Archive for December, 2013
The Death Of An Australian Icon: Holden Is Lion Down.
For a bloke raised with the great triumvirate of car makers of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors-Holden, in the late ’60s and early ’70s, the news on a day that numerologists were salivating about (11/12/13) came as expected but still deeply unwelcome to me. The once great company, known as Holden, will be ceasing manufacturing in 2017. Just a few months after its also once great rival, Ford Australia, announced the same news, the unwanted confirmation was announced mid afternoon.
Sadly, it appears to be a combination of factors but a situation that will keep conspiracy theorists happy for a while. What is known: GM honcho Dan Akerman, a self confessed “non car guy”, advised Aussie boss Mike Devereux by phone just hours after Devereux said there still was no decision. In the statement to the press by Devereux is this: “The unfortunate fact is that as I stand here today, GM already has all the information it needs to know that our Next Gen business case is not viable.” And: ” We have looked at every possible option to build the Next Gen products here in Australia. But no matter which way we applied the numbers, the long-term business case is simply not viable.” Within the statement is no mention of lack of support financially from the Federal Government, however it’s this potentially vital point that will be debated for the next few years.
Whether or not the Labor Party’s proposal to fund around $150 million per year for the foreseeable future would have worked tied in with what could justifiably be seen, in some areas, as an unnecessary delay by the Federal Government, would have worked has now been rendered a moot point. What is undoubted is the closure of the engine plant in Port Melbourne (Victoria) with the loss of 1300 jobs, the body manufacturing plant in Elizabeth (South Australia) with 1600 positions to go plus the world renowned proving grounds at Lang Lang, Victoria. There will be a retention of a Global Design Studio plus staff enough to manage the transition from a manufacturing base to a sales and marketing company.
In a recent interview, when asked about the secrets to his success and the transformation of General Motors, Mr Akerson said: “Fundamentally I’ve got to run a business that’s gonna turn profits.” This isn’t surprising, given the financial mess the American Big 3 found themselves in recently. However it’s this statement that, at its heart, provides the reason behind the decision: it’s business. However the reason for the rot goes back a long way. Some say it was Holden’s reluctance, along with Ford, to move with demand and provide the vehicles the market and therefore, the public wanted. Akerman said: “It was a perfect storm of negative influences which include the sustained strength of the Australian dollar, high cost of production, small domestic market and arguably the most competitive and fragmented auto market in the world”. Others say the high cost of living in Australia, the required amount of wages conspiring with a shift to a demand for smaller cars (and, some will argue, better quality) and SUVs alike up against the cost of manufacturing and the unsustainable losses on each Australian built car, are to do with the end result.
From here, there’s an economic cost,with figures of around $21 billion being thrown around. There’s the human cost, not just the 2900 or so workers directly affected but those in associated automotive industries, the suppliers and parts manufacturers, to the car and courier and truck drivers plus local businesses that depended on the workers spending their dollars with them, such as the humble sandwich bar and local pubs where workers may go for a frothy after a shift.
With a large range of cars available to cater for all parts of the market, Holden certainly ticks the boxes for diversity; the Commodore (enjoying a sales resurgence and, somewhat ironically, getting rave reviews in the US), the Malibu, Cruze, Colorado, Barina and Trax but with just the Commodore built almost start to finish here whilst the Cruze is assembled here, the costs to build were being swamped by the relatively low sales numbers in a market comparatively miniscule on a world scale.
Sadly, regardless of the debate, it’s a done decision and unless something truly miraculous happens, come 2016 and 2017, where the two separate manufacturing plants finally close, there’ll be many a tear shed, no doubt a few choice words directed at politicians but finally, the doors will close and Holden, after a long and chequered history as a manufacturer, kicking off with the fabled 48-215 through to the iconic catchphrase of “football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars”, down to the classy VF Commodore, will be lion down.
State of Play: Holden in Australia.
At the time of writing there’s still no firm answer on what will happen with Holden as a manufacturer in Australia. What is painfully and abundantly clear is this: if Holden ceases to build cars then so will Toyota. What follows from there is a huge increase in unemployment; not just the line workers in the factories but the suppliers, the companies that provide the raw materials in the form of electronics or metal or LEDs or bulbs or courier services and so on.
There’s been conflicting reports as to who/what/why from the Federal Government in regards to funding; the Labor Party says $150 million per year can be offered to keep Holden building whilst Opposition Senator Kim Carr says their is no committed funding for the automotive industry past 2020. The current acting Prime Minister, Warren Truss, says though that there are funds available now, in the order of over a billion dollars, thanks to unspent funds from other areas. The Government has written to Holden asking that they declare their intentions.
There are rumours that the decision is not Holden’s to make but the overlords in America; themselves in a state of change with the company just naming Mary Barra as CEO, taking over from Dan Akerson, the man that is said to have made the decision. However, there’s more to it than that. Holden needs to stay but it does need to undergo a fundamental change in its outlook and thinking. I made the point on radio that, as it stands, Holden is a critically ill patient that needs ministrations until a cure, KNOWN to be 100 percent effective and confirmed as available in just a couple of years is provided. A great example is the current situation in regards to bomb proofed vehicles for the Government fleet, with some sources claiming that Holden had not made a bid to supply these vehicles whilst others are
saying that they had bid but weren’t up to the mark. There’s also been questions about the costs, with one figured being mentioned of over one million dollars for just one vehicle whilst the main company involved, BMW, can provide a higher standard vehicle for cheaper, at just $525,000….
Ford and Chrysler, along with General Motors, were allowed to trade out of an incredibly difficult financial situation, brought on by well entrenched and hard to shift attitudes inside and out. This has been successful, with the US Treasury selling off the last of its shares; Holden can 
do the same and needs substantial re-investment as well. The Commodore is currently under severe evaluation in the States prior to being sold as the Chevrolet SS and is getting substantially good reviews. The Cruze is showing its age and needs a makeover to compete against rivals such as the Focus/Mazda3/i30 trio and more is needed to build here, such as is mooted for a new model by 2020.
Regardless, Holden and Toyota as a result, need the Government to continue funding but being hard headed about how this process will work will work against a fair resolution, especially with tens of thousands of workers livelihoods and potentially billions of dollars, not just millions, at risk of being lost to the future.
Update: as of mid afternoon, December 11 2013, Holden has confirmed that it will cease manufacturing in Australia from 2017. The decision was made in Detroit.
Queen: Great Driving Anthems
Legends of Music
Don’t Stop Me Now… because I Want It All… and I want to ride my Bicycle… while I’m rushing Headlong out of control. It’s a Hard Life…because I am the Invisible Man… but The Show Must Go On. It is a Kind of Magic… and Friends Will Be Friends… and most importantly I Am In Love With My Car.
Queen are quite simply my all time favourite band. No other band can even come close to the majesty that is made up Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. With a career spanning from the early 70s, Queen have become one of the legends of the music industry. I do not possess enough fingers, toes or even limbs to count the number of smash hits they have had, nor the number of genres they have conquered in their world domination. To describe them as international just does not do them justice. They were one of the first bands to open up South America as a territory, and were the first band to play behind the Iron Curtain in Budapest in 1986. This does lead me flawlessly into the undeniable fact that Queen were probably the greatest live act to set foot on stage. The 20 minute ‘Live Aid’ set in 1985 has gone down in history as ‘one of the worlds greatest bands, performing one of worlds greatest sets, on the worlds greatest stage’.
The Legendary Queen Set at Live Aid 1985
On occasion I have heard many cynical little surrender monkeys describe Queen using the phrase, ‘jack of all trades, master of none’. Yes, Queen did span a multitude of genres, but if they were indeed ‘masters of none’ then they would not be considered one of the greatest bands of all time. Whether they were bringing the rock, the metal, the rockabilly, the pop or even the Motown, they always ensured themselves success with their fusion of the Freddie Mercury vocals, the monumental harmonies and of course that melodic powerhouse that is the Red Special guitar of Brian May. Chances are, I could spend hours, days, weeks, months or even years going on about just how much I love Queen. After all, Freddie Mercury is my idol, musically and culturally. He was not just a great musician, but he was an incredibly powerful yet humble human being. Even though he was battling one of the most destructive diseases on the planet, Freddie Mercury had an inner strength comparable to none, and yet he continued making amazing music up until his death on November 24th 1991.
The Man, The Voice, The Legend
I know what you are probably thinking… Why am I going on about Queen? What have they got to do with cars? Well the reason I bring this all to do with another aspect of the everyday motoring experience. I am of course talking about one of the central parts of any driving date: listening to music.
Many of us may not realise it, but listening to music is an integral part of our relationship with driving. I have had the pleasure to have driven and been driven in vehicles all around the world, and one of the common factors that links all of these experiences, forgetting the place, the people and the vehicle is music and sound. Humans and music share a special relationship; it mirrors our own emotions and gives us somewhere to escape from the stresses and strains of modern life. For example, when I am at home, I like nothing better than to put the headphones in and be transported into a world of my own choosing. Music can make us smile when we are sad, express feelings for others we do not have the courage to say, and most importantly it can bring people together.
Chances are that wherever you may be going in your car, you will have the radio on, be playing a CD or have your iPod plugged in to the sound system. Speaking of which, no one can really argue that music and driving do not share an intimate link; just look at some of these people that spend gargantuan amounts of their hard earned money on sound systems with the power to shake the very earth they are driving on. Each one of us is different, and with our own music selection while we drive we really do make driving our own. There is a sense of belonging and intimacy created when you have the power to control your journey. Many of us will spend many hours driving from place to place, so why not feel as comfortable as possible? Music gives us something familiar and relatable, especially if we are passing through an unfamiliar land with nothing but a SatNav to guide us.
Whether are driving to work, driving to the shops or driving just for the sake of driving, sometimes we all need to crank up the volume and let the emotion, power and theatre out that is hiding away inside of us. Each and every one of us will have our own favourite bands, our own favourite albums and our own favourite songs. They define who we are. And the cultural icon that is Queen has indeed defined who I am as a person today. I shall now present to you a list of some of my favourite songs of theirs and just why they make great driving anthems for all occasions.
Queen doing what they do best
Tie Your Mother Down – This song from 1976 is one of Queen’s iconic hard rock numbers. Imagine a drive to the local shops on relatively empty roads, with this song blasting out on the radio. The song simultaneously gives you the sense of power and speed of the empty roads, while relieving any stress about the shop. It gives you the chance to chant the stress away. What more, at the traffic lights there is always the chance for a cheeky outburst of air guitar.
Don’t Stop Me Now – Any song that is voted the greatest driving song of all time by Top Gear UK cannot be ignored now can it? You could be driving alone or with friends, this is a great sing-a-long song. You could be stuck in traffic but if this song comes on, I can definitely argue that you will be dancing along in your seat and you will no longer care where you are. A great beat. Amazing catchy vocals and killer guitar. What is not to love?
I Want To Break Free – Even the manliest of men will dissolve into a camp mess of hoover based dancing when this song comes on. This song gives you the chance to stop caring about the world around you and be a little silly for those three minutes. After all, your car is your kingdom, what you do in there is your business. Especially if you work a job that involves staunch professionalism, I urge you whack this little beauty on while you drive home and it will make your day a whole lot better.
Who Wants To Live Forever (Live in Budapest 1986) – Sadly not every moment in life can be a positive one. There are those moments in life where we all feel a little sad and just want to scream. I don’t know about you, but a lot of the time when I am sad I do feel like belting out a classic power ballad full of emotion. Imagine it if you will, you have received some bad news and you are driving down a coastal road in the evening, while the rain beats down on the windscreen. As you swing around each corner, while there may even be tears streaming down your face, this song will come on and the raw emotional undertone of this song will propel you into a world of song. It reminds you that it is ok to feel sad every now and again.
Innuendo – This relatively unknown number one single from the early 90s is full of theatre and passion. As we all know, long motorway journeys can seem endless. However, with the right song on it can keep us awake and keep us motivated. This is one of those songs. The 6 minutes include heavy rock, Spanish guitar and searing vocals make this song the perfect driving song for when you need perking up. Just remember, the end of the journey is near. All you need is a little dose of Queen and you’ll be there
Breakthru – This song is not only my favourite Queen song, but my favourite song of all time. The driving beat. The cheesy romantic lyrics. The epic guitar solo. This song is everything to me. And from my own experiences, there is no driving scenario that cannot be improved with this song blaring out of the radio. This song can be the light in your usual dark day. It can be the soundtrack to your countryside pedal to the metal thrash. It can even be that song you play after the girl you’ve been chasing for months has rejected you. There is always hope.
Bohemian Rhapsody – And finally, I present to you one of the greatest songs ever written. The song for every occasion. But whenever I hear this song I can just imagine me and my friends driving while we attempt to sing along. Operatic section included. This song is the ultimate song for you and your mates. Sound familiar? Well, would we all not want to recreate THAT scene from Wayne’s World? As I am writing this, the operatic section is building into that riff we all know so well. And yes, I am indeed head banging as I am typing. This is the perfect driving song. There will always be a smile on your face when this song is on.
…unless you do not like it or Queen. But that cannot be right. You just cannot be human (I joke of course)
There are of course a host of other songs in the Queen arsenal. Sadly I have not got time to talk about them all. But this is where you come in. If you have indeed liked what you have heard here today, then it is now up to you to find out more for yourself. The driving experience is a special one. Music can really enhance this experience. Even though I have spoken only about Queen, I wish for you to go out and find your own Queen. Find your own perfect playlist.
What makes your perfect driving playlist?
In the meantime, I will leave you with the Queen song written by Roger Taylor, who was by the way a massive car fan. Ladies and gentlemen, it has once again been a pleasure. Here it is…
Keep Driving People!
Follow me on Twitter: @lewisglynn69
Peace and Love!
Tokyo Motor Show – The Highlights
It must be a hard job, organising a motor show. There’s so many of them these days and it must be tricky to stop the shows becoming a bit same old-same old. At any given motor show, you can guarantee that there will be three things: (1) several new cars that are actually going to hit the roads will be unveiled; (2) someone will put out a great idea for a concept car that may or may not make its way into regular production but is a blinking good idea; (3) there will be some concept cars that look tacky, trashy, weird, ugly or the lot combined. In the bad old days of the 1960s and 1970s, when free love was in with neither the feminists nor AIDS to stop such things, they had nude female models attracting attention to the new cars. Thankfully, that sort of cheap shot has stopped and the show organisers have realised that – gosh golly gee whiz – women buy and drive cars, too. The Tokyo Motor Show tends to be well known for having more than its fair share of bizarre and out-there concepts, and I suspect that it is this feature that keeps the enthusiasts coming. And why not?
With the three standard features in mind, I checked out the goodies at the recent Tokyo Motor Show to find representatives from all three categories:
The New Production Cars:
- Honda Vezel: An SUV equivalent of the Jazz. Looks like a practical and attractive model; pity about the name, which sounds like a Germanic weasel (mercifully, there are currently no plans for a diesel Vezel – would be a good fuel but you’d feel like a twit saying it aloud).
- Lexus RC Coupé: two-door version of the popular IS range. Super sleek!
- Mini Cooper: The classic gets yet another reincarnation that keeps the usual retro looks but is a shade bigger than the little dinky-wee we’re used to.
- Jaguar F-Type Coupé: This European sportster stole the show from under the nose of the local manufacturers. Powerful and with looks that are reminiscent of the old E-type, this one got plenty of people salivating.
- Subaru Levorg: Midway between the Impreza and the Liberty, this is a “sports tourer” that has a traditional stationwagon shell hiding a fierce engine. (Better hide this one from my Subaru nutcase brother).
The Great New Concept Ideas:
- The Toyota FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle): A sleek zero-emissions vehicle using hydrogen cell technology that Toyota hopes to add to its regular production line-up in the next three or so years. Here’s hoping!
- Mitsubishi Concept GC-PHEV: GC stands for Grand Cruiser; PHEV stands for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. It’s supposed to be a Pajero upgrade.
- Subaru Cross Sport: The makers say that this Toyota 86 competitor is a concept only but the dealers are practically begging for this sporty four-seater to go into production.
- Lexus LF-NX: Lexus gets turbocharged in a head-turning package.
- Daihatsu Deca Deca: The name is wacky and it the styling looks like it’s an inflated Barbie accessory (but not in pink and purple) but quite practical and not too bad.
- Honda S660 Concept: A super-small convertible roadster that looks like a lot of fun.
- Ken Okuyama Yanmar Y Concept: Who says tractors can’t look snappy?
- Mazda3 CNG: Designed to run on compressed natural gas or regular fuel, it’s a concept version of the popular Mazda 3.
- Mitsubishi Concept AR: a crossover between a minivan and an SUV. An intriguing idea but the colour nearly got it put in the “bizarre” category.
- Nissan IDX FreeFlow: Designed with the help of teenagers and a few folk in their early 20s, this is surprisingly tasteful and a tad retro.
The Hideous, Trashy and Bizarre:
- Toyota FV2 (FV standing for Fun Vehicle): A car that’s supposed to sense your emotions and where the driver stands up and leans from side to side to steer the vehicle. It’s not ugly but it is certainly bizarre. It also is supposed to change colour according to your feelings – a mood ring on wheels.
- Nissan BladeGlider: Seats three, has lots of aerodynamics and an electric motor, and looks plain old weird. It’s triangular.
- Daihatsu FC Deco Deck: It seats one person. It’s hideous. It’s impractical. Enough said.
- Kawasaki J: A motorbike with ambitions of being a Transformer and looks very uncomfortable to ride indeed. I’m still not sure exactly where the rider goes, let alone a pillion passenger.
- Suzuki Hustler: The name alone earns it a place in this category. So do the looks.
Level 2, 9 Help Street