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Volkswagen

All day I dream about Sydney

Volkswagen Golf GTI adidas

The Volkswagen Golf GTI adidas is coming to the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. Even better, perhaps, is news that you will be able to buy one as well. The list price for this special edition model is $45,990.

Using the familiar and highly successful GTI as a starting point the adidas version includes dedicated badging and interior seat trim, along with unique 18″ “Serron” alloy wheels. Also thrown in are bi-xenon headlights with dynamic cornering functionality, rear LED tail lights (previously only seen on the Golf R) and an RCD510 stereo system complemented with Media Device Interface and Bluetooth connectivity.

The adidas will be available in Candy White or Tornado Red only. In Australia they will also be limited to five-door and DSG specification. More details after the break.

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Citroen

Citroën DS3 – Australian pricing & specs

Citroen DS3 DSport

Citroën has launched its funky little DS3 to the Australian market. The French usually get it right when it comes to hatchbacks, but the DS3 represents one of the more serious attempts to raise their sights to the premium segment. And Citroën has its sights firmly set on MINI.

Miles Williams, General Manager for Citroën in Australia, pretty much admits that with this comment, “The DS3 is a bold, definitive statement of intent for Citroën and a confident step in the opposite direction to its main competitors; it brings a real alternative to a market sector dominated by retro designs.”

Mind, this next comment from Williams could equally apply to the MINI brand, “DS3 is about modernity, creativity, individual style and a driving experience packed with personality. DS3 dares to be different – whilst delivering the comfort, quality, technology and ecologically considerate performance for which Citroën is widely recognised.” Williams is right, though, the DS3 is different and it does bring new life to the premium compact market.

Categories
Jaguar

All new Jaguar XJ – Australian pricing

Jaguar XJ

Jaguar’s new flagship XJ model goes on sale in Australia this month. Entry level list pricing begins at $198,800 for the short-wheelbase 3.0 Diesel and goes up to a hefty $367,800 for the long-wheelbase supercharged 5.0 litre V8. (Full pricing details are listed after the break.)

Overall the XJ is a nice looking car. In photos, at least, it has a commanding presence that is only let down by the continuation of the rear window graphic on to the car’s C-pillar.

Naturally, Ian Callum, Design Director at Jaguar Cars, reckons they’re on a winner with their 21st century take on Jaguar visual language, “The new XJ is a thoroughly modern interpretation of the quintessential Jaguar. Its visual impact stems from the elongated teardrop shape of the car’s side windows, that powerful stance and its wide track. It is the most emphatic statement yet of Jaguar’s new design direction.”

For a car that carries such weight at the top of the Jaguar model line up its surprising that just four images accompanied the Australian press release. Similarly, the UK press archive wasn’t wasting any resources, either. However, there’s enough pics to show the car at is best, even if the interior shots had to be nicked from the Jaguar website.

After AUSmotive tested the Jaguar XF recently it became clear that New Jaguar is both shedding its cardigan image of yore and giving the established German competition something to think about. But, 367-large for a new Jag – would you do it?

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – Australian pricing & specs

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The latest Mercedes ‘Gullwing’ model, the SLS AMG, has now landed in Australia. If you want to get your hands on one of these beauties you’ll need to pony up the cash for the $464,000 list price, and then some. AUSmotive is a massive fan of this car and if you do have a lazy 500 lying around that you feel like handing over to your local Benz dealership, would you mind lending me the keys!

One can only imagine the sensation the Gullwing’s 420kW and eight angry cylinders would provide. The interior looks fantastic, too. This is a very special motor car.

Mercedes-Benz Australia have obliged with some stunning images and you can see over 40 new pics after the break. You can also download a couple of PDFs, including full pricing details. Thirty grand for carbon ceramic brakes anyone?

Categories
Audi

Audi S5 Sportback – Australian pricing & specs

Audi S5 Sportback

Audi’s very svelte and very attractive S5 Sportback went on sale last week. Audi has set the list pricing for this car at $129,300.

For your money you get the same excellent 3.0 litre supercharged V6 engine from the S4 saloon. With that comes the same power specs, too; 245kW and 440Nm of torque.

It’s a ripping engine that offers plenty of poke through the entire rev range. In the S4, at least, it’s also well matched the the 7-speed S tronic transmission. Which is a good thing, because there is no conventional manual box on offer for S5 Sportback in the Australian market.

Mr Uwe Hagen, Managing Director of Audi Australia, said “the S5 Sportback is a great addition to our unique A5 Sportback range. It is not only practical enough for daily use, it is also sporty and fun to drive.”

Audi has modest sales expectations for the S5 Sportback, hoping to to sell around 10 per month. Full details and a nice gallery of local images have been kindly offered by Audi Australia and you can see them all after the break.

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf R – Australian specs & pricing

Volkswagen Golf R

Official pricing and specifications for the 188kW Golf R have now been released by Volkswagen. These confirm most of the things we already knew, or suspected were correct.

This includes the leaked list pricing which emerged earlier this week: three door manual $48,490; three door DSG $50,990; five door manual $49,990 and five door DSG $52,490. That is very good pricing indeed and we expect Volkswagen Australia will sell a lot of these cars.

To put these prices into perspective the cheapest Audi S3 available in Australia, a three door manual, has a list price of $68,000. There are some equipment differences in standard spec between the two cars, but nowhere near enough to equate for the almost $20,000 premium asked for by Audi. Especially when you consider the cars share essentially the same chassis, engine and all-wheel drive systems. In the UK, for example, the Golf R is actually priced higher than the S3. This not only proves that comparing prices with other countries can be a worthless exercise, but it puts into context what a performance bargain the Golf R has become in Australia.

Rather than go over the finer details again, just go straight to the press release after the jump. Technical specs can also be downloaded below.

All you need to do now is work what colour you want. Your choices are Candy White, Reflex Silver metallic (pictured), United Grey metallic, Rising Blue metallic (AUSmotive’s tip) and Deep Black pearl effect. More pics of the Golf R can be viewed here.

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf GTD – Australian specs & pricing

VW Golf GTD

Volkswagen Australian have just announced official details for the Golf GTD. These confirm the car’s status as a “diesel GTI” with its body kit, interior and suspension all heavily influenced by the highly regarded GTI. For the GTD, this also includes 15mm lower suspension and the Extended Electronic Differential Lock (XDL).

The GTD will only be available in a five door layout in Australia and list pricing starts at $39,290 for the manual and $41,790 for DSG. Both transmissions are six speed.

With 125kW and 350Nm on offer from the common-rail 2.0 litre turbo diesel engine the GTD can accelerate to 100km/h in 8.1 seconds. Fuel consumption for the manual is rated at 5.5l/100km, while the DSG consumes 5.8l/100km.

In line with the Australian GTI range the GTD is available in the following colours: Candy White, Tornado Red, Reflex Silver metallic, Carbon Steel metallic and Deep Black pearl effect.

More info is available below, including options pricing. Full specifications for the GTD are available for download in this PDF (74kb). For a closer look at the GTD, check out the image gallery posted earlier in the week.

Categories
Skoda

2010 Skoda Superb Wagon – Australian pricing

Skoda Super Wagon

Recent vehicle sales may indicate an upward trend in the SUV segment, but Euro wagons will always rate highly on the AUSmotive cool wall. If you need a large family-sized car, buck the trend and get a Euro wagon. They have a je ne sais quoi that cannot be matched by any SUV.

The new Skoda Superb Wagon perfectly fits the estate car mould that says no to bling and just goes about its job without fanfare and without screaming look at me.

Space aplenty, quirky features and an engine range catering for all desires are just some of the attractions with the Superb. An entry list price of $40,990 is also quite a hook for a car of this ilk. That gets you the excellent Volkswagen Group 118TSI four cylinder in Ambition trim. As you move up the price range you can say yes a 125kW TDI ($43,990), and you can even say yes again to the 118TSI, this time in Elegance trim ($46,990). What you really want, though, is the V6 powered 191FSI 4×4 ($57,990).

The V6 is sourced from the very tidy Volkswagen Passat R36 and while marketing forces rob 19kW when the 3.6 litre narrow angle engine is found under a Skoda bonnet it will still provide enough poke to give you one of the coolest sleepers on the new car market today.

A Skoda wagon with a Haldex IV all-wheel drive system that accelerates to 100km/h in 6.6 seconds, while sounding as angry as a Rio Tinto executive at a Labor Party conference, well, sign me up!

Skoda have stuffed plenty of kit inside the Superb Wagon, too. Park Assist is one example you will find across the entire range. For more info and a full list of prices take the jump and read what Skoda’s PR team has to say.

Categories
Volkswagen

New Volkswagen Polo – Australian pricing & specs

Volkswagen Polo

The new Volkswagen Polo—current European and World Car of the Year—has just been released to the Australian market. List pricing starts at $16,690 for the entry level Trendline, fitted with a 63kW 1.4 litre engine. Sitting in the middle of the range is the 77TSI Comfortline featuring a 1.2 litre turbocharged engine producing 77kW. Its list pricing begins at $19,850. Topping the current Australian range is the 66TDI Comfortline model, which starts at $22,350. The Comfortline models are available with a five-door body only, while the Trendline is a three-door only.

Larger and and safer than the previous model the new Polo can be bought with either manual or 7-speed DSG transmissions. The manual is a 6-speed on the 77TSI, while the Trendline and 66TDI come with a 5-speed manual. Those wishing to go for the excellent DSG box will need to add a further $2500 to the list pricing given above.

All models are fitted with ESP technology and the Polo has been awarded a five-star crash rating under the new tougher EuroNCAP testing regime. This rating has been honoured by the Australian authority, ANCAP, as well.

Overall the new Polo represents a forward step over the model it replaces. This is immediately noticeable with the Polo’s interior, which now has a quality feel more comparable with its larger Golf sibling.

I suspect a lot of readers will have their eye on the new Polo GTI and its 132kW twin-charged 1.4-litre engine. With a confirmed kerb weight below 1200kg this should be one feisty pocket rocket indeed. Volkswagen Australia have confirmed the Polo GTI will be on sale before the end of 2010.

A full list of specifications and pricing for the current Polo range is available below, along with a few extra goodies.

Categories
Audi

Audi UK confirms RS5 pricing & specs

Audi RS5

Audi UK have just released details confirming their local specs for the RS5 featuring a 450PS 4.2 FSI V8 which will go on sale there in October. It’s all as expected and pricing starts at £57,480 OTR (approx AU$96,000). Expect Australians to be paying significantly more than that. Sigh.

You can read the press release below.

Categories
Volkswagen

2010 Golf Wagon – Australian pricing

2010 VW Golf Wagon

Volkswagen Australia have just released an Estate version to their volume selling Golf range. Known in Australia as the Golf Wagon, it will be initially offered in two model lines—Trendline and Comfortline.

Entry level pricing, before those nasty delivery and government charges, starts at $26,990. That gets you a 90kW 1.4 TSI Trendline with 6 speed manual. The top of the range model, 103kW 2.0 TDI Comfortline with 6 speed DSG, is priced from $36,490. The usual range of options is also available and a list of prices is available below.

Four engines will be available for those wanting the maximum 1495 litres of cargo space the Golf Wagon provides. Two 1.4 TSI engines, with either 90kW or 118kW are complemented by a 77kW 1.6TDI and a 103kW 2.0 TDI. The full gamut of Volkswagen transmissions is on offer, including 5 and 6 speed manuals in addition to 6 and 7 speed DSG offerings. At a basic level you can choose a manual or DSG with all engine choices, the numbers of cogs you get depends on the engine choice.

This is the first time we have seen a Golf Estate/Variant/Wagon in Australia and it remains to be seen how successful this addition to the Golf line up will be. I know one thing, though, they’d sell a lot more of them if they bothered to get Volkswagen to design the rear of the car. Instead, it looks like they just picked up some 1990s Honda Accord tail lights, stuck them on the back and thought, that should do it. When the rest of the Volkswagen range is, generally, so expertly styled—and of particular note here is the Passat Wagon—one has to wonder just how on earth they came to this conclusion.

Categories
BMW

2010 BMW X1 – Australian pricing

2010 BMW X1

BMW Australia have just announced the pricing and predicted model range for the new X1. The little BMW SUV, sorry Sports Activity Vehicle, will go on sale locally on 10 April and list pricing starts at $43,500 for the rear wheel drive only sDrive18i manual. The line up will be topped by the all-wheel drive xDrive23d auto priced from $59,280.

You might be wondering why BMW, who have just given us the MINI Countryman, are releasing yet another soft-roader in this small-car market? The answer is obvious, as this sentence straight from the press release points out, “The BMW X1 is the first premium vehicle of its kind to offer the driving pleasure so characteristic of a BMW X model in the compact segment.” Okay, then.

Further details and a whole heap of X1 images can be viewed after the jump.