The shock two-star crash test result for the 2015 Ford Mustang is the same score as China’s first-generation Great Wall ute was given early in 2010. Four years later the updated version of the same ute scored three stars. The flop finding means the Mustang is the first car since 2015 to score so low on the European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP). The Lancia Ypsilon … [Read more...] about Ford left safety gear out of non-US Mustangs: crash test chief
Highlights
Special-edition Holdens carry Corvette, Camaro track rating
The 253 limited-edition Holden Commodores which go into production for New Zealand in June will be built to meet the dynamic demands of 24-hour endurance racing. The Commodore models – 51 Magnum utes, 51 Director and 151 Motorsport sedans – will each carry a ‘Level 3 track certification’ rating, meaning they have passed one of General Motors’ toughest tests. In doing so … [Read more...] about Special-edition Holdens carry Corvette, Camaro track rating
2016 NZ car sales: winners, losers, slow-coaches
Chinese commercial vehicle company LDV was the high-flyer in New Zealand's new vehicle market last year in terms of percentage sales gains over 2015. Motor Industry Association (MIA) figures show 1032 LDV vans were registered in 2016, up from 475 in 2015. That's a year-on-year percentage hike of 117.2%, a reflection of the demand for commercials in an all-time record sales … [Read more...] about 2016 NZ car sales: winners, losers, slow-coaches
Kia’s V6 Stinger: Aussie police eye it – will NZ’s do so too?
Will the V6 Kia Stinger replace the V6 Holden Commodore as the main police patrol vehicle in New Zealand? Australian police are reportedly interested in the Stinger, unveiled at the Detroit motor show this week. Police in NSW, Queensland, and Victoria are already evaluating Kia’s all-wheel-drive SUV, the Sorento. Kia Motors Australia PR chief Kevin Hepworth told media … [Read more...] about Kia’s V6 Stinger: Aussie police eye it – will NZ’s do so too?
Car sales hit all-time record – more growth yet, say big-wigs
What price new vehicle registrations in New Zealand in 2017 topping 150,000 units? The numbers in 2016 ended up at 146,753, an all-time high and up 9.5 per cent up on the previous best, the 134,041 registered in 2015. Motoring industry executives believe there is still room for growth. The market has gone through three years of record numbers and many believe it will keep … [Read more...] about Car sales hit all-time record – more growth yet, say big-wigs