Mitsubishi’s strong SUV line-up is largely responsible for its galloping growth in 2021, where its registrations at the end of September were up more than 100% on the same time last year. The nameplate’s rapid rise has propelled it to No. 2 on the charts, a position it hasn’t held for yonks but one it expects to hang on to. Motoring Industry Association (MIA) numbers show … [Read more...] about Kiwis like Mitsubishi – its sales are up over 100% this year
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EVs and environment: renewable electricity makes all the difference
The CO2 carbon footprint of a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) running on power generated by fossil fuels only – coal, oil, gas – is roughly the same over its lifetime as a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE). But run a BEV on electricity from a mix of fossil fuels and renewables – coal and hydro, for instance – and it emits 14% to 22% lower CO2 emissions than an ICE … [Read more...] about EVs and environment: renewable electricity makes all the difference
New 2022 Subaru WRX: it’s the same but very different
Power from the bigger 2.4-litre engine in the 2022 Subaru WRX is pretty much the same as the outgoing 2.0-litre unit, although the new car gets to grips with maximum torque earlier in the rev range. The Japanese carmaker has released details of the fifth-generation WRX, which will be launched in New Zealand next year. It will be the first car in the Subaru lineup in this … [Read more...] about New 2022 Subaru WRX: it’s the same but very different
Under brakes at 190km/h – where Nigel Mansell is doing 300km/h
Lotus has talked for years about setting up in New Zealand with strong local support. Now it has finally done something about it. The Giltrap Group will open a Lotus outlet in Auckland next year, most likely with the last of the carmaker's petrol models, Elise and Exige, before the EVs arrive. The following story first appeared here in 2015. Alastair Sloane revists it. The … [Read more...] about Under brakes at 190km/h – where Nigel Mansell is doing 300km/h
Reworked classic cars designed for whatever floats your boat
No, the Jaguar E-Type boat above isn’t a scale model – but it is a plaything of sorts. It and the others pictured here are products of Italian designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini. He and his Floating Motors company are building watercraft based on some of the most iconic classic cars. The car/boats vary in size and come with a choice of battery-electric or petrol power. The … [Read more...] about Reworked classic cars designed for whatever floats your boat