A couple of weeks after first experiencing the CX-8 in Queenstown, Mazda SkyActiv Vehicle Dynamics – A day at the Snow Farm, I was able to spend a week behind the wheel to see what everyday life is like with the new CX-8.The RangeThe CX-8 is available in two drivetrains and trim levels; there is one FWD (Front Wheel Drive and...
2018 World Car of the Year; it has a certain ring to it. For Volvo, the ones that are ringing are probably sales. In all fairness, that’s a pretty amazing award to receive.Surely it has to mean that the car is something special? Something extraordinary. Something above all others. Not only did the XC60 win that World CoTY award,...
It's been a constant question in EV circles; as batteries grow in capacity, how do people charge them at home? Sure, you could simply plug in your high-capacity EV into your standard 230-volt socket, but it's going to take a whole lot of hours to charge that EV from near flat - 30-40 hours is a realistic number. So then, you are forced...
Is it bold and brave? I’m not talking about the new Holden Acadia itself, but Holden’s decision to launch the car here. With petrol prices at a high and demand for hybrids and EVs slowly growing, is there a place for an American-sourced, large SUV with a V6 petrol engine – and no diesel option?Maybe Holden has the right idea;...
In May of this year we got the opportunity to test the 2017 VW Amarok V6 Highline on a 1,500 km road test from Wellington to Dunedin and back again. We loved the V6 Amarok, how it drove, felt and towed like a freight train.So you can imagine our surprise and excitement when we heard that there was a new, more powerful V6 TDi on the...
Dyson has confirmed that its Board has ratified a decision to construct its first advanced automotive manufacturing facility in Singapore. The bespoke two-storey manufacturing facility is scheduled for completion in 2020.Earlier this year Dyson announced it was in the process of investing £200m in new buildings and testing...
The Volkswagen Polo has been around for over 40 years, and is now in its sixth generation. Most of those generations have featured a GTI hot-hatch version, and this latest update is no exception. It features a version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine found in the Golf GTI, but is smaller, lighter and cheaper.Could this be the...
The original Lexus NX was the first car I drove with DriveLife, and now, four years later there’s a new model. Now with new engines, new features and a new look.Lexus lent us one for a week to see what we thought.The Range There are four models of NX to choose from, starting with the NX300 2WD at $82,400,...
Today the names of the ten finalists for the 31st New Zealand Car of the Year award were released today by the New Zealand Motoring Writers' Guild.
A common factor binding all potential candidates for the national award, meted annually by the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild, is a high level of safety technology, guild...
What happens when you take a successful hybrid car, and then add in some EV capability? The Toyota Prius Prime is born.Out of the gate, let’s be upfront with Toyota’s fuel consumption claim for the Prius Prime: 1.0L/100km. Yep, you read it right, a combined rating of 1.0. That’s pretty low in any sort of terms, unless you are...
