Innehållsförteckning för December 2015 från NZ4WD

That headline, which in its complete form should read; “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone,” comes from the Bible, John 8:7, and I quote it in relation to the so-called ‘Volkswagen emissions scandal.’ When word first came out that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States announced that diesel-fuelled Volkswagen cars sold in the US were equipped with software which allowed them to flout local emission law levels it didn’t take long for the vultures to circle. Even here, the press jumped on the issue with barely suppressed glee, never mind the fact (and bigger issue I would argue) that for a country that trades on a ‘clean and green’ image we don’t have any rules of our own in regards emission standards. What…

Though the biggies, Holden, Ford, Toyota and Mitsubishi, have shut their factory doors, Australia’s car-making capability is far from dead – you only have to look at the work Ford’s development wing at Geelong has done on its Ranger and Everest models. Closer to (our 4WD) home you also only have to look at what companies like ARB, Terrain Tamer and Ironman 4x4 are achieving on the global stage with their aftermarket equipment. What few of us (particularly here in nuclear-free NZ) know is that there are literally thousands of companies worldwide coining it making things for military forces, case in point Thales Australia. Thales was in the news last month thanks to a press release from the Australian Defence Force following the signing of a $1.3 billion contract for…

The plan to sell right-hand-drive Dodge Ram utes here is back on track with Ateco Automotive boss Neville Crichton creating a new company – American Special Vehicles – with Ryan Walkinshaw of the Walkinshaw Automotive Group to convert brand new LHD units ex-factory from the US in Australia and sell them on both sides of the Tasman. The conversion work will be carried out on a purpose-built production line in Melbourne with Walkinshaw saying that they will set ‘a new benchmark’ in terms of engineering and finish. Ateco Automotive will contribute its import, distribution, network, sales and marketing expertise to American Special Vehicles. The American Special Vehicles Ram pickups will be produced with full volume import approval, meaning they will be fully compliant with Australian Design Rules and American Special…

The first time I saw a vehicle with suspension that would allow it to travel on steep and muddy side slopes without tipping over was Kiwi Pat Hansen’s Katipo. Designed to be the “ultimate off-roader”, Pat’s vehicle could easily outperform any production 4WD of its time – and probably still could – and Pat was destined for big things with a military contract when he was hit by cut-backs that left his idea stranded in the back of his farm shed near Helensville, west of Auckland. So it was with Pat’s experience in mind that I had a long hard look at the latest and greatest in off-road mobility, the Swincar, designed by a trio of French enthusiasts who have big ideas for their spiderlike vehicle. The Katipo didn’t look…

Rally legend Sébastien Loeb will take on one of the biggest challenges of his illustrious career when he lines up as part of Peugeot’s dream team at the legendary Dakar in January next year. The nine-time World Rally Championship winner and Pikes Peak record-holder has joined Peugeot’s 2008DKR lineup for the 13-day ‘Dakar’ event in Argentina and Bolivia. in 2016. Joining him in South America will also be Stéphane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres, completing Team Peugeot Total’s dream team driver line-up. The 41-year old Loeb, one of the most successful drivers in the history of motorsports, with an unprecedented 46.2 percent wins-to-starts ratio in WRC, said: “I have been interested in all types of different motor sports and Dakar is one of them. I think it’s a great challenge to…

November 21st 2015 National Trial Series 2015/2016. Round 2; hosted by South Waikato Club. Stokes Rd, Maungatautari. Scrutineering and prize-giving in Cambridge.www.nz4x4trials.co.nz for further information. November 21-22 2015 42 Traverse Cut Back 2015; The Department of Conservation have given permission for a vegetation cut back on the 42 Traverse over 21/22 November. This iconic route through the Tongariro Forest is at risk of being overgrown and too scratchy to be used by many four wheelers. (Actually it already is in many places!) It is important that some effort is made to clear the route before another summer of growth. Any chainsaw operators will need a certificate, but users of other powered cutting tools like brush cutters, hedge cutters etc. are fine. If you can help, even for a day, please…

Everyone in the 4WD scene has got a Suzuki Vitara story on one kind or another. Usually they involve tales of daring-do out in the bush along the lines of an old Mark Twain quote; “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” Mine is a bit different. In case any of you have missed the fact, the tough, perky little on/off-road 2/4WD has been replaced by an all-new five-door SUV. In theory the latest model is the fourth-generation but in reality the third-gen model was the last of what you could call the original Vitara line (which is still doing sterling service here) launched back in 1989. Missing the point Some heritage. And one you’d think a company…

AllGrip is the new electronic 2/4WD engagement system Suzuki created and debuted on the S-Cross. The company’s chief engineer Hiroyuki Yonezawa explains. “Being the flagship vehicle of Suzuki’s SUVs it was crucial that we give the Vitara maximum four-wheel-drive capabilities.” Like other, broadly similar, systems, AllGrip uses a rotary dial mounted between the front seats adjacent the handbrake. There are three modes – Auto, Sport and Snow – plus a Lock function. Sure, with no ‘Lo-Range’ option (either transfer case or electronic) new Vitara does not have the on/off-road versatility of the original You can either leave it in Auto which, Id imagine is what most owners will do, or flick from sport or snow on the fly like we did on the test drive. Suzuki explains the various modes…

This year’s Winter Woollies trip into the Waiouru Army Training Grounds was held a little later than usual, being more of a ‘spring’ trip because of the procedures that the Desert Defenders Off Road Club had to undertake to get final approval. While Clubs are generally exempt from the requirements under the Adventure and Outdoors regulations, the Desert Defenders Club underwent the full audit of their procedures and safety plans, at a significant cost of several thousand dollars, to get land access approval. The audit process and subsequent approval finally came through giving about five-six weeks’ notice of the trip. With a limit on numbers there was such strong interest from people that the organisers requested and gained approval for a second trip on the Sunday so people who missed…

Roof racks are great for carrying light but bulky items. But remember to spread the load evenly across the rack and to secure all items tightly. Keep an eye on weight, though. Heavy items should be avoided on roof racks because a top-heavy vehicle isn’t the most stable, particularly at higher speeds. Aim to keep heavy items down low, either in a trailer or, if you’re transporting them within your vehicle, over the axle, towards the centre of the vehicle or evenly distributed on both sides wherever possible. Avoid heavy loading toward the front of the vehicle, as this will cause the vehicle to ‘dive’ every time you hit the brakes. Likewise, concentrating too much weight in the rear of your vehicle will make the steering feel light and vague…

Looking for a funky load-carrier but limited by family and/or finances to a one-size-fits-all SUV? Then the Hyundai’s US arm might just have the vehicle for you. The company hired US customiser John Pangilinan to create an “Adventuremobile” to display at the annual SEMA trade show and this (pictured) is the result. Most obvious addition is the Treeline Tamarack rooftop tent, with room for two plus Goal Zero solar panels to power all of their accessories. A modest 280mm suspension lift and Aries bull bar and side steps are standard as are Rigid Industries’ LED lights, and the distinctive BASF army green paint scheme by Strasse Sport. Wheels are Rays’ Gram Lights, tyres Toyo Open Country A/T IIs. “The build blends performance with the excitement of the great outdoors, without…

The three tracks along the ridgeline on either side of the Manawatu Gorge are all public roads rated as quite easy 4WD trips. However any track in such an exposed area needs to be treated with caution. Because I was running this trip as a club outing I was leading a convoy of 11 vehicles, ranging from experienced drivers like our regular travelling companions Ashley and Gilli, to people on their first ever 4WD trip. North Range Rd runs along the top of the very northern end of the Tararua ranges from the top of the Pahiatua Track to the end of the ridge, overlooking the Manawatu Gorge, before dropping down Hall Block Rd to re-join SH3 at the eastern end of the gorge. The first section of the track…

Toyota has announced the prices of the all-new Hilux ahead of its launch on 1 December. The 21 model line-up starts with the 2WD cab chassis at $36,990 with the new range topping 4WD double cab SR5 Limited at $70,490. Five of the 2WD models will have the same ground clearance and ride height as the 4WD models. These “Pre-Runner” models are priced between $44,990 and $54,990 and are all double cab models. Twelve 4WD models complete the Hilux range, a segment of the ute market where Toyota has been the number one seller for the last 27 years. 4WD models range in price from $51,990 to $70,490. “There is a lot of interest in new Hilux from both existing owners and others entering the market for a ute, especially…

According to a bullish Range Rover, the all-new drop-top Evoque (pictured) will be the most capable convertible in the world when it debuts in the UK this month. Proof is in still and video footage shot by the company showing the vehicle they tout as ‘the world’s first luxury compact SUV convertible’ completing the final phase of testing at Land Rover’s Eastnor Castle estate, in Herefordshire, UK. Mike Cross, Land Rover Chief Engineer, Vehicle Integrity, said: “Land Rover prides itself on being a class leader when it comes to all-terrain capability and the Evoque Convertible is no different. “Thanks to a combination of innovative engineering and the application of advanced technologies, Evoque Convertible will deliver a dynamic and assured SUV experience that has been tested around the world. We call…

Fortuner, Toyota’s seven seater SUV due to launch in 2016, could be spotted around Auckland in the next couple of months. Based on the all new Hilux ute, which goes on sale in December, the Fortuner will be powered by Toyota’s newly developed 2.8 litre turbo diesel engine, with the choice of six speed automatic or a manual gearbox. The Fortuner will join the petrol engine Highlander, the RAV4, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser Prado and Land Cruiser 200 series in Toyota NZ’s local line-up. The Fortuner sits on a five link coil spring rear suspension, instead of the Hilux’s leaf springs while the interior offers a refined feel, with car-like materials and a high level of standard equipment. All models will have the option of two or four wheel drive…

Architecture Platform and running gear on passive pendulum balance independent pivoting crossbeams, four-wheel independent suspension, drive and steering on either two wheels or four. Adjustable suspension depending on load. Invalid access Swivel arms to transfer from wheelchair, tilting steering column, steering wheel controls, and optional joystick control in preparation. Dimensions Length 1.95m, width 1.20m to 1.30m, height 1.30m. Empty weight with batteries 140kg. Wheelbase 1.40m, ground clearance adjustable, standard: 250mm. Drive Brushless electric wheel motors made of a one-piece aluminum forging with cooling fins. Maximum torque 85Nm. Control by pedal or steering wheel. Reverse gear. Batteries Lithium-ion batteries 2kWh or 4kWh. Range four-hour hilly ride with 1,000m of ascent (with 4kWh battery).Fast charging in two hours. Engine braking and battery charging downhill. Climbing ability Stationary hill start up to 50…

Drive yourself in a restored US Army Jeep through the mountainous terrain of Northern Vietnam. Travelling by jeep enables you to really enjoy the stunning scenery and feel connected, and to engage with the minority ethnic hilltribe people you will encounter. Mike and Angela of Britton Adventures first went to Vietnam in 1997 and were charmed by the friendly locals, great scenery, and the delicious cuisine. They organised their first tour there in 2004 and have been regular visitors ever since. “Northern Vietnam is where the best scenery is at,” Mike explains. “The roads wind over mountain passes, and through local villages. Hilltribe folk are numerous on the roadside, often going to or returning from the local market, many of them still dress in their handmade, colourful traditional clothing.” The…

New Vitara is the first compact Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) to earn a top five-star overall rating from the 2015 Euro NCAP testing programme. In the Adult Occupant category, the five-door Vitara scored 89 percent - nine percent higher than the minimum required for five-star rating. It was also awarded 85 per cent in the Child Occupant category (75 per cent minimum required). The Pedestrian test resulted in a 76 percent result (65 percent minimum) and in Safety Assist; Vitara scored 75 percent (70 percent minimum). One of the model’s significant safety features is TECT (Total Effective Control Technology), a concept for occupant-protecting impact absorption and low weight developed by Suzuki. Extensive use of high tensile steel makes the body light and highly crashworthy as well as fuel efficient. New…

It’s no disgrace if you don’t know where Waipaoa is. These days it’s simply a matter of typing in the name and up... Waipaoa Station School comes. For those of you happy to let me draw you a word picture, Waipaoa Station is deep in the heart of the North Island’s far-east coast, half-way – or thereabouts – between the similarly sized Motu Village and Tolaga Bay on the east coast. A tagalong to raise funds for the community school bus was planned for Saturday September 19 so with entry in and accepted I left Eke (this time in ‘big Whale’ my Nissan Safari ‘daily driver’) early Friday morning to head for Gisborne and lunch with my father before heading for Waipaoa Station the base for the weekend. Expecting to…

Featuring the ability to create a fully customised system tailored to your requirements, the Outback Solutions’ range is the answer to all of your storage needs. As a complete modular system, the range can be individually selected and customised to your needs and vehicle, while reducing redundant areas and providing increased storage space. Sold exclusively by ARB and suitable for many vehicles including wagons, utes, buses and trailers, this system can be just as easily applied to non-vehicle applications such as down in the back shed. Three types of modules are available, and these modules (a roller drawer, a roller drawer with roller floor and a roller floor) come in a range of sizes which can be mixed and matched to individual needs. This results to more than 200 possible…

Following on from our report on the West Coast 4WD tragedy in the Grey river – when a passenger looped a winch cable around his waist while attempting to run it to the bank ended in his death when he was swept off his feet and dragged under – NEVER loop a rope around your body when in swift water! It was a risky crossing for even a lifted and well-prepared 4WD. The risk being that any crossing of this stature can go wrong and turn to custard in an instant. Riverbeds change, there can be new traps in a known crossing and they may not be apparent from the bank. Depth and current can be deceptive and the furthest section is often a mystery . Caution and preparation are…

The fourth and final round of the Superwinch Mainland Challenge was hosted by the Mid Canterbury 4WD club at Makikihi just south of Timaru over the October 16/17 weekend. The AGM meeting was held at 6pm for the Mainland 4WD Winching group, with the 2015 committee voted back in (President is Mike McCarthy, vice-president Andrew Dempsey and Secretary Vicky Newport). Discussions were over within an hour so it was off to the pits on site for all. With a bit of time to kill it was good to catch up with everyone. With 20 entries in the series this year and most entered every round we had all become pretty social. There were 18 entries for the final round, 15 part of the series and the other three for the…

For the Land Rover aficionado with deep pockets and a desire for exclusivity comes the new Startech Sixty8, from bespoke hotter-upper of all things expensive, Brabus. As a farewell to the legendary Land Rover model after a 68-year production run, Startech is building a limited edition run of lightly customised 68 Defenders. The key to the upgraded look is the contrasting grey metallic body and black roof and a set of steel wheel-lookalike 8.5Jx18 alloys and chunky BF Goodrich 265/65 R18 All-Terrain A/T off-road tyres. Inside the upholstery is all leather with in a mix of tan and black with the sports seats getting a special quilted finish. The upgrade also features a high-end Alpine multimedia system with 3D navigation and backup camera. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine rated at 90…

In more SEMA news, Hyundai has teamed up with US specialists Rockstar Performance Garage (RPG) to toughen up the new Tucson SUV for off-road duties. The Tucson, set to take pride of place on Hyundai’s stand at the annual SEMA trade show in Las Vegas, now sits a full 15 cms (six inches) higher over stock height, thanks to tubbed wheel arches, custom-made King Shocks suspension front and rear and 17-inch KMC alloy wheels wrapped in 32-inch Mickey Thompson MTZ P3 tyres. Upgraded turbo piping, a high-flow Magnaflow exhaust and a new K&N intake and intercooler from Mishimoto help the 1.6l Gamma four-cylinder engine breathe more freely, with power delivered to all four wheels through a six-speed DCT transmission. The RPG Tucson has been finished in a black and yellow…

Off-road racing heads for a showdown in the final round of the 2015 ENZED championship on November 7 and 8, with a north-south battle for class and outright titles in the making. Over two days on a fast and challenging farm venue at the Polaris-backed final round, the fastest teams in the country will tussle in short course and enduro racing, with outright honours at stake. Manukau’s Tony McCall has top points in the unlimited race car class and has his sights set squarely on an outright win. The unlimited-class trucks will see a north-south battle between defending champion Owen Chang and northern points leader Jono Climo, which pits the Chang rear-wheel-drive Ford Falcon turbo ProLite against the might of Climo’s bespoke four-wheel-drive Toyota Hilux V8 turbo. Keeping the traditional…

The northernmost region of Vietnam is truly a driver’s paradise. The rugged, rocky mountains of northern Vietnam are home to several hill tribes and some of the best rice terracing in the whole country, if not the whole of Southeast Asia. This jeep tour takes in the spectacular Northern border region close to the Chinese border. The magnificent limestone Karst mountains that loom out of the mist are the perfect contrast to the colourful traditional clothing worn by the ethnic minorities that live in the region. Vietnam is a country of outstanding beauty, rich traditions and culture, and the Northeast certainly has these three things in abundance. Every bend in the road reveals something new! What’s included: US Army Jeep, 2 persons per jeep self drive, Hotels/Guesthouse twin share or…

Standing in the shadows as the all-but-identical under the skin Ford Ranger soars high and beats the previously unbeatable Toyota Hilux into submission, Mazda’s BT-50 proved one thing conclusively – looks matter. Particularly when the Ranger looked like a big truck and the BT-50 just looked, well, happy... Now Ford has released an updated Ranger with even more truck-like looks and a whole host of high-tech driver assists and infotainment technologies to take on the forthcoming new Hilux from Toyota. In response to Ford packing the new Ranger with technology (particularly in the top spec models) Mazda has decided to take a completely different approach with the refreshed BT-50. By simplifying the model range, dropping the pricey top-spec models and no longer trying to match the Ranger spec-for-spec, Mazda has…

So let’s get one thing straight before we start. Bar the name new, Vitara is nothing like any of the old ones. We’re talking fresh sheet of paper (or whatever the digital equivalent is) here, Suzuki acutely aware that ‘the market’ has moved on, and that if it wants to be treated as a serious player in the car game it has to shake off its ‘funky maker of niche models’ image and take on the big boys on their terms. Here that means one of two things. 1) If you want to take a Suzuki (properly) off the beaten track, Jimny, Sierra and Grand Vitara are still available new and there are always heaps of old-school first-gen Vitaras on TradeMe. 2) If your wife loved here Swift before you…

You can’t miss Cottle Motors & Auto Electrix Ltd in Kumeu on Auckland’s north-west fringe. The business occupies a prime site on the corner of Highway 16 and Access Rd and will be familiar to anyone who regularly travels from Auckland to Muriwai or the Polaris Off-Road Park in Woodhill Forest. As well as general mechanical and auto electrical work Cottle Motors is also the Auckland area distributor for Ironman 4x4 products. With such a strong car culture in Auckland’s west there’s always something interesting parked outside. And recently the mix of hot rods, muscle cars, classics and hi-rise 4WDs has been joined by a sleek black Ironman 4x4-equipped Ford Ranger XL double cab ute. Like a lot of Ranger owners, the man behind the business, Geoff Cottle, had all…

Automotive accessory company Best Bars has designed a range of cargo barriers that can be used in a variety of vehicles, from hatchbacks and station wagons to SUVs and light commercials. The barriers are designed and manufactured under the international ISO/TS16949 certification held by Best Bars, and comply with the New Zealand Standard NZS4034.1:2008 – one of the most rigorous in the world. Cargo barriers that comply with NZS4034.1 are designed to fit specific vehicles. Under this standard, they are required to follow the perimeter of the vehicle, provide uninterrupted access for the seat belt and child restraint straps and must provide a means of escape if occupants are trapped. They must also be correctly secured to the structure of the vehicle using approved attachment points, rather than the seat…

Firstly my apologies; this was supposed to be about more adventures and happenings within the Dodgy Bros workshops but isn’t. Unfortunately I had my activities stopped after a small but unfortunate incident. And no it wasn’t due to any four-wheeling or workshop incident either so here goes with my tale of woe. It all started back in October when I tried to be nice to a friend’s dog and offered a treat. The dog didn’t want the treat and considered me a threat (that’s treat with an ‘H’ in it) and snapped at my opened hand. I wasn’t quick enough and my thumb tried to tickle the dog’s tonsils briefly. The result was I had a puncture wound in the soft fleshy part of my right thumb that wanted to…