Geelong Australia is known as the Birthplace of Ford in Australia and is still home to its Research and Development facilities and manufacturing. But every March the town is taken over by Ford’s arch rival the GM Holden for the annual All Holden Day held at Geelong‘s Showgrounds. Thousands flock to see some classic Holden vehicles and even more hotted up Holden’s including hundred’s of highly modified and loved Commodores, Australia’s most popular car. The day is a fund raiser for local charity and is a great way for Holden fans to show their passion towards their much loved car. Some of the modifications are staggering with amazing paint jobs, flash chrome wheels and plenty of power train and suspension modifications. But for those who love the traditional Holden the day attracts a vast array of classic vehicles including the true Aussie classic the FJ Holden and the good old Aussie Ute which was actually first invented in Geelong by guess who?…… Ford.

For more information on Geelong visit: www.intown.com.au

Drawing styling from the flash ‘Verve’ concept which has been doing the recent motor show rounds the new Ford Fiesta is a stylish and exciting little package. Designed using Ford’s kinetic design cues the car will go on sale in the Autumn of 2008 in Europe and will also commence manufacture in other sites across the globe in the following year including Asia and America. The car has the same underpinnings as the recently released Mazda 2 and is lighter, safer and stronger than the current model Fiesta, and includes some clever safety systems including driver knee airbags and E-Pas power assisted steering. The car promises to be more environmentally friendly than its predecessor both in terms of fuel usage and emissions. The Fiesta ECOnetic ultra-low CO2 model will deliver less than 100g/km emissions. Some other innovative inclusions will include new technology highlights include keyless vehicle technology, ‘Ford Power’ engine start button, Ford Easyfuel capless refuelling, USB connectivity and ambient interior lighting.

Toyota has put a cute and revolutionary ultra compact vehicle on it’s stand at the Geneva Motorshow. Called the IQ Concept this little car is less than 3 metres in length and is Toyota’s solution to over crowded city streets. Designed at Toyota’s design studio in the South of France the car although very small has good package space and even a good size luggage compartment compared with similar size micro cars. The interior styling is even as daring as the exterior with a centre console which looks more than a manta raw and striking vents, switches and dials. The steering wheel even has a mock snake skin leather cover which looks surprisingly stylish. The vehicle has a pretty clever GPS system which is clear, and allow the drive to see through when it is turned off, and there is a clever sun roof which darkens at night time with some clever technology in the glass. Toyota hasn’t’ said too much about whether this car will go into production but it is pretty obvious most of that is not too far away from hitting the showrooms and a show room ready version would not be too much of a stretch from this concept. Time will tell so start saving those pennies.

The New York Motorshow starts this weekend and one of the star concept vehicles will be the Doge Zeo which is a interesting four passenger sports wagon which is equipped with an all 200 kw electric lithium ion battery which powers the car for 250 miles without a charge. The performance figures are pretty impressive too, with its light weight aluminium body and aerodynamic wedge design it will do 0-60 miles an hour in under six seconds which is astonishing for this type of a vehicle. The American motorshows so far this year have had quiet a few models which are a bit kinder on the environment but they have also had their fair share of fuel guzzling SUV’s and the like which the Americans still love, but with petrol prices increasing, the mood is very slowly starting to swing.

Toyota are streaming ahead with hybrid technology allready several cars are on the market around the world and in Japan most of the range is available in Hybrid. Toyota think the hybrid is the centeral technology needed to make the ultimate eco-car and over the next few years this techology will improve and be a real alternative to full time petrol or diesel. So to showcase this techology Toyota have the FT HS hybrid sports car on their stand at the Melbourne Motorshow alongside their hybrid Prius and locally made Camry and Aurion sedans.  The FT-HS is hot of the stand of the Detroit Motorshow and is one of the most exciting cars at Melbourne. The 400 horsepower hybrid car may see the return of the classic Celica or Supra time will tell.  Toyota are stating this vehicle will do 0-60 in about 4 seconds and it would sell in the price bracket of mid $30,000. It has a 3.5 litre V6 engine Sounds too good to believe we will have to wait and see.

Poor old Mitsubishi hasn’t had a good run in Australia lately, they have recently announced that they would cease manufacturing in Australia stopping their troubled 380 six cylinder family car. But import wise they have been doing fairly well with some exciting products like the all new Lancer., And looking at the Mitsubishi Concept cX on the stand at the Melbourne Motorshow this week, the future will look even brighter. The Concept cX is a compact crossover vehicle which made it’s debut at last years Frankfurt Motor Show, it is powered by a 1.8 litre clean diesel engine which cleverly features a VG or variable geometry turbo charger and a DOC which is a diesel oxcidation catalyst which makes it Euro 5 ready. There’s a twin clutch SST Sports Shift Transmission fitted and together with the engine give remarkable fuel economy and performance while being kind to the environment. Inside the car also keeps our fragile environment in mind with Mitsubishi’s own special green plastic, its made from plant based resins instead of oil based, something we should expect to see in production vehicles in the not to distant future.

Fresh from the stand at the LA Motorshow the Hyundai Genesis Coupe Concept is now wowing the crowds at the Melbourne Motorshow in Australia. Hyundai have been a major player in the Australian market over the last decade and are know for cheap affordable small family cars. The Genesis Coupe is a major departure with an exciting look and some pretty impressive features. Sure its only a concept at this stage but it shows the future direction of the Korean manufacturer and if the recently released I30 is anything to go by things are on the up. Hyundai are claiming a version of this car will be built and on sale next year it will be interesting to see how far a departure it is from this lovely concept but Hyundai are promising most affordable 300-plus horsepower car on the market. This car features a 3.8-liter V-6 under the carbon fiber hood, it also has a six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive and a limited-slip differential. It will be very interesting to see the production car in the flesh.

Ford Performance Vehicle’s brand new muscle car the FG GT Falcon is being showed for the first time at the Melbourne Motor Show. Due to go on sale in May 2008 the V8 GT Falcon comes in a complete new body and interior and a range of bright colours. Price and performance figures are  yet to be announced but it is expected to be the most powerful Falcon ever overtaking the current 302 KW engine. For the first time in Falcon GT history the Ford badge is replaced by the Ford Performance Vehicle stylised Falcon badging. There will be 3 models of the GT they will be the GT and GT-P which have been available in earlier models and for the first time a stylish new luxury GT-E sedan. The vehicle is also sold in a utility vehicle and called the Pursuit. Other Ford Performance Vehicle Falcons on offer include the Turbo 6 Cylinder F6 range.

The Toyota IQ was a concept car first shown at the Frankfurt Motorshow in 2007. At only 3 metres in length it will be one of the shortest cars about when a car based on the concept goes into production around 2009. The majority of sales are expected to be in Japan and Europe where kei class or city sized cars are popular. The IQ should make some good competition for the Smart ForTwo, its hard to believe but it does seat four people…well two adults and two very small kids. Watch the short video above for a rundown of Toyota IQ.