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Wheel Fever - by Paladin

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.

Ford Territory


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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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.

Ford Focus


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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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.

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic


“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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Suzuki Alto Hatch

February 27th 2009 14:58
Suzuki Australia has unveiled the all-new Alto hatch at the opening of the Melbourne Motor Show this morning.

The fifth and smallest member of the Suzuki family is already on sale in Europe and hits local dealers late this year.

Although prices have not been set, the Alto is expected to come in under the $16,490 Swift hatch.

Suzuki Australia general manager Tony Devers says the Alto will represent “outstanding value for money”.

However, Suzuki spokesman, Andrew Ellis, says exchange rates will play a big part in determining the car's pricepoint.

Suzuki Alto Hatch
Suzuki Alto Hatch


The Alto will be available in two specifications.

The entry level gets six airbags, air conditioning, CD stereo system with MP3 auxiliary input, remote central locking, anti-skid brakes and six airbags.

The top specification Alto adds alloy wheels, foglights, a tachometer and electronic stability control.

At 3500mm long, the Alto is almost 200mm shorter than a Mini Cooper.

It is slightly narrower than a Mini but 63mm higher and has a wheelbase of 2360mm, 107mm shorter than the Mini.

Powering the Alto is a three cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine producing 50kW and 90Nm mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

A four-speed automatic will be optional.

The Euro IV-compliant engine delivers fuel consumption of just 4.5L/100km and produces only 103g/km of CO2 emissions.

Manufactured in Suzuki's Manesar plant in India, the Alto was designed by Suzuki engineers and tuned for European customers based on an extensive test drive program.

Already on sale in Europe, the little hatch has returned fuel economy figures of just 4.4 litres/100 km and CO2 emissions of just 103 grams a kilometre.

“Alto is the answer for people wanting a quality vehicle offering great performance, high levels of safety and outstanding fuel economy,” Devers says.

The front suspension is a MacPherson strut type while the rear is a three-link rigid axle.

Herald Sun

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Hyundai i20 three-door

February 20th 2009 06:45
Just days after Hyundai exhibited the new i20 five-door at Melbourne motor show, the three-door version will debut at Geneva’s auto-fest.

The three-door is built on the same wheelbase, and carries the same 1.2-litre Kappa engine, but weighs 10kg less than the five-door’s 1045kg.

Hyundai Australia says they would welcome the three-door here, and doesn’t see any barriers to it arriving.

“We are certainly looking at bringing it to Australia,” spokesman Ben Hershman says, but can’t predict how soon after the five-doors arrival – set to be mid-year – that might happen.

“There’s no impediment, but we just can’t confirm what the timing would be on that. We haven’t been advised of production dates.”

Hershman says he expects both versions of the i20 will do well in the local showrooms.

Hyundai i20 Three-door


“There’s a strong market for both three and five-door small cars at the moment,” he says.

“The Getz does very well for us in both areas.”

Hershman says the i20 will land here around the competitive $16,000 price mark, so he doesn’t believe there is any risk of the i20 cannibalising from its stablemate, which is currently around $2000 cheaper.

“We really see two different customers in that end of the market … the value buyer looking at price of entry, and then those who are looking for the slightly larger body and more sophisticated technology that the i20 will offer.”

The three-door has the same nose and tail as the larger version, but has larger doors and a more upswept line along the side profile.

Hyundai says its quick-release memory seats allow easy `walk-in’ access for the rear, while the car as specced for the overseas market will feature six airbags – front, side and curtain – plus active head-restraints.

Overseas specs show the 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the five-door develops 57.4kW at 6000rpm and 119Nm at 4000rpm, with a five-speed manual driving the front set of 14” wheels. It’s reported to get to 100km/h in a fairly leisurely 12.9 seconds and to a top speed of 165km/h, with a frugal combined fuel consumption of 5.2L/100km and 124g/km of Co2.

Carsguide

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