The Best Blog For Car tips

Premium medium: French brand’s newest C5 goes on sale this week.

Citroen announces an all-diesel C5 sedan and wagon range, priced from $50,000

1 September 2008

Story Source: GoAuto

CITROEN Australia has announced an all-diesel engine line-up - and a $50,000 starting price - for the second-generation C5 range that goes on sale this Saturday (September 6).

To be available simultaneously as a five-door wagon (this time dubbed the Tourer, rather than Estate) and in conventional four-door sedan body styles (the outgoing C5 ’sedan’ was actually a hatchback), the redesigned French mid-sizer is Citroen’s most audacious shot yet at Europe’s dominant (German) premium models.

The MkII C5 comes with either a 100kW/340Nm 2.0 HDi turbo-diesel four-cylinder or the bahnstorming 150kW/440Nm 2.7-litre Ford-developed twin-turbo diesel V6 that debuted in Citroen’s C6 luxury flagship, with which the new C5 (and sister brand Peugeot’s 407) shares its underpinnings.

With two body shapes, two diesel engines and two specification levels (Comfort and Exclusive), the all-new C5 is expected to attract almost double the customers its predecessor did from 2001, when it became a staple model within the Citroen Australia stable.

Sales have faded since then and the new C5 range no longer comprises a sub-$40,000 2.0-litre petrol variant, but importer Ateco Automotive says 85 per cent of original C5 sales were diesels, and that the remaining 15 per cent were accounted for by the 3.0 V6 petrol flagship - which the 2.7 HDi replaces.

Prices open at $49,990 for the expected volume-selling C5 2.0 HDi Comfort sedan, the Exclusive grade is priced $5000 higher than the base Comfort level, the wagon bodystyle adds $2750 and the twin-turbo 2.7 V6 carries a further $8000 premium over the 2.0 HDi.

For the first time, six-cylinder power is also available in the C5 wagon. The C5 2.7 V6 HDi Exclusive Tourer gives the C5 range a top-shelf pricetag of $65,740. All new C5s will come as standard with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Get great and free services when you visit Oz Free Online. Provides services for those searching for classifieds car to compare used car values and car pricing and a free car advertising for those who wants to sell new or used cars fast.

New-look: Revised Barina features new sheetmetal from its A-pillar forward.

Added safety and a fresh look aim to keep Holden’s light-car contender competitive

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS 25 August 2008

Story Source: GoAuto

GM Holden has revealed pricing and specification details of its facelifted Barina.

This follows the release of images of the MY09 TK model on the Holden public website earlier this month.

The recommended retail price remains at $14,490 for the three-door MY09 TK Barina, and $15,990 for the four and five-door versions.

These prices now include front-occupant side airbags offering head/thorax protection on all three variants, augmenting the dual front airbags that the series has had as standard since the Opel-built SB Barina introduced them during 1995.

However, ABS anti-lock brakes cost more, as part of an $1190 safety pack option that also includes alloy wheels instead of the standard steel items.

It also appears that there have been some minor changes to the Barina’s 1.6-litre twin-cam 16-valve unit, although these may have been implemented prior to the facelift.

At the current model’s 2005 launch it delivered 77kW of power at 6000rpm and 145Nm of torque at 3000rpm; the MY09 TK produces 76kW at 5800rpm and 145Nm at a higher 3600rpm.

Fuel consumption figures for the new model have also altered – from 6.9L/100km for the five-speed manual to 7L/100km, while the four-speed automatic’s result actually drops 0.2L/100km to 7.6L/100km.

Furthermore, while Holden has not stated if there have been mechanical alterations, the European specification MY09 model – which is called the Chevrolet Aveo – has seen several, including changes to the manual gearbox.

However, Holden stated at the TK’s launch almost three years ago that it did extensively modify the Daewoo T200 Kalos underpinnings to make the Barina version more suitable to Australian conditions as well as tastes.

As we reported last week, the Barina facelift is not minor, resulting in new sheetmetal forward of the A-pillar for the hatch models.

This takes in a redesign for the bonnet, front guards, grille, bumper and headlights, with the latter incorporating a jewelled effect.

Rear changes include a revised tail-light and bumper design.

The Barina sedan also boasts a different grille and bumper, but its sheetmetal –fresh in 2006 – is newer than the 2002-vintage five-door and 2003-vintage three-door hatch designs.

The sedan also lends its newer dashboard panel to the hatch, bringing to it restyled instrumentation dials, a different centre console and trim modifications.

Eight colours are now available, with five of them being new.

Know more about cars by visiting Oz Free Online-place for best car deals which offers services when you buy used cars, for your vehicle’s free car advertising and for used car values and pricing. All of this services are for free.