Ateco Automotive takes over distribution of Lotus Cars Australia
Glen Sealey, already the general manager of Maserati Australia and New Zealand, has taken on the top role at Lotus.
Mr Sealey said he was excited about the opportunity to import Lotus cars to Australia and New Zealand.
“Given our success and experience gained over the years in the retailing and marketing of premium and luxury niche sports car brands, we are well placed to give Lotus the best opportunity to succeed in such discerning markets,” he said.
“The timing could not be better as we will be able to prepare the market place and the dealer group for the arrival of the new range as well as developing the sales and customer support for the existing range.”
The range will expand to include the Lotus Esprit in 2013 and grow further in 2014 with the introduction of the Lotus Elite.
The existing Lotus dealer network in Australia will remain, with outlets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Lotus sales dipped over the first seven months of this year. Just 19 Lotus vehicles were sold in Australia in that period (10 Elises, six Evoras, three Exiges), down from 33 over the same period in 2010.
The disappointing sales result puts Lotus ahead of only Morgan (10) and Rolls-Royce (11) out of all brands for total Australian sales in 2011.
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| Volvo C30 Electric |
Volvo's upcoming C30 Electric offers a driving range of 150km - about par for the electric-vehicle world, and plenty to get the average urbanite around town.
The concept is a simple one, and it takes a page from the Chevrolet Volt's playbook. In the first of three new test cars, Volvo has fitted a 45kW three-cylinder petrol engine and a 40 litre petrol tank to its C30 Electric.
Ordinarily, the vehicle is powered by its existing 82kW electric motor and battery combination. With the petrol engine installed however, the electric motor can draw energy from a 40kW generator powered by the small engine - and the battery can be charged 'on the go' through the same system.
This arrangement boosts the C30 Electric's driving range by a further 1000km and, according to Volvo, keeps emissions well below 50g/km.
The second concept gets a more powerful turbocharged 140kW three-cylinder petrol engine, but unlike the first car, this arrangement allows the petrol engine to drive the rear wheels.
This is still considered a range-extender: apart from the option of gaining all-wheel-drive by powering both axles, the petrol engne can also direct power to the 40kW generator and boost the electric motor's range.
With a six-speed automatic transmission and 0-100km/h time under six seconds, this second system would also be the most appealing option for the new breed of economy-minded revheads.
The third concept is based on the V60 wagon and features the same electric motor and turbocharged petrol engine utilised in the second C30 concept.
In this case however, the petrol engine is mated to a two-stage automatic transmission and can power the front wheels while also recharging the electric motor when needed.
Up to 50km/h, the V60 is powered by electricity alone, with the petrol engine kicking in at higher speeds.
"These three projects allow us to evaluate the Range Extender's various possibilities," Volvo's Vice President of Powertrain Engineering, Derek Crabb said.
"As with the C30 Electric and V60 Plug-in Hybrid, the goal is to make the cars exceptionally CO2-lean without compromising on customer requirements such as comfort, driving pleasure and practicality."
Porsche Panamera
Review By: Job.Mwine
There’s been a mixed reaction to Porsche’s belated entry into the four-door luxury saloon sector with the Panamera. While sales have actually been pretty good, just over 800 units in 2010, its first full year, it is still rare sight on UK roads as witnessed by the number of quizzical looks our car attracted over a week’s test drive.Despite those looks the car is oddly conservative with no push-button ignition system or remote controls for the sound system. The driving position is supremely comfortable and the rear seats, just the two with a large central divide, are comfortable for adult use. Boot space is adequate but, bearing in mind its target audience, struggles beyond one set of golf clubs unless you drop the rear seats.
The seven-speed gearbox, which also has a paddle option, provides seamless changes and benefitted from a sports mode.
Unsurprisingly the car felt most at home at motorway cruising speeds where high mileages are effortless dispatched. However, slow things down and things either become a little more challenging or engaging, depending on your viewpoint. The positive steering at motorway speeds becomes more weighted around town and bordering on the heavy when it comes to low speed parking manoeuvres, this combined with an accelerator pedal that needs coaxing takes a little getting used to.
The car was also equipped with a stop/start system which was amongst the best we’ve tested with re-ignition reassuringly rapid. We discovered the system can require a little coaxing when it cuts out on an incline which proved a little disconcerting the first couple of times it happened.
There are some niggles. Rear visibility is limited by a shallow window but compensated by good sized door mirrors. Also the analogue odometer features units unhelpfully spaced in 25mph increments; fine for the autobahn but problematic for urban and town driving in the UK. Thankfully there’s a more accurate digital display.
While the Panamera offers an alternative to the established gran turismo models from Germany and the Jaguar XJ, what it wins in novelty value it loses in outright practicality.
Porsche Panamera Specifications:
Engine: 3.6-litre V6, 300bhp, petrol
Fuel consumption: 30.4mpg (claimed combined)
Emissions: 218g/km
New price: £62,783
Toyota Hilux 2012
Review By: Job.Mwine
There are also revised bumpers at both ends, along with clear tail-light lenses and a new sports bar. Changes in the cabin are centred around new seat and door trims.
New Workmate variants have been added to the existing entry-level range, and all 4x4 models are now rated with a braked towing capacity of 2.5 tonnes - up from 2.25.
Anti-lock braking has also been adopted across the range as a standard feature, where it was formerly available as an option pack for all but the top-shelf SR5.
Mechanical and engine details are expected to remain unchanged for the 2012 model year.
More specification details and pricing will be released closer to the 2012 HiLux's September launch.
New Workmate variants have been added to the existing entry-level range, and all 4x4 models are now rated with a braked towing capacity of 2.5 tonnes - up from 2.25.
Anti-lock braking has also been adopted across the range as a standard feature, where it was formerly available as an option pack for all but the top-shelf SR5.
Mechanical and engine details are expected to remain unchanged for the 2012 model year.
More specification details and pricing will be released closer to the 2012 HiLux's September launch.
Mercedes CLS63
Review By: Job.Mwine
Mercedes 2012 CLS63 Limited Edition, of which only 30 are to be made and, of course, this is also the very first one sold.
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG is powered by a M157 5.5L twin-turbocharged V8 making 550-hp with a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed Sports Transmission, 0 to 60 mph comes in 4.4 seconds and 4.3 seconds with the AMG package. Top speed is clocked in at 186 mph.
Performance,Comfort,Beauty and Elegance is what will lure you into digging deep into your pockets for this gorgeous vehicle. it costs just $150250.
You think thats a lot of D's don't be shocked if you glance at on speeding past on the streets of Kampala.
