Falc Ute
The AU Falcon Ute has just been released in Australia. Ford says that it combines car-like standards of comfort, handling and power with genuine one-tonne load-carrying ability and tray-back flexibility.
For the first time, the Falcon ute comes in three body variants: chassis cab, optional factory-fitted drop-side tray and integrated style side box. All body variants provide up to one-tonne payload. The ute's wheelbase has been stretched, and it now offers more headroom, seat travel and storage space, including a 400mm storage area behind the seat. A split bench seat is standard with the column shift automatic. At the rear, there is greater load-carrying flexibility, allowing tradesmen to load a full pallet between the wheel arches and fit large building material sheets into specially designed slots in the bedliner. The ute is the first vehicle in its class to offer features such as distance-to-empty fuel reading and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. It is also unique in its class in offering as standard an integrated polyethylene bedliner.
A driver's airbag is standard, while security has been upgraded with the debut of Ford's second generation Smartshield system, replacing Smartlock. Smartshield's most significant advance is the addition of a transponder to the ignition key. Range also has been significantly improved, with a 21 per cent increase in fuel tank capacity, from 68 litres to 82 litres.
The AU ute features the sedan's styling cues, with a distinctive honeycomb grille unique in the Falcon range. Under the skin is revised, double-wishbone front suspension and the same leaf spring rear suspension featured on the wagon. In addition to the standard Intech six, a high performance in-line six is available on the XR6 ute, delivering 164kW at 5000rpm and 366Nm of torque at 3500rpm. The optional V8 engine produces 165kW at 4500rpm and 388Nm at 3000rpm, while the XR8's performance powerplant V8 produces 185kW at 4500rpm and 402Nm at 3100rpm. Later this year, the AU ute will also offer a single fuel LPG option. The system will be fully integrated with all the Falcon's on-board systems, including the EEC-V, and will offer improved range and better hot and cold starting performance. The unit will also be more compact, removing the need for the spare wheel to intrude into the load area.
Farewell the Holden V8
Holden employees recently gathered to mark the end of an era, as the last Aussie-built Holden V8 engine came off the production line at Fishermens Bend, Victoria. Introduced in 1969, the Holden 'bent eight' was the first and only Australian-designed and built V8 engine to be produced in volume. More than 541,000 Holden V8s were produced over a 30-year period. These versatile and muscular performers were successively re-engineered to embrace such advances as unleaded fuel and multi-point fuel injection and powered every mainstream model from the HT Holden to the top-selling VT Commodore.
With the launch this month of the VT Series II Commodore and the all-new WH Statesman and Caprice, Holden introduced an entirely new Generation III (GEN III) 5.7 litre alloy V8, developed in the U.S. by General Motors Powertrain Group at a project cost of $1 billion.
Holden has stockpiled supplies of its locally-produced 5.0 litre V8, which will remain the top-end performance option for buyers of the VS Holden Ute until the model is superseded.
Joining Holden employees at a special ceremony to salute the last Aussie V8 were the Holden Racing Team's Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife, veteran Holden racing driver Larry Perkins and 84 year-old Fred James, a retired Holden engineer who was involved with the Holden V8 project from its inception in 1964.
Fred James said there was a strong national push for an Australian-designed engine. "We knew General Motors would be watching our every move, consequently our engine had to be better than anything else currently in production. I think we did a pretty good job of achieving our objectives," he said. "For sheer longevity, I think the only other engine to compare would be the Chevrolet V8."
Addressing the gathering, Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Peter Hanenberger, said the event represented yet another milestone in the Holden story.
"It is a story that tells of leadership, commitment and a great sense of heritage. It is a story of family, made up of people with diverse skills and innovative ideas combining to produce world class products for the global market place," he said. "Not many engines survive as long as 30 years, but the Holden V8 remained competitive for its entire time, outliving its Australian-made rivals by more than a decade...Holden's achievement of all this is a credit to the dedicated efforts of all involved," Peter Hanenberger said.
The home grownV8 was first exhibited in the futuristic Holden Hurricane concept car and 1969 HT model buyers could choose between 253 cubic inch (4.2 litre) and 308 cubic inch (5.0 litre) versions, which were promoted for their caravan-towing torque. The Holden V8 won instant praise for its low weight, compact size and smooth performance. A police pursuit car favourite and motor sport natural, the Holden V8 was blooded at Bathurst in 1974 and tasted victory for the first time in 1975 when Brock/Sampson took the chequered flag in a Torana L34. The Holden V8 is also used in open wheeler racing and over the years has found its way into boats, trucks and 4x4 vehicles, to name just a few applications.
When a combination of circumstances brought the big engine's future into doubt early in 1984, V8 fans nationwide - motivated by the media-driven campaign "V8s 'til '98" - reacted swiftly. An estimated 15,000 letters poured into Holden head office, urging the then Managing Director, Chuck Chapman, to save the V8. They got their wish.
A re-engineered 'unleaded' Holden V8 was introduced in 1986. Approval to build a fuel-injected concept engine had been given in 1985 and the first limited production of this significantly upgraded version powered the VL Group A Commodore in 1989. Much more powerful and fuel efficient than its carburettor-fed predecessor, the fuel-injected V8 went into volume production with the release of the VN Commodore range in 1989. For the past ten years, popular demand for the durable eight-cylinder engine, constantly refined to produce escalating levels of power and torque, has remained constant at an average of 9,000 units annually.
Audi Drives
The Audi Dealer Network is to host a series of quattro events for those customers who reside or work within each dealer's local area. Audi in Australia also hosts the 'quattro Drive Experience' for corporate customers. The 'quattro Drive Experience' is run by four German-trained instructors, led by Cameron McConville, who won the silver medal in an Audi A4 quattro in last year's Australian Super Touring Championship.
Upcoming Audi quattro experience dates are:
July - Chatswood Classic Cars, NSW; Trivett Classic, NSW; Bill Buckle Prestige, NSW
August - Barbagallo Audi, WA
October - Pollock Prestige, ACT, Audi Centre Brisbane, QLD
November - Audi of Sydney, NSW; Chatswood Classic Cars, NSW; Bill Buckle Prestige, NSW; Rex Gorell Prestige, VIC; Penfold Motors, VIC; Audi Centre Doncaster, VIC; Porsche Centre Melbourne, VIC
New Yoko
Yokohama has launched a new ultra high performance tyre. The new AVS Sport V102 has been designed to meet the needs of the latest generation of ultra high performance road cars.
The new tyre is the flagship of Yokohama's tyre range in Australia and is said to utilise many ground-breaking design features developed by Yokohama's operation in Japan.
In heavy rain, the V102's Y shaped tread design immediately pumps water away while its high technology compound ensures maximum adhesion in wet conditions. The unique Y shaped tread design delivers high water dispersion and as a result dramatically minimises the risk of aquaplaning. The centre section of the tyre has no break in its zig zag design, delivering extremely high levels of rigidity resulting in unrivalled steering responsiveness. Tyres based on a straight groove design struggle with the twisting produced by high acceleration forces, the Y shaped tread design resists this and also minimises tyre noise. Tyre noise audible to occupants inside the cabin is noticeably reduced as a result of the shoulder area sub-grooves which separate the large blocks. At the same time this sub-groove has the effect of improving adhesion when driving on wet surfaces. Yokohama's high performance tyres trademark dimples have been used on the shoulder to help reduce tyre temperatures during sustained high speed driving. Overall, the ratio of grooves to tread surface is now 33 percent, a reduction of three percent compared with previous tyres.
JZ internals
AutoSpeed readerGrant Blundell sent us this shot of the crank of a 1JZGTE Toyota engine, with the second photo showing a close-up of the factory oil sprayer. No wonder they're strong....
Quickie
- Chrysler has announced that as part of the integration program in the DaimlerChrysler merger, it has moved its Corporate Headquarters from Sydney to Melbourne. From a global perspective, Australia is the first country to fully integrate its Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz operations.
