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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Q..10kms west of Rocky...
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Diesel and Europe dominates 2011 awards.
If you think diesel is only for truckies, think again. A diesel-powered car has won Drive’s Car of the Year award for the first time. The Mercedes-Benz C250 CDI beat a field of 45 other cars, 20 of which were powered by the once-unfashionable fuel. Diesel vehicles won almost half of this year’s individual vehicle category awards. The switch to diesel power in luxury cars is partly being driven by legislation; more fuel efficient luxury cars get a partial exemption from the Government’s controversial luxury car tax. Advertisement: Story continues below DCOTY Winners But the fuel is also hard to ignore for the average motorist: the C-Class was the most fuel-efficient car in this year’s Car of the Year field, beating much smaller cars. At the same time it delivers better acceleration than a Holden Commodore large car. Latest generation diesels are also noticeably more refined and quiet than the old rattlers found under the hoods of workhorse utes. The Mercedes emerged victorious after more than 20,000km of testing on the road and racetrack in country Victoria. In the end, the fight for the top honour came down to four very different finalists: the Mercedes, Ford’s Territory SUV and Focus hatchback and the Volkswagen Polo city car. “The C-Class has always been a great car, but the addition of a punchy, fuel efficient new diesel engine in the C250 CDI, combined with additional standard equipment, make it a standout in a hotly contested part of the luxury car market,” said Toby Hagon, National Drive Editor. “What’s more impressive is that the C250 CDI is not just about fuel efficiency - it’s also surprisingly fun to drive.” Drive’s Car of the Year awards are designed to be the ultimate consumer guide to the new car market. Each vehicle is judged against a set of criteria, not against each car, including how it drives, value-for-money and re-sale value. The 46 cars were split into 13 categories designed to cover the majority of the Australian market, including city cars, people-movers and performance cars. This year’s field ranged from the $18,990 Toyota Yaris to the $340,000 Jaguar XKR-S. The latter was almost the most powerful car ever entered in Car of the Year testing, with a race car-like 404kW of power; that’s more than 540-horsepower in the old money. The least powerful car was actually last year’s Car of the Year winner, the 77kW Volkswagen Polo city car. Despite having the most entries in this year’s awards - nine cars in total - Volkswagen only won two categories. Best City Car was retained by the Polo while the new Golf Cabriolet claimed the Best Convertible prize. Best Small Car went to the new Ford Focus,(my comment..fantastic..!! Ford advertise this !!) ![]() ![]() A new category for 2011 was Best Family Car, combining the former Medium and Large car classes into one more consumer friendly contest. But it was the defending Best Medium Car, the Ford Mondeo that triumphed again. ![]() The Mercedes-Benz C250 CDI wrapped up the Luxury Under $80,000 category while the Audi A6 3.0 TDI took out the Luxury Over $80,000 class; meaning both luxury awards went to diesel-powered cars. Performance Car Under $60,000 was retained by the Renault Megane RS 250 for the second year. Performance Car Over $60,000 saw the new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe best the BMW 1 Series M Coupe and Jaguar XKR-S in a high-powered three-way battle. In the fiercely contested SUV Under $40,000 category, one of the biggest segments in the market, the new Skoda Yeti diesel beat the reigning champion, the Kia Sportage, by a single vote. The Ford Territory upheld local honours by claiming the SUV Over $40,000 class. It was one of three locally made cars in contention and the only won to win. The locally-developed (but made in Thailand) Ford Ranger was a serious contender in the Best Ute category but was beaten by the Mazda BT-50. It was still a win for local know-how, though, because the Mazda uses same mechanical underpinnings as the Ranger, albeit with different body panels. The two utes also earned the Safety Innovation Award for bringing new levels of safety to the commercial vehicle market. The Best People-Mover title went to perennial favourite the Honda Odyssey in a unanimous vote. Best 4WD also went unopposed to the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Mazda claimed the Green Innovation Award for its new “SkyActiv” engine and gearbox that has dramatically cut fuel use in its Mazda3 hatch. Previous Car of the Year Winners: 2010 Volkswagen Polo 77TSI 2009 Volkswagen Golf 118TSI 2008 Honda Accord V6 2007 BMW M3 2006 Audi TT 2011 Drive Car of the Year Fast Facts Cars tested: 46 Brands represented: 11 Country with the most cars: Germany, 15 Brand with the most cars: Volkswagen, 9 Total value of cars tested: $2,735,525 Total number of seats: 225 Number of airbags: 298 Most powerful car: Jaguar XKR-S, 404kW Least powerful car: Volkswagen Polo, 77kW Total number of kilowatts: 6994
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CSGhia Last edited by csv8; 24-11-2011 at 11:38 AM. |
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#2 | ||
Render unto Caesar
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ::1
Posts: 4,221
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Well done to Mercedes, the C class is a good car, handling is quite good. Though never driven the diesel version.
Well done to Ford with the Focus.
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"Aliens might be surprised to learn that in a cosmos with limitless starlight, humans kill for energy sources buried in sand." - Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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#3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: On The Footplate.
Posts: 5,086
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Mercedes have had thier stuff together when it comes to diesels for decades now. The old ones used to always have a reputation for great economy and reliability, and new ones are even better.
I find it odd that a badge-engineered pair of cars like the BT50 and the Ranger could be seperated in judging...a few different panels do not a different car make. Mondeo is a class leader...if more people test drove them, they'd walk out the doors in droves. As I've said before, when we took our G6E in for it's first complementary service and to get the towbar fitted, they loaned us a Mondeo turbo diesel auto, not top of the line but it had a lot of nifty features...and as the missus and I drove it around, we looked at one another and realised that if we'd test driven one of them, the Falcon wouldn't be in our driveway, but rather a Mondeo diesel...amazing car! |
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#4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,504
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I’m pleased to let you know that Ford has taken out four awards at the highly respected 2011 Drive Best Car awards in Sydney this morning.
• Best Small Car – Ford Focus Trend hatch • Best Family Car – Ford Mondeo Zetec EcoBoost • Best SUV Over $40,000 – Ford Territory TX TDCi rear-wheel drive • 2011 Drive Safety Innovation Award – Ranger pickup (shared with the Mazda BT-50) We have had a number of significant new vehicle activity this year and it is great to see all of our new products gaining the recognition that they deserve. They are truly great products! Thanks to everyone for all their efforts and their on-going commitment to making our brand stand out from the crowd. Regards Bob Graziano President & CEO of Ford Australia |
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#5 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 3,246
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Quote:
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BA2 XR8 Rapid M6 Ute - Lid - Tint -18s 226.8rwkW@178kmh/537Nm@140kmh 1/9/2013 14.2@163kmh 23/10/2013 Boss349 built. Not yet run. Waiting on a shell. Retrotech thread http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...1363569&page=6 |
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#6 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,412
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But lets hope the marketing department does the right thing and advertises them to the hilt. |
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#7 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,167
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Quote:
Great job Ford. We always knew it but no one else does.
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igodabigblackshinycar and I relented and allowed a BMW into the garage. ![]() |
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#8 | ||
Lukeyson
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW
Posts: 2,580
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(1) Top gong to a Diesel Sedan. Bob - did you take notice of this? People are calling out for a Diesel Coon, why for art thou not putting one in?
(2) The split between Ranger and BT-50 was settled on Price. My relatives just passed on buying a new Ranger because of the price. Interesting that. The Ranger doesn't have a low entry point option like the Mitsubishi - just mid and high. (3) What's the go with combining mid and large cars into 'Family' cars? Is that to stop the Toyota different-with-the-same-car Camry/Aurion debacle? Or are Holden/Ford fooling themselves into thinking Falcon/Mondeo and Commodore/Malibu are catering to different classes of buyers? I don't approve of this move by Drive. But then, when has Drive ever done anything that anybody has ever liked? Lukeyson
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If the human brain was simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it. |
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#9 | |||
No longer a Uni student..
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Coffs Harbour, NSW
Posts: 2,557
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Quote:
For example dad's Mondeo is a little shorter then Mum's XR6 but a similar width (it actually feels wider). And due to being a 'hatch' has more useable boot space.
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Previous: 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer - Petrol/Manual/Silver 1997 Ford Falcon GLi - Petrol/Auto/White Current: 2012 Ford Focus Sport - Petrol/Manual/Black Last edited by SteveJH; 24-11-2011 at 06:40 PM. |
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#10 | |||
IWCMOGTVM Club Supporter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern Suburbs Melbourne
Posts: 17,798
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Daniel |
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#11 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 36
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Good on Drive for telling their readers that the best car everybody should buy is a $68,000 Mercedes Benz. Great consumer advice.
Good on Ford though for putting in a good showing. 4 out of 5 Fords in contention won their categories, (and the fifth lost out to another Ford ![]() Quote:
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#12 | |||
Lukeyson
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW
Posts: 2,580
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The Wildtrack to me is like the XR of the range - and on that basis there's no equiv of the XT. (XL = G6, XLT=G6E, Wildtrack=XR) Can you go over the 4 out of 5 bit? I only counted 3 of 4 - Focus, Mondeo, Territory, Ranger - I must have missed one. Lukeyson
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If the human brain was simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it. |
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#13 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 36
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#14 | ||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
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Surprising this thread hasn't been getting more attention. Oh, that's right, it's Fordforums, you're not allowed to heap praise on Fords here.
Well done Ford, three great wins (four if you count the tie with BT50) and from Drive.com.au no less.
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Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica ![]() Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
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#15 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 376
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^^^^^
Agreed. If it had been the Cruze that won it'd be 10 pages by now.
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Ford Performance Enthusiasts |
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#16 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 290
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Only an expensive diesel won car of the year. A cheaper diesel is not half as impressive, depending on the application.
The Ecoboost Mondeo (petrol) won against 2 diesels, so what does that say about diesel? The Mondeo was praised for its performance, economy, and extended service intervals when compared to diesel. So, diesel isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's suited to certain applications, especially high-end expensive vehicles like Mercedes, but there is no way you would access that level of technology in a budget-conscious vehicle.
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2012 Ford Kuga Titanium (Mars Red) * 5 spd auto * ~170 000km odo * Mods: Fox cat-back exhaust, Simota CAI, larger intercooler, Spider iMode chip-tuning plug in. Engine responds very well to mods, but auto gearbox can become unsettled trying to cope with the extra torque. Good fuel economy overall: 9-12L/100km city, 8L/100 country. |
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#17 | |||
Performance moderator
![]() Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St Clair..N.S.W
Posts: 14,875
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Real cars are not driven by front wheels,real cars lift them!!... BABYS ARE BOTTLE FED, REAL MEN GET BLOWN. Don't be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark...Professionals built the Titanic! Dart 330ci block turbo black pearl EBXR8 482 rwkw.. Daily driver GTE FG.. Projects http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=107711 http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...8+turbo&page=4 |
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#18 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 251
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Diesels are popular in Europe because unleaded is a lot more expensive, they get rebates on diesel cars and there is no LPG (unless pumped from Russia), it's too expensive. TBO I don't like them and never have. In an SUV I see the point (especially for towing), but otherwise... for me, no dice. |
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#19 | |||
Getting it done.....
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,219
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Quote:
Ecoboost type engines are almost a combo of low down diesel torque with more responsive/linear engine performance higher up the rev range. If you take into account the similar cost of the engine builds (both have turbos etc.) then given the petrol engine is only 10-15% or less efficient in terms of fuel used its lower fuel costs per litre, generally longer service intervals, easier compliance with emissions and in many cases (due to market forces) lower up front cost then yes it is better to stay with the petrol. Diesels are popular in australia due to the market perceptoin at this point....and the lack of availability of ecoboost type engines. Now the latter are becoming more common i think it would be hard to justify a diesel passenger car unless you were convinced the ecoboost type tech would not work in your application....
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Dynamic White 1995 EF XR6 Auto Now with: Pacemaker 4499s Lukey Catback Exhaust Chrome BA XR-style tip Airdam Mounted CAI with modified (bellmouth) airbox Trip Computer install KYB shocks Bridgestone Adrenalin tyres Coming Soon: Exhaust Overhaul..... |
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#20 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2011
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Wheels magazine was the first to have such an issue of people whinging about the price of a car when they named the Lexus sedan Car Of The Year way back in the 1990's. Australia had never seen anything like it...a hundred grand Toyota!!!???
Wheels, quite rightly, countered by saying they were awarding the best car of the year...not neccisarily the cheapest... |
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#21 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 251
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Lets hope Ford uses these results to market their product. |
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#22 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Quote:
I often wondered about the government double-standard whereby Australian-built cars, under the ADR, were required to have lap-sash belts while the imported Odessey got in scot-free with a lap-only belt. |
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#23 | ||||
Render unto Caesar
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ::1
Posts: 4,221
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Quote:
http://odyssey.honda.com.au/about-the-car_safety.aspx Quote:
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"Aliens might be surprised to learn that in a cosmos with limitless starlight, humans kill for energy sources buried in sand." - Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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#24 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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#25 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2011
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Love the Honda Odyssey...if I simply had to have a people mover (shudder...) that would be the one I'd go for. At least it's been made stylishly, and there are some very nice modified ones around.
"Lap only rear center belt"? The horror!!! Oh how did we ever survive in the old days!!! ![]() |
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#26 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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#27 | |||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
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Quote:
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Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica ![]() Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
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#28 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 42
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Ford Mondeo Zetec EcoBoost aye...could be the next car for me.
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#29 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,801
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Diesel will cost you more in maintenance, have operational problems with the diesel particulate filter if used around town a lot and there's the extra expense up front. OTOH Ecoboost Mondeo Titanium is a nice peice of kit with quite a bit more power and will probably give far less drama's to owners as it ages.
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#30 | ||
Virtuous Bogan (TM)
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TAS
Posts: 27,559
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Very good result, but I agree, TDi should be in the Falcon sedan/ute yesterday.
For most people its not about performance as such, its about low fuel costs because thats what we notice every week. I agree in some cases diesel can give similar costs to petrol over a long period, but generally in the short term and most definitely while under warranty it should be cheaper for the consumer. Not to worry though, Ford will act when its all too late, TDi Tezz was way over due even when it was mostly ready....IMO FoA are protecting I6 production rates, which is admirable but perhaps chasing sales is what they should be looking at.
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