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Honda NSX convertible joins The Avengers cast

Honda NSX convertible

The Acura/Honda NSX Concept was the star of the Detroit Auto Show in January and now this convertible version is set to star in its very own Hollywood blockbuster. Acura recently revealed this image of the NSX convertible announcing Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) will get behind the wheel in The Avengers, due for release later this month.

It had been initially believed the one-off creation would remain stuck in the celluloid of the Marvel Comics flick. However, speculation is increasing that this movie prop could be the precursor to a production model.

If so, it will have a lengthy development process, with the NSX hardtop not expected anytime before 2014, and more likely 2015.

[Source: Go Auto]

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Holden Kia Mazda Mitsubishi News Subaru Suzuki Toyota

New vehicle sales report – March 2012

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Figures from the FCAI reveal 97,616 new vehicles were sold in March. Comfortably the best month of the year to date, it’s also a 3.9% increase on numbers from March 2011.

Seems we’ve still not come to our senses and continue to buy SUVs at a rate of knots. “SUVs continue to dominate Australian car sales, accounting for 28 per cent of all new car sales so far this year,” FCAI Chief Executive, Ian Chalmers said. “Combined with small passenger cars (23.6%) and light passenger cars (13.0%), these three segments make up 64.6 per cent of new cars sold this year.”

Toyota, Holden and Mazda were the three best selling marques. Although it’s a bit scary that Toyota sold almost as many cars as Holden and Mazda combined last month.

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Holden Motorsports

AusGP: V8 Supercars don’t stack up

V8 Supercar crash at 2012 Australian Gramd Prix

An impromptu experiment to see if you can stack V8 Supercars one on top of the other failed at the Australian Grand Prix yesterday.

Tipped off by James Courtney, Jamie Whincup set up the all-Holden Commodore experiment by parking his car in the middle of the track. Karl Reindler, Taz Douglas and Russell Ingall then obliged by trying to squeeze Douglas’ car on top of Ingall’s, using the other two V8s as barriers.

Despite the best efforts of the four men the experiment didn’t work, although they did go close and with more work that might pull it off. Thankfully, no driver was hurt in the incident.

Check out the video after the break.

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Holden Hyundai Kia Mazda Nissan Subaru Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – February 2012

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Last month Australians signed off on 85,723 new vehicle sales, that’s almost 5000 more than February last year. A bit over half of all vehicles sold were classified as passenger cars. Fair enough. But around one quarter, that’s one in every four sales, is now an SUV. Shame on you people!

FCAI Chief Executive, Ian Chalmers is just happy that punters are splashing their cash. “The SUV market has clearly made a strong connection with auto customers by meeting their diverse needs,” he said. “This is demonstrated by overall SUV sales being up 23.8 per cent (4,505) since last month and 26.6 per cent (9,578) compared with February last year.”

Toyota was miles ahead of its nearest competitor, Holden, on the overall sales charts. While Mazda is having a turn as the third best seller nation wide, a position that generally rotates between them, Ford and Hyundai.

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2012 Bathurst 12 Hour press confrence

2012 Bathurst 12 hour race

We bring you the full audio from the post-race press conference at the 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour race. Asking the questions was Richard Craill, the order of drivers responding is as follows:

  • Team Phoenix (Audi R8 LMS): Christer Joens, Darryl O’Young. Christopher Mies
  • Erebus Racing (Mercedes SLS AMG): Jeroen Bleekemolen, Tim Slade, Brett Curtis, Peter Hackett
  • Clearwater Racing (Ferrari 458 GT3): Craig Baird, Mok Wen Sun, Matt Griffin
  • Racer Industries (HSV Astra VXR): Chris Pither, Elliot Barbour, Scott Pye.

Click the play button below to start the audio.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/B12hr-2012-press-conference.mp3]
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Holden Motorsports Video

VIDEO: Peter Brock’s guide to Bathurst

Peter Brock, 1986 Bathurst 1000

Today is Peter Brock‘s 67th birthday. Sadly the motorsport icon is no longer with us to celebrate it. Perhaps the running of the Bathurst 12 Hour today serves as a fitting tribute.

As a child growing up in the 1980s ‘Brocky’ was a boyhood hero and, even more so now that he’s gone, remembering him takes me back to my youth where I was lucky enough to have a smile on my face more often than not.

To help remember those good times here’s a video of Peter Perfect shooting the breeze in his VK Commodore with the Channel 7 commentators during the 1986 James Hardie 1000.

Along the way Brock gives an impromptu guide to a lap around Mount Panorama. All while he’s knocking out high quality lap times. Never mind that he’s doing it while joking away and waving hello to his family, what about the casual right elbow resting on the door!

Those were the days.

[Thanks to Wes for the tip]

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Green Machines Holden

Honda CR-Z wins 2011 Wheels COTY

Honda CR-Z, 2011 Wheels COTY winner

Honda’s frugal and slightly oddball CR-Z has won the 2011 Wheels Car of the Year award. It’s the world’s first hybrid to be offered with a 6-speed manual transmission. Even though it’s powered by a modest 91kW/174Nm 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine with Integrated Motor Assist the Wheels judges applaud the CR-Z’s ability to put a smile on the face of its driver.

Wheels Editor, Bill Thomas, said: “The CR-Z takes the idea of the car in a direction we think it should go. It’s innovative, trendsetting, efficient and fun to drive.

“We think the spirit of Honda shines through. Cars don’t have to be ‘supercars’ to be fun. It’s the CR-Z’s balance of abilities—the combination of price, performance and fun.”

While long time staffer and COTY judge John Carey stated: “Expertly engineered, impressively efficient and with strong safety credentials, the Honda CR-Z is also a genuine joy to drive… Endowed with the kind of handling and steering that invites involvement, the Honda puts a smile on the face of any driver who accepts the invitation.”

The CR-Z beat a field of 28 models, consisting of over 60 cars in total when different model variations were added to the mix. It’s the sixth time Honda has won the award and follows the company’s most recent success with the Accord Euro in 2008.

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New vehicle sales report – December 2011

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Australia registered over one million new vehicle sales in 2011 the latest FCAI press release reveals. The final tally of 1,008,437 represents the fourth time the country has passed one million sales in a calendar year.

Despite dropping more than 27,000 sales (-2.6%) on 2010 numbers, FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers reminds us this is still something the motor industry should be proud of.

“2011 full year sales are an exceptional result given the effects of natural disasters both at home and abroad throughout the year,” Mr Chalmers said.

“The uptake of new vehicles was impacted early in the year by economic uncertainty, closely followed by natural disasters in the key markets of Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland.

“Sales were further subdued by Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, with a resulting shortage of export vehicles from that country a secondary outcome of the extreme loss of life experienced by the Japanese people.”

The top three highest selling brands in 2011 were Toyota (181624 sales), Holden (126,095) and Ford (91,243).

Illustrating the continuing demand for smaller cars in the local market the Mazda3 was the highest selling model in Australia last year with 41,429 sales. Traditional volume seller Holden Commodore (40 617) was close behind and the Toyota Hilux (36,124) maintained its recent grip at the top of the sales charts.

More detail and 2012 forecasts from FCAI after the break.

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Holden Motorsports News

Jason Richards 1976–2011

Jason Richards 1976-2011

We bring you some sad news this afternoon with confirmation V8 Supercar driver Jason Richards has passed away. The 35-year-old died last night with his wife, Charlotte, by his side. He leaves behind two daughters, Sienna and Olivia.

In November last year Jason was diagnosed with the aggressive cancer Adrenocortical Carcinoma. He fought his battle proudly in the public eye and with great dignity. May he rest in peace.

[Source: Brad Jones Racing]

UPDATE: A statement from Holden has been added below.

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New vehicle sales report – November 2011

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Hold on tight everyone Australia should crack 1,000,000 car sales in 2011 after VFACTS figures show 88,654 new vehicles were sold in November. That brings the year to date total to 925,978, which should allow the 1 million mark to be broken for only the fourth time in Australia’s history.

“For the past four months in a row sales have been trending above the same period for 2010. This suggests improving consumer confidence in Australia’s economic prospects,” FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers said.

Although, it is worth noting the final tally for 2011 will fall short of last year’s total of 1,035,574 sales.

As usual Toyota topped the charts for the month (17,436 sales), followed by Holden (9,761) and Ford (8,103).

For the fourth month in 2011 the Toyota Corolla was Australia’s highest-selling car (3,731). Close behind was the rather more bearable Mazda3 (3,480) and the tradies’ favourite Toyota HiLux (3,332).

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Holden Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – October 2011

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Australia remains on track to achieve one million new vehicle sales according to FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers. VFACTS figures state 85,196 new vehicles were sold in October, a rise of 5.3 per cent on the same month last year.

“Manufacturers are reporting a steady increase in demand, placing the industry in a strong position to reach our target of one million sales for the calendar year,” Mr Chalmers said.

“So far this year 837,324 new vehicles have been sold. While this is 2.8 per cent fewer than for the same period in 2010, last month’s figures are the best October sales result since 2007 and suggest a return to pre-GFC sales volumes.”

Toyota holds a comfortable margin as the country’s highest selling brand, followed by Holden in its familiar second place. Hyundai has this month stolen the role as Australia’s third best seller from the usual Ford–Mazda scrap.

Toyota’s strength last month results from finding the Corolla and Hilux as the country’s two highest selling cars. Volkswagen finds itself in the headlines with the Golf claiming third place on the sales charts.

We expect more manufacturers will release their brag sheets on Monday; we’ll add them to the happy messages from Holden and Toyota as they arrive.

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Holden Motorsports

What happens when a NASCAR driver turns right?

Darrell Waltrip with Jason Bright

Darrell Waltrip is a three time NASCAR champion. He was at Bathurst last weekend to cover the Super Cheap Auto 1000 for US television channel Speed. Jason Bright was kind enough to strap Waltrip into his Holden V8 Supercar and take his guest for a quick spin around the mountain. You can see the clip after the break and we can assure you that when a NASCAR driver turns right it’s not pretty.

The real shame of the video is the audio and visual are not in sync. More’s the pity we didn’t get to see Waltrip’s reaction the first time he started the descent at Skyline at full speed; to be fair if he’d never been around Mount Panorama before that would be quite hairy.

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