It’s called ‘rolling coal’ in the USA. It’s a disease of the mind, where drivers of diesel pick-up trucks modify their engines to belch a cloud bank of exhaust soot at the flick of a switch. It’s also called ‘Prius dusting’, a derogatory use of the name of Toyota’s hybrid. It’s done to protest environmental initiatives. Flipping the bird, but with a switch. Nothing unusual, … [Read more...] about ‘Prius dusting’ at the flick of a diesel truck switch
Volkswagen's Piech
Ford, BMW register the most new cars to themselves
The two car brands that registered the most new passenger vehicles to themselves and/or their dealers at the end of July in New Zealand were Ford and BMW, data shows. It doesn’t include commercial vehicles. Fifty out of every 100 new passenger Fords listed in the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) books were either registered as head office property or demonstrators. BMW registered … [Read more...] about Ford, BMW register the most new cars to themselves
EV take-up: Politicians hide behind Homer Simpson’s three rules
You could smell during the Covid-19 lockdown earlier this year the absence on New Zealand roads of fossil-fueled vehicles and their exhaust pipes. Pretty much overnight the country’s air had become cleaner. NIWA – the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric research – said so. Its diagnostic equipment kept sniffing the air non-stop. NIWA’s declarations alone should be … [Read more...] about EV take-up: Politicians hide behind Homer Simpson’s three rules
Future of car: one day badge will be pretty much obsolete, says IBM
Technology giant IBM predicts a future for carmakers where the focus for buyers will be more on the digital services the car provides, rather than the cars themselves. Daniel Knodler, IBM’s director of global sales for its automotive, aerospace and defence groups, says what happens on the screens inside the car will be far more important than the badge on the … [Read more...] about Future of car: one day badge will be pretty much obsolete, says IBM
Land Rover: ‘Don’t leave town till you’ve seen the country’
An Italian-made accessory for the new Land Rover Defender could turn out to be the catalyst for refreshing a tourism catchphrase from 1984 New Zealand. A national advertising campaign back then told Kiwis, “Don’t leave town till you’ve seen the country.” It came around the time the incoming fourth Labour Government devalued the NZ dollar by 20 per cent. The underlying … [Read more...] about Land Rover: ‘Don’t leave town till you’ve seen the country’