2012 « Car & SUV

Hyundai i45 receives first facelift – coming to NZ?

July 22nd, 2011 by Car and SUV

Although it feels like Hyundai’s i45 mid-size sedan has only just reached NZ roads, it has just received its first facelift in Korea.

The updates are cosmetically mild but the big news is a revised powertrain line-up.

The facelift includes a reworked front grille with slightly less chrome, new LED taillights, reshaped mirror caps and a fresh choice of alloy wheels including a set of 18-inch multispoke rims. In the cabin the i45 receives updated trim options and a chilled glove box.

Under the bonnet, Hyundai has dropped the 2.4-litre petrol engine and replaced it with the more powerful and exciting 202kW turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder. in base model form the 122kW 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine remains. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2012, facelift, Hyundai, i45, New Zealand model, NZ specifications, Sonata, turbo | Posted in News | 1 Comment »

Chevrolet’s hardcore Camaro ZL1 to come packing 425kW

July 21st, 2011 by Car and SUV

It looks like the horsepower wars are far from over in the States and may see Chevrolet’s new Camaro ZL1 released with a higher power output than was originally planned. The ZL1 (pictured) won’t reach American car dealerships until early next year, but fresh reports are claiming that power output for the pony car has been bumped up to more than 570 hp (425 kW).

When the ZL1 officially debuted at the Chicago Auto Show, GM said the supercharged 6.2-litre engine would have a max power output of approximately 550 hp (410 kW). That was all good until word came out that the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was expected to use a supercharged 5.8-litre V8 with up to 620 hp (462 kW). With Ford now throwing down the challenge, Chevrolet was left with little choice but to upgrade its hardcore ZL1, just to stay in the fight. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2012, Camaro, Chevrolet, Ford, Mustang, power output, Shelby, specs, ZL1 | Posted in News | 1 Comment »

2012 Porsche 911 teased in video before Frankfurt debut

July 20th, 2011 by Car and SUV

Porsche fans can begin counting down to the release of the next-gen 911 which is scheduled for a September debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Porsche is in the final stages of testing its new sports car and has released the first official video of the new 911 shot during hot weather testing in South Africa.

Although the 911 is still partially disguised in the clip, its obvious that this new model will look like the many before it. The 911′s evolution looks set to continue without major disappointment or radical new design cues.

That said, the next 911 will be slightly bigger, roomier and on a longer wheel base than the current version. The engine will also continue to slowly creep forward. The new 911 will be made available with more fuel efficient and greener engines which include a smaller displacement 3.4-litre flat-six producing around 260kW for the Carrera /4, and a larger 3.8-litre flat-six producing around 300kW for the Carrera S/4S. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2012, 911, details, Frankfurt Motor Show, new 911, Porsche, specs, teaser, testing | Posted in News, Videos | No Comments »

Mazda Australia offering local accessories on new BT-50

July 20th, 2011 by Car and SUV

Mazda Australia has been busy making sure its upcoming 2012 BT-50 ute will have plenty of optional accessories to toughen it up when it goes on sale later this year.

To make sure these accessories were suitable for down under conditions they have been locally designed and built. The 2012 BT-50′s chief designer Ryo Yanagisawa worked in with a group of the firm’s top-selling Australian dealers to design the accessories. Available kit will include two fully ADR compliant bull bar options, a sports bar, a nudge bar and side steps. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2012, accessories, BT-50, bull bars, Mazda, new BT-50, options, roo bars, side steps, sports bar | Posted in News | 1 Comment »

Toyota reveals facelifted 2012 Hilux ute

July 14th, 2011 by Car and SUV

Toyota has officially unveiled its facelifted 2012 Hilux ute. The 2012 Hilux has a number of styling updates and safety upgrades across the range.

Cosmetic changes include a completely new front end on the 2012 Hilux, this means new guards, headlights, bumper, bonnet and three-bar grille. At the rear, there’s new tailights and a replaced rear bumper. There’s also new mirrors and alloy wheel designs.

Inside, changes are subtle and centre around new seat and door trims, there’s also an available 6.1-inch touchscreen multimedia system. Toyota is also claiming that the 2012 Hilux will offer “greater colour consistency throughout the interior.”

Anti-lock braking has now been adopted across the Hilux range as a standard feature, previously it was only available as an option for models except the top-spec SR5. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2012, changes, details, facelift, Hilux, new Hilux, specs, Toyota | Posted in News | No Comments »

Holden drops covers off all-new 2012 Barina

July 4th, 2011 by Car and SUV

Holden has unveiled the new 2012 Barina at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne. First unveiled last year in Chevrolet form as the Aero the Holden-badged 2012 Barina will go on sale in NZ this October.

The next-generation Barina will add to a Holden’s growing small car range that now includes the Australian-built Cruze sedan and hatch and the smallest of the line up, the Barina Spark.

In terms of styling, most of the Chevrolet Aero’s design has been retained including the distinctive ‘dual port’ grille which is set to give the Holden range a new corporate face in the future. Dynamic lines are carried through a high beltline, sweeping roofline and subtle integrated rear spoiler. The Barina’s design work was completed at GM’s South Korean design centre.

In the cabin the new Barina use a similar motorcycle-inspired instrument panel as the smaller Barina Spark. Blue illumination is used all round and LED backlighting also features. Standard equipment includes modern kit like Bluetooth and audio streaming, iPod connectivity, cruise control and steering wheel audio buttons. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2012, AIMS, Australian International Motor Show, Barina, details, Holden, launch, new Barina | Posted in News | 3 Comments »

2012 Holden Colorado ute debuts at Australian Show

July 1st, 2011 by Car and SUV

Holden has pulled the covers off it’s next-generation 2012 Colorado concept ute at the Australian Motor Show in Melbourne.

The new Colorado was first shown in Chevrolet form earlier this year and Holden’s version has kept with a similar curvaceous body design and ‘dual port’ grille. The concept Colorado is presented in a crew-cab form with the production model to be launched in New Zealand and other global markets in 2012.

Holden New Zealand Managing Director, Jeff Murray said Holden’s most significant play in the growing light commercial segment is without a doubt the new generation Colorado. “Clearly this is a show vehicle however, the basic proportions and design are pretty much what you can expect for the production version of the Colorado which will arrive in Holden showrooms in this country in 2012,” Mr Murray said.

The Colorado design project was led by 26-year-old creative designer Ben Last who worked closely with General Motors‟ Colorado homeroom and design studio in Brazil along with operations in Thailand and the US to develop the final Australian show theme. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2012, Australian Motor Show, Chevrolet, Colorado, concept, Holden, Jeff Murray, show car, ute | Posted in News | No Comments »

Mini officially reveals its 2012 Cooper Coupe

June 21st, 2011 by Car and SUV

Mini has officially released images and specifications for its 2012 Cooper Coupe today and it stacks up as one fun machine. Built to be the quickest and most aggressive Mini in the range the Coupe is the first two-seater ever produced by the brand.

Mini’s Coupe will be available in three variants, the standard Cooper Coupe, Cooper S Coupe and John Cooper Works Coupe (pictured).

Exterior styling is consistent with the numerous spy shots circulating online and is has similarities to the Cooper hatch but some design cues all its own. Steep A-pilars push into a short, sloping rear roofline with an integrated roof spoiler. There’s a unique-for-the-brand speed-activated boot wing at the rear while up front it’s more familiar with the same round headlights and broad blackened grille. The coupe will also get a handful of unique colours.

In the compact cabin Mini’s Coupe keeps with the rounded theme but it’s adapted to fit into the smaller body shape. Replacing the rear seat in the standard hatch is a small cargo shelf with two integrated storage bins. Space in the hatch is understandably limited but longer items can pass through the rear bulkhead into the cabin if required. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2012, Cooper, Cooper S, Coupe, details, Images, John Cooper Works, Mini, specifications | Posted in News | No Comments »

Page 5 of 9«« Previous 2 3 456 7 8 9 Next »