Whether it's from the www, the latest motor show or the back doors of a carmaker near you, Carsales Network Confidential features the good oil other sources either won't publish, don't care about or don't know. Heard an automotive rumour or new model tip? Then let us know at editor@carpoint.com.au
>> Big Toyota has Falcon rear-guard in its sights
June is traditionally a big month for Toyota as the number one car brand pushes out end of financial year stock with abandon. Corolla's near-6000 unit effort was impressive (more here) but it was Aurion's (named from the Greek word for 'dawn') total of over 2600 units that had tongues wagging this week.
Following the usual sales slump over the new year period and a breath-gathering plateau in April, the V6 Toyota 'large' car's sales climb has continued to the point where it could seriously challenge the Falcon. Something CN Confidential highlighted earlier this year.
There was a difference of approximately 600 sales between the two for June, with Falcon posting 3206 and Aurion posting 2626.
With nine months remaining to the launch of the new Ford, codenamed 'Orion', we're expecting Ford dealers to scrap and scrape for every last Falcon sale they can find.
We're already seeing Ford on the move to shore-up market share, with standard DSC adding value to the Falcon range.
Falcon's loss of market share isn't just about being squeezed from behind by the Aurion, which Ford Australia President Tom Gorman valiantly persists in calling the "Camry V6". Holden's VE Commodore is leading the large car segment and there's no sign of sales slowing down for the Falcon's arch-rival.
Both Aurion and Commodore have relied on TV advertising campaigns that are more about the driving experience, than is the case for Ford's current campaign, based around the Fairmont Ghia.
On the subject of the advertising campaign, Ford spokesman Justin Lacy said "They are trying to position their vehicle as a driver's car, whereas we are already there and have been for some time.
"The current Falcon ad with the Fairmont Ghia (and) flags... has been extremely well received and has rated very highly... and there has been a corresponding uptick in sales of Fairmont Ghia."
Asked about whether the smaller Mondeo is likely to draw sales away from Camry and Aurion, Lacy said: "It's possible some people will consider both together -- although our research doesn't indicate that many people cross-shop the large and medium segments."
Nevertheless, Camry is a medium segment car -- which just happens to be the same size as the Aurion, as Ford admits. So is Mondeo an extra opportunity for Ford to hold Aurion at bay?
If that seems like a long bow to draw, consider the case of the GA Meteor of the early 1980s, a car which -- based on the Mazda 323 as it was -- offered front-wheel drive and interior spaciousness approaching that of the significantly larger TF Cortina it 'replaced'.
The danger time for the Falcon will be December/January, when all the corporate buyers and cashed-up novated lease-holders will be sunning themselves on the beach. That should affect Aurion sales too, of course.
>> F6 in R-Spec a tasty treat
FPV's GT 40th Anniversary is set to fetch a premium on the used market, but FPV's F6 models are being overlooked and costing FPV vital sales. To reignite interest in the turbo six, might FPV launch an upgraded F6 R-Spec with several appearance changes, the R-Spec handling upgrades and a slight power increase?
If it happens, expect the F6 R-Spec to pick up several of the blacked-out panels and other cues from the DRIF6 concept car (more here). FPV is also expected to reveal special ute versions with the revised V8 and F6 specifications as part of its mid-August announcements.
>> Commemorative Cobra
The 302kW version of FPV's Boss V8 (more here) has actually been on FPV's books since the BAII upgrade.
Its late appearance comes now that Ford has adjusted the pricing and upgraded XR models with several features previously exclusive to the FPV range.
Prodrive has effectively been cornered by circumstance. It could have chosen to sacrifice the pricing of the last of its FPV BF Series II models or upgrade them to make them the most desirable of all in this body style.
Fortunately for current FPV owners, Prodrive intends to maintain pricing and promote the new Boss 302; the revival of an iconic name. (The Boss 302 Mustang model was introduced to the Australian public through Allan Moffat's dominant 1969 Mustang Trans Am racecar).
More details are emerging about the rationale behind FPV's October revival of the Cobra: At least two years ago, both Ford and FPV identified that they should celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Moffat-Bond one-two finish at Bathurst 1977.
The Boss 302 engine is a tidy link with the majority of the XC Cobra road cars which featured the 4.9/302ci version of the local Cleveland V8. Yet it's the rare 5.8/351ci Bathurst version of the original XC Cobra Hardtop that is the model most commonly associated with the 1977 Bathurst win.
Ford ignored Moffat's pleas to further upgrade the 1978 car. Holden's A9X Torana dominated the 1978 event finishing three laps ahead of the third-placed Cobra-spec Falcon GT Hardtop driven by Murray Carter.
Ford's 1977 Bathurst victory was the last until 1981. Still, such details mustn't be allowed to spoil the party in October.
>> Commercial in confidence
CN has been a fan of the new Ford Ranger's extra toughness and its strong and economical new diesel engines but expressed concern that prices were not as sharp as they could be.
Ford has since plainly agreed, slashing thousands off certain models this week -- just a month or so after the new model's launch. The word is that Ford Australia had not negotiated the same deal with the Thai factory as Mazda did for the BT-50. Now that the factory has conceded a better deal with Ford, Ford has been able to adjust the local pricing.
>> Burning a hole in the pocket
The motor trade is reporting that July sales of recreational vehicles, caravans, motor homes, boats and other big ticket items of interest to the 60-plus age group are set to move up a gear.
Effective from July 1, 2007, superannuation reforms allow Australians aged over 60 to withdraw money from their super fund -- either as a pension or lump sum -- without paying tax. Feedback suggests that this age group has delayed capital withdrawals for major purchases until the new legislation took effect. July sales figures should provide some insights into how this age group spends their money.
>> It has a space frame and handles like a Lotus...
An Audi A8 that handles like a Lotus Elise? Such a machine exists, according to Britain's 'Auto Express'. The modified A8 was developed by the German manufacturer to explore handling traits. Built as part of a project named HORST (Handling Online Research Simulation Tool), the A8 is an 'emulator', able to reproduce different suspension characteristics through computer software 'presets'.
Initially built as a test-bed to compare the A8 with its rival, the E-Class Mercedes-Benz, the A8 had other presets downloaded subsequently. These reportedly include Volkswagen Golf GTi, a Lotus Elise and a Hyundai Getz.
Engineers can switch to a different preset on-the-fly and the car's added hydraulic systems, an active steering system and extra componentry at the rear for the four-wheel steering system all come into play. The presets can be selected from a laptop computer plugged into the car.
It will likely never see the light of day as a production model. For the money and the weight of the car, you could buy the Lotus Elise and a standard A8 -- with change left over for a house!
>> Diesel daze
Holden's top race drivers -- the Kelly boys, Mark Skaife and Garth Tander -- have many roles with Team Red aside from punting taxis at high speed around the nation's racetracks and signing well-proportioned Aussie sheilas' T-shirts.
In fact, they play an important role in helping Holden and HSV's engineers develop road cars. Indeed, much has been made of the boys' sign-off of the dynamics of HSV's latest VE and WM based models. According to HSV, the racers' feedback is instrumental in giving the E-Series and Grange models the 'I just want one' feel.
So imagine our interest when on a recent visit to HSV's Clayton headquarters CNC sprung the hotshoes about to embark on a test program with a number of turbodiesel-powered large sedans.
Could it be that HSV is playing a larger part in the development of turbodiesel variants of the Zeta-platformed Holdens (more here)? We wouldn't bet against it...
To comment on this article click here