Full house: Part 1

LAST year much of the new-car talk revolved around the local car-makers’ big six sedans.

So now the Holden VE Commodore and Toyota Aurion have settled in, 2007 looks set to be a year of new-car diversity.

All other segments are poised to unveil new additions while Fiat and Dodge – which returned to the local market last year – will continue to expand their product line-ups.

Holden will add the Commodore ute by the end of the year and Toyota plans a supercharged performance version of the Aurion under its Toyota Racing Development division.

Elsewhere, there are some radically new entrants like Suzuki’s SX4 all-wheel drive and the Fiat Bravo hatch, which will shake-up the compact SUV and small car segments and at the lower end the Proton Satria hatch is sure to stir up the sub-$20,000 segment.

It’s a measure of the rapid growth of new products that the 2007 arrivals cover all things from light cars, right through to exotics.

Smart will unveil its newest ForTwo late in the year and with petrol prices remaining uncertain, the likelihood of a ForTwo turbo-diesel is enticing.

Subaru will also finally unveil its new Impreza hatch, which will be keenly watched by enthusiasts, particularly WRX fans.

Toyota’s newest star arrives around April in the form of its new 1.8-litre Corolla. Unlike the rest of the world, which has chosen the new Auris name, Australia will stick with the venerable Corolla nameplate.

More convertibles will also feature this year, with VW launching the Eos cabrio, Ford the Focus cabrio, Peugeot’s new 207CC and if the budget stretches that far, the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and Jaguar XKR convertible.

Along with new turbo-diesels, Lexus will launch the LS600hL hybrid, the first offering of a super-luxury hybrid sedan locally.

Four-wheel drive enthusiasts have the Land Rover Freelander to look forward to around June and Jeep finally gives the Wrangler a full makeover in March.

The Wrangler two-door will be joined, for the first time, by a four-door version called the Wrangler Unlimited.

But first up in the off-roader stakes is the new Honda CR-V in March. Gone is the squared off styling, in its place some curves and reportedly better interior quality and an upgraded 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine.

The year will be crammed with rich offerings. Roll on 2007! Audi
THE Q7 may be the new kid on the block but the A6-based Allroad quattro arrives around March.

Expected to be offered as a turbo-diesel only, the talk is it will be the 3.0-litre TDi but the 2.7TDi may also be a possibility. Prices should put it under the Q7, which starts at $84,900.

About June the hot 195kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo three-door S3 arrives as well as the Roadster, an open-air version of the TT. The S3 offers a 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.7 seconds and includes quattro drive and a six-speed gearbox. Expect pricing around $55,000-$60,000.

The R8 quattro sports car arrives in September, to be followed by the A5 quattro coupe. The R8 shares its 309kW/430Nm 4.2-litre FSI V8 with the RS4 but in the two-seater is mid-mounted in the aluminium space-frame body. Top speed is 301km/h and 0-100km/h is reached in just 4.6 seconds. Numbers will be limited – there is a queue forming already – and the price should be around $275,000.

More on Audi Allroad

More on Audi S3

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BMW
PERHAPS the most important model for the Bavarians this year is the new X5, which arrives in March just before the 3 Series convertible. The X5 will debut at the Melbourne International Motor Show and go on sale around April for the 3.0si, 3.0d and 4.8i. Expect the entry X5 to be close to $88,000 for the 200kW/315Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder, rising to $120,000 for the 261kW/475Nm 4.8-litre V8.

Now offered as a seven-seater (optional), the X5 is visually evolutionary but slightly bigger inside. It is also safer and offers a host of new technology, including AdaptiveDrive and Active Steering, along with six-speed automatics.

Like its sedan siblings, the X5’s AdaptiveDrive monitors driving forces and adjusts the stabiliser bars and suspension between a range of settings. Lovers of iDrive – are there any? – will be able to play with a more intuitive version in the X5. BMW has also put run-flat tyres on its latest SUV, which has already created some debate.

More on BMW X5

Chevrolet Corvette Z06
THE Chevrolet Corvette Z06, hailed as the first true American rival to the great thoroughbred sports cars of Europe, makes its Australian debut at the Brisbane International Motor Show next month.

The Z06 boasts a 7.0-litre V8, special brakes and suspension, and a top speed of 316km/h. It is the high performance version of the Corvette C6.

The iconic Chevy is imported new to Australia, converted to right-hand drive and re-engineered for Australian Design Rule compliance by Sunshine Coast company Corvette Queensland. Price? Expect a six-figure starting point.

Chrysler Group - Dodge
AFTER the arrival of the Caliber and an expanded 300C line-up last year, Chrysler’s sister brand, Dodge, takes centre stage with the mid-size Avenger arriving around August.

The Avenger is pitched right into the mid-size arena dominated by the Mazda6, Accord and Subaru Liberty. It has a distinct Dodge “corporate” front end and roomy interior.

Three engines, including a 103kW/310Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, are likely to be offered locally. The petrol powerplants are a 125kW/220Nm 2.4-litre VVT four – the same as the Caliber R/T – and a 142kW/259Nm 2.7-litre V6 driving the front wheels with the top end models offering six-speed autos.

Avenger prices should start around $30,000, rising to $40,000. Chrysler will also venture into the mid-size arena with the Sebring – essentially the Avenger’s sibling – in June. It should cost about $35,000, rising to $45,000 for top-end models with the same engine lineup.

By Christmas, Chrysler may also unveil a four-seater Sebring convertible with an electric folding steel roof. The Dodge Nitro four-wheel drive arrives in June/July.

The Nitro will offer a choice of 3.7-litre V6 and 3.0-litre diesel and four-wheel drive. The Detroit motor show also previewed the new Chrysler Voyager people mover, which arrives here early in 2008 with a range of petrol and turbo-diesel engines.

More on Dodge Avenger

More on Chrysler Sebring

From top: Audi R8, Fiat Bravo, Ford Focus CC, Honda CR-V, Jeep Compass.

Citroen
CITROEN has said it wants to lift sales from 3000 to 10,000 within four years. The C4 Picasso, which goes on sale in February, priced from $35,000 is on of several new Citroens planned.

The new seven-seater Picasso is stylish and thankfully looks more like an airy wagon rather than a traditional people mover. It has the Citroen corporate double chevron front-end, huge glasshouse and offers a massive panoramic windscreen.

It will be offered in petrol as well as turbo-diesel but Citroen believes most buyers, up to 80 per cent, will opt for the 103kW/270Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

More on Citroen C4 Picasso

Fiat
THE Punto kicked off Fiat’s passenger car return last year and for 2007 the Bravo moves things up a notch.

The Bravo arrives in November with pricing from around $30,000. Slightly bigger than a VW Golf in width and length, the Bravo’s very Maserati-looks, improved quality and equipment levels are aimed at the established Germans and French hatches.

The Bravo will have a range of petrol and turbo-diesel engines, among them two MultiJets of 89kW and 112kW 1.9-litre fours as well as a new family of turbocharged direct injection T-JET petrol engines of 89kW and a 112kW, starting at 1.4-litres.

More on Fiat Bravo

Ford
OPEN air motoring enthusiasts will welcome the four-seater Focus cabrio-convertible, which arrives in September as the Focus halo car.

Prices will be around $45,000, which puts the drop top Ford head-to-head with Holden’s Astra TwinTop.

Fortunately, the design closely follows the Pininfarina-designed Vignale concept car shown at Paris in 2004. Buyers can expect full leather, a two-piece electric folding roof and 108kW/185Nm 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol engine with either five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.

Ford may also spring a Focus TCDi diesel sometime this year and there’s also talk of a wagon. Curiously, we also know Ford has registered the XR4, which could point to a hot 2.0-litre Fiesta late in the year.

But Ford will not say when or even, if. If it does arrive it will be close to the Peugeot 206 GTi prices, so around $30,000.

More on Ford Focus CC

Holden
NOW the VE is bedding-in, 2007 will see the arrival of the ute around Christmas and the long-awaited wagon early in 2008.

The Vectra-replacement – Epica sedan should be here in March. Don’t expect Vectra pricing though as Holden is chasing volume sales for the newcomer, something the Vectra could not do. Pricing? Around $25,000.

Like the Barina, Epica is another GM-DAT production but with heavy Holden input. It will have a transverse-mounted in-line six-cylinder in either a 104kW/195Nm 2.0-litre or 115kW/245Nm 2.5-litre guises, driving through a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic.

The Captiva gains a turbo-diesel 110kW/320Nm 1.9-litre turbo-diesel – shared with the Astra CDTi – in March. But the big news is the five-cylinder petrol Hummer H3, which lands around June with pricing from $55,000.

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More on Hummer H3

Honda
THE CR-V is a vital cog in the Honda arsenal. Arriving in March, the CR-V ditches the square-rigger look of the current car for some soft curves.

It is expected to hit the road for under $30,000 for the base 2.4-litre model while the high-end Sports model will be close to $40,000 with curtain airbags, dynamic stability control and high-intensity headlights.

The car’s existing 2.4-litre i-VTEC engine gets more power but the same torque 125kW at 5800rpm and 220Nm at 4200rpm mated to both new six-speed manual and five-speed automatic transmissions.

Less chunky than the old model, the newcomer has a 35mm lower centre of gravity, new suspension geometry, revised steering and a significantly improved "Real Time 4WD" system. The new four-wheel drive system is said to transfer 20 per cent more torque to the front wheels and is quicker to sense slipping front wheels.

There’s no word on a turbo-diesel. Honda says it is planned but is not likely this year.

More on Honda CR-V

Jaguar
THE XK coupe has refocused attention on Jaguar locally and the new supercharged XKR is likely to create some more interest in the second quarter.

Available as a coupe or convertible, the XKR features a 4.2-litre supercharged V8 developing 313kW/560Nm and a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.9 seconds via a six-speed automatic with steering wheel paddle shifters. All-aluminium construction means a lighter, stiffer car, improving handling and agility.

At 1665kg, the coupe is 70kg lighter than its predecessor, while the 1715kg Convertible is 100kg lighter than the previous convertible XKR. Of course, the suspension has been upgraded to cope with the performance with revised springs and dampers and recalibrated Computer Active Technology Suspension.

Subtle XKR exterior styling enhancements include a sportier grille and front bumper, louvred bonnet, aluminium-effect side power vents, new alloys and sports seats.

More on Jaguar XKR

Jeep
THE Jeep Wrangler arrives in March looking much the same as the old Wrangler.

This time around a four-door version, called the Wrangler Unlimited, will also be offered.

The Wrangler Unlimited has a 523mm longer wheelbase and plenty of rear room. Both Wranglers will offer a 153kW/325Nm 3.8-litre V6 as well as a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel.

Arriving in March is the RAV4, Honda CR-V competitor, the Jeep Compass. The Compass is front-wheel drive, a first for a Jeep, and will have a 128kW 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual or CVT transmission. A 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is also on the cards.

For harder-core off-roaders the Patriot all-wheel drive arrives around August.

Looking like a shrink-wrapped Cherokee, the Patriot has 17-inch all-terrain tyres and alloys, full-size spare, skid plates and foglights. Its full-time active all-wheel drive has a locking centre coupling and is "trail rated" according to Jeep.

More on Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

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Continued: Full house part 2