CIRCULATING IN WANGARATTA, BENALLA, MYRTLEFORD, BRIGHT, MT BEAUTY, BEECHWORTH, YACKANDANDAH, RUTHERGLEN, CHILTERN AND DISTRICTS
NORTH EAST
April 2, 2015
available online - wangarattachronicle.com.au
PRINTED FORTNIGHTLY — VOLUME 470
Infiniti Q50 GT Storypage3
RENAULT CLIO: Its shape is inspired by the DeZir concept car – a vehicle Renault says symbolised love (how French).
Renault Clio: made-to-measure ‘love’ machine
M
any car owners like nothing better than to stand out in a crowd and automobile makers are only too happy to lend a hand... at a price. The European brands are very accommodating and offer customers a major shopping list of options. Take Renault, for example. I recently was in possession of one of the French manufacturer’s new Clios as a test car, which with add-ons was like no other vehicle I had come across. The Oyster Grey mid-spec Clio TCe120 Dynamique, a six-speed automatic comes onto the market at the manufacturer’s recommended price of $23,790.
By DEREK OGDEN However, with, I presume, the typical Renault buyer in mind, the car had been loaded up with special features. For example, the paint was metallic, costing an extra $550; there was red exterior trim for $250; matching red dashboard and seat covering, $500; 17-inch Diamond Red alloy wheels, $750; and R-Link infotainment, $990, making the price as tested $26,830, plus on-roads. I had to admit, the car did look a treat and I suspect the fan of exotic kit such as that from Renault would not blink at forking out the extra three grand-plus to get heads turning.
As mentioned, the small hatchback was a Clio Dynamique, one of four models in the range, the others being Authentique, Expression and GT. Not only has Renault come up with a smooth, desirable design – inspired, it says by the DeZir concept car – a vehicle that symbolised love (how French) – the company offers the affordable personalisation program, mentioned above, that it claims is unprecedented in this section of the light car market. Also first seen on the DeZir is the way the large Renault logo sits prominently on a gloss black background on the front and is made more distinctive by the headlight units, which include chrome details and LED
daytime running lights. Available only in five-door form, the new Clio has a coupe-like profile, made even more so by hidden rear door handles. A lower ride-height, which aids aerodynamics, plus pronounced shoulder lines, add to the visually distinctive appearance. The latest Clio introduces two new incar entertainment platforms – Renault’s Media Nav and R-Link, both using an 18 cm touchscreen display and enabling satellite navigation, radio, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free operation or music audio streaming, as well as USB and 3.5 mm connectors.
Continued page 2
NORTH EAST
2
April 2, 2015
CLASSIFIEDS
SOLD
Renault Clio: ‘love’ machine
Selling your car has never been easier or cheaper!
2014 Mitsubishi GLX Triton, 9920km, dual cab, 2.5L turbo diesel, 4.5 year warranty, Bluetooth and factory extras, (1CC6CB), excellent condition as new. $26,500. Enquiries to Michael on 0447 255 528.
EVERNEW caravan 19'6" 2001, double axle, full ensuite, heating cooling, Wineguard antenna, 22" digital TV, battery operated for off road, full awning, annexe, excellent condition. $29,000.Ph 0428 215 201.
ROMA Elegance 2001, 17'6, centre door, full annexe, 1 owner, Queen size island bed, gas oven and grill, microwave, 3-way fridge, plenty of cupboards and storage, lots of benches, storage for 2 sets of golf clubs, nearly fully equipped ready to go. Easy to tow and back, very good condition. Vic rego P16-248 Aug. $19,500. Ph 0417 114 842.
QUINTREX Explorer 385 (rego LP553) 2008. Dunbier trailer, galvanised, hand winch & spare wheel attached (rego S52614). 15hp Suzuki outboard, motor cowling & full motor/ leg cover, mid-level ÀRRU IURQW FDVWLQJ GHFN (with storage hatch), safety kit, swivel seats, Bimini including storage cover, full boat FRYHU ¿VK ¿QGHU $ YHU\ underutilised boat, as new condition, always stored in garage. $6800. Ph 0409 814 364.
CLAYDEN camper trailer, fully enclosed 1985 Viscount Aerolite annexe, registered, new poptop caravan, 16ft, travel cover, $5000. Ph single beds, kitchen, c0418 619 095. lounge, TV, new tyres, full annexe, microwave, gas fridge, v.g.c., always undercover. $6000 ono. Ph 5725 1919. classifieds@nenews.com.au
Emailyouradvert
COROMAL Seka 445 Popup, single beds, awning, independent suspension, electrial brakes, 4 burners gas cooker, grill, oven, 3 way fridge, front boot. Extras - tv antenna, level rider, microwave, port pot. $13,500 ono. Ph 0428 529 115. 1995 Daewoo 2dr hatch, silver, registered until November (1DJ1UW), no RWC, manual, $1500 ono. Ph 0429 652 358. 2001 Hyundai Accent hatchback, registered (1DY4XE), neat, clean, tidy, goes well, manual, $1800 ono. Ph 0419 015 848. K AWA S A K I 2 0 1 1 KLX140 LW, excellent condition, $3700 ono. Ph 5725 1523. 3.5MTR boat with trailer and 6hp motor, excellent condition, boat and trailer reg till December, $1000. Ph 5721 7233.
We’ll make your car go faster
$
*
SOLD
Over two weeks your advertisment will appear in one edition of the fortnightly Motor Guide and five editions of the Wangaratta Chronicle. Together these papers are read by over 90,000 people.
29 Classifieds 5723 0101 Two weeks advertising with photo only
*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 = 5 Wangaratta Chronicle & 1 North East Motor Guide, covering all NE Victoria.
impending impacts, seat belts with (front seat) pre-tensioners and load limiters, antiwhiplash head rests, a luggage partition and anti-submarining front and rear seats. Standard active safety systems include Electronic Stability Control, ABS anti-skid braking, Emergency Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist. From the start, the Dynamique was lethargic, in Eco mode even more so. However, like a late afternoon gin and tonic, a top-up of 98 RON petrol was received with pleasure, and had Clio stepping out with renewed vigor. Fuel efficiency was on the money with a figure of 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres recorded on a motorway run, 7-plus litres a regular recording in and around town. Let’s talk about R-Link. Unique to this function is R-sound, in which the driver can alter the sound of the engine to imitate a range of present-day Renault vehicles and the supposed sound of a people mover of the future. For some reason a MotoGP bike makes up the list. With the best will in the world, even with the windows fully wound down, allowing the wind and noise in, it was hard to imagine what it was really like to live like Mark Marquez through the Esses at Brands. Gimmicks aside, R-Link also is connected to the car’s own electronic systems giving access to an advanced eco-driving function (Driving eco2) which analyses the driver’s behavior and provides advice to help reduce fuel consumption. The fourth generation of the Clio is one of Renault’s best-known and highest-selling nameplates around the world. Add affordability to the mix and it all sounds a tasty dish for the discerning buyer.
„ From page 1 Ideal acoustics inside the car are topped off without high volume distortion (duff-duff devotees note) through the use of speakers in the front doors which feature Bass Reflex technology. We are assured this is a world first, in which an additional cone provides the equivalent volume and listening enjoyment of a 30-litre speaker. The new Renault Clio TCe 120 engine mated to a six-speed EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) automatic gearbox is a four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol unit. Direct fuel injection and turbocharging result in maximum power of 88 kW at 4900 rpm and peak torque of 190 Nm at 2000rpm. Official fuel consumption of 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle and carbon dioxide emissions of 120 grams per kilometre are claimed. The new Clio is the first light segment car to employ active vents in front of the radiator helping to reduce fuel consumption by adjusting the flow of air through the radiator as a function of the engine’s cooling needs. Under normal running conditions in fastflowing traffic, closure of the vents permits fuel savings. The bad news is it’s of the order of just 0.1 litres per 100 kilometres at 130 km/h - the motorway speed limit in most European countries. Weight saving includes a smaller fuel tank, reduced from 55 to 45 litres, which has no impact on fuel range, thanks to the economy gains. Passive safety is taken care of with a reinforced body structure, high-efficiency frontal airbags, lateral head and thorax airbags, a pressure sensor to detect
Keep your car in A1 condition with these local automotive experts!
WINDOW TINTING
AUTO ELECTRICAL
BLACK CAT TINTING
DAVID BATTIN AUTO ELECTRICAL
181 Tone Rd, Wangaratta Phone: (03) 5721 9922
50 Newman St, Wangaratta Phone: (03) 5721 7611
PANEL REPAIRS
RADIATORS
ACTION SMASH REPAIRS
WANGARATTA RADIATOR SERVICES
22 Newman St, Wangaratta Phone: (03) 5722 1520
135 Vincent Rd, Wangaratta Phone: (03) 5721 3486
On the Road
TRADES & SERVICES DIRECTORY PTY LTD
WANG’S ONLY 5 STAR CARWASH
REBUILT TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS
the best
185 Tone Road (Hume Hwy), Wangaratta
WANGARATTA
5722 2111
CARWASH
Licensed Roadworthy Inspection Centre PH: (03)
5721 5687
2 Newman St, Wangaratta A division of Exhaust & Offroad Services
n39D00136/0112
Temperature Controlled Baked Enamel Process
D/39d00022/14-10
Approved By all Insurance Companies ‡ 6SUD\ 3DLQWLQJ ‡ 4XDOLW\ :RUNPDQVKLS ‡ $// ,QVXUDQFH :RUN ‡ 0DMRU & 0LQRU 5HSDLUV
express CAR CLEAN
valet service
22 - 24 Handley Street, Wangaratta, Ph: 57221522 j/06d05870/31-11
N25d03590-v10/1614
HARRISON & SOLIMO PANELS
NORTH EAST
3
April 2, 2015
2015 Infiniti Q50 GT By PETER ANDERSON
I
nfiniti might have whopping great logos on the side of Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull racecar, but it’s still struggling in the dealerships. The company isn’t short of decent product - the QX70 is silly but extremely likeable - especially in V8 form; there’s the headline-grabbing QX30 on the way and the Q50 midsize sedan. The Infiniti Q50 was launched to great fanfare almost 18 months ago but they’re not a frequent sight on our roads, certainly not in the sales position its corporate masters might have liked or expected. The 2.0-litre turbo, seen as critical to sales, arrived late in 2014, but it still hasn’t fired. What’s going on? The new GT fires up the Q50 range at $50,900, way cheaper than either the BMW 320i or Mercedes C200. It shares the Mercedes’ engine, as it happens. At this level, you get dual-zone climate control, cruise control with speed limiter, keyless entry and start, front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera, under car lighting, powered and heated front seats, electric steering column adjustment, sat-nav, park assist, and tyre pressure monitoring. The Q50 was the first truly convincing Infiniti to come out of the company. It has a strong down-the-road presence, with lots of light catching curves and surfacing. The profile isn’t super-striking but clean, with a couple of design flourishes at the rear, the start of a family look that will appear in the Q70 large car. Long and low-slung, Infiniti Q50 looks bigger than it is, and bigger than its rivals. This base model does suffer a bit from small-looking wheels, although at 17-inches they’re hardly tiny. It’s design that likes bigger hoops. Inside there are more curves and a just a couple of disappointments.
LOOKS GOOD: Infiniti’s exec sedan is a good one. Why no love? The steering wheel is very clearly from a Nissan and that jars a bit, because the rest of the cabin feels and looks like it should. Inside, It’s very tech-heavy, with a pair of stacked touch screens, one for sat-nav and car information, the lower for controlling apps and various cabin features. It looks good and it looks like it means business, taking on the sometimes empty-looking Germans. There’s also some nice uses of materials, like brushed aluminium and the leather is soft and comfortable. Front occupants will be cosy but it’s not tight and two rear passengers will be likewise comfortable. A third rear occupant won’t appreciate the narrow cushion or transmission tunnel and there’s almost no storage in the back. Six airbags, ABS, brake assist and brake force distribution, traction and stability control add up to five stars. The six-speaker stereo is a fine example of a car stereo without being super-powerful or over-endowed with bass.
It’s controlled by a mix of steeringwheel mounted buttons and the lower of the two screens. Other functions are controlled with a rotary dial on the console that lifts a lot of ideas from Mercedes’ Comand system. This is from the Mercedes book of ergonomics that can sometimes be a bit confusing. You can choose to stream music from your phone, the internet or memory card, or fire up the DAB digital radio if AM/FM isn’t for you. The lower screen is a high-res 8-inch panel and looks terrific. The graphics are mostly smooth and it works well. The upper seven-inch covers the sat-nav and rear-view camera. Sadly the two screens differ widely in quality which is jarring. The navigation’s map detail is a bit iffy into the bargain. The Q50 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo four cylinder, developing 150 kW of power and 350 Nm of torque. With a seven speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels,
Infiniti claims 7.3 seconds from standstill to 100 km/h and a matching 7.3 litres per 100km on the combined cycle. We got surprisingly close to the latter figure, bombing around town and a bit of highway driving to use 8.3 L/100km. The immediate impression of the base model is that it feels better to drive than those further up the range with their whacky Direct Adaptive System. The GT has more familiar electrohydraulic steering which feels good in the palms and is unusually communicative. As you drive around more, though, you begin to feel the weight of the car, a weight that isn’t apparent in the excellent hybrid V6. The ride is for the most part good but can become a bit fidgety over the broken stuff. When you pile on the cornering speed - not something most owners will try - things start to come apart a bit. The car isn’t keen on changing
direction and the overall chassis control starts to feel a little sloppy. It’ll be a much happier car if it didn’t have quite so much flab. If you keep things tidy, it’s a really good place to be. Everything works well, it’s comfortable and apart from a little bit of tyre noise, quiet. For a similarly-specced German, you’ll be paying a hell of a lot more than $50,900. You’ll also be using less fuel and going a little bit faster. Those are the bald facts. However, the Infiniti has a lot going for it. It has a ton of stuff in it, even in the entry level GT and it looks good. What the Infiniti Q50 needs, though, is a bit more class to really take on the Germans. It’s a competent car and an impressive first effort. The problem is, people are buying SUVs and the Q50 just hasn’t captured the imagination. That task will fall to the dramaticlooking QX30.
Brand new Mazda CX3’s in stock NOW for test drive.
ONE MILE
MOTORS ABN 44 048 105 609 LMCT 1060
10 Templeton Street, Wangaratta Paul Davenport 0408 057 837 Michael Henderson 0418 512 531 Kylie Stevenson 0428 215 677
Petrol or Diesel Manual or Automatics
(03) 5721 5677 www.onemilemotors.com.au n21d10832-v15/1415
ADVERTISEMENT
1903
1903 A LEGENDARY JOURNEY BEGINS Husqvarna’s first motorcycle was unveiled in 1903 - a ‘motorised bicycle’. As the oldest motorcycle manufacturer with uninterrupted production, Husqvarna has thankfully learnt a thing or two over the course of 110-years of development.
motorcycle manufacturer Cagiva and became part of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. The motorcycles, widely known as “Huskies / Husky”, are from now on produced in Varese. 1988 THE BIG SPLIT When Husqvarna motorcycles was bought by Cagiva MV Augusta in 1987 - plans were set to relocate to Italy by 1988. The core Husqvarna development team chose to rather remain in Sweden - breaking away and launching ‘Husaberg’ in 1988.
1933 FIRST TASTE OF VICTORY In the 1933 and 1934 road race season Husqvarna’s made regular visits to the top step of the podium - a family tradition that has endured over the past 80 years of racing. 1953 THE BIRTH OF MOTO A new form of motorcycle sport became popular in post-war Europe - christened ‘Moto-cross’ in Belgium. By 1953 races were being organised across Europe, with the lightweight and easy-to-adapt single-cylinder Husqvarna road bikes fast becoming a popular choice for off-road use. 1955 THE ICONIC SILVERPILEN Meaning ‘silver arrow’ in Husqvarna’s native Swedish, it was a pioneering Husqvarna model, purpose-built for off-road use. Nimble and weighing just 75kg, the telescopic fork, hydraulic dampers and frame-mounted engine were revolutionary at the time. 1959 HUSQVARNA’S FIRST WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPION Rolf Tibblin piloted his 250 cc Husqvarna to the 1959 Title. This began a long and prosperous Motocross racing career for both Tibblin and Husqvarna - as he racked up several more World Titles,
2007 BMW BUYS INTO THE LEGEND With ambitious plans to expand their off-road motorcycle range, BMW bought Husqvarna Motorcycles in 2007. Husqvarna’s long history and unmatched list of off-road accolades were an attractive proposition.
A LEGENDARY JOURNEY BEGINS ‘Motocross des Nations’ victories and even the Baja 1000 Title along the way 1960 PREMIER-CLASS HONOURS In 1960 Bill Nilsson clinched the first Husqvarna World Title in the 500 cc class. Husqvarna learned from Tibblin’s ’59 250 cc win, building a victorious premier-class bike for Nilsson and starting a dominant era in big-bore motocross for Husqvarna. 1963 THE GLORIOUS 60’S & 70’S! A golden-age dawned for Husqvarna just as off-road motorcycling was booming in growth and popularity. Consistently winning the biggest global races
and championships, Husqvarna became the dominant force in World Motocross. By storming to 14 Motocross World Titles, 24 Enduro European Championships and 11 Baja 1000 victories - Husqvarna fast became the ultimate off-road motorcycle racing brand of the era.
the off-road scene - by the late 70‘s the once niche motorcycle manufacturer was suddenly in corporate demand. In 1977 one of Sweden’s largest corporations, Electrolux, bought Husqvarna Motorcycles.
1970 BUILDING A LEGEND Throughout the seventies, Husqvarna continues it’s global off-road victory march - consistently adding Motocross and Enduro Titles in both the US and Europe to the ever-growing list of accolades
1983 LEADING THE WAY When Husqvarna unveiled a new style 500 cc 4-stroke model in 1983, it set a new benchmark. The lightweight, easy-handling and air-cooled off-roader became the forerunner for a new generation of 4-stroke competition motorcycles.
1977 DIRTBIKES BECOME SERIOUS BUSINESS Husqvarna’s legend spread beyond
1987 MOVE TO THE SOUTH In 1987, the Husqvarna motorcycle division was sold to Italian
2013 A HISTORIC REUNION - TWO BECOME ONE AGAIN! In 2013 Pierer Industries AG (Husaberg’s owner) bought Husqvarna Motorcycles - marking the reunion of two halves of the original Husqvarna brand of the 60’s and 70’s! For 2014 the ‘new’ Husqvarna Motorcycles brand returns to it’s glorious origins with state-of-the-art technology and the iconic Swedish blue, yellow and white colour-scheme. A brand new range of Enduro and Motocross motorcycles sees one of the oldest manufacturers return to the top of off-road motorcycle sport. In over 50 years of racing and with more than 82 world titles so far.... the legendary tale of Husqvarna continues!
www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com.au
OLD FASHIONED
VALUES Owning the legend is within your reach with these history making 2014 model deals MY14 Motocross*
TC85 SW // TC85 BW
500
$
OFF THE RRP
MY14 Motocross*
TC125 // TC250
1,000
$
OFF THE RRP
+ Husqvarna Bel-Ray Factory Graphics Kit + Top End Piston Kit - Keep your two stroke fresh
TOTAL EXTRA 2 STROKE VALUE AT $1,500* , RRP
MY14 enduro*
FE250 //// FE450
$
1,000
OFF THE RRP
+ FMF Power Core 4 Slip-On Silencer
TOTAL EXTRA 4 STROKE VALUE AT $1,700* RRP
MY14 enduro*
FE350 //// FE501
FREE!
FMF Power Core 4 Slip-On Silencer
TOTAL EXTRA 4 STROKE VALUE AT $700* RRP
MY14 Motocross*
FC250 //// FC350 //// FC450
1,000
$
OFF THE RRP
+ Husqvarna Bel-Ray Factory Graphics Kit + FMF Power Core 4 Slip-On Silencer
TOTAL EXTRA 4 STROKE VALUE AT $2,000* , RRP
ALESSI MOTORCYCLES n37D04771/1415
ALBURY ALBURY -- 02 02 6041 6041 0860 0888
www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com.au TERMS AND CONDITIONS: *$500.00 off current RRP of all new 2014 TC 85 SW and TC 85 BW Husqvarna models. $1000.00 off current RRP of selected Husqvarna models. Husqvarna extras RRP includes GST on Husky Power parts.This offer is for all new 2014 Husqvarna TC 85, TC 125, TC 250, FC 250, FC 350, FC 450, FE 250 and FE 450 model purchases. Husqvarna extra RRP includes GST on Husky Power parts. This offer is for all new 2014 Husqvarna FE 350 and FE 501 model purchases. Not in conjunction with any other offers. At participating dealers only. For more information contact your local authorised Husqvarna Dealer. While stocks last.