Sydney by night: The Harbour Bridge and the Nissan 370Z in the wee hours.

Posted by gaycarboys on 09/30/2011

Here are a few stray shots from our recent story on the 370Z We weren’t going to publish them but some of them are quite interesting and we thought you might like them anyway.

Here’s something you don’t see every day. Of course the blue thing is the Nissan 370z but are there any takers for what’s in the background? You’ll never guess in a million years. These two massive supports hold the huge pins that support the old Coat Hanger. here’s another shot during the way. You can see the far side of the bridge circled in red (BELOW) is where the massive weight of Sydney Harbour Bridge rests on two pins on either end of the bridge. The huge granite pylons DO NOT support any of the weight and are merely. Who knew?

The south pylon of the Harbour Bridge. Nice hunk of Granite.

It’s a long way up to the road deck from down here.

That’s the the Sydney Opera House peaking through cheekily under the bridge. It’s nice to see Sydney saves some electricity by turning off most of the lights after midnight. The land marks take on a spooky glow making them look even more spectacular. If you look really hard here you’ll see the arch doesn’t touch the huge granite pylons at either end.

Real Steel Star, Hugh Jackman, Joins Audi as Brand Ambassador

Posted by gaycarboys on 09/30/2011

Real Steel star, Hugh Jackman, is Audi Australia’s newest ambassador
Jackman arrives at the Australian premiere of his latest action film in Audi R8
Athletic performance of Audi R8 is the perfect foil for Jackman’s character

Audi Australia is proud to announce Australian super star, Hugh Jackman, as its newest brand ambassador at the local premiere of Disney’s latest action movie, Real Steel.

Real Steel, which premiered in Sydney on September 28, is a gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech. Jackman stars as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter whose lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end robots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

At the film premiere, and to celebrate his new role as a brand Ambassador, Hugh Jackman arrived at the wheel of Audi’s futuristic and athletic R8 Spyder sportscar.

Jackman joins an exclusive and high profile group of leading Australians as Audi Ambassadors, including fellow actor, Naomi Watts, fashion luminary, Collette Dinnigan, and uber chef, Shannon Bennett, to name just a few.

Audi’s Ambassador program was established in 1997 to communicate the ‘human’ face of this premium German carmaker, by aligning with successful Australian personalities who are leaders in their field.
Now in its 14th year in Australia, the program has been incredibly successful, generating long-term relationships with key Australians who share the company’s brand values of sophisticated, sporty and progressive.

Nissan to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of First Simpson Desert Vehicle Crossing

Posted by gaycarboys on 09/28/2011

The first vehicle crossing of the Simpson Desert will be celebrated on its 50th anniversary in September 2012 with a re-enactment of the historic event featuring two of the original participants.

Geologist and explorer Dr Reginald Sprigg, his wife Griselda and their two children, Doug (then seven) and Margaret (10), made the pioneering trip from Andado Station to Birdsville in 1962 in a short wheelbase Nissan Patrol G60ahead of a small retinue of other four wheel drive vehicles.

The Nissan Patrol became not only the first, but also the only vehicle to complete the Spriggs’ gruelling 12-day crossing of the 176,500 square kilometre desert and its 1,000 parallel sand dunes.

The successful crossing was one of a number of pioneering achievements by Reg Sprigg, who also discovered oil and gas fields in the Cooper Basin, founded SANTOS, Geosurveys and Beach Petroleum, discovered the world’s oldest fossils and in 1967 set up Arkaroola Wildlife Sanctuary in the Northern Flinders Ranges, one of Australia’s first Eco-Tourism resorts.

The first documented crossing of the Simpson Desert only pre-dates the Spriggs’ achievement by 26 years. While explorers including Charles Sturt penetrated the forbidding desert as early as 1844, the first white man to make a full crossing was E.A. (Ted) Colson, who in 1936 with an Aboriginal companion and five camels took 36 days to complete the journey.

Geologist Cecil Madigan then led the first major expedition across the desert in 1939, naming it after Alfred Allen Simpson, the President of the South Australian branch if the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia.

The 50th Anniversary Nissan Patrol crossing will largely follow the Spriggs’ original route It will be led by an identical Nissan Patrol G60 to that used on the first crossing, crewed by Doug and Margaret Sprigg, who today run the Arkaroola Sanctuary.

The actual Nissan Patrol used in 1962 disappeared many years ago and Nissan Australia is staging a country-wide search to locate it in time for the 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Reg Sprigg chose the Nissan Patrol G60 for the crossing based on its strength and suitability for the harsh desert terrain and at a time before the establishment of Nissan Australia in 1966.

Based on the first short wheelbase Nissan Patrol developed in 1951 for military use, his Patrol featured a 3,956cc overhead valve straight six-cylinder petrol engine, a three-speed dual range transmission, live axles and leaf springs.

A highlight of the re-enactment crossing of the Simpson Desert will be the erection of a 50th Anniversary cairn near Birdsville.

A documentary film will be made of the re-enactment while Nissan Patrol owners from around Australia will be invited to celebrate its conclusion in Birdsville.

Your Volvo could save your life with its clever innovations

Posted by gaycarboys on 09/26/2011

Did you know Volvo invented the 3 point seat belt? Just because they are obsessed by safety that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. The best way to learn is to make a game of it so that what Volvo did.

They invited us to a secret location, the skidpan at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway, to a demonstration of their shiny new safety features. The new S60 is positively stuffed full of them. Active and passive safety features aim to cocoon the driver and his passengers in a place where they will have the best chance of surviving all but the most severe of accidents. Governments claim that their Speed Cameras have lowered the rates of death and injuring but in truth cameras have nothing to do with it. It’s the cars and the nannies that now ensure even the most incompetent of drivers do as little to harm others as possible.

The list of features is extensive to say the least. The demonstration aims to feature just a few of them. Before we headed out to the skid pan at Eastern Creek, we spent some time viewing a presentation where explained proudly what extremes they are prepared to go to make their products the safest on the road. For me, the thing which stood out above all was the team which is sent from Volvo to examine road accidents in Sweden. If the accident involved a Volvo, the team investigated just how the features worked in real life. This data is to assess current nannies and invent new things to annoying us.

The particular Bing, bongs and BRRRRR’s that concern us today show us the lane departure, radar guided cruise control and city safety work separately and together. The result is to envelop the passengers in a veil information and feedback, and in extreme circumstances, to take over completely. Perhaps all P plated drivers should only drive Volvos! It tells you when you drift over a lane marker which may stop you from hitting someone head on or running off the road into an unsuspecting power pole. The S60 also tells you when it thinks you are too close to the car in front and applies brakes if u persist in driving the car yourself. Finally radar keeps the cruise control active right down to dead stop while making sure you don’t run into the car in front. If the car in front stops, you do too. If the car in front moves off in under 3 seconds, you follow it, right up to the speed you had previously set the cruise control to. Since there is a large sheet of clear material in front of the driver, it’s probably a good idea to use it to view the world beyond. This is also where the road is located. Most people come with these warning systems built into them, but putting the same features into a car provides another level of awareness and protection.

Lane Departure:

A subtle alarm beeps if you change lanes without indicating. It should stop you from drifting into oncoming traffic and hurting others, or off the side of the road and hurting yourself. It’s very easy to become mesmerised on long trips. Even the most alert person turns into a zombie after 500 kilometres

Blind Spot System (BLiS):

A LED mounted on the inside edge of the side mirrors flashes if there is an object in your blind spot. Because you would be looking into your mirrors to change lanes, it warns you if it thinks you haven’t seen a cyclist hiding behind your C pillar. It has to be said it can be a bit annoying. The car assumes you are not aware of your surroundings at any time so is always flashing especially in the city. Initially it’s so annoying that you want to switch it all off, but hang in there and all becomes clear.

City Safety:

Here’s something no car should be without. We all know someone who has, during a lapse in attention, run up the bum of a car which has unexpectedly stopped in front of them. This system first warns you with a loud beeping alarm, then if you do nothing about it, City Safety throws out the anchors. Collision alert works with people and objects and below 30kph will stop the car without contacting the object ahead. Above 30kph will lessen the damage. If a pedestrian is involved it could mean the difference between life and death.

Collision Alert with Full Auto Braking:

This means that at highway speeds you Volvo will warn you if you are too close to the car in front and apply the brakes if you do nothing about it.

Adaptive Cruise Control:

Set and forget the speed as usual, but if someone jumps in the lane in front of you your Volvo applies braking so you stand off at a safe distance. If you then hit traffic your car will remain a safe distance to the car in front. In stop start traffic your need not touch the peddles. I have to see it is unsettling even when you’re used to it. I’d rather use my own good judgement. It’s not that difficult to face forward

The group split in two. Half went with legendary motor cycle rider Wayne Gardener, and the other half went with the talented (in more ways than one) athlete, Matt Shirvington. A fleet of S60’s was used to transport us around the Eastern Creek Raceway as well as to demonstrate the safety gear.

The demo of these systems was to drive at a blow up man so the dash lit up like a geriatrics Christmas tree and beeps mournfully like Alan Jones on Quaaludes. You steer to the right and it stops, but OH NO there is another unfortunate little man and Alan Jones starts bleating again. They tell me to take my feet off the peddles so I do, but it goes against years of training and instinct. Alan Jones is now going berserk and because my feet are on the floor, the Volvo slams on the anchors with full emergency braking. If you have not experienced this before its unnerving. But after several rounds it was rather fun. It has to be said that Alan Jones must have bored one of our blow-up dolls to deaths. It developed a rather bad sag and fell over.

A similar bag of hot air was then dragged along beside an XC90 but the aim this time was to try and hit it at moderate speed. We drove at 40 or 50 kph and as we neared the bag of hot air, the other bag of hot air, Alan Jones, started going off again. This time instead of boring the blow up man to death, braking was applied to back us off. No matter how much I tried I simply couldn’t had the bag of hot air. I might have succeeded if Alan Jones was painted on the other bag of hot air, but I rather think Volvo have taken this into account. Even if Alan Jones was painted on the bag of hot air, he would be safe. This time of course the foot stayed on the accelerator.

Most of these nannies can be over ridden by the driver. It Volvo’s reasoning that the customers and their friends should rely on good driving rather than good technology, but a backup plan is always can’t hurt. Unusually for an auto maker, Volvo puts its new technology in whichever model is next to be released as opposed to the Germans who do it from the top model first. That often slows the rollout to snails pace.

Since only one writer at a time experienced, we got to chat in between with Matt Shirvington who chaperoned our group.

After spending the day with the nannies in full flight the most annoying thing was how used to them you get and how much want covet them.

At the moment most of these features are on the options list but can be bundled together in the Driver Support Pack which includes: Lane Departure Warning Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake, Queue Assist, Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)

Rare P76 Targa Florio in Shannons Sydney Spring Sale

Posted by gaycarboys on 09/25/2011

Not the most attractive car from the 70’s by Leyland, not the best car maker of the 70’s. Why then do we remember them so fondly?

One of just 100 of its type built
One owner from new
One of 11 ‘no reserve’ classics

An Australian ‘Muscle Car’ with a unique Sicilian connection is one of 11 interesting classics being offered with no reserve at Shannons Sydney Spring Classic Auction on Monday October 10.

The rare and original Leyland P76 Targa Florio sedan was one of 900 limited-edition P76s built in 1974 to commemorate the stage win of a nearly standard P76 in the 1974 World Cup Rally. Driven by Australian rally driver Evan Green, the Australian-built, Rover V8-engined P76 surprised many with its speed in the event’s ‘Targa Florio’ stage held in Sicily, Italy.

Each Targa Florio model came with a 4.4-litre all-alloy V8 engine, automatic transmission, power steering and a limited-slip differential, but only 100 were finished in Aspen Green like the very original example that Shannons are auctioning.

The car’s original owner worked with BMC-Leyland for over 30 years and purchased his Leyland P76 Targa Florio in October 1974.

Still in excellent original condition, the vehicle has been garaged all its life and is believed to have travelled just 71,450km since new. It is being sold with a many of it original documents including its comprehensive workshop and owners manual.

History records that the P76 was the right car at the wrong time. Built by Leyland Australia to compete head-on with the large Ford Falcon, Holden Kingswood and Chrysler Valiant family cars of the era, it won the coveted ‘Wheels Car of the Year’ award in 1973 before the global fuel crisis put large cars of its type out of favour with buyers.

Today however, the P76 is as much a symbol of 1970’s style as big collars, flared trousers and platform soled shoes and is gaining appreciation as an automotive icon of the Muscle Car era.

The P76 Targa Florio is one of 29 vehicles and 26 lots of automobilia in the Shannons Spring Auction on October 10, where it is expected to sell for $8,000-$12,000.

It is one of 11 unreserved vehicles in the sale, with others including a rare 1969 right hand drive Ford Torino GT Convertible ($16,00-$22,000), a ‘project’ 1977 LX Torana SL/R 253 V8 automatic and a two-owner from new 1924 Dodge Tourer – the latter two estimated to sell in the $8,000-$12,000 range.

New Vehicle Architecture and Focus on Four-Cylinder Engines

Posted by gaycarboys on 09/24/2011

Volvo Car Corporation’s technological future is based on two in-house developed strategies. The first is a scalable vehicle architecture which, in principle, means most Volvo models can be built on the same production line irrespective of vehicle size and complexity. The second is a new engine range consisting solely of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

We’ve liked the Volvo range very much. The 4 cylinder engines were a particular surprise. Volvos of old had 4 pot engines that wouldn’t pull the skin of a rice custard. They’ve come over all strong and butch.

The innovative programme also includes a new eight-speed automatic transmission as well as testing of a new Flywheel KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) on public roads (later in 2011).

“We’re now taking our technological future into our own hands. Both our new architecture and the new engine range will enable us to be on par or even beat our toughest competitors in crucial areas such as driving dynamics and fuel efficiency,” says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at the Volvo Car Corporation.

Own Scalable Platform Architecture
The Volvo Car Corporation is promoting economies of scale within the company’s own model range via a separate architecture for most of its products.

Within the new joint SPA (Scalable Platform Architecture) there are several platforms, groups of cars that share the same basic chassis structure, seat frame, electrical system and driveline.

These platforms are the basis for different vehicle clusters, that is to say a number of complete car models. In today’s model range, for instance, the Volvo S60, V60 and XC60 form one cluster.

It’s all about developing a model range consisting of cars based on the same joint modules and interfaces, scalable systems and components, and built in a flexible production system.

“SPA gives us a fresh technological start. When the first SPA model is launched in a few years’ time, about 90 percent of its components will be new and unique. What is more, we’re raising the bar when it comes to quality and technology level in every area. We will be fully on a par with the very toughest competitors,” says Peter Mertens.

In addition to the industrial benefits of common vehicle architecture there are also significant product related advantages: weight, electrification, driving dynamics and design proportions .

Weight reduction of 100-150 kg
With SPA, the Volvo Car Corporation takes the lead in automotive lightweight design. The highest degree of high strength steel qualities in the industry to date is combined with the extensive use of aluminium in the front structure, doors, chassis and powertrain.

This means that upcoming SPA models will be 100-150kg lighter than current models of the same size.

The new architecture enables electrification on all levels, from start/stop technology to pure electric drive, without intruding on interior space and load space.

New chassis technologies combined with lower weight and improved weight distribution will make it possible to compete with the very best when it comes to driving dynamics – without compromising ride comfort.

The electrical architecture enables all future multimedia and connectivity solutions – and it forms the backbone of the Volvo Car Corporation’s drive to reinforce its leading position in active safety.

New proportions promote exciting design
Overall packaging efficiency has been improved to support more attractive design proportions, while at the same time enabling significant improvements in aerodynamic drag.

Design limitations as regards to wheelbase, overhang, vehicle height and the height of the front are changed. This creates greater freedom to give forthcoming Volvo models more exciting lines.

“The proportions can give entirely different appearances even though the components used are exactly the same. The comparison between a donkey and a thoroughbred racehorse is an excellent example: each has a head, a body and four legs. But they are perceived entirely differently because of the proportions of their individual body parts and between their body parts,” explains Peter Horbury, Vice President Design at the Volvo Car Corporation.

“For us the new architecture means we can sharpen our design language still further, carving out just the right athletic and dynamic aura that is so important to the most demanding prestige car buyers. Concept You is an excellent example of this. It shows what can be achieved with the new architecture.”

Four-cylinder engines with the performance of today’s sixes
The new engine range, known as VEA (Volvo Environmental Architecture), consists solely of four-cylinder engines which in certain configurations will benefit from enhanced performance through electrification or other spearhead technology.

“It is time to stop counting cylinders. Focusing on four-cylinder engines is the perfect way to quickly reduce CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption without compromising customer expectations on driving pleasure and performance,” comments Peter Mertens.

“We’re aiming to develop four-cylinder engines with higher performance than today’s sixcylinder units, along with lower fuel consumption than the current generation of four-cylinder engines.”

Reduction of parts, weight and fuel consumption
VEA is a modular range of diesel and petrol engines. Diesel common rail and petrol direct injection are standard. Several levels of turbo charging open up for flexibility that encompasses the whole range from high power and torque variants to fuel-efficient derivatives. In order to cover all customer requirements, certain engines will gain added performance via hybrid drive or other spearhead technology.

The modular format is based on a standard of 500cc per combustion chamber for optimum thermodynamics.

VEA offers several advantages: The number of unique parts is reduced by 60 percent. This promotes manufacturing efficiency, quality assurance and efficiency of new development projects. The new powertrains are up to 90 kg lighter than the present ones. Fuel economy is improved by up to 35 percent. Modularity and compact transverse design are also ideal for future electrification developments. The engines will meet all known emissions legislation worldwide up to 2017.

“At present engine installation varies with each car model. With this holistic solution tomorrow’s technology development can focus entirely on engine performance instead of diverting attention to installation modifications. What is more, assembly in the factory will be easier. The development costs are initially high but after that they drop sharply,” explains Peter Mertens.

With VEA, the Volvo Car Corporation also introduces a new eight-speed automatic gearbox that gives the driver a refined drive and excellent fuel economy.

First out with road tests of flywheel technology
Later this autumn Volvo Car Corporation will become one of the first carmakers in the world to test the potential of flywheel drive on public roads.

Flywheel drive, also known as Flywheel KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), is fitted to the car’s rear axle, while the engine drives the front wheels. When the brakes are applied, the resulting braking energy causes the flywheel to spin at up to 60,000 revs a minute.

Once the car starts moving again, the flywheel’s rotation is transferred to the rear wheels via a specially designed transmission unit. With this arrangement the total power of the engine and KERS is applied to all four wheels.

The energy stored in the flywheel can then accelerate the car or be used to propel the vehicle once it reaches its cruising speed.

“This system offers the driver an additional 60kW, giving a four-cylinder engine the acceleration of a six. What’s more, it has potential for reducing fuel consumption by up to 20 percent. Flywheel technology would be a suitable solution for our large cars such as the Concept You sedan,” says Peter Mertens.

Peugeot RCZ: pretty in Pearl White and packs a 147KW punch for good measure. Sex, Speed and sinful pleasure.

Posted by gaycarboys on 09/23/2011

RCZ:

Check the previous reviews for the full shebang on the previous stories on the RCZ

The Peugeot RCZ starred in our story earlier in the year. We loved it. The looks, the quality the handling are all first class. We took the stunning 147 KW turbo Petrol for a trash last week. It was the last of the 3 RCZ’s yet to be experienced. In my mind there is no doubt it is the best RCZ yet. It has the same fabulously slick 6 manual as the Diesel but lots more poke.

s p

You’ve seen the pictures, you know what a brilliant job the designers did in getting the Concept Car (308 RCZ) to production. Their concept was so good it hardly needed anything doing to it after it appeared at the Frankfurt Motor show.

The interior is the same across the 3 models with the engine/transmission combos being the only difference. The only thing that I couldn’t figure out was the Audio system and Ipod interface. I’ve had this problem with other Peugeots too which I put down to driver error. But the Air cond was sinfully cold with Auto controls that actually seem to work.

Since we went into the car pretty thoroughly earlier in the year we’ll keep this story to the fabulous handling and the superb engine. It’s a fact these days that the smaller engines are getting to be more powerful with each new incarnation. It hardly seems possible that just 30 years ago you needed a gas guzzling V8 to get similar poke to the RCZ has now. Note the 5 litre V8 that drinks like a drag queen is still 37 KW short of the petite and sensual RCZ and its perky 1.6.. And the Lexus which has an engine the same size the old Holden has 3 times the power.

Engine	KW

Holden 2.8 straight 6	64
Holden 3.3 straight 6	66
Holden 4.2 V8	87 or 96
Holden5.0 V8	114
Peugeot 1.6 turbo 4 cyl	147
Lexus ISF 5.0 L V8	330 kw

What does this mean? It means the tiny little 1.6 4 cylinder turbo, jointly developed with BMW for Mini, BMW and Peugeot ,is a spectacularly good unit. Drop a couple of cogs and kick her in the guts and she takes off like a startled gazelle. As well as the stunning looks, a brilliant engine and a smooth 6sp gearbox, it’s got the handling to make150k sports car blush. Being front wheel drive, there is still the ubiquitous torque steer under hard acceleration. It doesn’t pull the steering wheel out of your hand at the traffic lights, but you certainly have to keep it in mind when you stick the boot in. On the subject of sticking the boot in, if there is one annoying habit, it’s that the 1.6 runs completely out of puff at a no-doubt-limited redline. It seems to happen at the least convenient time because if you are in the middle of accelerating hard, you shouldn’t be looking down at the dash to see what the needle is doing. You have to change up or back off, and we never back off. It sounds like it wants to spin much further round the dial and be happy about it.

I know by now you are bored rigid with me going on about Grand Pacific Drive. If you drove this road regularly you would love it too. So you have that sweet little power plant singing away merrily up front and a chassis with the wheels pushed as far as possible into the corners of the body. Yes that’s right, it screams and pleads to be thrown hard into bends and twists. All the while you think to yourself “go on. Do it. What are you a pussy? Are you a man or a mouse?” Each corner gives you just a little more of a nudge. It hints that there is still much much more to give and you want to take it all. It just doesn’t give up. I remember driving a Porsche once. It told you nothing about what it was doing so you pushed it further and further until it tried unexpectedly to kill you by making the tail go faster than the nose at the worst possible time. There is none of that here. There were one or two corners such as the famous 15KPH hairpin that demands respect but even that is no match for the RCZ.If you find yourself upon that corner with a little more rush than you would like, a quick dab of the excellent brakes and the car does the rest Yes the ride is firm but if you want a soggy blancmange buy a Hyundai.

The quick corners mean things get a trifle busy with a flurry of hands and feet, but keep those revs up she makes you feel like the king of the road. Even a slightly flabby middle aged man feels like a teenager on his first drive. Everything feels shiny and new. She grips tenaciously with those big fat tyres smeared across those sexy-as-hell mags. The Auto on the 114KW petrol version is too mishy mashy for my liking but I wonder if Peugeot nicked Volvos direct shift automated manual would we not finish with the bestest car under 60k? Well ok not quite under 60k, but covet her. I want her in my garage on a more permanent basis. Although a lot of doh, a drive makes that amount seem a mere pittance. I would love to be able to shift the paddle with lightning fast change to the selected gear with no nasty toque-convert slippage and to be able to plant my foot mindlessly into the carpet and feel she is giving me everything I want. I’m willing to be my leftie on the fact that should a sports shift gearbox ever become available, Peugeot would steal sales from Audi and their rather silly looking TT and Porsche with its eye watering price tag. Stick it on our 147KW model and god only knows what she could do.

Sure she screams “Look at me,” and people do stop and glare.”What is it” the old folk ask excitedly. It’s my shiny new Peugeot” I reply with a slightly puffed up chest. She cradles you gently in her bosom tapping you discreetly on the shoulder when she thinks you’re about to do something stupid, but does it in a subtle way so as not to intrude on your day. She thinks getting on with doing her electronic thing while you drive your little heart out is just the thing to be doing on a fine spring day. When you’re finished, you can spend some time taking in the view, or by one of the beaches to recharge. Then perhaps lunch and a bevy at the Scarborough Hotel which clings precariously to the cliff top and a quick 110kph trip home.

There isn’t anything the 147KW RCZ doesn’t do well, including making you look good.

Check the previous reviews for the full shebang on the previous stories on the RCZ

300 Sales in Three Days: Peugeot’s 508 RXH Limited Edition Sells Out

Posted by gaycarboys on 09/22/2011

Peugeot’s 508 RXH Limited Edition, launched at the Frankfurt motor show and available on-line to buyers in 12 European countries, is a sell out. Reservations for all 300 units have been sold in just three days.

It’s a highly promising start for the 508 RXH, to be delivered in the first half of 2012. It’s the second full hybrid diesel vehicle in the Peugeot range, with the front wheels driven by the diesel motor, the rear wheels by the electric and the option of full electric operation.

On sale at €48,950 in France, the Limited Edition is fitted with a number of special features including an Alcantara interior, keyless ignition, quad-zone automatic climate control, JBL hi fi pack, motorised tailgate, exclusive dashboard decor and a numbered aluminium plaque.

Its buyers get to be the first to sample the features of the 508 RXH, which combines stand-out style with exceptional driveability and high environmental standards from the 150-kilowatt four-wheel drive. CO₂ emissions are no higher than 107 g/km in combined cycle.

Peugeot Australia is investigating the 508 RXH for possible launch here in the third quarter of 2012. Meanwhile it is continuing its diesel innovation story with the e-HDi micro-hybrid, and the 3008 HYbrid4 is coming mid next year.

“With the introduction of the micro-hybrid at the end of October Peugeot is continuing its diesel evolution, taking the company and our customers another step closer to achieving that fine balance between personal mobility and environmental responsibility,” said Richard Grant, National Marketing Manager of Peugeot Australia. “We’re looking forward to the future, and obviously many of our customers are too.”

Vehicle Safety Figures Prompt VACC to Call for Year-Round Random Vehicle Inspections

Posted by gaycarboys on 09/22/2011

VACC, the peak automotive industry body in Victoria, has called for Victoria Police to be given resources to conduct year-round random vehicle inspections.

VACC runs a Vehicle Safety Campaign and supports Victoria Police initiatives to reduce the road toll. VACC collects vehicle safety data and releases the results quarterly to the media. The third quarter results for 2011 make uncomfortable reading.

VACC’s Five Point Safety Check figures reveal 36.37 per cent of vehicles on Victoria’s roads are unsafe. 2,054 vehicles have been tested so far this year, of which 747 failed a basic safety inspection.

The Five Point Safety Check is an additional inspection of the five key safety features of a vehicle, namely, tyres, brakes, lights, steering and restraints. The check is provided free of charge to motorists when a car is serviced by a participating VACC repairer.

“There are more unsafe vehicles on our roads than people realise,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.

“With the school holidays coming and as families take road trips to see friends and relatives, the chances of coming across one of these unsafe vehicles are even higher.

“To know that one in three vehicles on our roads is unsafe is a major concern.

“Until mandatory testing is introduced by the Government, VACC calls for Victoria Police to be resourced to conduct random vehicle inspections throughout the year. A road-side blitz in June resulted in a number of defect notices being issued to motorists and some cars were towed straight to workshops for immediate repair. However, this should not be a one-off activity. If motorists knew they could be pulled over at any time, in any place, as they can for random drink and drug tests, they would pay more attention to the condition of their vehicle.

“At the very least, the Government should do more to educate motorists about the importance of regular vehicle maintenance and safety checks. The cost of vehicle repairs can be daunting but so is the prospect of a tyre blowing or brakes failing. There are certain responsibilities that come with owning a vehicle and regular servicing is one of them,” Mr Purchase said.

Continue for VACC’s January to September Five Point Safety Check Figures.

Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV on Show at the Canberra Electric Vehicle Festival

Posted by gaycarboys on 09/21/2011

Mitsubishi’s all-electric i-MiEV city car will give visitors to this year’s Canberra International Electric Vehicle Festival – to be held on the West Lawns of Old Parliament House this Sunday 25 September 2011 – a look at not just the future for sustainable transport solutions, but the present as well.

The 2011 Canberra International Electric Vehicle Festival will be a fantastic opportunity for the general public to experience for themselves the latest electric vehicles and witness exciting developments in electric vehicle technology, including taking a first-hand look at Mitsubishi’s latest release i-MiEV.

With free entry, and plenty of food and entertainment throughout the day, the Festival is an event not to be missed. You can even catch a free ride to the Festival from Floriade on an electric boat and electric car.

The i-MiEV, which stands for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle, first arrived in Australia in July last year, when 110 were leased to local, state and federal governments and selected innovative organisations. Sales of the i-MiEV to individuals began in mid-August when the first shipment of MY12 i-MiEVs arrived in Australia. The recommended retail price of $48,800 gives Australian consumers the opportunity to own the latest EV technology while reducing their carbon footprint at a more affordable price.

The MY12 i-MiEV available to the public includes additional features over the previous model, boosting the vehicle’s occupant safety and comfort levels.

Safety has been enhanced with the addition of side and curtain airbags, taking the total number of airbags in the vehicle to six. The addition of Electronic Stability Control to the previous model’s Active Stability and Traction Control and braking system helps the i-MiEV maintain traction on slippery or rugged surfaces and ensures stability and prevents loss of control when cornering. An In-Cable Charging Circuit Interrupt Device has been added to the vehicle’s electric management system and provides an extra safety precaution when recharging.

Finally, the vehicle is secured by the MiEV OS (MiEV Operating System), an advanced integrated vehicle management system that will instantly shut down all high voltage electric system should an impact occur.

The European-styled upgrades to the MY12 i-MiEV’s exterior include a larger rear bumper which adds a stylish finish and complements the vehicle’s smooth lines. Side and rear privacy glass provides greater occupant comfort and the heated driver’s seat is the ultimate luxury. Auto Lighting control and Multimode Keyless entry complete the upgrades to the 2012 model and enhance the overall i-MiEV experience.

Mr Nishina said the sale of i-MiEV to individuals will be the catalyst that changes the shape of the Australian motoring landscape.

“Considering that about 95 per cent of commuters in urban Australia travel less than 100 kilometres per day, the i-MiEV is an excellent real-world solution to help reduce the population’s environmental impact,” Mr Nishina said.

“Mitsubishi believes the future of electric vehicles is bright and we are proud to offer Australians the opportunity to purchase their own EV and make the choice towards a greener future.”

The i-MiEV is available in six stylish colours; White, Black, Cool Silver, Ocean Blue, Raspberry Red and Titanium Grey.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited recommends that the i-MiEV electric vehicle always be charged using renewable or “green” energy.

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV will be available from selected Mitsubishi dealers in all capital cities. For ACT enquiries contact Commonwealth Motors in Philip on 02 6121 2800 .

The 2011 Canberra International Electric Vehicle Festival is brought to you by Canberra International Electric Vehicle Festival Inc., a joint initiative of Canberra EV (Australian Electric Vehicle Association Inc.) and the ACT Electric Vehicle Council.

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Monthly Archives: September 2011