Hyundai Grandeur
Hyundai has moved into Australia's big 6-cylinder family car heartland with the release of its new, full size, 3-litre V6 Grandeur and Grandeur XG luxury sedans. Grandeur and Grandeur XG are equipped with a unique Sportsmatic transmission, a 5-speed fuzzy-logic automatic with tiptronic-style clutchless manual operation. Sportsmatic is matched to a 141kW quad cam, 24-valve 3-litre V6 engine. Grandeur is priced at A$33,990 to compete against the slightly smaller Camry Conquest automatic and Magna Advance. Grandeur XG is the leather-trimmed, higher specification model, priced at A$39,990 and ranged against Verada Ei and Vienta VXi.
The Grandeur uses an all-independent suspension - coil springs, gas dampers and stabiliser bars front and rear, located by double wishbones up front and upper wishbones with lower multi-links at the rear. Grandeur XG also gains electronic traction control - operating on both throttle and brakes. XG also has switchable automatic downward tilting door mirrors, which tilt down five degrees while reverse is selected to improve child height rear vision.
Quickies
- Kosi Kalaitzidis drove the Proton M21 to Proton's first ever Australian motor sports championship title by finishing third in the Class E GTP Lights division at the final round at Oran Park, following home race winner Nathan Thomas (Suzuki Swift GTi) and Warren Luff (Peugeot 306 Style). Seems that still nothing can kill the Suzuki...
- Honda Australia recently launched an innovative range of merchandise. Available to order from all 85 Honda dealerships, the all-new Honda Collection features items ranging from key rings and pens, to golf equipment and an executive Citizen watch. Meanwhile, Honda's racing range features new-look polo shirts, caps and T-shirts as well as pens, keyrings and drink holders.
- Ford Motor Company has announced that Jaguar will contest next year's FIA Formula One World Championship. The British-based luxury car maker will take the place of Stewart-Ford - which the Ford Motor Company acquired last June - on the Formula One grid. On the day it announced its arrival in Formula One, Jaguar Racing also confirmed that Eddie Irvine will join the team for the 2000 season.
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