Tag: Melbourne International Motor Show

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Mazda Motor Shows

All new Mazda3 making moves for Melbourne

New Mazda3

In addition to the facelifted MX-5, Mazda will give an Australian premiere to the all new Mazda3 at the Melbourne International Motor Show, starting on 27 February.

Two Mazda3 models will be on show, a Sunlight Silver Mazda3 Maxx Sport sedan and an SP25 hatchback in Celestial Blue. Doug Dickson, Mazda Australia Managing Director said, “The new-generation Mazda3 has a more expressive and emotional design that emphasises dynamism, and has the driving excitement and agility to back it up.”

Last month the current Mazda3 topped the Australian sales charts. An amazing effort really for a hatchback, and for a manufacturer outside of the more traditional Holden, Toyota and Ford.

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Mazda Motor Shows

Mazda MX-5 to refresh MIMS

2009 Mazda MX-5

Mazda revealed its facelifted MX-5 at last year’s Paris Motor Show. Now, it has released a full suite of images of the updated NC model. The refreshed MX-5 will have its first Australian preview on the stands of the Melbourne International Motor Show later this month. It will go on Australian sale in late March.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the iconic roadster. Affordable drop tops are all the rage these days. However, back in 1989 the possibility of a rear wheel drive convertible for sub $30K was not so common.

Amazingly, Takao Kijima has been involved in all three generations of MX-5, “I have been involved with the Mazda MX-5 since the project was first approved in 1986, and was lucky enough to be a chassis engineer on the first model that established the MX-5 roadster’s reputation as an exciting and affordable lightweight sports car.

“I was honoured to succeed Toshihiko Hirai as MX-5 programme manager in 1995 and lead the team on the second and third generation MX-5.”

Still the only “affordable” rear wheel drive roadster on the market the current MX-5 is available with six speed manual or automatic transmissions with a 118kW 2.0 litre four cylinder engine. A traditional rag top is the entry level option, or a folding metal roof can be yours if you choose.

More facelift images after the jump.

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Audi Motor Shows

Audi Australia sets Q5 pricing

Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 will make its first Australian appearance at the Melbourne International Motor Show at the end of this month. The car will be available for sale in the second quarter of this year and to help whet people’s appetites Audi Australia has just announced pricing.

The cost of admission into a Q5 is $59,900 for both 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TFSI engines. If you would like to raise the game a little, then you’ll need $69,900 for the 3.2 V6 FSI or $71,900 for the 3.0 TDI.

The Q5’s exterior is perhaps one of the best resolved Euro SUVs available and Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann, is expecting big things, “The Q5 is priced very competitively, and it is an extremely attractive package. The Q5 will undoubtedly give the Audi range a strong boost in 2009 – in image and also in sales. Our network is extremely positive about this addition to our range.”

All models are equipped standard with quattro and a newly developed 7 speed S-tronic transmission (aka DSG).

The S line body kit for the Q5 looks great and expect to pay around $3500 for the kit by itself. The full S line package, including body kit and a few goodies from the options list, will start somewhere around the $5000 range, depending on engine choice.

More pics and words below.

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Motor Shows News Nissan

Nissan 370Z UK specifications

Nissan 370Z

Okay, the UK specs of Nissan’s stylish 370Z may not be of great use to Australian readers, but the car looks pretty damn good and these details will give an indication of what to expect when the new Zed hits the Australian market in May.

NOTE: Australian readers can see the 370Z for themselves at the upcoming Melbourne International Motor Show (27 February–9 March).

The 370Z is 32kg lighter than the outgoing 350Z and with a smidge over 240kW it isn’t likely to hang about once you press the loud pedal. As to be expected with any new Japanese sportscar there is some pretty nifty technology inside the 370Z. New features such as Synchro Rev Control, which matches revs automatically on gear changes for the 6 speed manual, are sure to delight the boy racer inside all of us. The 7 speed auto also has a similar feature, well actually, it’s probably pretty much the same thing, but Nissan have called it something new anyway, Downshift Rev Matching. While those opting for the optional 19″ RAYS forged alloy wheels will encourage nods of approval from the JDM crowd.

If you want to knock around looking at more pics, downloading stuff and checking out official videos then take a look at www.nissan-370z.co.uk. In the meantime you can enjoy plenty of pics and read the Nissan UK press release below.

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Motor Shows News Volkswagen

Golf VI to be launched at Melbourne International Motor Show

Volkswagen Golf VI

Volkswagen’s new Golf VI will make its Australian debut next month at the Melbourne International Motor Show (27 February–9 March). In further good news for prospective Golf customers, VW Australia sources have confirmed with AUSmotive that the car will be available for purchase at Volkswagen dealers immediately after the Melbourne show.

Presumably, there are already a number of Golf VI models in the country, with a couple of models being spotted recently in Perth.

The new Golf may not be a radical departure in looks from the outgoing Golf V, but there are quite a lot of new goodies thrown into the new model that should see the Golf keep its customary position at the top of its class. There’s a new 7-speed DSG, revised engine lineup, Adaptive Chassis Control, park steering assistant and an improved ESP system to name a few. The basic underpinnings of the Golf V chassis also remain, which means the new Golf should remain an engaging and dependable drive. Safety has also been assured with the Golf VI already achieving a 5-star Euro NCAP rating.

The Golf V has proven to be an outstanding sales success for Volkswagen Australia and there should be no reason why the Golf VI cannot continue this trend.

Volkswagen Australia is still a bit coy when asked about the new GTI and its Australian release. Current speculation suggests it will be available around October this year. We shall have to wait and see.

More news on the official launch for the Golf VI as it comes to hand. In the meantime, check out this earlier post on the Golf VI which includes more images and information released last August prior to the car’s international launch.