A Tasmanian champion of car design

A Tasmanian has designed one of the showcase cars at the recent Detroit Motor Show – the new Ford GT.   This was one of three headline grabbing cars revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this month which were designed by Australians.

While Holden’s design studio in Port Melbourne was responsible for the design and construction of two of General Motors’ showpieces, over at Ford, the creation of its stunning GT supercar was overseen  by Tasmanian Todd Willing. 

The 'Tasmanian designed' Ford GT, unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show

Hobart born and bred, Willing managed a team of just six designers under a shroud of secrecy to create the mid-engined Ford GT in a secret location in the US.  He was reportedly not permitted to tell his family or friends what he was working on for more than 14 months!   

Willing told reporters at the car show ‘It’s every designer’s dream to work on a car like this.  A once-in-a-career opportunity.’

The car has special significance to Ford as the original Ford GT40 won the LeMans 24-hour race four consecutive times from 1966-69 after being defeated by Ferrari in the previous six years.

This new car controversially runs on a twin-turbo V6 engine rather than a V8, but Ford says it makes more power than its predecessor without burning as much fuel.

Willing has heard and seen the car being tested but as yet has not driven it.  And although it’s a ‘global car’ it will be manufactured only in left-hand drive and not sold in Australia.

Having managed the top-secret supercar project he has now returned to Australia as the head of Ford’s Asia-Pacific design studio in Broadmeadows.

It is the first time Australian designers have played such a significant role on the world stage and shows that we can still have some input into the worldwide automotive industry while the local manufacturing industry comes to an end. 

And it just goes to show the talent that comes out of Tasmania!

Aussie car manufacturers: an endangered species?

The chiefs of Australia's big three car manufacturers are warning that around 50,000 jobs will be lost if the government withdraws its assistance to the industry.

That assistance is expected to be a major federal election issue this year, with Tony Abbott promising to strip $500 million out of a green-car fund if the Coalition is elected.

Ford chief Bob Graziano, Holden chief Mike Devereux and Toyota chief David Buttner have all indicated that the sector will not survive if government support is abolished.

Bailouts have been controversial in recent years, with the three companies shedding 1350 jobs between them despite receiving billions in handouts.

Holden has received $2.2 billion in government subsidies in the past 12 years, while Ford has picked up about $1.1 billion - but neither can guarantee local production beyond 2016.

According to industry estimates, the three companies employ 17,000 people directly, while the industry (including suppliers) employs 55,000 and supports 200,000 jobs indirectly.

And if one of the manufacturers left Australia, the whole industry could collapse because the supplier network would not have enough volume to be profitable.

Toyota is the only Aussie car manufacturer with a significant export program. Its CEO David Buttner said government policy needed to continue supporting the car industry or Toyota would look at spending its money elsewhere.

"There's a whole host of countries around the world vying for Toyota's investment," he said.

Holden's Mike Devereux responded to critics of the Australian car industry, saying that assistance to the manufacturing was worth every cent. Ford Australia's Mr Graziano agrees, noting said that Australians spent less on car industry assistance than other countries.

"If you look at Australia the support here is a little bit less than $18 per person compared to significantly higher amounts in other countries around the world, but without that assistance, it would be difficult to see the industry surviving."

Nissan makes history by trumping Holden sales in February

Last month, Nissan's new car sales surpassed Holden's for the first time in Australian automotive history. It's also the second time in the past twelve months that Nissan has beaten Ford in a monthly new car sales tally. In fact, Nissan is selling more cars now than when it assembled them locally (between 1972 and 1992).

In disturbing news for Australia's struggling car manufacturers, the top-three selling car brands in February were Japanese. Only two locally made cars, the Commodore and Cruze, made it into the top 10 - barely.

Industry veterans are blaming the Australian dollar, which has been at record highs for two years. In December, one Australian dollar bought 80 Japanese Yen, but as the Japanese currency weakens, the value of one Australian dollar climbed to almost 95 Yen at the start of March.

The artificially devalued Yen has enabled Australian importers of Japanese cars to offer abnormally sharp discounts. Honda Australia has even reverted to sourcing some cars from Japan (rather than Thailand) because of the price drop.

Brand-new models of the Nissan Pulsar, Toyota Corolla and RAV4 have recently been released in Australia with the same - or in some cases even cheaper - prices than they started with in the 1990's, despite being much better equipped.

The dramatic effect of rising currency on the Australian car manufacturing industry has renewed calls for the Reserve Bank to weaken the dollar - and quickly. The industry is at risk of being squeezed down the market ladder as European brands also move to make the most of favourable exchange rates. Last year a Mercedes Benz was the second-highest selling medium sedan after the Toyota Camry, ahead of the Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty.

The preliminary sales figures for February 2013:

Top-selling brands (compared to February last year)

• Toyota - 15,992 (up 7 per cent)
• Mazda - 8728 (up 0.4 per cent)
• Nissan - 8225 (up 32 per cent)
• Holden - 7687 (down 20 per cent)
• Hyundai - 7505 (up 1 per cent)
• Ford - 6590 (down 5 per cent)
• Volkswagen - 4190 (up 1.4 per cent)
• Honda - 3862 (up 48 per cent)
• Subaru - 3104 (down 3.8 per cent)

Top-selling cars in February (compared to February last year)

• Mazda3 - 3378 (down 11 per cent)
• Toyota HiLux - 3319 (up 46 per cent)
• Toyota Corolla - 3158 (up 0.5 per cent)
• Nissan Navara - 2639 (up 30 per cent)
• Mitsubishi Triton - 2336 (up 72 per cent)
• Hyundai i30 - 2055 (down 15 per cent)
• Ford Ranger - 1739 (up 118 per cent)
• Holden Commodore - 1733 (down 42 per cent)
• Holden Cruze - 1730 (down 39 per cent)
• Nissan Dualis - 1548 (up 70 per cent)

Figures provided by news.com.au Read more at news.com.au

Class of 2013

This year the Australian market will welcome a broad range of new arrivals, from SUVs to small cars to high-performance vehicles. Last year it was all about mileage and economy - but 2013 has kicked off with car makers focusing more on style and performance.

Here are some of the cars that we think will get drivers excited when they hit the Australian market this year! 

Aston Martin Vanquish

The new Aston Martin Vanquish is a beautifully designed car with amazing specs; a 6.0 litre V12 engine that produces 421kW at 6750rpm and 620Nm of torque at 5500rpm. The transmission system is a six-speed Touchtronic 2 sequential transmission, and the Vanquish's 0-100km/h time is listed at 4.1 seconds. Now that's power!

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is one of the fastest cars available on the Australian car markets. As a seven-speed paddle-shifted automatic, Ferrari promises a 0-100km/h time of 3.1 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 8.5 seconds. It also includes some of the most modern features available in high performance cars like the magnetorheological suspension control system, an electronically-controlled differential, ESP Premium, F1-Trac, ABS and carbon-ceramic brakes. 

Ford Fiesta ST 

The Ford Fiesta ST is a Fiesta with a major facelift- it looks sharper, and far more attractive. Being an environment friendly car, it is estimated that its carbon dioxide output will be improved by 20 percent over the old 110kW model. It will sport a 130kW EcoBoost 1.6 litre turbo engine that can achieve great speeds while front wheels handle a torque of 240Nm along the way. The Fiesta ST is 15mm lower than the older one and features a trick Torque Vectoring system along with three electronic stability modes. It is available in six speed manual transmission. 

Australia's Best Car Awards 2012 - Part 2

Today we’re looking at the winners of the over $50,000 categories in Australia's Best Car Awards 2012.

Following a rigorous testing and analysis process, the winners in each category have been announced on australiasbestcars.com.au by the Australian Automobile Association.

BMW 320i - Best Medium Car Over $50,000
The BMW 320i boasts exquisite design and handling features that make it an absolute pleasure to drive. Powered by a 2.0 litre, 4 cylinder turbo engine with an 8 speed automatic transmission, the 320i gives a mileage of 6.0L/100km. It faced some tough competition from the Volkswagen CC 125 TDI and Mercedes-Benz C250 CDI, however the BMW outclassed them because of its spacious interior, power, improved ride and greater fuel efficiency.

Ford Falcon G6EcoBoost - Best Large Car Under $60,000
The Ford Falcon G6EcoBoost silenced its rivals - the Toyota Aurion AT-X and Peugeot 508 Allure HDi - with a satisfying driving experience backed by a powerful engine. The EcoBoost has a 2.0 litre 4 cylinder engine with a six speed automatic transmission system that yields 8.5L/100km. It retails for $40,835.

Lexus GS350 F Sport - Best Large Car Over $60,000
The Lexus GS350 F Sport has an amazing spec sheet with a 3.5 litre,V6 cylinder engine and a 6 speed automatic transmission system. A true powerhouse, it yields a mileage of 9.7L/100km. The finalists in this category included the BMW 520i and Audi A6 3.0 TDI Quattro, both of which lost out because of the GS350’s spacious interior and superior handling.

Kia Sportage SLi AWD - Best SUV Under $40,000
Kia has once again won the under $40,000 SUV category. The Sportage SLi AWD has a 2.4 litre, 4 cylinder engine, with a 6-speed automatic transmission system. It has a mileage of 9.2 L/100km - remarkable for an SUV. The contenders for this category included the Volkswagen Tiguan 103 TDi and 

Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport 2WD. 

Land Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 SE - Best All Terrain Four Wheel Drive
The Land Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 SE is a clear winner in the All-Terrain Four Wheel Drive category. With a 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine, and a 6 speed automatic transmission it makes for one of the most powerful four wheel drives available in the country. It yields an average of 9.3L/100km, which is decent considering its size and power. The contenders for this category were the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo CRD and Toyota Prado GXL.

Australia's Best Car Awards 2012 - Part 1

The year is almost over and the best cars of 2012 have been announced by australiasbestcars.com.au Following a rigorous testing and analysis process, the winners in each category have been announced by the Australian Automobile Association. Today we’re looking at the winners of the under $50,000 categories.

Kia Rio Si - Best Light Car Under $20,000

For the entry level segment winner, under $20,000, we have the Kia Rio Si, with a 1.6 litre petrol engine, 6 speed manual, with a mileage of 5.6l/100km. The finalists for this category included the Hyundai Accent Active and Volkswagen Polo 77TSI Comfortline. However, the Kia outclassed them because of its robust security systems and the smooth design and function of the vehicle.

Volkswagen Polo-66 TDI Comfortline - Best Light Car Over $20,000

In the next category we have a three time winner, the Volkswagen Polo-66 TDI Comfortline. With a 1.6 litre, 4 cylinder diesel engine, the 5 speed manual Polo is priced at $21,490 and gives great mileage at 4.7 l/100km. The Polo has always been a customer favourite due to its sturdy build and wonderful handling on almost all kinds of roads. It beat the Ford Fiesta LX diesel and Peugeot 208 Allure for the top spot this year.

Hyundai i30-Active - Best Small Car Under $35,000

With its spacious cabin design the Hyundai i30-Active is a product of admirable mechanical engineering. It sports a 1.8 litre, 4 cylinder engine, with a 6 speed auto transmission and boasts 6.9l/100km. The new i30 outclassed competitors including the Volkswagen Golf 90 TSI and Hyundai Elantra Active. The i30 is available for $22,990.

Ford Focus Titanium - Best Small Car Over $35,00

The Ford Focus Titanium won the best small car over $35,000 category. Under the hood it sports a 2.0 litre, 4 cylinder diesel engine with a 6 speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) and yields a mileage of 5.4 L/100km. The 2.0 litre engine lends the car amazing power and with a decent fuel economy it beat the BMW 116i and Audi A3 1.6 TDI Attraction for this award.

Toyota Camry Hybrid H - Best Medium Car Under $35,000

The Toyota Camry Hybrid H has a 2.5 litre, 4 cylinder engine, with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) system. It has a hybrid fuel system and yields a mileage of 5.2L/100km. The winner of the best car under $50,000 category. The Camry provides great value for money considering the plethora of features, great performance efficiency and advanced security systems it offers.

Stay tuned - next we’ll look at the winners of the over $50,000 categories.

Do Australian Governments prefer imported vehicles?

Last week it was reported that Australian federal, state and local governments are choosing imported automobiles for their fleets rather than Australian-made Holden, Ford or Toyota cars.

According to reports, only around 16% of local council vehicles were manufactured domestically. It was also mentioned that only one in five cars in the Tasmanian government's fleet is Australian-made.

In the Herald Sun today, Paul Bastian of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union wrote that it was wrong to blame the high Australian dollar for the recent troubles in the Australian car manufacturing industry.

He said the industry could be helped enormously if the government simply bought Australian made cars.

“If governments show leadership and buy Australian-made vehicles for their fleets, they can encourage private fleets to purchase Australian,” Bastian said.

“If all levels of government and private fleets purchased Australian-made cars, sales would increase by around 450,000 per year.”

Maybe the answer to saving the Australian car manufacturing industry is to simply encourage governments to buy their fleets from local Holden, Ford or Toyota.

Let's hope that the report is a bit of a wake up call to both local and federal governments and that they begin to show some pride in our great Aussie cars!

Ford announces more factory job cuts

It's very disappointing to hear that Ford Australia is expected to announce massive job losses at their Geelong and Broadmeadows plants today.

The venerated car maker is in talks with employees and union officials today, but initial reports claim that the company will cut almost a quarter of their factory floor staff between now and November.

The sackings come after 240 jobs were already cut at the plant last year.

Ford received a $100 million lifeline in January - from the parent company in the US and the Federal and State Governments - aimed at securing the future of the Australian operations until at least 2016.

The announcement follows FORD's reported $290 million loss in May. The loss has been blamed on weak sales of its flagship Falcon model, along with problems within the supply parts industry which slowed Ford’s production lines.

The sackings will bring the total number of Ford factory employees at the two plants to 1360.

Commentators are expressing grave fears that Ford will no longer be viable in Australia beyond 2016, and the grim reality is that demise of Ford in this country would put the entire car industry at risk.

Unions say the industry needs three major car manufacturers to be viable, and both Ford and its main competitor Holden are struggling with falling sales.

Let's hope that things pick up for the Australian car manufacturing industry and that we don't see too many announcements like this in the future.