Australian Car Advice | News Blog

General Motors has released a new high-res gallery of its flagship Camaro SS V8 model.

 

With much of its development carried out here in Australia by Holden engineers, naturally then it is powered by an LS3 V8 engine which also features in the local HSV line-up.

The world’s most anticipated hot-hatch of the year has finally made its official debut, with Ford today releasing the official details of its new Focus RS.

The all-important performance figures stand at 220kW - compared to 166kW for the XR5 - and peak torque of 410Nm from its 5-cylinder turbocharged engine.

The Alfa Romeo MiTo has joined its big brother the 8C Competizione for a striking family portrait.

They may come from totally different worlds - one is an ultra-exclusive supercar, the other a mainstream hatchback - but the resemblance between the pair is uncanny, a fact Alfa Romeo is only too eager to show-off.

Just gaze at the new gallery Alfa Romeo has graced us with of its simply stunning drop-top Competizione sibling - the 8C Spyder.

With Ford’s new model just weeks away from being released to the media, our automotive stylist has released their impression of the Orion Fairmont Ghia.

From what our spy photographers have captured so far, the Fairmont Ghia has been oriented toward a sporty feel, a boot lid spoiler and side-skirts have hinted at its new sporty future.

Ford is keen to take on Holden’s attempt with the Calais and Calais V, so we expect to see new features, such as front parking sensors, along with the carryover of technology such as the reversing camera from the Territory, along with auto-dimming rear vision mirror.

With the Volkswagen group expanding its model lineup considerably, it’s no wonder German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz are following suit.

Last year BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said his company will create a new segment and introduce its own interpretation of the humble sedan, meet the BMW Progressive Activity Sedan or PAS in short.

Our spy photographer has been at it again, this time snapping Ford’s sibling utes and sedans in action, almost entirely revealing the headlight outline of the all-new Falcon models and XR variants, which will continue with Ford’s double tear drop treatment.

The photographs also reveal Ford’s separated cab arrangement on the utes, unlike Holden’s single side panel.

Firstly though, our automotive stylist has been hard at work piecing together parts of our spy photographs, with the ambition of revealing the final product. Here we have our artist’s impression of the Orion XT and the FPV variant of the Orion ute.

Click for larger copy

Click for larger copy

More on the next page.

1. 2008 Ford Falcon Orion - Futura
2. 2008 Ford Falcon Orion Ute - FPV
3. 2008 Ford Falcon Orion Ute - Base Model
4. 2008 Ford Falcon Orion - XR6 Turbo
5. 2008 Ford Falcon ‘Orion’ Video

As promised, the complete set of 2008 Ford Falcon ‘Orion’ photos released by Ford. Click here for details and more spy shots. You can also find the entirety of our comprehensive Falcon spyshots gallery here.

Frankfurt Motor Show Gallery Day 1 & 2

AC Schnitzner

AC Schnitzner Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Competizione Frankfurt Motor Show

Artega

Artega GT Frankfurt Motor Show

Aston Martin

Aston Martin DB9 LM Frankfurt Motor Show Aston Martin DBS Frankfurt Motor Show Aston Martin Vantage N400 Frankfurt Motor Show

Audi

Audi RS4 Frankfurt Motor Show Audi A4 Frankfurt Motor Show Audi RS6 Frankfurt Motor Show Audi A5/S5 Frankfurt Motorshow Audi R10 TDI Frankfurt Motor Show Audi R8 Frankfurt Motor Show Audi S8 Frankfurt Motor Show

BMW

BMW Concept X6 Frankfurt Motor Show BMW M3 Frankfurt Motor Show BMW Concept CS Frankfurt Motor Show

Brabus

Brabus SV 12 S Frankfurt Motor Show Brabus Ultimate 112 Frankfurt Motor Show Brabus Bullit Frankfurt Motor Show

Corvette

Corvette Z06 Frankfurt Motor Show

Chevrolet

Chevrolet Camaro Frankfurt Motor Show Chevrolet Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Citroen

Citroën Stand Frankfurt Motor Show Citroën C-Cactus Frankfurt Motor Show

Ferrari

Ferrari Stand Frankfurt Motor Show Ferrari 599 GTB Frankfurt Motor Show Ferrari Superamerica Frankfurt Motor Show Ferrari F430 Frankfurt Motor Show

Fiat

Fiat Stand Frankfurt Motor Show Fiat Grande Punto Abarth Frankfurt Motor Show

Ford

Ford Mondeo Frankfurt Motor Show Ford Kuga Concept Frankfurt Motor Show Ford Verve Concept Frankfurt Motor Show

Hamman

Hamann BMW M6 Frankfurt Motor Show Hamann Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Honda

Honda Stand Frankfurt Motor Show Honda FCX Concept Frankfurt Motor Show Honda Accord Tourer Concept Frankfurt Motor Show

Hyundai

Hyundai i-Blue Concept Frankfurt Motor Show Hyundai Veloster Concept Frankfurt Motor Show Hyundai Grandeur Frankfurt Motor Show

Jaguar

Jaguar XF Frankfurt Motor Show

Kia

Kia Kee Frankfurt Motor Show

Lada

Lada S 1600 Frankfurt Motor Show

Lamborghini

Lamborghini Reventon Frankfurt Motor Show Lamborghini Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Lancia

Lancia Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Lexus

Lexus IS-F Frankfurt Motor Show

Maserati

Maserati Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Maybach

Maybach Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Mazda

Mazda6 Frankfurt Motor Show

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz Stand Frankfurt Motor Show Mercedes-Benz AMG Range Frankfurt Motor Show Mercedes-Benz SLR Frankfurt Motor Show Mercedes-Benz F700 Frankfurt Motor Show

Mini

Mini Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Concept-CX Frankfurt Motor Show Mitsubishi Lancer Frankfurt Motor Show Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Frankfurt Motorshow

Nissan

Nissan Stand Frankfurt Motor Show Nissan Mixim Frankfurt Motor Show Nissan Dualis (Qashqai) Frankfurt Motor Show

Opel

Opel Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Pagani

Pagani Zonda F Frankfurt Motor Show

Peugeot

Peugeot Flux Concept Frankfurt Motor Show Peugeot 308 Frankfurt Motor Show Peugeot 308 RCZ Frankfurt Motor Show Peugeot 908 RC Frankfurt Motor Show

PGO

PGO Concept P22 Frankfurt Motor Show

Renault

Renault Stand Frankfurt Motor Show Renault Koleos Concept Frankfurt Motor Show Renault Laguna Coupe Concept Frankfurt Motor Show

Rolls Royce

Rolls Royce Stand #2 Frankfurt Motor Show Rolls Royce Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Seat

Seat Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Smart

Smart Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Startech

Startech Stand Frankfurt Motor Show

Subaru

Subaru Impreza WRC Concept Frankfurt Motor Show

Suzuki

Suzuki SX4 WRC Frankfurt Motor Show Suzuki Swift Super 1600 Frankfurt Motor Show Suzuki Kizaski Concept Frankfurt Motor Show

Toyota

Toyota Stand Frankfurt Motor Show Toyota Corolla opens up at Frankfurt Motor Show

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Up Frankfurt Motor Show Volkswagen Tiguan Frankfurt Motor Show Volkswagen Passat R36 Frankfurt Motor Show

Volvo

Volvo V70 Flexifuel Frankfurt Motor Show

Glamorous Women Of The Frankfurt Motor Show

Glamorous Women at the Frankfurt Motor Show Part 1 Glamorous Women at the Frankfurt Motor Show Part 2 Glamorous Women at the Frankfurt Motor Show Part 3 Glamorous Women at the Frankfurt Motor Show Part 4 Glamorous Women at the Frankfurt Motor Show Part 5 Glamorous Women at the Frankfurt Motor Show Part 6

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Day 1: What a hectic day it has been, Shaun and Nando, our two photographers, have sent over 1,000 photos, and there is still another day left! Our stats show the most popular page was the Glamorous Women series (no surprise there), while the Subaru Impreza WRC and the Evo X also took honours.

Surprise favourites include the Chevrolet Camaro, Peugeot 908, Mitsubishi Concept-CX, Ford Kuga and the beautiful BMW Concept CS.

A big thanks to all the supportive emails from readers. Sorry we’ve had no time to respond.

While our spy photographer takes a well earned break, a sharp eyed reader has spotted a high-grade Orion testing on the roads in Victoria. While two other readers have contributed video footage of Orions undergoing testing.

The vehicle spotted appears to be a Fairmont Ghia sedan, featuring several new features that are hoped to set the Falcon aside from the rest. The following pictures detail a general view of the car with an exceptionally loose car bra. Not only was the car bra slipping upward - blocking the number plate - it also revealed the contour of the edge of the front bumper bar.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

The rear car bra was also slipping significantly, revealing an overt amount of the rear light cluster along with mild embossing of the boot lid. The vehicle spotted seems to be fitted with a lip boot-lid spoiler, indicating that the new Fairmont Ghia may be far more sports oriented than the previous generation.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

The following photo of one of the uncovered wing mirrors reveals that side indicators will be used in the 2008 Ford Falcon. Whether they will appear only on upper models is a question yet to be answered. Considering every vehicle photographed so far has had covers on the wing mirrors, it wouldn’t be a surprise if all vehicles featured indicators in the wing mirrors.

Generally, when indicators are fitted to the wing mirrors, side repeaters on the body become redundant. Our theory is that all cars that have been road registered, have had side repeaters fitted to comply with registration requirements, in a bid to keep the wing mirror identity secret. One point that generally affirms that is the different shapes used as repeaters. Earlier a triangle shape was used and on this vehicle pictured above, oval shaped repeaters have been used.

It can now also be confirmed that upper models - such as the Fairmont Ghia (or its new named replacement) - will feature an auto-dimming rear vision mirror. Although it’s not revolutionary technology, it’s about time Ford implemented it.

The driver of the Orion prototype also saw fit to hail our reader with the two finger salute…concentrating entirely on the road.

Click to enlarge

The two videos shown below include a blue XR8 and what is believed to be an FPV Typhoon.

Blue Ford XR8 Testing

FPV Typhoon, grappling for grip

One of our readers has sent in photos of Holden’s yet to be released Utility.

Presumably a base model Utility, it’s obvious that the front and front-side architecture is similar to the sedan variants. The faux air vents remain, as do beefed up wheel arches - even on this base model!

The following computer generated rendering seems to accurately reflect the new Utility’s stance and design. Several attributes are mimicked in the spy photographs, namely the flared wheel arches, relocation of fuel filler and continued existence of faux air vents.

Courtesy of CGIAutomotive.com

Click for larger image

The photographer informs CarAdvice that the interior remained covered. It’s unlikely that the dashboard layout will vary too much from the sedan variant. The shape of the rear headlights still remains anyone’s guess.

The fact that the rear has also been covered up suggests that a new tail-light design will be employed on the new model to differentiate it from the previous generation.

Click for larger image

Click for larger image

The delayed release of the Holden Ute suggests that Holden may still be testing the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) for inclusion in the Ute.

Click for larger image

Previous spy photographs taken by DirtBikeWorld show a better example of the front end and also an earlier development mule. The new Ute photographed is a newer generation to the following photographs taken. The new Ute photographed is most probably a final version and will portray the completed product that will roll off the line.

An indication that the rear light cluster will change from the vertical stack are hinted at by the following images taken by an LS1.com.au forums member. The image shows a wrap-around rear light setup, explaining why rear car bras have been used on all of Holden’s prototype Utilities.

Click for larger image

One thing’s for certain though, it’s bound to be one brutal Ute when HSV get their hands on it and fit a 6.0-litre V8. Until then, be prepared for more from Holden in the coming months prior to their Ute’s release. They most certainly don’t want hype and spy shots of Ford’s new Orion Utility stealing the limelight!

Remember, if you have any spy photos of Holden’s new Ute - or any other vehicle for that matter - contact CarAdvice, if the photos are decent, we’re willing to pay cash (more than the major magazines). High-resolution copies of the images attached are available. Please contact CarAdvice to request copies.