New VX Commodore
The new VX Commodore range goes on sale in October. It features only tweaked styling and mechanicals - why substantially change the most successful Holden ever?
ABS anti-lock braking system is now standard on every Commodore and an advanced structural design that improves protection in side impact crashes has been introduced. Powertrain improvements deliver increased fuel efficiency, enhanced performance and driving dynamics. The option of supercharged V6 performance is now available to Executive and Acclaim sedan buyers - and Commodore sedans and wagons have additional comfort and convenience features, including a CD player with steering wheel controls right across the range.
Major styling features include two new-tech headlamp designs, two rear décor panel treatments and a selection of specific new bumper fascias. VX Commodore Executive and Acclaim continue with the traditional twin port Holden grille - now wider and deeper - flanked by teardrop headlamps with complex reflectors and clear polycarbonate lenses. A new, short overhang front bumper incorporates a three-slot air intake. At the rear, the décor panel is now body-coloured, there are new-look, transparent tail lamps and the grooved bumper fascia incorporates slim, oval-shaped reflectors.
The Commodore S and SS use a black-bladed, twin port grille with a one-piece bumper and larger air dam. They also feature clear, teardrop headlamps - outlined with black bezels above circular fog lamps, in the case of the SS. Further performance cues include sculptured rocker mouldings, unique rear bumpers and new decklid spoilers.
The Berlina and Holden Calais are identifiable by a full-width grille that flows into rectangular-style headlamps. The rear treatment is also unique, featuring a full-width décor panel that incorporates tail lamps. Slightly extended bumpers make for a sleeker silhouette.
A number of refinements have been made to the ECOTEC V6 and GEN III V8 engine resulting in improved fuel economy, driveability and performance. A new design dual-damper propshaft with rubber couplings at each end has been included for smoother and more refined acceleration. The new design also allows engine calibration to be biased towards fuel efficiency. (And make of that what you will! - Ed.) The positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) is now centrally located for more even distribution of crankcase gases across all cylinders, enhancing performance and spark timing. An enlarged idle air control valve has resulted in shorter crank time and improved cold engine idle quality. To enhance the airflow characteristics of the engine and enable an internally cast EGR passage, the sandcast manifold has been replaced with a die cast manifold.
An all-new, faster and more powerful Powertrain Control Module with 33 per cent more memory and eight per cent more processing power has been developed. The new PCM allows individual cylinder spark control for maximum fuel economy and performance. New software and calibrations have also resulted in better driveability. The new PCM, combined with the new diecast manifold, have resulted in an increase in power for the naturally aspirated V6 engine of five kW from 147 to 152kW at 5,200 rpm. Peak torque remains around the same, increasing from 304Nm to 305Nm at 3,600 rpm.
Fuel economy has improved, with 11 litres per 100 kilometres on the city cycle and 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres on the highway cycle for the automatic sedan - largely a result of the capabilities of the new PCM and the rubber coupling propshaft. The wagon with automatic transmission also benefits from similar fuel economy enhancements, now achieving 11.5 and 7 litres per 100 kilometres on the city and highway cycles respectively. The automatic transmission shift pattern on the V6 has been modified to refine driveability and improve vehicle responsiveness. The LPG installation is now more integrated, allowing the driver to change from petrol to gas while driving at 2000 rpm or above. The driver is now also able to check the amount of fuel remaining in both tanks without the need to stop.
The VX Commodore with the GEN III V8 also benefits from some additional enhancements. The inlet manifold now features improved flow capacity which in turn improves fuel economy and performance. A higher dynamic range injector to suit the revised inlet manifold and an upgraded software set have been introduced. The result is an increase in power from 220 kW to 225 kW. Torque increases from 446 to 460 Nm at 4,400 rpm. In addition to this, engine idle spark has been altered for improved idle quality when engine loads are applied, such as when the air conditioning is turned on. Automatic transmission shift energy has been refined for smoother gearshifts.
Ride and handling improvements include raising the lower control arm pivot by 4 millimetres, introducing more understeer built into the front suspension geometry, which reduces directness just off centre and provides a more linear steering response. A ball joint has been added to the lower end of the front stabiliser bar to the strut connecting link, which further enhances the action of the direct acting stabiliser bar. This too improves vehicle response and predictability, making it easier to place in transient situations. The Variatronic steering has been recalibrated for improved steering stiffness at highway speeds, resulting in a better connection between the driver and road wheels. The steering efforts at lower speeds have also been increased.
The dual rubber coupling propshaft improves structure borne noise and vibration by eliminating drive away shudder and improving refinement. Also, a beta brace has been added to the tunnel which further improves powertrain refinement and boom. Heat expandable foam in the A, B and C pillars reduces air borne road noise by blocking sound travelling through the car body structure to the occupants' ears. Air borne road noise is also markedly diminished for rear seat occupants through the addition of a parcel shelf treatment which includes a noise deflector board, foam blocks, seat belt silencer and noise patches to the parcel shelf. These features provide a longer path for noise to travel and block individual ingress areas. A parcel shelf strap reduces cabin boom.
With the help of data derived from a major side impact crash investigation program it is conducting in conjunction with the Monash University Accident Research Centre, Holden has developed a new concept in side structure for VX Commodore which provides occupants with measurably better protection from injury. The central side (B) pillar is designed to deform in a certain way when it is impacted, changing the velocity profile so that the highest loadings are directed downwards and away from the body's most vulnerable areas: the head, neck and chest.
Further side impact injury protection measures include the introduction of energy-absorbing foam into door inners, revised door trim profiles and breakaway interior door handles.
New Saab Logo
SAAB AUTOMOBILE AB has introduced a new corporate logo. The new Saab corporate logo was officially introduced on August 14, and will appear on all Model Year 2001 (MY01) Saab cars. This means the new Saab badge will be seen on Australian roads from later this year.
AVO's 4WD Dyno
Melbourne-based turbocharging specialist, AVO Turboworld, has just expanded their comprehensive facility to include a four-wheel-drive Dynamic Test Systems dynamometer.
The rugged all-steel machine includes large diamond knurled rollers for low tyre distortion and increased traction, a maximum speed rating of 240 km/h, genuine Telma CC160 electromagnetic retarder, 6 tonne axle load, mobile display cabinet housing the computer system and electronics, 3-phase cooling fan, front wheel drive stabilisers, load and speed modes, on-screen histogram, full sensor data logging, and manual and automatic atmospheric correction.
"We wanted the most accurate machine available, and I think the Dynamic Test Systems unit is that," AVO's Terry Wilson enthused. "Before buying the unit we tested a number of cars on three other 4WD dynos, and then tried them on a Dynamic to quantify its performance. And I have to say, I was very impressed with the Dynamic machine's performance."
AVO is located at 57 Taunton Drive, Cheltenham, Victoria, 3192, Phone: (03) 9584 4499 Fax: (03) 9584 4008 avo@bigpond.com www.avoturbo.com
Rotary Mazda At Sydney Show
A rotary powered car is set to take star billing at the Sydney International Motor Show which opens at Darling Harbour on November 17. The car is Mazda's RX-Evolv which was unveiled in Tokyo late last year. Powered by the company's new Renesis rotary engine, the RX-Evolv is a four door sports car designed to provide the 'next step' for those who - probably for family reasons - must move out of a two seater. With its potent new Renesis rotary engine, front mid-ship layout, four-wheel independent suspension and ideal 50/50 weight distribution, the Rx-Evolv is Mazda's vision of the 'sports car' of the future. The Renesis rotary engine represents the potential that Mazda believes still lies within this unique power-plant. The twin-rotor engine delivers a potent 200 kilowatts, the highest output ever achieved by a normally aspirated rotary engine, and revs to an astounding 10,000 rpm.
Visitors to the Sydney International Motor Show, which runs from November 17-26, will be able to inspect the Mazda concept car from 10.00 am-10.00 pm on weekdays; 9.00 am-10.00pm Saturday; 9.00 am-9.00 pm Sunday 17th; 9.00 am-7.00 pm Sunday 24th.
Maserati Celebrates United States Return
Maserati has celebrated its return to the United States of America in stylish fashion, by featuring at this year's 50th Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach. Maserati has not been represented in the world's largest car market for 10 years, but the 18th hole at the exclusive Pebble Beach Resorts ® was the ideal setting for Maserati's relaunch. Among those gracing the beautiful foreshore of Carmel Bay last Sunday, was a Maserati 5000 which belonged to the Shah of Persia. Other notable entrants were a completely untouched berlinetta Pininfarina Maserati A6 GCS, a Tipo 63 from the Artom collection and a 5000GT from the Agnelli family collection.
The Pebble Beach Concours was an important stepping stone for the relaunch of Maserati in the United States, the most important market for Maserati. The President of Ferrari North America, Mr. Stuart Robinson, announced plans to sell 50% of the worldwide production in the United States alone, which will account for 5,000 units of the anticipated 10,000 unit production in 2005. The release of the 3200GT and upcoming spider in the United States next year, will complete the worldwide relaunch of Maserati. The ambitions of the famous Trident brand were made clear with the announcement that 25% of the global turnover of Maserati over the next five years will be reinvested into the Maserati factory and the design and production of new models. Year to date Maserati sales have increased 78% worldwide, with Australia outperforming 1999 sales by a staggering 560%.
Dedicated Gas Is Elementary Says Watson
One of the first owners of Ford's new Dedicated LPG Falcon is the esteemed faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Melbourne University. The availability of a factory-fitted, dedicated LPG vehicle is a first for the Australian automotive industry. The new car delivers significant savings in operating costs and produces far fewer harmful exhaust emissions compared to equivalent sized petrol-powered cars.
"Dedicated LPG is an alternative fuel option that can make an environmental contribution on a local and global scale," says Professor Harry Watson, who heads up the Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty at Melbourne University. "Australians are fortunate that the infrastructure exists to allow them to seize this opportunity immediately. Ford is to be commended for their leadership in bringing what is Australia's best LPG system to market."
Professor Watson is one of Australia's leading authorities on alternative fuels and has chaired the Society of Automotive Engineers - Australasia's Energy and Environment Advisory Committee - since its inception in 1978. He has also been advisor to federal government agencies during the formulation of new exhaust emission rules, national fleet fuel consumption targets and most recently, a fuel quality study.
The new Dedicated LPG Falcon is available in Forte and Futura sedans and wagons, the sporty Falcon S sedan and the XL and XLS Falcon utilities. The Dedicated LPG option has a recommended retail price of $798.
Proton Persona Fuel Record
Proton's Persona 1.6 litre five door has shattered the Australian fuel economy record for 1.6 litre normally aspirated petrol cars and come close to breaking the record held by an 800cc micro car by completing an across Australia economy run at an average fuel consumption of just 3.5 litres per 100km. The Proton Persona was driven by fuel economy specialists Bruce Constable and Richard Whitford and the economy run was supervised throughout by an observer from the Royal Automobile Club of WA.
The 3.596.6km run from Perth to Melbourne was completed in 51.5 hours at an average speed of 69.8km/hour with the standard specification Persona using just 124.65 litres of fuel, shattering the previous best for a 1.6 litre car of 4.17 L/100kms set by Daihatsu almost a decade ago. The 1.6 litre Proton Persona achieved fuel consumption which was just 0.38 of a litre per 100kms more than the tiny 800cc Daewoo Matiz - though the Matiz wasn't driven by 'fuel economy specialists'... The impressive fuel consumption was achieved using careful use of throttle and braking but without any slip-streaming or coasting throughout the run.
Where is Delilah?
No.35 in a series of 52 interesting facts about Ford Australia to celebrate its 75th Anniversary Year
During World war II Ford Australia built 16 ocean going cargo ships for the Department of Defence. All the ships were built in Geelong and all had girl's names that started with the letter 'D'. These were the Daphne, Dulce, Daisy, Dora, Doris, Deborah, Diana, Danae, Dolores, Dorothy, Doreen, Drucelle, Daginar, Della and the Delilah. After the war they were sold for civilian use and Delilah ended up with the Riverside Coal Transport Co in Brisbane in 1946. She was renamed the Barrambin and worked on the Brisbane River until 1986. She was stripped of its engines and fittings and towed out to the Curtain Artificial reef near Moreton Island and scuttled.
After surviving enemy action in the Pacific during the war she was sunk by her friends in Brisbane!
Quickies
- Mitsubishi's medium-sized recreational all terrain 4WD 5-seat wagon, Challenger, gets new looks, new luxury package, new suspension, a new transmission and greater refinement in the upgraded package just launched.
- Daewoo has just announced the release of a limited number of X-Series Nubira. Released in 1,200 units, the X-Series will be available both in the Sedan and Wagon versions and will offer alloy wheels, prominent X-Series decals as well as a colour-coded rear spoiler for the Sedan and roof racks for the Wagon.
- Ford New Zealand's Powertrain Alloy Wheel Plant has just produced their millionth Taurus SE16 wheel, less than a year after production began. The Manukau plant, which employs over 500 workers from the South Auckland area, exports the wheel to America for use on one of the top selling passenger models of all time, the Ford Taurus.
- DaimlerChrysler AG will invest $A1 billion in a major expansion at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama, site to double production for the next generation Mercedes-Benz M-class sport utility vehicle. The expansion is expected to generate up to 2,000 new jobs and could double production capacity from 80,000 units to roughly 160,000 units at the Tuscaloosa facility.
- Honda Australia will launch special editions of the Civic CXi, Integra Type R and Accord as part of Honda Indy 300 tenth anniversary celebrations on September 1. Oh yes, and the Indy pace car will be an Odyssey - that could very well be twin turbo'd!
- The majority of Ford dealers in Sydney have reached agreement with Ford to form what will become one of the largest Ford dealerships in the world.
- Over 1,000 Australians who have aspired to owning and driving a Jaguar S-TYPE have had their dreams come true, culminating with the sale of the 1000th S-TYPE in July. The 1000th car is a V6SE in Sapphire with Cashmere trim which are among the most popular S-TYPE exterior and trim colour choices in Australia.
- Ford and Holden V8 utes, motoring icons for thousands of Australian workers from jackaroos to bricklayers, will compete in their own unique new racing championship next year. The national series, to be called the Ute Muster, will debut with three races at the Clipsal 500 meeting on the streets of Adelaide in April. Evenly-matched Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon utes with production V8 engines, single-specification 'control' suspensions and racing exhausts, are due to contest the championship over at least five rounds, appearing at the Konica V8 Lites series and selected other events.
- Peugeot Concessionaires New Zealand is claiming a national production car economy record, following a remarkable performance by the 406 ST HDi. The 2.0-litre Peugeot 406 ST HDi turbo-diesel sedan covered 1,971.6 km on a single 70-litre tank of fuel, in a mid-Winter drive over public North Island roads. This is understood to be the longest distance covered by a production car in New Zealand on a single tank of fuel. And equates to an average fuel consumption of 3.55 L/100 km (79.58 miles per gallon).
- BMW Australia has announced the arrival of the latest version of the highly successful Z3 roadster, now featuring the M54 170kW 3.0 litre inline six-cylinder engine.
- Volkswagen's flagship, the all wheel drive version of the Passat V6, receives a new badge and an enhanced list of standard features.The Syncro badge has been replaced with 4MOTION, a name set to grace all of Volkswagen's all-wheel-drive models in the future.
- Windscreens O'Brien has launched Australia's most comprehensive internet database of ideas and initiatives to improve road safety. The Autosafe website (www.autosafe.com.au) is a collection of the best Australian community road safety ideas and automotive industry safety initiatives.
- Toyota Australia has strengthened its domination of the Dubai taxi fleet by exporting Altona-built Camry wagons to join an already large fleet of Camry sedans.Since 1997, the Altona plant has shipped more than 1500 Camry taxis to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to serve on Dubai Transport's modern fleet.
- Already popular with some Australian Police forces, the Subaru Impreza has now joined the fight against crime with more forces in the UK. The UK-spec Impreza Turbo recently joined the Nottinghamshire, North Yorkshire and Cumbria constabularies. Six UK forces now use Impreza Turbo including the country's first-ever police team dedicated to targeting car thieves, the Humberside Police Vehicle Crime Unit. The Surrey and Hampshire forces also operate the cars.
|