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Five Star FG Falcon at Jarvis Ford
The all-new FG Falcon has become the first Australian-built car to receive a 5 (five) star rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The petrol FG Falcon sedan range was awarded the maximum 5 (five) star safety rating rating with a total score of 34.6 points (out of a possible 37 points), giving it the highest score ever recorded by a locally produced car in Australia by a significant margin. Read more>
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Atkinson excited with new Impreza WRC2008 |
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 29/5/2008
Australian rally driver Chris Atkinson will step into the spotlight this weekend in Greece, when he and fellow Subaru World Rally Team driver Petter Solberg debut the Impreza WRC2008 at the Acropolis Rally.
The Impreza WRC2008 represents an entirely new direction for both Subaru and the Subaru World Rally Team.
Not only is it the first Impreza to sport a five door body, it is the first Subaru World Rally Car to be fully designed using computational fluid dynamics. Starting from a blank sheet of paper, the new model is a complete redesign of every element.
It has a radically restyled bodyshell and is the first Impreza World Rally Car to not sport Subaru’s trademark bonnet scoop. The car retains a front-mounted intercooler and the air intake takes the form of an internal scoop fed from a grill in the front bumper.
The Impreza WRC2008 also sports a radical new livery. It retains the iconic blue that harks to the roots of the Impreza in 1993, while also incorporating two of Subaru’s other corporate colours – white and silver.
Atkinson has tested the car on a number of occasions and has come away impressed with his new weapon.
“I think there’s a very positive feeling there,” Atkinson said.
“It’s exciting to be able to compete in a brand new car. As you’d expect, the team has done a good job, and it’s a big step in the right direction for us.
“I got to grips with the new car very quickly. I’d say there’s a bit of fine-tuning still needed to get it fitting best to my driving style, as you’d imagine.
“The more time I spend behind the wheel in different conditions will make it more and more comfortable. Overall though, I’m very happy and looking forward to really getting stuck in with it.”
Atkinson is in no doubt that the new car is an improvement over the Impreza WRC2007.
“For me, the balance of the new car is good and the reaction and handling is a good step forward, which has all come from the new overall package and the development of the chassis. It feels a lot more responsive and a lot easier to drive.
“It’s still a World Rally Car and it still has similar features, similar engine, and similar gearbox, so it doesn’t feel foreign, but it performs very differently.
“The real gain is in the unknown quantities, the things that are hard to measure and hard to feel, but make up the time. Things like centre of gravity and weight distribution that make up time without you having to push any harder. They feel a big improvement and I think that’s the main difference for me.
“From the very first run I felt comfortable with the car and am confident that we are in the right direction.”
The Queenslander says it has been exciting to be part of the project that has brought the car to the World Rally Championship.
“It’s a very good feeling to step into a new car for the first time, because it’s such a new and important one for Subaru and the team, and it’s great to be a part of it.
“It’s not that difficult to adapt to the WRC2008 as you drive it the same way, and for me I could push hard in my first time in the car, which is very good.
“We tried it in some different conditions and it seemed to adapt quite well. You don’t know exactly until you get onto the first stage and see where you’re at, but the first signs are very positive and I’m excited about seeing exactly what we can do in it.”
The man currently third in the Championship yearns for a maiden WRC victory, but he knows that it is unlikely to come in the car’s debut in Greece.
“It’s the first time out in a new car so it’s very exciting but you’re always a little cautious! If the feeling’s good I’ll be pushing straight away. There’s no reason not to, and obviously I’m looking forward to the opportunity to see where we are with the car and see if we can start to fight for wins for Subaru again.”
Impreza WRC2008 Technical specification
Engine: H-4. Flat four-cylinder, 16 valve, turbocharged
Capacity: 1994cc
Bore: 92.0mm
Stroke: 75.0mm
Engine management: Subaru programmable electronic engine management system
Power: 300bhp @ 5500rpm
Torque: 650Nm @ 3000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed electro-hydraulic, Electro-hydraulically controlled centre differential, Mechanical front and rear differentials
Drive system: Subaru Symmetrical All Wheel Drive
Suspension: Front: MacPherson strut, Rear: MacPherson strut
Shock absorbers: Bos, fully adjustable
Brakes: AP Racing 310mm ventilated discs and six-pot calipers front and rear. For asphalt use, front brakes are 378mm ventilated discs with six-pot calipers
Exhaust system: Inconnel with Subaru anti-lag system. Fitted with catalytic converters
Steering: Power assisted rack and pinion
Dimensions: Overall length: 4415mm
Overall width: 1800mm
Overall height: 1475mm
Wheelbase: 2635mm
Car weight: 1230kgs (WRC regulation min.)
Data systems: Single integrated electronic system controlling engine, transmission and data-logging
In-car display: LCD colour monitor with eight selectable data screens
Tyres: Pirelli (championship control tyre)
Radio equipment: Kenwood
Turbo charger: IHI - with WRC-regulation 34mm restrictor and Subaru anti-lag system
Spark plugs: DENSO
Wheels: BBS: 15” diameter for gravel, 18” for tarmac
Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres
Design: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for entire car |
Industry News
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Toyota first to export 100,000 cars |
19/12/2008
Toyota Australia is set to become the first Australian carmaker to export 100,000 vehicles in a calendar year.
The milestone car is due to be shipped from Melbourne on Christmas Eve, bound for the Middle East.
It will be among more than 2,100 Australian-built Toyota cars leaving Australia that day aboard the Positive Leader. |
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