The record 21,044 new vehicles registered with the NZ Transport Agency in March was the end result of a motoring industry move to avoid the first stage of the Coalition Government’s tax axe on petrol and diesel engines. It was driven largely by distributors and dealers first registering vehicles to themselves. Nothing new in that, except it took on new urgency a month … [Read more...] about New vehicle regos go through roof ahead of Gov’t tax axe
Volkswagen's Piech
Kia’s future plans include two electric utes by 2026
Rarely has a car that’s days away from being launched in New Zealand come with such a glowing collection of international awards as the Kia EV6, the 2022 European Car of the Year. Aside from the prestigious Euro gong, the all-electric crossover (above) won Germany’s 2022 Red Dot Design (RDD) award for what the 50-strong panel of judges said was its “pioneering and … [Read more...] about Kia’s future plans include two electric utes by 2026
$100,000 for go-fast Subaru that year ago sold new for $67,990
The collectors’ market for the few petrol-powered performance cars that don’t cost the earth is heating up as ever tightening emissions regulations move automotive companies towards an electric future. One such recent example is the limited edition Subaru Saigo WRX STI, 20 of which landed in New Zealand last year. Saigo can mean both ‘most recent’ and ‘final’ in … [Read more...] about $100,000 for go-fast Subaru that year ago sold new for $67,990
Saying quiet part out loud: exhaust tax a double whammy
The Coalition Government’s upcoming tax take on fossil-fuelled light vehicles is a double whammy, in that it will penalise both suppliers and buyers of new and used imported models. There is a part one and a part two. The Clean Car Discount (CCD) is part one and affects the retail market only – car buyers. The Clean Car Standard (CCS) is part two and effects the wholesale … [Read more...] about Saying quiet part out loud: exhaust tax a double whammy
Gone in 60 seconds … thieves cash in on precious exhaust metals
This is a repeat of a story on these pages a year ago. Gains new significance a year on ... What price rhodium now? It’s a practice that has been going on in New Zealand for decades – sawing off the catalytic converters in the exhaust system of cars to boost the power of the engine, if only marginally. But now the process has brought in the cops, including America’s FBI … [Read more...] about Gone in 60 seconds … thieves cash in on precious exhaust metals