The final preparations are nearing completion for the arrival in a few weeks time on the European market of the Peugeot 308.

A new compact hatchback destined for the medium car segment, it has many strengths that will appeal to a broad customer base, not least due to its semi-tall architecture with its promise of greater interior space, its improved visibility and its brighter interior, but also its exemplary road holding, its range of high-performance engines, its high levels of safety and a number of design features which contribute to improving on-board comfort and convenience inside the car. Finally, its aerodynamic shape and “feline” elegance give it a strong and immediately recognisable identity.

Naturally the 308’s three and five door body styles are only part of the “T7” programme.
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Hyundai is enhancing the appeal of its award-winning Santa Fe SUV range with the introduction of a powerful 180 kW 3.3 litre V6 variant. The Santa Fe 3.3 V6 is Australia’s first front wheel drive medium SUV, following in the tracks of Hyundai’s successful Tucson City compact SUV.

The new Santa Fe 3.3 V6 uses a higher output version of Hyundai’s Lambda quad-cam all-alloy V6 engine, which features 24 valves with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT). This unit has pioneered Euro-4 compliance among large sedans in the Sonata V6 since mid-2005.
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Hyundai Motor Company’s brand power continues to rise as it was ranked ahead of Porsche, Lexus and Nissan in at 72nd place in the new 2007 Best Global Brands survey – a survey conducted by Interbrand and BusinessWeek, the New York-based global business media organisation.

With a brand value estimated at US$4.5 billion, equivalent to a 9 percent year-on-year gain, the power of the Hyundai brand now surpasses several competitors when measured on a global basis. The rise of the Hyundai brand on the global stage has been meteoric: The brand made its debut appearance on the Best Global Brands list in the 2005 survey where Hyundai was ranked 84th.
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The two millionth vehicle has just rolled off the assembly line at the DaimlerChrysler plant in Rastatt, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. The milestone vehicle, a comet grey A 160 CDI, is destined for the Italian market. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class has been manufactured at the Rastatt plant in Baden-Württemberg, Germany since its launch ten years ago. Prior to the start of A-Class production at Rastatt, E-Class vehicles were produced at the plant. The B-Class is also produced in Rastatt, and has been since it was launched in 2005.

“The successful A-Class and B-Class models from Rastatt have made Mercedes-Benz the global market leader in the premium segment of the compact class. The positive response of our customers is ongoing: our order books are full this year too,” said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of DaimlerChrysler AG and head of the Mercedes Car Group.
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A newly developed four-cylinder diesel engine, featuring third-generation common-rail fuel injection, will expand the successful BMW X3 model range in November.

Widely lauded for its superior agility and driving dynamics, the BMW X3 now also offers top marks in its segment for fuel efficiency.

The new BMW X3 2.0d, which is being offered for the first time in Australia, is the second BMW model, following the recently updated 120d, to benefit from the new all-aluminium four-cylinder diesel.
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See it. Drive it. Love it. The new MINI Clubman is innovative, fun to drive and completely irresistible.

Just one year on from the reveal of the New MINI, the family expands to welcome a new and very important new member, the MINI Clubman.

With its exciting and imaginative design, the MINI Clubman stands out. It’s clearly a MINI from every angle, yet its proportions and dimensions immediately secure rapt attention due to the fresh approach to the design of the rear. Authentic MINI design cues are given a fresh new twist.
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Safety, comfort, agility: these are the outstanding attributes of the new C-Class. The Saloon excels with a many-faceted product concept which meets the expectations of various customer target groups. With the AVANTGARDE, ELEGANCE and CLASSIC lines, Mercedes-Benz offers three individual models whose emphasis is on either comfort or agility. All model variants share the latest, state-of-the-art technology. This includes the newly developed AGILITY CONTROL package with situation-responsive shock absorber control and the PRE-SAFE® preventive occupant protection system. There is a choice of four and six-cylinder engines with up to 12.5 percent more output than the preceding model, accompanied by up an to six percent lower fuel consumption.
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The new BMW X5 range has been expanded to five models with the arrival in Australia of the 3.0si and 3.0si Executive variants, complimenting the turbodiesel 3.0d and V8-powered 4.8i models launched earlier this year.

Brandishing 200 kW of power and an impressive 315 Nm of torque, the inline six-cylinder engine in the 3.0si X5 models is 18 per cent more powerful and produces 5 per cent more torque than its predecessor.

The new engine uses a magnesium/aluminium crankcase that results in a 10 kg weight saving over the previous 3.0-litre engine and utilises the fully variable VALVETRONIC valve drive system, as well as variable double-VANOS camshaft control to provide a high power output with fast-acting accelerator response across all engine speeds.
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Victoria Police took delivery of a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited CRD last week. The Wrangler replaces the now famous Chrysler 300C previously used by the Victorian Police at key public events.

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is part of their winter campaign for snow safety around the Victorian snow fields. The vehicle will be hard to miss with fluorescent Police signage and flashing lights.

As well being seen around Melbourne, the vehicle will also be spotted in and around Mt Buller, Falls Creek and Mt Hotham.
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Ford Australia will add a new model line to its Campbellfield manufacturing assembly plant and create approximately 300 new jobs when it begins manufacturing the Ford Focus in Australia in 2011.

In doing so, Ford will become the first Australian car manufacturer to respond to the increasing popularity of smaller vehicles by producing the company’s globally successful Focus small car alongside its current Falcon and Territory model lines.

Rising fuel costs and changing consumer lifestyles have created a dramatic shift in customer buying preferences with small cars accounting for 21.7 per cent of all new cars sold in Australia year-to-date, up from 15.4 per cent in 1998.
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Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Fernando Alonso claimed victory at a chaotic European Grand Prix.

Fernando overtook Felipe Massa four laps from the end and achieved the team’s fifth win in the 10th race of the season.

Lewis Hamilton ended up ninth.
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It was exactly 90 years ago, on 21 July 1917, that a small company in north Munich was entered in the commercial register. Two days later the management issued a letter with notification of its new name: “May we respectfully inform you that, with effect from this day, we have changed our company name to Bayerische Motoren Werke.” Henceforth, the company’s products bore the letters “BMW”.
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Chrysler Group officials today announced that the company will invest $1.2 billion (U.S.) in its Brampton (Ont.) Assembly Plant for the next generation of the Chrysler 300 series, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Charger. The Brampton Assembly Plant today also celebrated the one millionth LX rear-wheel drive vehicle platform will roll-off the line with employees and CAW officials.

“Because of Brampton’s ability to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost and morale metrics, we’re pleased to announce that Brampton will be the future home of Chrysler Group’s full-size car platform,” said Frank Ewasyshyn. “We appreciate the support of the CAW and employees in assisting the Company in moving forward with investment decisions.”
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The first petrol-electric Hybrid car sold in Australia — the Honda Insight — is on display at Melbourne’s Scienceworks Museum as part of the Sci-Quest technology exhibition.

Visitors to the museum at the Spotswood historic pumping station can see the historic Honda coupe until November 6th this year.

The Insight brought Hybrid technology to the Australian market in March 2001. Futuristically designed, it was the epitome of Honda’s advanced hybrid technology and remains the world’s most fuel efficient mass-produced petrol powered vehicle, capable of achieving fuel economy of up to 2.8 litres per 100 kilometres on the open road.
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From mid-2008 Audi will start series production of the cleanest diesel technology in the world.

The new Audi TDI engines with their ultra-low emission system combine the spontaneous performance and superior pulling power of today’s TDI power units with outstanding fuel consumption figures and incomparably low emissions.

At the commencement of production, these new engines will already undercut the most stringent future emissions limits that will be applied in Europe. The strategy follows on from Audi’s introduction of vehicles fulfilling the Euro 4 standard and the forthcoming Euro 5 emissions limits years in advance, ensuring the Ingolstadt brand once again assumes its role as the pioneer of groundbreaking technology.
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