A HEAVY sales slump in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segment was recorded in October 2019, according to the latest VFACTS October 2019 report released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
Compared to October 2018, a total of 2122 fewer LCV sales were recorded last month – a staggering sales decline of 11 per cent.
Tony Weber, the chief executive of the FCAI, said there’s no single reason for the drastic drop.
“While the drought and other domestic conditions are impacting the market, our key concern is the effect over-regulation of the financial sector is having on new vehicle sales,” he said. “The FCAI and our members have been concerned about the risk-averse approach to lending in Australia for some time and see improved access to finance as a key to driving economic growth in 2020.”
The decline in overall sales (-8.0 per cent) can also be seen across all buyer types: private sales are down 5.2 per cent compared to October 2018; business sales are down 8.2 per cent; and government sales are down 7.3 per cent.
Sales of the Ford Ranger 4×2/4×4 and Toyota Hilux 4×2/4×4 – the two best-selling vehicles on the overall charts – reflect this trend, with the Ranger recording a year-to-date sales difference of -20.1 per cent and the Hilux showing a -10.0 per cent drop.
On the YTD 4×4 sales charts, the Ranger and Hilux remain the most sought-after vehicles with 30,867 and 30,186 sales respectively – the next best is the Triton, some 12,446 units shy of the Hilux.
IS THERE a limit to engine-swapping classic off-roaders? If there is, Ford Performance’s restoration of Jay Leno’s 1969 Ford Bronco wagon is certainly pushing the envelope with the fitment of a 5.2-litre supercharged V8 engine from the new Ford Shelby Mustang GT500.
Despite its appearance, the restoration work on Leno’s Bronco is more than skin deep – much of what has been done and fitted to the classic wagon has been thoroughly re-engineered with newer components.
The new V8 engine is mated to a five-speed TREMEC Silver Sport transmission with a Quick Draw bellhousing and STX shifter assembly. Power is meted out through a heavy duty 4WD drivetrain equipped with an Advance Adapters Atlas II transfer case. While the engine features a host of new aftermarket componentry, it is uncertain what the engine’s final power outputs are.
Other off-road internals fitted include Fox 2.0 Factory Race Series coil-over shocks and steering stabilisers, Warn locking hubs, Eaton Detroit Truetrac differentials and gearing, and chunky BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A tyres.
In restoring the Bronco, Ford Performance engaged several renowned builders and Ford Bronco restorers: Bronco licensee Kincer Chassis, to rebuild the chassis and install the GT500 engine; Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts, to provide the body panels; SEMA Garage, to lend its technical expertise in CAD and 3D printing works; and LGE-CTS Motorsports, to install custom body mods and reassemble the wagon.
According the Ford, Leno came into possession of the Bronco when fellow late-night TV host Craig Ferguson played a prank on him by leaving the Bronco in his parking lot on the eve of his last taping. Leno, who recognised the significance of the Bronco that was lost on the pranksters, happily kept the Bronco, unrestored in his garage for several years.
Jay Leno’s Ford Bronco is set to be showcased at SEMA 2019 and will become the feature of an upcoming episode of Jay Leno’s Garage on YouTube.
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KEEP your beverages cool and your dinner frozen with ARB’s all-new Zero Fridge Freezer, revealed at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Available in two sizes – 69 litres and 96 litres – the Zero will have sticker prices of $1599 and $1799 respectively, and both units will be on shelves from late-January, 2020.
Accessing the Zero is made simple thanks to a side-opening, quick-release lid. It also features handy front and rear DC inlets, while there’s also a front AC inlet for when camping at a powered site. You can also charge gadgets and gizmos via a USB outlet.
The dual cooling zones on both units can be independently controlled via a panel or wirelessly via a Bluetooth-enabled device. The 69-litre unit has one lid and an internal freezer compartment that can be removed if desired to increase fridge space. The 96-litre unit features two separate compartments, each with its own lid, to isolate the freezer and fridge sections.
The Zero also features a ‘boost’ function to rapidly cool down contents, as well as ‘anti-condensation technology’.
The Zero is currently on display at the 2019 SEMA Show, which will run from November 5-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada, USA.
FORD has taken the wraps off a race-spec Bronco R prototype that the company itself says provides solid clues as to what the production vehicle will look like when it’s launched in the second quarter of 2020.
Like the upcoming Bronco production model, the Bronco R race prototype is built on Ford’s T6 platform, which is the basis for the Aussie-developed Ford Ranger.
The prototype also runs a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, and Ford hinted that this powerplant will be also used in the production model, although whether that’s the 2.7-litre petrol V6 or the 3.5-litre version is unclear.
“For the endurance needs of Baja’s 1000 gruelling miles, we built in a limited number of race-focussed parts, but even the twin turbos of the EcoBoost engine are representative of what the production Bronco will offer,” said Brian Novak, Ford Performance’s off-road racing supervisor.
The Bronco R was built by Ford Performance in collaboration with builder Geiser Bros Design and Development, and Baja 1000 Trophy Truck champion Cameron Steele.
At its unveiling near Las Vegas, the Bronco R prototype pulled up alongside the famous Bronco that Rod Hall and Larry Minor drove to the overall win in the 1969 Baja 1000, a feat not achieved by any other 4×4 vehicle in the long history of the event.
“Bronco’s win at Baja in 1969 was epic, something that even after 50 years has not been repeated,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product development officer.
“Rugged endurance racing is such a big part of Bronco heritage. The Baja 1000 gives us not only the perfect setting to honour Rod Hall’s win, but it also provides an authentic testbed to demonstrate our upcoming Bronco’s desert racing capability and durability.”
The red, black and white colour scheme of the Bronco R is a tribute to the race-winning vehicle run by Rod Hall and Larry Minor in the Baja 1000 50 years ago (below), and Ford is no doubt hoping for a repeat of the pair’s success when it runs this vehicle in the Baja 1000 this year, starting on November 22.
The ‘2069’ on the Bronco R’s flanks refer to the class in which the vehicle will run (20) and the year in which Hall and Minor won the event (69).
The Bronco R has been “beefed up for Baja”, and its independent front suspension set-up provides an impressive 14 inches of travel, while the production-based five-link rear-end provides up to 18 inches of travel.
The Bronco R also scores custom Fox shocks – the same brand fitted to the local Ranger Raptor – as well as 17-inch beadlock aluminium wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich tyres.
The late Rod Hall’s granddaughter Shelby, who was at the unveiling of the Bronco R, was impressed by the race prototype.
“My grandfather was so proud of the 1969 Baja race and of his Bronco,” she said. “More than just the memory of winning Baja, he loved that Bronco. I have no doubt he would be blown away by the Bronco R race prototype.”
WITH A reputation in off-road motorsports for being tough, durable and reliable – as well as winning our 2018 all-terrain tyre test – we were keen to test the Maxxis RAZR mud-terrain tyres for ourselves.
Those results were achieved using the Trepador bias-ply competition tyre and AT700 all-terrain tyre, and we were after something for our Ford Ranger that would fit between these two extremes. We needed a strong and durable tyre for on- and off-road use that would be just at home on Simpson Desert sand dunes as it would be on sharp and shaly Flinders Ranges’ tracks or muddy High Country climbs, as well as hauling on the highway in between off-road locations.
Online research into the popular mud-terrain pattern, LT construction, 4×4 tyres showed plenty of positive reviews for Maxxis’ MT772 RAZR muddy, so we had the crew at Competition Tyres in Murrumbeena fit a set of LT285/70R17 RAZRs to the KMC Addict 2 alloy wheels we’d fitted to the Ford.
Maxxis describes the RAZR as an aggressive mud-terrain derived from the company’s experience in off-road racing. Featuring a dual-cord body and deep tread for both traction and durability, it would be ideal for our Ranger. The aggressive sidewall tread not only looks the part but is designed to protect against punctures and give great grip in mud and slush. The RAZR is available in 22 popular sizes right up to a monster
40 x 13.3-inch jobbie, and they are all made in LT construction for added durability.
The first thing we noted about the RAZR tyres when they were fitted to the Ranger was how great they looked and how quiet they were. Sure, we expect them to be quiet when new, but these aggressive muddies were quieter than the all-terrains we’d been running on our Land Rover Discovery. With 10,000km of highway and outback use now on them, they are a bit noisier but still well short of other mud-terrain tyres we’ve been running lately at similar kilometres. In terms of on-road noise, the RAZRs are more akin to an aggressive all-terrain tyre than a muddy.
On gravel roads the RAZRs deliver straight and stable tracking at speed, and they instil confidence in the way they turn in and bite into the loose road surface. The stone ejectors between the tread blocks are obviously doing their thing, as getting rocks caught in the tread hasn’t been an issue – keeping small stones out of the tread reduces the chances of them being pushed in further and puncturing the tyre carcass.
Depending on the load in the tray we’ve been running the tyres at 36 to 38psi on the highway, and they don’t feel too harsh. On outback gravel, I like to drop by around 10psi to improve the ride quality and protect further against punctures. The RAZRs bag out nicely at lower pressures, lengthening the contact patch for better floatation over soft terrain. I was running them at 18psi for most of the sandy Hay River Track, only dropping them to 14psi when we reached Big Red and saw other drivers struggling on the dune faces. To take on one of the steeper lines up the west face of Big Red, I dropped them down to 12psi and the Ranger powered straight up with confidence and didn’t dig in as the speed dropped.
Since the Simpson Desert trip, the Ranger has spent 10 days touring on the harsh, rocky tracks and roads of the Flinders Ranges and still shows no signs of punctures (touch wood). There’s no evidence of chipping in the tread, which is a problem for many tyres in these conditions, and there’s just the smallest evidence of rounding off on the block edges. A full tyre rotation is due and should balance that wear out, and we’ll see what effect that has on road noise.
Tyre wear is measuring at an average of 3mm across the tyres, which means these RAZRs won’t be high-mileage tyres and we’ll be well and truly looking to replace them around the 40,000km mark. With the excellent performance of the tyres so far, we’re in no hurry to get rid of them and are still keen to try them out on some muddy tracks, once the High Country tracks re-open for summer.
AVAILABLE FROM: www.maxxistyres.com.au
RRP: From $255 (each)
WE SAY: Quiet, tough, grippy and great value for money.
Despite its diminutive size and humble power outputs, the retro-styled new Suzuki Jimny has all the right 4×4 ingredients to be geared up into something a little more adventurous.
Recently, students at Japan’s Nihon Automobile College gave the Jimny the one thing it lacked, stature, turning their example into a jacked-up overland 4×4 rig as part of a custom car showcase.
Called the Jimny Adventure, the modified Jimny gains a significant lift with a revised suspension system and oversized chunky off-road tyres.
To suit its upsized dimensions and give it more adventure-ready protection, the Jimny’s stock front and rear bumpers have been removed. In its place, the Jimny is lined from roof to base with scrub bars.
Students also took the saw to the Jimny’s original wagon body and removed the rear bodywork aft of the B-pillars, instead replacing the rear shell with what appears to be a removable hard top, similar to the Jeep Wrangler’s removable hard top arrangement.
While there are no pictures of the finished interior, pictures of the work in progress reveals the addition of a roll cage and a pair of Recaro seats in the cabin.
No further information is given in regards to the powertrain beneath the Jimny Adventure, though it is likely that the students left the Jimny’s original 75kW/130Nm 1.5-litre inline-four engine untouched.
Though the Jimny Adventure is a one-off project, the Suzuki’s little off-roader have become the darling of Japan’s aftermarket scene, with aftermarket bodykit manufacturers producing special kits to give the Jimny the appearance of a miniature G-Wagen or a classic Defender.
AN EPIC Ram 1500 Rebel OTG (Off The Grid) concept will grace the Mopar stand at this year’s SEMA Show, standing alongside 13 other custom concepts and plenty of new 4×4 accessories built by the FCA-owned company.
The Rebel OTG will be joined by a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon dripping in Mopar kit, a re-imagined 1968 Dodge D200-series pick-up called the Mopar Lowliner concept, a Gladiator Scrambler, Gladiator J6 Moab concepts, and plenty more.
Mopar will have a total of 14 customised vehicles – in addition to a smorgasbord of equipment – on its stand in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Centre.
“These vehicles showcase how Mopar is constantly expanding and exploring new ideas to meet the needs and fuel the imagination of our passionate fans,” said Mark Bosanac, Head of Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care, FCA North America. “Whether it’s overlanding in remote locations or reimagining an alternative classic design history, Mopar has its customers covered.”
Using the 3.0-litre V6 EcoDiesel-powered 2020 Ram 1500 as a base, the Rebel OTG has been granted a two-inch ‘Mopar Concept’ lift, as well as beadlock wheels wrapped in 35-inch Goodyear rubber. Protection is afforded via flares and step-assist rock rails, while a concept rear bumper – adapted from a Ram 1500 Tradesman – relocates the exhaust and improves the vehicle’s departure angle.
Mopar accessories up front include a bumper with an integrated winch, a larger grille with RAM lettering and a snorkel. Down back, the rig gets a multifunction tailgate with 60/40 split swing-away doors, a bed rack system atop the tray and a rooftop tent with storable ladder.
Other gear includes a battery-powered cooler; a kitchen unit with a gas-powered stove, sink and on-board water system; storage facilities above the cabin; solar panels; an on-board air compressor; and LED lighting fore and aft. In addition to the winch, vehicle recovery is possible thanks to the addition of traction mats and a high-lift jack.
The accessorised Rubicon is dressed in plenty of kit to showcase Mopar’s wares, including a Mopar cold-air intake, a Mopar Warn winch kit, a Mopar bumper and two-inch lift.
The 2019 SEMA Show will run from November 5 to 8 in Nevada, USA.
FORD has revealed six customised Rangers it plans to debut at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, from November 6-8.
The modified dual-cabs, built by a range of well-recognised aftermarket brands, will be on display to showcase the wide range of Ford accessories and personalisation options available for the Ranger ute.
“The automotive aftermarket space continues to grow at a tremendous pace from powerful street machines to the latest trends in overlanding and off-road,” said Eric Cin, global director, Ford Vehicle Personalization and Accessories. “The Ranger and Transit are great fits for this space, capable of being modified in countless ways to give owners the flexibility to make their vehicle as unique as they are.”
RTR Rambler Ford Ranger
The famed Mustang tuner has created the Rambler Ranger to join its 2019 F-150 RTR unveiled earlier this year. The aggressively designed Ranger is equipped with plenty of overlanding kit to make it a great off-roader, including a Fox suspension levelling kit tuned by Ford Performance (for a two-inch front lift), underbody rock protection, custom RTR fenders and 33-inch Nitto Ridge Grapplers wrapped around RTR Tech 6 wheels. A SkyRise tent with an integrated snowboard capsule is a neat addition.
Yakima Ford Ranger
Another rig decked out to maximise off-the-grid escapes, the Yakima Ranger also gets the Fox (tuned by Ford Performance) off-road suspension levelling kit for a two-inch lift, as well as a recovery kit, cat-back exhaust, rear diff cover, RPG bumpers, a Warn winch and Rigid lighting. It wears 33-inch BFG All Terrain KO2s and Fuel Recoil off-road wheels. As the specialists in storage solutions, it’s no surprise the vehicle has a truck bed rack, JayLow kayak mount and a HangOver vertical four-bike carrier with a BackSwing mount.
Advanced Accessory Concepts Ford Ranger
The Advanced Accessory Concepts Ranger XLS is decked head to toe in AFN gear, including AFN bumpers and an AFN aluminium tray bed with canopy. Eagle-eyed viewers will also notice it’s wearing the same AFN loopless front bumper as the 4X4 Australia long-term XLS Ranger. To aid off-road pursuits, an Icon 3.5-inch lift has been installed, as well as a Warn Zeon Platinum 10-S winch, a Tepui Hybox tent and an ARB fridge.
Hellwig Ford Ranger
The Hellwig Ranger is dripping with quality aftermarket componentry. Notably, the 2019 Ranger gets a 3.5-inch Icon suspension upgrade, Hellwig swaybars, an FPP cat-back exhaust, a rear diff cover, a Tepui hard-shell tent, a Trail Kitchens stove on a bed slide, Addictive Desert Designs rock sliders and bumpers, Rigid lighting, an ARB jack and Bushwacker fender flares. A point of difference with this vehicle is the installation of Goal Zero solar power to harness the sun’s rays.
Ford Performance Parts Ford Ranger
The FPP Ranger is a rolling smorgasbord of the FPP catalogue. It gets the Fox off-road suspension levelling kit (for a two-inch lift) tuned by Ford Performance, as well as FPP Raptor wheels wrapped in BFG KO2s, a Warn 9.5 XP winch, a Tepui Hybox rooftop tent, a Decked truck bed storage system, an ARB Elements fridge/freezer and ActionTrax recovery boards. The rig is running an assortment of Rigid lighting products.
Tjin Edition Ford Ranger
Father and son team, Neil and Collin Tjin, headed down a different path – one clearly made of bitumen and not dirt – when designing this bold-looking ute. Opting to drop instead of lift, the Ranger is eight inches lower at the front and nine inches lower at the rear. A Roush Performance intake and a Ford Performance cat-back exhaust enhance the 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine’s output. Other highlights includes a diff cover, an Optima YellowTop battery, RPG front-mounted intercooler, Baer six-piston calipers and 14-inch rotors (front and rear), and an RTR grille and fender flares. Falken tyres wrap around 20-inch Rotiform LHR-M three-piece wheels.
SIN CITY is crazy at the best of times, but invite a group of like-minded petrol-heads for four days of mayhem and things are going to get a little bit more insane.
That’s what happened a few weeks ago when tens of thousands of people walked the revered halls of the 2018 SEMA Show, each one drooling over countless wild customs and the latest aftermarket products soon to hit catalogues.
Held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada, SEMA is a trade-only show, with custom trucks, 4x4s and cars lining the walls of the massive Las Vegas Convention Centre.
Resident snapper Cristian Brunelli trailed 4X4 Australia editor Matt Raudonikis through the masses to collect a heap of snaps of the best custom builds at the show, and we’ve assembled a collection of the best images from 2018.
Enjoy ogling the best 4x4s and trucks of 2018, and hopefully it can inspire your next custom build.
OUR time beneath the bright lights of Vegas may be over for yet another year, but a few days back at 4X4 HQ has given us time to peruse our catalogue of snaps from this year’s event,
For your amusement, we’ve assembled a collection of some of the best 4x4s to grace the 2018 halls – and you can also check out more pics here: Part 1 and Part 2.
It was yet another cracking event, and a big kudos must go to all involved. We’ve already scouted flights for next year … yep, we’ll definitely be back.
We’ll have a comprehensive coverage of SEMA 2018 – and a full wrap-up of the awards list – in the Summer edition of 4X4 Australia magazine.
Got a favourite vehicle from SEMA 2018? Let us know in the comments section below.