The SUV market in New Zealand will become even more crowded and competitive over the next couple of years as both luxury and mid-market carmakers introduce first-time models. The so-called lifestyle vehicles are the hottest items on the sales charts and accounted for just over four out of every 10 passenger cars sold to the end of October this year. That ratio is expected … [Read more...] about SUV sales soar – and there are more new models to come
Mercedes-Benz
NZ luxury sales market: more cut and thrust as Benz flies high
However you slice and dice the numbers the luxury vehicle segment in New Zealand is at its most competitive for some years, helped by the overall hot sales market and the expanded range of new models. Motor Industry Association figures for September had the main players – Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz – neck-and-neck on sales of passenger vehicles (cars and SUVS): Audi 184, … [Read more...] about NZ luxury sales market: more cut and thrust as Benz flies high
Premium segment shows up shift to petrol power over diesel
BMW is about to roll out its most fuel-efficient diesel engine, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit it claims is good for town-and-around use of 3.8-litres/100km (75mpg) when mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission in the 2-Series coupe. It is likely to be available in New Zealand from next year, firstly in the 2-Series Active Tourer. But it comes at a time when sales of … [Read more...] about Premium segment shows up shift to petrol power over diesel
Exclusive: Sneak peek at new models on way to NZ from Europe
Car designers working for European spy agency Automedia have completed computer-generated images of what New Zealanders can expect from Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Opel (Holden), Audi and BMW over the next couple of years. The designers base their interpretations of how future cars will look on inside industry information and countless spy images taken at road test facilities … [Read more...] about Exclusive: Sneak peek at new models on way to NZ from Europe
Mercedes-AMG GT: First NZ-bound car has already been sold
Mercedes-Benz has broken with tradition by dropping the ‘Benz’ name from the go-fast coupe it calls the Mercedes-AMG GT. The new model and its twin-turbocharged V8 engine is a product of Mercedes-Benz and its wholly owned performance house AMG. The German carmaker dropped the ‘Benz’ handle because it wanted to give the new model its own identity, just as it did with the SLS … [Read more...] about Mercedes-AMG GT: First NZ-bound car has already been sold