Luxury Japanese carmaker Lexus is claiming a world-first patent for the design of the door handles on its new SUV, the hybrid NX – but you won’t find a word about it in the New Zealand press release. The Lexus marketing people at parent Toyota’s compound in Palmerston North somehow overlooked the ground-breaking design, which reportedly took engineers in Japan three years to … [Read more...] about Opening the door to new SUV and something Lexus NZ missed
Toyota
Mitsubishi sales up 20 per cent as market heads for record year
Three results from October sales stand out in what is shaping as a record year for new vehicles: Mitsubishi numbers are running around 20 per cent up on last year and 42 per cent on 2010; Hyundai will finish in the top three for passenger cars for the second year running; and the Ford Ranger will unseat the Toyota Hilux as the country’s long-standing workhorse of … [Read more...] about Mitsubishi sales up 20 per cent as market heads for record year
New Toyota Hilux is bigger inside and out – and beefier
This is the new Toyota Hilux dual cab, pictured in the south of Spain by photographers from spy agency Automedia. The light truck has also been testing in Australia, where pictures of two- and four-wheel drive variants, camouflaged and dusty from Victorian bush tracks, have been published online. In Spain, the Hilux was accompanied by a convoy of Toyotas, including a … [Read more...] about New Toyota Hilux is bigger inside and out – and beefier
Toyota reveals higher-riding hybrid Corolla to tackle small SUV rivals
A SUV based on the Toyota Corolla will be aimed at rivals like the Nisan Juke, Holden Trax, Mitsubishi ASX and Ford EcoSport – but whether it is one and the same as the camouflaged car pictured here is yet to be confirmed. Toyota has announced it will unveil its C-HR hybrid (above) crossover concept at next month’s Paris motor show. It says the car will point to its approach … [Read more...] about Toyota reveals higher-riding hybrid Corolla to tackle small SUV rivals
VW updates Polo line-up in bid to lure more private buyers
Volkswagen wants to “own” the private market in which its small Polo hatchback (above) competes against the likes of the Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz, Suzuki Swift, Ford Fiesta … the list goes on. “We need to get on the shopping lists of more people,” says VW New Zealand general manager Tom Ruddenklau, introducing the new-look Polo range at a new-look price. Engines are new, … [Read more...] about VW updates Polo line-up in bid to lure more private buyers