Holden Commodore The Car Of Choice For Thieves

THE HOLDEN COMMODORE, the best-selling large sedan in Australia, is officially the most popular car for Australian thieves. That’s not according to any thieving spokesperson, of course, but new insurance claims data released by AAMI shows that the numbers don’t lie.

An analysis of claims figures, undertaken by the insurer, shows that various generations of the Commodore accounted for 62 percent of the top 15 vehicles stolen from AAMI customers in 2008 - with three Commodore models in the top five.

The VT Commodore proved to be the most popular, with four of the nine models listed being different trim levels of the VT model.

One Ford model made the list - the 1999 AU Falcon Forte - along with three Hyundai Excel Sprint models (1996, 97, 99), the 2002 Toyota Rav 4 Cruiser and the 1999 Nissan Pulsar SS.

AAMI Corporate Affairs Manage Mike Sopinski said it wasn’t surprising that 1990s makes and models featured so prominently on the list, nor was the prevalence of Holden Commodores.

“Vehicle theft has dropped remarkably over the past 10 years, primarily because of advances in technology and theft deterrents such as engine immobilisers increasingly a standard feature on new cars,” Sopinski said.

“Commodores are not the vehicle of choice for car thieves because they’re easier to steal - if anything they are a victim of their own popularity with professional thieves seeking to cash in on strong demand for spare parts.”

Mr Sopinski said that efforts to make cars harder to steal, through active and passive theft deterrents, was paying dividends with insurance, police and other industry statistics showing a dramatic decline in car theft.

“National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council figures suggest car theft in Australia has almost halved in the past five years.”

“At a very basic level, drivers can be doing a lot more to keep their car safe and secure, such as parking in well-lit visible places, always locking doors and windows, and keeping personal items like sunglasses, handbags and portable music devices hidden from view,” Mr Sopinski said.

2011 Jaguar XE Hybrid Option In The Works?

REPORTS OF a new dedicated roadster from Jaguar, to be named the XE, first surfaced back in early January, and the story has done nothing but build momentum since then.

The XE was initially expected to debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, but according to Motor Trend, that date is now looking less likely, thanks to the impact of the global financial crisis on Jaguar’s resources.

However, it’s not all bad news, as the XE is now believed to include a new plug-in hybrid option, similar to that featured in the Chevrolet Volt.

Jaguar's F-Type concept debuted back in 2000, previewing the company's early plans for a new roadster.

The heads at Motor Trend say the hybrid powertrain will feature a fuel-efficient three-cylinder petrol engine, paired with an electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries - a more advanced battery type than the nickel-cadmium type used in many current hybrids, including the all-new Toyota Prius.

This news follows an April report that Jaguar is working on an electric version of the upcoming 2010 Jaguar XJ four-door saloon, and talk that the Tata-owned British manufacturer may benefit from a sizeable loan from the UK government.

The regular, traditionally-powered XE is expected to be powered by Jaguar’s new 5.0 litre V8 engine, developing 287kW, while a 380kW supercharged version is expected to appear in the range-topping model.

Alfa Romeo 169 To Be Based Off Chrysler 300C Platform: Rumours

ALFA ROMEO’S planned successor to the 166 executive saloon, the 169, is reportedly going to be built off Chrysler’s LX large-car platform, the very same platform that underpins the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300C.

Talk of a Chrysler-based Alfa isn’t new, though. We first spoke of such plans earlier this month, and the idea of the LX platform being exploited by Alfa Romeo has existed almost since the Fiat-Chrysler alliance was first mooted.

Now, analysts IHS Global Insight says it’s got the rundown on Fiat Sp.A’s plans for the LX floorpan. According to IHS, the new Alfa 169 will be built atop the Chrysler-sourced platform sometime in 2011, with production to be centred in Canada.

The Fiat-Chrysler hookup is a major boon for the 169 project, as prior to the alliance being finalised a suitable RWD platform was proving difficult to find. The Maserati Quattroporte’s underpinnings were prohibitively expensive, and talks with Mercedes Benz for the E-Class platform and discussions with Tata Motors for the Jaguar XF platform failed to secure a deal.

Pricing for the 169 is expected to sit around US$62,000 (AU$78,000), however further details are scarce and Alfa Romeo is keeping its mouth shut about the project. Driveline selection is a mystery, however with Fiat expected to make use of Chrysler’s flex-fuel Pentastar V6 odds, are high a version of that engine will see service in the 169.

Fiat’s upcoming Multiair V6 is also tipped to be fitted to the 169, as is a Maserati-sourced V8. Styling is the biggest question mark for now, but word around town is to expect something markedly different - and much more ‘premium’ - than Alfa’s current offerings.

Porsche Entry-Level Model Still Under Consideration

FIRST IT WAS ON, then it was off. Now it appears that a low-cost lightweight Porsche model could be back on the cards again, with German media outlet Automobilwoche reporting that the marque is still considering a ‘cheap n’ cheerful’ (well, relatively) entry-level model to sit beneath the Boxster.

Rumblings of such a car have existed since March, however the plans were assumed to have been put on the backburner after the global financial crisis scuttled VW’s BlueSport roadster project: the car that was expected to form the basis for the ‘Baby Porsche’.

But now, with development of the Volkswagen BlueSport (pictured) back in full swing, it appears Porsche is giving serious thought about whether it wants to capitalise on the mid-engined, rear-drive architecture on offer.

While nothing has been locked in as yet, a BlueSport-based Porsche would likely weigh around the 1000kg mark and utilise one of the Volkswagen Group’s many four-cylinder engines. The Bluesport platform is designed to accomodate anything up to a V6, but transverse engines are a must - thus eliminating the prospect of Porsche utilising its own engine lineup.

With the project yet to receive the green light don’t expect it to land anytime soon. Is the world ready for a modern-day successor to the 914? It’s a gamble that Porsche may just be willing to take.

Koenigsegg Looking To Saab To Build Quant?

WITH THE SALE of Saab moving closer to completion, and a private consortium led by Swedish supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg looking likely to be the new owners, the question has been asked: just what does Koenigsegg stand to gain from the acquisition?

Reports have surfaced in Sweden today that, according to sources close to the matter, Koenigsegg is looking to Saab’s production facilities to turn its Quant electric supercar concept into a showroom reality.

Swedish news service Realtid has reported that Koenigsegg is eager to get the previously concept-only electric supercar - which develops 382kW and 715Nm through its twin electric motors - into production, and the company views Saab’s knowledge and facilities as the key.

Developed in partnership with Swedish company NLV Solar AG, specialists in photovoltaics and electrical power technology, the Quant began as a concept intended for nothing more than to demonstrate the energy company’s vision for the supercar of the future.

Koenigsegg is expected to make the most of the government guarantees that come with the acquisition of Saab.

Along with producing the Quant in small numbers, the manufacturer reportedly aims to boost production of Saab vehicles from 130,000 to 150,000 per year by 2011.

2010 Jaguar XF Range Updated, Three New Engines To Be Offered

JAGUAR HAS ANNOUNCED changes to the XF’s engine range, with three new engines set to arrive later this year boasting more displacement, more power and more efficiency .

The head-stomping 5.0 litre supercharged v8 of the XFR sits atop the revised engine line-up, churning out 375kW and generating 625Nm of torque between 2500 and 5500rpm. A naturally-aspirated version of the XFR’s bent-eight mill will be on offer too, with 283kW and 515Nm emanating from its crankshaft.

A 3.0 litre twin-turbo diesel V6 will be released around the same time as the XFR, and will replace the existing 2.7 litre diesel in the XF range. Despite being larger, the new diesel six will drink less fuel, requiring just 6.8l/100km compared to the outgoing motor’s 7.5l/100km.

At 202kW and 600Nm, power output for the 3.0 diesel is pretty respectable too. So much so that the diesel is almost a full two seconds faster to 100km/h than its 3.0 litre petrol V6 stablemate. With a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 6.8 seconds the diesel isn’t too far off the pace of the brawnier 5.0 naturally-aspirated V8 either, which hits triple digits in 5.7 seconds.

The XFR? That storms to 100 in just 4.9 seconds.

Retail pricing for the XFR will be set at $208,450 when it’s released in the third quarter of this year, while the supercharger-less 5.0 V8 will flaunt a $147,900 sticker price.

The 3.0 V6 diesel is expected to be the volume seller of the range, and will cost $116,250 when it arrives around the same time as the XFR. The current 3.0 V6 petrol remains unchanged mechanically, however price rises $1100 to $109,450.

The local XF range will also benefit from subtle cosmetic enhancements, as well as new alloy wheels. The satellite navigation system has also been updated, now offering turn-by-turn instructions.

2011 Audi R8 Spider Spied Testing In Germany

THE AUDI R8 SPIDER has been a hot topic since way back in 2007. Now, finally, the days until its debut - likely at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September - are running down.

What will it look like? Something, you’d expect, like these photos of a mystery convertible version spied out testing around the Nurburgring in Germany (where else?). These may be the clearest shots yet of the upcoming soft-top monster.

With weight-saving being a primary goal, Audi has opted to go with a soft-top rather than a folding hard top.

Perhaps the most obvious design elements separating the Spider from its hardtop brother-in-arms are the absent ‘blades’ that run from the side skirts to the roof of the hardtop, and the addition of a longer, more prominent intake cut deep into the sides of the car.

The fuel cap has been relocated to the top of the rear guard, as opposed to the rear pillars (absent from the convertible R8).

While it’s likely to be somewhat distant from the production version, the R8 Spider shown in these photos features a roll-cage running through the inside of the car, up and along the line of the windscreen. (Audi will have other plans there.)

The Audi R8 Spider is expected to be powered initially by the hardtop’s 313kW 4.2 litre V8, with a 5.2 litre V10 version expected to follow some months later.

Joss Supercar Nearing Debut

AUSTRALIA’S HOME-GROWN Joss Supercar is just a little over two months away from making its debut, with potential buyers and investors alike lining up at Joss’s door.

Ten solid orders have been locked in thus far, and Joss has been reorganised into an unlisted private company to fully exploit growing interest from investors.

The Joss Supercar has been five years in the making, but now its creator Matt Thomas should soon see his project come to fruition and give Australia its first real competitor to the likes of the Ferrari Enzo and Lamborghini Murcielago.

“This is now not just about producing an Australian first and world-class supercar, but ensuring the business is resourced adequately to meet pent-up production demand,” Mr Thomas said.

“We have been refining the mechanics of the business model and the car and are now satisfied that we have the right product and systems in place to move forward.”

A V8 of unannounced origin will generate over 373kW and propel the Joss to 100km/h in a lightning-fast 2.98 seconds. Top speed is claimed to be over 340km/h.

Joss expects to build 25 of the supercars at its Victorian facility in its first year, and anticipates all of these will be sold in very short order. The asking price is estimated to be around $600,000, but considering the rarity - and sheer speed - of the Joss Supercar, it should make an enticing buy for super-wealthy car buffs.

Joss also plans on taking its Supercar racing, with the eventual goal being a place on the grid at Le Mans.

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Facelift Revealed In Korea, New R Diesel Engines

THE 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE CRDi Elite won its share of friends at the TMR office for its pleasant interior, driving comfort, versatility and value-for-money pricing. Now, images and details of the 2010 facelift have been revealed in Korea, Hyundai’s home ground.

Only the one image has been revealed thus far, but it’s clear at least that the main focus of the facelift has been to the fascia, with a sportier grille and more aggressive fog-light housings surrounding the bottom centre air intake, while the headlights appear unchanged.

It remains to be seen if any changes have been made to the interior or rear end, but all will likely be revealed soon.

As expected, the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe benefits from the addition of Hyundai’s new ‘R’ range of diesel engines, consisting of two four-cylinder engines weighing in at 2.0 and 2.2 litres, the first developing 137kW and 392Nm of torque, while the second produces 149kW and 436Nm of torque.

Both engines are paired with a new six-speed automatic transmission that Hyundai claims will improve fuel economy by more than 12 percent. Hyundai is only the third manufacturer in the world to develop its own six-speed automatic transaxle, with Toyota and a GM/Ford joint venture rounding out the trio.

The new transmission, which weighs in at 12kg lighter and with 62 fewer parts than the company’s current five-speed automatic, has been developed for transverse engine application in passenger vehicles.

The European market version will likely debut at Frankfurt before going on sale in the last quarter of this year, with other markets, including Australia, to follow.

2010 Alfa Romeo Milano Spied Testing

WITH CHRYSLER and Fiat’s alliance now official, speculation as to which of each company’s cars and platforms will appear in each other’s respective home markets will be a hot topic for a while to come.

Now, the 2010 Alfa Romeo Milano has been spied testing near the Nurburgring in Germany, ahead of its expected debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Alfa Romeo CEO Luca De Mao confirmed that the Milano would arrive on the market in the fourth quarter of 2009, and these images indicate that the new Alfa is right on schedule.

Covered head to toe in camouflage, it’s difficult to make out any specific details in the Milano’s design.

Nonetheless, the profile and raked belt line are distinctly Alfa, while the outline of the headlights and the protruding grille border indicate that the Milano will bear a style similar to that of the Alfa Romeo Mito.

The 2010 Alfa Romeo Milano is expected to utilise Fiat’s C-Evo platform, which it will share with the Lancia Delta and the Alfa Romeo Bravo, as well as a new Chrysler sedan for the US market.

Power is expected to come from Fiat’s main engine line, starting with a four-cylinder petrol engine developing 90kW, through to a 198kW 3.2 litre V6 mill.

The Milano will feature Fiat’s Q2 front-wheel-drive system as standard, while the Q4 all-wheel-drive system will appear as an option.

A GTA model is expected to join the line-up as well.