The twelfth-generation Toyota Corolla will land in New Zealand later this year, almost 50 years after the first-generation model racked up 763 sales in 1969, the first year it was available here. Toyota NZ is expected to market the new model as the 50th anniversary Corolla – its dealers are already talking about such a campaign. So are the Australians, where the Corolla is … [Read more...] about 50th anniversary Toyota Corolla gets improved dynamics, comfort
Volkswagen's Piech
First for Lexus: seven-seater SUV expected to spark sales
Lexus NZ is about to launch a couple of vehicles it needs to spark 2018 sales, after coming off a 2017 year that was down slightly on 2016 results. The cars in question are RX-badged seven-seater SUVs – the petrol-only 350L Limited ($108,400) and the hybrid petrol-electric 450hL Limited ($126,400), both with 3.5-litre V6 engines, eight-speed transmissions, and on-demand … [Read more...] about First for Lexus: seven-seater SUV expected to spark sales
The V6 engine that new Holden Commodore desperately needed
Why did Holden hire Australian actor Michael Caton to talk up the future of the nameplate in New Zealand? In the video on the www.holdenheretostay.co.nz website, Caton hints at his trademark ‘Tell him he’s dreamin’ line from his role as Aussie battler Darryl Kerrigan in the film The Castle. The point Caton (below) is paid to get across is that Holden is in New Zealand to … [Read more...] about The V6 engine that new Holden Commodore desperately needed
Kia gets the jump on hybrid SUV market with new Niro
Kia Motors has got the jump in New Zealand on the likes of Volkswagen and Ford, if only because the South Korean company has already delivered what its many bigwig rivals are planning to deliver – hybrid SUVs. Volkswagen CEO Dr. Herbert Diess admitted the other day that the German carmaker “is evolving into an SUV brand. ” Ford earlier said it would be doubling SUV … [Read more...] about Kia gets the jump on hybrid SUV market with new Niro
Toyota NZ ‘absolutely’ lining up the new-generation Supra
Nothing even remotely official yet from Toyota NZ about the new Supra sports car, although one senior company executive has said it will “absolutely” order it from the factory once the road-ready two-door goes into production, perhaps next year. Toyota showed off the GR Supra Racing concept (above) at the Geneva motor show, the GR referring to Gazoo Racing, Toyota’s umbrella … [Read more...] about Toyota NZ ‘absolutely’ lining up the new-generation Supra