4WD News October - December 2000

December 2000: VFACTS figures for November show Toyota (.au) in a total of 15,160 sales, ahead of GM Holden on 14,860. Sales for the year to November are 140,671 and 139,105 respectively.
At the luxury end, 606 Mercedes Benz C-class were sold in November. The company total being 1,132 for the month, and 8,738 for the year to the end of November.

December 2000: Some [news] of new vehicles for the Detroit Motor Show in January 2001.

12 December 2000: GM Holden is expected to announce tomorrow a new engine plant in Melbourne to build a world V6 engine for GM cars.
13th: They did.
And the Holden Coupe first seen in 1999 is set to be called the Monaro - was there ever any doubt?

December 2000: The Ford Transit van (4x2), right, arrives in Australia this month. These are very popular delivery vans in the UK and Europe.

12 December 2000: The remains of tropical cyclone Sam are inland near the WA-NT border, bringing rain to Alice Springs.

10 December 2000: Mitsubishi Ralliart driver Tommi Makinen won the 2000 Race of Champions on the Canary Islands. It is knock-out event of head-to-head runs for rally drivers in a variety of cars over three heats, ending in a final between the two fastest drivers.

8 December 2000, Neil Linger tells us about a UK company, Prodrive, which has developed a torque distribution system. Active Torque Dynamics (ATD) uses wheel sensors, 4WD and front, rear and centre differentials to direct torque to each wheel as appropriate to control understeer or oversteer.
...and... Honda is to show an SUV concept vehicle at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2001. The Honda Model-X (~Gen' X etc.) has aspects of the Hummer (H2) about it.

December 2000: Victorian petrol stations are replacing leaded petrol with lead replacement petrol (LRP). LRP has the same octane rating (96 RON) as leaded petrol. The various brands use different anti-valve seat recession additives. Lead raised the octane rating and also protected against the recession of exhaust valves into cast-iron (non-hardened) valve seats. It is thought that LRP will be available for 5 to 6 years only.

Charles Aarons (Charlie) from Anchorage Alaska writes: [I have] 3 old Dodges (2 diesel conversions), 2 [...] Landcruisers and an expedition Ford F350 diesel crewcab. [...] despite the fact that leaded petrol has been banned in the US for a decade or more, most old motors seem to have survived - the old Dodge flathead sixes for instance. When people do overhaul heads, however, they do put in hardened valves. But all in all it hasn't been the mechanical disaster that was predicted.

8 December 2000: Tropical Cyclone Sam strengthened to category 5 (top of the scale) as it cruised around off the NW W.A. coast. This is very early in the season for a such a strong cyclone. It may cross the coast soon.

December 2000: North American car makers report lower sales - which is consistent with a slowing of the US economy and, some say, a possible recession coming up, or not.
[Economist (defn): Someone who can predict the past 50% of the time.]
Anyway, DaimlerChrysler's profit for one is looking "not good" and their shares which have traded as high as US$78+ in the last year have recently been around US$38 or $39 (E46 something).

December 2000: British workers at Ford's Dagenham plant are resigned to the loss of car production there, not going on strike. Ford intends that Dagenham will become a major diesel engine plant.
(See bad news for Vauxhall Luton [later].)

December 2000: There are reports, or rumours, that Mercedes Benz is planning a four wheel drive version of the C-class to compete with the Audi Allroad, Volvo Cross Country etc. Mercedes have done this sort of thing before, e.g. getting Steyr to do the 4WD conversion of the E-class 4MATIC (4x4) c1996.

December 2000 by email:

Recent US prices for AWD cars, MPVs, and SUVs (not pickups), including the Suzuki XL7, which features standard seating for seven passengers. Other new nameplates being added by the begining of summer in the US market include Isuzu Axiom, Jeep Liberty, Chevrolet Avalanche, and Jaguar X-Type (all prices US$ and include AWD if it is an option).

Acura MDX 34,995 Audi A4 1,8T 4dr 26,690 A4 1,8T Wag. 27,840 A4 2,8 4dr 31,540 A4 2,8 Wag. 32,540 A6 2,8 4dr 36,590 A6 2,8 Wag. 37,900 A6 2,7T 4dr 40,050 A6 4,2 4dr 49,950 A8 4,2 4dr SWB 62,750 A8L 4,2 4dr LWB 68,450 allroad Wag. 42,450 S4 4dr 39,450 S4 Wag. 41,050 S8 4dr SWB 73,050 TT 180 3dr 33,400 TT 180 roadster 35,200 TT 225 3dr 36,650 TT 225 roadster 39,450 BMW 325iX 4dr 29,560 325iX Wag. 31,970 X5 3,0i 39,470 X5 4,4i 49,970 Cadillac Escalade(01) 46,925 Escalade(02) 50,690 Chevrolet Astro MPV cargo 23,648 Astro MPV pass. 25,711 (includes base, LS, and LT trims) Avalanche SUT N/A Blazer LS 3dr 22,770 Blazer LS 5dr 27,370 Blazer LT 5dr 29,725 Blazer Trail 5dr 32,725 Suburban 1500 29,602 (trims include base, LS, Z71, and LT) Suburban 2500 31,545 Tahoe 28,587 (trims include base, LS, Z71, and LT) Tracker 2dr 16,785 Tracker 5dr 17,405 Tracker ZR2 2dr 18,635 Tracker ZR2 5dr 21,000 Tracker LT V6 5dr 21,680 TrailBlazer NA Ventura VersaTrak NA Chrysler Town & Country LX 31,490 Town & Country LXi 33,335 Town & Country LTD 37,815 Daewoo Korando NA

Dodge Durango 29,335 (includes base, Sport, SLT, SLT+, R/T, and SS Shelby trim levels) Grand Caravan Sport 30,355 Grand Caravan ES 32,875 Ford Escape XLS 5dr 19,810 Escape XLT 5dr 21,360 Explorer XLS 5dr 27,595 Explorer XLT 5dr 30,480 Explorer EB 5dr 34,995 Explorer LTD 5dr 34,790 Explorer Sport 3dr 24,460 Explorer ST SUT 25,035 Expedition XLT 5dr 33,430 Expedition EB 5dr 41,115 Excursion XLT 5dr 38,210 Excursion EB 5dr 41,735 GMC Prices same as Chevy. Jimmy=Blazer, Safari=Astro, Yukon=Tahoe, Yukon XL=Suburban, Envoy=TrailBlazer Honda CR-V LX 19,590 CR-V EX 21,190 CR-V SE 23,240 Passport NA Hummer H1 2dr 76,762 H1 4dr Open SUT 84,608 H1 4dr Close SUT 91,553 H1 5dr 95,404 H1 Hatchback NA Hyundai Santa Fe 20,234 Santa Fe GLS 21,234 Santa Fe LX 21,434 Infinti QX4 36,075 Isuzu Axiom NA Rodeo S 23,824 Rodeo LS 26,489 Rodeo LSE 31,950 Rodeo Sport S 2dr 18,930 Trooper S 27,690 Trooper LS 31,284 Trooper LTD 33,333 VEHICross 3dr 31,045 Jaguar X-Type NA Jeep Cherokee Sport 3dr 21,465 Cherokee Sport 5dr 22,500 Cherokee LTD 5dr 23,970 Grand Cher. Laredo 29,855 Grand Cher. LTD 35,080 Liberty NA Wrangler SE 15,475

More later but, FYI, the XL-7 is priced from $20,299 for the Standard to $24,999 for the Touring. All models, as stated earlier, feature seating for seven along with a 2,7 litre 170bhp V6. - carorvan

Also see 9 Oct'.

Oops, nearly forgot to say:

Sofcom recently moved next door (to #644) and up (to level 16) in search of more space:

Software Communication (Australia) Pty Ltd., Level 16   644 Chapel St., South Yarra, Victoria 3141, Australia

tel: 6 13 9826 8300,   fax: 6 13 9826 8336

(Mail still forwarded from previous address.)

30 November 2000: Another petrol dilution scandal has broken out in Australia with reports of fuel being dilued with e.g. Naptha which attracts no duty, and of leaded petrol being diluted with unleaded petrol. Such practices can lead to major engine damage e.g. by lowering the octane rating. There have been calls for random testing of fuel quaility.

November 2000: Jim Murcott's Advanced Driving Centre is again conducting its annual pre Christmas Safe Driving Clinics. For the past 18 years, the Centre has conducted the Clinics at Sandown International Raceway, Springvale [Victoria] at huge discounts to encourage motorists - young and experienced - to increase their knowledge and understanding of driving. Normally priced at $225.50, the full-day clinics are offered on set dates for $143 (GST inclusive)- a discount of $72.50 (incl. GST) - during December. [...] The Clinics, backed by 3AW and Holden, must be pre-booked and will be held in December on Saturday 9, Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13, Thursday 14 and Saturday 16.
Inquiries and bookings can be made to Jim Murcott's Advanced Driving Centre on 03-9804-3400.
(Philip Bernadou has recently been appointed the Centre's General Manager. He was instrumental in founding the Porsche Owners Racing Association (PORA) in 1987 and became Chairman/ Administrator from 1987-1994 of the Australian Porsche Cup. In 1995 he was appointed Assistant Clerk of Course of the Challenge division of the Mobil 1 Round Australia Trial.)

28 November 2000: Mitsubishi (au) has announced a capital injection of $172million ($au) by its Japanese parent in the Adelaide (au) car building plant, so the latter's future is probably secure for at least 3 to 4 years.

27 November 2000: Warming up - the first 40°C day of the season at Mildura in N.W. Victoria, with more of the same forecast for tomorrow.

26 November 2000: Walgett in northern New South Wales is expected to experience heavy flooding before the end of the week as water from the heavy rain in southern Queensland and N.E. NSW moves down-stream [-ABC].

November 2000 by email: Vescoflex is a range of heavy duty shackle bushes for off road use in 4x4 vehicles, made by a small South African company. Where they have suitable sizes, they would be happy to air parcel post them to people around the world, or alternatively provide material for do-it-yourself machining.

22 November 2000 Chrysler Group: the "2001 Jeep (r) Grand Cherokee has won one of the most prestigious awards in the four-wheel drive vehicle market segment, [USA] 4-Wheel & Off-Road's `4x4 of the Year' award." [...] "The competition included the Chevrolet Silverado LT 2500HD, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, the Ford F-150 Super Crew, the GMC Sierra 2500HD, the Mitsubishi Montero and the Nissan Frontier Crew Cab SC." [...]

November 2000: Ford Australia plans to begin importing "super duty" F250 and F350 trucks in mid 2001. Engines will range from a 5.4 litre petrol V8 to a 7.3 litre turbo charged and intercooled diesel V8. Two wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles, built in Brazil, will be imported. The F350 has a payload of 2500kg. Towing capacity is almost 4 tons. The F150 is not in the plan because the Ford Falcon ute has a similar (or better) load capacity.

21 November 2000: There is extensive flooding through NSW; check before you set off.

November 2000, Neil Linger points out that the Suzuki XL7 (?based on the XL6?) goes on sale in the USA in December from US$20.2K (4x2), ~$25K (4x4), with a 2.7 litre V6, and 110" wheelbase the biggest Suzuki 4x4 yet.

17-26 November 2000: Sydney Motor Show.

17 November 2000: 350mm of rain in Mackay, Queensland has, as you might expect, caused flooding. There could be more.

14 November 2000: Independent driver Jean-Pierre Strugo, driving a Mercedes Benz ML430, won the "Marathon Trophy" drivers' title in the T1 group for "series cross country vehicles" group of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. There were nine events in 2000 involving France, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Russia, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates. In the FIA World Cup overall rankings, Jean-Pierre Strugo came fifth in a field numbering well over 100 drivers. [-M.B.]

11-12 November 2000: Historic Commercial Vehicles, Scoresby, Vic.

November 2000: Gust sends email about PREP (Pressure Relieving Engine Protection) spark plugs. Apparently these have a deliberately built-in weak link so that they release pressure under a (calibrated) combination of high temperature and/or pressure. This is said to prevent damage from over-heating and, of interest to four wheel drivers, from hydraulic stalling. More: www.
(I must say that my preference would be to keep the water out in the first place.)

November 2000: Mercedes Benz (Daimler Chrysler) has been developing alternative power systems such as the fuel cell (Necar 5) very strongly and hopes to have passenger cars on sale by 2004.

November 2000: Campers from [Trakka] (au).

9 November 2000: The Korean car maker Daewoo was declared bankrupt [more...]. Ford recently withdrew its bid to buy Daewoo but GM ~ Fiat are still thought to be interested.
Holden (GM) in Victoria makes engines for Daewoo and the company has "taken a holiday" and is asking for 300 staff to "take the package" in the wake of the Daewoo collapse.

November 2000: The Dodge Durango will get the option of a hybrid power system in 2003.

November 2000: Auto Ascii reports on the Toyota Kluger, a new 4WD SUV at the Tokyo Motor Show and based on the Toyota Harrier (RX300) 4x4 platform.

November 2000: The Daihatsu Terios, the (very) small four wheel drive, gets a make over.

7-9 November 2000: Firefly Special Vehicles Limited are showing the Firebex 6x6 at `Fire 2000' at G-Mex, Manchester. The company are also releasing details of its new vehicles: "Firewolf" a forward control cab fire truck, "Firehound" 4x2 forward control cab fire and rescue vehicle and "Attacker" a new range of 6x2, 6x4 & 6x6 fire and rescue vehicles.

November 2000: Neil Linger tells us that a Kinetic suspension system may yet be seen in a Merc' or a Jeep 4x4.

November 2000: Hyundai Santa-Fe (right) will challenge the Honda CR-V (currently the best selling 4WD in Australia!) and the like.

November 2000: The Toyota LandCruiser 100 Series has won the best petrol category and the Prado TX turbo-diesel has won the best diesel category of Australian 4WD Monthly's Year 2000 Awards.
See the best car awards [above].

4 November 2000: Torrential rain caused flooding in many parts of England. Peter Bradley writes from [Yorkshire...].

October 2000, Neil ursine date net --> Linger:

ft.com reports that Land Rover is to send many of its staff to Europe, particularly to Spain (que?) and Germany, for (re-)training to improve quality and reduce costs. New owner Ford is said to be disappointed at the state of Land Rover.

This maybe partly political - the bad guy / nice guy trick - to soften up the work force for unpalatable changes, however more than one (small) company known to 4wd.sofcom.com with dealings with Land Rover under its previous owner used to grumble about the situation in L-R.

October 2000: Suzuki Jimny gets dual airbags and air-conditioning as standard, and a dohc engine.

October 2000: News of the Rainforest Challenge 2000, happening 25 November - 5 December 2000.

October 2000, email:

[...] we believe that your readers would be interested in EZ Grip. The original EZ Grip mud flap hanger received its United States patent this summer. EZ Grip allows flaps to snap out without tearing. Then, drivers can replace the flaps themselves in seconds! The part that off-road four wheel vehicle owners will like the best is that they can remove the flaps as necessary and easily replace them when they want to get back on the highways.
EZ Grip uses standard mud flaps and no modifications are necessary to attach the EZ Grip to trailers.

- info@ezgrip

25 October 2000: It started raining in Victoria on Monday (23rd) and it has been raining on and off ever since. This is not unwelcome after a very dry year, with most dams only half full. However, there has been some flooding, with the threat of more in the NW when the run off from the alps reaches the plains. If this keeps up, it is quite likely to put back the opening of four wheel drive tracks in Victoria, most of which are nominally scheduled to open on 2 November.

19-22 October 2000: National 4x4 Show, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Southbank (with Fishing and Great Outdoors Expo') includes the Hyundai Santa-Fe 4x4 and the new six cylinder Subaru Outback. Tom Kruse and his Badger are there (students of Australian history will know what that means).

18-29 October 2000: British International Motor Show, NEC Birmingham.

18 November 2000: Are we nearly there yet (dad|mum)? "REX (Rear Entertainment Xtreme) is a fully integrated system that offers a choice of a Nintendo games deck, video player or DVD. The system is linked to a rear-facing colour screen, located between the front seats and operated from a fully-integrated control panel. [...] A REX unit with the Nintendo games deck and video player will retail for $1995, while the DVD player costs an additional $800." [-Ford au, for Ford Falcon AU/AUII]

18 November 2000, this one has "been around" but it made ed' laugh:

Once upon a time there was a shepherd tending his sheep at the edge of a country road. A brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee screeches to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in a Brioni suit, Cerrutti shoes, Ray-Ban glasses, Jovial Swiss wrist watch and a Bhs tie gets out and asks the shepherd, "If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?"
The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sprawling field of sheep and says,"Okay."
The young man parks the SUV, connects his notebook and wireless modem, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150 page report on his high tech mini printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says,"You have exactly 1,586 sheep here."
The shepherd answers: "That's correct, you can have your sheep."
The young man takes one of the animals and puts it in the back of his vehicle. The shepherd looks at him and asks: "Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?" The young man answers: "Sure."
The shepherd says, "You are a consultant." "Exactly! How did you know," asks the young man? "Very simple," answers the shepherd.
"First, you came here without being called. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Third, you do not understand anything about my business and I'd really like to have my dog back."

(Does anyone know the 1st teller?)

17 November 2000: The Australian dollar is down at US52c+something. This, together with the continuing violence between Israel and the Palestinians which has sent the oil price up, has lead to suggestions that petrol prices may rise by au5c/L shortly.

13-15 October 2000: 4WD and Adventure Show, Adelaide (SA, au) SW Parklands - [Chris], [www]

13-15 October 2000: The Mitsubishi 4WD Owners Club of Queensland hosted the Mitsubishi 4WD Muster at Imbil, 1hr 45min north of Brisbane, all makes of 4WD being welcome. pambroadhurst bigp0nd c0m Garry --> [www]

11 October 2000: A judge in California ordered the recall of 1.7 million Ford trucks and cars made prior to 1995 on the basis that they were prone to stalling which could cause dangerous situations in traffic.
(You may remember that Ford is also caught up in the Firestone tyre recall.)

9 October 2000, email from the USA:

The The Miami/ South Florida International Auto Show opened Friday. This is the first of America's "BIG FIVE" auto shows. On the 4WD front, there was a lot to see:

Saturn GM --> SUV- Saturn's first-ever SUV is based on the Saturn L-Series (Holden Vectra) sedan and wagon. It features a 138HP 2.2L 4-cylinder with 5-speed manual or CVT automatic, or a 181HP 3L V6 with a 5-speed automatic. The VersaTrak AWD system is optional. Novel features include polymer (plastic) body panels. It will go on sale in fall 2001 at <US$20K, and the name is ... SUV. It will be built at Saturn's Spring Hill, TN, assembly plant. [-Neil Linger]

Isuzu Axiom- This is a very unusual vehicle headed into production. The Axiom, which replaces the Oasis (Honda Odyssey/Shuttle), is one-third SUV, one-third MPV, and one-third station wagon. AWD and a 3.5 litre V6 are standard. It is almost identical to the Isuzu ZXS concept car. It will be built on the Isuzu Rodeo platform at Subaru-Isuzu Automotive in Indiana at a rate of 24,000 a year. The vehicle will not be sold in the UK, Japan, Australia, or Canada. It will only be sold in the US.

Subaru STX- Subaru confirmed production of a Legacy-based 4-door AWD car pick-up. Like the Axiom, built in the same manufacturing plant, 24,000 will be built, of which, like the Axiom, none will leave US borders.

Ford Explorer- Although the redesigned Explorer 3dr debuted a year ago, the 4-door is just arriving. It sports a fresh, but still traditional, look.

Mercury Moutaineer- The new Moutaineer differentiates itself more than ever from the Explorer; it features edgier styling.

Chevrolet TrailBlazer- This all-new SUV, which will seat seven, will slot between the current Blazer and the Tahoe. It will be powered by an all-new 260bhp I-6.

Lincoln Blackwood- Lincoln's new pickup was shown in final production form.

Audi S4 Avant, S8 - New to the US.

The Miami/South Florida International Auto Show runs through 15 October at the Miami Beach Convention Centre, only a few blocks away from world-famous South Beach and Ocean Drive. Keeping with Miami's 24/7 philosphy, the show is open until 11pm on weekdays and 1am on weekends. Nearly 650,000 are expected to attend this year, which would make it America's fourth largest.
- CarorVan, also see 1/Dec' & 1/Oct'

6 October 2000: The State Governments of Victoria and New South Wales announced an agreement to restore 21% of the original flow of the Snowy River from the Jindabyne Dam, part of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. It has often been said that the Scheme could not be built today, one reason being that it was begun with marginal legality, another that it would likely fail today's environmental impact studies. Despite its benefits, the Scheme's impacts have included turning the Snowy River into a vegetation clogged trickle, the current release from Jindabyne being just 1% of the original flow. Craig Ingram was elected independent member for Gippsland East at the last Victorian state election on the strength of his campaign for the flow to be restored to 28%, as recommended in a study of the river. Victoria and NSW hope that the water can be "found" by improving the irrigation network to reduce leakage and evaporation, thus not offending the powerful irrigation farmers - mostly in NSW. The agreement is yet to be approved by the Federal Government. which plans to privatise (i.e. sell) the Scheme shortly and an agreement on the Snowy is essential to this process. South Australia, which cops the salinity introduced into the Murray River by irrigation, is concerned that the plan may harm its water quality.

6-8 October 2000
Mid Atlantic Rally [www], a US (Land-) Rover gathering.

5 October 2000: Victorian (.au) truckies are threatening protests and possible blockades over what they say are low freight rates that have not risen in several years.

October 2000: Tibooburra and Innamincka.

October 2000: Bishop Steering Technology Ltd. reports that it has granted a licence to Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany to produce the Bishop digital Torque and Angle Sensor, a key component of electronic power-steering systems which are tipped to replace hydraulic systems in the future. The Australian company is already a major supplier of steering technology and parts - such as variable rate steering racks.

October 2000, email from the USA:

Land Rover says Defender will return to US

Land Rover's Defender four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicle will return to the U.S. in the next few years, the company said, according to a Bloomberg report.
The Defender is a tough, utilitarian SUV which has not been sold in the U.S. in recent years. Only a few thousand models were sold in the U.S. between 1992 and 1998. The Defender was discontinued here because it couldn't meet U.S. vehicle safety rules.
The move is part of Ford's plans to return Land Rover to profit by 2002 and to boost its annual sales from 168,000 last year to 200,000 in five years, the story said.
Ford acquired Land Rover in May from BMW for $2.6 billion and has folded the company into its Premier Automotive Group, the luxury-car organization that also includes Jaguar, Volvo, Aston Martin and Lincoln.
- CarorVan; also see: 9/Oct' & 15/Sept'

28 September - 15 October 2000: Mondial de l'automobile - International Paris Motor Show, e.g. Audi Steppenwolf, A8 L 6 W12 & TT hard-top, Bugatti EB 16.4, Mercedes Benz 2001 model year G-class 4x4 & C-class coupe, Porsche mid-engined V10, and Volvo VPCC.

>>>7-9/2000 News>>>

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