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
OCTOBER 9 - 15 | 2015
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Lexus hunting for new level of luxury
LEXUS, not usually seen as a predator, is on the prowl. The hunting grounds are the upper reaches of the medium passenger sedan sales segment and the lower branches of the premium car market tree. A major player in the luxury car market in Australia since the early 1990s, the Japanese marque is looking to broaden its appeal and has chosen a sports sedan, the IS 200t, with a blend of performance and economy to do this. A replacement for the IS 250, sharp prices characterise the range which consists of three variants; Luxury, F Sport and Sports Luxury, coming to the market at $57,500, $65,500 and
THE ALL NEW
By DEREK OGDEN $76,500, respectively, plus on road costs. Lexus throws down the gauntlet to rivals with the IS 200t bringing a stack of standard luxury features including pre-collision safety, active cruise control, reversing alarm, rain-sensing wipers and power adjustable steering column. The Luxury grade is on offer with an enhancement pack that includes a moonroof, adding $2500 to the price. The F Sport, adds styling and performance upgrades, including adaptive suspension, sporty pedals,
high friction front brake pads, 18-inch F Sport alloy wheels, sports front seats and different instrumentation. There are two other enhancement packs, one adding the premium Mark Levinson audio system and moonroof for $4000, while the second, at $6000, has automatic high beam and lane departure warning. The range-topping Sports Luxury model has standard moonroof, woodgrain trim, Levinson 15-speaker audio and electric rear sunshade. The engine is taken from the NX 200t compact SUV, switched the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged unit through 90 degrees to face north/south, and
hooked it up to the rear wheels via an eight-speed Sports Direct Shift automatic transmission. With help from a revised exhaust system layout, it comes up with 180 kW, 27 kW more than the IS 250 V6 it replaces, that’s more power than the Mercedes-Benz C250 and Audi A4 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines, while stop/start engine technology helps with fuel savings, particularly in congested WUDI² F Further savings can be made by locking in the transmission’s Lexus Drive Mode Select function to Eco as opposed to Normal.
Continued page 3
Now available for a test drive
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LEXUS LUXURY: The IS 200t turbo is the new face of this proven performer.
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MOTORS ABN 44 048 105 609 – LMCT 1060
Paul Davenport 0408 057 837 Michael Henderson 0418 512 531 Kylie Stevenson 0428 215 677 Noel Gilbert 0438 597 200
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1.5%
COMPARISON RATE* ON SELECTED MODELS
THIS IS THE NEW LEXUS
CT
IS
RX
LEXUS OF WODONGA 171 - 173 Melbourne Road, Wodonga VIC PH (02) 6055 9966
LMCT 7082 www.lexusofwodonga.com.au
*1.5% comparison rate is available to approved personal applicants and 1.5% annual percentage rate is available to approved business applicants of Lexus Financial Services for the financing of new CT, RX, GS, LX and selected IS models. Excludes IS 200t, demonstrator and service loan vehicles. Finance applications must be received and approved between 01/10/2015 and 31/10/2015 and vehicles must be registered and delivered by 31/10/2015. Offer not available to government, fleet, rental or Lexus Corporate Program customers. Maximum finance term of 36 months applies. Conditions, fees and charges apply. Comparison rate based on a 5 year secured consumer fixed rate loan of $30,000. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Lexus Financial Services is a division of Toyota Finance Australia Limited ABN 48 002 435 181, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 392536.
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Oct 9 - 15 | 2015
Mazda beefs up BT-50 By EWAN KENNEDY MAZDA is in serious competition for number two spot in the Australian sales race. :KLOH 7R\RWD LV LQ ²UVW SODFH E\ a huge margin, Mazda, Hyundai and Holden are at it hammer and tongs for the second spot on the podium. What better way to increase sales than to upgrade its BT-50, Mazda’s entrant in one of the hottest of all market segments in Australia. Though this area is apparently that of light commercial pickup trucks the big movers aren’t the working vehicles, rather dualcabs with stacks of accessories are the big sellers. We suspect these have by IDU WKH ELJJHVW SUR²W PDUJLQV though obviously no one is going to give us details on that. The brief to the Japanese program manager, Takasuke Kobayashi, for Mazda BT-50 was simple, make it look tougher and more masculine. Kobayashi-san, who comes from a country that’s less brainwashed than Australia in political correctness, said the BT-50 should appeal to “the Yummy Mummies, as well as the Crocodile Dundeesâ€?. Love it! The latter’s a smart move because Aussie mums appreciate the advantages of having a big pickup with stacks of interior room, and can more than hold it’s own in the parking battle outside school at pickup time. Anyhow, Mazda BT-50, while still having a more of a sloping front than is the norm for this class, has been toughened up by having a bigger, bolder grille shape. Interestingly, while this does give the pickup a harder look
„ IT’S TOUGH: Mazda’s BT-50 is certain to grab your attention. the front guards are unchanged in their swooping lines. Similarly, at the rear, the taillights still occupy the same area of real estate but have been given stronger shapes and contrasts in their lenses. The Australian market is very important to Mazda, being the largest outside Japan on a population basis, so Kobayashisan paid us the honour of coming to Melbourne to explain the uprated design. With 21 years experience in Mazda commercials he was fascinating to listen too. Still regarded purely as a commercial vehicle in Japan, the BT-50 hasn’t had a huge number of changes such as are necessary to keep a car fresh. Some of the bits that were previously chromed are now
²QLVKHG LQ EODFN WKH VDWHOOLWH QDYLJDWLRQ V\VWHP ZKHQ ²WWHG KDV EHHQ VLJQL²FDQWO\ XSJUDGHG rearview cameras aren’t standard on all, but are on the option’s list for every vehicle. Engines remain as before, a four-cylinder 2.2-litre turbodiesel with 110 kW of power and 375 Nm of torque between 1500 DQG UHYV DQG D OLWUH ²YH F\OLQGHU ZLWK N: DQG 1P IURP DQG The bigger engine isn’t there to provide straightline performance, but give VLJQL²FDQWO\ PRUH WRZLQJ DELOLW\ - 3500 kg versus 2500 kg. (Though given the rapidly increasing number of ‘sports utes’ on the roads we wouldn't be surprised to see them taking RQ RQH DQRWKHU LQ WUDI²F OLJKW drags.)
Six-speed manual and sixspeed automatic transmission are offered. The auto remains as before but WKH PDQXDO KDV EHHQ PRGL²HG WR give better shift feel. Mazda BT-50 can be bought ZLWK :' UHDU ZKHHOV RU :' Body types are single-cab, extended-cab (Freestyle in Mazda speak) and dual-cab. The latter is expected to make up close to two thirds of all sales. Freestyle has small back doors with a rear area that has a pair of sort-of seats with safety belts. Comfort is not their strong point. A cab-chassis is offered in both the single and dual-cab models. Active safety sees not only car type ESC traction control and ABS systems, but also a unit
to sense possible rollovers and prevent or mitigate them. The anti-rollover is handy in a tall commercial pickup. Passive safety is provided by twin front and side airbags in all, with curtain bags in the Freestyle and dual-cab. Trim levels are XT and XTR throughout the range, with the topline dual-cab getting the unlikely tag of GT. During an extensive road test program organised by Mazda we drove a selection of vehicles, though only with the 3.2-litre ²YH F\OLQGHU HQJLQH We were impressed by the offroad ability on a fairly serious trek through the bush and found WKH /RZ PRGH ZLWK HOHFWURQLF aids took most of the hard work out of driving. On-road there’s no doubt these are light trucks, albeit pretty sophisticated ones for their class. There were lower noise levels than we remember from the superseded model and handling was safe and positive. Around 10 per cent of all Mazda sales in Australia are of the BT-50 and we feel this midlife upgrade will do the sales ²JXUHV QRWKLQJ EXW JRRG The large BT-50 range FRPSULVHV YDULDQWV WHQ [ DQG WKLUWHHQ [ V 3ULFHV RI WKH [ PRGHOV UDQJH from $25,570 for a 2.2-litre diesel manual XT single cab FKDVVLV WKURXJK WR IRU a 3.2-litre petrol automatic dual cab XTR pickup. 7KH [ UDQJH VWDUWV DW IRU D OLWUH PDQXDO XT single cab chassis and peaks at $53,790 for a 3.2-litre petrol automatic GT dual cab pickup. These prices do not include dealer or government charges. Contact your local Mazda dealer for drive-away prices.
Lexus hunting for new level of luxury
„ From page 1
A boost meter on the F Sport, combined with oil pressure and temperature gauges, keep track of how the 2.0-litre turbo is operating. In addition, comprehensive instrumentation is projected via an LFAinspired liquid crystal display meter. The tachometer and other systems can be switched from blue to white to red depending on the driver’s preference, while the meter ring slides across to reveal a menu a-la LFA when the multimedia system is activated through the steering wheel switch. The F Sport front seats come in two colour combinations – black and exclusive Dark Rose – and offer plenty of lateral support during spirited driving through sharp curves Further exclusive touches include an F Sport steering wheel emblem, aluminium pedals and scuff plates. The IS platform has been reworked to deal with the characteristics of turbo power as opposed to the previous naturally aspirated unit.
„ LEXUS: It’s worth a closer look. Attention was paid especially to noise and vibration levels, in keeping with the manufacturer’s tradition. The powertrain is particularly well
matched with the chassis, providing body rigidity, sharp steering and well maintained suspension control over varying road conditions, amply
illustrated during a drive in south-east Queensland. Off the mark, the Lexus IS 200t is at the mercy of the turbo, which only comes into its own under heavy pedal pressure, urging the engine on to high revs. The motor chimes in with a nonintimidating growl. However, all models exhibit the Lexus quiet cabin due to the company’s longrunning battle against engine noise and vibration, although road noise does intrude on harsh surfaces. Lexus F Sport and Sports Luxury models use an adaptive damping system to vary chassis response with driving style, while the Sport S+ mode RQ ) 6SRUW DQG 6SRUWV /X[XU\ PRGL²HV steering and chassis control for a more sporting experience. The new Lexus IS 200t is Lexus’s entry-level to its rear-wheel drive sports sedan line-up, which includes the GS DQG ³DJVKLS /6 OLQHV DQG WRJHWKHU ZLWK an extended dealer network, is aimed at gaining extra sales in the Australian luxury vehicle market.
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Oct 9 - 15 | 2015
CLASSIFIEDS 2012 Holden Captiva S, 42,000km, manual, 11 months rego (ZBV855). $16,999. Ph 0411 567 482.
2002 Kia wagon, rego to May 2016 (SEB528), 5 speed manual, comes with roadworthy, under 158,000km. $2800 ono. Ph 0427 223 545.
STEJCRAFT Ski Boat, 19ft hull, recently refurbished with new 350 Chev crate motor (only 40 hrs use), excellent condition inside and out. Soft clutch, under bow storage, CD player and all safety gear. Includes waterproof heavy duty travel cover. Won't disappoint. $20,000 ono. Ph 0412 290 381.
SOLD
SKI Craft Clinker Hull BZ119, 350 Chev, twin barrel Holley carburettor, sky bar, barefoot bar, rear boarding platform, new battery, trailer rego B28 482, new trailer tyres, with LED lights, CD/radio, boat cover. Safety gear included. )XHO HIÂżFLHQW UXQV JUHDW sits well in water, excelOHQW ÂżUVW ERDW Ph 0409 171 945.
2010 Holden Captiva LX 7 seat, AWD 3.2 Auto. Features include satnav, sunroof, alloys, 6CD player, DVD players in head rests, leather seats, towbar, full service history, 172,000 km. Rego until Oct 2016 (XYQ831). $11,000. Ph 0438 341 512.
SOLD
Selling your car has never been easier or cheaper!
TOYOTA Corolla 2000 auto. One owner - in good condition, new tyres, well maintained, full service history. 156,000 kms. Reg exp 14/1/16 (PYC 842). $5500. Ph ONSITE caravan and 5722 2735 (leave mesannex, 7 sleeper, ensuite sage if not home). bath and shower, fridge, microwave, BBQ, DLUFRQ KRW SODWH ÂżUH pit, kettle, toaster plus crockery and cutlery. Newly renovated. In the Porepunkah Bridge Caravan Park. $19,800. H O L D E N V Y S S Ph 0406 019 565. Commodore ute. 5.7L,
1987 Toyota Liteace van, (EQC314) reg. 21st Oct., 156,000km, VXLW ÂżVKHUPDQ KDQG\man. No RWC. $700. 3K
TOYOTA Hilux dual cab ute, 1994, 193,000km, registered (OJS521), air/con, p/steer, ARB bullbar and towbar, lots of extras. $9500 ono. Ph 0412 247 690. I R O N B A R K Wangaratta. Special! Dinli 600 4x4 quad. Brand new! $6500. Made in Taiwan! 4 only! Phone (03) 5722 4460.
Phoneyouradvert 03 5723 0101
FORD Utility BF Series Two S/E. Bought new Wang 2006, auto, mags, p/steer, cruise, air cond, T-bar, reverse sensors, nudge bar, extra trans cooler, 228,600 highway kms, service books, drives well, e/ cond. (UNT878) RWC. $8500. Ph 5721 6231.
ROADSTAR Daintree semi off road 2008, 20'6" dual axle, 2 spare wheels, 2 gas bottles, 3x 90 litre water tanks, 2 deep cycle batteries, solar panel, queen bed, 170 litre fridge/freezer, r/c air con., TV/DVD/ RAD., separate shower, toilet, stove, oven, full cover, $43,000. Ph 0488 731 158.
Two weeks advertising with photo only
$
FORD Focus 2003, 4cyl manual, only travelled 163,000kms, cruise control, airbag. (SLR655). $2800. Ph 0408 558 300.
6 speed manual, all leather. 143,450 km. Registered till April 2016. (1FG7XD). $10,000 ono. Ph 0400 321 567.
We’ll make your car go faster SOLD
*
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TOYOTA Coaster motor home. 6 cyl turbo motor (H2), 5 speed gearbox, rollout awning, toilet and shower, large fridge-freezer, air conditioner, reg (TWQ360). $45,000. Reduced to $35,000. More info phone Frank 0417 376 288.
Over two weeks your advertisment will appear in one edition of the weekly Motor Guide and five editions of the Wangaratta Chronicle. Together these papers are read by over 90,000 people. *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 & 2 North East Motor Guide, covering all NE Victoria.
Classifieds 5723 0101
BA Ford 2003, 181,000km, metallic green, service books, one owner, reason for selling, (TXW666), very clean car, $5900 ono with 12 months rego and RWC. Ph 5721 7929 or 0407 816 350.
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