A Happy Hybrid: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Like a long awaited follow up to a band’s first big album, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is back. In 2014, I had the opportunity to be amongst the first in the country to drive the original Outlander PHEV and, for the time, the plug-in electric hybrid SUV had no equal. Now, with EVs and plug […]
Aussie Lion: Holden Equinox LTZ-V
The Holden Captiva wasn’t much to shout about. Against the competition, it sadly failed to cut the mustard in terms of design, function and driving dynamics. Clearly a re-think was required and Holden has responded brilliantly with the all-new Equinox. Aimed squarely at the Mazda CX5 and Honda’s HRV, the Mexican built Equinox, […]
A Firm Foothold: Volkswagen Amarok
In less than a decade, the Volkswagen Amarok has gained a firm foothold in one of this country’s most competitive segments, the ute. For 2018, VW has breathed new life into the Amarok with an updated V6 Highline and flagship Aventura. Miles Continental allowed me to compare both these models back to back […]
An Oldie but a Goodie: Toyota Corolla
When Toyota invites you to the national launch of a new Corolla, it’s not an offer to refuse. So, I found myself flying to Toyota New Zealand’s HQ in Palmerston North to be among the first to get acquainted with the newest edition of New Zealand’s favourite car. More than 44 million Corollas […]
Automotive adrenalin pump: Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
The man out for a walk came up to me and asked, “wow, how many houses is this thing worth?” The ‘thing’ in question was this 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. When the Gallardo was launched in 2004, it was Lamborghini’s first small car since the 1980s’ Jalpa. It would go on to become […]
A Hot Match: Suzuki Swift
Every time Suzuki announces a new Swift, people notice. But when Suzuki raises the curtain on a new Swift Sport, many sit up like meerkats keeping watch. There is a good reason for this kind of reaction, the Swift Sport is, and always has been, a cracker of a hot hatch. Now into it’s third […]
A Powerful Portfolio: Schenk Ltd
For Schenk Ltd, the building business is not only a profession, but a passion. Whether you are starting from scratch, undertaking renovations, extensions, upgrading your kitchen and bathroom or even a garden nip and tuck, Schenk Ltd does it all. “We don’t build houses, we build homes,” says founder and Manager Callum Schenkel. […]
Automotive Nip and Tuck: Mazda CX5
You have got to admit, Mazda has a real knack for giving us great all-round cars in a variety of segments – the CX5 is no exception. Since the original was launched in 2012, the CX5 left so many of Mazda’s national clientele, and motoring scribes like yours truly for that matter, utterly smitten. This […]
Engineering genius: Honda NSX
The Honda NSX is not everyone’s first thought when it comes to a super sports car, but for those in the know, it’s up there amongst the very best. Launched at the 1989 Chicago Motor Show, the NSX (New Sports Cars eXperimental) was Japan’s first mid-engine production supercar aimed squarely at the likes of Ferrari […]