Performance News - 24 July 2001

Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG

A year after the new Mercedes CL first went on sale in Australia, the CL 500 and CL 600 models have been joined by the exclusive CL 55 AMG. To create the unique character of the Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG, Mercedes-AMG engineers took the current 5.0 litre standard engine as their starting point. Featuring innovative three-valves-per-cylinder technology and twin-spark ignition, this advanced V8 engine apparently offers "optimum potential for performance enhancement". A modified bore-stroke ratio of 97 to 92 millimetres increases displacement to 5439 cc, for a further hike in torque. 265 kW is on tap at 5500 rpm, while torque reaches an impressive peak value of 530 Nm at 3250 rpm, with 450 Newton metres already available from around 2000 rpm. This allows the CL 55 AMG to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in six seconds. Its top speed is governor-limited to 250 km/h.

It is priced from $345,500.

Quickies

• Proton Cars Australia has scored one of the highest ratings in the JD Power Dealer Attitude Survey for 2001 in Australia, ranking fourth behind Mercedes, Holden and Nissan in terms of dealer satisfaction with the marque

• Polk, Australia's foremost authority on automotive statistics and reporting, has forecast Australian full year 2001 automotive sales of 738,000, almost 10% less than 2000's total of 787,100. This goes against the recent industry forecasts of 800,000. Paul Cooke, Managing Director of Polk, was quoted as saying" Over the last 10 years the automotive industry has undergone the most dramatic overhaul of both its tax and tariff regimes. This has led to significant volatility in the market. However, the underlying trend is for a soft second half of the year. Year to date, the industry has only done 375,076 and none of the fundamentals are pointing to a stronger second half."

• The first European-built Chrysler PT Cruisers rolled off the production line recently at Chrysler's Eurostar Assembly Plant in Graz, Austria, as the company stepped up production in response to strong global demand. Chrysler has continued to increase production of the Chrysler PT Cruiser since its introduction in early 2000. In April, the company announced it would expand capacity of its Toluca (Mexico) Assembly Plant from 180,000 to 260,000 units annually. The Graz plant can produce 50,000 Chrysler PT Cruisers annually, bringing the worldwide capacity to 310,000 units in 2002.

• Toyota has announced that it has formed a joint venture with PSA Peugeot Citroen to produce budget small passenger cars aimed at the European entry-level car buyer. The venture will develop a small car platform with a planned investment of E1.5 billion, split evenly between the two companies. Production is due to start in 2005, with the four-seater car using a one-liter petrol unit, or a 1.4 diesel.

• Japan's Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, best known as the maker of Subarus, has said that it is stepping up joint parts purchases with General Motors in a bid to cut costs. Fuji Heavy, 21 percent owned by GM, aims to use its partner's global procurement system to jointly purchase about 10 percent of parts in the current business year that began in April. That will increase to 30 percent in two to three years, it said. The company has also said that it will soon start selling its cars in Indonesia through the GM network.

• Subaru Australia has sent to Subaru clubs the following email re the WRX STi: "On STi pricing: It is still not finalised, indeed we have only had preliminary pricing discussion with the factory and because of the variations in exchange rate it will not be finalised for some time. Regarding the comparison with New Zealand - these are a very inaccurate way of trying to judge or second guess pricing in Australia and for the following reasons: New Zealand use Japanese-domestic models which vary greatly from Australian-spec cars. Most Japanese-spec cars start as very basic models because customers can individually tailor them. For instance, the New Zealand B4 does not have leather, McIntosh sound system, BBS wheels, to mention just a few items that probably have a combined retail value of more than $10,000. On STi, there cars do not have the very expensive front diff that is fitted to our cars and that is just for starters. Then there is the issue that New Zealand does not have an import duty. So rather than compare apples and apples, any comparison with New Zealand-spec cars is apples and pears."

• Fiat has decided that the American public is ready for its luxury brands Alfa Romeo and Lancia and plans to re-introduce them in 2005. The Italian cars will be sold through select General Motors dealerships.

• Suzuki Australia has launched its largest ever model, the SuzukiXL-7.Developed from the Suzuki XL-6 concept vehicle which caused a sensation at the Detroit Motor Show (USA) early last year, the new Suzuki XL-7 is a luxurious seven-seater four-wheel-drive wagon.

• The Americans have only just got the WRX, but they're tuning them already! http://cobbtuning.com/main.html

• Luxury car maker BMW is to build a new plant in the eastern German city of Leipzig at a cost of 1bn euros.