BEAT THE WINTER BLUES
THE LATEST UTES ARRIVAL TO AUSTRALIA IN 2017-2018 The Ute is an Aussie institution, with the segment experiencing more renewal and activity over the last 12 months than any time in recent history. Have a taste of what's coming to Australia, whether you’re after a Ute, pickup or a 4×4 dual-cab.
1. Mercedes-Benz X-Class Already previewed with two concepts, the X-Class will sit on Nissan Navara NP300 underpinnings but use Mercedes’s styling, interior and power-trains to create the most luxurious contender the segment has ever seen. Sure to be popular and priced at the top of the food chain, the X-Class is expected to be exclusively available in dual-cab with either Nissan’s 2.3-litre diesel or a circa-190kW V6 diesel making it the most powerful in the class. If it is truly successful, no doubt Audi and BMW will strongly consider getting in on the action too. It arrives later this year.
2. 2018 Ford Ranger Customers and Ford execs alike are so impressed with the Australian-engineered T6 Ranger that not only is it going to return to the USA, it will form the basis for the iconic Ford Bronco’s return. Australia is still the development hub for the Ranger, but a new Source: interior and styling will be added to meet the pickup-hungry U.S appetite head-on. Strong possibilities include turbo-petrol EcoBoost power-trains and the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 that will debut in the F-150 this year. Expect to see the new Ranger debut next year.
3. LDV T60 Chinese commercial vehicle company LDV will be expanding its presence in Australia with the T60 Ute this year. It is expected to net a five-star ANCAP safety rating and feature an all-new chassis. Best of all, the styling looks completely original. One of the biggest draw-cards will be a very large interior touchscreen while a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine will be the bedrock of the T60 range. Expect it in the second half of this year.
4. 2018 Mitsubishi Triton The Triton has a very safe niche in its segment as being trustworthy and great value. It is usually more affordable than its main rivals while offering more-or-less the same level of capability. The next Triton is expected to benefit from the recent acquisition of Mitsubishi by Nissan, which means it could sit atop the Navara’s chassis or share electrical or power-train components. Exactly what form this will take remains to be seen but we are interested to see how this one pans out.
5. HSV Colorado Ending an era that lasted 30 years, Holden Special Vehicles will be looking to capture new market segments with vehicles that remain ‘exciting’. The Colorado is a natural fit, considering the segment’s popularity and the SuperUtes racing series now supporting the Virgin Australia Supercars series. Some rumours suggest a Colorado-based ‘Maloo X‘ could be V8 powered, but a tuned turbo-diesel is more likely, with tough and aggressive off-road styling.
6. Mazda BT50/ Isuzu D-Max Concurrently ending two partnerships with America’s two biggest manufacturers, Mazda and Isuzu will sever ties with Ford and GM respectively for their next-generation Utes that will focus more on utility and servicing the Asian market, while still capitalising on the high-end part of the segment. Exactly what form this partnership will take will be interesting, since both companies have heritage and engineering prowess to offer.
7. Dodge Ram The 2018 Ram was inadvertently leaked via a dealer meeting, showing the big boss will adopt a more rounded and sinister look, evolving into a sexy beast. The Ram is currently available after right-hand drive conversion in Australia and demand has sky-rocketed. You can expect this to continue when the new model surfaces, so much so FCA Australia is pushing for right-hand drive from the factory.
8. Mahindra Pik-Up In the middle of 2017, Mahindra’s trusty mule the Pik-Up will get significant styling and interior revisions. Based on the revised Scorpio SUV that is also likely to come to Australia, the Pik-up will get revised 2.2-litre diesel engines matched to five-speed manual or six-speed auto gearboxes. The upright design offers room and visibility not typically seen in this segment, while revisions to the infotainment system will add a touch of modernity.
Source: performancedrive.com.au
9. Jeep Wrangler Pickup
10. Tesla Pickup
Jeep has become so synonymous with SUV wagons that many might forget they used to build Utes. The Commanche was the last one, based on the XJ Cherokee. The next-gen Wrangler looks set to revisit the Jeep Ute, with aluminium panels, better aerodynamics and either a 2.0-litre, circa-220kW turbo-petrol or diesel V6 engine combined with an eight-speed auto. The off-roading capability is sure to be maintained with separate chassis and solid rear axle.
Expected to compete with the likes of F-150 – the world’s most popular car – Elon Musk wants a slice of that pie too with an ambitious idea to penetrate what could be a very difficult market segment. Brand loyalty is a major obstacle, but we are very interested to see what comes out of this.
Save fuel with Bridgestone Ecopia. Lower rolling resistance enables Ecopia EP100 tyres to roll 42% further* than conventional tyres.
Conventional Tyre
42% Difference when equal force is applied
Conventional tyre
INCREASE FUEL EFFICIENCY^ BY UP TO
5.7%
REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS^ BY UP TO
5.8%
50m
55m
60m
Bridgestone Ecopia tyre 65m
70m
75m
80m
85m
Choose Bridgestone. Help the environment. Drive safe.
*Rolling resistance test conducted in 2010 by Bridgestone New Zealand using 2 identical VW Golf’s fitted with tyres size 195/65R15. Both vehicles were rolled down a ramp from a height of 1.1m (back wheel height). The vehicle fitted with Ecopia tyres travelled an average of 85m and the vehicle fitted with conventional tyres travelled an average of 60m. This was a difference of 42%. ^Product independently tested in accordance with ADR 81/02 on two identical 2009 Corolla Ascent’s fitted with tyre size 195/65 R15 91H. Actual fuel consumption and CO2 emissions depend on factors such as traffic conditions, vehicle condition and driving style. Ecopia tyre comparison performed against conventional tyres.
bridgestonetyres.com.au
HANDY TIPS FOR OUR NOVATED DRIVERS As a FleetPartners novated drivers you have access to many benefits such as GST savings on your running costs and income tax savings. However to make the most of your novated lease, here are our top six handy tips for you.
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Make sure you check your Driver Statement every month.
Not happy with your insurance policy? Did you know can take up your own policy?
Your monthly driver statement is sent to you every month via email. Call us today at 1300 666 001 for more information. This statement helps you keep track of your novated lease budget. If your circumstances change and you find you are driving more or less than expected, we can revise your budget to reflect your current use.
3. Fueled up your car but didnot use your Fuel card? Do you know you can still claim fuel reimbursement? Hold on to your receipt, fill in the fuel reimbursement form and email it to reimbursements@ fleetpartners.com.au. A copy of the reimbursement form can be accessed from fleetpartners.com.au/ publications.
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Enter your current odometer reading at the fuel station.
Did you receive your registration paper?
Recently cleaned your car? Did you know you can claim your car detailing through maintenance reimbursement form?
One of the early signs that can identify a maintenance issue, can be through fuel consumption. This could be as simple as your tyre pressure through to something more serious. To help us manage this, we recommend you enter your current odometer reading at every fuelling. Any abnormalities can then be easily identified.
Simply forward it to registrations@fleetpartners. com.au and we will renew your registration as a part of your novated lease.
Hold on to your receipt, fill in the maintenance reimbursement form and email it to reimbursements@ fleetpartners.com.au. A copy of the reimbursement form can be accessed from fleetpartners.com. au/publications.
It’s easy to think of winter as a time to hunker down in the comfort of home, but there are plenty of events and festivals happening around the country that are worth getting out and about for. From motorsports and rugby to music and food festivals, check out our picks for the season!
GETTING OUT AND ABOUT THIS WINTER
QLD Brisbane is hosting the Digital Futures Lab – ideal for the techie nerds among us – at the SLQ Gallery Southbank until November 5. Explore a range of tech gadgets and even see robots in action. Best of all this event is free! Find out more. For motorsports fans, the V8 Supercars Townsville 400 is being held from July 7 to 9. As well as the racing, be entertained by Aussie rock legends Jimmy Barnes and James Reyne. Cost varies depending on ticket. Find out more.
NSW Rugby league fans won’t want to miss the State of Origin Game II at Sydney Olympic Park on June 21. For Queensland Maroons or NSW Blues fans, it’s only a few weeks away. Tickets start at $42. Find out more.
ACT Canberra will hold its 9th annual Truffle Festival from June through to August. The festival features more than 250 different events– including truffle hunts, demonstrations, and cooking classes. Cost varies by event. Find out more. SA Adelaide hosts the state’s biggest beer festival from July 28 to 30. This event showcases the best beer, cider and BBQ dishes from South Australia and elsewhere, and includes live music over the two nights. Cost prices start at $25. Find out more.
TAS Lovers of music will enjoy the Festival of Voices running from June 30 to July 16 in Hobart. There will be hundreds of individual performers and choirs. Ticket prices vary. Find out more. Planning on being in Tassie on August 13? Don’t miss the Chocolate Winterfest at LaTrobe, near Devonport! Entry is free. Find out more.
VIC Claymation fans won’t want to miss the Wallace & Gromit and Friends display at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne’s Federation Square. The event runs from June 29 to October 29. Cost starts at $15. Find out more. Who needs to travel to Byron Bay when Victoria has its very own blues and roots festival?
The Winter Blues Festival will be held between July 27 and 30 at Echuca-Moama, and will feature some of Australia’s top blues musos. And its free! Find out more. NT The Finke Desert Race is held over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. This two-day offroad multi-terrain race for cars, buggies, bikes and quads runs from Alice Springs to the Finke community. Spectator tickets start at $10 a day. Find out more.
WA The 11th annual Fremantle Winter Music Festival is happening on June 17. The event will feature more than 20 acts at five venues including Mojos and the Railway Hotel. Music styles include everything from blues and country to hiphop and neo-soul. Cost is $20. Find out more.
Remedies to Ease the Winter Cold Blues Despite decades of research and huge advances in medical science, it appears we still can’t seem to beat the common cold! Eventually, colds may be knocked on the head by the arrival of new medications, but in the meantime, there are a few remedies from around the world that may be useful for easing the suffering that comes with a cold.
1. Eucalyptus is an old remedy for blocked noses and sore throats. Try putting a few drops on a hanky or tissue and breathing it in.
2. Hot Toddy made with Scotch whiskey, honey, lemon and spices may not be a cure, but can provide the warm fuzzies for a temporary fix!
3. Ginger root has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can help get rid of cold as well settle an upset stomach.
4. Turmeric is more than a powder that turns curry yellow. Turmeric root contains curcumin, a compound that has some potent anti-inflammatory properties. .
5. Hot honey and lemon usually do help ease the symptoms of a cold by its soothing properties. 6. Garlic has long been known for its anti-bacterial properties. If the taste is too strong, there are supplements available.
GOING GREEN NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD To see just how quickly the world is changing and the rapid rate of technological progress, look no further than the rise of electric vehicles, or EVs as they're also called. Up until just a few years ago, Electrical Vehicles were regarded as a peculiar novelty, with too many compromises to even fathom as an alternative to a petrol car. Advances in battery technology and the proliferation of car companies like Tesla creating genuinely desirable electric cars has given the industry a wake-up call and now there are quite a few to choose from, with many on the way.
Right now in Australia you can buy fully electric cars from BMW (i3 and i8), Holden (Volt), Tesla (Model S and Model X), and Nissan (LEAF). Other players including Volkswagen, Ford, MercedesBenz, Audi, Volvo, Jaguar, Porsche and Toyota – to name a few – have confirmed they are going to be offering something soon as well. With such a large percentage of car makers wanting a slice of the
But is an electric car a realistic proposition for you? What's it like to live with an electric car and what do you have to prepare for if you want to live with one? These are questions we set out to answer today. Why drive an electric car? Not too long ago electric car ownership was relegated to a fringe of eccentrics who converted a car to run on lead-acid batteries in their own garage. This was motivated out of environmental concern and the end results were often fraught with compromise. The environmental benefit does remain, but the compromises not so much. While there are no tailpipe emissions from an EV on the move, one must remember it is only as clean as the power source it is recharged from. With today's technology, the primary purpose of an EV is to conserve the environment and to reduce the amount of emissions that are filling it.
Driving and charging an EV To drive an electric vehicle, it is more or less the same as a normal car. The instant power delivery and sensation of quiet progress takes some getting used to but most people find this enjoyable. One tends to watch the remaining charge quite closely, in what is called 'range anxiety'. A bit like watching your phone slowly but surely go flat. All EVs offer different potential ranges, spanning from as little as 150km and up to around 550km.
As batteries inevitably become more energydense and affordable, this anxiety will all-but disappear in the future. Charging from home via a normal 240V outlet can take a considerable amount of time (overnight), with many manufacturers recommending that you install a dedicated wall charger for your EV. There is not a universal plug system for all electric cars, so different vehicles do require different charging outlets. Setting up a special socket in your house usually involves work being done by a technician. Car makers such as Tesla offer public high-current fast chargers along the eastern seaboard, where your Tesla EV can get its battery charged in a drastically reduced time-frame. These charge stations are free to use for now but Tesla is going to start charging users money, although still a much smaller cost than petrol. Shopping centres such as Westfield offer fast EV charging at certain locations too. It's also worth researching the total full-charge range of your desired EV to make sure it can take you to where you need to go on a daily basis without going flat.
Source: performancedrive.com.au
Benefits Compared with a normal, petrol or diesel car, an electric motor has one main moving part compared with hundreds. A petrol or diesel engine requires optimum revs on board to make peak power, while an EV can generate maximum power. This is quite an experience to the uninitiated and feels surreal when combined with the eerie silence. It's worth noting the
world's fastest production sedan is an electric car with a 0-100km/h time of under 3.0 seconds (Tesla Model S). Some shopping centres have EV only parking now as well, adding some fringe benefit, and of course you never need to visit a petrol station any more.
Issues
Choices
The battery does have a finite life, being the most expensive serviceable item in the car. This is expecting to become cheaper as time goes on but research the expected battery life of your intended purchase before taking the plunge so you know what to expect. Generally, batteries last at least 5-7 years before needing a replacement, with most EVs coming with a power-train warranty to cover this. As the network of fast chargers grows, the aforementioned issue of range anxiety will disappear too.
Currently in the Australian market, available EVs include the Tesla Model S and Model X, Nissan LEAF, BMW i3 and BMW i8. There are several 'plug-in' hybrids that combine petrol power with electric motors and batteries to quell range anxiety, such as the Audi A3 e-tron, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and BMW 330e to name a few. These can drive on electric power alone just like an EV, and then start up a petrol motor automatically to recharge the batteries when required. Some also run on a combination of electric and petrol, depending on the user's demands.
THE RIGHT FUEL FOR YOUR CAR Gone are the days of pulling up to the servo and having a friendly attendant fill up your car for you. Likewise the days of pulling up, unscrewing your cap and taking the only fuel pump available and filling your car. Today, there are many different fuel types available - LPG, diesel, bio-diesel, standard, medium and high octone unleaded - with most petrol stations offering these under unique brand names and at varying price points. So, what is the difference between these fuels and what is best for your car?
The key differentiator for fuels available at the pump today is the octane rating or Research Octane Number (RON). You will see these numbers clearly displayed at the pump - generally next to the fuel branding. Regular unleaded is rated a 91RON whereas premium unleaded has a minimum rating of 95RON. You may recognise popular Australia premium fuels such as Shell's V-Power and Caltex's Vortex which are both rated as a 98RON. Generally, the higher the RON, the higher the price the fuel will be. With the increasing amount of European cars on Australian roads, most will require a minimum of 95RON. If your car doesn't run on a premium fuel, it certainly won't hurt your car to fill it with premium; but it may hurt the wallet.
What should I put in my car? Unleaded? E85? Let's compare some of the fuel types available for passenger cars in Australia.
ULP Standard unleaded which was once available at all service stations has a octane rating of RON of 91. Locally produced vehicles and most Japanese cars are suited to run ULP and in many cases don't actually benefit from premium products.
PULP Premium unleaded petrol has a RON of 95. The majority of European produced cars are designed to run on Premium due to the fact that this is the standard fuel used in many parts of Europe.
UPULP Ultra-Premium unleaded has a RON of 98 and is only required by high performance vehicles.
E10 As the name suggests, E10 contains 10% ethanol and will have a RON of 94 or 95. Today, it has become the standard unleaded as ULP becomes less common. According to carsguide.com.au, "E10 delivers a bit more zip than unleaded, but your car will consume E10 at a faster rate because it does not contain as much energy and generally increases consumption by 1-3.5%".
E85 E85 has RON of 105. Produced in Australia, this fuel uses by-products of wheat and sugar, distilled then blended to form E85. Very few vehicles driving on Australian roads today can actually take in E85. Holden's VE Series 2 Commodore is one of the only Australian built cars to safely run on this fuel. Given this, the true facts of E85 benefits are somewhat hazy. We know there is less energy in a litre of E85 than other fuels, however the ethanol component of the fuel has a higher RON, which in theory will give increased power and performance to the car. Quick fact: You might be surprised to learn that V8 Supercars have been running on E85 since the 2009 season. What about fuel economy? So, what is the most economical fuel for my car? A recent test by carsguide.com.au revealed some interesting results on the cost of fuel. In true financial terms, traditional unleaded is still the winner (even at a higher RON), environmentally however an extra couple of bucks can green up your car. Source: http://www.carsguide.com.au/news-and-reviews/car-reviews-road-tests/unleaded_vs_ e10_the_comparison_test
2018 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE OFFICIALLY REVEALED After the 2018 Mustang coupe was revealed at the 2017 Detroit auto show, the open-top version has been revealed, with the same changes to the front end that have so far polarised commenters and social media alike.
The convertible appears to debut a new ice blue colour, with the new styling elements looking to blend more cohesively with the drophead’s body than the fastback. The 2018 convertible will benefit from new magnetic dampers, the availability of a digital instrument screen, and a new 10-speed automatic co-developed with GM. The V6 model has been deleted for the 2018 model year, while the 2.3 EcoBoost and 5.0 Coyote V8 have undergone revisions; the latter receiving direct and port fuel injection to boost efficiency, but no power or torque figures have been released as yet. In Australia, the Mustang convertible is only available with automatic transmission, and this is likely to continue with the face-lifted version.
Source: performancedrive.com.au
COMPETITION
WIN A NESPRESSO COFFEE MACHINE AND PUT SOME WARMTH INTO THIS WINTER Do you like to rug up in winter with a nice hot coffee? If you answered YES ,then go online for a chance to win one of two Nespresso U SOLO Coffee Machines valued at $199 each. It’s really simple. To enter, click the link below and tell us in 25 words or less, if you could create or invent a gadget, what would it be and why? Terms and conditions apply. Competition ends 30 June 2017
ENTER NOW
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fleetpartners.com.au | 1300 88 22 66 Important information: Information is current as at 06.06.2017 and subject to change. Information is general and does not take into account your personal situation and needs. You should obtain your own independent financial/tax advice before making a decision. Credit criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply to credit applications. FleetPartners ABN 63 006 706 832