• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

AutoNews.NZ

  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Medium-sized cars
    • Small cars
    • Large cars
    • 4x4s
    • People-movers
    • SUV-large
    • SUV-luxury
    • SUV-medium
    • SUV-compact
    • Sports cars
    • Luxury cars
    • Hybrid cars
    • Ute
  • Cars & Watches
  • Bike World
  • Tech
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Spy videos

Fun

Big wheels turnin' out to plug the products they are hauling

February 18, 2015 by Alastair Sloane

Trucking companies in Germany are having fun painting the products they are hauling on the sides and the backs of their trailers. Above, the bottle of beer looks like it is sticking out the side of the trailer. Below are six other examples: This company has turned its trailer into a canvas tote bag ... The Pepsi cases are all stacked towards the top of the … [Read more...] about Big wheels turnin' out to plug the products they are hauling

Bucket list: the 10 NZ roads you must drive

April 9, 2014 by Alastair Sloane

The Bucket List

Auckland media relations man John Coker has driven most of New Zealand’s roads, either behind the wheel of a rally car, or plotting test-drive routes for carmakers. In no particular order here are his 10 best roads. We talked about them on Face TV at 8pm on Wednesday, April 9. It’s a ‘bucket list’ of sorts, the roads you must drive before you turn up your toes. A bit like … [Read more...] about Bucket list: the 10 NZ roads you must drive

Bertha Benz, the woman who pioneered the first test drive

April 2, 2014 by Alastair Sloane

Germany’s Karl Benz is credited with inventing the automobile but it was his wife Bertha who saw its true potential and pioneered what has been called the most important car journey ever undertaken. It was in August, 1888, two years after Benz patented his invention. Bertha slipped out of bed early, gathered up her two boys, Eugen and Richard, and left a note on the … [Read more...] about Bertha Benz, the woman who pioneered the first test drive

Ford salutes the 80th birthday of its Australian ute

February 26, 2014 by Alastair Sloane

Ford's Lewis Brandt with his invention

Ford is celebrating the 80th birthday of one of its most iconic vehicles, the Australian ute. The first carry-all rolled off the assembly line in Melbourne in 1934. Not only was it an Australian invention, but the concept was exported to the world and reinterpreted by other carmakers. The story of the first Ford ute is a key part of the carmaker’s heritage. Like all good … [Read more...] about Ford salutes the 80th birthday of its Australian ute

Shapely figure causes male drivers to lose the plot

February 26, 2014 by Alastair Sloane

Ogling an attractive woman pedestrian is one of the main causes of driver distraction among men, says a survey. A quarter of male drivers admitted that a shapely female turned their heads – but only three per cent of women said a good-looking man took their fancy. The survey followed the case of a British man who was fined $100 and told to take a driver awareness course … [Read more...] about Shapely figure causes male drivers to lose the plot

Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

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.

Footer

Electric G-Wagen takes you for spin

https://youtu.be/NwHbJ7HN1sU

Recent

  • Kia eyes further growth with $52,690 4WD ute 
  • Early morning glory on ice, Audi style
  • Volkswagen tackles Chinese with new ‘people’s car’ 
  • ‘I bought this car before Elon lost his mind’
  • 2024: Year of petrol-electric hybrids and Toyota’s 1:6:90 rule

Tags

Aston martin audi bentley BMW Car reviews Citroen Electric cars Electric vehicles Ferrari Fiat Chrysler Ford Ford Mustang Holden honda hyundai jaguar jeep kia land rover latest news Lexus Lotus Maserati mazda Mclaren mercedes Mercedes-Benz mini Mitsubishi Nissan NZ car sales peugeot porsche range rover skoda spy Subaru suzuki Tesla tips and advice Toyota videos Volkswagen volvo VW

Copyright © 2025 · WordPress Hosting by WPhost