Category: Subaru

New vehicle sales report – March 2010

Post author By Liam
Post date 12 April, 2010
2 Comments on New vehicle sales report – March 2010

March was another strong month for Australian vehicle sales. So much so that the 94,744 sales recorded represented a new monthly record for March, an increase of 352 sales over the previous high set in 2007. Compared to last month sales increased by 12,525 units.

While all vehicle segments fared well, the SUV sector continued its upward trend, increasing by 44%. Passenger car sales were up by more than 23%, while both the light and heavy commercial segments also posted healthy increases.

Toyota and Holden continue their reign as the country’s top two selling marques, with 21.4% and 12.4% market share respectively. Meanwhile, Ford fought back from last month’s drop recovering from fifth on the sales charts to finish ahead of Hyundai and Mazda in third place with 8.5% market share.

However, there was still good news for Hyundai as the i30 was the country’s best selling small car during March. The first time the i30 has achieved such a result.

Subaru

Subaru announces STI sedan

Post author By Liam
Post date 7 April, 2010
7 Comments on Subaru announces STI sedan

Subaru Australia have confirmed a sedan version of the high-performance Impreza WRX STI will go on sale before the end of the year. The news was announced at the New York International Auto Show and follows the introduction of flared panelwork to the regular WRX range. Previously the widebody look was available on the STI hatch only.

Tags Impreza, Subaru, WRX, WRX STi

Subaru

Cosworth announces Impreza STI CS400

Post author By Liam
Post date 31 March, 2010
11 Comments on Cosworth announces Impreza STI CS400

Leading UK motorsport and tuning outfit Cosworth have worked their magic over the Subaru Impreza STI. They said no to the standard STI’s miserable 300PS and 5.2 second 0-100km/h time. They seem to think an STI should have 400PS (295kW), and that it should be able to despatch 100km/h in under four seconds, 3.7 to be precise.

Such belief has led to the birth of a new creationâ€”the Cosworth Impreza STI CS400. Clearly such an impressive boost in power needs more than a few Cossie badges and the lads have turned their attention the engine. The CS400 is not due for release in the UK until June and as such they’re allowing hype to build and aren’t giving away any official details on engine or exhaust mods. We’ll have to stand by for that (or do we?).

Stopping power, on the other hand, has been confirmed to have been developed in partnership with AP Racing. Cosworth seem quite confident that the 355mm six-pot calipers they have fitted to the CS400 will be up to the job.

There will only be 75 Impreza STI CS400s made and we’ll have more details for you sometime between now and June. Like the Focus RS500, though, we’ll just have to admire the pretty pictures and make do with watching TV reviews. There’s about as much chance of the Cossie Rex finding its way down under as there is of Channel Nine making a good version of Top Gear Australia.

Tags Cosworth, CS400, Impreza, STi, Subaru, WRX

Subaru

Subaru widens WRX appeal

Subaru will apply its top-spec STi widebody styling across entire WRX range for MY11 production. This means the flared arch look will also be introduced to the WRX sedan. Both iterations will be presented to the public for the first time at next month’s New York International Auto Show. On April Fool’s Day to be precise.

Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior says, “This design further distinguishes our turbo Impreza variants, including the Impreza WRX STI, from the normally aspirated versions, which weâ€™re sure will please the many loyal WRX fans out there.”

The widebody Rex will be on sale in Australia before the end of 2010 and final spec and pricing will be announced closer to local launch.

From a styling point of view this is a good move. The current STi has a much more aggressive stance that its lower spec brethren. However, while Mr Senior might be right that prospective WRX owners will applaud this move, I dare say there will be a few current WRX owners crying into their beers at this news.

Tags Impreza WRX, Sedan, Subaru, WRX, WRX STi

Hyundai Mazda Subaru Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – February 2010

Post author By Liam
Post date 10 March, 2010
3 Comments on New vehicle sales report – February 2010

Monthly sales figures have continued to trend upwards on 2009 data with an increase of 17% (almost 12,000 vehicles) compared to February last year. According to official VFACTS numbers 82,219 new vehicles rolled off showroom floors last month.

Breaking the monthly comparison numbers down further, business sales remain strong, up by almost 23% on 2009 sales. But it was the rental segment that has given a major boost to results for February 2010 with an increase in sales to rental companies of 175%.

There was also a modest 9.3% increase in the number of private buyers taking delivery of new vehicles. FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar says, “Looking ahead, sustaining the confidence of private buyers is the key challenge for the economy.”

“For that reason we continue to be cautious about the impact of interest rate increases,” Mr McKellar said.

Toyota and Holden held their recent traditional placings as the top two selling marques in Australia. However, Hyundai has displaced Ford from third position by boosting their sales to the tune of 8.8%. This is the first time Hyundai has reached a top three position on local sales charts. The news is worse for Ford, too, as Mazda, in fourth place, have relegated the blue oval further down the charts.

Interestingly, the number of manufacturers sending out press releases trumpeting their results is significantly down on January’s efforts.

Tags Australian new vehicle sales, FCAI, sales reports, VFACTS

Audi BMW Hyundai Mazda Mercedes-Benz Subaru Suzuki Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – January 2010

Post author By Liam
Post date 7 February, 2010
4 Comments on New vehicle sales report – January 2010

January 2010 showed good signs for the automotive industry in Australia. While sales for the month did fall dramatically from December 2009 it is worth noting there were strong financial incentives, in the form of Federal Government tax breaks, that saw many businesses rushing to buy cars before the program ended on 31 December.

More importantly, the 74,864 new vehicle sales for January 2010 represents a healthy increase of 11.6% compared to the same month last year. Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Chief Executive Andrew McKellar believes the new cut in import tariffs has helped kick the year off, “New car affordability is better than ever and has been further enhanced by the tariff cut on many imported vehicles,” he said.

“New car buyers have effectively been handed a â€˜tax cutâ€™ and many brands have moved quickly to reduce prices or increase vehicle specifications. As a result, it is expected that this will encourage private buyers to return to the marketplace in greater numbers throughout the year,” Mr McKellar said.

Toyota, Holden and Ford maintained recent tradition as the top three selling marques.

Audi BMW Holden Mazda Mitsubishi Subaru Suzuki Toyota VFACTS reports Volkswagen Volvo

New vehicle sales report – December 2009

Post author By Liam
Post date 6 January, 2010
1 Comment on New vehicle sales report – December 2009

According to official VFACTS figures released earlier today new vehicle sales in Australia for 2009 reached 937,328, an overall drop of 7.4% compared to 2008.

November’s cracking results showed the motor industry was well on the way to financial recovery andÂ December followed suit registering 88,708 sales. Which sets a new record for the month.

FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar acknowledged the role of the Federal Government’s tax incentives for businesses in returning better than expected yearly figures, “The final outcome for the year has surpassed the industryâ€™s original expectations by some 57,000 vehicles and a significant proportion of this additional volume can be attributed to the tax break.”

Toyota (200,191), Holden (119,658) and Ford (96,501) were the top three selling marques. Toyota’s stranglehold on top spot looks very secure, despite the highest selling car in Australia for 2009 being the Holden Commodore (44,387). The Corolla (39,013) and HiLux (38,457) rounded out the top three selling models nationwide.

Other notable performers were Audi, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen. But it seems most manufacturers have a positive spin to sell and a raft of press releases to that affect follow this article.

Audi, intent on chasing BMW for the top selling prestige marque, concluded 2009 with their fifth year of growth. Impressively, the German brand bettered last year’s record by over 20% while recording 11,310 sales. A perfect end to the local career of Audi Australiaâ€™s managing director, Joerg Hofmann. The hard task master will be returning home to Germany at the end of this monthâ€”see carsales interview from December 2009.

Mitsubishi have put the corpse of the Magna well behind it, achieving best ever annual sales for the Lancer (21,362) and Triton (18,182).

Volkswagen improved on its 2008 record year by selling over 30,000 vehicles for the first time under the Volkswagen Group Australia banner.

Subaru

Rex gossip

Post author By Liam
Post date 26 November, 2009

Back in the day Subaru knocked the Mitsubishi Lancer GSR off the AWD 2-litre turbo perch with its then new Impreza WRX. The ‘Rex’ then proceeded to take all before it to establish itself as the benchmark $40K weapon of choice.

A great product well marketed off the back of local and international rally successes ensured the WRX became a cult classic. Its ability to punch well above its weight in performance terms also helped greatly.

Despite a few bug eyed hiccups along the way the WRX has been a fixture in the affordable performance category, with regular sales continuing to tick over. No surprise, then, that Subaru Australia is making some noise about selling its 30,000th Rex down under.

Although, it must be said, Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior, does appear lost in his own hype, “I have lost count of the number of supposed competitors built up as Rex challengers, but they couldnâ€™t cut the mustard, particularly the front wheel drive and rear wheel drive pretenders who soon got lost in the dust.”

If Senior truly believes the Rex hasn’t lost significant market share to the likes of Volkswagen’s Golf GTI and Mazda’s MPS 3, then he is kidding himself.

To be fair, though, no other car in the WRX’s segment can match its longevity in the Australian sales charts over its 15 year life cycle. It’s just a shame the car’s exterior design team lost its mojo when creating the current model.

Audi BMW Hyundai Mazda Mitsubishi Subaru Suzuki Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – October 2009

Post author By Liam
Post date 8 November, 2009
1 Comment on New vehicle sales report – October 2009

Good news for the car industry last month, with sales increasing for the first time since the middle of last year. Official VFACTS data shows sales were up 2.2 per cent last month when compared to October 2008.

â€œThe industry is looking to round out the year on a positive note and we expect a further surge in sales as businesses move to take advantage of the successful tax break prior to the end of the year,â€ FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.

However, the overall downward trend remains for year-to-date new vehicle sales, which are down 11.7 per cent compared to the same period last year (762,787 sales to date).

Toyota, Holden and Ford round out the usual top three placings for overall sales, but that hasn’t stopped a number of manufacturers from putting their spin on things. A bunch of press releases to that effect can be viewed after the jump.

Subaru

Public service announcement: Avoid Subaru stand at Frankfurt

Post author By Liam
Post date 10 August, 2009
9 Comments on Public service announcement: Avoid Subaru stand at Frankfurt

Subaru have kindly offered advance warning that they will be presenting their all new Liberty (Legacy) and Outback models at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Don’t say you haven’t been warned!

Okay, sure, the production model doesn’t look anywhere near as ghastly as the concept. But, how did Subaru get its volume seller so wrong? Previous Liberty models haven’t exactly set the world on fire with earth shattering design, but their understated style has always, to me at least, suited the brand well. If this new look is the result of trying to be more memorable, I’d rather forget it.

To continue the warning theme, the all new Liberty and Outback will be launched in Australia in early September, one week prior to their Frankfurt appearance.

Audi Mazda MINI Subaru VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – June 2009

Post author By Liam
Post date 3 July, 2009
1 Comment on New vehicle sales report – June 2009

Despite much economic doom and gloom, June 2009 was the third highest selling month for new car sales in Australia’s history. A total of 102,847 vehicles were sold.

Around 45% of those sales were to business customers, proving beyond any doubt that the Government’s tax incentives fulfilled their role.

FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar stated, “The surge in business sales is directly attributed to the Federal Governmentâ€™s business tax break and these figures provide clear evidence that this has been a very effective policy measure.

“Our analysis indicates that the business tax break has led to an additional 10,000 vehicles being sold over the past three months. That is a 10 to 12 per cent boost to business sales and a five per cent increase for the total market.”

Despite a boom June overall sales figures for 2009, unsurprisingly, are below those recorded at the same time last year. Almost 90,000 fewer vehicles have been sold on a year to date basis, representing a figure of -16.1%.

However, there are some shining lights with Audi having its best month on record and one of the few manufacturers to be increasing sales in 2009. Overall sales are up 10% on 2008 figures.

Mazda also signed off on a record sales month, with the new Mazda3 proving a hit selling more cars in one month than ever before as buyers look to downsize.

Likewise MINI enjoyed a great month locking in its best results yet for orders taken in a single month since its relaunch in 2001.

Finally, Subaru had its best ever month for Impreza sales. This is a genuine surprise as the view at AUSmotive HQ is that the Impreza is a bit unsightly these days.

Lots of chest beating below from industry bodies and bragging manufacturers.