• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

AutoNews.NZ

  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
    • Medium-sized cars
    • Small cars
    • Large cars
    • 4x4s
    • People-movers
    • SUV-large
    • SUV-luxury
    • SUV-medium
    • SUV-compact
    • Sports cars
    • Luxury cars
    • Hybrid cars
    • Ute
  • Cars & Watches
  • Bike World
  • Tech
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Spy videos

BMW

BMW readies lightweight, track-focused M4 GTS for its 100th birthday party

August 21, 2015 by Alastair Sloane

The first hint that BMW was going to spring a special surprise for its 100th birthday next year was the concept M4 GTS it unveiled at this month’s Pebble Beach Concours. The clincher that the two-door has gone far beyond concept stage is the spy picture above, showing the production-ready GTS testing at the Nurburgring circuit, hidden under the form of the M4 MotoGP … [Read more...] about BMW readies lightweight, track-focused M4 GTS for its 100th birthday party

BMW sticks to its knitting with the design of new 7-Series saloon

June 15, 2015 by Alastair Sloane

The first official pictures of the new BMW 7-Series saloon clearly show that the carmaker has played it safe and followed an evolutionary design line rather than an overall rethink. The new flagship will land in New Zealand next year and reveal a profile that is almost identical to the outgoing model. So, too, the design up front, with the prominent kidney grille and nose. … [Read more...] about BMW sticks to its knitting with the design of new 7-Series saloon

BMW lines up its birthday boy – the 40th anniversary 3-Series model

May 11, 2015 by Alastair Sloane

BMW has given its sixth-generation 3-Series a mid-life makeover, not unexpected in light of the worldwide sales success of its main rival the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the arrival early next year of the Jaguar XE and the new Audi A4. The upgrades include exterior styling changes front and rear, revised interior trim with softer plastics, retuned suspension settings, more … [Read more...] about BMW lines up its birthday boy – the 40th anniversary 3-Series model

AA crash test reports get under the skin of BMW and Kia

May 5, 2015 by Alastair Sloane

The prickly reaction by two New Zealand car companies to crash test findings by the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) underlines partly why the facility will no longer be relevant once Australian carmakers shut down their manufacturing plants in 2017. The two carmakers are BMW and Kia. Why are they upset? They are not saying, but word on the street and among … [Read more...] about AA crash test reports get under the skin of BMW and Kia

Prototypes spied: Tesla Model X SUV likely for NZ

March 28, 2015 by Alastair Sloane

An all-electric SUV from US company Tesla Motors will almost certainly be available in New Zealand within the next couple of years. The all-wheel-drive prototype Model X (above and here) has been pictured testing near Tesla’s base in northern California before its expected official unveiling later this year. It will go into production for US customers early next year and … [Read more...] about Prototypes spied: Tesla Model X SUV likely for NZ

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

The Good Oil

French carmaker Renault has won the 2025 European Car of the Year award with the all-electric R5 supermini (pictured). It’s the brand’s second win in a row, following the new Scenic’s gong in 2024. The R5 led the vote count from start to finish from the 60 jurors in 23 countries. It received 353 points, beating the Kia EV3 (291 points) and the Citroen C3/e in third place with 215 points. It’s Renault’s eighth win in the 62-year history of the Coty award. The R5 goes on sale in the UK this month. There are two main drivetrains: a 90kW motor/40kWh battery model with a 300km range, and a 112kW/52kWh example with a 400km range. The R5 starts in price at £22.995, or $NZ50,000.

EU carmakers seek trade deal with Trump

BMW and Mercedes-Benz are among carmakers urging the European Union to get a favourable trade deal with US President Donald Trump. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) wants to keep open trade with both the US and China. It fears Trump, who promises heavy tariffs on Chinese imports to the US, will look unfavourably on countries that continue to trade freely with Beijing. Ola Kallenius, president of the group and chairman of the management board of MB, said in a letter to EU leaders:  “Overall, it is essential to recognise that trade with China and the US is most vital for the prosperity of the European economy.The EU should seek a grand bargain with the US and attempt to avoid a potential trade conflict.”

Diesel fuels EV concept for US military

A  go-anywhere EV concept for the US military uses an onboard 12kW diesel generator to top up the batteries on the move.  The all-wheel-drive has 800-volt technology and a 200kWh battery pack to power three electric motors, two in the rear and one up front. Claimed output is 745kW/15,590Nm, or 1000hp and 11,500 ft-lb of torque.  The four-seater was developed by the defence division of General Motors and is based on the platform of the Hummer SUV. It rides on Fox performance shock absorbers and 37-inch tyres and comes with “exceptional” approach and departure angles for off-road mobility. Maximum range using the generator to keep things ticking over is said to be around 500km.

We are the World

The outside temperature in Midland, Texas, was 40.5C when staff at the local office of the US National Weather Service set out to show the cabin of a closed car can literally get baking hot in summer. They mixed up a batch of chocolate chip cookies and laid them on the car’s dashboard – the surface of which showed a temperature of 87.7C. A little over four hours later the cookies were ready to eat. “Even though ours weren’t golden brown, we can confirm that they are done and delicious,” the staff wrote on Facebook.

Footer

Electric G-Wagen takes you for spin

https://youtu.be/NwHbJ7HN1sU

Recent

  • Spoilt for choice: plug-in sales up 150.0%
  • Kia eyes further growth with $52,690 4WD ute 
  • Early morning glory on ice, Audi style
  • Volkswagen tackles Chinese with new ‘people’s car’ 
  • ‘I bought this car before Elon lost his mind’

Tags

Aston martin audi bentley BMW Car reviews Citroen Electric cars Electric vehicles Ferrari Fiat Chrysler Ford Ford Mustang Holden honda hyundai jaguar jeep kia land rover latest news Lexus Lotus Maserati mazda Mclaren mercedes Mercedes-Benz mini Mitsubishi Nissan NZ car sales peugeot porsche range rover skoda spy Subaru suzuki Tesla tips and advice Toyota videos Volkswagen volvo VW

Copyright © 2025 · WordPress Hosting by WPhost