A planned ban from 2035 on petrol-powered vehicles in America’s so-called ‘green’ state California needs to be reconsidered, says Toyota Motor Corp. president Akio Toyoda (above). “Realistically speaking, it seems rather difficult to really achieve that,” US publication Automotive News reports Toyoda as telling a conference in Las Vegas. He said the California ban would … [Read more...] about Ban on petrol-powered vehicles ‘not workable’, says Toyota boss
US-made Toyota Sequoia SUV for right-hook conversion in NZ
South Island engineering company Glacier International is to bring the 2023 hybrid Toyota Sequoia SUV from North America to New Zealand. It will convert left-hook Sequoias to right-hand drive at its plant inside the innovation and technology facility at the Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell. The remanufacturing process, says company director Malcom King, has already … [Read more...] about US-made Toyota Sequoia SUV for right-hook conversion in NZ
Mustang V8: ‘You want it, we’ll keep building it’, says Ford boss
Ford will keep building the petrol-powered V8 Mustang as long as there’s demand for it – or until US environmental lawmakers rule it out of existence. That’s the word from the carmaker’s executive chairman William Clay Ford Junior at the launch at the Detroit motor show of the seventh-generation muscle car. Ford Jnr, great-grandson of company founder Henry, told media at … [Read more...] about Mustang V8: ‘You want it, we’ll keep building it’, says Ford boss
Dune buggy hits the beach – and it’s not from Volkswagen stable
The Volkswagen dune buggy is back, although Volkswagen itself has nothing to do with the revival of this particular model. The newcomer is called the Meyers Manx 2.0, after the two-seater dune buggy that American Bruce Meyers unleashed on the world almost 60 years ago. But whereas Meyers’ buggy was based on a VW Beetle chassis and powered by an air-cooled, four-cylinder … [Read more...] about Dune buggy hits the beach – and it’s not from Volkswagen stable
Jeep and Ram plead guilty in US for cheating on diesel emissions
The US division of car giant Stellantis NV has pleaded guilty and been fined US$300 million (NZ$476m) for cheating on government emissions testing for diesel versions of Jeep SUVs and Ram pick-up trucks. Federal prosecutors accused company officials of conspiring to deceive consumers about the fuel efficiency of more than 100,000 diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs and Ram 1500 … [Read more...] about Jeep and Ram plead guilty in US for cheating on diesel emissions