ON FRONT PAG E N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A , A L P S A N D H I G H CO U N T RY
APRIL 1 - 7, 2016
> available online - www.nemedia.com.au FALCON SPRINT: It is sold in two variants, turbocharged straight-six and supercharged V8. Both look brilliant in a surprisingly understated way.
Ford Falcon Sprint is simply brilliant
FORD Australia’s latest engineering and styling project, that of the Falcon XR6 and XR8 Sprint will go down in the minds of all concerned as one of their all time favourites. The car industry is full of enthusiasts, and their eyes light up in delight when asked to significantly improve performance and add new shapes. Let’s start at the hearts of the latest hot Australian Fords: Falcon XR8 Sprint is powered by an uprated version of Ford’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that develops 400 kW and 650 Nm when on overboost; something that’s on offer in every gear where conditions and the engine sensors permit.
By EWAN KENNEDY In other words you can have overboost for a full minute if having fun in the Northern Territory or during a track day. Even the standard engine max outputs are impressive; 345 kW at 5750 rpm and 575 Nm between 2220 and 6250 revs. The XR6 Sprint unit is based on the much loved standard straight-six 4.0-litre turbo and puts out 325 kW at 6000 rpm and 576 Nm at a relatively high 2750 rpm, though the graph is nice and shallow so there’s plenty of grunt well before then. The six also has overboost on offer for up to ten seconds in each gear, lifting it to 370 kW and 650 Nm.
Interestingly that 650 on the six is the same as on the eight, pretty impressive. The six-cylinder comes only with an automatic transmission. As befits the serious buyers it will attract, the V8 is available with either a six-speed manual and or six-speed automatic. The automatic in the XR8 Sprint uses the Falcon GT-F transmission calibration. In the XR6 Sprint, the automatic transmission calibration was revised to take advantage of the big power and torque. Handling is just as important with a highperformance car as straight line grunt. The suspension engineers began with excellent Pirelli P-Zero tyres and worked
from there to using the already good XR6 and XR8 setups. Fitted to 19-inch wheels that are eight inches wide at the front and nine inches at the rear, they have a 35 per cent profile and are 235 / 265 millimetres wide front / rear. Visually, the changes to the Sprints are relatively subtle, all get 19-inch black painted alloy wheels with gold coloured Brembo brake calipers, black headlamp bezels, revised front foglamp surrounds with cut out vents in the bumpers, and a small black painted rear spoiler. The XR8 Sprint also gets a Silhouette black painted roof and black door mirrors.
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Paul Davenport 0408 057 837 Michael Henderson 0418 512 531 Kylie Stevenson 0428 215 677 Noel Gilbert 0438 597 200
(03) 5721 5677 10 Templeton Street, Wangaratta www.onemilemotors.com.au LMCT1060
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Apr 1 - 7 | 2016
Audi’s new entry-level SUV
By DEREK OGDEN
LIKE eager children on a school excursion, members of the Australian motoring media milled around. Then instead of piling onto a motor coach, paired-up ‘pupils’ clambered aboard examples of the new Q7, Audi’s latest addition to the large sports utility vehicle market, and literally rode off into the sunset. The early evening destination was Spicer’s Canopy, a spiffy campsite near Cunningham’s Gap, inland from the Gold Coast. The following day’s drive consisted of an extended loop north and east, ending up on the Sunshine Coast. The vehicle in question was the Q7 3.0 TDI 160 kW wagon, a mate to the 200 kW version previously introduced. Ten years after its introduction the large SUV has undergone a series of upgrades to do the company’s best to keep it in the forefront of the premium segment. Audi engineers have slightly detuned the more powerful motor we reviewed recently, to come up with a new entrylevel Q7 – $96,300 as opposed to $103,900 for the 200 kW version. The latest engine has 500 Nm of torque between 1250 and 3000 rpm. Differences include adjustments to the water pump, oil cooler and combustion method. The result is official fuel consumption of 5.8 litres diesel per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle with carbon dioxide emissions of 150 grams per kilometre. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h is put at 7.3 seconds. This compares with 5.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (153 g of CO2) and sprint of 6.5 seconds to the ‘ton’ from its 200 kW twin. Both models share a drivetrain that is 20 kg lighter than its predecessor, while a new quattro centre differential takes the place of the previous transfer case and is integrated into an eight-speed tiptronic transmission. The eight-speed consists of close ratios low down for sporty performance and a long ratio up top for low revs and low fuel
AUDI SUV: New Q7 smaller, sleeker but with more space inside. consumption while cruising. The new tiptronic works in D and S automatic modes, or the driver can intervene by tapping the gearshift on the centre console or the steering wheelmounted paddles. The heart of the quattro all-wheel drive system is the self-locking centre differential. Housed with the tiptronic, it distributes power between front and rear axles quickly and efficiently according to driving conditions. Weight savings also extend to the new five-link suspension front and back. An adaptive air suspension and all-wheel steering are options. Off-road going is made easier with hill descent control standard across the range. While total weight loss of the new sevenseat Q7 over its predecessor adds up to some 240 kilograms – unladen it’s 2060 kg – it is smaller on the outside, yet bigger on the inside.
The new Q7 also sets the standard in presenting information and entertainment, as well as connectivity with the outside through a second-generation modular infotainment platform and Audi’s ‘virtual cockpit’. Owners have the choice of two sound systems by either Bose or Bang & Olufsen. Convenience extends to loading luggage through the rear with a kick gesture operated tailgate. The new Audi Q7’s driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, active lane assist, autonomous emergency braking, collision and turn assist, plus rear cross-traffic assist. A parking assist package offers a 360 degree top-view camera and park assist. The vehicles driven on launch featured all this technology also adding LED headlights and full body paint finish, all of which punted the price to $111,095, plus on-roads. Climbing into the cabin, occupants are greeted by a luxurious environment,
while the driver is presented with a range of controls and instruments that soon become second nature in operation. Being a full seven-seater the new Q7 does suffer the inherent problem of limited luggage space with all seats taken. On the outside, the new Q7 seems squatter than before, with its characteristic Audi single-frame grill dominating the front. The lighting combination – optional LED and Matrix LED headlights – daytime running lights take on an arrow formation. Side-on bold wheel arches emphasise the twin five-spoke wheels, while the shoulder line extends to the D-pillars and wraparound tailgate. The launch drive took place on mainly suburban streets with stop/start traffic, and extended highway runs with a few hinterland twists and turns thrown in. Needless to say, the Q7 lived up to the finest features of a versatile SUV with everything there to appeal to the luxury traveller.
Ford Falcon Sprint is simply brilliant From page 1
Inside, are Sprint seats in leather/Lux suede, dual zone climate-control, highseries audio, a revised shifter assembly and surround and unique gauge cluster with a Sprint logo. Each Sprint will be individually numbered by way of a plate on the engine and are genuine limited editions. Ford will build just 550 XR6 Sprints, 500 for Australia and 50 for New Zealand. As the XR8 is sure to be more popular 850 will leave the line. Australia gets 750, the Kiwis are the winners here, getting twice as many 8s than 6s, that is 100 cars. Our initial driving was done on a winding route from Hobart, with a long stop at Baskerville to really push the big Falcons to their limit. Steering feel is excellent and the Fords need minimum input to get them around bends. Levels of grip are extremely high and really should only be explored during track days. This is a superb car and challenges big
IN DEMAND: All the new Falcon Sprints have been snapped up. name Euro machines that cost four to five times the price. HSV’s best had better look out as well, we will leave the specialist car magazines to do comparison tests Ford vs Holden, but feel they will be very close dynamically - but when you compare prices the new Fords are runaway winners. These hot Falcons are high-performance bargains that sell for tens of thousands of
dollars less than any competitors. The Falcon XR6 Sprint has a recommended price of just $54,990, the XR8 Sprint is priced at $59,990 for the manual and $62,190 if you go for the automatic. These are manufacturer’s list prices (MLPs) and on road charges have to be added. Want to own one of the new Falcon
Sprints? Sorry, you are too late, they have all be spoken for. Deliveries will begin on May 17. There are already rumours of cars being on-sold at higher prices, but far from us to get involved in that difficult topic. Did you notice the words “latest engineering and styling” in the opening sentence of this review? And perhaps wondered why we didn’t talk about the “last Falcon”, or “Ford Australia’s final fling” or suchlike? The answer is simple. The Sprint twins are just the “latest” Ford models designed and engineered in Australia - they are most certainly not the last. The engineers and stylists at Ford Australia are highly regarded in the global Ford automotive business. Australians are working in local stateof-the-art facilities on dozens of projects, large and small, as you read this. Keep reading our motoring stories and we can all but guarantee that the Aussie Ford engineering folks will get a major mention.
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Apr 1 - 7 | 2016
2011 Lexus CT200h
The Lexus CT200h
By EWAN KENNEDY LEXUS and its parent company Toyota have more experience in petrol-electric cars than any other maker. Lexus CT200h is the lowest cost model in the Lexus range by quite a margin, with new cars being sold from just $39,990 when launched in Australia in March 2011. While far from being a hot hatch the &7 K KDV D WRXFK RI VSRUWLQJ ³DLU thanks to the sharp throttle responses that we love in all electric, or part-electric vehicles. Would you believe the Lexus CT200h was used in a celebrity race that preceded the Australian Grand Prix in 2011? We were there, witnessed it and saw the celebrities with smiles on their faces after the event. However, the CT200h didn’t catch as much attention as Lexus had hoped for, possibly because of its somewhat XQXVXDO ²YH GRRU KDWFK VW\OLQJ But sales have been steady and quite a few are on the used-car market. A facelift in April 2014 added the now traditional Lexus ‘spindle grille’. 7KH &7 K¬V LQWHULRU LV ²QLVKHG WR D KLJK TXDOLW\ ERWK LQ PDWHULDOV DQG ²W DQG ²QLVK Interior space is good in the front seat but the back is tight for legroom unless those in the front are willing to give up some space. The typical two-adult, two-child family ORDG ZLOO ²QG LW ²QH However, the boot is relatively shallow as there’s a large battery under it. You can create acceptable extra space by folding the back seats down. With the seats in place we struggled to get two 62 cm suitcases stowed under the removable rear shelf during a holiday trip. Smoothness and quietness have been
2011 - 2015
2014 Lexus CT200h major features of Lexus cars since day one in the late 1980s. Though the CT200h isn’t quite in the same class as its bigger brothers it is still very pleasant to travel in. Out of sight changes in the 2014 facelift further reduced noise levels. There’s an interesting active damping system in the F-Sport Sport and Sport Luxury CT200h models that lets you tailor it to your mood and / or road conditions. Lexus CT200h has a 1.8-litre petrol engine assisted by an electric motor and drives the front wheels through a CVT automatic transmission. There are four, adjustable, driving modes. EV (electric-only drive); Eco (petrol + electric, but reduced power, and air conditioning); Normal (petrol and electric) and Sport (more responsive steering, more power for the electric motor, less interference from the stability control system and higher engine revs in the lower gears). It can operate on electric power only at speeds up to 45 km/h, though only if you’re gentle with the ‘throttle’, and not for any real distance. Reversing is done driving on electric
power only, leaving your garage free of fumes if you back into it. 2I²FLDO IXHO FRQVXPSWLRQ QXPEHUV RQ hybrids are less realistic than in any other powertrain. Lexus can quote 4.1 L/100km, but in real life most use 25 to 50 per cent over that. There is an ever increasing number of Lexus dealers in Australia. Though these are generally in the major metro areas quite a few large country cities now have them as well. Some topline Toyota technicians have been trained to work on Lexus models - a handy standby should you strike trouble in remote areas (an unlikely event). This car should be serviced only by those who are trained in it.
Amateurs should stick strictly to simple work on these cars. Spare parts and servicing cost and availability are about average for a car in the upmarket class. Insurance companies seem to charge pretty reasonable premiums, which isn’t surprising considering most owners lean in the conservative direction. Shop around, but be sure to compare apples with apples. WHAT TO LOOK FOR We suggest you don’t even consider a car like this unless the service books are up to date. The mechanical side of any hybrid is specialised so a used one should be checked by a Lexus technician, some Toyota people also have training on the Lexus marque. Rough roads can knock the CT200h about as it’s really a city car. If one has been bashed over bad roads there may be squeaks from the body and perhaps the trim. Find some bumpy stuff during your test drive. As the Lexus is relatively low slung for aerodynamic reasons it can suffer scrapes under the front bumper. If these are out of sight and only minor they can possibly be ignored. Your choice. On the earliest models some build quality problems were reported on overseas cars, these appear to have been sorted by the time the cars were introduced to Australia. Look over the trim as the CT200h is built down to a price compared with the topline Lexus models and hard use, or mistreatment by children may have caused excessive wear. Other than that, make the usual walk around of the little Lexus for signs of crash repairs, uneven tyre wear and body scratches.
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Apr 1 - 7 | 2016
Isuzu uses
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By DEREK OGDEN DURING considerable years as a motoring journalist I’ve had only a passing acquaintance with the trucking industry and harboured a major misconception that it was conservative in its ideas and slow to take on new transport trends. After all, a truck’s a truck. How wrong could I be. Recently I attended a reveal of the new Isuzu F Series trucks and had my misconceptions buried for good. Not only was the new range of trucks shown to be at the forefront of transport technology, it was presented to the media in a high-tech, supremely creative and entertaining way. The scene was set by a talking truck named DAVE, which stands for Digital Audio Visual Equipment, a multimedia system which has led to intelligent transport system advances such as electronic work diaries and telematics. Isuzu’s locally developed for Australia DAVE hardware
2012 Hilux SR5 Extra Cab, bought new, exc cond in/out. 91,000kms (mostly highway), 12 mths rego, (private plates Ping 23 - not being sold), 4 new Wrangler tyres (1500kms old). Comes with approx. $25,000 extras, „ISUZU DAVE: The including original parts multimedia system acts that came off (includes like an aircraft’s black box. tub). ARB bullbar, Ironman winch 12,000lb, offers owner / drivers and heavy duty tray, towbar, ³ HHW PDQDJHUV WKH FKDQFH side rails/steps, snorkel, WR EXLOG HI² FLHQFLHV LQWR WKHLU IPF hid driving lights, operations. Old Man Emu 2 inch Acting like an aircraft black lift kit, 3 inch exhaust, box, Isuzu telematics works dual battery system, in tandem with a server and long range fuel tank, black Sunraysia rims, on-board wireless devices tinted windows, rear to provide information such LED lights and tail as live truck positioning, trip lights, full steel lockaplayback, geo-fencing, plus ble canopy with canvas, ³ HHW DQG HQJLQH GDWD VHFRQG IXHO ¿OWHU ZDWHU Education is the key, says the catchment. $50,000 company, through trucks with ono. Located in Benalbrains as well as brawn. la. Ph 0438 015 488. It’s a long way from when General Motors Holden began importing Isuzu trucks from Japan to Australia in 1972. Isuzu is one of the leaders in LQFUHDVLQJ HI² FLHQF\ XVLQJ WKH latest electronic packages.
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WINDSOR Seaview, 2005, 18ft, brand new awning, full annexe, VKDGH ZDOO DQQH[ ÀRRU DLUFRQ ZD\ IULGJH SRUWD SRWW\ LVODQG EHG PLFURZDYH JRRG FRQGLWLRQ 3K
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Eight ads over Two weeks with photo only
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SUZUKI GSXF750, 2004, 11 LD SO ,000k (HY571) un ms, Reg til Exc. cond. $7 22/12/15. 000 ono. Ph Shane 0428 . 257 809.
Over two weeks your advertisement will appear in two editions of the weekly Motor Guide and six editions of the Wangaratta Chronicle. Together these papers are read by over 80,000 people.
Vendors of motor cars advertised for sale must include in their advertisement ‡ &DVK SULFH RI motor car ‡ ,I FDU LV UHJLVWHUHG UHJLVWUDWLRQ QXPEHU ‡ ,I XQUHJLVWHUHG WKH HQJLQH QXPEHU ‡ 'HDOHUV UHTXLUH /0&7
*Cond apply. Private advertisers only, min 20 words, extra words 50¢ each, impact heading $2 per word. No refunds given if item is sold before advert expires. 2 weeks = 6 Wangaratta Chronicle & 2 North East Motor Guide, covering all NE Victoria.
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