The V6 Volkswagen Amarok is the winner of a comprehensive Australian shootout of nine one-tonne utes, all of which are also on sale in New Zealand. Writers from two of Australia’s most authorative motoring magazines, Wheels and 4x4 Australia, ran the double-cab utes on-road and off-road for five days north of Melbourne. It was perhaps the most definitive test of … [Read more...] about VW Amarok rated tops in nine-ute Aussie shootout
Volkswagen's Piech
All eyes on new rules to penalise drivers on phones
Road safety advocates in New Zealand are studying a law passed by the New South Wales Parliament targeting illegal mobile phone use by motorists. In what is a world first, the Australian State will introduce speed-camera-style technology to detect and crack down on cellphone use at the wheel by drivers. The new rules follow research that showed 184 crashes on NSW roads in … [Read more...] about All eyes on new rules to penalise drivers on phones
Will trademark body prevent Ford from using Raptor name?
Ford Australia and New Zealand have an anxious two-month wait before it is known if the special-edition ute based on the Ranger can be called Raptor. The Raptor name is a Ford trademark in North America. But in Australia the Raptor trademark has been owned since 1994 by Toyota truck division, Hino. Hino across the Tasman has continued to renew the trademark but has never … [Read more...] about Will trademark body prevent Ford from using Raptor name?
Formula One watch reproduced in honour of driver Ronnie Peterson
In 1972, Formula One driver Ronnie Peterson drove a March Ford to finish third in the German Grand Prix, at the Nurburgring. For the record, of the New Zealand drivers in the race, Howden Ganley finished fourth and Chris Amon 15th. Denny Hulme retired after eight of the mandatory 14 laps. Anyway, TAG Heuer watch company chief Jack Heuer (pictured above with Peterson) gave … [Read more...] about Formula One watch reproduced in honour of driver Ronnie Peterson
Battery-electric Audi SUV can be charged in 30 minutes
The production version of Audi’s battery-electric e-tron SUV will be able to be fully charged in less than 30 minutes for a driving range of more than 400km. It will be the first mass-production electric vehicle (EV) capable of being charged with up to 150kW of power when it is launched in Europe late this year and New Zealand in 2019. The quick charge is via high-power … [Read more...] about Battery-electric Audi SUV can be charged in 30 minutes