The Ford Ranger/Toyota Hilux tussle, now reaching boiling point going into the last sales month of 2014, will become even more charged next year when both companies reveal new-look models for the New Zealand market. Toyota is keeping pictures of its new Hilux under wraps, but Ford has gone to YouTube with a 20-second video of the refreshed (above) Ranger, showing a front end … [Read more...] about Cut-price war – Ranger and Hilux in frenzied fight to the finish
Benz paints its latest wagon as a plaything for the mega-rich
The noisiest part of this Mercedes-Benz off-road wagon was the squeal from the 37-inch tyres on winding sealed roads in Spain, say photographers from spy agency Automedia. Rubber meeting the road as the lightly camouflaged prototype G63 AMG Gelandewagen went from one off-road test track to another drowned out the exhaust burble from its twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 … [Read more...] about Benz paints its latest wagon as a plaything for the mega-rich
Skoda aims to more than double NZ sales – Scout’s honour!
Skoda NZ general manager Greg Leet says the aim of his “robust growth strategy” is to secure by 2020 around 2% of this country’s new passenger car market, or sales of upwards of 2000 units. To do so he has to more than double current sales over the next five years. Big ask? Not out of the question, god willing and the creeks don’t rise. After all, Skoda has done that and … [Read more...] about Skoda aims to more than double NZ sales – Scout’s honour!
SUV sales soar – and there are more new models to come
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
Laid-back travel in the Honda Odyssey’s ‘business class’ seats
The second row of seats in the ‘L’ version of the new Honda Odyssey might just be the point of difference the carmaker needs to broaden the appeal of its people-mover. The PM segment isn’t big, averaging around 750 private and business sales a year since 2010. But it has its loyal followers. Typical PMs for the private market are the Odyssey, Kia Carnival, Citroen C4 Grand … [Read more...] about Laid-back travel in the Honda Odyssey’s ‘business class’ seats