As intoxicating as ever
There is an old saying, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”. And this perfectly sums up the Honda Civic Type R. . The current generation has been with us since 2017 and was the first Type R to be sold new in New Zealand. It also quickly set the standard which all would-be […]
Crossing the Yaris
The trend of turning small hatchbacks into small SUVs just keeps growing. It was only a matter of time before Toyota did the same thing to the Yaris. This brings us to the Yaris Cross, a Yaris hatch with a difference. While sharing the same TNGA-B platform, the Cross is 240mm longer and […]
Making art out of machine
As you are cornering the hill section from Akaroa to Christchurch, you are very aware there is something special at play. Perhaps it is the monster M twin turbo V8 engine with M differential and electric power steering, or perhaps it’s the luxury cabin. It’s probably everything. I guess that’s why BMW sales […]
The taste of Italy drives to town
It’s a well-known fact that some of the greatest and most beautiful cars ever produced hail from Italy. Brands like Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Fiat, Lamborghini and Iso are synonymous with the Italian’s penchant for art, design, engineering, and above all passion. On February 20, fans of Italian cars will descend on […]
Marvellous, comfy ute
Mazda’s new BT50 is finally here. Available in 2WD and 4WD, the range starts with the double cab GSX and ends with my test car, the flagship 4WD double cab limited. At $47,490 and $60,990, respectively, the price is up there yes, but this is somewhat justified when you step inside. The minimalist […]
Mega motorcycles, mega service
For Dennis Charlett, motorcycles are a way of life, whether on a Saturday ride, or competing in the New Zealand Superbike Championship, of which he has multiple national titles under his belt. Dennis knows the bike industry inside and out, which led to him purchasing Budget Motorcycles Spares Ltd, and transforming it into […]
New take on a sporty classic
It’s not the typical jump-in-and-go-get-Fish’n’chips, but you will soon spot Maserati’s new range like the Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante around the place with a more unified look. Maserati started producing cars in Bologna in 1914 with the iconic trident as its bonnet’s standard. It’s a luxury car brand making 75,000 globally yearly. Now, […]
The perfect fit
The name Kamiq originates from the language of the Inuit people, native to Northern Canada and Greenland. It means, “something that fits perfectly”. And I think that says it all. I live a pretty busy life, which means I need a car that is easy-to-use and equipped to deal with all my requirements […]
A sporting update
Lexus definitely thinks the saloon segment is not dead. I attended the exclusive launch of their new IS Saloon in Palmerston North, Taupo, and Hampton Downs. Here is the lowdown. The new IS consists of seven different variants. The base IS300 and IS300h, moving to the higher spec IS300 and IS300H Limited, and […]
Lost in the Forester
The Subaru Forester is a great SUV, and of the few soft roaders to actually do well on the rough stuff. Now, along with the XV, the Forester has gone Hybrid: Let’s see how it stacks up. The range consists of the E Boxer Sport, and the flagship E Boxer Premium featured […]