If you believe the public relations guff, every distributor in New Zealand last year sold record numbers of new vehicles. But that wasn’t the case. Okay, it was an overall record year, with 159,871 new vehicle registrations. But quite a few brands didn’t do as well as the PR people claim. Press releases saying this or that distributor is gearing up in 2018 to meet rapidly … [Read more...] about Numbers game: the real story behind record 2017 sales year
Car reviews
HSV lines up flash Colorado ute, Chev Camaro, Silverado truck
The Chevrolet badge returns to New Zealand next year on the bonnet of the all-American Camaro sports car and Silverado pick-up truck. Both vehicles will be converted to right-hand drive by Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) at its new 28,000 square-metre plant in Melbourne. It’s where HSV will also prepare two versions of the Holden Colorado ute, the Sportscat and better … [Read more...] about HSV lines up flash Colorado ute, Chev Camaro, Silverado truck
Land Rover responds to clean air critic that ‘diesel is the devil’
Jaguar Land Rover has defended its diesel engine technology after criticism of the fuel from the founder and director of Clean Air London, Simon Birkett. “Diesel is the devil, and we do need to ban it,” Birkett told a panel of automotive experts at the inaugural Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest, a three-day event in London highlighting the carmaker’s future technology. On the … [Read more...] about Land Rover responds to clean air critic that ‘diesel is the devil’
Kia and Isuzu the go-getters in 2013-2017 sales figures
Registrations of traditional passenger sedans and hatchbacks have tumbled over the past five years, as New Zealanders move towards SUVs and utes. In August 2013, for instance, the Holden Commodore sat at No. 5 on the top 15 list. Last month it was No. 10. A month earlier it was No. 11. Five years ago the Holden Cruze, Toyota Yaris, Mazda3, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, … [Read more...] about Kia and Isuzu the go-getters in 2013-2017 sales figures
At the wheel: an open and shut case in top-down Merc
Hard-charging Kiwi motorcycle great Graeme Crosby tells the story of racing in the Isle of Man TT for the first time in 1979. He sort of ‘smelled’ his way round the 48km circuit. “It’s such a long way that it’s hard sometimes to remember exactly where your are,” he once told me. “There is one part of it where they grow garlic, and you can smell it. “So as soon as I got a … [Read more...] about At the wheel: an open and shut case in top-down Merc