Ford revealed its redesigned Fiesta light car at the Australian International Motor Show. The three-door and five-door hatch range will start at $15,750. Available in an 88kW 1.6-litre engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission standard across the Fiesta range, or a four-speed auto mated to a 71kW 1.4-litre engine.

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BMW’s twin-turbo trend takes its next step in early 2009, when a new 300kW/600Nm bi-turbo 4.4-litre petrol V8 joins the X6 range in the xDrive50i. With global production of the X6 already a sell-out, BMW Australia has received only half of its requested 2008 allocation of 500 examples.

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Nissan Australia confirmed that the Murano II is back on track for local release. With much of the exterior similar to the existing model, although with every body and interior panel new. Power is by Nissan’s 198kW 3.5-litre V6 engine, mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission known as Xtronic CVT.

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Holden used the 2008 Australian International Motor Show to reveal its AFM V8-powered Commodore, Ute, Sportwagon, Statesman and Caprice. AFM technology enables automatic V8 models to operate automatically on four cylinders in certain driving conditions, until power is needed, saving up to 1L/100km of petrol.

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Maserati revealed the GranTurismo S globally before its donor car, the new GranTursimo coupe flagship, had even been delivered in Australia. Due here in early 2009, it's powered by a bigger 4.7-litre V8 with 328kW and 490Nm of torque and rides on 20-inch alloy wheels with Brembo six-piston callipers.

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Maserati's successful Quattroporte has a new flagship variant dubbed the Quattroporte S, when the facelifted range is launched in early 2009. Gaining cosmetic and technical upgrades, the Quattroporte S shares the bigger 4.7-litre V8 with the new GranTurismo S coupe producing 316kW.

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Kia took the wraps off its new Cerato sedan at the 2008 Australian International Motor Show. Powered by a new 2.0-litre petrol engine with continuously variable valve timing (CVVT). The Cerato will be the first model in Australia to display the distinctive new corporate ‘H-grille’ design.

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