Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2016 i NZ4WD

Recognising the demand here for tough, no-nonsense 4WD product, Jeep has launched its new ‘small SUV,’ the Renegade in tough-as, ‘trailrated’ Trailhawk spec. It’s a brave move, given the RRP of $49,990 but importer Fiat Chrysler NZ is adamant that it is the right one, given the unique demands Kiwis place on their vehicles. Designed and engineered to deliver both legendary Jeep capability and outstanding on-road dynamics, the Renegade is the first small SUV from Fiat Chrysler New Zealand to use the all-new “small-wide 4x4 architecture.” With its fully independent suspension capable of up to 205 mm of wheel articulation at the rear wheels, and 170 mm at the front, along with 211 mm of ground clearance Renegade raises the bar in the small SUV segment with its off-road capability.…

Talk about a blast from the past, this Lamborghini offroader recently turned up for auction in Europe. Arguably one of the most exciting and exclusive off-road vehicles ever conceived, the LM 002 resulted from the marriage of the Countach QV supercar’s 5.2-litre V12 to a functionally – some would say brutally – styled ‘4x4’, the union resulting in scintillating performance and a top speed in the region of 200km/h. This state-of-the-art engine drove through a five-speed ZF heavy-duty transmission and two-speed reduction gearbox offering a choice of ten speeds and two or four-wheel drive. Mounted on a tubular steel chassis, the distinctive five-door body was hand-made in fibreglass (wings, bonnet, roof) and aluminium (doors) and the interior was trimmed – like any true supercar – in leather. The LM 002…

Terrain Tamer has introduced two new models to their range of Heavy Duty radiators, designed specifically for application with common Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser vehicles, and adding to their popular existing 1HZ model. Having been in development for over 18 months, the new radiators come complete with steel mounting brackets and are available for the Hilux KUN26 and 70 series V8 LandCruiser models and improve on the cooling capacity of their genuine counterpart by eight percent with both a closer pitch and higher tube count. The new radiators also feature a fully pressed and fused aluminium tank design, and are believed to be the only radiators currently on the market that are not welded. This offers superior strength in contrast to welded units, which are prone to cracking over…

It’s the gift, that for ‘car’ makers with a suitable model, just keeps on giving. I’m talking, of course about the ‘4x4 double-cab ute’ phenomenon, the one which has seen what was once a humble workhorse morph into a versatile work/ life option for farmers, tradies and urban-based adventurers. Driving the demand is a similar ‘seachange’ in the way we work, and see ourselves... and with it our wants and needs when it comes to a vehicle. In no particular order we desire something safe, roomy, grunty, not too hard on the eyes or wallet, and which as well as performing the primary role of ‘work’ vehicle Monday to Friday can also double as a recreational tool come the weekend. It should come as no surprise then that the top…

“Pretty damn good at pretty much everything without being a big show off about it, the Triton is a very convincing ute indeed.” Mitsubishi pushed out the boat last year, securing one of the first of its then only-just-launched new-look Triton GLS models. A year on and JAM490 was still doing sterling service on the test fleet and I was looking forward to getting back behind the wheel when word came that demand was such that it had been sold. With no other GLS (top spec complete with four-mode Super Select drive mode system, dual zone aircon and 17-inch alloy wheels) models available the company found us a GLX auto demonstrator which we gratefully accepted. In theory we would be comparing apples (the $53,990 GLX 4WD auto) with oranges (the…

“Instead he brushed off what he considered was a minor issue in the overall scheme of things.” Volkswagen’s Amarok majors on size, comfort and build quality and though sales this year are down on last that doesn’t mean Amarok is any less worthy a vehicle. In fact, with its excellent full-time 4Motion 4WD system, eight-speed transmission and push-button off-road mode it is one of the easiest to live with full-size (and it IS big!) 4WD double cab utes on the market. VW’s 4Motion 4WD system means it is the only ute in our sample with full-time 4WD via a Torsen diff which distributes drive 40/60 to the front and rear wheels. It also has the biggest (longest, deepest and widest between the wheel arches) tray and is one of the…

When Scott Newble, the man behind New Zealand’s first Opposite Lock outlet, set up shop in Christchurch he needed a work vehicle. What he ended up with was much more, a rolling billboard for what he sells and what he can do for his customers in the form of the latest Ford Ranger 4x4 double cab ute. After poring over the pictures and nodding appreciatively, we asked Scott to outline exactly what is different between the standard Ford Ranger his Dad bought at the same time (right in pic) and his Opposite Lock-equipped one. Bull bar first “Right,” said Scott, “let’s start with the bar. I needed a platform to mount the accessories I need so it, if you like, was a given. In this case I used our Opposite…

People buy utes to carry loads, but they don’t always maximise the advantage by tailoring the space and accessories to suit their needs. Best Bars Limited has made it easier for ute owners to gain the full benefits of their carry-all vehicle from a comprehensive array of options with its Advantage alloy deck and wellside accessory range. What’s more, Best Bars says that even before making a purchase, people need to understand what and how much they will be carrying on the back of their ute so that they can make a choice between a standard wellside configuration or go for a cab/ chassis that can be fitted with a flat deck. “Whilst the standard wellside that comes with a ute is an easy choice, it may not carry what…

ARB is Australia’s largest manufacturer of 4x4 accessories, and exports to over 100 countries throughout the world. Right from 1975 when ARB’s founder, Tony Brown, started making the first ARB products in his garage, to the present state-of-the-art engineering and manufacturing facility in Melbourne, the philosophy has always been the same; properly engineered, reliable, quality accessories that represent excellent value. This has resulted in a wide range of 4x4 accessories that are sought after throughout the world. Whether you use your 4x4 for work or for play, ARB will have a product to suit. Their range includes: PROTECTION EQUIPMENT – Bull bars (Including airbag-compatible), side rails and steps, rear protection bars, under vehicle protection and tow bars. OLD MAN EMU SUSPENSION – Designed and developed in Australia specifically for 4x4s,…

My latest exploratory mod has been to install a reversing camera to my 4WD. Like many, the spare wheel hangs on the rear door so compromises rear vision. Taller suspension doesn’t help. Tall headrests interfere too. As the spare wheel is offset to the right there is no perfect position for a camera. I wanted it to be central but not too high for camera survival in bushy tracks, and ability to see the towbar/recovery hook. Not possible on mine. The best option seemed to be by the number plate, which is to the left side like many other 4WDS and SUVs. I tried it tucked under the number plate lamp overhang. That gave an excellent view but the offset was hopeless. The monitor’s built in reversing guides were wildly…

As we noted in our annual Ute Comparo (see later this issue) Volkswagen’s Amarok is starting to show its age. Obviously it’s not just us feeling and saying that either; Volkswagen themselves have just released these artist renditions of the first major revamp of the company’s ground-breaking turbo-diesel 4WD double cab utility. The sketches clearly show another premium model, VW sources confirming that like the original – and still very good – model, the next-gen one ‘will combine passenger car-like on-road manners with full off-road capability.’ Features of the design (inside) and of the new instrument panel include prominent horizontal lines, the previous rounded contours giving way to stronger lines, for a more striking appearance. All we have to wait for now is word on the engine spec, and whether…

In 2014 the Combined 4WD Clubs group started talks with the Department of Conservation, (DOC), in Canterbury, in regards to finding a hut that the Combined 4WD Clubs group could help maintain in partnership with DOC. Ideally the hut would be at the end of a 4WD track and somewhere that was regularly used by the Combined 4WD Clubs member clubs. Such huts are few and far between in the Canterbury Conservancy, however, and eventually DOC suggested Scotties Hut in the St. James Recreation area behind Hanmer Springs. St. James is well known for its mountain bike track as well as the St. James walkway off the Lewis Pass highway. Scotties Hut lies in the Edwards Valley and is well used by hunters and fisherman as well as being used…

Mercedes-Benz has long had a huge weak spot in its model line-up – it didn’t have any SUVs that weren’t big and expensive. In the last few years, however, the company has scrambled to fix that with a full range of incredibly impressive SUVs that have been selling up a storm, both globally and locally. With Mercedes leaping from third to the lead of the local luxury segment, BMW clearly decided to remind us all that they too sell an excellent range of SUVs, hence a two-day drive up north, with a bit of light off-roading thrown in, just to show us what they can do. And remind us that the brand with the three-pointed star on the nose wasn’t the only one to do some damn good luxury SUVs…

“Superb ride and handling. Comfortable, compliant and brilliantly absorbent. Simply shouldn’t be this good!” King of the Hill. If Ford’s Ranger isn’t that yet it must be getting very close. In a sector where the previous incumbent – Toyota’s venerable Hilux – reigned supreme for 32 years Ranger arrived like a bolt from the blue (oval!) and proved that tradition, and product/marque/dealer loyalty (to Toyota) only went so far… Sure the lack of a high-rolling 2WD auto hurt Toyota in the city and rural fringe, but the lesson Ranger has brought to the market is a simple one, “build it and (if it’s good enough, and what punters want) they will come!” Not only that, but just when Toyota was finalising worldwide launch details of its all-new Gen 8 model,…

“Where I noticed the biggest improvement in ride was on gravel, in particular on the corrugated uphill exits of corners.” Nissan’s all-new NP300 model is certainly different, mixing a tough, albeit evolutionary look, with a new (shorter by 50mm in the wheelbase) chassis, a positively revolutionary new five-link coil-sprung rear end and equally radical single or twin-turbo (depending on the spec) 2.3 litre in-line four diesel engine mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission. Nissan NZ must have been well-pleased, too, when in March, dealers delivered 234 of the things for sixth spot in the commercial sales charts, just one unit behind Toyota. Our line-topping ST-X test unit came with all the fruit including leather-accented (i.e. part leather) seats – the driver’s being eight-way electrically adjustable –…

Once again, Ford’s Ranger XLT was a clear winner of our annual 4WD Ute Comparo. Put simply, on every objective, and most subjective, criteria (see table) Ranger again came out on top. Second was Volkswagen’s Amarok, third Toyota’s new Gen 8 Hilux. Isuzu’s D-Max found itself fourth while Nissan’s new Navara and Mitsubishi’s Triton shared fifth place. To be fair each model has its strengths and weaknesses, and our rather catholic testing procedure does not take into account important but otherwise hard to quantify factors like brand loyalty, dealer loyalty, residual values and servicing and long-term ownership costs, let alone all those enticing finance deals you see advertised at this time of year. What we do, though, and do well, is drive the things on and off-road in as-delivered condition,…

The course for the 2015/16 series final was set in a basin area with the mountain in the background and was a spactators’ dream, as you could position yourself to see most of the short but challenging obstacles. In true Taranaki tradition the ground had some lush grass cover but once the surface was broken the ability to dig holes became clear. A field of 54 vied for the day title and then there were the national points where the top teams were aiming to get the best from the day to edge closer to the title. With the condensed area you could watch multiple obstacles at one time but this also meant you could miss the interesting angles in an instance. Back on the scene, just for this round,…

The 2016 Woodhill 100 – the country’s longest-running offroad race – is embracing change this year. The course will move to the southern end of the forest, an hour closer to Auckland, and the organisers have a special target. As always, the race is held at Queen’s Birthday Weekend – and given this year sees Queen Elizabeth celebrate her 90th birthday, the race is aiming to break its own post-millennium entry record and grid up 90 cars. With recent years drawing entries between 75 and 85, the step up means another ten competitors and the organisers are putting up a prize package that will trigger when the 90th entry is received. The move to the southern end of the forest returns the race to its spiritual home in the forest…

When is a Mitsubishi Triton 4x4 ute NOT a Mitsubishi Triton 4x4 ute? When it’s a Fiat ‘Fullback’ 4x4 ute, that’s when. Fiat’s all-new Fullback was officially unveiled at the Dubai International Motor Show last year and made its UK debut at Birmingham’s NEC show in April this year. Fiat and Mitsubishi inked a co-development deal a couple of years ago now and the ‘Fullback’ is effectively the first fruit of that deal. Like the latest Triton double cab, tested this month as part of our annual Ute Shootout, the Fiat version has a wheelbase of 3000mm, a payload of up to 1054kg (depending on model) and is powered by Mitsubishi’s new MIVEC-equipped 135kW/437Nm 2.4 litre turbo-diesel engine. Two transmissions will be available, a six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed…

If you’re thinking about buying a new in-car camera consider Thinkware’s new Dash Cam. In a first for such devices available here it includes both Front Collision and Lane Departure warning systems. “The warning technology on the Thinkware Dash Cam is currently only available on some brand new cars and this is the first time, to our knowledge, that drivers have been able to obtain a product that fits any vehicle,” says Tim Paterson, Sales Manager for Thinkware importer and distributor Griffiths Equipment. Dash Cams are not new, but the Thinkware models take the technology and usability to a whole new level, says Paterson. “There’s also a safety camera alert that tells you if you are approaching a fixed speed camera or red light camera at junctions.” The Thinkware Dash…

You name it, if you can bolt, clip or stick it onto a ute Auckland-based Airplex probably makes it. From humble beginnings over 30 years ago, the family-owned and run business has grown and prospered to the point today where it employs around 30 staff. Most of these are involved in the manufacturing side of the business, where the company has developed a worldwide reputation. Key products are acrylic items like headlight and bonnet guards and monsoon and weathershield products for cars, utes and SUVs. The company also makes and markets air deflectors, sunvisors and windscreen stoneguards for trucks, and imports, distributes and sells a wide range of accessories for utes and 4WDs. This, understandably, is a big – and still growing – market in itself with its own bonnet…

While it might be the all-singing, all-dancing YXZ1000R that is attracting the lion’s share of interest from the off-road community at the moment, Yamaha has also been busy on the work/play side of the UTV (or Side by Side) front. The fruit of the company’s labours in this regard is the new Wolverine R-Spec, a tough-torqueing, work-ready vehicle with a fun side. UTVs (or as manufacturers like Yamaha class them, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles) could not have arrived here at a more opportune time, a fact not lost on established manufacturers and startups alike. From Riverton in the south to Ahipara in the north, farmers are trading up to, or supplementing their ATVs with UTVs, with safety, comfort and general all-round capability the main drivers. Though the specialist recreational market is…

“The D-Max is very much the quiet achiever in the 4x4 double cab ‘gold rush’, currently (March 16 registrations) seventh in the ute top ten.” After being favourable impressed by 4WD trainer Colin Burden’s D-Max when he gave me some off-road driving pointers late last year, I made it my mission to include an Isuzu in this comparison test. The D-Max is very much the quiet achiever in the 4x4 double cab ‘gold rush’, currently (March 16 registrations) seventh in the ute top ten. The LS-T is Isuzu NZ’s top-of-the-line model with our five-speed automatic transmission-equipped test unit having an RRP of $60,990. That’s a fair old whack of wedge in this day and age of dealers asking YOU what you would like to pay then working back from there!…

“Excellent power/torque, with delivery from way down the rev range. Smooth and quiet.” Meanwhile, at Toyota NZ HQ in Palmerston North, company sales and marketing executives wait expectantly for the Motor Industry Association to publish the latest registration results. Having virtually created – then nurtured – the success story that is the current double-cab turbo-diesel ute category, it must have been particularly galling to see rivals first catch then pass you for the number one spot. They must be nervous times at the moment as well, as demand for Ranger shows no sign of waning and despite new Gen 8 Hilux being a massive step forward, critics like us, keep banging on about ride quality… So let’s at least start with some positives... like the price of one of the…

Tuff Gear is the New Zealand importer and distributor of legendary Australian made Tough Dog Suspension products. Tough Dog has been “making tracks across the world” since 1984, and have grown rapidly as a result of the excellent reputation their quality gear commands. Today, Tough Dog products are sought after the world over, and the distribution network spans 28 countries around the world including New Zealand. Tough Dog’s pioneering attitude to R&D has resulted in them leading the way with several unique products. The Return To Centre and the ‘SV’ adjustable steering damper are two great examples of the results of the team’s unique thinking when it comes to making the best off-road suspension system available. The hard yards, and hours perfecting their range of shocks and springs were officially…

Ironman 4x4 products have been developed in the harshest proving ground in the world – Australia, and have been available to 4WD users for over 50 years. Sold in more than 120 countries, Ironman 4x4 will deliver the comfort and safety you demand as well as quality and value for money. With one of the largest ranges of suspension in the world and top-of-the-line accessories, you will find what you need at your local Ironman 4x4 distributor. Bull bars The range of bull bars is extensive with an entry level commercial black bar which is airbag and winch compatible, a deluxe bar which is similar to the commercial bar but has an integrated driving light, and the protector bar with a grey finish and stainless steel hoops. All have an…

Nelson racers Nevil Basalaj and Darrin Thomason won their classes in the opening round of the 2016 Polaris New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship, held in Tadmor Valley near Nelson on Saturday April 09. Their success was part of a wider sweep by the southern contingent – drivers from Nelson, Christchurch and Otago – who saw off a strong challenge from four northern raiders who had come south aiming to take home points and trophies back with them. Instead, they found themselves in the thick of crash-and-bash action in the top classes and it was local driver Nevil Basalaj in his Jimco Chev who won the unlimited race car class for the weekend despite a determined push from northerner Clim-Tristan Lammers. Heated rivalry Lammers won the first unlimited class heat but…