Road deaths in New Zealand this year are shaping to average around 80 for every million inhabitants, the gloomiest statistic since the average 86 in 2010. The road toll going into the second week of November stood at 323, compared to 274 at the same time last year. That’s a monthly average in 2017 of almost 32 deaths against 27 last year. Driver deaths were up 26 per … [Read more...] about Road deaths: 2017 shaping to be the gloomiest year since 2010
Volkswagen's Piech
Jeep leaks first pictures of next-generation Wrangler
Jeep has just released the first official photos of the JL-generation Wrangler, ending many months of speculation about whether the new model would be radically different from its predecessors. Clearly it’s not – Jeep was never going to monkey around with the design of the iconic off-roader. But it has made some classic changes that Jeep fans have been calling for, like … [Read more...] about Jeep leaks first pictures of next-generation Wrangler
Tagging along at the back of a convoy of Hyundai Konas
Hyundai NZ general manager Andy Sinclair says the new Kona is the “most important new model for Hyundai in years.” Easy to see why. Hyundai needs the compact model to bolster its stocks, because its sales at the end of September were down significantly on the same period last year. The numbers tell the story: 6379 sales in nine months last year – 5870 in nine months this … [Read more...] about Tagging along at the back of a convoy of Hyundai Konas
China’s LDV ute scores second-best crash test rating
The LDV double-cab ute has scored five stars for crash safety in the Australian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP), the first Chinese-made vehicle to crack the maximum score from the get-go. Not only did the four-wheel-drive T60 hit the safety jackpot first up, it scored higher overall points than all but one of its rivals, the top-selling Ford Ranger. The T60 scored … [Read more...] about China’s LDV ute scores second-best crash test rating
Newman’s Rolex Daytona sells at auction for record US$15.5 million
Actor and race driver Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona watch has been knocked down for a record US$15.5 million at auction in New York. That's NZ$22.8 million. Add the buyer's premium and the total came to US$17,752,500m, or NZ$26.1m. It was if the ‘lost ark of the covenant’ was up for auction, such was the international response to the sale of actor and race car driver Paul … [Read more...] about Newman’s Rolex Daytona sells at auction for record US$15.5 million