Innehållsförteckning för December 2022 från NZ4WD

NEWS BMW New Zealand will launch the fully electric BMW iX1 model to the local market in Q1 2023. The new model will be offered in two grade levels, xLine and M Sport, with pricing for both to be confirmed closer to launch. The BMW iX1 xDrive30 is powered by a compact, electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) on each axle. With overboost, the motors combine to deliver an impressive output of 230kW, which combines with 494Nm of instant torque. The electric xDrive all-wheeldrive system helps to deliver a zero to 100km/h time of just 5.6 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 180km/h. The fifth-genearation BMW eDrive technology integrates charging hardware and high-voltage battery cells mounted flat in the floorpan of the iX1, with a net total energy content…

Polestar, which launched in New Zealand this year to very little fanfare, has shown what it claims is the smartest car on the road. In October the Polestar 3 was revealed in the USA, the company saying it will go on sale in 2023; the USA can expect it in 2024. It will be built in two separate plants (Chengdu, China, and Ridgeville, South Carolina) and deliveries for North American markets are set for late 2023. Polestar is a sub-brand of Volvo, meaning the ‘3’ will also be sold in Europe. We have to assume that means right hand drive models are also not far away. The Polestar 3 is the brand's flagship, in both size and features. It has a 111kWh battery pack that will give it a range…

TESTED Attention Kiwi fans of big 4WDs with premium tech and spec. This is special. Ram is offering a full-fruit Laramie version of its 1500 4WD, and it's got some serious on-road and offroad abilities. The spec is also that of a premium-end SUV. Leather everywhere, tech everywhere and the truck treats every occupant like a VIP. Unlock, open the door and the seat moves back to welcome the driver into the spacious and sumptuous interior. The truck's standard equipment list includes: 20-inch wheels, LED headlights, power side steps, part-leather seat trim, five USB ports and four USB-C ports, a wireless phone charger, 12.0-inch touchscreen media system, 900-watt 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, 7.0-inch driver info cluster, sat nav, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and more. Driving the truck in the…

Camping & Outdoors From the invigoration of a first light fly-fishing cast to a close of day campfire at sunset, Kiwi adventurers have it pretty sweet in this country. We have places we can go for 2-day escapes for the weekend, or we can get away for weeks on end and, thanks to companies like Yakima, we can carry all the gear we need, safely and efficiently to make the most of our Big Backyard. Yakima is a well-trusted Solutions provider which has enabled Kiwis to make the most of our recreational paradise, whether that be in the snow, near the water, in the bush or even when moving between our concrete canyons. For over 40 years, Yakima has delivered an extensive range of accessories designed and manufactured to carry…

Ironman 4×4 has totally redesigned and upgraded its range of Monster winches, including stronger motors, heavy duty casings, synthetic rapes, competition style solenoids and are the only winch on the market with a motor breather. With two in the range, a 95001b and a 120001b, and with the option of Steel or synthetic cable there is a winch to suit your needs. Engine breather The greatest new feature of the range of winches is the fully sealed motor with a breather that allows the motor to equalise changes in temperature and pressure by means of a remote breather hose which can be placed high in the vehicle away from water. The Ironman Monster winch is the only winch on the market with this feature. Issues tend to arise when winches…

It's getting hard to buy a manual-shift 4WD. Even among the tougher new trucks, automatic transmissions are beginning to dominate. They can be super reliable if looked after, or a huge pain in the backside financially ($10,000 to replace) and in terms of inconvenience if neglected. It makes sense to manage factors that affect the lifespan of a transmission. Because a 4WD tests many components to extremes, it can be tricky to keep components working. Enemy number one is heat. A transmission needs to run below 100 degrees C. The only way to deal with excess heat is to fit an aftermarket cooler. The first question to answer, though, is whether to go DIY or take the job to the experts. Adding cooling is relatively simple, but for the time-poor…

Adventure New Zealand Six months ago, I embarked on a summer two-week trip around the South Island with an awesome bunch of mates. Four 4WDs with all the gear but next to no idea. We were all fresh into the scene and fizzing to get out and explore New Zealand. It turned out to literally be the trip of a lifetime and quite possibly the best holiday I'll ever have. To say it was life changing isn't a misuse of words. “Makin Memories” was the theme and we made a ton. There's so much serenity down here. Darryl Kerrigan needs to sell his boat, buy a 4WD and visit the south, Bonnie Doon has nothing on this place. After that trip was done and dusted a bad case of the…

4WD Sport The Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship will return to Coromandel and Bay of Plenty in 2023 with the calendar now confirmed. After a couple of seasons disrupted by Covid-19 and a 2022 season that featured a double-round at Repeo Rally New Zealand, the championship returns to a traditional six-round schedule next year. The traditional events are preserved, albeit providing some now challenges, while a fresh finish to the year will provide something new to look forward to. The season will open as usual with the Otago Rally on April 1-2 - a little earlier than usual. It will feature a day north of Dunedin, using roads that haven't been part of the route for a few years. Round 2 will be the only other two-day…

We often do long trips. What do we think of the new go-slow speed limits? Good idea? Or cause of frustration? I'm fascinated to see what effect it will have on the road toll. Speed-of-a-crash certainly affects crash outcome. Lives should be saved by the new regime. But will they? Will people obey? Will we get mass revolt? Will we all slowww down? Couple of days ago, on a local highway de-rated to 80 there was an SUV nose down in a ditch - outside of a lefty córner that most cars could take at 120 - obviously run straight ahead off after a long 80kmh straight… Will more fall a sleep at the wheel - bored to death and in the ditch? Another local famously did similarly ending up…

Our mates in Australia have long had a policy of self-reliance in defence matters. War's not a nice thing, not a nice place to be - but by golly it produces some interesting technology. As always, defence drives technological and engineering advances - and the Land Rover Perentie is no exception. How fortunate for the off-road and overlanding world that war does what it does - it means we now have these tough-as-nails Landies coming out onto the private market and even popping up over here for sale. The Perentie was produced as a 4WD and more interestingly as a 6X6. It is named after a large brown and yellow monitor lizard which lives in arid regions of Australia. Fittingly, it's the largest monitor native to Australia. The wheeled (non…

Last month, NZ4WD was looking over the official Ram TRX with its Hellcat engine and mountain of power and torque. But that's not the biggest beast in the global Ram stable. Say hello to Mr Ram Rebel, powered by nothing less than a massive truck-style Cummins diesel engine. The Rebel has been around a while, but now there's a new Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Rebel using the Cummins turbo diesel engine. The new engine produces 275kW (370 bhp) and 1152Nm. of torque starting at 1,700 rpm. The 68RFE sixspeed automatic transmission is standard. The Rebel an electronic rear locker/rear limited-slip differential, skid plates, and an optional 12,000-pound WARN winch. It features a suspension system that features the best ride quality, handling, load-carrying characteristics and articulation. Mike Koval Jr., Ram brand…

There's something really cool about old iron 4WDs. Yes, new 4WDs are effortless and have all manner of electronic gew-gaws that make them more road-capable, but anyone who remembers carburettors and choke cables (basically all the Boomer generation and a few younger retrophiles) get misty-eyed about these old trucks and 4WDs. Our My4WD series has brought a whole lot of cleverness and dedication out of the woodwork this year, and there's more to come. The best of the My4WD features have been built-for-purpose vehicles and a lot of those are in the broad category of ‘restomods’. Inspiring and achievable restorations and modifications of older 4WDs are everywhere. We love them, and this time of year anyone who's a bit handy with a wrench, a grinder and a welder will be…

The first Ram 1500 came out in 1981, but back then it was called the a Dodge Ram 150 series. It came in 2WD and 4WD versions with short, extended and crew cabs plus a variety of bed lengths. Engines included the ubiquitous Mopar 3.7-litre slant-six, plus 5.2 and 5.9-litre V8's. 1988 saw a change in engines, EFi was added to the smaller V8 and an injected 3.9-litre V6 replaced the slant-six. Generation 2 came out in 1994 and added the ‘1500’ to the model's name. The styling took on more semi-truck lines. Motors remained the same but the V8's gained multi-port injection. Generation 3 arrived in 2002 with mild styling upgrades, but carried over running gear except for the engines where the 4.7-litre V8 replaced the older 5.2 and…

Terrain Tamer have announced that the bearing and seal components used in their kits will be undergoing a name change throughout the remainder of 2022 and into 2023. The Terrain Tamer brand has previously enjoyed a long history in partnership with Japanese brand Koyo, using their brand of bearings and seals in Terrain Tamer Bearing Kits to ensure the highest quality and precision specifications are met. As many in the industry are aware, Koyo has previously been the name of the JTEKT Corporation's bearing brand, however throughout 2022, JTEKT Corporation have been working to unify all of their brands. This means that the parts and products used in Terrain Tamer's kits will begin to transition to instead use the JTEKT name and branding, rather than the Koyo branding seen in…

Camping & Outdoors The rooftop advantage The summer season is on our doorstep and many of you will be planning your getaways into the outdoors to enjoy the beauty of our country. Rooftop tents are a great solution for both touring and extended camping trips. Rooftop camping comes with a range of benefits including an elevated abode away from animals, away from running surface water in heavy rain, and away from uneven ground and rocks in your hip or back. They also offer a simplified setup and pack-up to ensure you spend more time doing the things you love. Soft Shell rooftop tent The Ironman 4×4 Roof Top Tent provides the ultimate in ease and convenience when traveling. Unfolding in minutes, a rooftop tent provides sleeping quarters off the ground,…

There's nothing better than packing up your truck and escaping it all for a few days. Whether you're after cold drinks in wilderness or need to charge your devices, if you want to power off-grid adventures, having a reliable DC to DC charger to keep your battery charged is critical. Without charge going back into your battery, not only is your time off-grid is limited, but you also run the risk of draining your start battery and impacting its lifespan. What you may not know, however, is that Redare's DC to DC battery charging range just got a whole lot bigger. Featuring Redare's trusted battery charging technology, the BCDC now comes in two models, the BCDC Classic and the brand-new BCDC Core. For a unit that can handle anything you…

The Kingone winch range covers a wide variety of applications. Start with ATV and UTV use on the farm, where Kingone's small winches are rated for 3,000lbs to 4,000lbs. Moving forward there is the KDS-8-SR 8,000lbs, well suited for small off road or farm vehicles, like Suzuki's Jimny ute. Moving up to modern 4WD utes and SUVs there are a wide range of IP68 rated winches from the 9,500lbs Raptor to the 13,0001b Orca. The Kingone winches have been designed to have the lowest current draw on the market but to offer users some of the fastest line speeds. Coupled with a dual cone braking system, the winches deliver load holding in excess of their pull rating, which makes for a safe and efficient winch that will tackle most recovery…

Contributor Aaron Rich is in the process of building a new Toyota Hilux for touring and overlanding. In the first instalment of the build, he gets to grips with suspension upgrades. Seeking a ride ‘like coils’ from his truck's leaf spring rear end. My 2022 Hilux is undergoing transformation from stock standard to a world-ready overland touring 4WD. This will be a unique build using best-in-class upgrade gear to create a true world class touring vehicle. My 4WD journeys aren't only weekend trips – they've been as much as 10 months/30,000km and 15 countries at a time. NZ4WD readers have followed many of my past expeditions: North Africa/Sahara, Russia, Mongolia and the Gobi Desert, the many ‘stans’ of Central Asia, the Balkans countries, Europe. My extensively modified Mitsubishi Shogun will…

WEEKEND DRIVE After eight months of waiting my K-Pod teardrop-style camper was finally ready to collect from the manufacturer in Tauranga. Our plan was for a two-day trip up to Tauranga then a four-day trip back via a number of backroads to really test the camper out and get material for these articles. Leaving late Saturday morning, I joined Ashley and Gillian for a scenic trip from Wellington up through Fielding and Kimbolton to Mangaweka. Our accommodation for the night was a bach just out of Mangaweka that they had access to, set on a piece of farmland with sheep, lambs and the odd cow grazing around the deck, and an amazing view down the Rangitikei River valley. It was quite an experience being woken up in the middle of…

Fires involving electric cars often make the news, and the anti-EV lobby have been seizing on each such fire, but what's the truth behind the spin? Is it really something to be concerned about as New Zealand follows the world into electrifying the vehicle fleet? Most people understand that electric cars are very different from petrol or diesel cars, and even from the widely accepted hybrids. Mainstream media have fastened on the fear factor and reported each such fire with relish, no doubt helping the self-appointed ‘Citizen media’ who think EV is the wrong road to the future. The messages make great clickbait Online: ‘Electric cars catch fire more frequently’ and ‘An EV fire can't be put out', ‘EVs can catch fire while charging’ not forgetting ‘The battery pack under…

NEWS New Zealand's favourite car is about to get bigger with the introduction of the Corolla Cross to the Toyota Corolla range. Tantalisingly close to being Toyota's worst kept motoring secret next to the LandCruiser 300, the Toyota Corolla Cross is an exclusively hybrid powered crossover SUV, which Toyota New Zealand believes will become the Corolla of choice for Kiwi buyers. “The all-new Corolla Cross builds on Corolla's legendary reputation and offers even more versatility and creature comforts to make everything, from a daily commute to a weekend escape, more memorable,” says Toyota New Zealand General Manager of New Vehicles, Steve Prangnell. If you were thinking the Corolla Cross sounds like a Corolla hatchback with anger management issues, well, not quite. The ‘cross’ refers to the new SUV's ‘crossover’ designation…

Products It depends on what you are doing with your ute, and it depends on your idea of aesthetics, but Fully Equipped has a product to suit, in the form of a Crown canopy or the latest Defender hard lid. “Crown canopies,” says Fully Equipped general manager Alan Simpson,” are built and tested to enhance the utes of our customers, all of whom have different lifestyles and requirements. “They are ideal for tool-of-trade vehicle applications for their ease of accessibility and ability to accommodate larger cargoes or well-side interior fitouts. They also provide up to lOOkg of external load capacity.” A hard lid – like the Defender model – provides a stylish and secure alternative to a canopy, affording a more complete and personal look to a well-side ute. The…

Summertime, BBQ's, beaches and camping are back on the menu, so its time to shake out your old camping gear and see what needs upgrading, replacing or adding to your setup! It's also the time you remember that you put the tent away wet after the last trip and now it is a bit smelly and mouldy so needs a good clean - or maybe chucking out and starting again - although we are sure none of our readers would be that slack! There's a bewildering array of equipment out there, just look in any camping shop or web site, one of the first things you need to consider is what style of accommodation you want. If you are 4WDriving at least bulk is not such an issue, so you…

Camping and exploring New Zealand's great outdoors is a passion for many 4WDers. But what happens when the appeal of rooftop campers or tents has worn off or when the family has grown and needs that little bit more home comforts in the backblocks? Is a caravan the way to go? And how easy will it be to find one that really can go off-road? A caravan may have that outdoorsy tough-as-nails look but could it really go overlanding down south, or around the North Island's central volcanic plateau? Will its suspension, chassis, bodywork and fit-out deal with the inevitable knocks and scrapes? Off-road Caravans NZ has the answer, in the Canyon range of off-road-capable single and dual wheel caravans. Canyon's ‘Vans’ are fully designed built in Australia and are…

Camping & Outdoors Oztent has grown from a dream of one man into an outdoor company that now provides adventurers around the globe with better outdoor products designed to help everyone get out there and have awesome experiences. All Oztent products are crafted from experience, and whether the adventure involves 4wheel driving, boating, fishing or just enjoying some relaxing time in the outdoors, Oztent have got you covered. Oztent was founded over 25 years ago by inventor Joe Viglione who was frustrated by tents that took so long to setup. He dreamed of a tent that could be literally setup in seconds - then set about inventing it and in doing so, he redefined pitching a tent. Since then, more and more products have been designed and added to provide…

TESTED Dirty, dirty weather. Our mission was a run into the Hunua Ranges to hear the dawn chorus, stitched through with the tones of our native raptor, the kokako. The Hunua is a special place, source of much of Auckland's drinking water, clad in native bush that delivers clear, clean water into a series of holding dams for delivery into the municipal supply. It is home to a massive population of kokako. The bush is in places Virgin and original; in other reclaiming old sheep and beef farm paddocks. Managed by Auckland Council, it's a mecca for hikers, bird-lovers and mountainbikers. It's been well ‘hardened’ for 4WDs, so don't come out there hoping for a classic North Island 4WD experience. Instead, a 4WD becomes the means to an end for…

Adventure International My well proven Pajero (Shogun) has been absent from the magazine for about 18months, but no doubt some readers will find it a familiar sight. I've written articles for NZ4WD from the Sahara Desert in North Africa, Albania in the Balkans, Mongolia's Gobi Desert, locating ancient fortresses in Uzbekistan's deserts (seems I quite like deserts!), half a dozen or so countries out there in Central Asia, and of course, right here at home in NZ's stunning South Island… all with the same Pajero. It's going on a decade that I've been travelling, on and off, to some fairly remote parts of planet Earth with this same vehicle. So, when Mark (Editor) said he wanted to run some material on pre-Covid world 4WD travel, it wasn't too hard for…

4WD Sports Labour Weekend saw the sun set on the Offroad Association of New Zealand (ORANZ) New Zealand off-road Racing Championship for 2022 at Burnside Rd, Makarau just north-west of Auckland. The two-day event was awesome with the weather gods smiling on the racers and spectators alike, providing an excellent weekend's racing with some impressive results from the rookies in various classes and some surprising results for the more experienced racers as can happen in a national championship final. From a spectator's perspective, the final was the event to be at. Although previous meets throughout the year saw the racers in a variety of locations, each with their own challenges and highlights, Makarau provided the best all round spectator experience, with easily accessible vantage points and plenty of places to…

If you were to ask Kenna Baker about offroad racing, she would probably dominate the conversation for the next hour or so, pretty much like she dominated her class at the ORANZ Off-Road National Championship final this past Labour Weekend. Kenna's performance over the weekend netted her the title of National youth Champion in KiwiTrucks for 2022 something that has to sound good to a racer who has just two years racing experience behind her! Back in 2021,14-year-old Kenna found herself entering the KiwiTruck arena with a J (Junior) Class truck (or Trophy Kart in Yank-speak) where it quickly became apparent to - proud as punch - Dad Gary Baker who signed on as Kenna's chief mechanic, that Kenna was ready for the next step up into M Class. The…