All Articles

Road Report
Achtung baby!
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Robert Barry finds the new VW Beetle has a lot more in common with the original people’s car of the 1940s than first thought.
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Executive Cars, Road Report
Performance Edition
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
BMW has added around $40,000 worth of special equipment to a 530d sedan at no extra cost and called it a Performance Edition. Robert Barry checked out the results.
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Executive Cars, Road Report, SUV
Ultimate 4x4
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
As an alternative to a BMW 7 series or a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the new Range Rover SDV8 Vogue  has a great deal to offer an executive buyer  as Robert Barry found out.
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Road Report
Compact hatch group test
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Group tests are always a great deal of fun.
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Road Report
Convincing Accord
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
With the new Accord Honda has taken the best parts of both previous Accords - the Accord V6's plush ride and the Accord Euro's sharp handling - and combined them to make a thoroughly convincing pac
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General
New Pathfinder and X-Trail details
Monday, 28 October 2013
Nissan has revealed pricing and specification for its all-new monocoque Pathfinder – which now moves over from the “tough truck” segment into SUV format, and is released this month – as well as...
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Vehicle Fitout
Outback Diesel doubled
Monday, 28 October 2013
Subaru has doubled its number of Outback Diesel models with the introduction of a higher specification Premium model to complement the existing car.
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Vehicle Fitout
New X-Trail
Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Muscular, modern and packed with technology, the new Nissan X-Trail has made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. As a high-volume global growth product built on the new jointly-developed...
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New models
Ford goes further
Monday, 16 September 2013
Ford is accelerating its product and technology led transformation with a completely refreshed line-up and several all-new models in showrooms between now and 2017.
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New models
Stavic back in NZ
Monday, 16 September 2013
SsangYong NZ has just released the re-styled Stavic eight-seater, with both 2WD and 4WD versions available, and an entry price just under $40,000.
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New models
GSR nameplate is back
Monday, 16 September 2013
It was the 1973 launch of the very first Lancer range that hurtled the name into the limelight, as the sporty (yet only 1600cc) GSR model laid the foundations of Mitsubishi’s legendary motorsport...
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Vehicle Fitout
The lion’s claws are out
Wednesday, 07 August 2013
The claws have come out as Peugeot launches a diesel-electric hybrid into the premium crossover segment frequented by German and Japanese marques. Robert Barry reports on the 508 RXH.
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Vehicle Fitout
Fleet safety - Navman MiVue safety camera
Wednesday, 07 August 2013
Accidents are an occupational hazards for fleets – especially with high mileage around-town vehicles such as delivery vans and reps’ cars.
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Vehicle Fitout
New Commodore best yet
Wednesday, 05 June 2013
John Oxley went to Holden’s high-speed proving ground at Lang Lang, outside Melbourne, to drive the new Commodore VF – and came away convinced there’s still lots of life left in the big rear-wheel-...
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Fleet Management, General
AfMA national conference and exhibition
Wednesday, 05 June 2013
This year’s Australasian Fleet Management Association annual conference and exhibition had a change of format from recent years, and more changes are in the wind. Cathy Parker reports.
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General
Can you afford to gamble?
Wednesday, 05 June 2013
Which part or accessory should you buy for your vehicle? Is the Internet a good option, or too risky? Should you stick with the “big name” brands, or buy local? John Oxley comments.
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Vehicle Fitout
Sexy six from Mazda
Wednesday, 03 April 2013
The Mazda6 has been a wild success in the New Zealand market, essentially reviving the flagging mid-size segment each time a new version is released. Damien O’Carroll reports on the newest iteration...
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General
Sime Darby takes on Citroen
Wednesday, 03 April 2013
It was a logical step for Peugeot importer Sime Darby Automobiles NZ (SDANZ) to take on the New Zealand agency for Citroen, especially given the two automotive brands have been owned by the same...
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General
Dealer news- Poised for further fleet growth
Wednesday, 03 April 2013
Located in the heart of Newmarket, Andrew Simms Mitsubishi has announced the appointment of Travis McDonogh to the position of business development manager. Robert Barry reports on the dealership’s...
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Vehicle Fitout
Plugging the gaps
Thursday, 07 February 2013
Holden will continue to plug the gaps in it vehicle line-up in 2013, Robert Barry recently drove the new Cruze CDX  wagon in Australia and summarises his first impressions.Holden says the local small...
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General
MB fighting back
Thursday, 07 February 2013
Mercedes-Benz is determined to get back into pole position in the luxury market in New Zealand, says new Australia and NZ CEO Jurgen Sauer, fresh from an eight-year stint as the head of Mercedes-Benz...
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General
Time for a change in attitude
Thursday, 07 February 2013
You wouldn’t let an employee handle a chain saw without proper training. Yet there are many more deaths while driving on the job in New Zealand than there are from chain saw accidents – as many as...
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General
New Outlander is here
Tuesday, 04 December 2012
Mitsubishi has launched its third generation Outlander, the world’s first model designed from the outset for petrol and diesel engines and PHEV plug-in hybrid technology too. The hybrid will be here...
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General
Getting the balance right
Tuesday, 04 December 2012
Are lowering fleet costs and emissions still high on the fleet agenda? Robert Barry reviews fleet strategy, driver behaviour, fleet performance appraisal and alternative fuel options.
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General
Sydney Motor Show impresses
Tuesday, 04 December 2012
The Australian International Motor Show alternates between Melbourne and Sydney, and this year it was the latter’s turn as host, with the last time at the Darling Harbour Conference Centre for a few...
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General
Hot new BMW
Tuesday, 04 December 2012
The age-old philosophy of jamming a big engine in a small car has never been one lost on BMW. In fact, you could argue that if one manufacturer in recent times has truly grasped this ethos, then it...
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General
New tippers for Canter
Tuesday, 04 December 2012
The first factory-built Canter Euro tippers, new to Fuso’s line-up, hit New Zealand roads in October and are already proving their worth with contractors around the country.
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General
Amarok auto finally here
Wednesday, 03 October 2012
It’s been a long time coming, but Volkswagen has finally been able to launch the automatic version of its much-vaunted Amarok ute – and at the same time has gone further towards closing the missing...
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General
Been around The Block
Wednesday, 03 October 2012
As part of a long-standing partnership with MediaWorks, Mazda NZ recently supplied five BT-50 double cab Utilities for use on the inaugural NZ series of “The Block” produced by TV3 and Eyeworks...
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Vehicle Fitout
Technology in vehicle graphics
Wednesday, 03 October 2012
In part two of our corporate identity feature, Robert Barry summarises the latest digital technology available to fleet users and how it is best utilised on vehicles.
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