As seen on:

SMH Logo News Logo

Call 1300 303 181

Australia’s Best New Car News, Reviews and Buying Advice

Archive for January, 2011

Great New TV Ads

A few months ago we listed our all time car TV ad favourites. It seems that many agrred with us, though some had other ideas. We’ve just come across two new car ads from Europe that we thought were great fun.

The first one is for Volkswagen, and the message is ‘no matter how harshly you treat a vee-dub it can take the punishment’. A great and very funny way  to make the point here.

The second commercial is also amusing and a bit way out. It’s for Mercedes and says that the car is so good it will be life changing for you.

What do you think? http://credit-n.ru/calc.html

Crash For Clunkers

As predicted, the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Julia Gillard initiative announced prior to the last election has finally crashed out of political contention. The Gillard Government announced today that it was to be abandoned due the the budgetry restraints imposed by the cost impositions from the Queensland flood disasters.

This is by no means unexpected as many criticised the initiative when it was first announced as being ineffective and a highly priced way of improving the environment.

From  Private Fleet’s point of view we did not support the scheme in the first place as we felt it did not give sufficient incentive for the new car buyer,  so we do not think our customers will be disadvantaged by its cancellation. http://credit-n.ru/business-kredit.html

Winners And Losers in 2010

      

The Federal Chamber Of Automotive Industries (FCAI) have just released figures and data on sales of motor vehicles in 2010 – and they make interesting reading, even to the layman.

Million Barrier Broken

 

2010 showed an increase of 10.5% on 2009 and posted the second highest sales on record at 1.03 million passenger cars, SUV’s and commercial vehicles for the year. That’s nearly 100,000 more new vehicles than the year before. There were, of course, plenty of winners, but, rather surprisingly, there were also some very big losers.

The Big Winners

Toyota was the largest selling brand yet again in 2010

 

Toyota was the biggest selling brand in 2010 for the eighth year running, selling 214,000 vehicles, some 77,000 more than the runner-up Holden, with Ford  a distant third. However there were some significant and unexpected changes.

SUV’s

 

 

A massive 25% more Sports Utility Vehicles were sold in 2010, reflecting the continued interest in 4WD and off-road type vehicles. By contrast normal passenger vehicles could only manage a more modest 9.5% increase.

Luxury Vehicles

 

As a clear reflection of the GFC recovery Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Bentley all recorded increased sales in excess of 50% over 2009 (Rolls Royce, incidentally, recorded a huge 179% increase).

The Imports

 

The best overall performer was Great Wall from China, but that’s because it was working from a very low base in 2009. Even so, it is a sign of things to come with nearly 5000 vehicles sold in 2010, and other Chinese imports set to join the assault in 2011.

Hyundai (+27%), Nissan (+18.5%), Suzuki (+22%) and Skoda (+32%) also performed well.

There were many other imports who could boast good increases but amongst these most notably Volkswagen scored a 26% increase to be the only European amongst the top ten brands.

Perhaps the most surprising statistic from the importers was the source country with the biggest growth was India! India had a massive 680% increase with more than 6000 vehicles landing on our shores in 2010.

India?? What cars do we buy that are made in India? Well, if you buy a Hyundai i20 you’ll most likely find it was made in India (if you want to check how to find where your car comes from click here).

……. And the Losers

Not surprisingly the biggest loser was SAAB, due to the threatened closure, but then, with new cars due it will probably recover to be the most successful performer in 2011! Amongst the bigger brands Chrysler (-20%), Dodge (-21%), Fiat (-29%) and Renault (-21%) suffered, and Ford would not have been happy either, as they fell back by 1.3% in comparison with Holden’s 11.2% growth.

Just to show you how careful you have to be when reading figures the biggest loser was Maybach (-100%). Who? Maybach is the Mercedes luxury brand (?). It sold one vehicle in 2009, but none in 2010. You can look for the Arnie Shwarzenneger Hummer on the same scrapheap (-87%) with only 55 sold prior to their demise.

……and finally, the best performers.

 

 

Light Cars under $25K

                                                                Suzuki Alto

Small Cars Under $40K

Holden Cruz

Medium Cars Up To $60K

Volkswagen Jetta

Large Cars

BMW 5 Series

http://credit-n.ru/electronica.html

Eleven for Eleven

Eleven for Eleven

 

We are in for a bumper year of new car launches as manufacturers emerge from the GFC with new models to tempt buyers. We’ve searched through all the P.R. releases to come up with what we think are the eleven most important releases for 2011. See if you agree.

The Locals

 

  1. Holden Cruze

This is not, strictly, a new car launch, yet it is probably the most important development for the industry in 2011. The Cruze is already a top ten seller, but is made in Korea – at least for a few weeks longer. Then production for Australia   will be transferred to Adelaide, where it will be the only compact locally made car. Later this year the wholly Australian designed hatchback version will join the sedan to project the Cruze further up the popularity ladder.

       2.   Holden Barina

 

 

A brand new Barina will join the Holden line up in September. GM’s world small car, the Aveo will come to Australia as the Barina. Sharply styled with a motor cycle inspired instrument cluster, loads of storage space and an audio package that includes Bluetooth and USB connectivity, it is both longer and wider than the current model, but should still compete in the sub $20k category.

     3.  Ford Territory 

 

A new Ford Territory, including a much needed diesel version will hit Australian roads in April. It looks different, has a new interior and rides better with new suspension and steering. This is the major new car initiative from Ford for 2011 although there will be a great deal of interest when it lunches the 2 litre turbo engine for the Falcon later in the year that boasts a frugal 8 litres/100kms fuel consumption.

The Europeans 

 

      4.  Audi A6

 

An all new Audi A6 is expected late in the year. Continuing with the sleek, fast back tradition, it will be available as both a front wheel and all wheel drive petrol or diesel version featuring a range of luxury refinements. It will be slightly shorter and lower than the current model and will be easily identified by its LED daytime running lights curving around the all-new headlight design. Surprisingly for some it will not feature a weight-saving alloy body. Prices for the new range have not been revealed but are expected to start in the mid $70k’s.

     5.   VW Passat

 

VW is the only European brand featured in the top ten selling cars in Australia in 2010, and is keen to preserve its premier position. Spearheading their charge is the popular Passat. It has cleaner, softer lines (VWphiles call it a mini Phaeton, due to its similarity in frontal appearance), up to 18% improvement in fuel economy and a wide range of variants including an estate version. Prices are expected to be similar to the existing range, starting below $50K.

       6.  Land Rover Evoque

 

Land Rover is now owned by the Indian Tata group, and they are investing heavily in new designs, though Land Rovers will continue to be made in the UK. The latest addition to the range will be the very stylish yet most affordable Evoque. The youth market targeted Evoque  will be sold with both three nad five door body styles, front and all wheel drive and three engine choices. The entry price is expected to be around $60K.

        7.     Saab 9-5

 

Like Lazarus, Saab is rising from the dead. It faced extinction under GM in 2010, but was finally rescued by a Dutch based consortium. Plans had already been laid down for new models and the first to make its appearance will be the all new 9-5 sedan, which is due in April, and a wagon version will follow later in the year. These cars will be powered by either an eco 85 petrol engine or diesel. The 9-5 marks the strong brand resurgence with at least three more models due to be launched into the Australian market in the near future.

The Asians 

 

     8.   Lexus CT200h

 

Lexus is Toyota’s luxury brand. Its new small car ‘entry level’ is called the CT200h, which doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. It’s due here in a couple of months, and is a hybrid priced under $50K. It’s powered by the same petrol/electric combination used in the Toyota Prius and will come in three style versions. But it looks smart and will suit those buyers who have a firm eye on ecology, but still like a little bit of luxury, and some exclusivity.

         9.   Proton Exora

 

Malaysian car maker Proton is introducing a significant new member into the ‘people mover’ market segment called ‘The Exora’. The mail players in the market are the Kia Carnival, Toyota Tarago and the Honda Odyssey but Proton plan to threaten their superiority by boasting a starting price of around $25K. Look out for the first of these seven seater people movers around Sept/Oct 2011

        10.    Suzuki Swift

 

One of the first completely new cars in 2011 will be the Suzuki Swift. We are told it’s going to be bigger, heavier, better-equipped and safer than its predecessor. Yet it gets  a smaller( but supposedly much more efficient) 1.4 litre motor. Despite its extra size and weight it will be able to claim a class leading fuel efficiency of 5.5L/100kms. With all these claims we wonder how it compares in the performance stakes against the current model.

But there’s one left…..

 

That’s our top ten, but we said ‘eleven’. The final spot is saved for the most interesting advent of 2011- the Chinese. The Great Wall motor company pioneered the Chinese imports over the last two years and now two other small car makers will be joining them in 2011, the Chery and the Geely. They are bound to be very price competitive, but whether they will get huge customer acceptance remains to be seen.

We’ve mentioned just a few of the many new car releases scheduled for 2011. If you think we’ve missed one that is deserved of the top eleven then let us know.

 

 

http://credit-n.ru/zaymyi-v-ukraine.html