Detroit to turbocharge Aussie sixes

FEDERAL industry minister Kim Carr has offered GM Holden and Ford incentives under the Green Car Innovation Fund to achieve massive improvements in fuel economy of their Australian-built large cars – as much as 20 per cent from 2010.

Speaking after talks with GM chief executive Rick Wagoner and Ford Motor Co CEO Alan Mulally in Detroit last week, Senator Carr said improvements in petrol engine development and other new technologies were being fast-tracked and, through assistance from the federal government’s green grants program, the American-based car giants were being encouraged to introduce these measures into Australian-built cars earlier than anticipated.

It is understood that no specific deals were secured during the discussions, but that announcements could be made in the coming months.

“One of the key issues under discussion were new technologies the big car-makers are looking at that could improve fuel efficiency by 20 per cent,” Senator Carr said. “Changes could be made to Commodores and other vehicles by 2010.



Left: Federal industry minister Kim Carr.

“Improvements could be introduced to existing Australian production lines for petrol, diesel and LPG cars, including (direct) fuel-injection and turbocharging systems for engines and more efficient axles, batteries, transmission and steering systems.

“That means conservative savings for the average motorist driving a family car of over $330 a year.” Ford has told GoAuto that fuel consumption benefits will come with the move in 2010 to the imported Duratec 35 V6.

Direct fuel-injection and turbocharging will be available on the new engine – technologies specifically referred to by Senator Carr after meeting with Mr Mulally.

Ford Australia has also committed to a diesel engine, although a dedicated-LPG version of the new V6 is still to be confirmed.

Among the technologies expected from Holden for its Australian-built vehicles are displacement-on-demand for both V8 and V6 engines, a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain and a turbo-diesel engine.

“The improvements can be made to existing lines of cars without major re-design,” Senator Carr said.

“These would be dramatic new developments and would be an important symbol of the transformation of the Australian motor industry in terms of it rising to the challenge of climate change.”

Strike action over

MEANTIME, workers from component supplier Intercast & Forge returned to work last Thursday (June 12) after more than a week on strike which threatened to halt production at Australian car plants.

A castings and forgings supplier with factories in Seven Hills and Adelaide, Intercast & Forge is a tier-one supplier to Toyota and a tier-two supplier to Holden and Ford.

The industrial action was initiated after unsuccessfully trying since November 2007 to negotiate a new three-year enterprise agreement, which called for a five per cent pay rise, to replace the current agreement that expired in February.

As negotiations continue, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) says the company is trying to reduce employment standards because of high debts incurred by the company.

According to Australian metalworking news website Metalworker: "Toyota, PBR and ZF have asked the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to suspend or cancel the Bargaining Period under S430/S433 of the Workplace Relations Act.

"They fear a lockout would threaten the supply of important parts to auto component makers and car plants."

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