Mercedes-Benz today announced wide-spread changes to specification levels across a variety of models in its Australian luxury and sports car range.

Customers will now benefit from an extensive array of additional features that enrich the already impressive standard equipment levels in the German car maker’s range, along with the inclusion of new optional extras and option packaging.

These new standard equipment enhancements to numerous models in the Mercedes range include safety, luxury and sports-oriented features, all designed to enhance the pleasure of Mercedes-Benz ownership, and all the direct result of customer feedback.
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The Dodge brand is running on all cylinders with the introduction of the Dodge Avenger – an all-new four-door midsized sedan that combines bold, aggressive Dodge styling with excellent fuel efficiency, innovative interior features and high levels of standard safety features.

“How good is this? The all new Avenger truly has Dodge adrenaline pumping through its veins. There isn’t a car in its segment that looks this tough - finally a car the consumer won’t feel embarrassed driving,” said Gerry Jenkins, Managing Director, Chrysler Group.
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Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premiere of the all-new Mazda6 (known as the all-new Mazda Atenza in Japan) at the 62nd annual Frankfurt Motor Show to be held from Tuesday, September 11 through Sunday, September 23, 2007.

The Frankfurt Motor Show press days are September 11 and 12, and the public days are September 15-23. Mazda will hold its press conference on Tuesday, September 11, at 13:45 (local time).
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The Jeep® brand continues its expansion into un-travelled territory as the Jeep Patriot arrives in the Australian market. This all-new compact SUV delivers fun, freedom, value and Jeep 4×4 capability, as well as a new entry-level price point for the Jeep brand.

“There’s no second guessing that the Patriot is pure Jeep. After years of climbing the toughest trails, our Jeep customers don’t want to leave the brand when looking at other segments, they want a vehicle the whole family can drive with ease and still call it a Jeep,” said Gerry Jenkins, Managing Director, Chrysler Group.
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As part of an upgrade of the popular Grand Vitara range, ESP is now a standard feature on the Prestige version. The upgrade also features a factory-fitted sunroof.

“Suzuki is committed to providing the highest levels of safety to its customers,” said Suzuki Australia Automotive General Manager Tony Devers.

“We have stayed true to the Suzuki philosophy of fantastic value for money by including ESP on the Grand Vitara Prestige without adding to the price.”

The inclusion of ESP bolsters an impressive list of safety features including driver and passenger airbags, seat-mounted side airbags and head protecting side curtain airbags, and ABS brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).
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In the next chapter of the ‘‘Bourne’’ series, Matt Damon returns as the trained assassin Jason Bourne for the latest showdown in ‘‘The Bourne Ultimatum.’’ Volkswagen is taking off with a strong Hollywood presence in this suspense filled action thriller from director Paul Greengrass – two Volkswagen models appear alongside Matt Damon and Julia Stiles.

This release has allowed Volkswagen to continue its strong Hollywood presence and incorporate the new Touareg - which is featured in some amazing stunt and chase sequences as well as a Golf GT, in which Nicky Parsons, played once again by Julia Stiles and Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) flee from Madrid to Tangier.

“The involvement of these two Volkswagens in this elaborate and action packed production provides us ample opportunities to create innovative global marketing concepts,” says Jochen Sengpiehl, head of global marketing at Volkswagen. Read the rest of this entry »

Volkswagen will present its widest product range of all time at the upcoming International Automobile Exhibition (IAA) in Frankfurt (13th to 23rd September). Europe’s number 1 will be showing over fifty models and eight of these will be world premieres - including the new Tiguan, an entirely new generation of SUV developed to complement the Touareg.

When the gates open at the IAA, six new BlueMotion models will also make their debut - from 2008 onward Volkswagen will offer nine vehicles under the BlueMotion label.
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With deliveries of 103,700 passenger vehicles in July, the Mercedes Car Group has slightly increased its global sales result compared to the same month last year (102,300 units). Since the beginning of the year, 721,400 units of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, and smart brands have been sold all over the world (January-July 2006: 729,600 units). Sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles rose slightly in July 2007 to 93,800 units (July 2006: 92,700 units). Deliveries of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles rose to 669,500 units from January through July, setting a new record (January-July 2006: 658,000).

In the luxury segment, Mercedes-Benz remains the market leader with a clear edge over its competitors: In July, sales in this segment increased by 13 percent to a new record of 9,200 units.
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Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton took victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.

After 70 laps, 306.663 km and a total race time of 1:35:52.991 hrs, Lewis who started from pole position won 0.7sec ahead of Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari). Fernando Alonso came home fourth.

Both drivers were on two-stop strategies. Lewis came in on laps 19 (9.7seconds) and 50 (4.9 seconds) whilst Fernando pitted on laps 17 (9.9 seconds) and 50 (7.0 seconds). Lewis maintained the lead in the Drivers’ Championship with 80 points followed by Fernando in second position with 73 points. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes maintained the lead in the constructors’ table with 138 points ahead of Ferrari on 119.
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The BMW 3 Series Coupé reset the benchmark for elegant, sporty and individual styling when it was introduced in Australia in October 2006.

Backed up by BMW high technology and brilliant driving dynamics, it has created quite a stir in the luxury coupé market with 1,734 examples delivered since launch.

With a model range that includes the potent Twin Turbo 335i and the refined, powerful 325i and 323i models and a choice of either manual six-speed transmission, or six-speed automatic, the 3 Series Coupé appeals to a broad spectrum of buyers.
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Chrysler announced that the sale of the majority interest in the Chrysler Group to an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. was completed today, creating Chrysler LLC, or “The New Chrysler” – the first major North American automotive manufacturer in more than a half century to be privately owned.

On May 14, 2007, DaimlerChrysler AG announced that an affiliate of Cerberus would acquire an 80.1 percent equity interest in the holding company of what is now legally known as Chrysler LLC. DaimlerChrysler AG, which will be renamed “Daimler AG” pending shareholder approval in the fall, will retain the remaining 19.9 percent interest. As previously stated, joint projects between the two companies will continue.
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Mazda’s light commercial truck, the BT-50, continues to gain sales and market share, selling a July record 1095 last month, according to VFACTS figures.

For the second time BT-50 was Mazda’s second best selling vehicle, proving that its combination of powerful and refined diesel engines, sharp dynamics, car-like interior and load carrying capacity have delivered some much needed Zoom-Zoom to the light commercial market.
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Subaru achieved a July sales record of 3007 vehicles, according to official VFACTS figures released today.

The result was 8.8 per cent above the same month last year.

Impreza achieved a July record too with 933 sales, 23.1 per cent ahead of the same month last year.
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Suzuki sales continue to melt Australia’s coldest winter in years after recording outstanding sales in July.

A total of 1766 Suzuki vehicles were sold in July, keeping Suzuki Australia on track to increase sales for the fifth consecutive year.

“July was another fantastic selling month for Suzuki as more and more Australian customers become aware of the sensational value offered at their Suzuki dealership,” said Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers.
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For a short time only one of Honda’s perennial favorites, the Accord Euro, is to gain a limited edition model; the Tourer.

Based on the entry model Euro, the Tourer features Honda’s in-built satellite-navigation system, (previously reserved for the Luxury model), fog lights and rear parking sensors.

Since its launch in July 2003 the Accord Euro has been one of Honda Australia’s most successful models with sales of almost 40,000 units to date.
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