New vehicle registrations in New Zealand are slowing as the market readjusts to changing economic conditions after a boom five years of record numbers. Registrations for the six months to the end of June were down around 6 per cent, or almost 4500 units, on the same period last year, says the Motor Industry Association (MIA). That’s an average slump of more than 700 cars … [Read more...] about Mitsubishi defies slump in new vehicle registrations
Volkswagen's Piech
Banned wheelchair-access vehicle maker sues NZ transport bodies
A company forced by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to stop building wheelchair-access vehicles is suing the government body and its offshoot the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association (LVVTA) for losses “expected to exceed $5 million.” Lawyers for vehicle manufacturer Drive NZ Classic Ltd (DNZC) have filed a statement of claim in the High Court against the LVVTA as first … [Read more...] about Banned wheelchair-access vehicle maker sues NZ transport bodies
Ex-Recaro agent builds patent-pending sports seats for Holden concept
It’s 200mm higher and 150mm wider than a regular Holden Colorado ute, rides on 35-inch all-terrain wheels, has bespoke steel bumpers front and rear, a scooped carbon-fibre bonnet that weighs 7kg, patent-pending sports seats designed in New Zealand … and it’s on show at Fieldays next week. But that’s all it is – a concept ute designed to show how the best-dressed, double-cab … [Read more...] about Ex-Recaro agent builds patent-pending sports seats for Holden concept
Carmakers finding solutions to problems that don’t exist?
Where is the automotive industry going next with the development of so-called smart devices? Is it nearing information overload? Findings solutions to problems that don’t exist? Take, for example, inventions from American start-up Byton and Britain’s venerable Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). Byton not long ago revealed its production-ready vehicle the ‘M-Byte,’ notable for the huge … [Read more...] about Carmakers finding solutions to problems that don’t exist?
Nurburgring lap record Renault Megane Trophy-R in NZ next year
The Renault Megane RS Trophy-R, the front-drive performance hatchback that has just set the lap record (see video below) for its class around Germany’s Nurburgring circuit, will go on sale in New Zealand early next year. “We haven’t got any exact dates yet but the Trophy-R will be here in the New Year,” said Renault NZ spokesman Sal Marti. The limited-edition variant … [Read more...] about Nurburgring lap record Renault Megane Trophy-R in NZ next year