The people at Holden NZ are as a chuffed about the new Equinox SUV as the townsfolk of Whangamomona were when Prime Minister Richard ‘King Dick’ Seddon helped fix their main street around 117 years ago. Holden hasn’t had a five-seat SUV since the Captiva5 was phased out in 2015. This at a time when roughly 40 out of every 100 New Zealanders have bought one SUV or … [Read more...] about Country pub, old-time politician, gravel roads, and new Holden
Volkswagen's Piech
Jeep USA tests new Wranglers in rugged Kiwi country
The new Wrangler JL won’t be seen in New Zealand until next year – but Jeep USA has been testing four North American-market prototypes over rugged country around Wanaka and Queenstown. Jeep has already revealed static official pictures of the next-generation two-door and four-door Wrangler, but this is the first time either variant has been pictured doing what they were … [Read more...] about Jeep USA tests new Wranglers in rugged Kiwi country
Crash tests to toughen up as Volvo SUV scores all-time best rating
Australia’s independent safety body ANCAP will next year expand its range of crash tests to include for the first time assessments of automated technologies like lane-change warning and auto-emergency braking. It will also have advanced adult and child crash-test dummies to obtain more data on injuries. There will be new targets for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists; test … [Read more...] about Crash tests to toughen up as Volvo SUV scores all-time best rating
1970 VW Beetle to tackle annual off-road spectacular
It’s been described as one of the coolest entries in recent years, the appearance in next year’s Baja 1000 off-road race of a heavily modified 1970 Volkswagen Beetle. And behind the ProjectBaja.com team in the annual California-Mexico event will be the might of VW America. “For decades Volkswagen Beetle vehicles, Beetle-based racers and Dune Buggies have been competing in … [Read more...] about 1970 VW Beetle to tackle annual off-road spectacular
SsangYong Rexton tops SUV segment with 5-year factory pledge
It’s a doozy, the five-year/150,000km factory-backed warranty that comes with South Korea’s fourth-generation (G4) SsangYong Rexton – no other automotive brand in New Zealand offers such a new-vehicle pledge. It’s sure to mean mainstream nameplates – Toyota, Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi and others – selling seven-seat SUVs with switchable two- and four-wheel drivetrains will … [Read more...] about SsangYong Rexton tops SUV segment with 5-year factory pledge