Author: Liam

MIMS 2009 – Best of the rest

Post author By Liam
Post date 4 March, 2009

Here is one last wrap up of images from the media day at the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show.

There’s pics from Honda (Insight, Civic Type R), Hyundai (i10 Blue, i30 Blue, Genesis CoupÃ©), Kia (Soul), Lotus (Europa SE), Suzuki (Alto), Toyota (fully sik RAV4, fully sik Yaris, Hybrid Camry) and a few other bits and pieces, including the AutoHorizon FR-1, a charity-based project helping young kids.

So, what was the media day like? I have to say I was a bit nervous attending with a room full of battle-hardened journos around me. However, it was not really an issue and it was pretty cool moving around from stand to stand with nobody looking at me funny when I went up to various cars and opened them up, taking photos or just generally pushing and prodding around. Certainly a bit different, and better, than attending the show as a member of the general public.

Personally, I didn’t make the most of the networking opportunities on offer. Something I’m usually not good at, so I guess I’ll need to work on that.

Overall, though, it was a fun and valuable learning experience. It’s interesting seeing how many different ways there are to pull a cover off a car. Or not! My flight time meant I missed the presentations from Ford, Holden and Toyota, so maybe I missed a few new and innovative sheet pulling techniques!

Full marks to the catering, too, the Asian style lunch provided was very tasty, and after a few hours following Glenn Ridge around from presentation to presentation I was pretty damn hungry.

It was a long day, getting up at 4:30am to catch a plane from Canberra to Melbourne and not getting back to the hotel until 5pm. Before turning around and going back to the show as a casual observer with my wife.

I hope the coverage on AUSmotive has been interesting for all the readers out there and the audio clips provided on a few of the posts have brought you a bit closer to the action.

See you in Sydney in October 2010!

Formula 1 Honda News

Barichello gets ready for 2009 F1 season

Post author By Liam
Post date 4 March, 2009
1 Comment on Barichello gets ready for 2009 F1 season

Rubens Barichello

In surprising news, Rubens Barichello is set to keep his seat with the team-formerly-known-as-Honda and is planning to line up on the grid for the 2009 Formula One season. Bruno Senna, nephew of triple world champ Ayrton, was tipped to replace Barichello and isn’t taking this latest news too well. At least, thatâ€™s what the Telegraph in the UK reckons.

Uncertainty has surrounded the ex-Honda factory team since news of its demise broke in December. Now, it looks as though the team is set to be taken over by team management in Ross Brawn ~~and Nick Fry~~. Apparently, Honda just needs to rubber stamp the buyout and F1â€™s newest team will be confirmed.

The Brawn-~~Fry~~ team will use Mercedes-Benz customer engines and, with just a few weeks to go until the season opener in Melbourne, they are understandably quite keen to undertake some testing. It is believed they could take to the track as soon as this Friday with some track time at Silverstone.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Audi Motor Shows

Geneva 2009 – Audi TT RS (due in Australia early 2010)

Post author By Liam
Post date 4 March, 2009
9 Comments on Geneva 2009 – Audi TT RS (due in Australia early 2010)

After teasing us with details in the lead up to Geneva, Audi has now published more details about the TT RS. Power from the slightly oddball, but delightfully sounding, 5-cylinder is rated at 340PS (250kW). There is 450Nm of torque available from just 1600rpm, ensuring there will be plenty of mid-range poke.

Audi claims the CoupÃ© can reach 100km/h in 4.6 seconds (add 0.1 for the Roadster). Top speed is initially limited to 155mph (250km/h) but can be raised to 174mph (280km/h) for a fee. Not sure what that’s about, but details will no doubt be confirmed closer to the car’s European delivery, starting from June 2009.

An RS4 style Sport button, fitted near the gear shift, gives the exhaust and extra growl, while also improving throttle response. Iâ€™ve never really understood why these Sport buttons exist. Surely, Mr TT RS is going to want his five-pot growling as angrily as it can every time he turns the key (apologies to Ms TT RS who I am sure feels the same way).

As usual, more after the jump. To hear that exhaust note one more time…

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/TT-RS-drives-off.mp3]

UPDATE 6 March: More pics of the TT RS on public view can be seen at the TT Forumâ€”there’s interesting detail pics on offer, showing undertray, exhaust, interior and engine bay.

UPDATE 8 March: The TT RS is due for Australian release before the end of March 2010.

Tags TT RS

Aston Martin Motor Shows

Geneva 2009 – Aston Martin One-77

Post author By Liam
Post date 4 March, 2009
11 Comments on Geneva 2009 – Aston Martin One-77

Aston Martin has lifted the wraps off the One-77 at the Geneva Motor Show. The One-77 is a new take on Aston’s familiar, and gorgeous, silhouette.

Giving a two-finger salute to the Global Financial Crisis, the One-77 is powered by a stonking 7.3 litre V12 which Aston are confident will produce more than 700bhp. A dry sump also allows the engine to be fitted 100mm lower to the ground, contributing towards a more optimum centre of gravity.

Power gets to the road via rear rubber measuring 335/30ZR20, and is controlled with a strengthened 6-speed sequential manual box.

The carbon-fibre monocoque chassis helps give the car great rigidity, but also aids weight reduction, with the One-77 said to tip the scales at under 1500kg. Sure, that’s not especially light, but with 700+ horses at the ready, you don’t have to be Einstein to calculate that this car will be fast. Very fast! Claims of a v-max exceeding 320km/h and being capable of accelerating from rest to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds are being made by Aston Martin.

For the finishing touch, the One-77 is a car tailored to each buyer. Aston Martin technicians will tweak the suspension to suit individual customers.

Full press release, along with five more images, after the jump.

Mazda Motor Shows

Geneva 2009: Mazda3 MPS image gallery

Post author By Liam
Post date 3 March, 2009
10 Comments on Geneva 2009: Mazda3 MPS image gallery

Mazda have teased us with images and video of the Mazda3 MPS. Now, as part of their Geneva Auto Salon program, they have gone the whole nine yards and released a full suite of images and comprehensive details of their hottest hatch.

Peak power from the 2.3 litre turbo four cylinder, at 191kW, is no great leap forward from the previous model. Same goes for the 380Nm peak torque. Visually, though, the Mazda3 has a fresh look that takes the car forward. The somewhat controversial smiling face actually looks much better in person than in pictures, and that massive air intake on the bonnet helps to give the MPS a character all of its own.

Torque steer was always one of the pitfalls of the previous gen Mazda3 MPS. With more than 250bhp being sent to the front wheels, is it any wonder? No surprise, then, that the Mazda boffins have fiddled around a bit to make improvements in the new model. Things such as tweaks to the driveshafts, a torque sensing limited slip diff and torque supression system should help to give the 18″ front wheels a fighting chance.

There’s plenty of images and text after the jump to keep you busy for a bit. As always, click on each pic to load a wallpaper sized 2000x1320px super image.

UPDATE 4 March: Don’t forget, Melbourne readers can see the new Mazda3 MPS for themselves from today onwards at the Melbourne International Motor Show. This marks the worldwide public debut for the car, pretty cool, huh!

Volkswagen

The new Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen have released images of its new fifth generation Polo ahead of its reveal at the Geneva Auto Salon. Visually, at least, this is a big step forward for what is fast becoming a baby Golf. The exterior looks better than the outgoing model, although, perhaps the rear tail light treatment lets the new car down a bit.

However, it is inside where the biggest advances have been made. The new Polo interior is Golf-like in its level of appointment and detail, and you can see this car attracting a number of new buyers to the Volkswagen brand.

Volkswagen has pushed the safety aspect of the new Polo with ESP standard across the range. The car has been designed, from the ground up, with the 5-star NCAP criteria in mind, which has recently been made more difficult to achieve.

Usual TSI and TDI four cylinder engine offerings will be available in the new Polo, including a 77kW 1.2 TSI turbo powered petrol engine that uses just 5.5 litres of fuel per 100km, and emits a low 129g of CO2 per kilometre. Bettering those figures, and by some margin, is the BlueMotion Polo, equipped with a 66kW 1.6l TDI, which uses a meagre 3.8 litres of diesel per 100km with a CO2 figure of 96g/km. Volkswagen claim this is the most efficient five-seat diesel powered car in the world.

Continuing Volkswagen’s faith in dual clutch transmission technology the new Polo will a offer 7-speed DSG option.

Production of the new Polo starts this month with a European market release scheduled for June. And, judging by these new pics, the Polo GTI guess looks pretty close to the mark, as well.

UPDATE: Volkswagen Australia is saying the new Polo should be on our shores in early 2010.

UPDATE 6 April 2010: Over 25 new images added at end of article.

Tags Mk5 Polo, Polo, Volkswagen, VW, wallpapers

Motor Shows

Geneva Auto Salon reminder

Post author By Liam
Post date 3 March, 2009

Geneva Motor Show, 5-15 March 2009 The 79th Geneva International Motor Show starts this week and if you canâ€™t be there you neednâ€™t miss a thing. Each day from 10am (8pm AEDT) an internet television channel will have footage of all the latest from the show. Programming has begun, so bookmark the page now: www.salon-auto.tv.

The show runs from 5-15 March, however the web-TV channel will run for four extra days (2-16 March), covering events in the lead up and conclusion to the show.

As is to be expected, there are a host of manufacturers revealing new models in Geneva, including Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Mazda, Renault and Porsche. There is also some speculation that a new hot Golf R20T could be revealed. If not, then expect the all new Golf GTI to be revealed at the very least.

A full list of model premieres is available on the showâ€™s official website.

Motor Shows Volkswagen

MIMS 2009 – Volkswagen

Volkswagen sprung something of a surprise by showing their Pickup concept at the Melbourne International Motor Show. There were rumours this model would be on display, but nothing was confirmed until the morning of the show. Sometimes referred to as the Robust, this product will feature in Australian showrooms in future. Although, no schedules have been confirmed as yet.

The Volkswagen Pickup has a genuine 1-tonne payload and with its beefy looks and European style it is sure to find an audience in the Australian marketplace. Just how much share it can gain in its segment remains to be seen, but Volkswagen are confident it will sell well down under.

The stylish Passat CC was also spoken of in glowing terms by Jutta Dierks, Volkswagen Australia CEO. But it was the new Golf in which she focused her presentation.

Making its official Australian debut, of course, the new Mk6 Golf received a nifty video intro going through the previous five generations of the car. Over 26 million Golfs have been sold since 1974 and I can’t see the Mk6 slowing progress greatly, either.

There’s been so much coverage of this model on AUSmotive that consideration was given to temporarily altering the site banner to Golfmotive, in a nod to the renaming of Wolfsburg at the launch of the Mk5 Golf a few years ago. On that basis, follow the links below for everything you need to know about Volkswagen’s most important model.

Sadly, there was nothing mentioned about the new Golf GTI, however, internet speculation is rife that the production version of the sporty Golf will be revealed in full during the Geneva Motor Show which starts tomorrow.

New Golf â€“ Related reading

BMW Motor Shows

MIMS 2009 – BMW

In his last address at an Australian motor show Guenther Seemann, Managing Director of BMW Group Australia, presented one of the most stunning concept cars ever made. The BMW M1 Hommage. Just look at it! It is stunning.

Seemann announced he would be moving up the corporate ladder to the position of regional director for the sales region Asia, Pacific and South Africa. He has been replaced by Australian born Stavros Yallouridis. See the BMW website for more.

The other highlight for BMW was the local reveal of the all-new Z4. The new roadster is set to kick more goals for BMW with its appealing looks and classic sportscar styling.

The new Z4 will be seen on Australian roads in May and pricing begin with the sDrive23i model at $86,200. Two other models complete the Australian Z4 range, the sDrive30i priced from $98,100, and the sDrive35i priced from $116,900.

Audio from the presentation is accessible below, and more pics and the Z4 press release are all yours after the jump.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/MIMS09-BMW.mp3]

Audi

MIMS 2009 – Audi

Audi’s presentation was easily the best on offer during the media day at the Melbourne International Motor Show. Managing Director Joerg Hofmann’s banter with newsreader Sandra Sully was just on the right side of smooth. If they pushed it a bit further it would have been twee and over the top, but, they saved it. Just.

While the RS6 Sedan was on display, and the R8, of course, along with all the other nice shiny models that Audi makes, it was the all-new Q5 that was the star of the show. Well, except for Kate Ceberano who still has a great voice. Oh, and Jennifer Hawkins, too, whose piercing blue eyes certainly attracted the attention of the media throng.

So, anyway, back to the Q5. Audi’s smallest SUV and close to the best looking SUV on the market (especially when fitted with the S line body kit), regardless of segment, will be in Audi showrooms nationwide from next weekend. Pricing starts at $59,900.

See more on Audi’s display below, along with more pics of the Q5 and Jennifer Hawkins!

The full media presentation has been captured in MP3 format and can be accessed below. This is a bit longer than the other clips presented from the show to date. The audio includes Kate Ceberano’s jingle and runs for a touch over 11 and a half minutes.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/MIMS09-Audi.mp3]

Motor Shows Nissan

MIMS 2009 – Nissan 370Z

Nissan went a bit punk on us with the Australian premiere of the 370Z. At least, I guess that’s what the deal was supposed to be with these young girls with ripped shorts and all.

Dan Thompson, CEO, Nissan Motor Company Australia started his address by announcing Nissan will be returning to the NÃ¼rburgring in April for a new assault on the Nordschleife. Presumably, in a Spec V.

Dan also mentioned something about the new 2009 model Maxima. But, try as I might, I just couldn’t see it on the stand. I’m sure it was there somewhere, maybe you saw it? No, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the Maxima is bland, or anything…

Part audio of Thompson’s address below, apologies for missing the start (good help is hard to find these days, so you’ll just have to trust me on the NÃ¼rburgring stuff). As usual, piccies and press release after the jump.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/MIMS09-Nissan.mp3]

Motor Shows Subaru

MIMS 2009 – Subaru

Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior, took the stand to reveal the new EXIGA and Stella plug-in models.

The EXIGA will be on sale in Australia by November, the first market outside of Japan to receive the model. [Ed: Singapore currently has the Exiga on sale, see comments section below.] While the little Stella is a few years away yet.

My first impressions of the EXIGA were that it looks better with cover still on, but maybe my thoughts will change over time. What do you think?

Audio of Senior’s speech and images available below.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/MIMS09-Subaru.mp3]