Innehållsförteckning för May 2023 från NZ4WD

German automotive armouring specialist Trasco Bremen has launched the A-Kip level Land Rover Defender 110 SUV. Even before the new Land Rover Defender was introduced, it was obvious the next-gen model would receive plenty of attention from coachbuilders and secure vehicle companies, given the model’s traditional use by international organisations and embassies and high wealth customers. The classic Defender, despite being used by many military forces throughout the world, was never easy or inexpensive to armour discretely given the relatively thin pillars, upright windshield, and the geometry of the roof, despite many armoured versions having been developed for military use. Classic Defenders converted by armouring specialists for military duty, therefore, were neither subtle nor particularly appealing for on-road use by private owners, even if they were able to shrug off…

New hybrid versions of the Suzuki Vitara Turbo will improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Of three hybrids launched, the one that is of interest to 4WD fans is the rangetopping Allgrip all-wheel drive. In official combined fuel tests, the Vitara Hybrid Turbo is at least 15 per cent more economical than a comparable non-Hybrid Vitara while also delivering up to 18 percent lower CO2 emissions. Suzuki says its hybrid system is simple, light eight, compact and affordable. Similar to the hybrid system in the Suzuki Swift, SHVS – the abbreviation for Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki comprises an integrated starter generator (ISG), engine control module (ECM), auxiliary power module that incorporates a lithium-ion battery and sensors and a DC/DC (48 volt to 12 volt) power converter, all factory warranted…

Letter from America: this 1967 Kaiser Jeep M715 looked destined for the wrecker’s yard. It hadn’t moved in half a decade, all its tires were flat, and it needed a new engine. The body of the truck wore years of filth but the frame was in good condition. The aim of the rebuild was a restored truck that could get into the woods, comport itself on the highway, and carry just enough camping gear to make any patch of dirt feel like home. But first, it needed an engine. The original showed 19,000 hard miles and had long since given up, prompting some brainstorming. So, the ubiquitous AMC 4.0L inline-six? Its power output was similar to the Tornado and fuel injection would make it more desirable off-road. Perhaps something crazier,…

Things really kicked off four years ago when Covid made us all stay home. But interest in motorhomes, campers and rooftop tents had been growing for a decade or so. The attraction of going 4WD adventuring and returning to a base nearby drives our fas cination with the many options that create a ‘home-from-home’ close to wild places. Public ‘expo’ shows like the recent Covi Motorhome, Caravan and Outdoor Supershow lay out the many and varied ways 4WDers can escape to the backblocks and do it in comfort. We took a look at what was on offer.…

Colorado, new Ranger, Hilux and the mighty wee Jimny: Greerton Auto Super Shoppe has enhanced a broad range of 4WDs for off-road use. Owner Eddie Dreeanen says his company offers 4WD enthusiasts accessories, upgrades and builds using Ironman products. “People look for best-quality gear when they are upgrading, and we are passionate about 4WD adventuring. We stock Ironman because the gear is very hiugh quality, designed to withstand harsh use in work or recreation.” Clustering the 4WD work under the Auto Super Shoppe banner makes the business a one stop shop for servicing, warrants of fitness and more. There’s also an in-house tyre shop, and Eddie says the company accesses tyres from several wholesalers, ensuring there’s a wide choice available for customers.…

4WD RECOVERY GEAR It’s that time of year. After a pretty ordinary summer, we head into winter, and the mudholes, washouts and river crossings are becoming trickier. With the right technique, and the right gear, there’s little to fear. Here are a few top tips for safe recoveries: ➜ Use the correct tool for the job. ➜ Never use a tow strap for kinetic recoveries. ➜ Keep that hi-lift jack clean. ➜ Don’t use damaged equipment. ➜ Use the correct shackles. ➜ Re-roll the winch cable after use. ➜ Keep the equipment clean. ➜ Use your own gear. Personal safety and the protection of property are paramount when considering 4WD recovery. Never attempt to recover a vehicle without all the necessary equipment. Only use equipment that is properly rated and…

NZ4WD SPORTS SECTION 4WD Sport Longtime class three ace Brendon Midgley is back in the port and has moved up to the =nlimited class one category, =mporting an Australian =ingle-seater which already =as some top-level Kiwi race Eeritage. Aussie Brad Prout won the 2011 Taupo 1000 outright. He dominated the longest and toughest off-road race in the southern hemisphere, leading both days of the 1000 km event held in pine forests near Taupo. Driving his purpose-built V8 Jimco single-seater race car, Prout led both days of the 2011 Asset Finance Taupo 1000 and fought off determined challenges from Kiwi racers Raana Horan and Malcolm Langley, Prout setting a new lap record for the unlimitedclass cars. Horan's massive Nissan Titan V8 truck had taken pole for the race, almost two seconds faster…

4WD Sport The penultimate round of the Lucas Oil NZ 4×4 Trials Series on 8 March took competitors to Colyton in the Manawatu. The Manawatu 4WD Club hosted the penultimate round of the season sponsored by Combi Clamp, just north of Colyton in Pohangina. The proceeds from the day went towards the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter based in Palmerston North. The course was spread across two valleys with spectators in a prime location to see all the action from a ridgeline between them. After 10 years of trying, Neal Turner and Wade Alexander took their first win in the series. They finished the day almost 100 points clear of second place finishers Sam Thomsen and Mitchell Caldow. Turner/Alexander started well, finishing second in the morning behind Thomsen/ Caldow. They overcame…

I’m reading an Ozzie book about drovers, cattlemen, horse traders, Aborigines, deserts, animals, heat and cross-country transport. An autobiography beginning one hundred years ago. Cattle stations, farms, ranches, whatever you wish to call them were big. Make that massive. Here in NZ we hear of early stations (farms) of tens of thousands of acres, those in the Northern Territory (NT), and adjacent states were thousands of square miles (much bigger than acres or kilometres). Mostly desert, travel was tough and still is. Just as our freezing Otago storms over barren hills killed many a prospector, the scorching barren deserts put many travellers to a slow gruesome death, eaten by birds, animals and insects. Freezing to death is said to be a nicer way to go… I’m not keen on deserts,…

NEWS Mitsubishi's generation six Triton is looming closer. The company’s XRT Concept for the Bangkok International Motor Show strongly previews the coming next-generation Triton which will be released globally before March 2024. Mitsubishi says the new Triton – like its outgoing version – will be a vehicle of global strategic importance and is likely to be exported to around 150 countries around the world. The sixth-generation Triton will introduce the first full redesign for the mid-size utility in more than nine years, characterised by a “fierce expression on the front” and a “robust” bonnet that contributes to the model’s “horizontally-themed styling”. Hinting that Mitsubishi will move its Triton into Ranger Raptor territory are the aggressive front and rear wheel arch mouldings and mud-terrain tyres Mitsubishi says the camouflage design of…

Volkswagen will build electric vehicles for its upcoming Scout Motors brand in South Carolina, USA. The EV plant will be VW’s second vehicle production facility in the U.S., but it won’t make anything but Scout models. A new assembly plant for Scout vehicles will be built in Blythewood, South Carolina, at a cost of $2 billion. The plant is expected to begin producing an electric pickup truck and “rugged” SUVs with the Scout name in 2026. The new Scout EV plant will create an estimated 4000 jobs and be able to make over 200,000 vehicles a year when fully operational. These will all be Scout vehicles, not EVs for other VW brands, a VW spokesperson told Automotive News. VW currently operates one factory in the US., in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The…

Polaris can justifiably claim to have introduced “side-by-side” or UTV vehicles to New Zealand off-road racing and spawned the UTV off-road touring craze. The Polaris RZR XP gets more power, a stronger frame and a more comfortable ride for the 2024 model year which actually kicks off mid-2023. Polaris says its recreational customers want all-day comfort and solid performance with reliability. The frame is 25 percent stronger than before. That helps boost agility to give drivers more performance. It also helps increase comfort by cutting down on buzzes, rattles, and squeaks. The new bodywork gives the RZR XP a fresher and more aggressive look and helps increase comfort and serviceability. Polaris worked to make the cabin itself better. The seats are an inch lower. The rear seats still sit higher…

It’s a Landie, but not as we know it. The Land Rover 101 was built to a British Army specification for a ‘gun carrier’. In private or commercial use, they were a mainstay of shuttle buses at New Zealand ski fields. Occasionally, a 101 Forward Control Land Rover pops up on auction sites like TradeMe, though they do tend to sells mainly by word of mouth among Landie enthusiasts. The 101, or the ‘one tonne’ (after its supposed payload), was designed as a gun carrier for the British army in the late 1960s, produced in the 1970s and decommissioned by the 1990s. They were never sold new to the public, but they’ve made their way into private hands since. Most of them seem to still keep their original Rover 3.5-litre…

Ford is increasing production on models in high demand, with plans to triple the amount of F150 Lightnings it builds this year. After a stoppage due to a battery issue that’s now been fixed, production of the electric F-150 will resume on March 13. It’s no surprise Ford wants to sell as many vehicles as possible this year, and today the company detailed plans to strongly increase production of several models that are in high demand. The most notable of these is the F-150 Lightning. Ford says it’s on track to build triple the amount compared with last year. The plan follows Lighting production being halted for multiple weeks due to a battery issue. Ford has since fixed the problem and resumed production in mid-March. said production will resume on…

15 APRIL NZFWDA National 4×4 Trial - Round 6 Hosted by Thames Valley 4WD Club at 8800 State Highway 26 Puriri. Round 6 of the 4×4 National Trial 2022/2023 season. Fun day out for the whole family watching extreme 4x4 competition vehicles go head to head. For more details visit; nz4x4trials.co.nz/calendar-and-results/ 29 APRIL JG Civil 2023 ORANZ Short Course Championship Hosted by Waikato Offroad racing Club at Tect Park, Tauranga. $10 an Adult, $5 a child or $25 per family. www.oranz.co.nz 14 MAY Suzuki Extreme 4×4 Challenge Held at 2278 SH3 Turakina it will feature the top 10 drivers from the 2022/2023 National 4×4 Trials season. Starts 9.00am. Again the top 10 drivers and vehicles will get automatic entry meaning only the best from the NZFWDA National series drivers &…

TESTED Could the Ranger Sport be the best of the bunch?It’s no secret among 4WDers that Ford’s 2023 Rangers set the mid-size 4—4 ute segment on fire since their launch. A fresh, bold design, a broad range of diesel engines and class-leading technology has kept the ‘Next-Gen’ Ranger at the top of many potential ute buyers’ shopping lists. The 2023 Ford Ranger is almost all-new from the ground up. The central body structure including the cabin, door openings and glasshouse are close to the same as the PX series Ranger in size and shape with a few revisions, while everything else – including the chassis, sheet metal, interior, powertrains, cargo tub and suspension – is either new or heavily revised. Among the 4WD models, the new kid on the block…

Kingone Winch has winches to suit a wide range of 4WDs and commercial machines. Over the years Auckland 4X4 has supplied winches to suit customers 4WDs from Unimogs to Suzukis and the ‘farmer’s best friend’, the ATV. The range starts with the ATV3000 and 4000lb units available in 12 and 24 volts. They come standard with wireless remote and synthetic rope. Great for farm machinery and even boat trailers. One model that has been running hot over the past 12 months is our KDS8000lb winch, designed to fit perfectly with the new Suzuki Jimny. Whatever winch bar is fitted it fits easily and packs great features like synthetic rope and wireless remote as standard. With low current draw it is perfect for getting a Suzuki unstuck in any tricky 4WD…

Adventure NZ Last year the ‘Land Rover Series 1 Enthusiasts, New Zealand’ group met in Gisborne and toured south towards Wairoa on the inland road, and then travelled north via the Waimata Valley Road, popping out via Mata Road onto SH35 to enjoy a famous paua pie at ‘Café 35’ in Tokomaru Bay. Who would have ever thought that a year later – Café 35 would be closed and Tokomaru Bay would be isolated for months following the horrific devastation and loss of life on the East Coast of the North Island? Further south at Hawke’s Bay one of our regular attendees, Jess Kyle and her family were right in the thick of it with her elderly parents isolated on the family farm in the Esk Valley and her property…

See the best 4WD trials teams up close in action as the Suzuki Extreme 4×4 Challenge returns for its eighth year running. The NZ 4×4 Trials series has finished, and the top 10 place-getters plus a couple of wildcards all qualify for this unique motorsport event at Turakina in Hawke's Bay. Suzuki is back as naming rights sponsor once more. This event has been created by CowperTrucks for spectator entertainment and prime time TV viewing on TV3's CRC Motorsport show. Expect big crowds. Extreme 4WD action, live commentary, food and refreshments and great spectator viewing - bellowing V8s and 4 banger turbo engines; mud-flinging, gravity defying custom-built specialised 4WD hot rods and much more. There is only one Suzuki Extreme 4×4 event; action starts at 9:00am sharp with 12 different…

4WD Sport Having skirted the looming devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle to complete the opening round of the 2023 championship, Counties Manukau club pushed the 2023 Mickey Thompson New Zealand Stadium Offroad Championship back a few weeks to be sure of decent weather. It worked a treat. The second televised stadium-racing meet of the year went ahead under summery skies; mid-week rain and judicious use of the water truck kept dust to a minimum. The one-day event attracted a slightly bigger field than the pre-cyclone national round at the same venue, and once more the 'side by side' U-class UTVs were the biggest grids, with 12 Polaris, Yamaha Can Am and Honda cars. Next most popular was the unlimited truck class, with eight entries including Nick Hall and Nick Leahy in…

Chinese auto brand Chery is behind a new 4WD SUV. Cherry had a brief presence in New Zealand, mainly selling wee econobox cars. Though no firm plans have currently been announced for New Zealand, Chery’s spin-off brand Jetour has shown official images of its new Traveller SUV, formerly known as the T-1, ahead of its expected global launch this month. The Traveller signals the brand’s intention to expand into the off-road space dominated by Toyota, Land Rover and Jeep. The images of the Traveller show it has a boxy silhouette reminiscent of the GWM Tank 300, which recently went on sale in Australia. It also bears a passing resemblance to the Land Rover Defender. The Jetour brand is carried on the grille, while the LED headlights are made up of…

NEWS Still unconvinced by the EV evangelism, or despairing at the lack of a 4WD ute EV? It’s experimental right now, but Porsche will soon be selling an environmentally responsible fuel for cars. Synthetic e-fuels made from water in a factory powered by windmills sounds like a carbon-neutral green fantasy, but with Porsche behind the plan, expect the Chile-based plant to be producing millions of gallons of e-fuel by the end of the decade. Porsche says carbon-free driving with an internal-combustion engine is possible, but takes work. The company has been investigating synthetic eFuels for years and started trial production at the new plant in February. Chile is an ideal location for this facility because it has plenty of renewable energy sources, Porsche said, and the end product can easily…

Ford New Zealand has expanded its Ranger lineup with the new off-road focused Wildtrak X. The Wildtrak X bridges the gap between the high-performance Ranger Raptor and the recreation-oriented Wildtrak and is designed for customers who want greater off-road capability and smart features that support their passion for adventure without compromising the Ranger’s 3500kg braked towing capacity. “We know customers love the versatility their Ranger offers them. Wildtrak X really captures their desire for exploration, with new hardware and features so they can head across the country or go further off-road than ever before,” said Simon Rutherford, Managing Director, Ford New Zealand. Elevating the Wildtrak X’s on- and off-road ability are core wheel and suspension improvements. The Ranger Wildtrak X’s Bilstein Position-Sensitive Dampers not only allows drivers to go further…

MY 4WD It's no secret that for many, the Suzuki Jimny is the 'it' 4WD of the year. Twelve months ago, NZ4WD tested the limited-run Safari edition, and loved it for is compact, can-do honesty. More recently, we have seen these little trucks adopted by motorhome set, who like to bring along something small, light and economic for grocery runs and local exploring while touring. This tribe are abandoning their tatty Jap import tow-along sedans and hatchbacks in favour of off-road capable small 4WDs. That's not silly. Tauranga-based couple Darryl and Cathy Holden are no strangers to 4WD adventure, and have just completed their own Jimny build, using the higher specification Sierra model. "Over the years, Cathy and I have owned a series 3 Land Rover, an FJ Land Cruiser…

TESTED Nissan is very excited about the new fourth generation X-Trail. With reason. It doesn’t take long behind the wheel to realise the Japanese carmaker has thrown everything including the kitchen sink at this vehicle for a crack at the podium in one of our country’s hottest-selling segments. X-Trail has come a long way since the boxy gen-1 version. It’s been around for 21 years and as mentioned, this is its fourth generation. A fresh approach to design, technology, packaging and materials have been built into this mid-size SUV from Japan. There’s a reason for that: mid-SUV is one of the most hotly contested sectors in the market. Like its smaller sibling, the Qashqai, the latest X-Trail is built on Nissan’s latest CMF-C platform that uses significantly more lightweight materials,…

WINCHES AND RECOVERY GEAR 4WD RECOVERY GEAR There are those who deliberately go out to get bogged. Just so they can use their de-bogging gear. Ironman’s equipment may bring a few more 4WDers over to that lifestyle. Ironman 4×4 products have been developed in the harshest proving ground in the world: Australia. Sold in more than 120 countries, Ironman products have been the first choice for customers for more than 50 years. Ironman 4—4 Monster winches Redesigned and upgraded, these winches feature stronger motors, heavy duty casings, synthetic ropes and competitionstyle solenoids. They are the only winch on the market with a motor breather. There are two monster winches: 9500lb and 12000lb with the option of steel or synthetic cable. The greatest new feature of the range of winches is the…

Weekend Drive While Ashley and I always enjoy travelling by ourselves and just exploring to see what is there, we also enjoy running touring trips for the 4WD club to showcase some of the more interesting areas we have found. This month we had a club trip around the Mangaweka area, with a short day getting to Mangaweka from Wellington via some backroads, a day exploring the Mangaweka area, then a final day across to Ashhurst to end the trip. After meeting up near Paraparaumu, we enjoyed the new expressway for the run north, stopping at a riverside picnic area in Foxton for lunch. One of the challenges of getting from Wellington north to Bulls is that the rivers coming down from the Tararuas are only bridged on the main…

4WD Sport America is the home of off-road racing technology, and has seeded the New Zealand scene with some mighty trucks recently. This is a Trophy Truck, at home in America's deserts. Some Kiwis reckon Trophy Trucks are too big for local tracks, though big Kiwi endurance races like the Taupo 1000 have been graced by these biggest, baddest trucks. This one was built in September 2022 for the 2023 American season and used for the last few races of 2022. Powered by a 525ci V8, it finished off the year winning both BITD and Legacy Championships in the 6100 class. The Brenthel truck's frame is TIG welded and 100 per cent CAD designed: chassis, arms, geometry and fixtures. The whole frame is made of 4130 chrome-moly tube. Suspension arms…

Dunedin racer Emma Gilmour is once more in the thick of offroad racing, sharing her McLaren all-electric 4WD with American Tanner Foust in the global Extreme E series. As the championship's ten teams got behind the wheel at the Season 3 opener, the McLaren Extreme E team looked to pick up where they left off with a podium finish at the Season 2 finale in Uruguay The 3.4-kilometre course of the 2023 Desert X Prix in Neom, Saudi Arabia, provided the first of many challenges in what promises to be the most tightly fought season to-date. A hectic Qualifying 1 on Saturday saw Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust experience a frustrating start to their Season 3 campaign. Running in P3 in Qualifying 1, the driver pairing ultimately finished fifth in…

Over the years, we have worked hard to ‘sell’ off-road racing to prospective drivers and to motorsport enthusiasts. It was never formal, or a role recognised by ORANZ, but over the last few decades we have done ambassador work at speed shows, A&P Shows, the Race to the Sky, the Taupo 1000, the Ashley Forest hillclimb and more. Another staunch supporter of the sport, Dan Fisher, has his mighty Razorback class one car for sale. He’s leaving the sport to do other stuff, which has been an on-again, off-again situation for a while. Having sold his Pro4 to Gary Baker, Joel Giddy seems to be downsizing the Giddy clan’s involvement as well. Our rumoured third loss is Paul Hackett. He crashed his Toyota V8 powered American truck earlier this year…

Last month I got the opportunity to check out Pioi Station (now referred to as Awakino Estate by current owner) that runs north along the coast at Awakino. The Land Rover Owners Club (Rotorua) was asked to provide transport around the 4,000 hectare station by residents of the Highfield retirement village and we agreed. One of the residents, Norton Telfer, originally farmed the station from the 1960s for 30 plus years and he and his friends from the village were having a day out looking over this coastal paradise property. Members and vehicles met at Awakino village in the morning only to find that the residents were delayed due to the ladies leaving first in the car with morning tea – and the van keys. A delay of 40 minutes…