Protector RCTT tower defense

defense games

 Protector RCTT tower defense

Description Game:

Build warriors, mages, and defenders of other classes to defend against invading rats and monsters across the vast map.
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How to play Game:

Death Trap

scary maze game

  Death Trap

Description Game:

Escape from a house full of death traps.

How to play Game:

Vector siege tower defense

tower defense games

  Vector siege tower defense

Description Game:

A 10-level game where you use skill points gained from beating levels to upgrade tower abilities.
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How to play Game:

Crop Defenders

Kizi

 Crop Defenders

Game description: Defend the crops against invaders with your birds.  
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Happy Kitty Bike

happy wheels game

  Happy Kitty Bike

Description Game:

Dress up Hello Kitty as a bike rider, with many collections of choices to choose from.

How to play Game:

This game is played with mouse only.

Tower Blaster

Cool math for kids

 Tower Blaster

Description Game:

Build a tower by placing blocks in numerical progression.
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How to play Game:

Left mouse key - To interact.

Blast Billiards Combo

pool games

 Blast Billiards Combo

Description Game:

Choose between six of the most amazing Blast Billiards games. Try to master all of them!
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How to play Game:

Mouse

Armored Soldiers 2

gun games

 Armored Soldiers 2

Description Game:

Shoot all the enemies that appear on the screen in this 3D shooter with dual guns.
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How to play Game:

Mouse - Aim / Right Fire. D - Left Fire. Spacebar - Double Sight.

2D Knock-Out

fighting games

 2D Knock-Out

Description Game:

Travel around the world and defeat all the boxers.

How to play Game:

Left Mouse button to Punch and Space to Block.

Run Batman Run

batman games

  Run Batman Run

Description Game:

Help Christian Bale escape the law and live to make another sequel. Use your mouse to jump over the obstacles and avoid being caught by the cops and villains chasing you.
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How to play Game:

Use your mouse to play this game

Jeremy Lin Shootout

basketball games

 Jeremy Lin Shootout

Description Game:

Show your shooting skills and score as many baskets as you can before the time runs out.
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How to play Game:

This game is played with the mouse only.

Fairy Ride

dirt bike games

 Fairy Ride

Description Game:

It’s almost Christmas and this fairy shows up! Driving along on his red motorcycle, he discovers the snowy landscapes. Make sure he doesn’t fall, because he can’t get injured on Christmas.

How to play Game:

Arrow keys to drive

4×4 Soccer

disney cars

 4×4 Soccer

Description Game:

What’s more exciting than soccer? 4×4 soccer! Pit your skills against the world’s greatest in this clever twist on the classic sports game, and drive your way to victory!
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How to play Game:

Up arrow key - Accelerate Down arrow key - Decelerate/reverse Left/right arrow keys - turn left/right

Ultimate Force

Game Info - A group of terrorists called Tigers have invaded a city. You are part of Ultimate Forces fighting against the renegade. Your Mission: Eliminate Terror Threat!
Game controls - Mouse - Aim / Shoot.
1-5 - Select Weapon.
Spacebar - Reload.

Sort My Tiles Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Game Info - Sort our heroes in the fairy tale.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

School Is Fun Dress Up

Game Info - Mix and match to make your boring uniform something flashy!
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

Spaceship Afterparty

Game Info - A birthday party in an alien spaceship almost wrecked the entire cabin and everything's a mess! Can you help these poor aliens clean everything up before they get into trouble with the spaceship skipper?
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

H.E.L.I.C.

Game Info - Fly as a chopper as you place turrets and fire your chopper guns at incoming enemy waves.
Game controls - Use WASD keys to move.
Mouse to aim and shoot.
Space bar to build and repair turrets.

What Should I Wear 5

Game Info - Can you help her decide again which among the nice clothes to wear?
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Batman - The Chase

Game Info - This is one of the series of Batman games. In this game Joker is driving his car and littering Gotham city with Joker cards. You must stop Joker bumping him with your Batmobile. Collect power-ups to increase the damage you cause to Joker's car and avoid other cars, the bombs Joker leaves and bullets of Joker's henchmen.
Game controls - Use Arrow Keys to interact.

Hello Kitty Memory

Game Info - Find all pairs of identical cards in the shortest possible time.
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Hidden Hearts

Game Info - Hearts are hidden all around the place! Shoot the Hearts with archer's bow and arrows.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Rapunzel to Makeup

Game Info - Makeup!
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Find The Numbers - Challenge 3

Game Info - Find all the hidden numbers in the scene as fast as possible. Clicking wrong loses
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Laundry Rush

Game Info - The object of the game is to wash, dry and fold the laundry.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.

GUNROX - Rush

Game Info - You are always moving. Can you blast away the enemies as you continue to walk towards them?
Game controls - Use mouse to aim and shoot.
WAD keys to move.
1-4 to change weapon.

How to Make Pecan and Chocolate Pie

Game Info - This is made just like a traditional pecan pie, with the addition of chocolate chips. It is very fudgy. It is always the first dessert to go at our family's Thanksgiving!
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Super Miner

Game Info - As a Miner, your objective is to collect gold and gems and avoid from catching rocks and obstacles and reach to the goal of the level you are in.
Game controls - Use Mouse to interact.
Click left and right of the trolley cart to move the cart.

Click on the number next to the miner man if you picked up a rock or bomb, to explode it quickly!

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Game Info - Based on the popular show who wants to be a millionaire?
Game controls - Mouse - Interaction

Sonic RPG eps 3

Game Info - Here is the 3rd episode of the sequel Sonic RPG. The people who wanted to watch the power of Seelkadoom will enjoy this movie. The other ones will also enjoy this one...

NOTES:- Flash player 8 required
- To forward trough the text press ENTER
Game controls - Use mouse to interact.

Dress Up Doll 2

Game Info - This cutie little girl needs your big help in her beauty transformation. Help her and have fun!
Game controls - Mouse - To interact.

Save The Birds 2

Game Info - Second part of the game Save The Birds. Again, throw foods at the bird and save them.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Avatar Elemental Escape

Game Info - Switch between multiple game characters to complete the map and rescue all the team members.
Game controls - Left / Right Arrow Key - Move.
Up Arrow Key - Jump.
Z, X - Switch Character.
Spacebar - Special Move.

Moon Elf Mahjong

Game Info - Get into the Mahjong madness with a magical Moon Elf deck!

Click 2 matching cards to remove them from the board. If you run out of matches, click the stack to get more cards.

Clear the entire board before time runs out!
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Warzone Tower Defense Extended

Game Info - Expands upon the original game adding new tower upgrades and other unlock-able enhancements.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Bubbles Game

Game Info - Eliminate all the bubbles before they reach the bottom of the field. Shoot bubbles at them, making groups of three or more of the same color. Work quickly, because new rows of bubbles keep growing and the longer you play the faster the new rows grow. Have fun! Eliminate all the bubbles before they reach the bottom of the field. Shoot bubbles at them, making groups of three or more of the same color. Work quickly, because new rows of bubbles keep growing and the longer you play the faster the new rows grow. Have fun
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Dress For A Date 3

Game Info - Get ready for your date and disappoint.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Hidden Objects - Cindrella

Game Info - It s the time to use your observing skills to discover the hidden objects in Cindrella. Find the hidden objects in short duration to get high score. Avoid clicking wrongly as otherwise you will lose 20 seconds in given time duration.
Game controls - This game is played with mouse only.

Pizza City

Game description: Burn rubber and melt cheese.  
Game controls: Use arrow keys to move.

Cooking Mommy

Game description: Prepare delicious cakes and help mommy to prepare a great meal for her family! Take a good look at the list in the corner to learn about the correct order.
 Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Mod Teen Dress Up

Game description: Now this is a girl who knows fashion. Dress her up in any of over a hundred options. Game controls: Use Mouse to interact.

Image Disorder Ashley Tisdale

Game description: Re arrange the tiles to build Ashley's images.  
Game controls: Use mouse to interact.

Madness Combat Defense

Game description: Build up your defenses to fight off the Madness men!  
Game controls: Use mouser to interact.

ArtPad

Game description: Paint your picture, select a frame and hang your masterpiece in the gallery.  
Game controls: Use the mouse to play this game.

Roof Top Party

Game description: Get styled right for a swank cocktail party at dusk. Hit the rooftop in Chic skirt's, faux fur shall's, a new do, designer bag and matching shoes then dance the night away against a sparkling city skyline.
 Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Campfire Dress Up

Game description: Pick up nice clothes and be ready for a campfire.  
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Modern Day Princess

Game description: The princess Danielle today had received three love letters. Can you help her to prepare for
 Game controls: This game is played with mouse only.

Megaman X RPG: Chapter 1

Game description: The next chapter in the MMX RPG series. With so many new features, you'll be blown away.
 Game controls: Use arrow keys to move. Space bar to jump. backspace to access equipments.

Don't Whack Your Teacher

Game description: Can you find all the different ways to Whack Your Teacher?
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Three Kingdoms- Legend of Huang Zong

Game description: Huang Zhong (died 220[1]) was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was most noted for his victory in the Battle of Mount Dingjun, in which his force routed that of Xiahou Yuan, who was slain during battle. For his merits, Huang Zhong was ranked among the five leading generals of Shu Han, also known as the Five Tiger Generals in popular culture.
Game controls: W,A,S,D to move. J -Shooting. K - Jump. Triple kick J for faster shooting,Press S+K to run, J+K-Special Power. S+W+J-Special Power. 

Carrie Underwood Dress Up Game

Game description: Dress up your favorite country star. She is getting ready for her next concert and needs you to help her pick out the best looking outfit for the show!
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Euro Style Wedding Dresses

Game description: Select a nice Euro-style wedding dress for the lovely bride.
Game controls: Use mouse to interact. 

Tropical Swaps

Game description: Swap the blocks & match the pieces, blow up the bombs, and try not to get swamped in this fun-filled original action puzzle game!
Game controls: This game is played with mouse only. 

Pinkypop Christmas Story

Game description: Pinkypop received magic wings as a Christmas gift so he could get home faster. That's how a charming Christmas story about Pinkypop begins in which he will make new friends and celebrate winter holidays.
Game controls: This game is played by mouse only. 

Porsche readies 918 plug-in supercar

Production 918 Spyder emerges as Porsche reveals road-ready hybrid super-coupe

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Porsche has revealed the first images of its scintillating new 918 Spyder supercar in final production guise, in the form of a prototype clad in a matt-black and white colour scheme inspired by the brand’s famous Le Mans-winning 917 racers of the 1970s.

Six images of the road-ready 918 were accompanied by full provisional specifications, which continue to claim the ground-breaking two-seat coupe-convertible will accelerate to 100km/h in less than three seconds on its way to a top speed of more than 325km/h while being able to return combined average fuel consumption of about 3.0L/100km, making it both one of the world’s quickest production cars and more frugal than a Toyota Prius.

Thanks in part to an all-electric driving range of more than 25km – during which its top speed will be limited to ‘just’ 150km/h - Porsche says the 918 will emit an average of just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre, making it the most fuel-efficient Porsche ever, as well as the quickest.

In the latest in a series of pre-launch press releases, Porsche has now confirmed first customer deliveries will take place by the end of next year and says it remains on target to commence production by the end of September 2013 on a dedicated line at its Zuffenhausen headquarters in Stuttgart.

The first example will formally roll off the line next year on September 18 – 9/18, as it is known in some countries – and production will be limited to just 918 left-hand drive versions, meaning the 918 will be restricted to racetracks and private roads in some right-hand drive countries like Australia.

As such, Porsche has received no orders for the plug-in hybrid super-coupe from Australia, where import duty and the luxury car tax would bring its price to about $1.29 million.

As expected, the first street-legal 918 prototype looks similar to the concept that debuted at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show – and significantly more refined than the early development ‘mule’ that Porsche presented as it underwent high-speed testing at Italy’s Nardo circuit in March.

Look closer, however, and the production 918 – which appears to be a coupe but remains a roadster with a removable two-piece carbon-fibre ‘Targa’ roof – features a number of developments, including a more upright windscreen, slightly longer cabin accessed by longer doors, the removal of the concept’s bonnet venting and a smoother front bumper bookended by smaller air-vents on either side.

The 918’s formidable rear-end features more prominent rear wheel-arches, a longer rear overhang, a massive fixed rear wing designed to replicate the downforce of the production car’s multi-stage retractable spoiler, and the 918 Spyder’s characteristic ‘top pipes’ exhaust system, which comprises two outlets that emerge from the top of the engine bay behind the cabin’s integral carbon-fibre rollover hoops.

As previously revealed, the 918 Spyder is based around a full carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque chassis, with power coming from a mid-mounted dry-sump 4.6-litre V8 matched to a pair of electric motors - one mounted on the front axle to drive the front wheels and another in the transmission housing and driving the rear wheels.

While the V8 itself will deliver no less than 425kW, combined with the 90kW hybrid module on the rear axle and the 80kW electric motor on the front axle, the full parallel hybrid’s total power output will be 770hp or about 575kW.

The 918 will also feature fully adaptive aerodynamics, double wishbone front suspension with optional electro-pneumatic lift system, electro-mechanical power steering, a multi-link rear axle with adaptive electro-mechanical system for individual rear wheel steering, and a high-performance hybrid brake system with adaptive energy recuperation and ceramic brake discs (PCCB).

Energy for the hybrid system will come from a 6.8kWh-capacity lithium-ion battery that is mains compatible and offers maximum power of 202kW.

“What we are doing with the 918 Spyder is redefining driving fun, efficiency and performance,” said Porsche research and development chief Wolfgang Hatz, who said the two independent electric motors of the 918’s advanced petrol-electric drive system posed new development challenges.

“They are therefore a critical component in this vehicle into which we have put all of our expertise and capacity for innovation,” he said.

Naturally, the million-dollar 918 Spyder will top the Porsche range, representing a belated replacement for the Carrera GT. However, a recent German newspaper report indicates a new Ferrari-rivalling performance model to slot between the 911 and the 918 is far more likely to emerge from Porsche in the medium term than a sub-Boxster sportscar or a sub-Panamera sedan.

Porsche has announced the sub-Cayenne Macan compact SUV will become its fifth model line later next year, but speculation of a sixth model line - based on VW’s compact mid-engined BlueSport roadster concept that debuted at the 2009 Detroit show – now appears to have been premature.

Porsche parent company Volkswagen itself cast a cloud over the entry-level Porsche sportscar project earlier this year when it said it had yet to establish a business case for the BlueSport and now Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller has told Stuttgarter Zeitung that such a model could undermine the Porsche brand.

 “Porsche lives primarily from its brand,” he said. “It is the most important reason to buy a Porsche. We must ensure that the brand remains what it is, namely highly desirable (and) premium.

“If we were to offer a car that would be positioned below the Boxster, we would be talking to a completely new customer group. If we lose the established Porsche customers, we would not do the brand any favours.”

Mr Mueller said Porsche would be better served by investigating “other ideas for products without the risk” and cited a potential “high-performance sportscar” as one example, although he did not rule out revisiting the ‘baby Boxster’ project at a later date.

He also poured cold water on recent reports that Porsche was developing a new entry-level luxury sedan to be positioned below the Panamera. Dubbed Pajun (for Panamera Junior), the smaller four-door would be a direct rival for the likes of BMW’s upcoming 4 Series GranCoupe and a new sub-Quattroporte sedan from Maserati.

“We must ask ourselves whether it would make sense right now to bring a little Panamera to the market,” said Mr Mueller, who nevertheless said the Pajun project could be revisited in five to six years, by which time Porsche hopes to have doubled its global sales to about 200,000 units.

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Holden chooses ChargePoint for Volt refuelling

GM Holden reveals its first official electric vehicle recharging station, courtesy of ChargePoint

Holden today revealed the first tangible evidence of preparations for its inaugural plug-in hybrid model, the upcoming Volt, by officially launching its first electric vehicle (EV) charging point.

Positioned directly in front of Holden’s headquarters in Port Melbourne, the EV recharging station is the equivalent of a petrol bowser for regular cars games , and could become a common sight in supermarket and school carparks in 20 years.

For now, apart from a handful of pre-production Volts driven by Holden staff – who are more likely to use six other EV recharging stations installed by Holden for its own use – the only cars likely to be seen at the high-profile Salmon St charge point are Mitsubishi's pioneering i-MiEV and, from June, Nissan's Leaf.

The i-MiEV became available to Australian individuals last year, priced at $48,800 plus on-road costs, while the Leaf will become available here in June, priced from $51,500 plus ORCs. Holden is yet to announce pricing for its Volt, which will come with the added bonus of a range-extending petrol engine when it arrives in showrooms late this year.

The unveiling of its first charge point is a big deal for Holden, as evidenced by the attendance of federal Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet.

Local owners of the US-built Volt will have open access to the 3.3kW charging station in Port Melbourne, which is claimed to take about four hours to fully charge the Volt - only a couple of hours quicker than it would take at home with a regular power point. It is certainly not a 'fast charge' station. The electricity comes from Origin Energy's government-certified GreenPower supply, which uses renewable energy from sources such as hyrdo, solar and wind, making for true zero-emissions transport.

Interestingly, Holden's first charge station was installed by ChargePoint, notching up a minor victory for the electric vehicle infrastructure provider as the battle for charging station supremacy heats up.

Holden’s choice of ChargePoint as its first charging station partner is significant, given its indirect relationship with another high-profile provider, Better Place, which has so far been Australia’s highest-profile EV recharging infrastructure provider.

Holden is supplying a number of Commodore vehicles to EV Engineering, a consortium of local companies - including Better Place - that is developing seven plug-in Commodore-based proof-of-concept vehicles with a view towards production.

When customers buy the Holden Volt, they are likely to be directed towards a 'recommended' charge point supplier, but at this stage Holden is still working out the details.

Richard Marshall, GM Holden's Energy and Environment Director, told motoring.com.au a decision is likely to made on a recommended partner soon.

"We probably will end up doing some sort of partnership [with a charge point provider]. We need to make it as simple as possible for customers so that they can have peace of mind when they get the car home that everything's going to work properly," he said.

"We've got a fair bit of time between now and when we launch and there'll be a number of
decisions [made].”

It is understood that Better Place will offer a paid subscription-based service for recharging EVs at its charge hubs, while ChargePoint will employ a pay-as-you-go scheme but also offers a number of free charging stations.

Not unlike the various fuel retailers, such as Shell, BP, Caltex and so on, EV recharging infrastructure providers are jockeying for position in anticipation that in the next few decades electric cars will common place.

Greg Tyus, Holden’s Executive Director Engineering, said that for the time being there's room for more EV charging infrastructure providers in Australia, but that things will change down the track.

"There's room to grow, there's room for everyone at this point in time,” he said. “That could be a problem in 20 or 30 years time as take-up increases."

ChargePoint CEO James Brown, who said his company was very pleased to be chosen as the charge point provider at Holden's HQ, said that refuelling EVs will be more like going to an ATM than a petrol station.

"Charging is going to be like going to an ATM,” he said. “If you need to charge, you don’t care whether it's your home bank or another bank’s ATM. You just want to get your money out and so charging technology and services will be the same as that."

Lexus to challenge Q3 soon

Lexus admits it needs a compact luxury vehicle to compete with the Audi Q3 and BMW X1

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When Lexus decided to broaden its product range early in the new millennium, it considered two options - a compact hatch or a compact crossover.

The prestige Japanese carmaker went with the hatch, which was subsequently released as the CT200h, but the company is now turning its attention towards the booming compact SUV sector, in which it would target small luxury crossovers like BMW’s X1 and Audi’s new Q3.

During this week’s national media launch of the new GS450h hybrid, Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb reiterated the need for a compact SUV in the Lexus line-up.

"I think for Lexus to offer a complete range at some point in the future we'll have to develop a car of that nature, yes. I've got no idea what sort of platform ... but we'll definitely have to have a car of that type," he said.

"The market's growing. There's clearly people that demand in the luxury market a car of that [compact SUV] nature and definitely there's an opportunity there for us," added Mr Cramb.

Lexus’ most affordable SUV is the five-seat RX mid-sizer, but the entry-level version won’t leave you much change from $90,000, whereas a compact model would draw more first-time buyers to the brand with a sticker price of between $40,000 and $50,000.

Lexus top brass has recently reorganised its product development process, investing heavily in a new vehicle approval system that can essentially fast-track vehicles for production. This bodes well for the timely arrival of a compact SUV bearing Lexus badges, as Toyota’s premium brand continues to lose market share to the likes of BMW and Audi.

“In Lexus there's now a completely different product approval process, so whereas they used to go through literally hundreds of reviews and many, many layers of management review, Akia Toyoda and the Lexus group have cut away a lot of the Toyota beaurcaracy and have carved out funding for just Lexus development and Lexus products,” said Mr Cramb.

The local Lexus chief said there is room in the Lexus range for a compact soft-roader as well as a larger seven-seat SUV positioned between the RX and LandCruiser-based LX flagship, but that it is unlikely to be the Toyota Prado-based GX that is sold in the USA.

"There's definitely room in the line-up for a seven-seat vehicle that's not quite as big as the LX, so there's probably room between an RX and an LX."

The next SUV model action we'll see from Lexus will be a facelifted and expanded RX range due here later this year. As with the GS450h released this week, the RX will for the first time become available in F Sport guise.

“The run, drive, stop and turn - they're all impacted with sporting features [in the RX F Sport] in the same way we've done with IS350 and the same way we've done with GS and the same with CT."

While power outputs for the RX350 and RX450h F Sport models won't change, both new variants will benefit from a modified chassis and an aggressive new look.

"It's the same power [but] chassis, suspension, dynamic, and body appearance are new," said Mr Cramb.

Lexus Australia is also expected to introduce F Sport versions as part of its facelifted IS sedan/convertible and LS limousine models around October this year, before a redesigned IS sedan emerges as the next all-new Lexus model next year.

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AIMS: Audi's A1 takes the stage

RS5 and R8 Spyder were out the front, but it was the diminutive A1 capturing all the attention on Audi's stand
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Audi's two new model releases at the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) covered both ends of the market.

At the high end was the A8 L, a longer-wheelbase variant of the large, luxury car games with a 13cm stretch and the choice of three engines. At the low end of the market but potentially more important, was the new A1. The new hatch represents the future for the Audi brand -- particularly in Australia. Since 2004, the local market has been a happy hunting ground for Audi, with sales increasing every year without fail. The introduction of the accessible entry-level model will add further momentum to the company's sales volumes.

"[A1] should be the strongest car in our [product portfolio]," said Audi's local MD Uwe Hagen. "It's our entry model now... I think $29,900 is an offer, which is really reasonable."

The sub-$30K figure is the starting price for the new model range. Hagen, who admittedly has only been in the job for seven months, doesn't recall Audi ever selling a car here for under $30,000. We believe that at some point in the past there must have been an Audi selling below that point, but that time was probably back in the early 1980s.

In conversation with journalists after Audi's presentation at AIMS, Hagen stated that the A1 would kick off with a 1.4-litre model, but other drivetrain options would subsequently follow, including at least one diesel variant. Hagen didn't put paid to the possibility that the diesel variant in question might be a TDi e model, with auto-stop and a low carbon-footprint engine.

"I mentioned that this car is an entry-[level model], so new customers; that means those customers [must come] from other places..."

So Audi may be contemplating a MINI D/Prius/Fiesta ECOnetic rival for the Australian A1 range. Hagen wouldn't elaborate and nor would he confirm for the local market other variants such as the five-door model and convertible in the wings -- but Audi being Audi, it's unlikely these variants won't be sold here.

How would the presence of the tiny car in the Aussie line-up impact on the brand's image -- one that has been founded on prestige (and expense)?
"Perfect," answered Hagen, "because you can see this with other models. I think a premium brand is driven top-down...

Hagen quoted a member of Audi's board of management who stated that a premium product needed "admirers". A well-positioned entry-level model, logically, will convert admirers to brand "participants".

Audi plans to put a finance package on the table for A1 buyers when the car goes on sale locally from December of this year. The idea, according to Hagen, is to ease the hip-pocket pain of entry to the world of Audi ownership -- not that the $29,900 asking price for the basic A1 is very steep in current terms.

But Audi is making sure the acceptance of the A1 by its target buyer demographic will be a matter of form.

"Currently our best-selling car is the A4, by volume. But we are convinced the A1 will... sell more.

"With premium brands you have high loyalty... so the earlier you can get people into your range, the better it is."

"It fits the market," Hagen explained when the Carsales Network asked him why the A4 outsells the A3. He principally believes that the A4 is a better package (by size) for Australian buyers, but the MD insinuates that the A4 is a car that Aussies associate with the prestige of the Audi brand to a greater degree than is the case for the A3.

That being so, why should the even cheaper, even smaller A1 outsell the A4? In essence, it's about the social climbing of young, aspirational buyers -- something that BMW exploited in the same way with the 318i from the 1980s, although Hagen says that, in his opinion, the MINI is now the new entry-level BMW.

That supports his contention that a quirky small car can be a volume-selling success story. And like the MINI, the A1 will likely reach the local market with a wide range of accessories, provided they meet the demands of global markets. Audi in Australia is already confident the A1 will sell like wildfire here, says Hagen, because the social networks on the internet have been abuzz with news of the new car since it was announced for the local market.

The A8 L that was also unveiled in Sydney will be available with three engines: a 4.2-litre direct-injection petrol V8, a 4.2-litre turbodiesel V8 and a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6. All three engines drive through ZF's eight-speed automatic transmission. The long-wheelbase variants will go on sale in the first quarter of next year, with pricing and specification to be announced at that time.
For our full coverage of the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney visit our minisite at carsales.com.au/aims

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AIMS: Suzuki previews Swift for 2011 debut

One of Australia's favourite hatchbacks gets more room and better efficiency
discount new cars  » Get the best price on a new Suzuki Suzuki previewed the new generation Swift hatchback at the Australian International Motor Show this morning – but it won't go on sale until about March next year.

The company said the new model is taller, wider and roomier than before – and yet more fuel efficient.

The new Swift has already won 63 car of the year awards in 19 countries.

The company confirmed the Australian-spec Swift will have seven airbags standard across the range, including a driver's knee airbag, and stability control. What's not clear is what engine will be under the bonnet but the Carsales Network understands it will have a 1.4-litre petrol engine, not the 1.2-litre engine offered in Europe.

"People loved the look of the current Swift so there wasn't a need to change it radically," said the boss of Suzuki Australia, Tony Devers, when asked about the new model's familiar styling.

Devers confirmed a diesel version was under consideration. However, the Suzuki marketing boss cautioned it was not confirmed.

"In this class of car the improvement in fuel economy between petrol and diesel is less pronounced. It's harder to justify [the additional diesel engine costs] in dollar terms," he stated.

Devers promised the new Swift would deliver class-leading fuel economy in its petrol variant.

Suzuki Australia is on track to record 25,000 sales for the first time in its history. To the end of September, Suzuki had sold 18,602 cars, up 27 per cent on the 2009 figure at a time when the new-car market is up 14 per cent.

For our full coverage of the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney visit our minisite at carsales.com.au/aims

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AIMS: Lexus confirms LF-A supercar price

A Japanese Ferrari for $700K -- but if you want one you may be disappointed as all of them are sold...
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Lexus has confirmed the price of its LF-A supercar – and although it was tipped to cost well in excess of half-a-million dollars, its official sticker of $700,000 plus on-roads is still a bit of a shock. The same money will buy the top end Ferraris and Lamborghinis – and give you change.

But it matters little; all eight cars destined for Australia are sold, with the first one due to arrive early next year.

"This is a very exciting car for Lexus and we’re pleased that there was such strong interest," said the boss of Lexus Australia Tony Cramb. "We really wish we could get supply of more cars, but unfortunately that’s it."

The Lexus LF-A will be one of the most exclusive cars on sale in Australia.

"Each and every Lexus LF-A customer will have personal dialogue with senior Lexus Australia representatives," Cramb said.

As is the norm in the top-end supercar class, Lexus would not reveal the identity of the buyers. However, the Carsales Network understands that at least two of the vehicles have been bought by Toyota-Lexus dealers.

The Lexus LF-A is powered by a 4.8-litre V10 with 412kW of power and 480Nm of torque. It reaches 100km/h in a claimed 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 325km/h.

At AIMS the car was debuted by LF-A ambassadeur, US sportscar driver, Scott Pruett. Pruett has completed more than 10,000km at the wheel of LF-As as part of Lexus USA's sales program. There all 171 cars allocated to US buyers are now also sold, say Lexus insiders.

For our full coverage of the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney visit our minisite at carsales.com.au/aims

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VW Touareg Exclusive pack announced

A new option takes Volkswagen's Touareg upmarket, but it may not make it to Australia
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Volkswagen's PR team in Germany has revealed that a new premium grade variant is joining the Touareg range. Named the Touareg Exclusive, the new model is basically an option pack in fact, and can be ordered with any of the different drivetrain options on offer.

"That's produced by R GmbH, the new division that used to be known as Volkswagen Individual," said Karl Gehling, Volkswagen Australia's General Manager for Press and PR.

Gehling advised that VW hasn't looked at the Exclusive pack for Australia as yet.

"At this stage we haven't got any plans, but we haven't actually launched the [new] Touareg yet... we'll do that in the first half of next year... that's not to say we won't [offer Exclusive]..."

As reported previously by the Carsales Network, R GmbH is to Volkswagen what HSV is to Holden (leaving aside ownership issues), and like HSV, R GMbH supplies high-performance versions of the bog-standard cars built by the parent company. HSV no longer produces enhancement packs for Holdens, but plainly the Exclusive pack for the Touareg is analogous to that earlier concept. It's arguably an idea that could kick along profit for VW dealers offering dress-up gear and added comfort for the new cars being sold.

So what does the existence of the Exclusive pack mean for Volkswagen (and in Australia specifically)? Will VW Oz offer a bundle of different comfort and style packs named 'Exclusive', across the product range and not just for Touareg, we asked Gehling.

"We haven't decided what we'll do with those models," he answered. "Obviously we get the 'R' [high performance] models from R GmbH and we'll continue to offer those when they become available, but we haven't decided what we'll do with the 'Exclusive' denomination."

The 'danger' is that a Touareg with the Exclusive pack might pose a threat to sales of Audi's Q7, if the Touareg can offer the same level of comfort and convenience at a lower price. Whether Volkswagen in Australia would be concerned about that is open to debate.

It's clear from the specs that the Exclusive pack is more about comfort and cosmetic details than a performance upgrade. The basic components of the pack are: two-tone coordinated 'Nappa' leather trim, Olive Silk Gloss woodgrain trim, heated 12-way electrically adjustable front seats, a black headlining and stainless steel scuff plates.

Buyers can specify the 'cool' leather -- reducing the ill effects of direct sunlight -- in two different colour combinations: Pepper Beige/Titan Black or Dark Burgundy/Titan Black. The electrically-adjustable seats also feature pneumatic side bolsters for the backrests and four-way adjustment for the headrests.

Externally, the Touareg Exclusive can be identified by the 19-inch alloy wheels and the 'Chrome & Style' appearance pack, incorporating anodised silver roof rails. The 19-inch alloy wheels can be ordered in one of two designs, the default 'Salamanca' style, painted in Sterling Silver, or the Girona design at no extra cost. Volkswagen also offers an extra-cost upgrade to 20-inch Tarragona wheels.

In Europe, the Touareg Exclusive starts at €58,150, in the V6 TDI BlueMotion variant.

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2012 Audi A6 spied

Scheduled for launch mid-2011, the next generation Audi A6 will boast new looks and new technologies
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We've seen more and more testing of the Audi A6 large car take place over the past year, and these latest spy photos, snapped by Carparazzi, provide another insight into what the German car maker is planning.

Like the recently updated Audi A8, the new A6 will be a conservative evolution of the previous model's design, with strong family ties expected in the new styling. Though the headlights and front fascia have been taped over to hide the new design, it's clear that Audi will be changing the car's appearance, and the Germany car maker also appears to have fashioned new brake light units.

BMW's F10 generation 5 Series has been roundly praised, and Audi's A6 -- as a direct competitor -- will need to use every weapon in its arsenal to keep the highly-lauded BMW honest.

As such, expect some of the technology, such as the handwriting touch-pad and night vision, to trickle down from the A8 to the A6, which, based on the increased testing regime, is likely to be unveiled in the first half of 2011.

Another big change for the 2012 Audi A6 will be its platform, which will ditch the Volkswagen Group's C-chassis, instead being based on Audi's MLB modular aluminium chassis.

Engine choices will be wide-ranging for Audi's A6, including a number of petrol engines, among them the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 of the Audi S4 and a brand new 4.0-litre V8, according to Carparazzi. Four- and six-cylinder diesel engines will also be offered and new transmissions are also on the cards, including seven-speed dual clutch and eight-speed torque convertor gearboxes.

The new Audi A6 will be built at the prestige car maker's Neckarsulm plant in Germany.

-- with Carparazzi

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Volvo wins DRIVe drivers free pass into London

Swedish auto maker's win against the city of London is an important lesson for Aussie cities contemplating a congestion tax
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Volvo has delivered prospective buyers an important new carrot in the carbon conscious, stick-wielding UK. The prestige car maker has shown the City of London the error of its ways through the courts, winning an important reprieve for owners of diesel-engined cars that emit fewer than 100 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Previously, London had imposed its congestion tax on lean-burning diesels while waiving the impost for hybrids, even those as large and potentially profligate as the Lexus LS 600 hL.

No city in Australia has imposed a congestion tax yet, but Sydney and Melbourne are understood to be considering such an initiative. Importers selling clean diesels in Australia may need to be on the front foot to dissuade the Australian cities from configuring a congestion charge that favours hybrids over diesels.

In the UK, Volvo mounted a campaign to redress what the company claimed was an inherent injustice in the urban Congestion Charge scheme. Current Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, consequently changed the rules to waive the £8 a day impost for all Euro 5-compliant cars and those emitting less than 100g/km CO2.

The waiver had been reserved for alt-fuel and hybrid vehicles, effectively penalising the many advanced petrol and diesel burners that better them in CO2 emissions. Among the disadvantaged were Volvo's C30, S40 and V50 DRIVe models, all good for 99g/km.

The emissions equality campaign took just over a year, the company sending its first missive to the Mayor in June 2009, and subsequently inviting adversely affected drivers to join an online petition.

Under the revised rules, they and a number of other conventionally powered models will qualify for the Greener Vehicle Discount from January, saving drivers up to £2500 a year.

Not that this is locked in forever. With legislation driving emissions steadily downward, supervising agency Transport for London has vowed to keep an eye on progress, particularly under the influence of a raft of new EVs and PHEVs due out in 2011 and 2012. With the discount criteria to remain under constant review, the agency will be monitoring total emissions patterns to see if the 100 per cent discount threshold just announced might not shift from sub-100g to sub-80g cars.

Should that happen, Volvo will be ready. The company has already taken the wraps off a V70 PHEV wagon it claims limbos in under 50g/km CO2 -- and it says the vehicle's plug-in technology will be ready for rollout in 2012. There's also a zero-emissions C30 EV in the offing.

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MOTORSPORT: Sydney finale so important for V8 Supercars

The Sydney Telstra 500 will not only decide who is the year's V8 Super car games champion but be a key test of the strength of Australia's major motor racing category

Friday motorsport report
December 3, 2010

Three cheers for Courtney, Whincup and Winterbottom
It's a special, crucial, decisive weekend for V8 Supercar racing. By Sunday evening the sport could, probably will, have a new champion – 30-year-old James Courtney. Or it could have a triple champion, still only 27 – Jamie Whincup. And if things go horribly wrong on the streets of Homebush in Sydney for both Courtney and Whincup, another driver, not yet 30, could be the new champion – Mark Winterbottom. Highly unlikely that, though.

Courtney has 2932 points after 24 races in the V8 Supercar Championship, Whincup 2879 and Winterbottom 2729 – so 53 points between first and second, 150 between second and third, 203 between first and third. There's a maximum 300 points for any of them to earn in the weekend's two 250km races. Courtney's therefore in the box seat for the title.

Both Courtney and Winterbottom are western Sydney boys, even though neither resides there now. They're driving Ford Falcons, while Whincup is in a Holden Commodore after winning the championship the past two years in Ford.

There's a lot going for this second Sydney Telstra 500 at the 2000 Olympics precinct. Apart from the country's premier race series, the Fujitsu development series, the utes, the Touring Car Masters and the soon-to-be-no-more MINI Challenge are on the program (although not the exciting little Aussie Racing Cars, despite them being built just down the road). And there are big music concerts Saturday and Sunday nights.

While the V8 Supercar Championship has come down to the wire, as it ideally should, this weekend is going to be an important test of the strength of the category. A test in terms of the attendance the event draws to the circuit and the TV audience it attracts in Sydney and around the country, up against the Australian Open golf tournament, also in Sydney, and an Ashes cricket test in Adelaide.

It also will compete for attention with the never-ending stream of football news, especially the wash-up from Australia missing out overnight on hosting the 2022 soccer World Cup and the latest episode of players from whichever code behaving badly.

On top of all this, there's the strong prospect of a weekend of dodgy weather. Scattered showers are forecast for Sydney both days of the weekend.

A lot of NSW taxpayer dollars have gone into the Sydney Telstra 500 – most of it in the set-up for the first one last year.

Year one was moderately successful by many measures, although it didn't have the enthralling championship battle that this year does. Twelve months ago Whincup only needed to start one of the Homebush races to seal the title. Now this season's grand finale needs to find its place in the V8 Supercar – and broader Australian motor racing, and general sporting – charts.

As the conclusion to the championship, and the decider, in the biggest city and market in the country it needs to establish itself as at least the equal of Adelaide's 500 and the Gold Coast's now 600.

When V8 Supercar chief Tony Cochrane was fighting to establish the Sydney Telstra 500, and finally got his way with the NSW government, there were some saying it would be "The Bathurst of the Big Smoke". That's not something it's going to become in a couple of years.

First it needs to set itself above 10 or so other rounds and, as noted above, at least the equal of Adelaide and the Gold Coast.

Those other two have their own advantages – Adelaide being the first Australian round of the championship and a city with a particular passion for motor racing, and the Gold Coast its setting and sunshine (as well its location in the stronghold of V8 Supercar racing). Sydney has what ought to be one huge plus – not that the racing is run on the hallowed streets of the Olympic site, nor that the competition is supplemented by big concerts (so are Adelaide and the Gold Coast), not even that it is slap, bang in the middle of the country's biggest market, but that it is here that Australia's major motor racing championship climaxes.

Any of the three potential champions should be good news.

Courtney is already well known beyond the motorsport community for his television dancing stint. He'll be a breath of fresh air as champion -- no disrespect to Whincup intended.

The champion of the past two seasons has accumulated an amazing record in a short term. All the more amazing, still, because he was not rated highly by a couple of team owners who otherwise have shown a sharp eye for talent – Garry Rogers and Larry Perkins.

Winterbottom has been a bridesmaid in V8 Supercar racing for quite some time but if he were to come from so far behind to steal the title it would be a sensation.

For Ford, having seen Team Vodafone/Triple Eight Race Engineering take Whincup and Craig Lowndes across to Holden this season and seemingly set to see Courtney switch to Toll Holden Racing Team next year, the title in the hands of Ford Performance Racing's lead driver Winterbottom would be the best outcome.

But it's hard to envisage that it won't be Courtney hoisting the trophy on Sunday.

An incredible success it will be for him, in light of the turmoil that has embroiled Dick Johnson/Jim Beam Racing for so much of the season – and so publicly since around Bathurst time.

Courtney was a karting world champion and gave open-wheeler racing a big shot overseas – getting to the brink of Formula One. To have come home and settled into V8 Supercar racing, a national title five years later is deserved. He will be the face of the triumph.

Yet, we can't help thinking there is an irony to it all. Two and three years ago Dick Johnson, a multiple champion and Bathurst winner, was on skid row in V8 Supercars. DJR almost collapsed. Johnson's standing in many eyes was greatly diminished – particularly the eyes of creditors.

A forklift entrepreneur, Charlie Schwerkolt, then came to the rescue, buying half the team.

Schwerkolt is given much of the credit for turning around the team's fortunes. Yet Johnson and Schwerkolt have fallen out. Bitterly and, it seems, irretrievably.

For weeks it looked as though Schwerkolt would untangle himself from the DJR ownership imbroglio and take Courtney to run under the FPR umbrella next year. Now it appears Courtney is destined for HRT and Schwerkolt, surely the biggest shaker and mover in V8 Supercar circles of late, is in something of a no man's land in the sport.

And, if Courtney becomes champion this weekend, he will go into the history books having done it for Dick Johnson. It's a curious irony.

We make no judgment on either Johnson or Schwerkolt. Just glad that Australia's oldest touring car team survives, and hope a neat solution is found to the mess behind the success already achieved this year.

And may the best driver win the championship on the weekend.

Ferrari unleashes 458 Challenge at Bologna show

All-new factory racer promises to light up circuits around the world in 2011 as hostilities resume in Ferrari Challenge one-make series
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Ferrari used the Bologna motor show to peel the covers off its eagerly awaited new factory racer, the 458 Challenge. And the Italian racer looks every bit as tantalising as its sworn enemy, Porsche's latest 911 GT3 Cup car.

Conceived for the Ferrari Challenge (as was the case with the Challenge versions of its 348, F355, 360 and F430 predecessors), the latest track-focused car is based on the 458 Italia and is the fifth model used by Ferrari in its single-make racing series.

The Ferrari Challenge is currently split into Italian, European and North American championships, but these will from next year be supplemented by the new Asia-Pacific series.

The company claims the 458 Challenge is two seconds a lap quicker than its predecessor around Ferrari's Fiorano test track, setting a new benchmark of 1min 16.5sec. Equally impressive, according to Ferrari, is the amount of lateral grip the new racer generates -- up to 1.6G.

The direct injection 4499cc V8 remains in production tune, eking out 420kW at 9000rpm, but the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox have been tweaked to allegedly deliver more oomph at low revs.

As per the road-going model, the 458 Challenge is equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential, signalling the first time this technology has featured in a Ferrari track car.

The competition-focused chassis set-up brings steel uniball joints, stiffer springs, single-rate alloy dampers, centre-nut 19-inch forged rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 50mm all round.

The 458 Challenge also scores the new-generation Brembo CCM2 brakes integrated with the latest ABS system that debuted on Ferrari's 599XX experimental racer/laboratory car.

Another first for a Ferrari Challenge model is the adoption of the F1-Trac traction control system, claimed to be the most sophisticated of its kind. Ferrari says the F1-Trac is completely integrated with the E-Diff to guarantee maximum stability and acceleration both into and out of corners.

The ABS/EBD, F1-Trac and E-Diff calibration settings are selected via the manettino on the steering wheel, the first time this technology has been adopted on a model developed for the Ferrari Challenge series.

The driver has a choice of three configurations: OFF position (traction control deactivated), position 1 and position 2. The latter two settings have progressively higher levels of control system intervention and are selected in accordance with grip conditions on the track.

Ferrari claims considerable time and effort went into trimming the car's weight (although the exact figure isn't mentioned in Ferrari's blurb). Measures resorted to include reducing the thickness of the body panels and making extensive of use of lightweight materials such as carbon-fibre and Lexan.

In the words of the company: "With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari puts an exceptional combination of extreme performance, superb fun behind the wheel and unique driving emotions at the finger-tips of its sporting, professional and gentleman-driver clients."

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Audi A1 aims to beat Mini in its first year

German city-car poised to drive another sales surge, with prices starting from under $30,000
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The Audi A1 may be small but there's a lot riding on its petite frame. Indeed, the German prestige brand expects to outsell its main rival, the MINI Cooper hatch, within its first 12 months on sale.

And it is taking the fight to the streets, with mobile A1 showrooms set to appear in St Kilda and Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, and Darling Harbour and Bondi in Sydney over the next fortnight.

At the launch of the A1 in Melbourne overnight, the boss of Audi Australia, Uwe Hagen, told the Carsales Network that the company expected to sell in excess of 2000 cars in its first full year on sale.

MINI has customarily sold about 2000 Coopers a year and is on track to eclipse that figure in 2010. But the A1 could put a dent on the dominance of the BMW-owned small car icon.

"We don't target the MINI specifically," Hagen said. "The rivals for the A1 are all types of cars. People are downsizing and coming from completely different vehicles, not only small cars."

When asked how many A1 Audi dealers expected to sell, Hagen said: "For sure I think 2000 sales is not a problem. If this is more than MINI then so be it, but that is not the target."

Hagen said that the premium small car market was growing so rapidly that there was room for everyone.

"I think we can all exist. The market is really expanding – so far this year it is up 33 per cent."

He said the A1 was a "new entry gate" to the Audi brand but would also help give the company another sales surge.

In the past three years, Audi sales have grown by 30 per cent, then 20 per cent, waning to a forecast 10 per cent this year.

"If we do an extra 2000 cars with the A1, as well as get some improvement from our other models, we should again get in the high teens, maybe 18 per cent growth in 2011," Hagen opined.

Audi believes between 80 and 90 per cent of A1 owners will be new to the Audi brand.

"We hope to have them come to Audi for the A1 and then stay with us," he said.

The Audi A1 starts from $29,990 for a 1.4-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol model with six-speed manual, ranging to the top grade model with a seven-speed twin clutch automated transmission at $35,000 (both prices exclude registration and dealer charges).

To appeal to "young urban professionals", Audi has introduced a finance package that bundles lease repayments and scheduled servicing for $169 per week. The interest rate is locked at 9 per cent and the terms vary from 36 to 48 months, depending on the model.

The A1 is reasonably well equipped but there is at least one glaring oversight. Wireless Bluetooth phone connection, standard on many cars that are less than half the price of the littlest Audi, is part of an option pack that costs between $1450 and $1800 depending on the model.

A 1.6-litre turbodiesel will be introduced mid-2011, and a five door variant will follow in 2012. A cabrio is not yet confirmed but could arrive in 2013.

The much anticipated all-wheel-drive, high performance S1 has been ruled out as it would be too expensive to modify the rear underbody to fit the all-wheel-drive system. Instead the S1 will have to wait until the next all-new model is developed for release in five years' time.

The Audi A1 shares its core underbody with the latest Volkswagen Polo – the reigning World Car of the Year and already a winner of a number of awards in Australia in 2010. Audi, however, is at pains to point out it has made significant engineering changes to improve quality, refinement and dynamics.

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Honda dragging its heels on diesel

Other importers are seeing good sales of diesel models but Honda still can't hop on the gravy train just yet
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Honda is one of the few brands in Australia without a diesel option among its range. Worse still, the local arm is forced to watch others enjoy significant sales momentum for diesel's frugal motoring.

Cost and source are the two main issues preventing diesel Honda models from appearing in local showrooms, according to spokesmen for the brand.

Honda is developing new, more efficient petrol engines and a small diesel option for Europe by 2012, but Honda Australia "does not plan to introduce it," according to company MD Satoshi Matsuzawa.

"That doesn't mean diesel is off the table [for Australian Honda customers]," he quickly added during the press conference for the launch of the new Insight.

"We need to assess whether it is viable and profitable," he explained.

But surely its viability and profit-making potential is obvious when some brands' volume is attributed to up to 50 per cent diesel models?

"There's clearly a market for diesels so we're not ruling it out," said Stephen Collins, General Manager Sales and Marketing for Honda Australia.

"At the end of the day the business case has to add up and cost [currently] is an issue. But we certainly recognise the opportunity, in various segments... We don't deny there's an opportunity there."

The figures won't "add up" for at least 12 months, Collins suggested. "Beyond there, we're still working through it [the case for diesel]... It's certainly an interest but at this stage we can't confirm anything in that respect."

Not only is the cost of sourcing Honda diesel powerplants for local buyers prohibitive but the local team also needs to close-up the price for a diesel over a petrol engine.

"Ultimately the premium between a diesel and petrol [offering] needs to be reasonable in its marketplace, especially given how competitive our marketplace is," said Collins.

Honda Australia's National Public Relations Manager, Mark Higgins added factory costs and a lack of surplus also delayed plans for a diesel offering locally.

Currently the well-acclaimed 2.2-litre turbodiesel is available in European-market Accord, Civic hatch and CR-V models and even if Honda Australia could trim source expenses, supply would be constrained due to demand elsewhere.

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