Advertisements: 09/13/13

Friday, 13 September 2013

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is off to a running start with the new turbocharged B250 hatch going on sale in time for 2013.

A new A-Class hatchback will arrive in March, offering drivers the opportunity to stay in touch with social media when behind the wheel.

Mercedes-Benz will target more blue-collar brands like Ford and Volkswagen with the new A-Class, which could surpass the C-Class sedan as the manufacturer’s most popular model.
Mercedes-Benz B-Class.

Mazda

The Mazda2 and Mazda3 will soon receive an updated look as well as new engines and gearboxes to bring them into line with competitors.

Mazda2 will be released in the third quarter next year. The car should feature a range of updates including a change away from the current car’s dated four-speed auto gearbox.

A spokesman for the brand said it was possible that Australia’s best-selling car, the Mazda3, would be revised in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The small car range will benefit from styling changes that bring it into line with the svelte new Mazda6.

It will also get a new range of more efficient engines.

Hyundai

Hyundai is launching just one new car in 2013, a wagon version of its i30 hatch.

The i30 tourer will be available before Easter, priced from only $29,990.

The car will share the i30’s petrol and diesel engines and be available in both manual and automatic forms.

Honda

Honda will add to its green credentials by adding a hybrid option to the Jazz city car.

The Jazz Hybrid will go on sale in February, looking quite similar to existing petrol models. Final specification for the car has not yet been confirmed, but its fuel use should be close to the Honda Insight’s 4.3L/100km frugality.

Honda will also introduce a diesel version of its Civic hatchback in March. It will be one of the most fuel-efficient cars on sale, with the 88kW 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine using just 3.6L/100km of fuel.

The Hybrid CR-Z coupe is in line for a minor facelift in April that should freshen up its look.

Ford

Ford’s Fiesta city car is also in line for an update that will see it receive a turbocharged petrol engine. The new car will arrive in August, powered by the Blue Oval’s new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, and it will also bring Ford’s Sync connectivity system to the Fiesta line.

June will see the local debut of the Ford Fiesta ST, a three-door hatch powered by a turbocharged 1.6 litre engine with 132kW and 240Nm.

As with Ford’s Focus ST, the Fiesta ST will only be available with a six-speed manual transmission.

Holden

Holden will also introduce an automatic version of its entry-level Spark hatchback.

Mr Devereux says the brand launched Spark as a manual-only car without acknowledging that buyers in the city car market “almost exclusively want auto”.

The automatic Spark will be available in January and should re-ignite flagging sales of the $12,490 hatch.

Audi

Audi’s calendar for 2013 includes an all-new A3 hatch and several performance cars that will have well-heeled petrol heads readying their chequebooks.

The new A3 Sportback will arrive in May, followed by the regular version in about July. The cars will be available with a range of four petrol and diesel engines ranging from 77 kW to 132 kW, as well as manual and dual-clutch transmissions.

The car is up to 90 kilograms lighter than the previous version, and is among of raft of premium hatchbacks that aim to woo Australian buyers in 2013.