Plenty of power

ONE COULD BE CONSIDERED LUCKY WHEN MERCEDES INVITES THEM TO ITS AUCKLAND OFFICE TO TEST DRIVE THE NEW MERCEDES GLS 400D 4MATIC.   Ushered into to the boardroom, we were given an extensive breakdown of the specifications. It’s a seven-seat SUV with more spin than a very spinny thing! With a 3.0-litre six-cylinder, 243 kW […]

Grand Tourer with attitude

THE ASTON MARTIN DB11 IS ALREADY A FINE CAR, BUT IN THIS WRITER’S OPINION, A BIT TOO SOFT AND GT-ESQUE. Aston Martin has gone two steps further to separate the V12 from the V8 in the line-up. Enter the $355,000 DB11 AMR; the Grand Tourer with the attitude that the DB11 V12 always should have. […]

As good as it gets

Mitsubishi is renowned for being a solid, sturdy build – especially when it comes to their Outlander range.     It’s increasingly going from a rural vehicle to an urban one; ideal for the family that needs something to tow the boat, caravan, jet ski or bikes. The new PHV has increased handling, power and […]

Ferrari California: A serious supercar

Pressing the red starter button, your immediate surroundings are engulfed by a torrent of mechanical symphonic bliss; press the throttle and the revs rise, bringing with them a fiery Italian bellow. You are pinned back in the seat as you unleash the Ferrari California, one of the best value Ferrari supercars on the market today. […]

The future of design

Kia Motors has revealed its new Futuron Concept, an illuminating all-wheel drive SUV coupe which proposes new designs for future electric vehicles.   The Futuron Concept represents the modern and confident image of a progressive electric SUV coupe envisioned by Kia. The Futuron name itself is a portmanteau of ‘future’ and ‘on’, hinting at the […]

The Wheel Magician

You are making that reverse park in a tight space when you hear the nauseating sound of your alloy wheel rims grinding against the curb which was a lot closer than you thought. Your beautiful car now looks a lot less pretty with those all-too-familiar scratches on your precious wheels.   You want them fixed […]

A rare gem

The sight of a Honda S660 might seem a relatively everyday occurrence in the back streets of Tokyo or Kyoto, but in New Zealand, it’s on par with the most exclusive sports cars. In other words, it’s rare.     The S660 is the spiritual successor to Honda’s Beat Kei Car from the nineties. Plus, […]

Higher than the rest

With the new Mazda6 Takami, which in Japanese translates roughly as ‘Higher than the Rest’, it really is a case of the best made better. Available as saloon for $56,995 and now a wagon at $58,695, the Mazda6 Takami is the company’s flagship, and a very handsome one at that. From the outside, the flagship […]

Packed with power

‘Muscle car’ may not be something you would expect to hear in a review of a Mercedes Benz, but that was the first thing that sprung to mind while testing the Mercedes C63 S Estate.       The C63 model range is a bestseller, with the Estate teamed with a Saloon, a Coupé and […]

Audi Q3’s Makeover

The new Audi Q3 has been a long time coming. With the first gen debuting in 2011, it was a big success for the Ingolstadt company, with loyal customers lapping it up en masse. So, after eight years, one of Audi’s most popular models has finally received a makeover, but is this automotive nip and […]