Innehållsförteckning för June 2024 från NZ4WD

Jeep's first EV, the Wagoneer S, is about to launch, with the American SUV brand revealing images of the sleek crossover earlier this year and teasing details like a 600-hp all-wheel-drive powertrain. The Wagoneer S was originally unveiled alongside a boxy, off-road-focused EV called the Recon, due next year. But according to American publication Automotive News it is now likely both electric Jeeps will be offered with internal-combustion engines. As Jeep's sales decline, CEO Antonio Filosa suggested that Jeep could add gas-powered versions of the Recon and Wagoneer S to help boost sales volumes. If the company sees opportunities to profit with internalcombustion powertrains in either car, “we need to grab them or somebody else will,” Filosa said. The Recon and Wagoneer S will be built on the new STLA…

It won hearts and minds when it launched in 1984, and it's still beloved by tradies, farmers and other people who work for a living. Toyota is still building tough 4WDs. Old school, boxy, gruff. Oh, and in a nod to modern times, the Land Cruiser 70 now has an automatic transmission. Auto-dipping headlights, Apple/Android phone projection, autonomous braking, lane departure alert and road-sign recognition. The new Cruiser is dropping the old V8 in favour of the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel used in the Hilux, with 150kW and 500Nm. It has (slightly) more torque than the V8. Toyota does still offer the updated 70 with the 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 as a cab-chassis and the four uses 10.6l/100km while the big V8 manages 12.0l. The bonnet is bulged up to accommodate the…

Toyota's freshened Land Cruiser 70 is arriving soon, with a revamped Prado also imminent. There are murmurings about EV 4WDs. But what's this? Toyota is looking to drop a new ‘Baby Cruiser’. Its working title is supposedly Land Hopper, though that's already the name of a scooter in Japan. Land Cruiser fans are calling it the Cruiser Mini, indirect successor to the FJ Cruiser. It certainly shares a family ‘look’ with the new Prado. It's more than just a fakey show concept apparently, with Japanese media saying it's likely to go on sale there by the end of the year. Though it first appeared as the Compact Cruiser EV concept a couple of years ago that version would use an electric version of the TNGA architecture. Whatever it's called, the…

10-11 MAY Akatarawa Enduro Hosted by Tararua 4WD Club. A 7.5-kilometre track. There will be four diversions which may require some winching. No parts of the track will be narrower than 2.5 metres. This is a singleclass event based on NZ 4X4 Enduro Rules. Vehicle must be fitted with compliant roll cage. Start at 10.00am and will run for two hours with a one hour lunch break. Afternoon session starts at 1.00pm for two hours. Camping is available on site (toilets/showers available). Entry fee for vehicle, driver and co-driver is $200. Details at www.4x4events.co.nz/index.php/akatarawa-enduro-wellington/ Rule book www.4x4events.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NZ-4WD-Enduro-challengerules-2024-2.pdf Entry forms: www.4x4events.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-Enduro-1.odt 2 JUNE CT Civil Off Road Racing National Championship round 4 Woodhill 100 The oldest off-road race in New Zealand, held on a loop track in Woodhill Forest. Hosted by…

4WD PRODUCTS Everybody has their own idea of the ultimate 4WD trip. To experience that trip, every 4WDer has their own idea of the ultimate 4WD. Invariably, these concepts involve 4WD accessories – some that are essential, some that simply make 4WD life so much more enjoyable. Accessories that make our vehicles truly ours, perfect for the work and play we love. Add tougher tyres. All terrain, rough terrain, mud terrain? Sure. A winch perhaps. What power rating, and what cable, wire or synthetic? Secure stowage: add a lockable canopy, in a shade that matches the ute. A roof tent or awning, or maybe both. Bolt on a bike rack. Rod holders for those epic beach trips. A lockable bin for work tools, or maybe even a service body for…

4WD PRODUCTS The Toyo Open Country A/T III and Open Country Rugged Terrain tyres are designed to excel in a variety of driving conditions, from smooth highways to rugged off-road trails. With advanced tread patterns and unique rubber compounds, these tyres provide superior traction and handling, giving drivers the confidence to tackle any terrain with ease. One of the standout features of the Toyo OPAT3 and OPRT tyres, in addition to their performance and durability, is that the Toyo OPAT3 and OPRT tyres were also designed with safety in mind. Their advanced tread patterns and innovative tyre technology provide excellent all-weather grip and stability, allowing drivers to maintain control in a variety of driving conditions. Toyo's enhanced design delivers gripping off-road traction with responsive and refined on-road handling performance for…

4WD PRODUCTS When it comes to utes, performance and reliability are paramount. Enter Nexen's latest Roadian ATX and Roadian MTX tyres. Designed to meet the demands of modern-day drivers, these tyres redefine traction, durability, and versatility on and off the road. Each tyre has a dual sidewall design - Beast or Machine - that allows 4WDers to customise the look of the tyre on their vehicle. Roadian ATX: Traction redefined All Terrain Xtreme (ATX) tyres are engineered to conquer any terrain with ease. Whether navigating through rugged landscapes or cruising down the highway, these tyres deliver unmatched traction and stability. With an aggressive tread pattern and advanced sidewall technology, drivers can confidently tackle mud, gravel, snow, and everything in between. Enhanced sidewall protection ensures durability in the face of challenging…

Big enduro races have been a part of the New Zealand off-road racing scene since the early 1990s when Vince Beckett organized the first Taupo 1000. Two days flat out in forest south-east of Taupo on the Taupo-Napier highway, a hybrid of rallying and racing, it featured a separate race for enduro motorcycles, and was open to off-road race cars and rally cars. It was styled on the Baja and other big endurance races in the USA and Mexico and had a 100km lap with a satellite fuel pit halfway around the lap – handy for race cars with smaller fuel tanks and important for the motorbikes. I don't recall whether any rally cars finished, because parts of the course were way too rough for cars. The tracks along the…

Once only found on farms and in military applications, 4WD has become a sought-after feature for ‘daily driver’ vehicles. Advancements in technology over the years mean 4WD has only become more essential, enabling drivers to navigate tougher terrain for work and play. That's not even including the all-wheel-drive systems found on more urban vehicles, a safety net in frosty or wet conditions. But what does the future have in store for 4WD? Some coming changes in four-wheel drive technology will make adventuring so much safer and more enjoyable. There are truly remarkable technological advances that are set to revolutionise 4WDing. Coming right up: ‘smart’ traction control systems that transfer torque to the wheel with the most grip. Advanced suspension systems that respond in milliseconds to the terrain they encounter. Safety…

UTE BUYER'S GUIDE The future is here. Well, almost. The future is EV. Well, maybe. New ute designs are coming thick and fast, aiming to fire up the market subsegment beneath the Ford Ranger and VW Amarok. All new designs hint at a range of drive systems and an eventual move to a double-cab 4WD electric ute. Ford's Lightning EV ute is now available in Australia converted to right hand drive. Ford's not saying whether the regular F-150 (also now available in Australia) will be sold new in New Zealand, but it's a fair bet private imports will start to pop up in New Zealand before the year is out. In that upper-upper segment, Ram has of course been the market leader, having been the first to launch. Chev brought…

Dave McLeod ‘Ford Tough’ is the message that greets you on the digital instrument cluster when you climb behind the wheel of a new Ranger, and it's a statement that hasn't come lightly. During testing the Ranger was ‘driven’ 1,250,000km with 10,000km of desert and 625,000km of off-road driving. It was also tested in temperatures varying from -50 degrees Celsius and up to 50 degrees Celsius. Admittedly, we didn't go to those extremes during this dual test, but still pushed it harder than your general townie or tradie would. With six models and three powertrains to play with, the Ford Ranger line-up in NZ is reasonably extensive, however, we opted for the XLT with a 2.0l biTurbo diesel engine (154kW/500Nm) mated to a 10-speed auto. It's powerful enough for most…

UTE ACCESSORY GUIDE More than any nation except America, New Zealand loves 4WD double cab utes. That's no surprise. Modern utes are a far cry from the bouncy, rattly trucks of last century. Now, utes are more like SUVs and even station wagons, as viable for family duties as for clawing up a rough, rocky track to that hidden hunting spot. There are probably two main reasons to add stuff to a 4WD. To improve its appearance, and to improve its capability. Fortunately, most of the accessories that improve capability also improve a 4WD's appearance. A bar system protects bodywork from dents and scratches and gives a solid mount for spotlights of an LED light bar. Even better, combine bar and aftermarket bumper in one purchase, bolt-off/bolt-on. Swap H/T tyres…

NEWS The new electric Range Rover has been all but revealed as final-stage testing gets under way ahead of its launch later this year. New images show JLR's second production EV testing in the Arctic Circle – following a year of component and virtual tests – where temperatures fall as low as -40˚C. The Range Rover EV has been shown completely uncamouflaged – a decision made to “underline the build quality of the initial prototypes”, according to JLR. Painted all in black and without the contrasting matt trim elements that JLR has previously suggested will mark out the EV powertrain, the prototype looks all but identical to the ICE Range Rover that has been on sale since 2022. JLR said these new images show how the prototype's “modernist design language…

It's an EV – seems like they are all the news at the moment – but retains full off-road capability. After four, five, six, eight, and twelve cylinders, there's finally a G-Class with no cylinders at all. In place of a combustion engine, the purely electric Geländewagen packs four motors – one for each wheel. It's still an off-roader through and through, and in some cases, it's even more capable off the beaten path than the gas model. Although the body design has been largely carried over, the G580 with EQ Technology hides major changes underneath. Those four motors are good for a combined 431kW and a massive 1164Nm of torque. And because this is an EV, that torque kicks in instantly. The quad-motor set-up enables a 0-100km/h time of…

NEWS Embark on a thrilling journey through New Zealand's rugged terrain with the ultimate companion: mud tyres. Designed to tackle the most challenging off-road conditions, these robust tyres promise to elevate 4WD adventures to unprecedented heights. This is the essence of mud tyres, their advantages, drawbacks, and essential considerations, empowering 4WDers to make informed decisions before venturing into the wilderness. Mud tyres are tailor-made for rough terrain with deeper and wider tread patterns engineered to grip in soft surfaces like mud, snow, and sand with unparalleled tenacity. Their aggressive tread blocks and wider gaps ensure enhanced traction and self-cleaning capabilities, preventing mud and debris from hindering any expedition. But can mud tyres be driven on the road? Absolutely. Bear in mind, though, while these tyres excel off-road, their deeper tread…

Filed under ‘Stuff we can't have’: a slightly mad 6x6 Ford Bronco that casts off any pretence of simple sporting prowess. It's an aftermarket beast, an answer to the question: is there an off-road-focused truck or SUV that can't be improved with the addition of a second rear axle and two more wheels? Mercedes, Hummer, Chev, Dodge, all have been torn down and recreated in this extreme form. But what about Ford's Bronco? Well. The six-wheeled Bronco also is at least 50 percent longer than the normal, four-wheeled two-door model, which shares DNA with the Ranger. Bronco's big plastic fender flares form a double-bubble on the big flat rear flanks. The dual tailpipes hint at a big petrol engine, though details are scarce.…

There is nothing like a pending Land Rover Series 1 run to sharpen your focus on all those niggling little issues that you were supposed to have sorted out months ago. For several months my 1955 Series 1 has been plagued with a slight case of asthma – but only at idle. Runs like a dream on the road – but coughs and spits at idle. I dropped the carburettor off in October for a rebuild – and hadn't heard back from the chap, so ended up chasing him for a bit. Swapped distributers around, changed the coil and the HT leads, and don't even start me on the issues with condensers. I'm actually not sure what eventually sorted it out, but on the day it was idling “smooth like…

Ironman 4x4 offers a full range of automotive accessories including bull bars, suspension upgrades, side steps and rails, rear bars, underbody protection, lights, winches, snorkels and camping gear. The company's replacement winch bull bars are designed, engineered and tested in Australia. Every Ironman 4x4 bull bar is carefully crafted from premium grade materials and components to deliver comprehensive frontal protection and style. Ironman 4x4 bull bars are carefully modelled using 3D vehicle scanning techniques to achieve optimal cosmetic design whilst providing maximum vehicle collision protection. All bars are made from the highest quality SPHC oil and pickled steel (not mild steel) to give maximum strength and rust resistance. The finish on Ironman 4x4 bull bars is top quality using the AKZO NOBEL powder coat system, which gives a thicker, smoother…

For over 40 years, Airplex has been a leading supplier of ute, car, and truck accessories in New Zealand. Their everexpanding range ensures 4WDers can find exactly what they need to transform a vehicle into a capable companion for work, weekend getaways, or epic off-road expeditions. They are back at Fieldays this year, site I35, with great deals across almost the whole Airplex range and the chance to win a Rhino Rack 2m Awning and more. For a tradie hauling gear or a family embarking on a road trip, Airplex has the right equipment. The company is an approved stockist and installer of Rhino-Rack, a trusted name in roof racks and awnings – perfect for securing extra cargo and creating a shaded space at the camp or work site. Canopy…

4WD PRODUCTS When the first RV tent was launched it empowered a new type of camper and created a new camping category, pioneering the concept of quick setup tents. At the same time it removed the complexity, angst and sometimes arguments from the joy of setting up a campsite. While others have since joined the market with fast tents, the Oztent 30-second frame tents (and swags) have three unique features. • They are constructed around a high quality frame, ensuring that they can stand solid and endure the harshest conditions. • The full body of an Oztent can be set up in less that 30 seconds – free from poles and arguments. • There is no faster tent of this quality in the world. High quality, easy to use Oztent…

The South Island has two world class airshows – Warbirds over Wanaka (WoW) and Omaka – that run year about. Both suffered a Covid break, Wanaka's was six years, so aviation/horsepower/jet/ spectacle buffs were in sideslip and the organisers were stalled fearing a terminal spin. ‘Scuse the puns. WoW screamed back this year and was booked out all three days. The ancient aircraft bunch flew in a range of interesting ‘planes that performed faultlessly and a top end range of modern go-fasts joined from our Air Force and the US Pacific fleet. Was nice to have them back with F-16s and heavy transports. Excellent aerobatics on show. I grew up on a diet of airshows as self and family worked in aviation. Dad was a cabinet maker and when he…

I was chatting to a guy the other day that had been out four-wheeling for the weekend and he said he broke his winch. In clarification, it was actually his winch rope that broke, which was synthetic and came on the winch second hand, and the discussion turned to the attributes of synthetic verses steel winch ropes. The original winch rope was made from aircraft-grade galvanised steel and had been around since the first electric winches were introduced by Warn in the late 1950's. They offered durability and abrasion resistance and basically tough as, which is why four-wheelers loved them so much. They could be dragged over rocks, stumps and through mud without a worry, are UV and chemical resistant, and therefore lasted for a long time. On the other…

The game has moved on these past three years, and shows every sign of continuing to do so. First, Ford launched the ‘next-Gen’ Ranger in 2022. Then VW launched its platform-shared but distinctly European Amarok. Now, Mitsubishi has quietly brought its new Triton to market, with the Nissan version still on the way. In each case, the lead partner gets to launch first. With Mazda leaving the New Zealand market and Kia, BYD and others preparing to launch here, things are getting crowded. The one certainty is that utes, and to a slightly lesser degree SUVs, will remain new Zealand's favourites and will continue to dominate monthly sales charts. Drivetrain options are expanding. Hybrid utes are on the market, and there are any number of brands stating their intention to…

UTE BUYER'S GUIDE DUAL TEST: MITSUBISHI TRITON VRX VS FORD RANGER XLT It's a question of choice, needs vs wants, and of course budget. These utes are very different approaches to the question: “What ute shall I buy?” The answer will of course be different for every buyer. For NZ4WD, both utes have much to recommend them, both on the school run or out in the backblocks. We reckon the gap is narrower than it has ever been, and the Triton has been absolutely transformed. Rural users will have a hard time choosing between these two. Triton may even edge slightly ahead of Ranger in a rural setting thanks to its tech and spec load, its excellent transmission and its price advantage. The Ranger, though, reassures with its utter solidity…

Priced below $6,000 including GST, Bushtech aluminium canopies can be $3,000-$4,000 cheaper than rival brands. They offer genuine quality of a standard suitable for installation on new utes at dealerships across New Zealand. Proven internationally, built with 25 years automotive engineering experience and now over two years in New Zealand, Bushtech canopies are backed by a manufacturer's 10-year frame guarantee. 1. Unbeatable value for money Unbeatable value in aluminium canopies offering full genuine quality with a 50 percent higher dynamic (in-motion) load rating of 300kg. Wellside canopies are the company's main product but the all new Bushtech X-Series tray and canopy displays capability in aluminium engineering few can match. 2. Superior build and finish Cheaper canopies that appear similar are not engineered like a Bushtech. Canopies with rivets outwardly visible…

Images of the new Jeep Wagoneer S EV have been ‘leaked’ online. They appeared on social media channels belonging to parent company Stellantis and come with a level of unleaked information. The Wagoneer S will be based on the Stellantis STLA Large vehicle platform, capable of underpinning next-gen vehicles with either combustion, hybrid, or all-electric drivetrains with either 400 or 800-volt architectures. The new Wagoneer S has been confirmed to only be offered in an all-electric form, as the Jeep brand already sells four different Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer ICE SUV models, as well as the mid-size gas and hybrid-powered Grand Cherokee family. The newest Wagoneer will be a premium mid-size SUV designed to compete with the Land Rover Range Rover Sport when it launches in North America later in…

Ineos Automotive is celebrating its first rally win in the US and Canadian endurance Alcan 5000 Rally 2024, within the first year of the 4X4 launching. The Ineos Grenadier beat 16 other competitors to claim victory in the Truck/SUV class of the 5,000 mile (8,000km), 10-day Alcan Rally, with the unmodified vehicle piloted by Andy and navigated by Mercedes Lilienthal of Portland, Oregon. The Alcan 5000 Rally is a time-speed-distance (TSD) endurance rally. This isn't a race where the fastest team wins, but a precision event where competitors travel on public roads or trails, following specific routes at precisely prescribed rallydesignated speeds. Teams with the closest time to their “perfect on-time” win their respective class, meaning vehicles must perform as well on and off-road to succeed. The event sweeps the…

NEWS Jonah Lomu had one. They are to be seen swanning around flash suburbs of New Zealand's bigger cities. They were originally built for military purposes. This country has mostly seen them in SUV form. Mercedes-Benz has offered its fabled Geländewagen with a pickup bed in the past. The G-wagen – officially known as the G-Class – has become popular among the rich and famous since its introduction, which suggests a pickup version would surely be a runaway success. A small handful of older, military W461 pickups have found their way into private ownership around the world, but they are pretty basic. For those with the cash to demand a luxury G-wagen pickup, it's down to auto modifiers to meet demand. Pit26 Motorsports is one such company. With a team…

EVENT There might have been a bit of rain about, but 4WD enthusiasts were there in their thousands The Kumeu 4x4 Outdoor Expo over the weekend of 21-22 April kicked off in the midst of a day-long rain storm, but more than 4,000 attendees were happy enough – especially the second day crowd, who got steadily improving skies. Things to see, things to do, things to eat and drink, gear demonstrations – there was plenty of everything 4WD fans love. Auto dealerships had an array of ‘shinies’ on display, there was a huge array of outdoor and camping supplies, there were 4WD accessories of every description, and vehicle modifiers were displaying some extreme modified 4WDs. There were 18 clubs in their own section of the expo, and camper conversions, trailers…

MY 4WD Dedicated travellers Carsten Elsholz and Rose Healey met while working in Saudi Arabia, touring extensively throughout the region before relocating to New Zealand. There was no big desire to settle, though, and the start of a plan began to form. It began in November 2023, when they took delivery of their off-road caravan. They would build a 4WD to tow the caravan, then go to Australia, up through South-East Asia, through their old stomping ground in the Middle East and then on to Europe, doing the North Africa loop and back to Europe to ship Lara (the truck) and Croft (the caravan) to Canada, up to Alaska, then all the way down through South America to Tierra del Fuego. “We have started our trip with a tour around…

Smaller, lighter, and more powerful, REDARC's revolutionary three-way battery charger has landed. REDARC are excited to introduce their new range of power management systems, Manager Alpha. Available in 50A, 75A and 100A capacities, the Manager Alpha redefines mobile power management. Modern explorers are looking to spend more time away, but don't want to sacrifice modern comforts and conveniences. At up to 55 percent smaller and 28 percent lighter than comparable competitor systems, the Manager Alpha will maximise your vehicle's capacity and leaving room for those adventure essentials and creature comforts. The Manager is the only charger to charge from AC, DC and solar allowing you to charge while you drive, while plugged in at camp or from the sun. This makes it an ideal companion whether you're driving, soaking up…

4WD Sport Sam and Caitlyn Thomsen survived an early rollover to win the 2024 Suzuki Extreme 4X4 Challenge, the toughest, most entertaining and largest 4WD event in NZ. Ashley Tonkin and Mitch Caldow also rolled early, along with wildcard entry Neal Turner. In total, six of the 12 competitors rolled on the first course. The top 10 competitors of the 2023-2024 national trials series contested the event. Event organiser Dan Cowper had increased the number of course challenges from 12 to 15 including a new one: who could drive the furthest on two wheels. Each course features 10 ‘gates’ worth 100 points each (maximum 1000 per course). Competitors must not touch the course boundary tape and can stop and reverse, but had to complete the course within a 60 second…

In April I manned the New Zealand Four Wheel Drive Association Inc. (NZFWDA) stand at the 4x4 Outdoor Expo at Kumeu and although the Saturday was notable for the continuous rain, there were a surprising number of visitors to the show. The Sunday weather was much better and saw more families wandering the displays, although there seemed to be less evidence of people lugging their purchases with them, in comparison with last year's show. While the number of vendors displays seemed to have grown from last year, so had representation by the ‘online’ community. Some quite professional presentations within that category, probably because many of those groups are offshoots of various business entities who use the internet to engage with past and potential customers. It would be great to be…

Dave McLeod, editor Company Vehicle It's been a long time since I've been behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Triton, so I was pretty stoked to get the opportunity to put the all-new model through its paces, both on and off-road. The 6th generation Triton has been branded the ‘King of Beasts’ by the Mitsubishi marketing team. That's a big call, but then again, with more than 5.6 million unit sales across 150 countries since the Triton first launched in 1978, it's got big shoes to fill. The fifth generation model debuted in 2015, so Mitsubishi has had plenty of time to develop this new model and they've pretty much thrown everything at it. It sits on a new platform with thoroughly redesigned suspension, has more power and torque, and…

It was rubbish weather. All week the sun shone, rain fell each night but the mornings were glorious. Come the weekend, the whole North Island is shrouded in miserable curtains of rain. But that can be the best time to examine a 4WD double cab ute. After all, life isn't all sunny days and rainbows, right? It's been a while since NZ4WD had a D-Max to drive. This one might well be the pick of the litter too. It's an LS, flash but not flashy, and based on the tough truck-style drivetrain that underpins the whole 2024 D-Max range. In the midst of a dismal Auckland rain storm, we used the D-max to head out west to the Kumeu 4x4 expo, and it did us proud. Sure, the strong torque…

UTE ACCESSORY GUIDE Ask most 4WD drivers how much time spent on/off-road and there's every chance the answer will be inaccurate. Not because drivers are lying, but because noone really counts up the hours to say with any accuracy what percentage of time is spent on tarmac and what's spent off it. Because that would be boring. Some tyre brands boast of their MT's off-road performance yet they squirm all over the road. Others talk about being capable ATs, yet the first mud bog they encounter ends the journey. So just how to match the right tyres to a 4WD? The answer is to choose tyres that do more than one thing. Because every 4WD does. Not only that, but that 4WD probably does more than one thing really well,…

Yakima's story is more of a journey because they've never been good at sitting still. Originally founded in the Pacific Northwest, USA and now with a home base across the ditch in Australia, they've got the great outdoors at their doorstep. From creeks to peaks, beaches to bush, the land they roam makes them feel at home. Together with a network of respected retailers and distributors around the globe, they give adventurers the freedom to wander, the right to be unruly, and the confidence to go more rogue. Yakima has a long-standing reputation for providing innovative and stylish solutions for outdoor enthusiasts, and their recent product launch in New Zealand further demonstrates this commitment. The line-up includes the MajorShady 270 Awning, the RibCage – a high-capacity track system designed for…