Quickies
- Holden is to go ahead with a four-wheel-drive version of the Commodore. Chairman and Managing Director Peter Hanenberger said the project has just won approval from General Motors in the United States. Holden hoped to sell about 25,000 of the cars each year, both in the domestic and in export markets. Hanenberger said the car would go into production some time between 2003 and 2005, but further details on specifications, features and pricing would not be given until closer to the launch date. He said Holden would invest more than $100 million in the project which would also boost jobs in both Melbourne and Adelaide.
- Shares in Orbital Engine Corporation Ltd have shot 29.31 per cent higher on news that it has entered into a technical transfer and licence agreement with Delphi Automotive Systems. It gives Delphi the right to manufacture and sell Orbital's air assisted direct fuel injection technology as part of its complete fuel and engine management system. Orbital said its advanced lean burn combustion system utilising air assisted direct injection can achieve fuel economy savings of 12 to 20 per cent.
- The brand-new Holden Rally Team has scored a landmark victory, taking first and second outright in the 2001 Australian Safari international cross-country rally. Defending champion Bruce Garland has scored a record fourth Safari win in his modified-category Holden Jackaroo, while teammate Peter Brock took second outright in his showroom-category Jackaroo. Des Harrington (Nissan Patrol ute) was third.
- Mitsubishi's Magna and Verada range has been upgraded to give more power, better economy and improved safety. Magna and Verada's 3.5 litre engine has had a 3.3% lift in power. In fuel economy City Cycle automatic delivers a 4.5% improvement, taking fuel usage for Magna and Verada from 11.0 litres/100km to 10.5 litres/100km. And Mitsubishi has just released, for a limited time, its value-for-money Magna V6Si sedan. Based on the more powerful Magna Executive, the V6Si adds new style 16 X 6 alloy wheels; unique rear-deck sports spoiler with high-mounted stop lamp; power windows; cruise control; body coloured front grille, side mouldings, splash protectors, air dam and door mirrors; unique interior trim and "V6Si" badging on the deck lid.
- Complex gyro technology used for aircraft guidance, control and navigation applications will soon be used in cars to measure inertia, and angular rates of acceleration. Developed for the aerospace industry by Honeywell, the technology has been sub-licensed to cellular phone company Motorola for use in the automotive industry. Motorola plans to develop vehicle stability control, rollover safety, vehicle location and navigation systems.
- Sirius Satellite Radio has just announced a deal with BMW of North America to offer its satellite radio service to new car buyers beginning in the second quarter of 2002.
- Volkswagen is unlikely to show a pre-production version of the luxury D1 at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The company has said that the D1 is still under development - it is believed VW chairman Ferdinand Piëch wants the vehicle to be more luxurious. Piëch was apparently disappointed last year when a focus group criticised the car, saying it looked nice, but lacked character. He immediately ordered a revamp. The chairman wanted "a special car that would revolutionalise the luxury vehicle market".
- Land Rover chairman Bob Dover has revealed that the company will launch five new models as part of a US$2 billion investment program over the next six years.
- Nissan is planning to effect further cost savings in the near future by reducing the number of sites where it builds engines in Japan from six to four, and by also cutting the number of engines that it makes from eleven to seven.
- The fastest and most powerful production Mercedes ever, the SL 55 AMG, will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Featuring a new supercharged 5.5-litre V8 powerplant that produces a brutal 355 kW, the SL 55 is claimed to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 250 km/h.
- The new Alfa Romeo 147, the reigning European Car of the Year, has gone on sale in Australia with prices for both the three and five door versions starting at $38,500.
- The final go ahead has been given to BMW for the proposed new manufacturing plant and head office for Rolls-Royce cars at West Sussex in the UK. A new Rolls-Royce model will be manufactured at the plant from 2003 onwards.
- General Motors is apparently considering developing a super high performance V12 Corvette. Company insiders suggest the car could be such a giant leap in technology and power over the existing 'Vette, that it may even wear a different badge to distance itself from the American icon.
- Mazda Motor Corp will close a passenger car factory in Hiroshima on Sept 14 as part of its efforts to shift production abroad, its president said Wednesday. Mark Fields told reporters that Mazda plans to start producing automobiles in Europe in 2003, the closure of the factory will reduce its domestic production capacity by some 25%.
- Toyota and Sony are working together on next-generation cars incorporating artificial intelligence capabilities. A prototype will be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October.
- DaimlerChrysler AG has bought 30 percent of privately held Australian technology developer Bishop Technology Group. The stake was purchased for an undisclosed sum from Arthur Bishop, the 83-year old founder of the company, which has developed steering technology used by automakers under licence in Japan, Germany, England, the United States, Korea and Australia.
New Integra
Honda has redefined Integra with an all-new range for 2002. Two new models feature bigger engines with a new "intelligent" incarnation of VTEC. The new Integra Type R features a close-ratio 6-speed manual gearbox, while the Integra gets a sequential shift 5-speed automatic transmission or close-ratio 5-speed manual.
Central to the 2002 Integra is an all-new 2.0-litre i-VTEC LEV engine - the first of Honda's new generation engines to be sold in Australia. i-VTEC combines Honda's innovative valve timing technology with VTC - Variable Timing Control - that continually adjusts camshaft phasing to provide linear engine performance throughout the rev range, low fuel consumption and LEV performance. Two versions are available - powering the Integra is a 118 kW 2.0-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder engine with peak power at 6500 rpm and 191 Nm @ 4000 rpm. A higher output version of i-VTEC lifts Integra Type R engine performance to 147 kW.
A new body was designed to meet the demands of the high-performance powertrain. Boasting 116 per cent greater torsional rigidity and 35 per cent increased bending rigidity, the new Integra body enhances handling and ride as well as overall strength. The Integra chassis is revised to include new compact Control-Link strut-style front suspension, compact rear double wishbone suspension and quick ratio power steering for smooth and controlled handling and comfortable ride. Honda's Integra Type R specially tuned suspension advances the Type R's acclaimed at-the-limit performance. A torque-sensing Limited Slip Differential delivers superior traction and reduced understeer. Anti-lock brakes and 4-wheel discs housed within 16-inch alloy wheels improve the Integra's stopping power.
Compact chassis components and compact engine have allowed the Integra to adopt a cabin forward design. Its sharper styling contributes to a 4 per cent aerodynamic improvement. For the first time, Integra achieves LEV status. Honda countered emission levels by positioning the exhaust at the rear of the engine. The shorter distance between the engine and catalyst adds up to a more complete conversion of exhaust gases. A unique "e-shaped" dual exhaust manifold improves exhaust flow.
The Integra's equipment has been extensively upgraded - body hugging sports seats, a small three-spoke steering wheel, automatic climate control air-conditioning, 4-speaker stereo with CD tuner, remote central locking and security alarm are all standard. The Type R interior extends its racing theme with suede Recaro seats, Momo steering wheel, aluminium pedals, foot rest and shift knob. The Type R exterior also gets the racing treatment with a high wing spoiler, body coloured side sills, chin spoiler and Type R decals.
For more: "Integra - 2002"
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Holden Update
Holden has introduced the Series II VX Commodore, Calais, WH Statesman, Caprice and VU Ute. The Series II sedan and wagon models introduce a range of refinements - particularly in the area of ride and handling - that will strengthen their popular appeal and confirm Holden's leadership in vehicle dynamics.
John Elsworth, Holden Marketing Manager, Large Cars, said while Commodore sales continued at record-breaking levels, maintaining a competitive edge was as important as ever.
"If we want to retain Commodore's market leadership then we have to keep delivering a class-leading product. In this case, our challenge was to improve on the qualities that have made this Commodore the most popular in the history of the nameplate and to further refine our long wheelbase models - without altering the blueprint," he said.
"The Series II models introduce several advances, the most significant being a new rear suspension design that provides even greater driving control and ride comfort. Holden has always set the benchmark for 'driver's car' chassis dynamics - and now those ride and handling attributes are better and more confidence-inspiring than ever," John Elsworth said.
For more: "The Series II Commodore, Calais, Statesman, Caprice And Holden Ute"
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