Australian Tyre Dealer August/Sept 2015

Australian Tyre Dealer | vol. 24 | issue 4 | Aug/Sep 2015

DRIVE SAFER. DRIVE SMARTER. DRIVE AEOLUS. HIGH QUALITY TYRES TO RELY ON.

AEOLUS TYRE CO., LTD.

CONTENTS 2. EDITORS WORD ATD is a publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) and is endorsed by the Australian Tyre Dealers and Retreaders Association (ATDRA).

INDUSTRY NEWS 4. Tyre Stewardship Australia membership continues to grow 5.

Key objectives of Tyre Stewardship Australia confirmed by latest study

Print Post approved PPP444752/0002

6.

Bridgestone expands OE sales with premium partner

The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the ATDRA or any State or Territory constituent body, or of the Publishers and they take no responsibility for them, except where specifically indicated.

8.

Hankook Tire achieves successful tests of iFlex tyre 9.

Vitesse AuDessus’s light touch extends to one-piece, full carbon fibre wheels

HEAD OFFICE Building 8/2728 Logan Road Eight Mile Plains Qld 4113 PO Box 4530 Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113 Tel: 07 3237 8777 Fax: 07 3844 4488 Toll Free: 1800 177 951 Email: atd@mtaq.com.au Website: www.mtaq.com.au

10. Michelin launches the MEMS Evolution3 11. Toyo Tires preferred for National Procurement Network 12. Toyo targets partnerships with car clubs 14. Bridgestone-branded BMWi3 hits the road to spread fuel-saving message 15. Continental trials first car tyres with Taraxagum dandelion rubber tread

EDITOR Jonathan Nash

16. Continental partners ‘Stop the Crash’ campaign

ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic

A BMWi3, the first electric car to win the prestigious Wheels Car of the Year award, is traveling the country to promote Bridgestone’s innovative fuel saving Ecopia tyres, p.14.

AUTO NEWS

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Barry Browne 03 9807 9154 Email: barry@barrybrownemedia.com.au

18. BMW reveals new M4 Concept 19. Hyundai premieres “Vision G” Coupe Concept

EDITORIAL Enquiries should be made to: The Editor 07 3237 8721 or email atd@mtaq.com.au

20. SA to host Australia’s first road tests of autonomous driving technology 21. The Infiniti QX80 now on sale in Australia

SUBSCRIPTION: Subscription is free. Email us at publications@mtaq.com.au

PRODUCTS 22. Greater light and longer life a feature of Narva’s new Plus 60 globes

If you don’t wish to receive further editions of Australian Tyre Dealer please email us at publications@mtaq.com.au

23. Drive the stress away on the road with a new Navman

MTA-Queensland ABN: 740 289 338 48

Hyundai Motor America has revealed its ‘Vision G’ Concept Coupe. The concept was described as Hyundai’s inspiration for its family of future premium products that promise ‘luxury, performance and style with the value and responsibility that is the foundation of Hyundai’s brand’, p.19.

MOTORSPORTS 24. Hamilton wins at Silverstone, struggles in Hungary 26. Nelson Piquet Jr. is the first Formula E champion 28. Extreme Rallycross chooses Hankook for Australian Championship 29. Formula 4 launches on Hankook tyres 20140138 20150249

“Australian Tyre Dealer” welcomes submissions of information and prepared articles, but their publication will be at its sole discretion. Material appearing in “Australian Tyre Dealer” is copyright, and reproduction in whole or part without the Publisher’s written consent is prohibited.

“Australian Tyre Dealer” is circulated to tyre dealers, senior executives of companies which supply the tyre industry, and representatives of relevant industry groups.

Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA), the industry cooperative program focused on improving sustainable outcomes for end-of-life tyres, has gained further momentum and now boasts close to 500 retail stores nationwide, p.4.

30. WORLD NEWS

Lewis Hamilton won the 2015 Formula 1 British Grand Prix after an inspired drive in changeable conditions at Silverstone. However, the reigning world champion followed up his emotional hometown win with something of a disaster in Hungary, p.24.

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EDITOR’S WORD

W Jonathan Nash Editor

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elcome to the August/ September edition of Australian Tyre Dealer.

It has been a big couple of months for Tyre Stewardship Australia as the group continues its push to see the management of end-of-life tyres lead to sustainable tyre disposal and the development of additional uses for tyre-derived products.

Key recent announcements included the achievement of TSA accreditation for all stores directly operated by Bridgestone Australia and Beaurepaires for Tyres. Additionally, the Australian Government announced the Department of Defence would also be joining the tyre stewardship scheme.

Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt said he was delighted the Department of Defence—one of the Government’s largest fleet operators—was participating in the tyre product stewardship scheme.

“The Department of Defence joins businesses and organisations—across the tyre supply chain—which are making a real difference in addressing the management of end-of-life tyres,” said Mr Hunt. “The Government encourages all Defence contractors, suppliers, partners and others involved in the recycling, tyre retail and transport business to have their tyres recycled and to consider becoming part of the voluntary scheme and getting behind Tyre Stewardship Australia.”

In other industry news, Bridgestone is pushing a fuelsaving message using a Bridgestone branded BMWi3 that will travel the country to promote the company’s Ecopia tyres and its Ologic technology. Meanwhile, Toyo has announced that it is now a preferred supplier of tyres to the National Procurement Network (NPN). The NPN connects procurement services offered by local government associations in all states and territories to provide a national program, combining each council’s

national purchasing power.

In automotive news, Volvo has acquired 100 per cent of Polestar, the Swedish high performance car company, including the Polestar brand. However, the Polestar racing team will remain under the control of Christian Dahl, the former owner of the company.

Volvo have also announced that they are to be involved with the first ever road test of autonomous driving technology in Australia, due to take place in Adelaide in November to coincide with a Driverless Vehicle Conference.

Supported and hosted by the South Australian Government, the trials will be the first to take place in the southern hemisphere.

In Motorsport news, the debut season of Formula E – the all-electric, open-wheeled racing category – reached the chequered flag last month with Nelson Piquet Jr becoming its first champion following a tense last race through the streets of London. The championship has been deemed a remarkable success and the new season will start in October in Beijing with Michelin once again being the official tyre provider.

In local motorsport news, Hankook is involved with two new categories. The company is the official supplier to both the Formula 4 championship and Extreme Rallycross championship, The inaugural national Extreme Rallycross championship kicks off at the beginning of September, while Formula 4 is already underway after starting at the Townsville 400 V8 event in July.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Australian Tyre Dealer. Feel free to drop me a line if you have some news you would like to share with the industry.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Jonathan Nash jonathann@mtaq.com.au

Coverpicture: © ag visuell

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Tyre Stewardship Australia membership continues to grow

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yre Stewardship Australia (TSA), the industry cooperative program focused on improving sustainable outcomes for end-of-life tyres, has gained further momentum and now boasts close to 500 retail stores nationwide. In addition TSA has welcomed Tyrecycle, Australia’s largest tyre recycler, amongst its members.

All the tyre stores directly operated by Bridgestone Australia and by Beaurepaires for Tyres have achieved TSA accreditation, adding another 276 retail outlets to the more than 200 Tyrepower outlets already accredited.

The TSA accreditation Scheme continues to attract new retail members at a steady pace with additional stores being accredited each month. The result is that Australian consumers will soon be able to find a TSA accredited retailer no matter where in the country they find themselves.

“The pace of accreditation of new retail outlets is pleasing,” said TSA CEO Matt Genever.

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New participants in the Scheme will almost double the already substantial numbers of TSA accredited retail outlets”.

Tyrecyle, Australia’s largest recycler of end-of-life tyres, has also joined the Scheme, further bolstering the TSA accreditation Scheme and adding to the steady accreditation of independent tyre recyclers and collectors.

Tyrecycle’s accreditation adds significant additional options for TSA accredited collection across the country.

“Tyre Stewardship Australia welcomes Tyrecycle as an accredited participant under the Tyre Stewardship Scheme,” said Mr Genever. “This participation adds considerably to the growing momentum for all industry players to be part of this cooperative effort to improve environmental outcomes.”

Tyre Stewardship Australia is an industry initiative led by major tyre manufacturers, backed by the Australian Motor Industry Federation and the Minerals

Council of Australia, with the support of Federal and State/ Territory Governments.

The Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme has the core objectives of: education of industry and consumers; research and development focused on new uses for the recycled raw materials; and independent auditing designed to eradicate dirty, unsafe and illegal practices. It is funded through a levy of 25 cents per new tyre sold in Australia.

The Scheme recognises sustainable end-of-life tyre management through an accreditation and auditing system. Consumers are able to identify participants in the Scheme through TSA signage at retail outlets and by visiting the TSA website.

Details of the Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme and the opportunity for relevant companies to register their interest in participating can be found on the TSA website, www.tyrestewardship.org.au

EXECUTIVE SUMM Since late 2009,

Key objectives of Tyre Stewardship Australia confirmed by latest study

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yre Stewardship Australia (TSA) says that the release of the latest study into the fate of end-of-life tyres, commissioned by the National Environment Protection Council, has highlighted the importance of two major focal points - the improvement of transparent sustainable management processes and the development of opportunities and markets for greater domestic recycling.

TSA says two of its core activities address those needs. Firstly, the creation of an industry-wide accreditation program that now includes most major tyre brands sold in Australia, a significant proportion of the nation’s tyre collectors and recyclers and an ever-increasing number of retailers. Secondly, the work that will focus on how to best further develop a domestic recycled tyre market, creating more tyre derived products and valuable uses for the recycled material.

The study, undertaken by Hyder Consulting, titled The stocks and fate of end-of-life tyres over 2013-14, identified

AUSTRALIANS GENERATE

that Australia produces approximately 51 million equivalent passenger units (EPUs) per annum with only 5 per cent being domestically recycled, 32 per cent exported, 16 per cent landfilled and the fate of another 16 per cent unknown.

Significant knowledge gaps still exist with more than one-third of end-of-life truck tyres still remaining unaccounted for and the majority of off-the-road tyres (OTR), principally used in mining, believed to be disposed of on mining sites.

“Local recycling creates economic activity and job opportunities and will help to insulate the Australian end-of-life tyre stream from external market shocks,” said TSA CEO Matt Genever. “The TSA Accreditation Scheme will play a major role in ensuring that sustainable management is at the top of industry’s awareness.

It will allow us to track the flow of end-of-life tyres and fill in many of the gaps that even the comprehensive Hyder study could not clarify.

ARY

representatives from

the tyre industry establishing a voluntary, and government industry-led product have been working Stewardship Act stewardship scheme toward 2011, which came for end-of-life tyres. into effect in August product stewardshi The Product 2011, set in place p schemes in Australia, the framework for launched in January and the Tyre Product accreditation of 2014.

Stewardship Scheme was officially Central to measuring the success of the scheme is the establishm 2013-14 financial year on ent of baseline data domestic and internation end-of-life tyre destinations. The – that is, data for most recent national the al fate of end-of-life study was the Study financial year. tyres (Hyder, 2012) into which reported on data for the 2009–10 The National Environme nt Protection Council Study into the Stocks (NEPC) engaged Hyder Consulting and Fate of End-of-life (Hyder) to conduct an update of the Tyres in Australia this previous 2013-14 methodology to ensure study (Hyder, 2012) and where appropriate (the Study). The Study is effectively comparability between we have retained the same studies.

This report presents the sources and fate of end-of-life study the destination tyres in Australia s for end-of -life for the 2013-14 financial tyres have been categorised as follows: year. In this  Domestic: recycling, energy recovery, civil engineering, managed on-site licensed landfill, and unknown. legitimate stockpiling ,  International: reuse and retreading, recycling and energy recovery.

It is noted that data categorised as “unknown” cannot be identified. represents the balance of tyres for which the destination The findings of the current study (summaris equivalent passenger ed in Table 1-1 on p.3) indicate that units (EPU) of tyres approximately 51 EPU tyres entering entered the waste million stream in 2013-14 the waste stream in 2009-10), which (compared to 48.5 approximately 5% equates to around million were recovered 408,000 tonnes. locally (either through compared to 16% Of these, recycling, energy in 2009-10; 32% recovery or civil were exported compared licenced landfills; engineering) and 2% were stockpiled to 18% in 2009-10; approximately 16% for future recovery. categorised as having went to Approximately 14% “unknown” destination of end-of-life tyres suggests that approxima (compared to 66% were in 2009-10), and tely 31% of Australian anecdotal evidence landfilled at mining tyres (predomina sites (however it ntly large, off the is noted that it was road (OTR) tyres) available data regarding not possible to verify are such on-site disposal). this quantity due to the lack of The current study has highlighted the following major factors tyres: influencing the fate of Australian end-of-life  local landfill prices and regulatory controls;  constrained local markets and limited demand for TDP/  TDF; global commodity prices and demand;  highly volatile internation al energy markets;  increased competition for collection fees, restricting the income processing costs; and available to offset tyre recyclers’ high  high transportation costs often required to access recovery The domestic market options. for tyre derived products to less than a third (TDP) and tyre derived of the level in the fuel (TDF) in Australia previous become increasingl has contracted y reliant on the internation (2009-10) study, from 16.4% to only 5.1%. The sector to more than 32% al energy market, has in 2013-14. This with exports increasing has been highlighted from 18% in 2009-10 by the more recent Stocks & Fate of End of Life Tyres market conditions - 2013-14 Study—Final Hyder Consulting observed in Report Pty Ltd-ABN 76

STOCKS & FATE OF END OF LIFE TYRES – 2013-14 STUDY

104 485 289 http://aus.hybis.info/projects0/v c/awarded/aa007575/f_reports/ final

report/aa007575-r03-02 end-of-life

tyres - final report_for

release.docx

Page 1

“Participation in the Scheme is growing. Work to audit the compliance of the supply chain will be commencing soon as will significant investment in research and development. Market development takes time - it requires engagement from government, industry and the community. The role of TSA is to encourage such involvement.”

TSA says it will also be working with the trucking and mining industries to address the management of their end-of-life tyres and continue to devote energy and resources to work with other industries to find economically and environmentally beneficial outcomes.

“This report highlights that there is much work to be done and that positive outcomes can be realised,” said Mr Genever. “The momentum gained by TSA over the last 12 months proves that there is a willingness to seize that opportunity.”

View the Hyder study at www.nepc.gov.au

51 million

WASTE TYRES A YEAR.*

We can’t afford to continue unsustainable disposal.

You can be part of the solution.

TSA is an industry led initiative to turn your waste tyres into a commercial opportunity.

This scheme is supported by the Federal Government and authorised by the ACCC.

O TO TYRE W YN A SA

E ST

Benefit your business, support the environment and gain all important recognition from your customers.

Join the many saying NO to tyre waste and help create the path from cost to profit.

It’s easy and free. TSA accreditation will guide you through to a more sustainable and viable outcome.

Find out how at www.tyrestewardship.org.au WE

Sustainable recycling will create future industries ranging from road surfacing to car components.

*Volume based on Equivalent Passenger Units (EPUs). An EPU is a standard passenger car tyre.

Full EPU Ratio Tables available at tyrestewardship.org.au

Hankook’s SmartControl AW02

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Bridgestone ‘Most Trusted Tyre Brand’

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Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV

Bridgestone expands OE sales with premium partner

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ridgestone has been selected

by Daimler for the 2015 worldwide launch of the second-generation Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV. The luxury mid-sized SUV leaves the factory fitted with Dueler H/P Sport tyres in four sizes across the model range.

This new fitment follows other recent Bridgestone successes with Daimler in Europe. In 2014 the Dueler H/P Sport tyre was chosen for the new Mercedes-Benz GLA compact SUV, while the 6

C-Class was equipped with Bridgestone Turanza T001 touring tyres, Bridgestone Potenza S001 sport tyres and Bridgestone Blizzak winter tyres.

For the new MercedesBenz GLC, Bridgestone is producing sizes 235/65 R17, 235/60 R18, 235/55 R19 and 255/45 R20.

Bridgestone developed the Dueler H/P Sport tyre specifically for latest-generation SUVs, providing these vehicles with responsive handling combined with high levels of ride comfort, Bridgestone safety and durability.

Dueler H/P Sport

ridgestone has been named the ‘most trusted’ tyre brand in Australia and New Zealand.

In the annual survey by Readers Digest magazine, Bridgestone took the top spot for the second year running in Australia.

Michelin and Pirelli scored Highly Commended in the same survey.

In New Zealand, Bridgestoneowned tyre brand Firestone was awarded most trusted in New Zealand, while Bridgestone was named among the country’s Highly Commended Trusted Brands.

“The trust our customers instil in Bridgestone and Firestone means the world to us, so winning Most Trusted Tyre Brand awards in both Australia and New Zealand is extremely humbling,” said Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Andrew Moffatt.

“Every day we ask our customers to depend on the quality, safety and performance of our products and aim to provide the best possible service and support.

“Consumers recognise and respect this value proposition and in return they show us strong brand loyalty, which we are extremely grateful for.”

Mr Moffatt said the award was a reflection of Bridgestone’s brand power in a crowded market.

“For 15 years, consumers across the Tasman have been consulting the Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brands Survey to inform their purchasing decisions.

“Being named ‘Most Trusted Tyre Brand’ in Australia last year really helped to distinguish us from our competitors. We are confident this year’s win will also further strengthen our brand position in New Zealand.”

In addition to the trusted brand accolades, Firestone and Bridgestone won the Reader’s Digest ‘Quality Service Award’ in the Retail Tyre category in New Zealand.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Hankook Tire achieves successful tests of iFlex tyre H ankook Tire announced that it had successfully completed its ride and handling tests for its latest nonpneumatic tyre (NPT), Hankook iFlex.

NPTs do not require air pressure and the company has been working toward the development of NPTs that achieve all of the practical benefits of conventional air pressure tires while simultaneously enhancing their high speed tyre characteristics. The iFlex, which is the fifth NPT concept tyre that Hankook Tire has released, is the culmination of that effort.

The company put the iFlex through a serious of rigorous tests designed to push the tyres to their limits in five categories: durability, hardness, stability, slalom and speed. In the speed test, the electric car equipped with iFlex tires reached 130km/h. The company says the results in all five categories demonstrated that the NPTs could match conventional tyres in terms of performance.

Construction of the iFlex is centered on a new type of uni-material designed

to maximize the tyre’s eco-friendly potential. The company says from a manufacturing standpoint, the material used during product construction significantly enhances the energy efficiency. From a product standpoint, the material allows the iFlex to be recycled with greater ease. Hankook Tire then integrated new tyre construction techniques to simplify the manufacturing process from eight stages to four, further reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

“The Hankook iFlex’s ability to deliver the perfect high-speed driving performance is the result of Hankook

Tire’s longstanding commitment to independently developing progressive, innovative tyre technology. Aiming to strengthen our technological leadership in the global tyre market, we will continue to develop cutting edge eco-friendly and future-oriented tyres” said Mr. Seung-Hwa Suh, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hankook Tire.

Hankook Tire currently has a number of projects underway that are centered on developing future-oriented tyre products. For example, ‘The Next Driving Lab,’ a brand campaign that was initiated in 2013, is operated primarily to let talented engineers and designers bring to life their wildest futuristic dreams for innovative driving experiences. Likewise, Hankook Tire collaborates every two years with world-renowned design schools to host the ‘Design Innovation’ project.

This project allows students to propose and study future tyre concepts designed at generating safer, more reliable, and more advanced tire performances.

Bridgestone pitches in for World Environment Day

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o mark World Environment Day in June, Bridgestone Australia partnered with Conservation Volunteers Australia and took part in the Corporate Tree Planting Challenge.

Ten Bridgestone staff members set to work reducing Bridgestone’s carbon handprint by helping regenerate a Kersbrook property badly affected by the Adelaide Hills bushfires.

The fires burned through 13,000 hectares of land in January this year, destroying properties, homes, livestock and vegetation.

“We were very pleased to be presented with an opportunity to work with Conservation Volunteers Australia and embark on a new environmental conservation initiative,” said Bridgestone 8

Australia’s Director Corporate Services and Risk Management, Joanne Denley.

“The bushfires affected a number of our employees, with one member of the Bridgestone team sadly losing his family home.

“It also had an impact on several Bridgestone dealers and customers, so we were eager to give back in any way we could.”

Testing their tree planting skills and

teamwork, the energetic Bridgestone volunteers were happy to step up to the challenge and get their hands dirty.

Together they spent the afternoon planting native trees and shrubs as part of the ongoing regeneration of the Kersbook site.

“It was great to see a group of our employees banding together to show their green hands and represent Bridgestone’s commitment to environmental protection and preservation,” said Ms Denley.

“The property owner was thrilled with the progress made on the day and we’re very much looking forward to participating in more green initiatives with Conservation Volunteers Australia in the future.”

Vitesse AuDessus launches one-piece,carbon fibre wheels

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Lamborghini Aventador Wheel

merican bespoke carbon fibre atelier Vitesse AuDessus has launched a line of onepiece, full carbon fibre wheels.

Each handcrafted wheel tips the scales at just over 6kg on average.

“In certain cases, our wheels reduce unsprung weight by more than 50%,” says CEO Stefany Sanchez.

“This dramatic reduction translates into increased acceleration, reduced stopping distance, improved steering and handling, improved grip, reduced road noise and vibrations and improved fuel economy. Technical details aside, they are also objects of beauty: think of your exotic or supercar as a Tom Ford suit or, in my case, a Carolina Herrera Dress. You wouldn’t pair either with

Ferrari 458 Italia Wheel

Porsche 918 Wheel

a generic, mass-produced shoe or heel made with inferior materials, would you?

I think not. And our clients would agree.”

Vitesse AuDessus’s new line of one-piece, full carbon fibre wheels uses prepreg carbon fibre fabric that is handlaid and autoclave-cured in CNC-milled aluminium moulds, a process shared by Formula 1 race teams and Sweden-based supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg.

Vitesse AuDessus employs this same process for the brand’s full range of bespoke carbon fibre exteriors, interiors, components and monocoques which they produce for the world’s most exciting and exclusive automotive machines.

Aside from Vitesse AuDessus’s bespoke offering, the company also produces a wide range of OEM-spec, one-piece

BFGoodrich truck tyres now available

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FGoodrich has released a range of truck tyres into the Australian market, which will cover different applications and axle fitments.

Designed to meet a variety of usages, including road trains, urban deliveries, construction, regional haulers, and container transport, the products

are available, initially, in 11R22.5, 295/80R22.5, and 255/70R22.5.

The company says each tyre in the range has a combination of attributes depending on its application including long-lasting

BF Goodrich DR675

full carbon fibre wheels for all current Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, Bugatti, Bentley, Aston Martin, Porsche, Mercedes Benz and BMW models.

Retail pricing for OEM wheels starts at $8,875/wheel, while bespoke pricing begins at $10,125/wheel. Price factors include design, dimensions and performance requirements.

Vitess AuDessus carbon fibre wheels can be shipped all over the world to both individuals and businesses.

All Vitesse AuDessus’s products come with a 5-year warranty against defect or failure and a replacement guarantee.

Typical lead time for the company’s one-piece, full carbon fibre wheels is 3-4 weeks. tyre life; multiple tyre lives through regrooving and retreading, bump and bruise resistant; smooth, even-wearing tread; impressive grip, even in the wet; fights cuts, tears and abrasions; grips gravel, dirt and asphalt.

For more information, or to find your closest BFGoodrich Tires authorised dealer, call 1300 72 78 78.

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INDUSTRY NEWS Bridgestone wins Volkswagen Group Award

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Michelin launches the MEMS Evolution3 M

ichelin Australia has launched the MEMS (Michelin Earthmover Management System) Evolution 3 – an advanced system for sensing and transmitting tyre information - enabling mine operators to increase safety, increase the life of the tyres, reduce costs and increase mine productivity.

For the operators in mines, equipment downtime is the worst scenario. On 200 tonne trucks worth millions of dollars, that carry loads as great as 400 tonnes, changing a tyre more than 4 meters tall and weighing 5 tonnes can take hours of work.

Michelin says that through on-going connectivity to the system, tyres equipped with MEMS Evolution3 are able to continuously inform operators about their temperature and pressure conditions providing immediate operational gains for surface mine operators.

Slow pressure losses are detected and downtime can be anticipated and avoided. Temperature increases are reported, which allows operators to change itineraries in real time. If needed, maintenance operations are also more easily foreseen. The effective running time of the trucks is thus increased.

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Features of the MEMS evolution3 system include: • A membrane-less sensor designed to be used in tyres with additives.

• A new sealed and liquid proof sensor that eliminates the use of less accurate membrane sensor technology.

• Real-time data can be transferred via a 3G network.

• More communication options. Realtime alerts can be sent throughout the life of the tyre, via the Internet, email or SMS to whoever needs them, wherever they may be.

• Reporting capabilities: Improved and expanded options that can be tailored to the customers’ needs.

Michelin MEMS is available for rigid dump trucks using tyres with a diameter from 49 inches and up to 12 tyres per vehicle. Michelin XDR2 and Michelin XDR250 tyres are pre-equipped for MEMS Evolution3: a factory-integrated patch allows the rapid installation of MEMS sensors.

The company says that Michelin experts are on hand to support clients at every stage, from installation to data processing.

ridgestone Corporation has received a 2015 VW Group Award in recognition of its achievement as one of Volkswagen Group’s best suppliers. The VW Group gives the award to a small number of international suppliers distinguished by their innovative capabilities and high reliability.

The award was presented by Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, and Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Procurement, at a special ceremony in Neuburg, Germany on 15th July 2015.

Mr Franco Annunziato, President and CEO of Bridgestone Europe received the award. “Bridgestone receives this Volkswagen Group Award with enormous pleasure and pride. It is the result of great teamwork and effort across Bridgestone divisions and business units,” said Mr Annunziato.

“I believe there are two main success factors. Firstly, it represents strong endorsement of Bridgestone’s strategy to reorganise global operations to match Volkswagen Groups expectations from a global supplier. Second is our commitment to develop state of the art technology to help Volkswagen Group meet reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emission targets.”

From left to right: Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Procurement, Mr Franco Annunziato, CEO and President, Bridgestone Europe, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

Toyo Tires preferred for National Procurement Network T oyo Tires reports it is now a preferred supplier of tyres to the National Procurement Network (NPN). The NPN connects procurement services offered by local government associations in all states and territories to provide a national program, combining each

“Preferred supplier status on the National Purchasing Network adds credibility to the quality of Toyo products . . . ” council’s national purchasing power.

Under the NPN Preferred Supplier arrangement, Toyo Tires is an approved supplier of tyres to over 600 Australian local councils and other NPN members across New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

Toyo NanoEnergy 3

Toyo Tires’ full product range across all categories is available to NPN members via Toyo dealers nationwide, with product brochures delivered to a range of councils across Australia.

Toyo national fleet manager Mario Vecchio said approved supplier status was sought to further

Hankook Tire to be original fitment on Ford 2016 F-650/F-750 in North America

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ankook will be expanding its original equipment (OE) portfolio in North America to supply tyres for Ford’s new 2016 F-650/F-750 medium duty trucks.

Selected as an OE supplier for one of the leading automakers in the medium duty truck segment, Hankook Tire will provide Ford with four different patterns (AH11, AH22, DH07, and DH15).

The AH11 and DH07 will be available in 245/70R19.5 and 265/70R19.5, while the AH22 and DH15 will be available in size 275/80R22.5.

Ford’s F-650 and F-750 medium duty pickups are to be fitted with Hankook tyres

support Toyo’s dealer partners.

“We undertook to open up the local government and shire council market to our network of dealers. Since November of last year Toyo representatives have been distributing product brochures and directing councils nationwide to their local Toyo dealers,” he said.

“Dealers will have a leg-up to build rewarding relationships with local councils and provide Toyo tyres and their service to significant fleets of local government vehicles.

All sales invoiced, handled and of course fitted by local dealers “Preferred supplier status on the National Purchasing Network adds credibility to the quality of Toyo products, with the listing requiring us to meet a range of product and service related criteria. We surpassed the grade and look forward to working with our dealer partners to service this exciting new market.”

“Hankook Tire is currently focusing on diversifying our radial truck tyre line-up, and the recent Ford 2016 F-650/F-750 OE supply agreement with Ford will be the foundation that we build on to accelerate our business in North America.” said Mr. Seung Hwa Suh, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hankook Tire.

Hankook Tire’s long-term partnership with Ford began in 1999 and the company has previously supplied tyres for a number of their vehicles, including the Explorer, Edge, Mustang and F-150 - the best-selling pick-up truck in North America.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Toyo targets partnerships with car clubs T oyo Tires is encouraging Australia’s car clubs to express interest in partnering with the brand as part of a campaign to raise the profile of Toyo’s Proxes range of tyres among automotive enthusiasts.

Toyo Australia Limited marketing manager Jose Angeles said Toyo and the Proxes range of tyres hold a long-standing relationship with Australian motoring enthusiasts.

“With performance-enhancing fitments catering to enthusiast vehicles of all types, a more direct relationship with Australia’s car clubs is a logical fit for Toyo,” he said.

“Toyo Proxes meet the demands of drivers who want an improvement, not just a replacement.

“From Toyo Tires Drift Australia to one-make racing or car shows and commutes, Toyo has been there with enthusiasts. Toyo’s Proxes mean a better drive, a safer trip and a faster lap for the nation’s car buffs.”

The tyre maker has announced its first club partnership, with the NSW 86/BRZ Club and the sponsorship includes a Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ-specific technical information night at the manufacturer’s base in Minto, NSW, which took place in July,

and a track day experience at Sydney Motorsport Park in November.

The technical information night was attended by more than 70 enthusiasts from around the state and more than 50 Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ’s, ranging from standard to heavily modified for on-track performance, were on-site.

Toyo’s technical manager Steve Burke and motorsport veterans Gordon Leven and Bill Pearson, from Gordon Leven Motorsport Tyres, made presentations.

With the base of over 1,000 members growing daily, the NSW 86/ BRZ club unites a unique community of likeminded car enthusiasts.

Club president Sho Mai said Toyo’s support would help to grow the club and bring new members to the community.

“This sponsorship will play a major role in helping us to take the club to the next level,” he said. “There is shared passion for the 86 and BRZ among the NSW community, and as a club we aim to support the people and organisations that benefit them.

“Toyo’s sponsorship will strengthen the brand’s relationship with Japanese car enthusiasts.”

Expressions of interest can be directed to marketing@toyo.com.au

Gordon Leven and Bill Pearson from Gordon Leven Motorsport Tyres, Sho Mai - President NSW 86/BRZ Club, Steve Burke - Toyo Tires Technical Manager, Jose Angeles - Toyo Tires Marketing Manager

12

Sumitomo looks to Russian dandelions as a new rubber source

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ith the aim of providing more environmentally friendly and high-performance products, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has been examining the potential of Russian dandelions as a new, alternative source of natural rubber.

SRI has announced joint research with Kultevat, an emerging American biotech company, towards finding practical applications for natural rubber derived from Russian dandelions. Kultevat serves sustainable agricultural markets, primarily by the production of rubber and mixed sugar feed stocks for biofuels.

SRI believes the process can be accelerated through the combination of Kultevat’s biomass technology and the proprietary technologies that SRI has pioneered. These technologies have already found practical applications, such as the replacement of petroleum-based tyre materials with fossil-resource free materials.

Unlike rubber trees, Russian dandelions can be grown in temperate regions, meaning their cultivation is possible throughout much of the world. The research will promote greater use of natural resources and expand their regions of production.

The company says this will enable SRI to secure a reliable and efficient supply of natural raw materials at production bases around the world and, ultimately, allow it to provide a steady supply of high-performance tyres with low environmental impact.

As global tyre demand continues to expand, SRI’s goals are to reduce the reliance on fossil resources such as petroleum and coal, which make up approximately 60% of a conventional tyre, and promote the use of sustainable natural resources.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Bridgestone-branded BMWi3 hits the road to spread fuel-saving message Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Andrew Moffatt with the BMWi3

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BMWi3, the first electric car to win the prestigious Wheels Car of the Year award, is traveling the country to promote Bridgestone’s innovative fuel saving Ecopia tyres.

The revolutionary car has been fitted with Bridgestone Ecopia 500 tyres – the first to feature Bridgestone’s new ologic technology, specifically designed

Bridgestone Ecopia EP500

for the new BMW i vehicles.

“Bridgestone has a longstanding global partnership with BMW and we’re very excited to have added the BMWi3 to our fleet; it’s the perfect way to showcase Ecopia’s many benefits to cost and eco-conscious drivers,” said Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Andrew Moffatt.

“The BMWi3 shares a number of important synergies with

Ecopia – both represent the best in design and innovation and both have been developed with the future in mind.

“The car reflects Bridgestone’s passion for innovation and environmental awareness and will be a great way to spread the Ecopia message to drivers across Australia.”

Bridgestone’s Ecopia products have been designed to reduce the production of harmful carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.

Boasting low rolling resistance, the company says they also help improve fuel efficiency by up to 5.7%.

Branded in striking Ecopia livery, the BMWi3 will feature at locations and events around Australia including the upcoming Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

“The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is a gruelling event that epitomises what can be achieved through design and innovation,” said Mr Moffatt. “The BMWi3, fitted with our Ecopia tyres, is very much in keeping with this spirit and we can’t wait to see it traveling the country promoting Ecopia’s fuel-saving message.”

Sumitomo Rubber Australia donates life-saving equipment

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he Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Sumitomo Rubber Australia (SRAU) will be making a significant difference to the lives of children in Sydney’s inner city area with the donation of a much-needed Isolette 8000 Incubator valued at $26,820 to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Paul Francis and Kenichi Furuhama – Managing Director of Sumitomo Rubber Australia - officially presented Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Dahlia 14

Mr Kenichi Furuhama, MD of SRAU, and Mr Ikuji Ikeda, President and CEO of SRI

Brigham with the Incubator. The Isolette 8000 helps babies with oxygen therapy, treats jaundice and protects against infection. It maintains the correct

temperature to keep babies warm and helps clinicians to monitor the babies until they reach a safe weight and their vital organs are strong.

Since the establishment of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation in 1996, the children’s charity has now raised $50 million and continues to make a significant impact on the lives of sick and injured children at children’s hospitals and health service centres in every state of Australia.

Continental trials first car tyres with Taraxagum dandelion rubber tread C

ontinental says it has reached an important milestone in its research project for the industrialisation of dandelion rubber in tyre production. In 2014, Continental presented the first test tyres in a limited series made from the innovative material that the company is calling Taraxagum™, derived from the botanical name for dandelion (taraxacum). Manufacture of the first WinterContact TS 850 P, with tread made entirely of natural rubber from dandelion roots, has taken Continental closer to reaching its long-term goal of making tyre production more sustainable and less dependent on traditional raw materials.

“After several years of intensive development work together with the Fraunhofer Institute, we are excited to be taking the first dandelion tyres onto the road,” said Nikolai Setzer, Member of the Executive Board of Continental responsible for the Tyre Division. “To get the most meaningful test results from the crop yield produced by our research project to date, we decided to build car winter tyres, as they contain a particularly high proportion of natural rubber. We are continuing to pursue the goal of developing tyres based on dandelion rubber to readiness for series production within the next five to ten years.”

Continental WinterContact TS 850 P

Continental has the Contidrom proving grounds north of Hanover at its disposal for extensive tests under summer conditions. However, the first winter car tyres with dandelion rubber tread will be tested at Continental’s test site in Arvidsjaur, Sweden, where the company

The complete range of Michelin Classic Tyres now available. Fresh stock at competitive prices.

traditionally tests the performance of its future products under winter conditions from December to April.

“The development process of Taraxagum™ has been very promising so far and we are currently continuing the industrialisation process together with our partners,” added Dr. Andreas Topp, Head of Material and Process Development and Industrialization for Tyres at Continental. “We are very confident that the results achieved with the test tyres to date will be confirmed, and that we will meet our performance targets.”

The long-term goal of the research project is to find an ecologically, economically and socially viable response to the increasing demand for natural rubber. This would ease the pressure on the traditional rubber tree plantations in the tropics.

Additionally, the aim is to reduce dependency on natural rubber which can be subject to severe price fluctuations on the commodities exchanges. Moreover, cultivating dandelions on previously unused land in temperate regions of Europe – closer to Continental’s European tyre plants – would sustainably reduce logistics costs and the transportrelated burden on the environment.

www.stuckey.com.au www.michelinclassic.com 15

INDUSTRY NEWS

Continental partners ‘Stop the Crash’ campaign T he Chassis & Safety and Tyre Divisions of Continental are partnering the Global NCAP ‘Stop the Crash’ information campaign, an initiative of Global NCAP, the London, UK-based umbrella body of the worldwide NCAP consumer organisations for new-car safety testing.

ANCAP, Asean NCAP, China NCAP, Euro NCAP, Japan NCAP, Korea NCAP, Latin NCAP and US NCAP and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), define the standards that vehicles must meet to be awarded top safety rating of five stars. In Europe, crash avoidance and mitigation systems such as adult and child occupant protection systems, pedestrian protection systems and assistance systems such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Autonomous Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) systems are a basic requirement for achieving this rating.

“We have been pursuing our long-term strategy ‘Vision Zero’ for many years. With innovations and by

continuously refining and improving our components and systems, we are playing a leading part in the drive to improve road safety,” said Frank Jourdan, Member of the Executive Board of Continental AG and President of the Chassis & Safety Division.

“We see ‘Vision Zero’ as comprising three successive stages: of paramount importance is the avoidance of any traffic fatalities, then reducing the number of injuries to zero. When there are no more accidents at all, we have fulfilled our ‘Vision Zero’.”

Throughout the ‘Stop the Crash’ campaign, Global NCAP and its partners, including Continental, will be holding driving demonstrations to raise awareness of the benefits of safety

technologies that are already being volume-produced and to encourage their adoption in subcompact and compact models. The importance of adequate tyre pressure and tread depth will be highlighted.

“Tyres are the sole point of contact between the vehicle and the road. All forces transmitted to the road are put down via a footprint no bigger than the size of a postcard. In a critical situation, it is the tyre that determines whether the vehicle can stop in time – or whether it stays safely on course through a corner. This is why we want to inform as many drivers as possible about the safety benefits of using high-tech tyres inflated to the correct pressure and with adequate tread depth,” says Nikolai Setzer, Member of the Executive Board of Continental AG and President of the Tyre Division.

“From now on, we will be positioning the technology-oriented Continental premium tyre brand even more closely around the long-term goal ‘Vision Zero’, an area in which Continental as a company stands to benefit from synergies among its broad portfolio of safety technologies.”

Defence commits to environmentally sound tyre recycling

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he Australian Government has announced the Department of Defence’s commitment to ensuring its fleet tyres are managed and recycled in an environmentally-sound way by joining Tyre Stewardship Australia.

Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt said he was delighted the Department of Defence - one of the Government’s largest fleet operators - was participating in the tyre product stewardship scheme.

“The Department of Defence joins businesses and organisations across the tyre supply chain - which are making a real difference in addressing the management of 16

From left: Parliamentary Secretary for Defence – The Hon Darren Chester MP, TSA Chair – Gerry Morvell, Federal Environment Minister – The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Rear Admiral Clint Thomas –Commander Joint Logistics, at the announcement of Defence becoming a TSA accredited fleet

end-of-life tyres,” said Mr Hunt.

“The Government encourages all Defence contractors, suppliers, partners and others involved in the recycling, tyre retail and transport business to have their tyres recycled and to consider becoming

part of the voluntary scheme and getting behind Tyre Stewardship Australia.”

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Darren Chester MP, said joining Tyre Stewardship Australia with Defence’s newlycontracted National Waste Services Provider, Veolia, would ensure Defence’s continued commitment to best practice environmental management - an essential part of the long-term sustainability of Australian Defence Force capability and the Defence estate.

It is anticipated that Defence will ensure sustainable disposal of some 40,000 passenger tyre equivalents each year.

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17

AUTO NEWS

BMW reveals new M4 Concept

BMW Concept M4 GTS

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MW has revealed a concept of its new M Division high performance model for use on the road and on the race track: the BMW Concept M4 GTS. The M4 GTS showcases new technologies destined to make their series production debut in a new model to be unveiled at a later date. Those technologies include the water injection system that has already provided a significant output and torque boost in the BMW M4 Moto GP Safety Car. The concept’s manually adjustable front splitter and rear wing – both in exposed carbon –ensure aerodynamic balance and allow the BMW Concept M4 GTS to be adapted for both individual race tracks and for use on the road, while the CFRP (carbon fibre-reinforced plastic) bonnet lowers the car’s weight and centre of gravity further still. A wide front air intake optimises airflow and minimises front axle lift.

The strong performance potential of the turbocharged six-cylinder in-line engine demands an exceptionally sophisticated thermal management system for the engine and ancillary units.

To ensure optimal operating temperatures in all situations, BMW says its M Division engineers have developed a

18

highly innovative cooling system comprising a main radiator plus additional radiators for the high-and low-temperature circuits, transmission and turbocharger in order to keep temperatures stable. The turbochargers are cooled by means of an indirect intercooler, assisted by an additional electric water pump.

The BMW Concept M4 GTS is also fitted with innovative rear lights featuring OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) technology - a new type of light source producing full-surface and homogenous illumination – which, the company says heralds a new era in light design and lighting concepts, and opens up new possibilities when it comes to a characteristic and distinctive light signature for BMW models.

“While the BMW M4 Coupe embodies the ideal combination of motorsport genes and unrestricted everyday usability, the BMW Concept M4 GTS previews an emotionally powerful and exclusive special model conceived with an eye for trailblazing technology and a keen focus on the race track,” said Frank van Meel, President BMW M Division. “Despite its outstanding track ability, it is still fully roadlegal. This is racing technology for the road in the truest sense.”

Volvo Cars buy 100 per cent of Polestar

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olvo Cars has acquired 100 per cent of Polestar, the Swedish high performance car company, including the Polestar brand. Polestar will now be used as the model name for special high performance Volvos.

Volvo and Polestar share a long history. They have been working in motor sport since 1996 and in recent years signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop Polestar versions of Volvo cars that combine a comfortable Volvo driving experience with a very high level of power and handling.

“Driving a Volvo Polestar is a special experience. We have decided to bring this experience to more Volvo drivers, placing the full resources of Volvo behind the development of Polestar as the model name for our high performance cars,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars.

Polestar sales are forecast to increase to between 1,000 and 1,500 cars a year in the medium term under Volvo’s ownership.

Volvo will also benefit from the sale of aftermarket Polestar performance optimisation kits for existing Volvos.

No financial details of the deal have been disclosed. Existing Polestar Performance employees will become Volvo employees.

The Polestar racing team will remain under the control of Christian Dahl, the former owner of Polestar, and will be renamed.

“We are extremely satisfied with the way the performance business with Volvo has developed. But we are a racing team first and foremost. This is an opportunity to return our full attention to our core business – to develop and race Volvo cars,” said Christian Dahl.

Hyundai premieres “Vision G” Coupe Concept H yundai Motor America has revealed its ‘Vision G’ Concept Coupe. The concept was described as Hyundai’s inspiration for its family of future premium products that promise ‘luxury, performance and style with the value and responsibility that is the foundation of Hyundai’s brand’.

“The concept was designed with coordinated input from Hyundai design studios around the world, but was led by our team here in the U.S.,” said Peter Schreyer, Hyundai’s president and chief design officer. “The design is our interpretation of the idea that Hyundai breathes into all of its vehicles – a DNA that balances design and performance with the idea that you don’t need to be over the top in terms of glitz and stereotypical luxury cues.”

“In keeping with a design that speaks to the owner rather than ‘the spectators’ who might see the car on the road, Vision G appears dynamic and in constant motion,” said Christopher

Wireless hacking a major concern

I

t was reported last month that two hackers in the US had been able to take control of a Jeep Cherokee, gaining access through the car’s entertainment system and hijacking several system controls. Most seriously, the hackers were able to bring the car to a halt, against the wishes of the driver. Fortunately, the hijack was a demonstration only – and the driver was in no serious danger and aware of what was going to happen.

Although hacking into a car’s systems had been reportedly accomplished before, those demonstrations had required a direct line into the car through the diagnostic port. The difference this time is that the two hackers were able

Hyundai ‘Vision G’ Concept Coupe

Chapman, head of Hyundai’s U.S. design centre and leader of the coupe’s design team. “After all – and if all is right in the world – the only time an owner sees the exterior of the car is when it’s standing still.”

The heart of “Vision G” is the 5.0-litre Tau V8 engine producing 312kW at 6,000 rpm and 519Nm at 5,000 rpm. to hijack the car’s systems wirelessly, from several kilometres away.

The result saw Chrysler recall 1.4million vehicles to update software – customers will receive a USB device to carry out the update. The hack has caused a serious debate in the US about security with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) releasing a report outlining its response to the threat.

However, the episode resonated with the public. The influential Kelly Blue Book company conducted a survey of more than 1100 members of the public and found that 78 per cent thought vehicle hacking would be a frequent

problem in the future and 58 per cent did not think there would ever be a permanent solution to the problem.

“Technology offers a wide range of enhanced convenience for today’s new vehicle buyers, but it also offers the increasing potential for unauthorized access and control,” said Karl Brauer, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

“Cyber-security is still a relatively new area of specialisation for automakers, but it’s one they need to take seriously to ensure they are ahead of the curve. If automotive engineers find themselves playing catch-up in this field, it could have disastrous results for both consumers and the industry.

“Consumers are highly sceptical that a comprehensive solution to prevent vehicle hacking can ever be developed, though an overwhelming majority would be willing to pay for hack-proof vehicle security if it existed.”

19

AUTO NEWS

SA to host Australia’s first road tests of autonomous driving technology V

olvo has joined the ARRB Group, Australia’s national independent road research agency, and the South Australia Government to announce Australia’s first autonomous vehicle demonstration trials will begin in November this year. The trials will coincide with a Driverless Vehicle Conference to be held on November 5-6.

To support the trial, Volvo Car Australia will provide an All-New XC90 that will be specially programmed to allow its IntelliSafe Assist (Adaptive Cruise Control including Pilot Assist, Lane Keeping Aid, Distance Alert, and Speed Limiter Function) to be operated handsfree, within a controlled environment.

Volvo’s testing will be undertaken in conjunction with a number of partners including Bosch; Telstra; RAA; Adelaide Airport Limited; Flinders University; Carnegie Mellon University and Cohda Wireless.

South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill said the technology promises to not only improve safety, reduce congestion and lower emissions, but also to provide a real opportunity for South Australia to

Chance to be part of Land Speed Record history

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n 1997, the jet-powered Thrust SSC car set the World Land Speed record at 763.035,ph (1227.986km/h), breaking the sound barrier in the process. It was an astonishing achievement. But now, 18 years later, the race is on to break that record and there are a number of teams from around the world building vehicles with the 1000mph mark as their target.

One of those contenders is the Australian team led by speed ace 20

become a key player in the emerging driverless vehicle industry. “This trial presents a fantastic opportunity for South Australia to take a lead nationally and internationally in the development of this new technology and open up new opportunities for our economy,” he said. “It’s predicted that within just 15 years, the international driverless car industry will be worth $90 billion, so we want to encourage other global businesses to come to South Australia to develop and test their technologies.”

A leader in developing autonomous drive technology, Volvo says it will have more than 100 autonomous cars on the road in Sweden by 2017.

Roscoe McGlashan whose car – the rocket-powered, 200,000hp, Aussie Invader 5R is currently under construction in Perth.

In an innovative drive to raise money for their tilt at the record, the Aussie team have created www.supersonicselfie.com, a website that, for as little as $20, allows supporters and fans to upload a selfie which will be fixed to the rear section of the rocket car.

With competition from the likes of the UK’s heavily-backed Bloodhound SSC team – which includes current record holder Andy Green amongst its members – McGlashan and his

“As a leader in the development of autonomous drive technologies, Volvo’s aim is to make this technology realistically available for customers in production cars in the near future,” said Kevin McCann, Managing Director of Volvo Car. “Volvo believes autonomous drive technology will deliver significant consumer and societal benefits, including improved traffic safety, improved fuel economy, reduced congestion, and the opportunity for improved infrastructure planning.”

The driverless car trials will take place on the Southern Expressway on November 7 and 8, with multiple vehicles conducting manoeuvres such as overtaking, lane changing, emergency braking and the use of on and off ramps.

The International Driverless Cars Conference, taking place on 5 and 6 November 2015, will be the first international driverless car conference to be held in the Southern Hemisphere. It aims to explore the technology, discuss the research, trials and legislation changes needed to make the driverless car future a reality.

team have decided to embrace the power of social media and share their attempt with thousands of supporters and smaller corporate entities.

And the site has got off to a pretty good start with WEC and Formula One ace Mark Webber the first to upload his selfie.

“The Aussie Invader 5R team wants our attempt to be on behalf of the people, not just part of a big brands marketing strategy. SuperSonicSelfie is a way for everyone to be part of this great adventure and challenge”, said Mr McGlashan.

Go to www.supersonicselfie.com to find out more.

Infiniti QX80

Kumho-shod BAC Mono (unofficially) breaks Goodwood road car record

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The Infiniti QX80 now on sale in Australia I nfiniti’s premium SUV, the QX80, is now on sale.

The QX80 is Infiniti’s full-size SUV and the company say its arrival heralds the start of Infiniti’s next phase of new-model releases in Australia.

Jean-Philippe Roux, the Managing Director of Infiniti Cars Australia, said the Infiniti QX80 is a commanding SUV that will meet the specific needs of premium SUV buyers.

“The QX80 is among the most luxurious and generously appointed SUVs available in the world,” he said.

“It is spacious, elegant and has an incredible presence, and it positions Infiniti squarely in this important vehicle segment.”

According to Roux, adding the QX80 to Infiniti’s Australian catalogue is a logical move.

“A number of buyers have asked us for a model at least one size up from the QX70 crossover. Adding the QX80 to our local catalogue in small volumes will meet this local opportunity.”

The arrival of the QX80 is the first in a series of new-model additions for Infiniti in Australia. From early next year, three all-new models are scheduled to be released: the Q30 active compact, the QX30 active crossover, and the production version of the evocative Q60 Concept 2+2 coupe, which made its world premiere at this

year’s Detroit Motor Show in January.

“Expanding the Infiniti vehicle range is a key part of our plan for sustainable growth in Australia,” said Mr Roux.

“These next four new models to join our range will see the Infiniti brand cover a much broader range of the local premium market. And we have even more all-new models planned.”

Offering room for up to eight people, the QX80 is powered by a 5.6-litre direct injection petrol V8 that generates 298 kW at 5800 rpm and 560 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm, of which 90 per cent is available from 1600rpm.

The QX80 has a long list of luxury features, as you would expect, and a similarly impressive list of safety features including Active Head Restraints (front seats), Backup Collision Intervention, Blind Spot Warning, Blind Spot Intervention, Distance Control Assist, Forward Emergency Braking, Intelligent Brake Assist, Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning . . . the list goes on.

Offered in Australia with a single powertrain configuration and in one model grade, S Premium, the QX80 features an Infiniti Service Assure scheduled servicing program, a four-year/100,000 kilometre warranty and a four-year roadside assistance program. Estimated driveaway cost is $118,529.

he 2016-specification Kumhoshod BAC Mono was one of the sensations of the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed – a UK festival which features hill-climb racing on a 1.8km course which rises nearly 100m over its length.

The BAC Mono scored a fastest time of 47.90 seconds, according to its on-board telemetry system, bettering the existing hill record for a road car of 49.27 seconds.

As part of the ‘First Glance’ category, its times were not checked by event organisers. However, Oliver Webb, the company’s test driver responsible for the achievement, said: “All our runs were comfortably under 50 seconds and I’d love to come back next year and officially challenge for the record.”

Kumho has been involved with the innovative BAC Mono since before the model’s launch in 2011, and has worked continuously with the manufacturer to create a tailored version of its V70A street legal competition tyre that best suits the Mono’s lightweight mid-engined configuration and substantial powerto-weight ratio of 526bhp/ton.

“The association with BAC works well for both companies, and is the latest example of how we can attune the international might of the Kumho brand to the specialist needs of a low volume car manufacturer,” said Kumho Brand Manager Dan Woodward. “We are very proud of our ability to equally successfully cater for the OE needs of a rapidly-developing new company like BAC and the established global giants of the car industry.”

BAC is understood to have notably swelled its order book at Goodwood and has now pre-sold the whole of next year’s production.

21

PRODUCTS

Greater light and longer life a feature of Narva’s new Plus 60 globes N arva, has launched its new range of Plus 60 performance 12 volt headlamp globes, providing, the company says, a cost effective upgrade to OEM lighting across a wide variety of cars, trucks and motorcycles.

The globes offer 60 per cent more light on the road compared to standard halogen globes while remaining street-legal and complying with all ADR requirements. This translates to white light output which shines a beam 20 metres longer than conventional globes.

Narva says the Plus 60’s bright light output can reduce driver eye fatigue and improve safety by increasing road visibility, particularly useful

in winter months when the nights are darkest and natural light at its lowest.

The Plus 60 globe is a replacement for

its predecessor, the Plus 50, and while it offers improved performance, there is no increase in power draw and the globes remain entirely safe for use with polycarbonate headlamp lenses.

Ryco releases dedicated Australian catalogue covering Japanese trucks

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arket leading filter supplier Ryco has released a dedicated filter catalogue covering Japanese trucks in the Australian market.

“The new catalogue covers listings for the four Japanese Truck brands in Australia i.e. Isuzu, Hino, Fuso (previously Mitsubishi Fuso) and UD Trucks (previously UD Nissan). With truck sales exceeding 190,000 units in the last 12 years including 30,000 new registrations in the last two years alone, this will be an ever increasingly important reference guide for service workshops,” said Ryco Heavy Duty Product Manager, Ross Cunningham.

22

Three Japanese manufacturers offer trucks in light, medium and heavy duty categories whilst UD has vehicles in the medium to heavy vehicle ranges only.

As well as providing greatly enhanced light output compared to standard halogen globes, the Plus 60 globes deliver longer life leading to reduced running costs, particularly in vehicles that spend extended periods driving at night such as trucks and taxis.

The Plus 60 globes are available in a number of variants including H1, H4 and H7. For vehicles using H3, HB3 and HB4 globes, the Narva Plus 50 globes will remain.

The broad range Narva’s globes are available from leading automotive, 4WD and commercial vehicle outlets nation-wide.

The new Plus 60 globes are priced from a RRP of approximately $29 per pair.

Already there are more than 140 specific filters in the ever-expanding Ryco range servicing this important market and, as with the general automotive filters, each Ryco filter in the program is engineered to meet or exceed original equipment specifications for ultimate efficiency, life and flow.

Supplementing the vehicle-specific application data covering Oil, Air and Fuel filters is an extensive cross reference listing to further assist in securing the right part.

To get a copy of ‘The Ryco Book for Japanese Trucks’ contact your local Ryco stockist, Ryco representative or the Ryco Customer service Team on 1800 804 541. Full LCV listings are available at www.rycofilters.com.au

Schaeffler offers newly-defined water pumps under its Ruville brand

U

Drive the stress away on the road with a new Navman N avman has launched its latest MY650LMMT GPS that, the company says, is overflowing with features to help alleviate a lot of the frustration behind the wheel. This includes enhancements to its world first Landmark Guidance Plus feature that improves the map display for clearer directions, free lifetime monthly map updates, spoken safety alerts, live traffic updates, and the new Zomato Restaurant Guide (Urbanspoon).

The company carried out research into the biggest causes of stress and frustration for drivers and used that information to create the advanced features. One element of the research indicated drivers had trouble seeing street signs because they were too small.

“In light of this, we have been working on advancing our Landmark Guidance Plus feature that works by giving you spoken directions based on what you are seeing through your windscreen - using visual cues - such as the colours and brand names of buildings to guide you,” said Wendy Hammond, Country Director Navman Australia. “The latest version of the feature on the MY650LMMT will now also display business and brand logos on the map screen, eliminating doubt, making directions even clearer and easier to follow. 3D landmarks

such as Flinders Station or Queen Victoria Building are also presented on the MY650LMMT mapping screen giving you a better indication of where you should be heading.”

The MY650LMMT also offers free lifetime monthly map updates, including updates to safety alerts, and other features include Live traffic updates; Voice destination entry; Bluetooth hands-free; 3D Junction Views; Fuel type search to allow the driver to search via keyword for petrol stations that carry the type of fuel required; and a Parking assist feature which will help the driver to find, and be guided to, the closest parking station near their destination.

The Navman MY650LMMT also has the new Zomato Restaurant Guide.

“The Zomato Restaurant Guide adds 40,000 restaurant listings in Australia across 20 cities and 11,800 restaurant listings in New Zealand across 12 cities. The great thing about this feature is rather than fiddling on your phone, you can use the device to find a great place to eat, and then simply tap your choice and be directed to it straight away,” said Ms Hammond.

nder its Ruville brand, Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket is offering newly-defined water pumps and water pump KITs for nearly all current European and Asian passenger cars.

The company says it has optimised the design of its Ruville water pump thanks to more durable and wearresistant materials. All component sizes and forms are precision-tuned to ensure exact pump capacity for each specific engine. For vital components such as mechanical seals, leakage is prevented even at high operating temperatures.

The sliding ring of the Ruville water pump is made of silicon carbide, a material with hardness similar to that of a diamond, which makes it especially resistant to thermal shock. For the counter ring a softer material, carbon graphite, is employed. During the interaction of these two material types, the counter ring provides an optimal fit onto the sliding ring to prevent water from reaching the bearings.

Impellers and housings have a new design that optimises flow rates and the location and dimensions of the drainage system have been adapted to allow for small amounts of coolant to quickly escape, before they have a chance to penetrate and damage the bearings.

The Ruville water pump KIT contains the water pump, a tension roller, a deflection pulley, a guide pulley, the timing belt and all accessory parts needed for installation.

For further information visit www.schaeffleraftermarket. com.au

The Navman MY650LMMT has a two-year warranty and is available at all major electronics retailers for $199.

For more information or a list of retailers visit www.navman.com.au or facebook.com/NavmanANZ 23

MOTORSPORTS

Hamilton wins at Silverstone, struggles in Hungary

L

ewis Hamilton won the 2015 Formula 1 British Grand Prix after an inspired drive in changeable conditions at Silverstone. However, the reigning world champion followed up his emotional hometown win with something of a disaster in Hungary.

In Britain, the world champion saw off the threat of early leaders Williams, and then made an inspired pit call late in the race to record a deserved victory over Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg

24

“I’m delighted for the team - everyone back at base has done an incredible job to build this amazing car and everything today was just perfect too.”

and the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel.

An electric start

by Williams’ drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas saw them overhaul pole-sitter Hamilton, but after changing to Pirelli’s hard tyres on the 19th lap, Hamilton again took the lead.

Another inspired decision, after rain began to fall, saw Hamilton switch to intermediates before the rest of the field. It proved to be the winning decision as he went on to sweep to victory and take his third British GP win and his fifth victory of the season.

“It’s been a very, very special weekend for me,” said Hamilton.

“I’m delighted for the team everyone back at base has done an incredible job to build this amazing car and everything today was just perfect too.

“The race obviously got off to a bad start but the guys did a great job with the first stop to turn it around. Then, when the

HUNGARIAN GP

rain came, it was really tough out there in a different way. As the one in front, it was so hard to judge where to push and my front tyres went so cold.

I think that’s the best pit call I’ve ever made to come in at that time. From there it was just bringing it home.”

Rosberg took second spot to give Mercedes their sixth one-two of the season, while Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel

“It’s been a tough year and to have two cars on the podium is pretty surreal.

I pushed hard in the last stint when I was on new softs so the opportunity was there to go for the race win.” was able to overcome both Williams’ drivers to take the final podium spot.

The result meant that Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel had shared the podium places in six of the season’s nine races.

After the high of winning the British GP, Hamilton came down to earth with a thud in Hungary as Sebastien Vettel guided his Ferrari to a second victory of the season. In what has been an otherwise disappointing season for Daniel Ricciardo, the Red Bull driver performed well to take third spot behind his teammate Daniil Kvyat, despite a couple of close calls with both Mercedes’ cars.

Though Hamilton was on pole position, he started badly, running off the track on lap one to drop to 10th. He would push through to reach 4th spot during the race but took a drive-through penalty for a collision with Ricciardo and ended up finishing in sixth position.

Nico Rosberg also had a shocker - a late coming-together with Ricciardo gave him a left-rear puncture dropping the German to eighth at the flag.

For Ricciardo, not only did he have clashes with both Mercedes’ car, he was showered with debris when the front wing of Nico Hulkenberg’s Force India sheared off on lap 42 – an incident that saw Hulkenberg smash into the tyre wall and the deployment of the safety car.

In the final laps, Ricciardo suffered front wing damage after his clash with Rosberg, who suffered a right-rear tyre puncture in the incident, and the Australian had to pit to fit a replacement, ultimately taking the third podium spot.

“It was definitely an eventful race but one I am very proud of,” said Ricciardo. “I have mixed emotions but I‘m grateful to be on the podium.

It’s been a tough year and to have two cars on the podium is pretty surreal.

I pushed hard in the last stint when I was on new softs so the opportunity was there to go for the race win. It’s a shame that Nico and I made contact but I wore my heart on my sleeve and left everything I had on the track.”

Following the Hungarian GP, Hamilton still led the championship on 202 points with Rosberg on 181 and Vettel on 160.

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MOTORSPORTS

Nelson Piquet Jr. is the first Formula E champion N elson Piquet Jr has entered the history books as the inaugural winner of the Formula E World Championship.

The Brazilian took the title at the end of an incredible final day of the championship on the streets of London.

Piquet took seventh place, enough for him to triumph in the title fight – a result which also means that, for the first time, a Chinese team, NEXTEV TCR, has produced the champion in an FIA series.

Apart from Piquet, the other hero of the moment was Englishman Sam Bird, who took his second win of the season in front of his home crowd.

It was the 11th and final round of the all-electric race car series and more than 25,000 spectators packed the grandstands and the eVillage, bringing the total number of people through the gates over the duration of the event, from Friday to Sunday, to around the 60,000 mark.

Going into the race

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there were three drivers who could have claimed the title – Nelson Piquet Jr, Sebastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi - and things were so tight that Piquet’s winning margin to snare the championship was

“It was an incredible day and we achieved what we set out to do; putting on a great motorsport show in one of the most important cities in the world. We did it!”

just one point from Buemi, who finished fifth in the London race.

Lucas di Grassi would have needed a combination of favourable circumstances to take the title and, in the end, sixth place was not enough.

The day got off to a dramatic start, as the battle for the Julius Baer Pole Position was hit by rain, just as the second group of drivers were out on track. For the first time in the season, the special all-weather tyres supplied to all Formula E competitors by Michelin, were given a stern test.

Paying the highest price for rain was Piquet, who was in the third group of qualifiers and found himself in 16th place on the grid, behind fellow di Grassi (11th) and Buemi who was sixth fastest.

Buemi looked on course to take the title but, after the mandatory pit stop, the Swiss driver spun on his out lap, lost a place, and couldn’t make it up. Piquet’s aggression in reaching seventh

“It’s been a very positive first season of Formula E, both for the championship and for Michelin.” at the chequered flag was enough.

It was a satisfying end the category’s inaugural season and CEO Alejandro Agag was delighted. “Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the final would turn out like this,” he said. “It was an incredible day and we achieved what we set out to do; putting on a great motorsport show in one of the most important cities in the world. We did it!”

For tyre Supplier Michelin, the Formula E championship has been a resounding success.

“It’s been a very positive first season of Formula E, both for the championship and for Michelin,” said Michelin Motorsport Director Pascal Couasnon. “The spectacle that the organisers, teams, drivers and our tyres delivered to the public was of a very high standard. We are very much looking forward to next season when the cars will benefit from significant technological evolutions, especially with regard to their drivetrain. It

is through innovation that Formula E will assert itself as a laboratory working for tomorrow’s mobility.”

Thoughts now turn to a new season, and the calendar for the championship was released in July.

Season two of Formula E will be

made up of 11 races, hosted in 10 cities – with London hosting two races – and the championship will get underway on October 17th in Beijing. Paris has been added to the list of host cities and the race there will take place on April 23.

DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1.

Nelson Piquet Jr

144pts

2.

Sebastien Buemi

143pts

3.

Lucas di Grassi

133pts

4.

Jerome D’Ambrosio

113pts

5.

Sam Bird

103pts

6

Nicolas Prost

88pts

7.

Jean-Eric Vergne

70pts

8.

Antonio Felix da Costa

51pts

9.

Loic Duval

42pts

10. Bruno Senna

40pts

Motorsport Calendar 2015 FORMULA ONE Sept 04-06 Sept 18-20 Sept 25-27 Oct 9-11

Italian GP, Monza Singapore GP, Marina Bay Japanese GP, Suzuka Russian GP, Sochi

V8 Sept 11-13 Oct 8-11 Oct 23-25 Nov 6-7

Wilson Security Sandown 500, Sandown Raceway Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, Mount Panorama Castrol Gold Coast 600, Surfers Paradise ITM 500 Auckland, Pukekohe Park

MOTOGP Sept 11-13 Sept 25-27

San Marino GP, Misano GP of Aragon, Aragon

Oct 9-11 Oct 16-18

GP of Japan, Motegi Australian GP, Phillip Island

WRC Sept 10-13 Oct 01-04 Oct 22-25 Nov 12-15

Rally Australia Rally France Rally Spain Rally Great Britain

WEC Sept 19 Circuit of the Americas, USA Oct 11 Fuji, Japan Nov 1 Shanghai, China Nov 21 Bahrain

27

MOTORSPORTS

Chris Atkinson was one of a number of high profile drivers to test the Hankook tyres

Extreme Rallycross chooses Hankook for Australian Championship S idchrome Extreme Rallycross, David Ridden, Director of Sidchrome has selected Hankook Tyre as the Extreme Rallycross said: “We’ve exclusive tyre partner for its new had significant support from around national seven-round championship. the racing community. With seven Part of the growing championship rounds across phenomenon that is Australia, we are delivering rallycross, the Sidchrome action-packed events not Extreme Rallycross only to rallycross enthusiasts, championship uses a global but we have the pleasure of style of headline car, introducing the Sidchrome called a Supercar Lite, Extreme Rallycross to plus locally-built cars, new crowds. We have very competing across a number exciting times ahead.” of Australian states.

“This is the kind Mixing the best aspects of spectacle Australian from traditional stage rallying motorsport needs,” explained and circuit racing, and Hankook Tyre Australia Hankook’s 200/625R17 Ventus competing on mixed surfaces Z213 will be used as the control Motorsport Manager tyre across all classes of comprising both tarmac and Dean Evans. “Rallycross is Sidchrome Extreme Rallycross gravel, Rallycross has proven undoubtedly the next big thing hugely popular in Europe and the USA. in global motorsport, and now that we Locally, big names who have shown have an Australian version, Hankook an interest in Extreme Rallycross include wanted to be a part of it from the start – Australia’s own WRC driver Chris and we had the right tyre to support it.”

All Extreme Rallycross cars will use Atkinson, ARC drivers Jack Monkhouse the same 17-inch Hankook Ventus tyre and Brendan Reeves, and WRC driver and Perth-resident Alister McRae signing with exacting specifications. “Hankook Australia worked closely with Extreme on as the first major driver of the series.

28

Rallycross to determine what they were trying to achieve, in regards to grip and ‘the show’,” added Evans.

With feedback from Alister McRae and Chris Atkinson during the test day in May, Hankook chose a size, pattern and compound of tyre that offered the best balance between grip, cost and durability, and assuring a safe and reliable tyre for the Extreme Rallycross championship.

All Extreme Rallycross competition vehicles will use the same exclusive control tyre, a Hankook Ventus Z213, in 200/625R17, an FIA-spec tyre imported specifically for the unique demands of Extreme Rallycross.

“We needed something that could cope with both tarmac and dirt, but also jumps, so we chose what Hankook uses for ‘intermediate’ conditions in the WRC, but also something that will add to the spectacle of Extreme Rallycross”, said Evans.

Hankook Tyre Australia has partnered with Extreme Rallycross for three seasons, which will include exclusive use of the Hankook Ventus Z213 on all competition vehicles.

Formula 4 launches on Hankook tyres Hankook Tyre will partner the F4 series over the next three seasons with trackside support

Hankook’s Ventus slick is the same size as used in the British MSA F4 series, and the European F4 series

H

ankook Tyre Australia made its official debut with the CAMS Jayco Formula 4 Championship when round one of the inaugural Australian titles began in July at the Townsville round of the V8 Supercars.

Run over seven rounds, Hankook was chosen by CAMS as the official tyre supplier for the next three seasons, due largely, the company says, to the performance of its racing tyres, along with the brand’s ability to catapult a driver towards Formula 1. As the official tyre of the European F3 series, which saw Max Verstappen progress to Formula 1 this season, the Hankook Ventus racing slick has been a feature of the DTM, Euro F3, British MSA Formula 4 categories and now the Australian F4 championship.

Competitors will be allowed six Ventus F200 racing slick tyres - in a special Super Soft C9 compound - per weekend, not including wet weather tyres, which consists of two practice session, one qualifier, and three sprint races.

“We worked with the F4 series guys, and with Cameron McConville heading up the development, we were able to find out what the F4 series was after,” explained Hankook Motorsport

Manager Dean Evans. “While the Euro F3 series runs a Soft compound, the lighter, less powerful F4 cars really benefit from the extra grip, and while the season is predominantly winter based, we all feel the Super Soft compound offers the best combination of maximum grip and durability in the intended conditions. We really tailored the compound choice around the cars, the climate and the calendar.”

The sizes of the Hankook F200 slicks – and wet weather Z206 front/ Z207 rear tyres – is the same as the Euro F3 and F4 championships,

Hankook’s 240/570R13 rear slick and wet weather tyres will be used

180/550R13 front, and 240/570R13 rear, and will be a key performance component of the CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship.

Securing the Formula 4 contract, as well as that of the Sidchrome Extreme Rallycross, Hankook Tyre has now grown to be the number two ranked motorsport brand in Australia and New Zealand, based on sales.

Control tyre categories include Formula 4, NZ SuperTourers, Australian Manufacturers Championship, NSW Production Touring Cars, Qld Excel Series and Pulsar Challenge, along with open competition categories.

Hankook has proven to be fast, durable and price competitive, and its success in Australia has developed in just five years, following its local competition department debut in 2010 in production car racing and tarmac rally.

Starting in Townsville, the 2015 F4 championship starts will run at least one round per month as part of the V8 Supercar calendar, until the final Sydney Olympic Park round in December, with races broadcast on Channel 10 and Fox Sports. To follow the Formula 4 championship, visit www.formula4.com.au 29

WORLD NEWS

Michelin Defender LTXM/S with EverTread

US

Michelin announced that it is extending the Defender promise of outstanding durable tread life to light trucks, SUVs and crossovers with the launch of the Michelin Defender LTXM/S with EverTread compound.

The company says EverTread uses a stronger, advanced tread compound that holds up in tougher conditions longer and helps deliver improved gravel wear, all-season confidence and excellent fuel efficiency.

An evolution of the long-time consumer favorite, the LTX M/ S2, ichelin says the LTX M/S with EverTread combines durable tread life and all-weather traction in a single tyre that is designed to better meet the higher-torque demands of modern vehicles.

Most light and heavy-duty trucks produce twice as much torque as they did 20 years ago and some models produce nearly three times more torque. With the EverTread compound, the Defender LTX M/S tyre lasts 10 percent longer in severe conditions than its predecessor.

“The Michelin Defender LTX M/S was created to better address the size and power needs of today’s trucks and SUVs, giving drivers what they want - a combination of durability and longevity year-round without sacrificing 30

safety and performance,” said Scott Clark, chief operating officer of Michelin North America’s passenger and light-truck tyre division.

“As vehicles evolve, we must develop tyres that match their powertrain performance, resulting in a tyre that is stronger and lasts longer, even in tough conditions.”

Defender LTX M/S tyres are offered with a 50,000-70,000 mile warranty and is now available to consumers across North America through more than 10,000 authorised dealer locations, in 71 sizes ranging from 15-inch to 22-inch rim diameters, with 45 fitments available in 2015 and 26 fitments arriving in 2016.

Yamaha YZF-R1

UK

Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha’s new YZF-R1 is to receive Pirelli Diablo™ Supercorsa SP as original equipment tyres.

The Yamaha YZF-R1 has highly advanced electronic control systems and an innovative 998cc liquid-cooled cross-plane engine, forward-inclined parallel 4-cylinder, with 4-valves DOHC producing 200hp, and features include Banking sensitive Traction Control/ Slide Control, Front Lift Control and Launch Control and Banking sensitive Racing ABS/Unified Brake System.

To transmit the horsepower of the bike to the road, the Pirelli DIABLO™ Supercorsa SP tyres in 120/70 ZR17 front and 190/55 ZR17 rear sizes have been selected.

Toyo Tires for brand new Scion iA and Scion iM

T

oyo Tire North America OE Sales has announced that two all-new Scion models are rolling out on Toyo Tires.

They are the 2016 Scion iA, Scion’s first sedan, and the 2016 Scion iM 5-door hatchback.

The Scion iA is equipped with 16-inch Toyo Proxes A27 tyres.

The Proxes A27 is designed to provide low rolling resistance, good handing in both wet and dry, and a quieter ride. The Scion iA features a high-strength body structure, quick-revving, high-compression 1.5-liter engine with 106 horsepower; a 6-speed transmission, and standard 16-inch alloy wheels.

The Scion iM can come equipped with 17-inch Toyo Proxes 4 Plus B all-season, ultra-high performance tyres that deliver a combination of excellent wear and swift handling.

The Scion iM’s 137 horsepower, 4-cylinder engine uses Valvematic technology to offer a broad torque curve. Its hunkereddown chassis is equipped with a double-wishbone rear suspension and comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels.

Pirelli Phantom™ Sportscomp

ITALY

The Pirelli Phantom™ Sportscomp has been chosen by Yamaha as original equipment tyres for the XSR700, the new twin-cylinder Sport Heritage bike, in 120/70 R17 front and 180/55 R17 rear sizes.

In addition to the set 120/70 R17 TL 58V front and 180/55 R17 TL 73V rear as original equipment of the Yamaha XSR700, the Sportscomp range is available in 100/90 – 18 front and 150/70 R17 rear.

The Phantom Sportscomp combines the historical tread pattern design of the Phantom line with the modern technology of high performance tyres.

The Phantom Sportscomp tread pattern presents a wavy longitudinal groove on both front and rear tyres which, the company says, promotes fast water drainage, providing confident grip in wet conditions. The tyre has a sportier image with the characteristic “semi-slick” design.

The compounds used have a high silica percentage, which ensures grip in the wet and especially a fast warm up, with a confidence inspiring grip factor on cold or wet tarmac.

GERMANY

Michelin has acquired 100 per cent of Meyer Lissendorf, a major tyre wholesaler in Germany.

Located near Cologne, the company had a turnover of 57 million euros in 2014 and employs approximately 90 people at its two main sites in Gönnersdorf and Lissendorf. Founded in 1974 by Hubert Vietoris and his wife Maria, nee Meyer, Meyer Lissendorf has built a distribution network of specialised

dealers and independent repair shops. It also offers a range of tyres to wholesalers that specialise in spare parts and has developed a mounted wheel assembly business for car manufacturers’ networks.

The acquisition of Meyer Lissendorf is aimed at strengthening the Michelin distribution network in Germany, consolidating its position in the small and medium retailer redistribution market. This supplements the purchase in 2014 of the German wholesaler Ihle. Together, these two regional networks will also improve the Michelin national network in Germany.

This operation is part of the Michelin Group’s strategy to strengthen its access to the European market by developing all distribution channels in response to the new requirements and behaviour of motorists.

This acquisition is subject to validation by the competition authorities in Germany and Austria.

GERMANY

Continental is to launch in all-new super tyre, the SportContact 6 at the end of August. The company says the tyre continued on page 32

Michelin CrossClimate cooking with British Gas

B

ritain’s largest energy provider, British Gas, is to fit Michelin CrossClimate tyres to its fleet of 13,000 vans.

Fleet Manager Colin Marriott tested the tyre at its launch event in Geneva, comparing the new technology to Michelin’s summer and winter ranges as well as some competitors’ all-season tyres.

“I was impressed by the performance of the CrossClimate tyres. On dry roads there was absolutely no doubt they performed as well as Michelin’s summer tyres, and they outperformed the winter tyres and all-season tyres by some margin,” he said.

“It was a very easy decision for us to fit these tyres, due to the quality of the product.”

British Gas will be asking OEMs to supply CrossClimate tyres on its new vehicles where possible.

Michelin says the CrossClimate offers the benefits of a summer tyre for

dry or wet braking, total mileage and energy efficiency, while also boasting the traction and braking performance of a winter tyre on cold and snowcovered roads – making it perfect for the UK’s often unpredictable weather.

After being evaluated by three independent European testing organisations – TÜV SÜD, Dekra Test Centre and UTAC CERAM – the

CrossClimate tyre has obtained Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake (3PMSF) approval, meaning it can be used in countries that require special winter equipment at clearly defined times of the year.

The tyre has also earned the top ‘A’ rating for wet braking on European tyre labels and ‘C’ for rolling resistance, with a noise rating of 68 decibels.

With a V-shaped tread and selfblocking 3D sipes, the tyre is designed to optimise traction in snow. Described as a “claw” effect, the vertical and lateral waves of the sipes give the tread blocks greater rigidity, while also benefiting longevity, steering precision and general dry road performance due to its ability to resist heat build-up.

The CrossClimate tyre is currently available in 23 dimensions, covering 76% of all car and car-derived van tyres in sizes from 15 to 17 inches, with Michelin to launch additional sizes next year.

31

WORLD NEWS will positioned in a new product segment it is calling ‘Ultra Ultra High Performane (U-UHP) and combines ‘the focus of the successful ContiSportContact 5 P, which is positioned at the top of the UHP segment, and the ContiForceContact, which was focused on offering outstanding performance at events, especially on race tracks’.

The SportContact 6 is designed to deliver maximum control, maximum grip and maximum stability for high speeds up to 350km/h.

US

BFGoodrich has sold more than 1 million All-Terrain T/A® KO2 tires in North America, less than eight months after launching in the market.

The company’s most advanced light truck tyre premiered in November 2014 with 12 initial sizes, and since has expanded to 40 available sizes.

A total of 61 sizes will be available to more than 20,000 BFGoodrich Tires authorised dealers when the line expansion is complete.

Engineered from BFGoodrich’s championship off-road motorsports racing technology, the company says the KO2 delivers exceptional toughness, tread life and traction for traversing the harshest conditions, including

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A® KO2

gravel, dirt, rock, mud and snow. The KO2 fits a range of vehicles, including Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge, Jeep, Toyota and Nissan pick-up trucks and SUV’s as well as Plus Fitments for a wide variety of vehicles.

EUROPE

The European Commission has approved regional investment aid totalling almost €117million to Nexen Tire Corporation Czech s.r.o.

(Nexen) for the construction of a tyre

production plant in Žatec, Czech Republic. The Commission found that the aid granted by the Czech Republic was compatible with EU state aid rules, and that it promotes regional development without unduly distorting competition in the internal market.

EU Commissioner in charge of competition policy Margrethe Vestager said: “This tyre production plant will create at least 1000 new jobs in Žatec and contribute significantly to the economic development of the region. I am pleased we today approved state aid to make this happen - It is a good use of public money in line with EU state aid rules.”

The Czech Republic notified aid measures to support the construction of a new tyre plant totaling €116.8 million, consisting of a direct grant of €39.7 million, an employment grant of €10.1 million and about €67 million arising from tax relief and from the authorities selling the site for the plant at a reduced price.

The project’s total investment costs amount to €769 million and it is expected to create at least 1000 new jobs in Žatec. Žatec is located in the Severozápad region, an area with high unemployment and a standard of living below the EU average, that is eligible for regional aid under EU state aid rules.

Chelsea Football Club unveils new uniform with Yokohama Tyres

Y

okohama is the new principal shirt partner of Chelsea Football Club, the English Premier League champions.

The new home uniform, manufactured by leading sports brand adidas, bears the Yokohama Tyres logo across the chest, and was worn by the players for the first time at a pre-season friendly match between Chelsea and New York Red Bulls of the Major League Soccer (MLS) league in the U.S. on July 22. The uniform made its UK debut on August 2 at Wembley Stadium when Chelsea took on Arsenal in the FA Community Shield match pitting the reigning Premier League champions against the current FA Cup holders.

Yokohama Rubber and Chelsea FC entered entered into a five-year partnership commencing with the start of the 2015‒16 season.

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UK

Nexen Tire has become an Official Partner of Manchester City Football Club (FC), one of the English Premier League’s strongest teams, as a part of the company’s sports marketing plan.

On August 6, Nexen Tire held a signing ceremony with Manchester City FC at the City Football Academy in Manchester, England and announced its Official Tyre Partnership. The ceremony was attended by Ho-Chan Kang, President of Nexen Tire, Ferran Soriano, Manchester City FC CEO, Omar Berrada, City Football Marketing Commercial Director, and other executives from both sides. Manchester City FC players were also in attendance.

Nexen says the partnership underpins its rapid expansion into the global market by establishing a strong foothold in the European and global market through active communications with customers. Football fans from Europe and around the world will be able to see Nexen Tire’s logo on digital boards whenever Manchester City play at the Etihad Stadium. Moreover, the company plans to execute various marketing activities by utilising players’ portrait rights and sponsorship management.

“We are very pleased to serve as the Official Tire of Manchester City FC, one of the best soccer clubs in Europe. Manchester City FC is the perfect partner for Nexen Tire, considering its position in the league as one of the top-class football clubs with their decisive investment in and recruitment of top stars,” said Ho-Chan Kang, President of Nexen Tire.

“This will provide us a great opportunity to let customers around the world know about Nexen Tire through the partnership with Manchester City FC, which has numerous fans across all continents.

We will strengthen our brand power through continuous sports marketing.”

EUROPE

Toyo Tire Europe GmbH President Tatsuo Mitsuhata, announced in August that the company’s Snowprox S953A has been selected by Audi AG as Original Equipment for the Audi A3 model.

The 205/50 R 17 93H XL Snowprox S953A will be fitted to

Hankook Tyre UK launch Facebook fan page

H

ankook Tyre UK is set to launch an official UK Facebook fan page to continue to build a brand presence in the UK market. The site is designed to engage with fans by sharing relevant company news and exclusive content. Fans will be able to access exclusive video content, up-to-the-minute news on innovative products and events within the industry as well as competitions and hints and tips from the experts.

Audi A3 models delivered with winter tyres from the 2015 season.

The Snowprox S953A is the second specialist tyre to be selected as Original Equipment. Open Country W/T is already fitted to the Audi Q7 for winter use.

Toyo Tires are also fitted to the Audi RS 4 and RS 5 sports models with their Proxes T1 Sport tyres.

US

Cooper Tires has delivered the next generation of its most popular off-road tyre line. The company says the new Discoverer STT Pro delivers serious traction, toughness and tread wear for the most challenging off-road conditions, providing superior reliability and durability with Armor-Tek3 construction that adds strength to the sidewall and tread area, and mud release dimples and scoops that prevent build-up and improve traction in super sloppy conditions. The tyre is

“The digital age is more prominent than ever before and this is reflected in Hankook’s marketing initiatives as a combination of traditional and digital marketing activities are deployed,” said Jong Jin Park, Managing Director at Hankook Tyre UK. “Social media is fast becoming a new and effective communication channel for brands to reach out to consumers. As Hankook continue to build a solid presence in the UK market we want to ensure we reward loyal followers of the brand as well as welcoming new fans by providing real quality content that correlates to our consumer’s lifestyles and helps us to provide great customer service.” equipped with a new silica-infused tread compound that improves wet traction in day-to-day traffic and has lower rolling resistance for improved fuel mileage.

“As part of Cooper’s leading Discoverer tyre line, the STT Pro delivers exceptional traction and performance in some of the harshest terrains on Earth,” said Scott Jamieson, Cooper’s Director of Product Management. “The STT Pro is an aggressive, high-performance tyre that will thrill off-road adventurers with its impressive traction in the thickest mud, across rocky terrain and in all types of challenging conditions. Yet, it delivers a smooth, reliable ride on the street, making this tyre an outstanding solution for the growing number of outdoor enthusiasts who will spend at least part of this summer exploring camp grounds, lakes and trails and must get to and from these destinations on the same tyre they use for these heavy-duty outdoor adventures.”

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The ZIEX ZE914 ECORUN is the next generation, high-performance tyre made for Australian roads. Engineered for performance and cost saving fuel efficiency, the low rolling resistance compound offers more mileage and better wet braking.

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