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Subaru's latest model, the Impreza XV, which has just been launched at the Geneva Motor Show, will be available in New Zealand towards the middle of the year.
Impreza XV for New Zealand
The Impreza XV is a cross over sports utility vehicle that combines agile road performance with the recreational styling.
A single two-litre model with the choice of manual or automatic transmission and symmetrical All Wheel Drive will be available.
Among the features unique to Impreza XV are wheel arch extensions, roof rails, grille, and interior trim.
Black wheel arch flares and side sills give the Impreza XV a stronger road presence. A large rear spoiler extends down both sides of the rear window, while black aluminium roof rails underscore the Impreza XV's versatility.
Suspension spring and damper rates are slightly firmer than the standard Impreza models for a more
Chevron New Zealand, which markets Caltex fuels, has announced the introduction of Caltex Diesel with Techron D, an improved diesel fuel containing the company’s specially-formulated Techron D additive.
Diesel gets cleaner with Caltex
Chevron is the first fuel company in New Zealand to market an engine-cleaning diesel product that offers users true fuel quality differentiation. Caltex Diesel with Techron D, which will be included in all Caltex diesel sold at pumps, will control deposits, maintain fuel injector cleanliness and support engine performance in commercial vehicles, trucks and high-specification modern leisure diesel vehicles.
Overseas tests have shown Caltex Diesel with Techron D has helped reduce diesel engine deposits, improved fuel injector cleanliness and flow, and reduced corrosion. During development, Chevron tested the performance of the Techron
A unique on-line road safety programme that will help young drivers - as well as those with more experience - to be more aware behind the wheel is being launched by the Kia Motors-supported Road Traffic and Education Centre.
RTEC and Navon Brain Fitness join forces
Kia RTEC has joined forces with Navon Brain Fitness Solutions to bring three separate "brain cognitive function” testing programmes into its driver training scheme, with the aim of focusing driver attention on what is happening around them and helping them learn not to be distracted on the road.
With the Government looking at raising the driving age to reduce the road toll, the young driver programme is particularly relevant, according Tony Williams, Managing Director of Kia RTEC.
He says young drivers are especially prone to distractions, particularly from entertainment and communication systems within their
Toyota has released the findings of an independent study into unexplained vehicle acceleration following recent Congressional hearings in the United States.
Gilbert's hot-wired Toyota
The report from independent engineering consultancy Exponent found that experiments conducted by Dr David Gilbert, a US-based automotive tutor who testified at the hearings, could not be recreated under actual road conditions.
Among other things, Exponent found that Dr Gilbert had removed the insulation on wiring and touched wires together that would not normally come into contact. These findings were also supported by the Director for Stanford University's Centre for Automotive Excellence.
Paul Carroll, general manager of after sales for Toyota New Zealand, is pleased Toyota has published the findings and says it's important that customers remain informed throughout the process.
"We've made the
Six months after revealing the LF-Ch concept in Frankfurt, Lexus has unveiled its new CT200h model at the Geneva Motor show.
More chocolate sans calories from Lexus
Designed for motorists who want to lower their emissions, but not their standards, the Lexus CT200h will be the first full hybrid vehicle in the premium small segment.
The CT200h combines a dynamic sporty style with the legendary Lexus build quality. This will be the first time Lexus has a car in this segment, uniquely featuring a Hybrid only powertrain; it has a 1.8 litre Atkinson Cycle engine coupled with second-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive technology.
The vehicle will reinforce Lexus' hybrid power leadership in the premium market, joining the established RX450h, GS450h and LS600hL models to create an unprecedented range of full hybrid vehicles.
We expect to see vehicles early 2011.
The new generation Porsche Cayenne is to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next week and it features a new sophisticated parallel full hybrid drive.
Cleaner greener....Porsche?
The Cayenne S Hybrid has fuel consumption in the New European Driving Cycle of just 8.2 litres/100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of just 193 g/km.
Led by the Cayenne S Hybrid, all models in the new generation are trendsetters in efficiency and performance in their respective segments.
Compared with the former models, fuel consumption is down by up to 23 per cent, since the new Cayenne, like every Porsche, has been developed according to the principle of “Porsche Intelligent Performance": more power on less fuel, greater efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.
These objectives result, not least, from the introduction of the new Tiptronic S eight speed automatic transmission with Auto
Kia Motors has provided a glimpse of the future of the mid-size, four-door sedan that will go on sale in New Zealand during in 2011.
Sexier mid-size sedans to come from Kia
An artist's view of the next generation Optima (Magentis), which is set to make its world debut at the New York International Auto Show in April, has been released.
The next generation Optima - known as Magentis in New Zealand – is longer, lower and wider than the current model, featuring a significantly longer wheelbase that delivers more space for the occupants and their luggage.
This is the third new design unveiled by Kia Motors in little more than a month. Two weeks ago, Kia showed drawings for its next generation Sportage (to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March) followed by the showcasing of the electric/hybrid plug concept vehicle called the Ray, at the Chicago Auto Show.
"The rate
Sales of the Alfa Romeo Mito in New Zealand are set to make a significant advance with the launch of new Alfa Romeo Twin Clutch Transmission (Alfa TCT) at the Geneva International Motor Show and its arrival in New Zealand in the third quarter of this year.
MiTo goes auto with a twin clutch
“While the Alfa Romeo Mito has put in a solid performance for us in New Zealand since its launch last year its lack of an automatic gearbox has held back sales,” says Lawrie Malatios, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in New Zealand.
”This new gearbox will transform this situation. We will have a state of the art gearbox with the performance and fuel economy advantages of a manual and, thanks to the twin clutch technology, the refinement and ease of operation of full automatic. This intelligent technology fits seamlessly with the MiTo and we fully expect it to quadruple Alfa
The Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda appeared before a U.S. Congressional Committee to answer questions concerning Toyota products sold in the United States.
Toyota's trials – independent investigat
Mr Toyoda advised the Committee that he was reorganising the company to streamline all quality decisions because the existing structure had not coped well with the huge pace of expansion in recent years, and added that this had resulted in lower quality which had affected some models, particularly in the North American market.
The challenges of globalisation and cross-cultural communication are a high priority for Mr Toyoda, who confirmed his commitment to the founding principles of Toyota: putting the customer first and ensuring safe vehicles of the highest quality.
Toyoda also noted there is room to improve the way information is shared between Toyota's regional
The PROTON Concept car, to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, showcases an advanced series hybrid drivetrain, designed and developed by Lotus Engineering.
Geneva showcases alternative engines
The complete hybrid drivetrain in the plug-in hybrid PROTON Concept city car has been developed by Lotus Engineering and it includes the Lotus Range Extender engine, designed specifically for series hybrid vehicles.
Lotus Engineering has designed and integrated the complete drivetrain, including the electrical drive system with single-speed transmission, which delivers low emissions, optimised performance and acceptable electric-only operating range for city use.
For longer journeys, when the battery charge-level falls, the 3 cylinder, 1.2 litre Lotus Range Extender engine is used to replenish the charge in the battery and provide electrical power for the drive motors. The battery can
