Autoblog Australia http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog Australia http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/favicon-v5.png Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff RossThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry. <![CDATA[V8 Supercars rumble Circuit of the Americas at the Austin 400]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/v8-supercars-rumble-circuit-of-the-americas-at-the-austin-400/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/v8-supercars-rumble-circuit-of-the-americas-at-the-austin-400/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/v8-supercars-rumble-circuit-of-the-americas-at-the-austin-400/#comments Filed under: , ,

Nissan Altima V8 Supercar at COTA - lifting wheels in a corner

In case you missed it, Australia's V8 Supercars racing series - think of it as a cross between ALMS GT and NASCAR - roared through Texas this past weekend providing entertainment for more than 68,000 fans who were in attendance at the Austin 400 held at the impressive Circuit of the Americas venue. The three-day Championship event included four qualifying sessions and four 100 kilometer sprint races, all run nearly flat-out.

The series' inaugural event on U.S. soil didn't disappoint.

The cars are based on production Ford Falcon, Holden Commodore, Nissan Altima and Mercedes-Benz E-Class models, each fitted with a thunderous 5.0-liter V8 (rated at roughly 650 horsepower) sending power to the rear wheels through a sequential gearbox. The drivers sit on the right, protected by a sturdy tube-frame chassis and plenty of honeycomb crush space - good thing, as car-to-car contact and jumping curbs is the rule of the game (check out the gallery for a closer look at the carnage).

The series' inaugural event on U.S. soil didn't disappoint. Fans, Americans joined by a large contingent of Aussies who made the long trek over the Pacific, jumped to their feet for each standing start as dozens of roaring V8 Supercars peeled off to be first up COTA's tricky Turn 1 (the cars have no traction control or ABS). Each sprint lasted less than an hour, with one mandatory pit for tires, so the field was constantly changing position.

As all of the foreign drivers were new to the circuit (the Aussies nicknamed the tall white observation tower, with red trailing pipes, "The Mullet"), it took some time for each team to acclimate to its challenges and develop strategy. More than once, a car fell back in the pack when it followed the wrong line through Turns 3-6, and it was wedged out of position at the exit (of course, being V8 Supercars, the tall curbs hardly seemed to deter).

Holden's Jamie Whincup, racing under the Red Bull label, took three of the races, while the one remaining event was won by Fabian Coulthard, also driving a Holden, for the Lockwood Racing team. We were embedded with the teams from Nissan. Their Altima sedans, unveiled just months ago, fared well with several top-ten finishes - impressive results for a new team competing in this well-established series. The next event is at Hidden Valley Raceway, in Darwin, from June 14-16... and, based on the overwhelmingly positive response from the fans, the series already has plans to come back to the States in 2014.

V8 Supercars rumble Circuit of the Americas at the Austin 400 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 May 2013 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australian racingcircuit of the americascotanissannissan altimasupercarsv8 supercarsv8 supercars altima Fri, 24 May 2013 10:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20580639/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20580639/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/24/v8-supercars-rumble-circuit-of-the-americas-at-the-austin-400/20580639/article-detail.xml 20580639 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/nissan-altima-v8-supercar-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/nissan-altima-v8-supercar-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford to cease Australian automaking operations after 90 years]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/ford-to-cease-australian-automaking-operations-after-90-years/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/ford-to-cease-australian-automaking-operations-after-90-years/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/ford-to-cease-australian-automaking-operations-after-90-years/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2013 Ford Falcon - front three-quarter view

Ford began manufacturing cars in Australia in 1925 with the Model T. In 2016, Ford will stop manufacturing cars Down Under, including the Falcon and the Territory SUV. Ford Australia CEO Bob Graziano has reportedly confirmed the closure of the company's Broadmeadows assembly plant and the Geelong engine plant, both in the state of Victoria. There will be 650 jobs lost at Broadmeadows, 510 sacrificed at Geelong. Of the roughly 3,000 workers the Blue Oval has in Australia, it's said it will try to retain about 1,000 of them at its R&D and product development facilities.

The writing hasn't just been on the wall, it's been a regular item in all the papers and on Ford's bottom line for years. As recently as 2003, Ford sold nearly 75,000 Falcons, but over the next four years, annual sales dropped by something like 10,000 units, and over the last two years, it has sold less than 20,000 per year. It isn't only Ford that has suffered - sales of the other large, locally produced sedan, the Holden Commodore, have also gone over the precipice, triggering the same kind of angst about Holden's continued existence. Ford is the smallest of Australia's local automakers, Holden and Toyota the others, and has posted losses of $AUD141 million last year ($136M US) and $AUD600 million ($580M US) in the past five years. Graziano said the cost of manufacturing is simply too expensive in the country, twice as high as Europe and three times as high as Asia, and there no way to make a business case for staying in the country.

In January 2012, Ford Australia announced it would stay in the country until at least 2016, but by July of the same year, most outside observers were quietly declaring that 2016 would be the last year of Ford Down Under, and even the speculation was making other observers nervous. Ford received money from the Victorian government last year to aid its refresh of the Falcon and Territory, which will continue on schedule for the 2014 model year. A front- and all-wheel-drive sedan on a global platform is predicted to replace the Falcon, with some other SUV expected to replace the Territory. The company says it still intends to expand its lineup in the country.

As for what will replace the employment hole at the factories and the supplier base, no one is quite sure. Ford has said that the employees will receive their entitlements, and workers do have three years to prepare for what's coming. As well, the state and national governments have already committed tens of millions to a fund to assist the employees.

Ford to cease Australian automaking operations after 90 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australian manufacturingbob grazianobroadmeadowsfordford auford australiaford falconford territorygeelongmanufacturing Thu, 23 May 2013 08:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20580812/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20580812/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/23/ford-to-cease-australian-automaking-operations-after-90-years/20580812/article-detail.xml 20580812 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2013-ford-falcon_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2013-ford-falcon.jpg <![CDATA[Clever water stop sign prevents tunnel crashes in Australia]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/clever-water-stop-sign-prevents-tunnel-crashes-in-australia/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/clever-water-stop-sign-prevents-tunnel-crashes-in-australia/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/clever-water-stop-sign-prevents-tunnel-crashes-in-australia/#comments Filed under: ,



Faced with truck drivers not heeding warnings when their tractor trailers were too tall to enter the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, officials turned to a company called Laservision to put an end to these costly crashes that were not only closing the tunnel for weeks at a time, but also put other drivers on the road in considerable danger.

Developed and implemented back in 2011, Laservision's Softstop system projects a familiar bright red stop sign, seemingly in mid-air, at the tunnel's entrance if a vehicle too large to enter is detected. In fact, the stop sign does not float in mid-air, but rather is projected onto a water screen that, should a vehicle not heed its command, would cause no damage from being driven through.

The Softstop water stop sign is a last resort, mind you. If a driver's truck is tall enough that it would crash into the tunnel were it to enter, a number of brightly flashing warning signs are activated that signal the driver to stop earlier. Only if those flashing signs are ignored is the Softstop system activated at the tunnel's entrance. Likewise, the Softstop system can be activated for other reasons, including keeping drivers out for their own protection if there's a fire or other disaster inside the tunnel.

Though we admit to chuckling at the occasional truck-crashes-into-low-overpass video (11foot8.com is a whole website devoted to vehicles crashing into a low railroad trestle in Durham, NC), this clever solution for preventing such accidents is even more interesting to watch in action.

Continue reading Clever water stop sign prevents tunnel crashes in Australia

Clever water stop sign prevents tunnel crashes in Australia originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> laservisionsoftstopsydney harbour tunneltruck tunnel crashesvideowater stop sign Wed, 15 May 2013 17:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20570531/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20570531/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/15/clever-water-stop-sign-prevents-tunnel-crashes-in-australia/20570531/article-detail.xml 20570531 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/softstop-water-stop-sign-tunnel_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/softstop-water-stop-sign-tunnel.jpg <![CDATA[HSV unholsters Holden Gen-F lineup [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/hsv-unholsters-holden-gen-f-lineup-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/hsv-unholsters-holden-gen-f-lineup-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/hsv-unholsters-holden-gen-f-lineup-w-video/#comments Filed under: , , , , , , ,

Holden HSV Gen-F GTS

Here it is, folks. Right on schedule, Holden has revealed full details on its reborn range of HSV Gen-F models. The bulk of the new HSV machinery will go on sale next month, though the baddest of them all, the supercharged HSV GTS, will reportedly be delayed until September.

The GTS may well be worth the wait, however, as its 430kW supercharged V8 engine (known as the LSA, the engine makes 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque in the US-market Chevy Camaro ZL1) will make this the fastest Holden ever produced. Lower-level ClubSport models will come equipped with a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 with 317kW of power. A ClubSport R8 sedan with a 325kW version of the engine and a ClubSport SV with a 340kW engine will also be available.

Bodystyle choices range from a sedan to a wagon and, of course, an El Camino a Ute called the Maloo, since this is Australia after all. Long-wheelbase Grange model and an upscale Senator model will be offered with slightly more toned-down exterior looks for those who'd rather blend in to the crowd. Pricing has yet to be announced, but you're welcome to scroll down below to watch a video before checking out all the details from Holden here.

Continue reading HSV unholsters Holden Gen-F lineup [w/video]

HSV unholsters Holden Gen-F lineup [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 May 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australiagen-fholdenhsvhsv gen-fhsv gts Tue, 14 May 2013 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20568942/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20568942/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/14/hsv-unholsters-holden-gen-f-lineup-w-video/20568942/article-detail.xml 20568942 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/holden-hsv-gts-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/holden-hsv-gts-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Next-gen Holden HSV range coming next month]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/next-gen-holden-hsv-range-coming-next-month/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/next-gen-holden-hsv-range-coming-next-month/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/next-gen-holden-hsv-range-coming-next-month/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Holden HSV GTS

Holden Special Vehicles has something fun planned for next month. The company plans to yank back the sheets on the next generation of its HSV range, suitably named the Gen-F, on May 15. Holden had to do some quick stepping with its nomenclature this go around, and while names like "F Series" and "F1" dovetailed nicely with the 2013 VF Commodore, HSV had so skip those for obvious legal reasons.

HSV has been trying to keep details close to the chest until the official unveil, but the Australian sleuths at carsguide.com.au have unearthed a wealth of interesting information already. According to the report, the Gen-F will be the fastest and most powerful sedan ever sold in Oz, with 575 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque. That engine will be very closely related to the LSA mill found in the Chevy Camaro ZL1, which produces 580 horses in US trim.

Initial estimates put the 0-62 (0-100 kilometers per hour) run at "comfortably less" than 4.5 seconds, and top speed will reportedly be capped at 155 miles per hour. Expect high-tech wizardry in the suspension and electronics to keep the car planted, and expect a sticker price of around $95,000 in Australian dollars.

Australians can expect to see the cars hit the showroom by June 15, but reports indicate it won't be as outlandishly styled as the last-gen model seen above. Instead, expect a more subtle package for the Gen-F that lacks some of the scoops and wings seen in years past. More detail is available at the source link below for those interested in what may very well be the last super-powerful V8-powered factory Holden sedan in Australia.

Next-gen Holden HSV range coming next month originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australiagen-fholdenholden special vehicleshsvhsv gen-f Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:39:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20549115/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20549115/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/25/next-gen-holden-hsv-range-coming-next-month/20549115/article-detail.xml 20549115 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/holden-hsv-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/holden-hsv-628.jpg <![CDATA[Holden could get crossover based on Chevy Cruze]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/21/holden-could-get-crossover-based-on-chevy-cruze/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/21/holden-could-get-crossover-based-on-chevy-cruze/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/21/holden-could-get-crossover-based-on-chevy-cruze/#comments Filed under: , , ,



During a discussion of the next-generation Holden Commodore and the General Motors Zeta platform, the question of an Australian-built SUV came up. Dave Leone, GM's executive chief engineer for luxury and rear-wheel-drive cars, wouldn't go any further than to say "that could be very possible," but recent events at Holden only reinforce the notion that we won't have any idea what is and isn't possible at the Aussie branch until it's actually done.

If there were such an SUV in the Holden pipeline, speculation is that it could be built on the platform for the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze, and that it could send the Captiva - imported to Australia from Thailand - into retirement. That's a lot of coulds, but it's all Aussie-market watchers have as they try to figure out what Holden's going to do for the next nine years it has pledged to build cars in Oz. Alongside that Cruze, a next-generation VJ Commodore is also promised and a locally-built SUV might make sense as a third model.

Holden could get crossover based on Chevy Cruze originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australiachevychevy captivachevy cruzed2xxholdenholden commodorezeta Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20545328/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20545328/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/21/holden-could-get-crossover-based-on-chevy-cruze/20545328/article-detail.xml 20545328 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/chevrolet-captiva-holden_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/chevrolet-captiva-holden.jpg <![CDATA[First production Volvo S60 Polestar shown off]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/first-production-volvo-s60-polestar-shown-off/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/first-production-volvo-s60-polestar-shown-off/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/first-production-volvo-s60-polestar-shown-off/#comments Filed under: , , ,



With the Volvo S60 Polestar going on sale in Australia this June, Volvo has finally released images and specs for the production version of the performance sedan. While no official build number has been announced, one image of the car's steering wheel shows a serial number plaque that says "No. 000/100" indicating that production will likely be limited to just 100 units in Australia. The press release states that the Australia run of Polestar-tuned S60s is a "pilot project" and that other potential markets are "under investigation."

Although it looks very similar to the S60 Polestar Concept we first saw at the LA Auto Show last year, the production version of the car sports a few changes. Visually, the front and rear fascias have been slightly modified from the concept car, as have the matte-black wheels. Inside, we see a different steering wheel that adds the aforementioned build sequence plaque but loses the suede leather accents, and there is also a sportier looking shift lever with a chrome handle that features a Polestar logo.

As for performance figures, rather than the 508-horsepower of the S60 Polestar Concept, the production version will be limited to 350 hp and more than 368 pound-feet of torque, which is still an improvement of about 25 hp and at least 14 lb-ft over a 2013 S60 R-Design. Polestar also tuned the six-speed automatic transmission and Haldex all-wheel-drive system for optimal performance leading to a top speed of 155 miles per hour and a 0-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds. The production S60 Polestar will still get suspension, brake and aerodynamic upgrades.

For the full list of vehicle specs, scroll down for the official press release, and while pricing has yet to be announced, it will likely be far less than the $300,000 someone reportedly paid for the S60 Polestar Concept.

Continue reading First production Volvo S60 Polestar shown off

First production Volvo S60 Polestar shown off originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> polestarvolvovolvo s60volvo s60 polestar Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20543554/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20543554/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/18/first-production-volvo-s60-polestar-shown-off/20543554/article-detail.xml 20543554 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/volvo-s60-polestar_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/volvo-s60-polestar.jpg <![CDATA[Spartan V trackday racer finally ready for prime time [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/16/spartan-v-trackday-racer-finally-ready-for-prime-time-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/16/spartan-v-trackday-racer-finally-ready-for-prime-time-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/16/spartan-v-trackday-racer-finally-ready-for-prime-time-w-video/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Spartan V trackday car - dead on front view, red

A few things have changed since the Spartan V track car was announced almost three years ago. Back in 2010, the red open-top sportscar from Australia was slated to be a 661-pound apex-hugger with 170 horsepower coming from a 1,200-cc Ducati engine. The slinky red bodywork remains, but the engine now comes from Honda: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turns the output wick up to 250 hp. Opt for the supercharger and benefit from 400 horsepower. Weight has predictably gone up as well, the Spartan V now clocking in at 1,100 pounds, while top speed has come down from 173 miles per hour to 149 mph.

With just enough of an interior to keep you on the paved bits, the Spartan V still shouldn't have any problem going fast, though, as the video below proves. There will be just 300 made, and the price quoted in Spartan's press release below is $95,000 - we'll assume that US dollars. The price in Australia is $79,000 AUD (about $82,000 US), so you can save yourself a few large if you already have a second home Down Under.

Continue reading Spartan V trackday racer finally ready for prime time [w/video]

Spartan V trackday racer finally ready for prime time [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> roadsterspartanspartan motor companyspartan vtracktrack cartrack daytrackdayvideo Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20542291/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20542291/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/16/spartan-v-trackday-racer-finally-ready-for-prime-time-w-video/20542291/article-detail.xml 20542291 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/spartan-v-track-car_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/spartan-v-track-car.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/#comments Filed under: , , ,



The Volvo S60 Polestar Concept may be entering limited production in Australia and, depending how the Aussies take to this Swedish super sports sedan, could then be made available worldwide. The news comes from Austrlia's GoAuto, which claims to have received early info from its sources inside Volvo and its tuning/motorsport arm, Polestar.

Polestar released a short teaser video this week (watch it below) of what appears to be the S60 Polestar Concept clipping the snowy apex of an ice track's turn. The only information given with the teaser were the words "Limited Edition. Soon in Australia." Unveiled last June, the S60 Polestar concept has since made the rounds at auto shows, visited Jay Leno's Garage, played on the track with its future competition, and even secured a home for itself with a buyer who reportedly is paying Volvo some $300,000 to own it.

The S60 Polestar Concept is about the meanest machine one can imagine making out of Volvo's sports sedan. Packing 508 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque from its heavily modified T6 engine, then routing those revolutions through a six-speed manual transmission to all four wheels, the S60 Polestar is said to cover the sprint to 62 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds. A lower and wider body, brakes by Brembo, suspension bits by Ohlins and a diet to delete some weight make this car a serious issue for M3 and C63 AMG owners everywhere. GoAuto's sources say the production version's performance will be dialed back a bit from the concept's, but we'll have to wait until Volvo and Polestar make this sedan's production official to find out by how much.

Continue reading Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video]

Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australiavolvovolvo 260 polestar conceptvolvo s60volvo s60 polestar Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20536184/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20536184/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/20536184/article-detail.xml 20536184 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/03-volvo-s60-polestar-concept-la-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/03-volvo-s60-polestar-concept-la-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Holden announces 500 job cuts]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/09/holden-announces-500-job-cuts/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/09/holden-announces-500-job-cuts/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/09/holden-announces-500-job-cuts/#comments Filed under: , , ,



Nearly 500 employees of Holden, GM's Australian outpost, will be without jobs as the company adjusts to the high dollar, fierce competition from foreign rivals and lagging Commodore (shown above) and Cruze sales. In 2005, Holden sold 66,794 Commodore models. But that number plummeted to just 30,532 units last calendar year, prompting the automaker to lay off 170 workers just five months ago. With this latest round, about 100 jobs will be cut in its Melbourne product development facility and another 400 will be slashed at its Elizabeth plant, in South Australia, as the company slows production from 400 units to 335 units per day.

The Australian government has invested more than $2.2 billion ($2.29 billion US dollars) of its own funds to help Holden over the years, and there are future subsidies on the line, but many are questioning the investments. When Holden managing director Mike Devereux was asked about the brand's future, he was far from optimistic. "I cannot predict the future... I can't control what central banks do ... I cannot control the value of other currencies that we compete with and I cannot predict what that will do to our business.''

Holden announces 500 job cuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australiaholdenholden australiaholden commodoreholden cruzeholden layoffmanufacturing Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20534291/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20534291/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/09/holden-announces-500-job-cuts/20534291/article-detail.xml 20534291 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/vf-calaisv-show-car-02-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/vf-calaisv-show-car-02-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Melbourne Motor Show cancelled, Sydney might follow suit]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/melbourne-motor-show-cancelled-sydney-might-follow-suit/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/melbourne-motor-show-cancelled-sydney-might-follow-suit/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/melbourne-motor-show-cancelled-sydney-might-follow-suit/#comments Filed under: , ,

Australian International Motor Show logo

Organizers have cancelled the Melbourne Motor Show in the face of declining attendance and lackluster support from automakers. Australia has already seen shows in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth close their doors, and with Melbourne following suit, Sydney is the country's last major auto show left standing. According to reports, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce - the two parties behind the Melbourne expo - have plans to remake the show in the image of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but this year's efforts were crippled when Volkswagen Group pulled its participation. Likewise, neither Hyundai nor Kia had committed to attending.

Those absences left fewer than 20 brands committed to the event despite the fact that the Australian market plays host to nearly 60 makes. Melbourne has seen attendance fall from a high of 257,000 visitors in 2004 to 160,000 in 2011. Likewise, attendance at the Sydney show has slide from a peak of 320,000 in 2001 to just 135,050 last year, and organizers had already moved to consolidate the two events under a joint-venture that would see both shows operate under the Australian International Motor Show moniker. See the official press notice on the cancellation below.

Continue reading Melbourne Motor Show cancelled, Sydney might follow suit

Melbourne Motor Show cancelled, Sydney might follow suit originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australiaaustralian international motor showmelbournemelbourne motor showmelbourne motor show cancelledsydney motor show Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:16:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20516627/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20516627/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/25/melbourne-motor-show-cancelled-sydney-might-follow-suit/20516627/article-detail.xml 20516627 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2013-australian-international-motor-show-logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2013-australian-international-motor-show-logo.jpg <![CDATA[Recap: 2013 Australian Formula One Grand Prix is all about the rubber [w/spoilers]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/17/recap-2013-australian-formula-one-grand-prix-is-all-about-the-r/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/17/recap-2013-australian-formula-one-grand-prix-is-all-about-the-r/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/17/recap-2013-australian-formula-one-grand-prix-is-all-about-the-r/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,



A pre-season full of talking points was swapped for a brand-new set of talking points after the running of the opening grand prix of the 2013 Formula One season. The consistency of the regulations from last year to this year and the triplicate dominance of Infiniti Red Bull Racing meant that no one would have been that surprised if the relative order of things remained the same. But teams found so many ways to switch things up that, in typical pre-season fashion, no one was ready to make any bets on in-season performance, and a couple of surprising players suffered the ignominy of getting it really wrong: McLaren knew it was in trouble from the very first test, while Williams drivers applauded their car as the best in years, only to have Pastor Maldonado call it "undriveable" on the very first day of practice in Melbourne.

And then there were those Pirellis, the Italian company talking up the fact that its super soft tires would only go off so quickly that it would force teams to pit at least twice during the race.
Even then, no one could have seen the first round of pit stops beginning on Lap 5.

Nevertheless, someone had to win the 58-lap race - and that someone did it in what is becoming his usual style.

Continue reading Recap: 2013 Australian Formula One Grand Prix is all about the rubber [w/spoilers]

Recap: 2013 Australian Formula One Grand Prix is all about the rubber [w/spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2013 australian grand prixadrian sutilaustralian grand prixf1fernando alonsoferrariformula 1formula onegrand prixinfiniti red bullkimi raikkonenlewis hamiltonlotussebastian vetteltorro rosso Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20507196/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20507196/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/17/recap-2013-australian-formula-one-grand-prix-is-all-about-the-r/20507196/article-detail.xml 20507196 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ausf101_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ausf101.jpg <![CDATA[Aussie man reports car stolen 21 times in 13 years to avoid traffic camera fines]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/02/aussie-man-reports-car-stolen-21-times-in-13-years-to-avoid-traf/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/02/aussie-man-reports-car-stolen-21-times-in-13-years-to-avoid-traf/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/02/aussie-man-reports-car-stolen-21-times-in-13-years-to-avoid-traf/#comments Filed under: , ,

speed camera in Australia

Nobody likes paying traffic fines, but few have had the gumption to avoid them so thoroughly as Mario Hili. The 64-year-old Australian man came up with an ingenious method of fooling police into canceling any fines against him by reporting his car stolen. Logically, if the car hadn't been in his possession when cameras snapped photos of its license plate, he couldn't have been behind the wheel, and therefore whatever infraction its driver was guilty of couldn't have been his doing but that of the thief.

Except that he was lying. According to the Geelong Advertiser, Hili was caught fibbing about the frequent theft of his car after reporting it stolen for the 21st time in 13 years. To his credit, we suppose, Hili fessed up to his crimes after being caught, pleading guilty to seven counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and three counts of making a false document.

A judge convicted Hili and fined him 2,500 Australian dollars, though it's worth noting that no demerits were added to his license.

Aussie man reports car stolen 21 times in 13 years to avoid traffic camera fines originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australiafake reportmario hilired light cameraspeeding camera Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20483080/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20483080/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/02/aussie-man-reports-car-stolen-21-times-in-13-years-to-avoid-traf/20483080/article-detail.xml 20483080 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/speed-camera-australia_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/speed-camera-australia.jpg <![CDATA[Watch the Australian GT Championship take on Bathurst]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/24/watch-the-australian-gt-championship-take-on-bathurst/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/24/watch-the-australian-gt-championship-take-on-bathurst/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/24/watch-the-australian-gt-championship-take-on-bathurst/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Australian GT Championship

The Australian GT Championship is one of the more entertaining race series going. Racers compete head to head in hardware plucked from our supercar dreams. Drivers campaign bruisers like the Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche 911 GT3-R, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Audi R8 and even the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Ginetta G55. There are few other places where you can see so many excellent vehicles go fender to fender. This year, the series got started at the infamous Bathurst circuit. If you want a better picture of what the Australian GT Championship has to offer, look no further than the video below.

The first round saw Shane Van Gisbergen and Klark Quinn in their Porsche 911 GT3-R take the checkered flag followed by a four-man team in the No. 88 Ferrari 458 Italia GT4. The series heads to the Adelaide Street circuit for qualifying on February 28, with the main event going down on March 2. In the interim, feel free to check out the clip below for a better idea of what the action is all about.

Continue reading Watch the Australian GT Championship take on Bathurst

Watch the Australian GT Championship take on Bathurst originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> australiaaustralian gt championshipbathurstgt championshipsupercarsupercar racingvideo Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20471366/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20471366/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/24/watch-the-australian-gt-championship-take-on-bathurst/20471366/article-detail.xml 20471366 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/australian-gt-championship-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/australian-gt-championship-628.jpg <![CDATA[Erebus Motorsport Mercedes E-Class V8 Supercar completes the field [w/videos]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/23/erebus-motorsport-mercedes-e-class-v8-supercar-completes-the-fie/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/23/erebus-motorsport-mercedes-e-class-v8-supercar-completes-the-fie/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/23/erebus-motorsport-mercedes-e-class-v8-supercar-completes-the-fie/#comments Filed under: , , , ,



Ford, Holden and Nissan introduced their V8 Supercar challengers a while back. Erebus Motorport, whose racing program got the green light not even 120 days ago, has finally shown off the Mercedes-Benz E-Class racer that will complete this year's field of entries. The first AMG race car ever to be built outside of Germany, it's an Australian-built tube-frame chassis specced to the series' Car of Tomorrow rules, fitted with body panels that channel the E63 AMG.

Supported by AMG Customer Motorsport, the 5.0-liter engine is provided by HWA in Germany, the racing arm of AMG. Regulations dictate that it have roughly 650 horsepower, a redline between 7,000 and 7,500 rpm and a torque curve that matches the parity baseline set for all cars.

Lee Holdsworth, Tim Slade and Maro Engel will drive the three team cars, each with different sponsors. Their first showing will be at the Clipsal 500 on March 3 in Adelaide, here in the US we'll get to see them in May at the Circuit of the Americas. Check out the videos below of the Erebus car starting up at its launch, and footage of all of this year's cars doing pre-season testing on track together.

Continue reading Erebus Motorsport Mercedes E-Class V8 Supercar completes the field [w/videos]

Erebus Motorsport Mercedes E-Class V8 Supercar completes the field [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> amge63 amgerebus motorsporthwalee holdsworthmaro engelmercedes-benztim sladev8 supercars Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20472433/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20472433/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/23/erebus-motorsport-mercedes-e-class-v8-supercar-completes-the-fie/20472433/article-detail.xml 20472433 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/mercedesv8supercar_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/mercedesv8supercar.jpg <![CDATA[Holden shows wagon and ute versions of new Commodore]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/22/holden-shows-wagon-and-ute-versions-of-new-commodore/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/22/holden-shows-wagon-and-ute-versions-of-new-commodore/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/22/holden-shows-wagon-and-ute-versions-of-new-commodore/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2014 Holden VF Commodore wagon - rear three-quarter view, burgundy

Holden VF Commodore Ute - rear three-quarter view - orangeHolden isn't giving anything away when it comes to specs, but the Aussie outpost of General Motors has offered a few snapshots of the Sportwagon and ute versions of its brand-new VF Commodore. All the company will say for now is that the models are still being tested before final approval and that all three variants will go on sale at the same time later this year.

What are the chances we'll get either one of them - or both - here? Well GM did file to trademark both "El Camino" and "Nomad," but remember how it all ended in heartbreak last time we were so close to this? Let's get the Chevrolet SS here and on sale first, then assuming all goes well, we might dare to dream about rear-wheel drive Chevrolet wagons and car-based pickups again. We'd advise you to likewise keep your hopes in check as you read the press release below.

Continue reading Holden shows wagon and ute versions of new Commodore

Holden shows wagon and ute versions of new Commodore originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> chevroletcommodorecommodore sportwagoncommodore utegeneral motorsgmholdensportwagonssutevf commodore Fri, 22 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20473086/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20473086/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/22/holden-shows-wagon-and-ute-versions-of-new-commodore/20473086/article-detail.xml 20473086 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/holden-vf-commodore-wagon-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/holden-vf-commodore-wagon-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford brings FPV Falcon production in house [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/21/ford-brings-fpv-falcon-production-in-house-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/21/ford-brings-fpv-falcon-production-in-house-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/21/ford-brings-fpv-falcon-production-in-house-w-video/#comments Filed under: , , , ,



For the first time since 1976, Ford of Australia is bringing the assembly of its stonking Ford Performance Vehicle line back in-house to the company's Broadmeadows and Geelong facilities. That's a point of pride for FPV, which builds high-performance versions of the Australian Falcon model like the F6, GS and the heroic GT seen here.

In the video below, we hear FPV employees talking in hushed tones about the important legacy that cars like the GT have for Australian gearheads of all stripes, and how proud they are to say that hand-built machines like this GT R-Spec with its Boss 355 engine are now rolling out of their home base. For our part, we're just dying to drive this version of the Coyote V8; the engine is rocking a "Miami" supercharger from Harrop and makes some 450 horsepower.

Continue on below for the video, or you can check out some images of the new FPV at the facility, as well as a gallery of the GT R-Spec car.

Continue reading Ford brings FPV Falcon production in house [w/video]

Ford brings FPV Falcon production in house [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> falconfalcon gtfordford australiaford falconford performance vehiclesfpvfpv gtfpv gt boss 335video Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20469964/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20469964/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/21/ford-brings-fpv-falcon-production-in-house-w-video/20469964/article-detail.xml 20469964 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/000-fpv-gt-broadmeadows-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/000-fpv-gt-broadmeadows-628.jpg <![CDATA[Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #321 LIVE!]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/19/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-321-live/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/19/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-321-live/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/19/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-321-live/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,

Autoblog Podcast graphic

We're set to record Autoblog Podcast #321 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #321


[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #321 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 15002013 ram 15002014 chevrolet ssautoblog podcastautoblog podcast 321autoblog podcast 321 topicschevroletfordford rangermitsubishipodcastpodcast 321ramram dieselrangerssunibody pickupunibody ranger Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20467930/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20467930/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/19/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-321-live/20467930/article-detail.xml 20467930 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg <![CDATA[Holden's new Commodore ready to go racing in V8 Supercars [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/holdens-new-commodore-ready-to-go-racing-in-v8-supercars-w-vid/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/holdens-new-commodore-ready-to-go-racing-in-v8-supercars-w-vid/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/holdens-new-commodore-ready-to-go-racing-in-v8-supercars-w-vid/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,



This is the new Holden Commodore dressed up for duty as a V8 Supercar. Revealed two days after the VF sedan broke cover, the Holden Racing Team unleashed the racing version on Facebook and YouTube (click the image above to enlarge). This one does away with the black and gold introductory livery but keeps the Holden lions.

And get ready for this weekend, when the standard Commodore sedan - not the Calais trim - gets revealed, as well as the Chevrolet SS and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class V8 Supercar from Erebus. While you wait, check out the video below to see the Commodore V8SC on the track.

Continue reading Holden's new Commodore ready to go racing in V8 Supercars [w/video]

Holden's new Commodore ready to go racing in V8 Supercars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> commodorecommodore v8 supercarholdenholden commodoreholden racing teamhrtv8 supercarsvideovideosyoutube Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:43:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20459656/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20459656/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/15/holdens-new-commodore-ready-to-go-racing-in-v8-supercars-w-vid/20459656/article-detail.xml 20459656 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/holdenv8sc2013_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/holdenv8sc2013.jpg <![CDATA[Chevrolet SS previewed by Holden VF Commodore SS V show car]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/14/chevrolet-ss-previewed-by-holden-vf-commodore-ss-v-show-car/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/14/chevrolet-ss-previewed-by-holden-vf-commodore-ss-v-show-car/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/14/chevrolet-ss-previewed-by-holden-vf-commodore-ss-v-show-car/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Holden VF Commodore SS V show car

It won't be long before we see the official, production-ready Chevrolet SS sedan (hint: it will be revealed this weekend). And to tide us over until all of the official details are released about the US-spec version, we have this: the Holden VF Commodore SS V show car, a performance-oriented brother to the Calais V that debuted earlier in the week.

What we really want to know about the SS V is what lies underhood, but General Motors' Australian arm is keeping that under wraps until the Chevy model breaks cover this weekend. Nevertheless, it's obvious that the SS V will be a serious performer, with all sorts of aggressive cues driving that home on the car's exterior. Take a look at those 20-inch billet aluminum wheels that hide big Brembo brake calipers up front, the sculpted hood and front fascia, the wide air intakes with LED running lights and the quad exhaust pipes out back. It's like the Pontiac G8 GXP never even left us.

Inside, there's a sporty-looking interior with aluminum accents that mix in with black leather and suede surfaces, all tied together in the middle with an eight-inch MyLink touchscreen infotainment system. It looks great, and again, while we don't know anything regarding powertrain details, it makes us oh-so happy to see a manual shifter smack dab in the middle of the center console.

Stay tuned for the whole kit and caboodle when the SS sedan is revealed this weekend. For now, scroll down to read Holden's press release and click through the attached gallery to see the shape of Chevy things to come.

Continue reading Chevrolet SS previewed by Holden VF Commodore SS V show car

Chevrolet SS previewed by Holden VF Commodore SS V show car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> chevroletchevycommodoregeneral motorsgmholdenssss vvf commodore Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:55:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20462232/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20462232/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/14/chevrolet-ss-previewed-by-holden-vf-commodore-ss-v-show-car/20462232/article-detail.xml 20462232 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/001-holden-commodore-vf-ssv-show-car-1360854412_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/001-holden-commodore-vf-ssv-show-car-1360854412.jpg -1 2