Sales of crossover/SUVs accounted for 30.2 per cent of the new-vehicle market in New Zealand last month – a statistic that suits Mercedes-Benz general manager Ben Giffin just fine. The segment has grown just over three per cent since late last year when Giffin said he wished he had a vehicle to compete in the luxury mid-range sector. “The only reason Mercedes-Benz is not the … [Read more...] about Four-paw Benz gets to grips with crossover/SUV market
BMW
BMW M3/M4: it’s all about hurry-up and weight
Above: Joerg Bartels, head of sales operations for BMW in Munich A weight difference of 23kg between the two-door BMW M4 and four-door M3 mightn’t seem a lot, but it was very much a talking point at the launch in New Zealand this week of both high-performance cars. It wasn’t as spirited as the debate over BMW’s decision of a couple of years ago to turn the hallowed … [Read more...] about BMW M3/M4: it’s all about hurry-up and weight
Global ‘green’ winner Ford plans tell-all campaign in NZ
Ford is expected to update its advertising campaigns in New Zealand to highlight its most recent success – being named No. 1 ‘green’ brand in the world, taking the top spot away from arch-rival Toyota. “Being ranked No. 1 on Interbrand’s 2014 list will assure our customers here in New Zealand that their Ford has been built in an environmentally responsible and sustainable … [Read more...] about Global ‘green’ winner Ford plans tell-all campaign in NZ
Suspect airbags in thousands of NZ-new and used vehicles
New Zealand hasn’t escaped a worldwide recall of millions of vehicles fitted with suspect airbags made by Japanese company Takata, the world’s second biggest automotive safety parts maker. Toyota NZ has already identified more than 5000 NZ-new Avensis (above), Corolla and Picnic models that had Takata front airbags fitted, and now Nissan, Honda and Mazda are working to find … [Read more...] about Suspect airbags in thousands of NZ-new and used vehicles
Toyota 86: is this the lightweight coupe with the go-faster engine?
Is the Toyota 86 pictured here a go-faster lightweight version, with the duel air intakes in the bonnet helping to cool a more powerful flat-four engine? And are the bonnet, roof, and boot lid made of carbon fibre? The appearance of the prototype 86 (above) at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany has analysts searching for clues. The best guess is that it could indeed be a … [Read more...] about Toyota 86: is this the lightweight coupe with the go-faster engine?