Aston’s Perfect Storm: 2019 Aston Martin Vantage
The plan was simple: spend three days in Auckland driving the most eagerly anticipated Aston Martin for years – the 2019 Vantage. The new car is the first completely all new Vantage since the first generation launched in 2006, and boy they did not muck around with the rebuild. Aston […]
A Pocket Rocket: Volkswagen Polo GTI
The year 2018 was a great one for me driving some spectacular cars. My small car pick for last year was the Volkswagen Polo GTI and I wasn’t alone in that decision, with the latest model generation of the Polo being selected for the renowned ‘World Urban Car of the Year’ award […]
A handsome SUV: Mazda CX8
Mazda has a real knack for making well-equipped, attractive and fun to drive SUVs. With the five-seater CX5 leading its class and the larger flagship CX9 selling well, Mazda bring us its all-new CX8, a full seven-seater medium SUV which fills a gap for Mazda in a fiercely competitive segment. […]
An Italian beauty: Ferrari Portofino
The sound of a Ferrari Portofino V8 engine when you drop back into second gear on the motorway as the 591-horsepower engine prepares for what you are about to do is exhilarating. The top is down on a beautiful Canterbury day. You’ve been at a winery up near Waipara enjoying […]
Dynamic Attitude: Lexus UX
It’s Lexus’ answer to the compact SUV segment; a segment which has an offering from almost every single car brand. But the new Lexus UX, which will be introduced to the New Zealand market early next year, manages to stand out in the crowded market with a raft of brave […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Electrifying Performance: Infinity
Motoring writer Nicholas Henare dishes the automotive dirt on Infinity, a sub-brand of Nissan, and this year’s electrifying range of performance vehicles. AN INNOVATIVE CORE Following on from a range of electric vehicles rolling out at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Infiniti Prototype 10 recaptures the spirit of early […]
