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Car reviews

Rare military ‘pig’ of a Volvo for sale  

July 20, 2023 by Alastair Sloane

Up for grabs at Australian auction house Collecting Cars is a rare Volvo built for the Swedish military.  It’s the four-wheel-drive TP21 Sugga, one of 700-odd examples produced between 1953-1958.  Sugga in Swedish is ‘sow’, a reference to the vehicle’s pig-like looks.  This particular 1954 example has been in Aussie hands since the 1980s. It is … [Read more...] about Rare military ‘pig’ of a Volvo for sale  

Tax or no tax, VW Amarok muscles into ute market

May 16, 2023 by Alastair Sloane

Popularity of the one-tonne ute in New Zealand isn’t going to decline anytime soon, despite Government attempts to erode its base with punitive tax levies on exhaust emissions. For one thing, the ute is pretty much essential kit for farmers and tradies, in a nation largely focused on farmers and tradies. More to the point, to expect, for many years at least, a … [Read more...] about Tax or no tax, VW Amarok muscles into ute market

Atto 3: Confucius and the Tinder trap

April 28, 2023 by Alastair Sloane

We bumped into each other at a BP station, both befuddled in front of two electric car chargers. He wanted to charge a top-up to an app on his smartphone.  “Been trying for a while,” he said. “Keeps telling me there’s a problem with charging as a guest.”  He said he was in Auckland for the day on business from Tauranga. The stitching on his shirt pocket had … [Read more...] about Atto 3: Confucius and the Tinder trap

Ultimate boys’ toy – submarine about as big as two jet skis

April 23, 2020 by Alastair Sloane

The jet ski might indeed be one of the best watersport toys going round, but it has nothing on the lightweight Nemo submersible from U-Boat Worx, a specialist company in The Netherlands. Both craft do have one thing in common, however – they can be towed by the family station wagon or SUV, although Nemo would need a vehicle rated to tow at least 2500kg. That’s how … [Read more...] about Ultimate boys’ toy – submarine about as big as two jet skis

Car of the year? Has to be the Toyota ZR Hybrid Corolla

January 2, 2019 by Alastair Sloane

The new Toyota Corolla didn’t make the cut in mainstream 2018 car of the year awards in New Zealand, mainly because it arrived late in the year and didn’t meet judging deadlines. But I spent enough time behind the wheel of both the 2.0-litre petrol and 1.8-litre petrol-electric Corollas to choose the ZR Hybrid Corolla as my 2018 Car of the Year (COTY). But more on the ZR … [Read more...] about Car of the year? Has to be the Toyota ZR Hybrid Corolla

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The Good Oil

French carmaker Renault has won the 2025 European Car of the Year award with the all-electric R5 supermini (pictured). It’s the brand’s second win in a row, following the new Scenic’s gong in 2024. The R5 led the vote count from start to finish from the 60 jurors in 23 countries. It received 353 points, beating the Kia EV3 (291 points) and the Citroen C3/e in third place with 215 points. It’s Renault’s eighth win in the 62-year history of the Coty award. The R5 goes on sale in the UK this month. There are two main drivetrains: a 90kW motor/40kWh battery model with a 300km range, and a 112kW/52kWh example with a 400km range. The R5 starts in price at £22.995, or $NZ50,000.

EU carmakers seek trade deal with Trump

BMW and Mercedes-Benz are among carmakers urging the European Union to get a favourable trade deal with US President Donald Trump. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) wants to keep open trade with both the US and China. It fears Trump, who promises heavy tariffs on Chinese imports to the US, will look unfavourably on countries that continue to trade freely with Beijing. Ola Kallenius, president of the group and chairman of the management board of MB, said in a letter to EU leaders:  “Overall, it is essential to recognise that trade with China and the US is most vital for the prosperity of the European economy.The EU should seek a grand bargain with the US and attempt to avoid a potential trade conflict.”

Diesel fuels EV concept for US military

A  go-anywhere EV concept for the US military uses an onboard 12kW diesel generator to top up the batteries on the move.  The all-wheel-drive has 800-volt technology and a 200kWh battery pack to power three electric motors, two in the rear and one up front. Claimed output is 745kW/15,590Nm, or 1000hp and 11,500 ft-lb of torque.  The four-seater was developed by the defence division of General Motors and is based on the platform of the Hummer SUV. It rides on Fox performance shock absorbers and 37-inch tyres and comes with “exceptional” approach and departure angles for off-road mobility. Maximum range using the generator to keep things ticking over is said to be around 500km.

We are the World

The outside temperature in Midland, Texas, was 40.5C when staff at the local office of the US National Weather Service set out to show the cabin of a closed car can literally get baking hot in summer. They mixed up a batch of chocolate chip cookies and laid them on the car’s dashboard – the surface of which showed a temperature of 87.7C. A little over four hours later the cookies were ready to eat. “Even though ours weren’t golden brown, we can confirm that they are done and delicious,” the staff wrote on Facebook.

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Electric G-Wagen takes you for spin

https://youtu.be/NwHbJ7HN1sU

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