Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i NZ4WD

The Discovery celebrates 35 years of ingenious versatility with a new special edition version of its luxurious full-size seven-seat SUV. An exceptional family SUV, Discovery was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1989. It has been a part of the off-roading landscape ever since. A new 35th Anniversary Edition celebrates the milestone and a new D350 mild-hybrid diesel engine is available in Discovery for the first time. Delivering even greater performance and acceleration, it joins the existing P360 3.0-litre Ingenium petrol engine, both of which feature 48V Mild-Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology. Since its launch on 16th September 1989 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Discovery has set the standard for seven-seat family SUVs, combining innovation with space and practicality. Its family-friendly stepped roofline has become a Discovery hallmark, creating…

Christchurch's GLI Caravans sells lift-top campers, camper trailers and caravans and has just expanded into selling inflatable boats. It's a family business that started 26 years ago, originally selling and renting motorhomes. Owner Grant McKenzie says the team is knowledgeable and experienced and works with customers to find the perfect caravan or camper trailer to suit their needs. In addition to a wide range of caravans and camper trailers, the company also offers in-house mechanical expertise to ensure its products are always in top condition. “We are committed to providing exceptional customer service and ensuring that each and every customer has a positive and satisfying experience when purchasing from us.” GLI's range starts with go-anywhere camper trailers starting with the EXS-1 at $24,999. A step up the range are lift…

Toyota's Land Cruiser has long served as a base for modifications. The newest generation of Land Cruiser is still young, but it's looking to be no different than its ancestors when it comes to modification. Toyota USA went to SEMA this year with the open-top ‘Calty Land Cruiser Rox'. With help from Toyota's Calty Design Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a focus on structural rigidity front of mind, the automaker has built an open-air concept version that pays homage to the FJ40 generation of Land Cruisers. Roofless design is nothing new in the off-road world, but the mission for the Land Cruiser Rox build was to maintain the high-end feel of the stock vehicle. That meant making sure the tailgate and mid-gate functioned properly, the doors continued to work…

It's not cheap, and it's not for the shy, but American custom builder Apocalypse has just shown off its latest 6X6 build. Owners and enthusiasts of Land Rover's Defender – and in particular the current version – will either be drooling uncontrollably or shouting in fury right about now. Apocalypse Manufacturing's Defender 6x6 is the first such six-wheel-drive build off the 21st Century unibody Defender. It's called ‘Apocalypse World Ender,’ which shortens down to ‘AWE'. Company founder and CEO Joseph Ghattas is pretty pleased with it. “This vehicle represents the culmination of our expertise in creating durable, high-performance, ultra-luxury machines designed to eat the legendary Mercedes G-Wagon 6x6's lunch.” This isn't the first six-wheel-drive vehicle Apocalypse has built, but it is the most luxurious. The team wanted to keep all…

Back in the day, it wasn't just Mitsubishi building off-road capable 4WD vans. This is Toyota's Hiace Super Custom van from 1995, it's four-wheel drive, it benefits from recent suspension upgrades, and it's powered by a bullet-proof 3.0-litre 1KZ-TE turbodiesel engine. Retro vans like this have been enjoying skyrocketing popularity in recent years, and this one has the added bonus of genuine off-road ability. There are a handful of 4WD Hiaces in New Zealand. The 1995 Toyota Hiace Super Custom is a four-wheel drive van powered by a famously durable 3.0-litre 1KZ-TE turbodiesel engine. Introduced in 1967, the Hiace quickly earned a reputation for reliability and fuel efficiency. The fourth generation, which includes this model, was produced from 1989 to 2004, maintaining the original cab-over-engine layout before switching to a…

Kia has launched its EV5, a midsize fully electric SUV, in New Zealand. The four-model range includes two AWD models, the Earth Long Range and the GT-Line Long Range. The EV5 is the first Kia to offer Kia Connect, an app which turns the driver's smartphone into a ‘remote control’ for the car, activating a range of car-related functions through the phone including remote locking, remote climate control, destination send to vehicle and real-time vehicle tracking. In the event of a crash where the airbag is deployed, Kia Connect will automatically contact a 24/7 emergency call centre. Through to Kia Connect, the EV5 delivers another Kia first – the availability of ‘over-the-air’ management system updates. These progressively update key vehicle features such as powertrain, drive-train, battery management, infotainment system and…

NZ4WD editor Mark Baker learned to drive in 4WDs when they were a rare sight on New Zealand roads. He started in a Series II Land Rover ute and finished the process in a 1973 Range Rover. “It was bought through George Smith at Motorcorp in Hamilton – he'd bring interesting vehicles over to Kawerau to show Dad and usually ended up with a sale.” The Rangie towed jet boats, caravans and trailers of firewood, pulled other 4WDs out of ditches, roamed all over farms, went hunting in Tarawera Forest, transported search and rescue teams, took the family away for camping weekends and much more. This year, for the first time since those heady days, he drove a Range Rover again. Range Rover has always been a superb way to…

Karl Goodall's owned his Raptor 1 buggy since 2021. He'd gone to photograph the very first Ultra4 event in New Zealand and got hooked. “My wife and I had the opportunity to buy the Raptor buggy from a club member and we jumped at the chance,” he says. The truck came with a V6 engine and transmission. “We removed the V6 and single speed transfer case and replaced the engine with a 13b turbo rotary, a proper five-speed gearbox and hi-low transfer case.” He did one race with the V6 and then decided to do the rotary swap. “It took me three months to get it running again, from driving it into the workshop with the V6 to driving it out of the workshop with a rotary engine.” So is…

When deep in the heart of the New Zealand wilderness, where the air is crisp and the stars are endless, the hustle and bustle of the city is a distant memory. But getting away from everyone and everything also means that one wrong decision – like leaving headlights on – could result in disaster, with help potentially hours away. Redarc's BCDC Alpha isn't just another black box in the vehicle; it's the heartbeat of an offroad setup. It's not about avoiding inconvenience; it's about ensuring that adventures stay adventurous. With the fridge humming, lights glowing, camera charging, and that all-important espresso machine brewing, power management isn't a luxury; it's survival. What makes the BCDC Alpha indispensable? Start Battery Recovery, a lifeline in the middle of nowhere. With just a few…

After exploring Wellington's southern coastline in December's article, David Coxon decided to go slightly further afield this month and explore the southern coastline of the Wairarapa area. The starting point for this trip was the small town of Featherston. The first part of the trip was to head south from Featherston, following the foothills of the Remutaka Ranges south to the coast, with our first stop being at the base of Ōnoke Spit, the sand bar that separates Lake Ōnoke from the sea of Palliser Bay. In the past, I have crossed the creek at the car park and driven most of the four km along the spit, for an amazing feeling of remoteness at the far end. However, while a relatively easy drive with suitably lowered tyre pressures, this…

If you are reading this, you obviously survived the 2024 Christmas Rush, New Years Eve and the whole darn holiday period and traffic. Congratulations. I hope I did. Fabulous Feb? Kids back to school? Some dollars hopefully trickling back into the bank balance. Tent's dried and back on the shelf. Boat parked up but needing a better clean. Garden's run amuck, needs another prune, mower won't start. Trail bike has a torn tube and flatty. The truck? I do hope its dusty but running well. Please pop out and clean the lights and indicators. I'm aware there are jobs hanging in the balance, many in small towns. If yours is/was among them you have my heartfelt sympathy. Onwards and upwards somehow, I hope. Change can be for the best, keep…

Camping these days has gone away from the basics and now include things as rooftop tents, awnings, solar systems for powering everything from devices to heaters, to the coffee machine as well as LED lighting around the camp, so much so it is easy to forget how we used to camp. We didn't seem to be carrying as much weight as the ‘modern’ camper does these days and yet camp life was still comfortable. Some of the simple items we used back in the day are still around because they are cheap and don't take up a lot of space, yet can make camp life a little bit more comfortable. They are the ones that our parents used when we were camping with them. Folding Canvas Stool The canvas folding…

VW has shown off its new Scout EV 4WDs in America. The company will build a double cab pickup and a four door SUV, with vehicles going on sale in late 2026 or early 2027. Why the long lead time? One reason may be the decision to keep Scout 4WDs out of the established VW dealer network, selling direct to customers. The company says this means complete price transparency for buyers. VW dealers are understandably a bit upset. Scout will also need to set up service arrangements for the Scout brand, which may or may not be at VW sites.…

KIA has shown off a pair of concept vehicles that reach out for some off-road credibility. The first is called the “Advntr” concept and is based on Kia's EV9 electric three-row SUV, while the second is called the PV5 “Wkndr” concept and is based on Kia's Purpose Beyond Vehicles (PBVs) concept. The Advntr is a lifted version of the EV9 with a full kit-out of overlanding gear. It has a three-inch lift, reinforced rocker panels, and custom front and rear fascias that improve its approach and departure angles. There's a custom roof rack that the automaker says can take both standard luggage and bespoke rooftop tents. Meanwhile, the Wkndr features a similar host of upgrades. Based on Kia's PBV delivery vans, the Wkndr is also lifted and has the same…

Remember the Toyota Surf? Plenty of New Zealand 4WDers are still running these popular vehicles. Now, Toyota has recreated the Surf for the massive SEMA show in the USA. When the first Toyota 4Runner debuted in 1984, the off-roader sported two doors and a removable fiberglass rear canopy and was unlike any other 4WD on the market. While the 4Runner remains a close relative to Toyota's midsize pickup truck offering, it grew more practical over the years, sprouting four doors and a permanently fixed roof. But for the 2024 SEMA show, Toyota has gone old school, converting a 2025 4Runner TRD Limited into concept that pays tribute to the original. This Surf is a two-door, giving the concept a short wheelbase and a purposeful stance. The concept is also 50mm…

GWM has confirmed updates to tone down “overzealous” safety features in the Cannon Alpha and Tank 500. A software update revises the calibration of key safety systems and addresses a ‘sticky throttle’ issue identified by customers. Model year 2025 vehicles will have the new software and the revisions will be made available for existing customers by the middle of the year. The improvements address criticisms of the new ute and SUV since they launched earlier this year. Customers and media overseas have described the Cannon Alpha's lane-keep assist system as “overzealous”, the adaptive cruise control as “slow to react”, and the driver attention monitoring system as “one of the less refined of its type we have tested”. GWM has confirmed the following changes for both the Cannon Alpha and Tank…

Oh, lucky Australia. They're doing it again. Isuzu has launched a new Australian-developed crew cab version of its D-Max range with Walkinshaw-engineered off-road equipment designed for Australian conditions. The D-Max Blade is the new flagship of the range. Engineered and tested locally by way of a comprehensive 100,000km durability testing programme in Melbourne and Outback Australia, the D-Max Blade is set deliver an unparalleled combination of off-road performance and rugged reliability, with local ride and handling tuning to suit local conditions. The Blade retains the hallmark D-Max qualities including a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, a generous 896kg payload capacity, and the proven performance, efficiency and dependability of Isuzu's 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. Walkinshaw has designed, engineered and remanufactured some of Australia's most iconic and special nameplates, with over 100,000 vehicles…

25-27 JANUARY Matiere Cosmopolitan Club Safari Hosted by King Country 4WD Club Inc. Matiere is a historical settlement on the Forgotten World Highway in the heart of the King Country. Camp at the Matiere Rugby Club and travel over hilltops and through valleys with local guides. Open to all 4WDs with good M/T tyres. This three-day event costs $480.00 for driver and passenger with all meals supplied. More info: www.kc4wd.co.nz 25-27 JANUARY Motu Safari Hosted by Motu 4WD Safari The event begins at Motu School on Saturday, covers properties around the region and finishes at Motu on Monday 27 January. The Safari is designed as a family affair, but will have enough interest to keep the more adventurous entertained. Camping Motu Village (BYO tents, caravans and campers). All vehicles to…

The Range Rover was launched in 1970. Though Jeep lovers might disagree, citing the rather large Wagoneer, the rest of the world is pretty clear: Range Rover created the modern SUV class of vehicle. It was the first vehicle to deliver permanent four-wheel drive and feature split tailgate, clamshell bonnet and continuous waistline. Equipped with full time 4WD, live axles, a four-speed manual transmission and a commanding driving position, the Rangie was like nothing else on the road. In New Zealand, it was beloved equally by the hunting/shooting/ fishing/camping crowd and the doctors and lawyers of Remuera. The front seats were massive, comfortable buckets, the rear seat was a wide bench that would fit three adults. All the seats were in camel-coloured ‘Palomino’ PVC – easier to hose off than…

Any off-road adventure, long or short, is more fun in a 4WD that is built for the task. Here's a quick top five upgrades, drawn from the experiences of 4WD overlanders here in New Zealand and across the Tasman. Tyres This is number one for everyone we've talked to. Most 4WDs are fitted with H/T treads from the factory, which is fine for most work a ute or SUV does. Getting adventurous does point up the shortcomings of road tyres though. Tough tyres give confidence to tackle tough tracks. A good set of all-terrain or mud terrain tyres should do the trick, depending on the vehicle and the adventure plans. Won Lotto? Buy a second set of wheels and fit A/T or M/T tyres to them. That saves wearing out…

Owners of Toyota's popular N80 (2015 – onwards) Hilux 4WD can now enjoy significantly improved braking performance, thanks to Bendix's new Ultimate 4WD electric park brake (EPB) with drum-to-disc conversion kit. A key feature of the upgrade is the ‘auto on’ capability of the EPB, which allows the park brake to be configured to actuate under certain operating situations including when any cabin door is open (with speed below 10 km/h), when the vehicle is placed in ‘park’ or when the engine is turned off. This functionality adds an extra layer of safety and convenience for the driver. The EPB can of course also be manually engaged by using the neat OE-style cabin switch. Additionally, the unit features a ‘service mode’ to wind back the EPB to allow for brake…

The sun was shining but the obstacles were deep, deep mud. Southern Trailblazers held its annual 4x4 rally on Southland's “landslip” in November 2024. Competitors had travelled from around the South Island for the event. In the weeks prior the area had seen significant rainfall which meant there was plenty of mud and the first challenge for most was the access road, most opting to leave trailers in the paddock and drive competition vehicles through the farm. After driver's briefing, competitors headed out to their courses for the day. Southern Trailblazers members had setup the 10 stages/courses the week before and these consisted of some man-made courses with large industrial tyres to drive over as well as a tyre pit full of old car tyres along with many natural hills,…

There was no column from me in the December edition because I was on an overseas tour. My recently retired wife and I did a trip to Jordan and Egypt, despite many people's misgivings about the significant unrest in the Middle East at that time. We'd booked a guided tour with a ‘small group’ and given the circumstances it was small, only five of us! The ‘Middle East’ conjures up visions of sand and 4WDs everywhere, but I suspect most of those 4WDs are currently being used by various conflicted organisations as there were few to be seen. Although Jordan is bordered by Israel and Arab states, it was remarkably seemingly indifferent to their issues, except that their tourism industry has been almost destroyed. It was being quoted as being…

Off-road-tough special edition 4WD double cab utes are all the rage in Australia. The latest comes from Volkswagen, celebrating its 2024 Guinness World Record with a special ‘Amarok 10 Deserts Edition’ inspired by the successful around-Australia pursuit of the same name and focused on the off-roading purist. The Melbourne-designed Amarok completed an arc of Australia's 10 deserts in a record-breaking six days, 17 hours. Available from Q2 2025, the Volkswagen Amarok 10 Deserts Edition uses the Amarok Life as its base, now featuring class-leading ground clearance, extra underbody protection and more off-road-focused tyres. These key upgrades are inspired by the core changes that helped the Amarok tame Australia's Great Victoria, Great Sandy, Tanami, Simpson, Gibson, Little Sandy, Strzelecki, Sturt Stony, Tirari and Pedirka deserts. ‘10 Deserts’ badging, a standard black…

JAC has launched its T9, available in a single model and priced just under $50k. NZ's newest 4WD ute is the JAC T9 ute, and it arrives with a single high spec model and a sharp sub-$50k price. JAC General Manager, Andrew Craw, says the T9 arrives in New Zealand with a 5 Star ANCAP Safety Rating, 18 ADAS safety features, a genuine high-low 4WD system with diff lock and modes including Eco, Sport and Snow, and even a pie warmer. “Targeted at the Kiwi tradie market it's fair to say this JAC is stacked with features and extras so you'd be hard pressed to find another ute offering more bang for buck given all the tech and specs stacked in the T9 at its launch price of just $49,990…

Toyota's RAV4 is New Zealand's best-selling passenger car. It's also Toyota's best-selling vehicle and the best-selling SUV in America. For SEMA, Toyota has added a hard off-road edge to its medium SUV. The company designed the RAV-X Concept like it was a Dakar Rally competitor, increasing its ground clearance and off-road capability. RAV-X features forged aluminium front control arms, forged aluminium rear upper supports, and a long-travel suspension that increases the vehicle's height by 50mm and the track width by 160mm. It has fully adjustable 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks with front external reservoirs and rear piggyback ones. Seventeen-inch forged aluminium wheels on the concept feature 265/65R17 tyres, and there's a custom rear spoiler adds to the SUV's rugged vibe. The new front bumper, with its integrated cooling ducts, and custom…

Suzuki and Toyota have been working together on a new 4WD-capable electric SUV, and Suzuki has revealed the fruits of the collaboration: a new compact called the E Vitara. It's the automaker's first EV, and it's scheduled for production at Suzuki Motor Gujarat in India starting next spring. The E Vitara will launch in Europe, India, and Japan “around” the mid-2025 and there will be a Toyota-badged version, which will probably look a lot like the Urban SUV Concept Toyota revealed in 2023. Toyota similarly shares its bZ4X EV with Subaru, which is rebadged as the Solterra EV. Toyota and Suzuki have been slow to adopt EVs into their lineups, with Toyota refocusing on building more hybrids and a three-row electric SUV for the US market. Suzuki's previously announced target…

It's a wee beastie, and It's just USD$65,000. This Jimny was a ‘proof of concept’, high-grade professional build. The objective was to create a great street vehicle that's also capable of going anywhere in the legendary sand dunes of Glamis – with comfort and air conditioning. In the advertisement on the Race Dezert site, the owner says it “runs like an air conditioned side-by-side (UTV).” He also invites readers to imagine “conquering the Rubicon in comfort and then driving home.” Features of the build include portal axles, front and rear air lockers with onboard air and a central tire inflation system, a supercharged engine, Chromoly axle shafts, bead lock wheels, Trust axle housings and a Warn winch. The build cost more than $125,000 to complete. With just over 13,000 miles…

KGM's transition from Ssangyong continues, and includes the Rexton SUV, which has come a long way from its fairly humble origins and is now a genuine large SUV contender, packed with tech and spec and excellent value for money. The Korean brand – that nation's number-three seller behind Kia and Hyundai – was successfully bought out and rebranded KG Mobility in its home market, though the Australians are apparently still calling them SsangYongs. Bless them. So, climb in. The seats are leather, and well sculpted (for this large user anyway). Up front, the door pockets, centre console storage compartment and glovebox are all well sized, there's an additional storage area for phones and wallets ahead of the gear shifter, and amenities up front include two USB-C ports (which replace USB-A…

Ironman 4X4's heritage is built on suspension solutions dating back to 1958. Today the company is known for its range of twin-tube dampers which offer unmatched durability and resilience while ensuring exceptional performance and stability in any terrain. As the 4WD market continues to evolve, there is a growing trend for customers prioritising ‘ride comfort’ over ‘ride control’. In response, Ironman has launched what it says is the perfect product to deliver unparalleled comfort and smoothness: the IM2.5 monotube. This new shock absorber joins the existing Ironman range. FoamCell Pro Ironman's shock absorbers deliver unmatched durability and resilience that ensure exceptional performance and stability in any terrain. Known for their unbreakable reliability, FoamCell Pro shock absorbers provide outstanding performance in the harshest conditions keeping the vehicle stable and comfortable on…

One of the many good things about retirement is that you can make a spur of the moment decision to go see a place you have not been before. With the power company advising us that the power would be off from 9am to 4pm the next day, we quickly mapped out a trip away in the BT-50 with Mount White Station as the destination. Throwing together a picnic lunch and a big thermos of hot water, I put the camp stools into the back of the truck and we set off from Geraldine about 8:30am for Arthurs Pass. We headed up Highway 72 to Darfield Bakery where we picked up the best mince pie and raspberry bun for me and a gluten-free steak and cheese pie and blueberry muffin…

The 2025 CT Civil New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship will be contested over seven rounds: three north, three south and the all-in national final at Labour Weekend. The action kicks off this month with a short course round at Colin Dale Motorsport Park, Wiri. It's also the New Zealand Offroad Racing Grand Prix, which was postponed from its original early December slot. The second round is also a northern event, a short course round at Midhurst in Taranaki on 9 March. Southern rounds kick off with the customary dual race weekend at West Melton near Christchurch 17-18 May – short course on Saturday and an enduro the next day, both bearing full championship points. King's Birthday weekend in June sees the usual Woodhill 100 enduro round and wraps up the…

It's a shifty business. Looking for a new or pre-loved 4WD is a chance to choose which fuel, which engine, and which transmission best suits the planned use of that vehicle. But this month, we home in on which transmission works best for on and off-road driving. Leave aside manual transmissions, because the vehicles offering manual shifting are few and becoming fewer. That's a bit sad for drivers who like the greater engagement and control offered by a manual, but it's been coming for a couple of decades. The difference between manual and automatic is simple. A manual has a set number of gears, and the driver determines what gear ratio they need. An automatic also has a set number of gears, but it uses a hydraulic system that responds…