Swiss watchmaker Zenith launched its groundbreaking El Primero chronograph watch in 1969, the same year that Land Rover rolled out the two-door Range Rover, now known as the Classic. It was a coincidence that became a partnership 49 years later, in 2016, when the two marques kicked off a deal that has resulted in several Range Rover-branded timepieces. The latest, a … [Read more...] about Range Rover and Zenith launch watch to wear with new Evoque
Volkswagen's Piech
Chrysler Neon, the worst new car in NZ in past 25 years
News that Chrysler and Dodge models will no longer be available in New Zealand brings to mind the small Neon sedan Chrysler launched here in the late 1990s. It will forever be remembered as the worst new car to land in this country in the past 25 years. It was awful. Chrysler NZ sold most Neons to itself. The second worst car in 25 years was the Neon that followed it in … [Read more...] about Chrysler Neon, the worst new car in NZ in past 25 years
Sacked Ghosn: How Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance plays out in NZ
What will the sacking of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance chairman Carlos Ghosn (above) mean for the carmaking French-Japanese conglomerate? Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa said Ghosn’s dismissal from Nissan for alleged “numerous acts” of financial misconduct won’t disrupt the three-way alliance. “The alliance partnership will not be affected by this event,” … [Read more...] about Sacked Ghosn: How Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance plays out in NZ
World first: 3D-printed wheel from titanium powder
A California company mostly known in the automotive industry for its custom monoblock alloy wheels has teamed with a division of General Electric to produce a world-first 3D-printed wheel from titanium powder. HRE Wheels and GE Additive used Electron Beam Melting (EBM) to create the lightweight prototype wheel, pictured above on a McLaren P1. EBM uses electron beams … [Read more...] about World first: 3D-printed wheel from titanium powder
Airbus plans sleeping ‘pods’ in cargo holds on long-haul flights
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is looking to provide luxurious sleeping pods in the cargo holds of its passenger planes within the next two years. Planes such as the A330-800 series, the world’s largest, would offer something like the efficient ‘pod hotel’ capsules devised in Japan and expanded under the Yotel brand for travellers at some of the world’s major … [Read more...] about Airbus plans sleeping ‘pods’ in cargo holds on long-haul flights