The new Toyota Camry range will go on sale in New Zealand early next year, fresh for the first time in three decades from the factory in Japan instead of Australia. Since the 1980s, NZ-spec Camrys have been built at Toyota Australia’s factory near Melbourne. But the plant was shut down last month, weeks after Holden and a year after Ford closed their car-making … [Read more...] about New Toyota Camry made in Japan, first time in 30 years
1918 Pierce Arrow with a 14-litre straight-six …
On Jay Leno’s Garage this week, Leno teams up with his buddy Patrick Craig to look at Craig’s 1918 Model 66 Pierce Arrow. It has the distinction of having the largest engine ever used in a production vehicle. … [Read more...] about 1918 Pierce Arrow with a 14-litre straight-six …
Country pub, old-time politician, gravel roads, and new Holden
The people at Holden NZ are as a chuffed about the new Equinox SUV as the townsfolk of Whangamomona were when Prime Minister Richard ‘King Dick’ Seddon helped fix their main street around 117 years ago. Holden hasn’t had a five-seat SUV since the Captiva5 was phased out in 2015. This at a time when roughly 40 out of every 100 New Zealanders have bought one SUV or … [Read more...] about Country pub, old-time politician, gravel roads, and new Holden
Jeep USA tests new Wranglers in rugged Kiwi country
The new Wrangler JL won’t be seen in New Zealand until next year – but Jeep USA has been testing four North American-market prototypes over rugged country around Wanaka and Queenstown. Jeep has already revealed static official pictures of the next-generation two-door and four-door Wrangler, but this is the first time either variant has been pictured doing what they were … [Read more...] about Jeep USA tests new Wranglers in rugged Kiwi country
Crash tests to toughen up as Volvo SUV scores all-time best rating
Australia’s independent safety body ANCAP will next year expand its range of crash tests to include for the first time assessments of automated technologies like lane-change warning and auto-emergency braking. It will also have advanced adult and child crash-test dummies to obtain more data on injuries. There will be new targets for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists; test … [Read more...] about Crash tests to toughen up as Volvo SUV scores all-time best rating