up 1409 sales to 

the end of May. 

The performance of these models 

makes up for the loss of the now-defunct 

Getz light car, which contributed 

11,499 sales to Hyundai’s 2011 tally. 

Hyundai Australia also projects its 

new i30 will outsell the old model by 

around 100 units per month, despite 

discontinuing the popular wagon 

variant due to supply issues. 

The Korean company still trails 

Mazda (42,540) as the nation’s leading 

full-line importer, as well as Toyota 

(84,386) and Holden (45,551), while 

Nissan Australia (31,549) remains 

determined to come from behind and 

take the number-one importer tag. 

However, HMCA director of 

marketing Oliver Mann said the 

company was “not out there targeting 

any specifi c brand or customer base”. 

As GoAuto has reported, the revised 

i20 picks up the corporate hexagonal 


Dealer 

Solutions 

Means Performance. 

June 20, 2012 Page 23 

Hyundai sales versus key rivals January 2011-onwards 

14,000 

Distributing your inventory online has never 

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Dealer Solutions Inventory Distribution is here to help you. 

Sour Source: ce: VFAC VFACTS TS 

Hyundai Holden Mazda Ford Nissan Mitsubishi 

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2011 2012 

Inventory & Photo Distribution 

grille and more sharply defi ned 

headlights, revised front and rear 

bumpers, sculpted bonnet and new 

wheel trims. 

The headline act is a 55kW 1.1-litre 

three-cylinder diesel engine that, with 

the help of Hyundai’s ‘BlueDrive’ 

technologies, emits just 84g/km of 

CO2, although Hyundai Australia has 

not confi rmed whether this engine will 

join the existing 73kW 1.4-litre fourcylinder 

petrol engine offered here. 

The new i40 sedan variant, meanwhile, 

will be offered initially with only the 

100kW/320Nm 1.7-litre diesel from the 

i40 Tourer, although the 130kW/213Nm 

2.0-litre GDI petrol could join the range 

further down the line. 

The sedan will be sold alongside 

the slightly larger i45 sedan, giving 

Hyundai a two-pronged presence in the 

medium segment. 


Putting you in control. Contact Dealer Solutions today. 1300 66 11 33 

www.dealersolutions.com.au


GoAuto Green 

Green issues in the auto world 

GoAuto o GGreen 

reen is brought 

to you by by y Better 

Place 

Mahindra revs up Reva 

Indian auto-maker plans 

move straight to electric 

power with smaller cars 

By JAMES STANFORD 

INDIAN automotive brand Mahindra 

plans to leapfrog established brands with 

a new range of electric vehicles it aims 

to sell globally, including Australia. 

The industrial giant, which is best 

known for its tractors, has yet to make 

a road-based passenger car but has 

big plans for Reva, the Bangalorebased 

electric vehicle manufacturer 

it acquired in 2010 and renamed the 

Mahindra Reva Electric Car Company. 

Mahindra Automotive plans to 

continue producing off-road and 

utilitarian vehicles such as the Pik-Up 

workhorse utility, Genio ute and rugged 

domestic market off-roaders such as the 

Bolero as well as the new XUV500 SUV, 

which was made for global markets. 

It has no aims to produce sedans or 

hatches with regular petrol or diesel 

engines, but will instead use its new 

Mahindra Reva division to introduce 

an electric vehicle and compete with 

established automotive players who are 

now turning to EVs. 

“We are not going to ignore that 

NXR 

(passenger car) segment, but we 

are going to address it in a different 

manner,” said Mahindra international 

operations chief executive Ruzbeh Irani. 

“So, rather than try to do a me-too of 

what others have done much better than 

us, we want to leapfrog that process by 

going to where consumers are already 

going, which is into electric vehicles.” 

“We believe that, in what you call the 

passenger vehicle segment, the electric 

vehicle segment is really the tomorrow 

of that segment. 

“It really is the vehicle of the next 

generations, not only in terms of CO2 

values but also what it can do.” 

Mahindra expects it to be profi table, 

especially as the business model 

includes more than just the purchase 

price of the car. 

“There we are not only offering a 

transportation solution, you are offering 

a complete mobility solution,” said Mr 

Irani. “There you are also providing 

all the electronics necessary, all the 

connectivity in the vehicle (including 

charging stations). 

“Reva is at the cutting edge of electric 

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If you have any queries, please contact Sarah Cox on (03) 8679 0800 

or email your query to fl eetsales@betterplace.com.au 


June 20, 2012 Page 24 

NXG (left) and NXR 

vehicle technology and is coming out 

with a range of new products in the 

next six months. 

“These will be launched in India also, 

but are essentially for global markets.” 

The company last year signed a 

memorandum of understanding with 

the Victorian government to explore 

“the potential for research, supply chain 

development, and manufacturing of 

clean technology vehicles in Victoria”, 

although there is currently no plan to 

begin local production. 

Regardless of whether any local 

production plan makes it past the 

initial stage, Mr Irani said the electric 

Reva models would fi nd their way to 

Australia. 

“I don’t think it will come immediately, 

but over time it will,” he said. 

Reva currently sells one small 

electric city car, the Reva-i that dates 

back to 2001 and is also known as the 

G-Whiz, but is set to launch a new 

version called the NXR with the latest 

battery technology and a fresh design. 


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GoAuto Personnel – brought 

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SAVVAS STEPS IN AS NEW VW SALES CHIEF 


VOLKSWAGEN Group Australia has 

announced the appointment of Andrew 

Savvas as general manager of sales. 

Taking over the sales role previously 

held by Nick Angelis, who moved to 

Opel Australia in February, Mr Savvas 

joins the German brand from Toyota 

Australia and has experience as a 

franchise development manager and 

regional sales manager. 

Most recently, he was regional 

manager for South Australia and the 

Northern Territory. 

At Volkswagen, Mr Savvas will have 

overall responsibility for passenger 

vehicle sales and will report directly 

to VW Group Australia managing 

director Anke Koeckler. 

Volkswagen sales were up 33.1 per 

cent to the end of May, breaking through 

the 20,000-unit mark last month to hold 

down eighth position among Australia’s 

top-10 automotive brands, with a 4.7 

per cent market share. 

Australia’s No.1 

A large proportion 

of that increase can 

be attributed to the 

Amarok utility, up 

450 per cent this year 

with more than 2000 

sales. This falls under 

VW’s commercial 

Andrew Savvas 

vehicles stable. 

VW’s biggest-selling model, the 

Golf small car, is down 4.9 per cent 

YTD, and the Polo light hatch is 

0.3 per cent in arrears, although the 

Jetta sedan, the larger Passat, and 

the Tiguan and Touareg SUVs are all 

trading well. 

As previously reported, Volkswagen 

also recently appointed Carlos Santos 

as general manager of business 

development. 

Mr Santos was previously general 

manager of sales at Audi Australia, a 

position he held for just over a year 

after moving from his role as national 

sales manager at Volkswagen. 


MITSUBISHI HONOURS TOP-PERFORMING AUSTRALIAN DEALERS FOR 2011 


MITSUBISHI Motors Australia 

Limited has named Gary Fitch from John 

Hughes Mitsubishi in the Perth suburb 

of Victoria Park, Western Australia, as 

its 2011 Metropolitan Dealer of the Year. 

In the second year that top metro, 

provincial and rural dealers have 

been recognised as part of MMAL’s 

‘Distinguished Dealer’ program, Steve 

Callaghan from Callaghan Mitsubishi 

in Warrnambool, Victoria, was named 

Provincial DOTY, and taking back-toback 

Rural DOTY awards was Derek 

Mcilroy from Mcilroy Mitsubishi in 

Victor Harbour, South Australia. 

June 20, 2012 Page 25 

Recruitment Specialist Anne Taylor George Hennessy Mara Nogarotto 

salesservicepartsadmin 

– Established 1992 – 

1300 666 562 

Other dealer 

principals honoured 

in the 2011 program 

were: New South 

Wales: Debbie Clark 

(Penrith Mitsubishi), 

Gary Fitch 

Craig Sutton (Suttons 

Mitsubishi), Allen 

Thomas (Thomas Bros 

Mitsubishi), John McGuigan (John 

Oxley Mitsubishi); Queensland: Marc 

Caton (Eagers Mitsubishi), Shane Beach 

(Nundah Mitsubishi), Glen Stallard (Blue 

Ribbon Mitsubishi), Jason Wiegmink 

(Wide Bay Mitsubishi), David Cassels 

(Graeme Collins Mitsubishi), David 

Les Land 

Angela Pirrone 

Doug Tame 

Mete (Mareeba Mitsubishi); Victoria: 

Stephen Heron (Preston Motors Epping 

Mitsubishi), Tony Jowett (Heidelberg 

Mitsubishi); Tasmania: Grant Jenkins 

(Launceston Mitsubishi); Western 

Australia: David Di Virgilio (Wanneroo 

Mitsubishi); and South Australia: 

Carmine Papillo (North East Mitsubishi). 


MARKEY DE-PARTS 

THE Ford community is about to 

farewell a long-serving representative 

of the Blue Oval brand, with parts 

manager Greg Markey from Parramatta 

dealer Thomson Ford retiring on July 

14 after 41 years of service. 

Mr Markey started out as a spare 

parts interpreter and car salesman 

in Coonamble in the early 1970s, 

subsequently moving to Sydney 

and rising to become assistant parts 

manager and, some 19 years ago, parts 

manager at Thomson Ford. 

During this time he has also been 

a delegate for the NSW Ford Parts 

Managers’ Association. 

“As a parts manager Greg reaches 

out to all Ford dealers in the metro 

area and rural areas, as well as right 

throughout Australia, and is well 

respected as a businessperson,” 

said Thomson Ford general service 

manager Vince Tropiano. 

Greg Markey (right) and 

Vince Tropiano 

SEEKING 

QUALITY STAFF? 

www.motorstaff.com.au 

“Our Recruitment Specialists take the stress out of hiring the Best People for your business”

GoAuto New Car Diary 

LAUNCH 

JUN 


GoAuto New Car Diary – brought 

to you by carsales.com.au 

Audi A1 Sportback/A4/S3 update 

Audi A6 Avant ► 

BMW X6 

Holden Colorado 

Honda Civic Hatch 

Isuzu D-Max 

Lexus RX 

Mahindra XUV500 ► 

Nissan Leaf 

Porsche Boxster 

Skoda Fabia/Roomster 

Toyota 86 ► 


June 20, 2012 Page 26 

Audi has launched its front-drive A6 Avant wagon 

range in either 2.0-litre petrol ($81,800) or 2.0-litre 

diesel ($82,900) variants which undercut rival 

BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class wagons. 

The Indian-built Mahindra XUV500 is Australia’s 

cheapest seven-seat SUV, priced from $29,900 

driveaway or $32,900 for the 4WD version. Power 

comes from a 103kW/330Nm 2.2-litre diesel engine 

matched to a six-speed manual gearbox. 

Toyota has at last launched the hotly-anticipated 

86 sportscar at the bargain starting price of 

$29,990 plus on-road costs. The rear-drive twodoor 

coupe is also available in better-specifi ed 

GTS guise, priced from $35,490 plus ORCs. 

FULL NEW CAR DIARY: CLICK HERE 

Mini Rocketman program still alive as revised concept arrives for London Olympics 

By TIM NICHOLSON 

MINI’S quirky Rocketman concept 

has been given a sporty makeover in 

celebration of the London Olympics, 

with features designed to emphasise its 

British roots. 

Originally unveiled at the 2011 

Geneva motor show, the 2012 version 

is designed as a tribute to the upcoming 

Olympic Games, with sporty fl ourishes 

throughout the car. 

The upper section of the seat bolsters 

is made from a rubberised material that 

is styled on high-performance sports 

textiles and shoes. A rucksack behind 

the front passenger seat is made from 

the same material. 

Other Olympic-fl avoured touches 

include a stowage compartment in the 

centre console that resembles a basketball 

court and features miniature players. 

One of the more clever touches is 

Congratulations 

LiveMarket Dealers! 

LiveMarket dealers have a stock turn 26% 

greater and have an average age in stock 

22 days lower* than their competitors. 

the graphics used on the dashboard 

and door cards, with intricate lettering 

detailing the name of every host city in 

the modern Olympic Games era, with 

London gaining prominent billing. 

The Union Jack features heavily in 

the car’s design, with red and white 

accents everywhere from the 18-inch 

alloy wheels and mirror caps to the 

boot opener and radiator grille. 

The unusually designed taillights 

are shaped like handles and 

are operated using what Mini calls 

projector technology. 

After being revealed at Geneva last 

year, the tiny concept has shown no 

signs of making it into production. 

However, with this being its second 

showing in just over a year, the 

Rocketman program might not be 

shelved just yet. 

If the concept eventually makes it 

to production, it would fi t below the 

Cooper S in Mini’s line-up as a new 

entrant in the prestige light-car segment. 

Mini has faced challenges from a 

number of brands in recent years, with 

sales being stolen by the likes of the 

Fiat 500 and the new kid on the block, 

Audi’s A1, while new contenders on 

the horizon in Europe include the Aston 

Martin Cygnet. 

The body of the Rocketman is made 

from carbon-fi bre-reinforced plastic. 


Get ahead of the competition. 

Register now for a free online 

demo or call 1300 041 177. 

* Statistics based on LiveMarket dealer performance versus carsales network non-LiveMarket dealer performance as at February 2012 

TM

Volvo heroes

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