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When police questioned the man, he justified his actions by explaining he was a skilled driver that had raced cars in the past.

“It is disappointing to see a senior member of our community being so irresponsible - what example does this set for younger drivers?” Acting Sergeant Carlo Visser said.

Previously, the oldest driver to have his car impounded was a 64-year-old Melbourne man who drove his Porsche at 110km/h in a 60km/h zone.

Police in Victoria alone have already impounded 42 vehicles under the new hoon laws since the start of the New Year.

Source: News.com.au

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Much like Suzuki, Toyota will also plan to cut capital expenditure as well as car production to cope with falling global auto demand. The freeze in plans for the Russian and Thai factories is only the beginning of the company’s restructuring process.

The Thailand engine plant was meant to have an annual production capacity of around 150,000 diesel engines a year, this would have allowed Toyota to increase its diesel engine output capacity to 350,000 units by 2010 and create about 700 jobs.

Toyota already has an existing plant in Russia with the capacity to output around 50,000 cars a year, however as the plant is not running at full capacity, the big T has no reason to go ahead with plans to build a secondary factory.

News of the company’s troubles makes us wonder how much longer Toyota will stay in Formula 1 and other motor sports.

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 Financial advisors have warned car companies to slow capital investment plans given the decrease in demand worldwide.

The news is unfortunate as the Kizashi was one car we had all been waiting for here at CarAdvice. You can read more about the car here. The 3.6-litre sedan was meant to act as a step up from the company’s small cars, capturing existing buyers looking to upgrade.

Suzuki CEO Osamu Suzuki says there is a reasonable chance of the entire project’s cancellation (for the time being). Mr Suzuki said it makes little sense to launch a car into a shrinking segment of the market.

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The big steering wheel tends to jerk from one side to the other all too easily, and there seems to be no variation in steering weight from standstil to highway speeds. The car would certainly benefit from a variable setup of some sort, otherwise the torque-steer and abrasions in the road start taking over and irritating the heck out of the driver.

If you put the steering to one side though, it isn’t such a sorry tale. Torque out of corners always seems to be available courtesy of the twin hair-dryers attached to the motor.

Gear shifts are quick and easy and there’s enough room for the odd heel-toe.

The best part about the package has to be the brakes though. The anchors on the 9-3 Aero pull this thing up in tremendous fashion. The system seems to be tailored for the road as it holds the brakes on for longer (which can be seen by visible tyre marks on the road).

One point of concern for me is the stability control. Our standard test circuit includes a section of dirt which is a good test bed for a vehicle’s stability control. The Saab’s system seems to intervene quite late and when it does finally take action, it doesn’t do all that much to bring the car into line. A heap of driver input is required to pull the car back onto a straight track.

This is a good point for sporty driving, but a bad one if things get out of shape. I also can’t seem to find the button anywhere to switch off the stability control!

This latest stint of driving has included plenty of city kilometres, so as I expected, the fuel consumption has rised slightly. We are now sitting on 5.8-litres/100km.

The latest update also brings with it even more compliments from passers-by about the LED strip on the headlights.

Our performance tests indicate the 9-3 Aero TTiD is on par with Saab’s 0-100km/h claims. Saab claims a 0-100km/h time of 8.5-seconds for the six-speed manual, our best run was 8.63-seconds. The stability control intefered during takeoff, so it would easily achieve 8.5-seconds had the stability control been switched off.

Tests conducted by Paul Maric. Graph shows Speed | Time | Distance

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Mr Hartley has already discussed the plan with the Roads and Traffic Authority, arguing that a curfew and passenger restrictions introduced in 2006 for provisional drivers wasn’t enough.

This latest development aimed at reducing the death toll of young drivers on our roads is yet another hit-and-miss campaign which relies upon consequences rather than action.

It seems the only way officials can envisage safer roads for our younger drivers is by keeping them off it - hardly the makings of more competent and experienced future road users.

Meanwhile vital driver training centres continue to operate without any form of substantial government support, with our new drivers instead proving their worth at parallel parking before being allowed behind the wheel solo.

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Nick Senior, Managing Director of Subaru Australia has said currency hedging has enabled the brand to pursue this aggressive tactical pricing policy.

“Obviously with the dramatic drop in the exchange rate of the Australian dollar versus the Yen, we will inevitably have to review prices in the future, but just now we are passing on our good fortune to our customers.”

The entry-point into the Impreza range is even more accessible with the Impreza R sedan and hatch reduced by $1500, now starting at $22,990 for manual variants.

Meanwhile both the Liberty 2.5i automatic sedan and wagon have been reduced by $2000 to $32,990 for the sedan and $34,990 for the wagon.

Finally, the Outback 2.5i automatic has also been reduced by $2000 to $36,990.

Revised Impreza R pricing:

Impreza R manual $22,990 (-$1500)
Impreza R SPORTSHIFT automatic $24,990 (-$1500)

Revised Liberty 2.5i pricing:

Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic sedan $32,990 (-$2000)
Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic wagon $34,990 (-$2000)

Revised Outback 2.5i pricing:

Outback 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic $36,990 (-$2000)

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Major automakers in the US are expected to release December and full-year 2008 sales figures later today, with analysts anticipating the annual sales rate to be at the lowest level in 26 years.

The only other time the US has seen a sales decline this substantial in a single year was during 1974 in the wake of the first oil shock.

“The sales rates have declined like a lead balloon,” Mr Pipas said. “I think when December comes in every segment will be down. Not one segment will be up versus a year ago.”

As expected, the full-size SUV segment has experienced the sharpest sales decline in 2008 with US consumers avoiding the category during the spring and summer spike in oil prices.

With the current data, Mr Pipas has said 2008 is on track to become the first year since 2000 that passenger cars have outsold light trucks in the United States.

Ford expects that its own 2008 market share will end up just over 14 percent, down from 14.6 percent a year earlier.

Unlike its rivals General Motors and Chrysler LLC, Ford has not sought an emergency loan from the government, instead relying upon the more than US$23 billion loan it acquired in 2006.

GM and Chrysler were given a US$17.4 billion bailout from the Bush administration while Ford has requested a US$9 billion line of credit if the recession runs deeper.

Currently, Ford predicts double-digit percentage sales declines for the first and second quarters of 2009, not anticipating the market to stabilise until the second half of 2009 based on the view that the US economy will begin to improve late this year.

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Current rumours suggest the new generation model will be called the E-Class Coupe rather than the CLK in order to simplifying the current Mercedes-Benz line-up.

The new model has undergone significant refinement to the chassis over the standard C-Class range in order to meet the performance expectations of coupe drivers.

It will however share its engine line-up with the C-Class range, including a flagship V8-powered CLK 500 and obligatory AMG variant.

The CLK Coupe is expected to arrive in showrooms by early 2009 with the Cabriolet model to make its debut a few months later.

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With North Shore residents attracting only the Sydney Harbour Bridge toll, and those in the southwest getting the M5 toll reimbursed, those in Sydney’s northwest claim the State Government’s tolling policy is discriminatory.

“If you want to get to the city faster you’ve got no choice but to drive,” said father-of-two Mark Unwin, 42. “I live at Kellyville Ridge and my wife and I pay almost $17 in tolls per day to get to North Ryde and back home for work. The only other option is to get a bus - that’s a trip of about an hour and 45 minutes each way.”

Kristine Elliott, of Bella Vista, said her commute to work at Rosebery each day begins at 5.45am to avoid the heavy traffic along the toll roads. She uses the M7, M2, the Lane Cove Tunnel, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Eastern Distributor, a trip that costs $23.56 return.

“It chews up my car allowance,” she said. “When you’re paying that kind of money, you wonder why you bother working at all.”

Many argue the rising cost of Sydney’s toll roads has made it too expensive to travel to the city for shopping, trips to the beach or entertainment. From Rouse Hill, site of the State Government’s scrapped northwest metro link, a trip to Bondi Beach costs $10.78.

Families taking public transport can catch a bus to Blacktown, a train to Bondi Junction and another bus to Bondi Beach - but it takes more than two hours. And yesterday the cost of single train tickets for trips of fewer than 35kms rose by 20c-60c.

“It’s not just the cost, it’s the time,” said Mark Condon, 25, of Windsor, of commuting from the northwest. He drives to Rhodes each day for work, using the M7 and M4, “I sit in traffic for three hours each day. That’s time I could be spending at the gym or with my family.”

And from January 27, the cost for motorists crossing the Harbour Bridge in peak times will rise from $3 to $4, although North Shore residents get off lightly if going into town.

Even commuters from large slabs of southwest Sydney get a better deal, given the Cashback scheme former Premier Bob Carr introduced in 1996 when he backflipped on a promise to scrap tolls. The cost of the M4 and M5 tolls, if using E-Toll tags, is reimbursed by the Government, meaning all taxpayers have paid $689 million since its inception.

But it is those coming from the southern suburbs - Sutherland Shire and Cronulla way - who have escaped paying any tolls.

Source - Daily Telegraph 

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The BMW M1 Homage will sit alongside the all-new BMW 7 Series Sedan which makes its Australian public debut at Melbourne, and the just-released BMW X6 xDrive50i, both of which are powered by the first ever BMW Twin Turbo V8 engines.

The link is somewhat apt, given the BMW M1 Group 5 race version was powered by an 850bhp (633kW) twin-turbo six-cylinder engine.

“For BMW, heritage is always also a living heritage. Drawing inspiration from your own past and thereby reinventing yourself – that is exactly what the BMW M1 Homage demonstrates in impressive style,” Dr Klaus Draeger, BMW Group Board Member, Development explained at the unveiling of the BMW M1 Homage at the world famous Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como, Italy.

The BMW M1 Homage is a design study in the tradition of a BMW Turbo that represents a contemporary take on the BMW M1 and the mid-engine concept.

The Liquid Orange paintwork exclusively developed for the BMW M1 Homage cites the classic BMW M1 colour, yet surprises with its powerfully iridescent play of colour and brilliant depth. It is said to give life to the extrovert silhouette, highlighting the bold convex and concave surfaces.

The BMW M1 Homage lifts many of the unique styling cues for the original M1 such as the air vents in the bonnet, louvers on the rear screen and the black cut line that divides the roofline from the rear section of the body.

Another feature carried over is the twin outboard BMW Roundels, positioned at the extremity of each wing, as in all previous mid-engined BMW models.

Back in 1979, the BMW M1 was Germany’s fastest series production sports car. While many were dressed in aggressive war paint for racing in the Proccar series, none is better known than the BMW Art Car, immortalised by Andy Warhol.

“We are delighted to be able to announce the BMW M1 Homage show car will be arriving in Australia for the Melbourne International Motor Show,” said BMW Group Australia Managing Director Guenther Seemann, “The BMW M1 Homage is a sensational looking car that highlights both the strong dynamic Motorsport heritage of BMW, but also the talent and skill of our current designers, who created a 21st century look at how a new generation BMW M1 could look. There is no doubt the BMW M1 Homage will be a draw card for the visitors to the Melbourne show, joining with our new Twin Turbo V8-powered BMW 7 Series and X6 Sports Activity Coupé.”

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“The all-new SRX is a fresh and compelling crossover aimed squarely at the priorities of luxury buyers,” said Mark McNabb, Cadillac’s North America Vice President, “With new technologies for increased efficiency and safety, the redesigned 2010 SRX Crossover focuses on both the emotional and pragmatic sides of the luxury consumer.”

Designed with efficient performance in mind, including the choice of two high-tech six-cylinder engines that are new to Cadillac, the SRX offers a 3.0-litre direct injected 193 kW V6 engine as standard (pictured) with the option of an all new 2.8-litre turbocharged V6.

Both engines employ technology that helps produce strong performance that is typical of larger-displacement engines whilst allowing up to a 25-percent reduction in hydrocarbon emissions (fuel economy testing is not yet complete) and both will be coupled to a Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. The new SRX also includes a driver-selectable “eco mode” that alters transmission shift points to maximise fuel economy.

Performance and safety are enhanced by an on demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that is designed to optimise vehicle handling and stability in all driving conditions.

The AWD system includes an advanced electronic limited-slip differential (ELSD) that distributes torque as needed from side to side along the rear axle, as well as from the front to rear axle. The pre-emptive, active-on-demand system provides an extra measure of capability in wet or icy conditions.

“The 2010 SRX will deliver excellent, balanced driving dynamics in all types of weather,” said Bob Reuter, Global Vehicle Chief Engineer. “The all-wheel-drive system with electronic limited slip effectively transfers torque not only from front to rear, but also along the rear axle. This system sets a new benchmark for all all-wheel-drive systems, giving the driver control and confidence on any road surface.”

Traction control has improved for the new model as well with the system capable of transferring up to 100-percent of torque to the wheel that has more grip. The ELSD also gives the driver control when cornering hard or completing a high-speed maneuver, such as a lane change, by momentarily applying more or less torque to either of the wheels to help the rear of the vehicle more closely follow the direction of the front wheels.

SRX rides on a wider track that was designed to deliver sharper handling and greater stability while the suspension includes a real-time damping system in conjunction with AWD that adjusts shock damping rates in response to road conditions for a smooth ride quality. A dedicated five-seater with generous cabin space and cargo room it can tow up to 1,600kg (braked).

“Cadillac is known for bold design. The 2010 SRX Crossover builds on that reputation,” said Clay Dean, Cadillac Global Design Director, “As with the 2008 CTS, we advanced our Art and Science design to create a crossover for style-conscious customers. The exterior features a dramatic diving gesture on the body side to impart the feeling of movement, even at rest.”

A multi-piece shield grille with Cadillac’s iconic vertical headlamps (as seen on the CTS) feautres light pipe technology and optional adaptive lighting. This bold face then flows in to a tightly wrapped, sweeping body that tapers downward at the rear, giving the vehicle a sporty profile.

Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on the SRX with 20-inchers offered as an option. A bold accent line dives across the body side and culminates at a chrome front quarter vent that incorporates a side marker lamp. An integrated spoiler on the rearward edge of the roof extends the sleek lines and improves aerodynamics.

“Inside the new SRX, technical precision blends with old-world craftsmanship,” Dean said. “Hand-cut-and-sewn coverings on the instrument panel and ambient lighting details convey a finely tailored cabin.”

An integrated center stack houses controls for climate and audio systems, while the navigation system rises from the center of the instrument panel. A signature example of the SRX’s attention to detail is the Cadillac script logos in the front door sill plates that illuminate when the doors are opened.

Other features include a powered tailgate with adjustable height setting; integrated HDD (hard disc drive) for audio storage and a dual-screen rear DVD entertainment unit. Bluetooth compatibility is standard, as is GM’s turn-by-turn navigation system.

SRX’s safety features include a strong body structure and chassis that absorbs crash energy is complemented by the use of martensitic steel in the fully enclosed rocker sections. Martensitic steel is one of the strongest available and its use in the rockers helps protect against intrusion during a side-impact crash, while also maintaining the structure during front and rear crashes.

Additional safety features include standard head curtain side air bags, standard front seat-mounted pelvic/thorax side air bags, front safety belts with dual pretensioners and load limiters, rollover mitigation sensors, a pedal release system and trailer stability assist.

The SRX was also designed to meet European pedestrian protection standards; and the front bumper is positioned for greater compatibility with car bumpers.

Production begins in the second quarter of 2009, with dealer availability in early 2010. GM Premium Brands will then decide on RHD version suitability (for the local market) thereafter.

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