Julian Edgar, 50, has been writing about car modification and automotive technology for nearly 25 years. He has owned cars with two, three, four, five, six and eight cylinders; single turbo, twin turbo, supercharged, diesel and hybrid electric drivelines. He lists his transport interests as turbocharging, aerodynamics, suspension design and human-powered vehicles.
Local car makers accelerating towards their demise
So now Ford in Australia is to close its Falcon/Territory engine plant and locally assemble the European-designed Focus.
The Ford engine plant termination follows Mitsubishi closing its engine plant a few years ago and Nissan shutting its Australian car manufacturing operation in 1992. Going back even further, we had (amongst others) Toyota, Renault and British Leyland products built locally. But no more.
Now there’s just Holden (building both engines and cars), Ford (to be building just cars), Mitsubishi (cars) and Toyota (cars).
Mitsubishi, with its 380 model production, is in a perilous state: in spite of protestations from the company, it can’t be viable in a worldwide context to make the tiny number of cars being sold. Holden, despite recently releasing the VE model (effectively, a completely new car), has also found it not selling to expectations – more imported Corollas are at times moving out the door of opposition Toyota dealerships. Ford, just about to release a new model Falcon, has also been doing it tough. Toyota, the cashed-up behemoth, is – through the Aurion – exploring the large six cylinder market previously dominated by Holden and Ford. But Toyota also has a fall-back position in the shape of the locally manufactured four cylinder Camry.
The demise of the Australian car manufacturing industry has been predicted for decades. Hastened by the reduction in the tariff barrier (the car industry used to be incredibly protected), that prediction is gradually coming true. And if you think that’s an overstatement, it can be watered-down a little to say that the end of locally designed cars is very near.
And I think that much of the blame for the crumbling of the industry can be laid at the doorstep of the industry itself. And specifically, the product planners. You’d really have to think that those who decide the local production and development direction at Holden, Ford and Mitsubishi have never heard of global warming, don’t have any feeling for the mood swing of the public towards environmental conservation, and believe that petrol will stay cheap forever. The writing’s been on the wall for years but they haven’t seen it.
No one can deny that these companies have completely lacked innovation, bravery and vision. They have been the epitome of “me too” product planning.
The Mitsubishi 380 is a good example. As I wrote as soon as it was released (so this is no retrospective wise-after-the-event analysis), the Mitsubishi had (and has) no persuasive case for purchase. In the family car and fleet markets at which it is aimed, it doesn’t provide anything better than the opposition. A basic tenet of business success – having a key competitive advantage – is missing. An obvious avenue to have pursued – and one that built on the huge success of the original Magna – would have been to release a car with a clear fuel economy advantage. A turbo diesel or even a low-pressure turbo four cylinder petrol engine.
The VE Commodore is a car that seems to have been designed and built in a complete vacuum of reality. It’s huge, heavy, powerful, thirsty – and irrelevant to most Australians. Compare that with some cars in Holden’s history that fitted Australian requirements like a hand in a glove – the original 48-215 being of course the classic example.
The scoop pics of the next Falcon show a car that looks to be in exactly the same mould as the VE Commodore. It’s using carry-over mechanicals and so we can expect it to be again very powerful and very thirsty. At least it will probably still have a dedicated LPG option. No wonder there’s not the budget to invest in a new locally built engine – the sales predictions for the Falcon must be dismal indeed.
And Toyota? The Camry – despite not being much more economical than the Aurion – has at least got only four cylinders… something of significant psychological benefit for many purchasers. But the real sting is that the Camry is available in some markets as a hybrid. If petrol prices skyrocket, or public opinion accelerates in a massive switch to being carbon-aware (something that would immediately happen if catastrophic climate change weather events became common), Toyota could change to local hybrid production in what in car production terms would be an overnight move.
I’ve seen local manufacturers state that they need to make large cars to survive, that the profit margins on smaller cars are not there. But that is a self-perpetuating truism, the corollary of which that the bigger you make a car, the better. People haven’t got hugely taller or hugely fatter, and family sizes are way smaller than they were in the 1970s and 1980s, yet the cars being produced locally are much larger than ever before. The increase in size has nothing fundamentally customer-driven to support it; it’s just more of the “me too-ism” at work.
I think part of the problem is the self-congratulation that the local companies specialise in. There is never, not even in industry organisations like the Australian branch of the Society of Automotive Engineers, an air of urgency, of crisis, a recognition that they’re working in a failing business. Instead, they’re more likely to be giving each other design awards at black-tie functions.
The local manufacturers – especially Holden and Ford – need to show with locally developed product in the showroom that they can produce cars that appeal to more than Ford/Holden performance car enthusiasts, that they not only understand but also actively embrace the significant social change that is now occurring. Otherwise the Australian car will continue down the road to anachronistic irrelevance – it’s already on that path and accelerating as fast as its powerful and thirsty engine can take it….
on August 14th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
I’d hate to consider this the end of “locally designed” cars. I heartily agree that continuing to make big cars in a shrinking market is bound to end up in factory closures. At the same time, look how well some of our design teams have been contributing to international cars by these same makers. We might no longer make them, but I’d like to think we can still design them.
on August 14th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
I think this article is a joke.
“Holden, despite recently releasing the VE model (effectively, a completely new car), has also found it not selling to expectations – more imported Corollas are at times moving out the door of opposition Toyota dealerships.”
Holden’s Elizabeth (car) manufacturing plant is at maximum capacity. The Commodore, for yet another year running, is Australia’s most popular (highest selling) car. A couple of months it was outsold by Corolla, but only a few, and not by many. The VE is also exporting to every continent in the world except Antarctica. LWB models are booming in Asian countries.
“The demise of the Australian car manufacturing industry has been predicted for decades”
Yeah, I can say the sun disappear. 100 billion year from now, when it does, I’ll say I told you so. The Australian car industry has been going for what, 60-70 years? So for about 1/3 of that, people have been “predicting the demise”….See my point?
“…it can be watered-down a little to say that the end of locally designed cars is very near.”
Very near as in 10, 20, 30 years? If Ford America can get into gear and realise the Falcon is world quality, as GM did the the Commodore, both Holden and Ford will be firmly set in Australia.
A whole paragraph of nonsense:
“The VE Commodore is a car that seems to have been designed and built in a complete vacuum of reality. It’s huge, heavy, powerful, thirsty – and irrelevant to most Australians. Compare that with some cars in Holden’s history that fitted Australian requirements like a hand in a glove – the original 48-215 being of course the classic example.”
Yeah it’s big. Commodores are a LARGE CAR, thus they’re meant to be big. Heavy, yes and no. Heavy for 10 years ago, a reasonable weight for today’s standards. Need I remind you a fully stripped out race spec Porsche GT3 weighs the same as a full weight 1990 VN Commodore? Even with all it’s aluminium, fibreglass and carbon fibre. All cars are getting heavier, it’s to do with safety, quality, features, etc. Thirsty? 6’s still return great economy for a large car. Despite lack of direct injection, Commodore and Falcon use only about 1L/100km more than Aurion. Despite Aurion actually being a MEDIUM sized car (re-skinned Camry with a V6). Irrelevant? Still highest selling car for the last 12 months. Has well and truly settled from initial “hype” sales that new cars get. Just because you don’t need it, doesn’t mean everyone doesn’t. Families, travellers (towing capacity, boot space), businesses (big back seat for adults, not midgets). The list goes on. A lot of people can use big cars. It’s far from being irrelevant. Likewise with Falcon. The original 48-215? That was good because for the time it was BIG and cheap. Comparitivelly, a base model Commodore/Falcon and to a lesser extent Aurion and 380 are still big and cheap for what they are. Now you’re making points for me!
“It’s using carry-over mechanicals and so we can expect it to be again very powerful and very thirsty.” Power is what people want. Think about it, if the new Falcon was 100kw and used 7L/100km, sales would drop even more than they have since VE came out. For what? 3.5L/100km. Again, just because you dont have a use for these larger cars, doesn’t mean they’re not needed or useful.
“The Camry – despite not being much more economical than the Aurion – has at least got only four cylinders… something of significant psychological benefit for many purchasers.”
That’s right, psychological benifit. The truth is the average consumption isn’t much better than the direct injected V6 of Aurion. Thanks for making another point there for me.
“People haven’t got hugely taller or hugely fatter, and family sizes are way smaller than they were in the 1970s and 1980s.”
Umm, are you serious? Every generation is taller than the last. The world has an overweight epidemic, Australia is apart of the world, and the average family size might be 0.5 children smaller, but everyone wants to take more when they travel these days. A few changes of clothes, a tent and a couple of sleeping bags isn’t enough these days. You need lots of clothes, a huge tent, the gas bbq, fold-up chairs, sleeping bags and matresses, etc, etc. Not to mention the TV and games for the kids, plus a generator to power it.
“The local manufacturers – especially Holden and Ford – need to show with locally developed product in the showroom that they can produce cars that appeal to more than Ford/Holden performance car enthusiasts, that they not only understand but also actively embrace the significant social change that is now occurring.”
They are for God’s sake. Ford has increased economy, and power, and comfort just by using the world class ZF 6 speed auto. It also has dedicated duel fuel from factory, as does Holden (although I think Holden’s is a delaer option). Holden and Ford have been very open about the future introduction of diesel into their local cars, Ford with the Territory, and Holden has been open about the possible introduction of Displacement on Demand in V8’s, as well as a hybrid option for both V6 and V8. Not to mention both now having access to direct injection for their 6’s. Why the delay then? Cost as always. It’s not cheap to develop these technologies to suit different cars. A price hike for a diesel Commodore, you’d still bag the hell out of it being expensive.
The problem with this idea that large cars are going to fail is rediculous. Sure sales have shifted, but not only to small cars, but to SUV’s as well! SUV’s that are BIGGER, and HEAVIER, and drink MORE FUEL than Commodores and Falcons despite being LESS POWERFUL. If everyone really was affraid of fuel prices, emitions and so on, SUV and 4WD sales would drop significantly as well, but they’re picking up. This train of thought just doesn’t hold water.
Evan Smith.
on August 15th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Geeh Evan, You need a bit of reality. That article was looking to the future, and its point was that petrol costs have been rising, and that the local car manufacturers have not been doing much about it, except for Toyota who can easily go hybrid.
I don’t recall Corrollas outselling a Commodore for a month – but that’s happened now more than once – doesn’t that alert you to something of a change in the industry?
One could also ask, why don’t cars use natural gas?
Why hasn’t our Governments carried through their 6 years old promise – made before fuel prices rose a lot – of turning our brown coal into distillate?
The article did not mention the change in our dollar, which no so long ago dipped below 50 cents, is now in the mid 80s, an increase in its value of more than 50% which hurts exporting anything made locally in Australia.
But if we did have a 50 cent dollar, fuel would increase in cost to approaching $2 a litre. And all the imports we are buying would cost us a lot more.
I guess the government has been willing to let our local manufactures die, just to keep the imports cheap and the fuel price lower. Its not the best outcome in my opinion.
on August 15th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
As a car and Science Enthusiast, and noting Julian’s comments above, may I step aside slightly with a prediction of my own?
By 2015, the myth that we (the Human race) are contributing substantially to Global Warming will be debunked. The temperature will still rise.. (slightly).. but will taper off as it did in the late 60s, and will continue to do so until the next ice age. I repeat, the Globe is warming, but human CO2 emissions are not responsible – or the contribution is negligible.
I’m not a climate change sceptic in the employ of the Energy Industry (hardly!) – I just get sick of the bulldust sprouted on this topic. I have done my research, read the latest IPCC Report (not just the Policymakers prelude) and note with interest that less than half of the original scientists involved agree with the findings published. I point out that the US Dept. of Energy chooses not to include Water Vapour (responsible for about 95% of the Earth’s ‘Greenhouse’ Effect) in it’s studies on Climate Change.
Ever since I was small I remember everyone being terrified of something – The Cold War, The Falklands, Afghanistan, Iraq, SARS, Bird Flu, Millenium Bug, 9/11, Al Quaeda, Iraq again, and now – climate change – we are a race of Hysterics with ridiculous media channels.
Environmentally, we absolutely do need to conserve fossil fuels and find alternatives – I have no doubt they’re running out – and reduce HARMFUL Pollutants like NOX and CO.
We are wasting an incredible amount of resources stuffing around with CO2.
on August 15th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Is it possible for at least two of the local manufacturers to sit down and design a family of engines together? Some sort of modular block design to keep down costs (say 2L 4, 3L 6 and 4L 8 perhaps), that can be then used for petrol, diesel and gas (LNG or LPG), and maybe hybrid too. Turbos and intercoolers could also be designed to fit across the range.
Aircraft engine makers have done this sort of thing (eg International Aero Engines include Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce) very successfully, so why not Australian car makers?
If all four local makers got on board, the cost of engines would fall while the technology would improve. And if ‘naming rights’ was a problem, just get each maker to put up $100m and call the company “Australian engine co”, and make it independent of the car makers (as per the aircraft industry)..
on August 15th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Evan Smith demonstrates the problem endemic in the American-owned car manufacturers and the mainstream automotive media of refusal to accept and see reality. Virtually the only people in Australia still buying Commodores and Falcons are the fleet market. These cars are being propped up federal and state and local government being loyal to local manufacturing. Look at the disaterous state 2nd hand values are for these cars. Both companies have completely lost touch with what people who are spending their own money want. Of course the problem is that if they built what Australians wanted they’d be competing directly with overseas manufacturers with much larger production volumes, so they’ve chosen to hold on to a profitable niche.
on August 15th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I think what the author and most of the respondents are failing to deal with is that the Australian car manufacturing industry is 100% foreign owned. The local manufacturers will only be allowed by head office to design and manufacture uniquely Australian cars if they fit into the manufacturer’s global plans and/or make a decent profit. Holden have done a reasonable job of “selling” their Commodore to GM as niche product suitable for export elsewhere but none of the locals is going to be allowed to design or build a model which clashes with others already available in the product suite. Hence Ford’s announcement that they will assemble the Focus at Broadmeadows. They are not going to be allowed to design/build a competitor in the Focus market segment. They will all do what they are told to by head office – nothing more, nothing less.
on August 15th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
While the long term future of Australian jobs in the motor industry looks dull, I feel a significant step has been taken with the dedicated LPG Falcon which appears to be ignored. Only 150 sold out of 8,150 new petrol cars sold in ACT so far in 07. This has a purpose built engine with different conrods pistons and valves. The 11.5 compression gets over the cold start LPG problem and the wagon do nearly 1000km per 116 litre tank. Best of all this fully Australian assembled car uses Australian fuel. About 90% of diesel fuel is imported as is every diesel vehicle. For a $1,400 premium these LPG BA’s bring up to $3,000 more at the auctions.
OK there is a power drop, but 2NM more torque. It costs less to drive 100km than a diesel Golf. (See Wheels letters Feb 07). So if there is a fuel crisis and everyone is worried about exhaust why does the average buyer seem to think ‘Taxi’ every time they think of LPG Falcon?
Maybe it just does not look cool when Mum collects the kids outside their school.
Thats my 22 cents.
on August 15th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Re demise of Australian Car Industry: Harsh but also some valid criticism of the Aussie makers. Personally I like a larger and more heavily built car with straight forward mechanicals for safety and durability as well as family workhorse duties. Our Australian but European inspired 6cyl rear drive Commodores and also Falcon have worked for me for me BUT generally I like mid size cars – VB to VL Commodores were space efficient but a bit squeezy to sit in today, better the Magna and (what I consider the perfect size and mechanical layout) VR series Commodores. You know by combining that BMW 5 series/Merc E class size but with decent (ie large and low stress) engines you get a better outcome than either a Yank Tank or a gutless Euromobile. Two 4cyl Volvos and a Merc 280 later I now love Falcons (6 Cyl), although thay are a bit large really. However that large simple RWD car has a great turning circle and is thus really better in tight spots than mid size FWD cars like Magna and Camry and with teenagers,groceries and schoolbags all comfortably accomodated plus the benefit of a bit of visible size, they make the Soccer Mums and the Tradies utes a wee bit less daunting than when using a small car for the dreaded school run! Oh yes, the big old fashined Falcon tours beautifully and returns 8.3 to 8.6 l/100 Km in the country while outperforming the smaller 6 cyl Merc in all but irrelevent top speed. We do Gold Coast to Newcasle on one tank of regular petrol and these Aussie cars hold up well to years of rough country roads precisely because they are bigger and stronger than most while being a pretty darn good drive for the price. So don’t write off our unique Aussie car quite yet but use you voice to encourage a bit of right sizing. Holden has made the VE too darn big and whoever decreed that we would get the 6.0 litre V8 instead of a more sensible 4.5 litre size V8 motor should be dragged behind one till he comes to his senses.
on August 16th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I don’t see and accept reality? Fleet sales are moving away from Commodore and Falcons, which is why Holden and Ford have much lower sales then a few years ago. A fair margin of Commodore sales are still PRIVATE buyers. Putting sales down to bulk fleet purchases is getting old. Bob also mentions his Falcon six delivers 8.3 to 8.6L/100km in the country. My VY SS returns 9 to 9.5L/100km in the country, and around 13 to 15L/100km in the city. Engine capacity has nothing to do with economy, it’s all to do with how efficiently the engine can burn the fuel. I’ve got an extra 50 odd kw over a Falcon 6 cylinder, but use only 1L/100km more. Why? Becaue it cruises in 6th doing 1500rpm.
Evan Smith
on August 18th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Having worked in the Australian motor industry in senior positions for over ten years culminating in National Distribution Manager for Ford Australia, then National Planning and Distribution manager of BMW Australia, perhaps I can add something.
The local Makers cannot afford to bet incorrectly on fuel price. In the fuel crunches of 1973 and 1979, Both Ford and GM did model planning, Ford opted for big , Holden for small.
When XD launched in 1979,a fuel crisis promptly occurred. I recall having about 10,000 XDs in the back yard of Broadmeadows , and Holden outsold Ford comprehensively with the Commodore.
Six months later the tables were turned. Petrol went down, and Holden were outsold , as the Commodore was seen to be too small. This continued until Holden pulled out all stops to develop the VN, which looked odd, as it was a wide body on a narrow platform.
The current models were designed in a low priced fuel environment, so Ford and GM are really stuck with them until the next model cycle.
But the burning question is what will they do next? They are really caught between a rock and hard place. The next size down platforms sell at under 30K. They could not make a profit in that segment.
With regard to the Ford engines. I do not believe that the old inline 6 could not be made Euro4 compliant. I think the word to add is “economically”. My guess is that they need a new combustion chamber and other development, and that the development cost is too much to amortise on the low current volumes.
With regard to Focus. this is madness, and must only be to get utilisation up at Broadmeadows. Car assembly plants are only profitable at high utilisation rates, usually over say 90%.
The cost of a CKD program is prohibitive.
Just think , the car has to be assembled twice. Once into boxes, then labour to unload, then once more on the assembly line.
AFAIR, The profit on an Escort was about $120, which was half what Ford made on an airconditioner.
Car production in Australia is really a hangover from the “infant Industry”. It was not so long ago that there were quotas and 60% import duty. ( I actually bought thousands of them for BMW).
The world majors would not lose much by halting production, as most have competitive models in other markets.
The real loser will be the component industry, which is already failing due to the majors being forced to source from China, or be too expensive.
Regards Philip A
on August 22nd, 2007 at 9:13 am
Philip A, who said Focus would be CKD? Nobody. Just what local content will be remains to be seen but I suggest you re-read what has been published so far. And how can building a car locally for a growing segment be madness.
As for the original article, the writer clearly has absolutely no idea just how long product development cycles are.
on August 22nd, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I remember when the first tech details and expert interviews were seen in the press. Things like a specific aerodynamic drag factor were not targeted they said, merely the fuel economy targets. Hmm I thought, sensible given a relative lack of resources for a small market. I was dumbfounded to see that the fuel economy targets were revealed to be merely not worse than before. GMH and Ford Australia have marginalised themselves more than ever before and when they start to lose the business market I dread to think the effect on them.
And one day when cars are taxed for their ability produce CO2 ( as they are in many countries already) they will be in dire straights. What a waste.
on August 28th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I am in the market for a new car. I am considering the Mitsu 30 VRX, I think the new series III is seriously underrated and has been poorly marketed. It’s perfect for what I require and looks great in Black. For the rest…..Toyota (boring), Holden Commodore (no thanks but I would by a new Torana), Falcon…(never), Honda Euro & Subaru Liberty come close but I prefer a V6.
on October 14th, 2007 at 7:44 am
We are forgetting that the HFV6 in the commodore is actually cast in Mexico.
Ford has shown its willingness to shift from the One car fits all philosophy in Creating the Territory. Now they just need a lpg option that isn’t based on a carburetter and ………a turbo diesel.
on October 28th, 2007 at 7:06 am
I like how rich and powerful private companies, the same ones that let off workers en masse and hate unions; the same companies advocating capitalism and government free market run to the same government and ask for its’ intervention (and salvation) at the first sign of the trouble. Automobile industry is the perfect example of such behaviour.
And as the article writer said, they have no one to blame but themselves. Domestic industry producing relentlessly cars that no one wants any more (ever heard of rates increasing and mortgage crisis in Australia?) because a few can afford them nowadays. feeding that primitive “macho” spirit among the most primitive of male species in the land. The ones even TV ads correctly identifies as prime subjects to penis enlargements.
Stupidity and incompetence is rife among the management lineup in Oz car makers.
on October 29th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Smart one hasn’t picked a particularly accurate nom de plume. I’ve been involved with the local industry on the Union side of the fence and wouldn’t say any of them hate unions. Indeed, one local CEO is on record as saying that the workplace relations architects didn’t understand how good the relationship is between employers and unions in this segment. As for running to the government, hardly surprising given that the industry was allowed to flourish behind tariff barriers that are now being dismantled. Why wouldn’t manufacturers be lobbying the government for assistance?
Like others who have posted, Smart one doesn’t understand the product development cycle. Lead times for tooling, facilities and testing mean that investment and design freeze for both last year’s VE and next year’s Falcon were committed to when both GM and Ford plants were working overtime to satisfy demand. As for affordability, that’s only one part of the equation – more options for “user chooser” fleet drivers, a massive increase in product choice within price ranges and so on.
Stupidity and incompetence? Smart one, show us your posts from 5 years or so ago predicting the massive shift in the market that have come to fruition and you might have a tiny sliver of credibility.
on December 24th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
I personally think that Australia will lose Mitsubishi as a manufacturer, but retain Holden and Ford. Toyota will probably keep making some form of V6 sedan.
Mitsu’s problems really started when Chrysler left, absolutely destroying all hopes for exporting the 380. A shame really; I’d choose a 380 over a Camry any day, whether it was a gift, my own money, or someone else’s money paying for it. Really, the only thing that the 380 lacks is stability control, and that will be addressed in 2008 (should have been sooner).
As for Ford and Holden, they’ll keep on with the Falcon and Commodore; although sales are shrinking, they’ll only shrink so far. A lot of people still need big V6/V8s with large boots and the ability to tow or fit 4 adults in comfort. If fuel becomes too much of an issue, expect diesel or hybrid models.
Imagine that the Commodore and Falcon disappeared instantly. If you had 2 or 3 kids and wanted to tow, what would you buy? Well, you could buy SUVs, but they handle poorly, they make the V8 SS Commodore look miserly on fuel, they cost more to purchase, and they’re more dangerous (yes folks, check the single car roll-over stats; unless you can afford an Audi/BMW/VW/Merc/Lexus SUV, all of which are really based on a large car-like chassis, SUVs are DEATH TRAPS).
So I think many people wouldn’t want an SUV, but would still want a large car. What else is there? American large cars? Yuck! Front wheel-drive monstrosities with no advantage over local cars except production volumes. Euro cars? Yeah, I want to pay $150,000 for a V8… where do I sign?
The real problem is that the large car market has shrunk (not disappeared, but shrunk), while the number of producers has increased. There are 4 manufacturers producing large V6/V8s in Australia. Wait until it drops to 2 or 3… then it will be a profitable niche.
An aside; last weekend, I hired a new Camry for 3 days, and a VE Commodore for 2 days. Why anyone would pay their own money for the Camry is beyond me. No power at all, the worst automatic transmission ever, and it handles like a boat. The Commodore felt like a Porsche 911 by comparison. The ONLY thing that the Camry has over the VE is lower fuel consumption, a more usable boot, and a reputation for reliability. I suppose I’m not their target market; grannies who never exceed 50 are.
on May 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 am
“And Toyota? The Camry – despite not being much more economical than the Aurion – has at least got only four cylinders… something of significant psychological benefit for many purchasers. But the real sting is that the Camry is available in some markets as a hybrid. If petrol prices skyrocket, or public opinion accelerates in a massive switch to being carbon-aware (something that would immediately happen if catastrophic climate change weather events became common), Toyota could change to local hybrid production in what in car production terms would be an overnight move.”
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23638252-421,00.html
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/05/02/1209235157161.html?s_rid=smh:top5