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Wheel Fever - by Craig Hill

Rounding out the list of new Fords unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show this morning is the new Mondeo Zetec wagon, which joins the Mondeo range in June.

The Mondeo wagon was first shown at last year's show as a toe-in-the-water exercise to solicit consumer feedback.

That feedback was good and the Zetec wagon will provide buyers with an alternative mid-size load-lugger, according to Ford Australia president and CEO, Marin Burela.

The Zetec wagon is powered by a 118kW/208Nm 2.3-litre Duratec four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels.

It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential sports shift.

The Zetec wagon comes with the same high level of standard features as the Zetec hatch and sedan, including 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, dual zone climate control, a premium Sony audio system, automatic headlights, rain sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, capless refuelling and follow me home lights.

It also has a safety package mirroring that of its hatch and sedan siblings.

Key safety features include an enhanced Intelligent Protection System (IPS) complemented by an anti-skid brakes, brake assist, electronic stability control, an automatic hazard warning light and seven airbags, including a driver's knee airbag and full length side curtain airbags.

Key wagon features include an impressive load carrying space, which provides a luggage capacity of 542 litres with the rear passenger seats in the upright position, increasing to a capacious 1733 litres with the rear passenger seats folded flat.

Prices will be released closer to the car's launch date.

Herald Sun

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: American Cars, Wagons, Ford, Melbourne International

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2009 Ford Territory

February 28th 2009 04:53

It has been a long time coming but Ford has finally given the popular Territory off-roader a facelift.

The wraps came off the new-look SY Territory MkII range at the Melbourne Motor Show this morning.

It gets a much-needed visual update, revised model lineup new equipment.

Two Territory models, a Territory Ghia AWD and a Territory TS RWD, are on display at the motor show to give customers a first look at the SY Territory MkII line-up, which will go on sale next month.

The Territory TX now gets side curtain airbags, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels and a full body colour package for the bumpers, door handles and mirrors as standard.

The TS is also fitted with the full body colour package, along with a reverse parking camera, front fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel, handbrake and gearshift, and a third row seat.

Ghia models also gain a third row seat as standard equipment, along with a rear Alpine DVD system, side steps, rear privacy glass, body coloured door handles and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The top-of-the-range Ghia Turbo picks up the same list of additions, along with a new wheel design for its standard 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside the cabin gets some new trim materials and colours but the dashboard carries over largely unchanged.

The TS and Ghia have the option of a no-cost option of a cashmere interior.

The proven 4.0-litre in-line six-cylinder carries over.

Prices have risen between $500 and $1000 depending on the model.

The entry rear-drive TX now costs $39,490, a $1000 price rise.

The RWD TS is $44,490 and Ghia $52,490.

The AWD TX is $44,490, TS $49,490, Ghia $57,490 while the AWD Ghia Turbo is now $66,420.

The Territory has been an outstanding success for Ford since it was launched in 2004.

More than 86,000 have been sold and the car has won a multitude of consumer and industry awards.

Herald Sun

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: American Cars, Hatchbacks, Ford, Melbourne International

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2009 Ford Focus Range

February 28th 2009 04:38

Joining the upgraded Focus XR5 at the Melbourne Motor Show is the new-look Focus range.

The Focus goes on sale next month and like the current car, will be available as a five-door hatch and four-door sedan.

Prices have risen $300 and $1500 depending on the model but buyers get more equipment and improved safety levels.

The new LV-series will be available in four core models, entry CL, LX and TDCi and Zetec.

Anti-skid brakes are standard across the range while electronic stability control and traction control are standard on LX, TDCi and Zetec models.

Apart from the refreshed exterior, Ford has answered criticism of the car's low-rent interior with vastly improved quality and enhanced comfort levels.

There is a black soft-touch dash pad, along with the soft-touch upper door trims, contrasting with a tan coloured inner roof lining to visually lighten the cabin.

The dark dashboard is designed to reduce reflection in bright conditions common in Australia.

In front of the driver is a large-face tachometer and speedometer set deeply into individual binnacles.

Positioned above are small-face water temperature and fuel gauges, with each surrounded by a silver bezel.

And LCD information screen displays time, outside temperature, trip meter and odometer.

The LCD screen also has a trip computer.

The revised centre console and redesigned window and mirror switches accompany intuitive controls for air conditioning, heater and ventilation system.

At night, the centre stack controls are illuminated in soft red light which is more soothing,versus the stark white of the previous generation Focus.

The centre console is more user friendly with a sliding armrest, two cupholders and storage cubbies.

The 107kW 2.0-litre Duratec engine carries over and can be mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

Ford is also debuting its innovative six-speed PowerShift automatic in the TDCi, in combination with the potent 100kW/320Nm 2.0-litre Duratorq turbodiesel engine.

The TDCi with Powershift returns a fuel economy figure of 5.9 litres/100km.

Herald Sun

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: American Cars, Hatchbacks, Sedans, Ford, Melbourne International

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Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Turbo-diesel

February 28th 2009 04:30

Ford Australia announced this morning that it will add a hybrid-beating turbo-diesel Fiesta to its lineup later this year.

Unveiling what he describes as one of the most fuel-efficient hatches available, Ford Australia president and CEO Marin Burela, said the Fiesta ECOnetic was “an economy car without compromise”.

The modern direct-injection 1.6-litre diesel Fiesta ECOnetic achieves a fuel economy figure of just 3.7 litres/100km with a C02 emissions figure of just 98 g/km.

The ECOnetic is powered by a 1.6-litre TDCi diesel with a particulate filter that develops 66kW at 4000 revs and 200Nm from just 1750 revs.

“The Fiesta ECOnetic will enable customers to drive a mainstream, fuel efficient and low CO2 emitting vehicle that is also stylish and affordable,” Burela said.

“By launching a specific model, with dedicated Ford ECOnetic badging to designate its ultra-low CO2 results, we will be able to offer a clear alternative for those customers who prioritise low emission performance.”

The Fiesta ECOnetic could also pave the way for other ECOnetic models.

“Fiesta ECOnetic looks and functions just like conventional Fiesta, using conventional diesel powertrain technology,” Burela said.

“Yet it has the potential to deliver best-in-class CO2 emissions compared to the current crop of competitive vehicles, as well as against today's most popular hybrids.

The car uses a combination of the latest generation common rail diesel powertrain, together with low rolling resistance tyres, aerodynamic aids, longer final drive gear ratio, 10mm lower suspension and specially calibrated diesel.

As well, the driver gets a green shift indicator light in the instrument cluster, which signals the optimal point to change gear to maximise fuel economy.

The car gets a tyre mobility kit rather than a traditional spacesaver space to help further reduce weight.

Full local specifications and pricing will be released at a later date.

However, the UK-spec five-door ECOnetic costs $1000 less than the five-speed manual Titanium 1.6-litre petrol hatch, which closely equates to the Australian-spec $20,990 Zetec 1.6 five-speed.

Herald Sun

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: American Cars, Hatchbacks, Ford, Melbourne International

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Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

February 10th 2009 10:31

The hottest car on American roads is being readied for action in Australia.

It's the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the first car has just landed in readiness for a right-hand drive work-over.

The ZR1, called the 'King of the Hill' in America, is the personal property of a man who makes his living turning left-hand drive dream machines into a down-under drive.

"This ZR1 is my personal toy. But if someone wants to buy one we'll be happy to assist them, bring it in and then convert it for them," says Peter Whiston of the Corvette Clinic in Melbourne.

He has been doing the left-right switch hit on 'Vettes since the early 1980s and is looking forward to the new challenge with a car that's called the 'King of the Hill' in America. The ZR1 has a supercharged 6.2-litre aluminium V8 that produces a brutal 476 kiloWatts and 819 Newton-metres of torque.

The two-door coupe is a genuine supercar with a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.4 seconds, a top speed of 330km/h and a Nurburgring lap time of 7 minutes 26.4 seconds - which Chevrolet claims as a production car record.

Whiston says the first ZR1 conversion will not be easy - with everything from a new dash pad to relocation of the air-conditioner and drive belts on the job list - but he is looking forward to the end result.

"It's all going to be a bit of a bunfight, unfortunately. I'm 58 and I'm past all that. Once I would have enjoyed it, but now I'm looking to the result," he says.

"It's early days with this car. It's going to be two or three months to get it converted. And now they've changed the steering ratio on the car, so it's totally different again."

But Peter and Kane Whiston know Corvettes and know conversions.

"We registered the business in 1981. Corvettes are all we do. I started with doing cars from '69 onwards," he says.

"Over that time we've probably done about 500 cars. We are coming up to 30 cars with the latest C6 model."

But the Corvette Clinic is not a retail store.

"Our prime business is conversions for people. We do it under orders.

We don't have a heap of stock," Whiston says.

That's no surprise when a C6 conversion is $49,500 and the ZR1 will be worth around $400,000 by the time it is ready to roll.

Whiston says the company's conversions are not costed on an hourly work rate, but an all-in price for a drive-in, drive-out service.

"The hourly rate has nothing to do it with it. The car comes in left- hand drive and goes out right-hand drive," he says.

Business is good because the Corvette has always been an American classic, although the recent drop in the Australian dollar and regulations which allow older classic cars to continue with left-side steering have cut the waiting time at the Corvette Clinic.

"Business has slackened a little since the Aussie dollar took a dive.

But we've still got plenty of work. We're probably got six months of work at the moment."

That includes the complicated process for the ZR1, which must be certified under low-volume compliance regulations. Older cars get by under rules for a Registered Automotive Workshop, but all-new cars are different.

"We'll have to update the compliance. It's noise, it's brakes, it's the engineering on the conversion," Whiston says.

"But that's what we do. And this is the first car, so once that's done then anyone who wants a ZR1 can be taken care of."

Herald Sun

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: American Cars, Coupes, Chevrolet

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