Now it's two times Three

Dec 2 1:10 pm

We've sampled the taster... now here's the main course.Sale statistics for the current Mazda3 show the five-door is the model that matters most to New Zealanders. Assuredly, then, the new hatchback will also rate higher on the 'must-see' meter than the... Read more...

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Mini opens up

Mon, December 1, 2008, 12:32 pm EST

Need to call a cab? Here's the second-generation convertible Mini, with even more cleverness than before.The R57-series drop-top comes two years later than its strong-selling hatchback equivalent. It has the same style of electronically-operated canvas... Read more...

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Energywise rally wrapup

Fri, November 28, 2008, 1:01 pm EST

Imagine driving almost 1700kms in a top-end luxury car ... trying not to touch any of the whizzy comfort features that make it so special, for fear it might affect the economy. It's par for the course in the AA Energywise Rally, an economy run that... Read more...

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Porsche hits big time

Thu, November 27, 2008, 10:01 am EST

This is a big week for Porsche - and also a week for big all-wheel-drive Porsches.The Stuttgart firm's Cayenne and Panamera, respectively the current and future cash cows for the Stuttgart firm, have been making headlines.The Cayenne is being talked... Read more...

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Skoda's new hot hatch

Wed, November 26, 2008, 9:32 am EST

Sport. Turbodiesel. Skoda. Three words with no apparent association. So how does that work?Actually, it works really well in the Octavia vRS. Skoda's 'hero' model, a hot hatch more Mondeo than Focus in size, definitely still has sizzle after having gone... Read more...

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Tales from the rally

Tue, November 25, 2008, 1:25 pm EST

A small piece of plastic threatened to spoil our excellent opening day in the AA Energywise Rally. To refresh your memory, this is the big four-day Auckland to Wellington and return economy run involving most new car manufacturers. It kicked off... Read more...

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Driving for economy

Mon, November 24, 2008, 10:46 am EST

"Driving for absolute economy demands as much, if not more, concentration than when driving for a race win." Alright, I'd scoff too, except that the comment is from Graham Sharp, a performance driving expert who has excelled at both... Read more...

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Revving up for Car Of The Year

Fri, November 21, 2008, 10:39 am EST

Large cars might be falling out of favour with eco-heads and cost-conscious consumers, but motoring writers are still keeping the faith.Dominant, in every sense, among the nine finalists for the 2008 New Zealand Car of the Year Award, decided by members... Read more...

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Not all black for big blue

Thu, November 20, 2008, 10:38 am EST

The global financial crisis might be causing Ford significant pain, but the giant is not about to keel over, the brand's top man in New Zealand says. Richard Matheson, a Bostonian who signed on for three years as managing director of Ford New Zealand... Read more...

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Cut a dash

Wed, November 19, 2008, 9:25 am EST

The names say it all about station wagons that don't give absolute priority to load-carrying. Tourer, Sportwagon, Avant, Combi, SW. . . they're called everything but what they really are. Or aren't, depending on your viewpoint. It's... Read more...

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