Innehållsförteckning för September 2024 från NZ4WD

NEWS In a world where off-roading continues to grow in popularity, Suzuki’s Jimny is a cult phenomenon. In three-door and now five-door format, it has proved immensely popular, but in some markets, emissions regulations prevent or limit sale of the wee SUV. Now, Australian media are reporting medium-term plans to release both a hybrid and an all-electric variant of the SUV. The news comes via Aussie publication CarSales, which spoke with Suzuki Australia’s Michael Pachota. The Jimny is the second-most-popular small SUV behind the Mazda CX-3. Pachota recognized the need for more efficient powertrains. Jimny’s current 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine has already been barred from entry into a number of markets due to its emissions levels, with tighter regulations coming in many regions. Jimny’s engine options will likely continue to follow…

NEWS It’s taking a while, but Kia’s all new Tasman 4WD ute is drawing closer, and Australian auto media are getting excited. New spy shots from South Korea show a Tasman double cab with a canopy roof, suggesting the brand is developing a range of accessories to go with the rugged workhorse when it launches early next year. Kia has previously said there has been significant interest from fleets which would require such accessories. There are a number of non-negotiables for the Tasman that would make it attractive to fleet buyers. These include a five-star ANCAP safety rating, a 3.5-tonne tow rating and greater than a one-tonne payload. These put it level with the Ford Ranger, VW Amarok, Isuzu D-Max and others, and well ahead of BYD’s Shark, which will…

Just as the whole world went EV mad and countries were shouting about banning the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines, Jeep was putting the finishing touches to a new in-line six-cylinder engine. One with two turbochargers. Though the new Hurricane engines are currently only available in the new 2024 Wagoneer, they are headed for the broader Dodge, Chrysler, and Stellantis family in the future. Mad, or madly clever? At a time when auto makers are saying 2030 might be a tad soon to be axing internal combustion engines, a twinturbo six-cylinder engine making huge power and torque puts Jeep on a firm footing. Powerful V8s are on the way out across Stellantis brands, so these relatively small-displacement sixes get two turbos delivering up to 26 psi for…

The 2024 JAC T9 will not be capable of towing up to 3.5 tonnes, among other key payload and off-road specifications trimmed back for the new ute. JAC issued “updates to the specifications” of its new T9 ute and has reduced its claimed towing capacity, wading depth and towball down-load weight. Payload has increased slightly. The claimed braked towing capacity has been reduced from 3500kg to 3000kg – matching key rivals such as the GWM Ute and LDV T60, but well down on the VW Amarok, Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux. Wading depth is down from 800mm to 650mm. Towball download weight has reduced from 350kg to 300kg, while payload is up from 1000kg to 1045kg. The towing capacity has been lowered because it was based on overseas specifications which…

Isuzu’s D-Max 4WD Utilities are working hard for Kiwis in rural and urban environments. One of the major strengths of the D-Max is its clever ‘blanket’ specification: all models feature the same engine, transmission, transfer case and traction aids. Equipped with an immensely robust 140kW/450Nm turbodiesel four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission, the D-Max has a 3,500kg (braked) tow rating. Trailer Sway Control (TSC) assists with towing and will assist with towing in high winds or on uneven surfaces. Isuzu’s Terrain Command 4WD system is standard across the range, and features ‘on the fly’ RWD - 4Hi shifting up to 100km/h along with a rear differential lock. There’s hill start assist to help get under way on slippery uphills, hill descent control to manage slippery downhills, and torque converter lockup…

MY YWD Mitsubishi’s Pajero has always been a bit of an under rated 4WD, but they are a great base for a strong off-road build. Verdi and Angele’s SWB 1994 Pajero build shows what can be achieved with a modest budget and a can-do attitude to end up with a very capable truck for off-road exploring and camping. They started out with a stock 1994 SWB model fitted with the 3.0 litre SOHC V6 engine and five-speed manual gearbox which was purchased for around $4,500. The Pajero offers a good set of specs for an off-road build with very short overhangs, good performance and a good transmission, as a bonus this one came with the factory rear locker. The total budget to date is around $8,500 including the purchase price.…

After nearly 40 years in Europe, 4×4Explorer Adventures owner Richard Soult returned to New Zealand in 2014 and began overlanding around the South Island. He has travelled extensively through the Pyrenees, the French/Italian Alps, North Africa and says New Zealand’s South Island is the best overlanding in the world. “We keep a 4WD in Europe for our summer trips and yet are always keen to get home and explore what we have on our doorstep. The spectacular, diverse scenery and the remoteness holds a draw that is difficult to find anywhere else. It’s truly unique and worth exploring and sharing.” The company 4×4Explorer Adventures was born in 2000, in the depths of the COVID when Richard Soult decided to make a lifestyle change and turn his passion into a business.…

After a year of planning, our 4WD club “Coast to Coast” run has just completed the three key destinations of the trip - Cape Egmont lighthouse, Centre of the North Island and now we have just pulled into the car park at the East Cape lighthouse. Unfortunately, we were missing one member of our party since we had left Fritz at Tirohanga, waiting for a locksmith to sort out his ignition key problems. We had planned to have lunch here to celebrate reaching our destination, but unfortunately it was very windy, threatening rain, and we were in the midst of a commercial cycle tour just setting off from the carpark, so having taken all the necessary photos, we decided to move on and find somewhere more sheltered for lunch. Despite…

New Zealand off-road racers have been Crossing the ditch to race since last century, when the likes of Tony McCall, Dave and Daynom Templeman travelled over to race the Bridgestone Kempsey 500, a tough, dirty and dusty thrash in the Aussie bush deep in the heart of Aussie country music country. That race was one of the best presented and best promoted events in the Southern hemisphere at the time, and it attracted a massive grid of race cars and trucks. More recently, Kiwis Richard Crabb, John Morgan and Raana Horan have cntinued the tradition. At many races they have finished in the top ten, top five or on the podium. Now though, a new name has been added to the BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC) history books,…

There is a certain breed who love this stuff. Others are interested in a bit of a muddy day. A few - those who drive shinies in the city - are probably not keen. But mud is a fact of life off tarmac. When out adventuring, it’s a good idea to be prepared for some sludge. Having decent tyres is essential - at least an allterrain, preferably a mud terrain tread. Carry an electric air pump and be ready to ‘air down’ tyres for traction. Next DIY weekend, dive underneath the truck. The diffs and transmission and transfer case all have breathers that equalise air pressure as lubricants and metáis warm and expand. In mud or water, those breathers are a pathway for contaminants to be drawn into components, where…

Living large in the lucky country: Aussies will shortly be able to buy right-hand drive 2024 Lincoln Navigator SUVs and 2024 Hummer EVs in SUV and pickup form. A company calle d Autogroup International says its ‘mirror image’ RHD conversions will go on sale in more than 40 right-hand drive countries. The Navigator and Hummer EV ranges have undergone what Autogroup says is “an extensive mirror image conversion” that includes complex electrical and mechanical reengineering. Homologated and ADR compliant, the vehicles are manufactured to ISO 9001:2015 standards to ensure they are safe, legal, and ready to drive. All vehicles are backed by a comprehensive three-year warranty. These right-hand drive vehicles on sale across the Tasman may well indicate private imports to New Zealand are coming, though there is no indication…

The GWM Tank 500, recently launched in New Zealand, has been awarded a fivestar ANCAP safety rating. The Tank 500 met five-star thresholds across each of ANCAP’s key areas of assessment. Good scores were seen across the range of destructive crash tests, with maximum points awarded for the level of protection provided to adult and child occupants in the side impact test. On the downside, the Tank 500 was penalised for its “increased risk to occupants of a struck oncoming vehicle”. The GWM Tank 500 achieved the highest score (93 percent) for Child Occupant Protection assisted by the presence and function of a direct child presence detection (CPD) system. Tank 500’s CPD uses a range of sensors within the vehicle to detect the physical and respiratory movements of an occupant…

Forget gold, cobber. The big money is in copper these days. Australia’s Mt Isa mining region in Queensland is celebrating a sudden rise in economic importance as demand for copper climbs. The region mines cadmium, zinc, lead and silver, but it’s copper that’s now the big earner. A recent resurgence in the local economy is largely thanks to the burgeoning electric car industry, which is creating some serious demand for copper. The majority of Mount Isa’s 18,000-strong population is either directly or indirectly employed by Glencore’s Mount Isa Mines, which mines copper, zinc, lead and silver and has a copper and lead smelter. Ironically, given that it’s the electric vehicle industry that has driven the resurgence, EVs are invisible on the roads around Mt Isa. Driving electric cars in this…

Electric vehicles are suffering a local and global sales backlash and may well be overtaken by rival fuelling technologies. More than 40 percent of electric vehicle owners in the US say they are likely buy a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) as their next purchase. Facing sales declines, manufacturers are canning bold plans to go all EV by 2030 and putting development into new hybrid vehicles instead. From different positions in the global car market, Ford and Porsche have backed away from plans to focus on EV production. Over the last few years, Ford has divided its business into internal combustion and EV units and despite an aggressive push to get more EVs on the road is now losing significant money on its EV business. In the USA,…

It’s as tough as its squared-off profile, brand heritage and 40-year model history suggest. Real tough. Quite simply, Toyota’s Land Cruiser 70 Series has been engineered to be the toughest Toyota on the planet. Mining companies using the Hilux in the dusty outback of Australia end up switching to the 70 Series when they break their Hiluxes. Over there, the 70 is truck of choice on bush blocks and in the thick red dust of outback farms. It literally has no direct rival - once, the old Defender or Nissan’s GU Patrol was in the same category, but no more. The coming Ineos Quartermaster might tempt a few, but it’s likely to be significantly more expensive. So, they don’t come much more tried-and-tested than the 70 Series, but this updated…

4 WD ACCESSORY KIT-OUT Got the best 4WD in the country? What will make it even better? Individualising - personalising - that 4WD makes it unique, distinct and ready for work or play. What will it be, then? A set of spotlights, a light bar? Aftermarket bumper bars, steps perhaps? If overlanding and off-grid camping is the idea, then an extra battery and an energy managernent system. Recovery gear is a no-brainer An air pump for tyres, some traction boards, perhaps a Tirfor-style hand winch A spade, of course. Where to start? Talk to other 4WD owners who enjoy the same style of adventunng. Check out workshops that instal accessories. Read 4WD magazines. Talk to established companies with a good track record in-country and talk to people who use the…

4WD ACCESSAORY KIT-OUT There is no doubt: a good 4WD becomes a great 4WD when it’s fitted with the accessories that make it truly fit for purpose. Performance Mechanical in Taupo supplies, fits and maintains a wide range of 4WD parts and is an authorised Ironman and Terrain Tamer stockist. The company keeps in stock an extensive range of suspension kits ready to fit and has a well-stocked 4WD accessory store, backed by an extensive workshop with Service capability for installations and repairs. Owner Klem Christensen has raced 4WDs across Australasia for more than 20 years including the epic Taupo 1000. For the shop, he has built the impressive Medusa LC79 as a hard-working 4WD and a mobile showroom. Klem has ‘been there, done that’, making him a source of…

Regular contributor Kevin Isemonger attended the New Zealand 4WD Association’s annual general meeting and was lucky enough to drive all five trips organised as part of the weekend. This is part one of his account. For the 50th Anniversary of the NZFWDA it was decided to take it all back to where it started and host the event at Wairakei Resort just north of Taupō - with the help of the Taupō 4WD Club. Last year my wife and I attended the NZFWDA AGM in Methven which was preceded by five days of trips rightly entitled the ‘Bolder Bash’. Unfortunately for the Taupō Club - this set the bar quite high. The Taupō Club is small, so the task at hand required quite a commitment from the entire club to…

4WD Sport Bucket List: a list of things a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. Australia’s Greatest Desert Race, The Tatts Finke Desert Race was on mine. When I got a call from Australia-based and former NZ off road competitor, Jack Tabot, to co-drive with him as a volunteer sweep for this year’s event, I jumped at it. After flying into Sydney and getting a night’s sleep, we had a 2,794kms drive to Alice Springs over two days. Our car for this epic trip was Jack’s trusty Nissan Navara, which we would use to sweep our section of the racetrack. Too easy. Originally a bike race, first held in 1976, the 460km round trip from Alice Springs to the small outback town of Aputula on the banks…

It is 27 years ago last month that I had the opportunity to test a Mercedes G-Wagon soft top that had been brought into NZ for evaluation by the NZ Defence force as a potential Land Rover replacement. It wasn’t successful but from our short time with the vehicle we were suitable impressed with its overall off-road performance that NZ4WD’s editor Phil Hanson made inquiries to buy it. The price was out of reach. That vehicle had a 2.9 litre five-cylinder diesel engine, limited flex in the suspension but it was permanent 4WD with centre locking diff and had cable operated differential locks that made it awesome off-road. In 2018 I was drove the latest version of the Mercedes G-Wagen, now known as the G-Professional with a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel…

Seeking something different? Won Lotto recently? How about an F-150 Raptor that runs on tracks like a tank? Motorsport fans around the world are still mourning the loss of motorsport icon Ken Block, who died last year in a snowmobile crash. Block’s Hoonigan brand has a huge range of merchandise which is selling for top dollar. Fans who want to own a piece of his legacy can now buy Block’s one-of-a-kind 2009 Ford F-150 RaptorTrax, featured in several of his Gymkhana films. First revealed ten years ago, the RaptorTRAX was no ordinary ute. Built by SVC Offroad, it was modified to handle the most extreme off-road conditions. The interior was fitted with a full roll cage, Recaro seats, and a quick-release BBQ for impromptu celebrations. The exterior wears Monster Energy…

It doesn’t exactly look like ol’ mate’s Raptor down the road, but this is Ford’s most serious push for Dakar victory. The wild-looking Raptor T1+ uses a V8 engine derived from the Mustang’s 5.0-litre Coyote engine and made its debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Raptor T1+ will be raced by Carlos Sainz Sr. and Nani Roma; Ford says two more drivers will be announced at a later date. Drive is provided by a ‘Coyote-based’ 5.0-litre V8, the outputs of which haven’t been revealed and the whole package weighs a minimum of 2010kg. The Ford Raptor T1+ has double-wishbone suspension front and the rear, adjustable Fox external-bypass dampers, and up to 320mm of travel. It rides on 37-inch off-road tires and 17-inch wheels. Brakes are six-piston monobloc…

Building on its electric conversion work with Range Rovers, Inverted is now expanding its retrofit conversión work to Toyota’s Land Cruiser. Well-heeled off-road enthusiasts can now buy expertly restored, electricpowered vintage 40 series Land Cruisers. Inverted builds custom 53kWh battery packs and motors into vintage Land Cruiser variants including the FJ40 short wheelbase, FJ43 middle wheelbase, and FJ45 long wheelbase. Inverted EV Founder Harry Millington says the company stays true to the essence of Land Cruiser’s old school 4WD. Inverted says its custom Land Cruisers are engineered to eliminate the drawbacks that can come with driving a vintage truck, including poor performance, reliability issues and in the case of soft tops, the risk of exhaust fumes entering the cab. Inverted meticulously strips the vintage bodies and chassis down to bare…

NEWS Before battery EVs have managed to replace fossil fuelled vehicles, it seems that hydrogen is the new standard in drive technology. BMW, a hydrogen pioneer 20 years ago, is bringing its iX5 Hydrogen on a world tour to promote the technology as it works toward developing a fuel cell hydrogen-powered vehicle range. Developed in collaboration with Toyota, whose Mirai-sourced fuel cell stack provides the prototype with its electric power, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen can produce up to 295kW of motive power alongside a useful 504km of driving range (WLTP). A current-model fossil-fuelled X5 has a range of 800km. Refuelling takes 3-4 minutes independent of high or low temperature extremes, unlike current BEVs. Australian auto industry publication Go-Auto reports that BMW Australia has taken delivery of two iX5 Hydrogen FCEVs…

The 4×4 Outdoor Expo is the only dedicated 4×4 event platform in New Zealand, with the ultimate ambition to bring the 4×4 industry and 4×4 community together. Exhibitors showcase a huge range of accessory and mechanical Service categories from camping equipment, 4WD accessories, recovery gear, auto dealerships, component fabrication, mechanical components, 4WD suspension and tyres, making the event “the place to build your 4×4”. Expo events at Kumeu near Auckland have been huge successes and now, the company has announced the first 4×4 Outdoor Expo South Island. The event will be held 6-7 September at the Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch. Demand for the event and interest from 4WD enthusiasts has driven the creation of a huge weekend of networking, inspiration, product upgrades, knowledge and Services available for 4WDs. The design…

This is without doubt the biggest 4WD that the magazine has ever tested. Power, payload and towing capability are what Silverado is about. Having said that, it’s only the second-biggest in the Silverado range, sitting behind the mighty 3500. The 3500 shares the same 6.6-litre turbodiesel engine, but it is the undisputed champion when it comes to sheer muscle. Globally, that thing has a maximum towing capacity ranging from 6,350kg to a staggering 16,000kg. This month, though, the 2500HD will do just fine. Our drive truck is the 2500HD LTZ in the new-for-2024 Slate Grey. This is one step up from the intro-level 2500, the WT. Next up above this one is an LTZ Midnight Edition, and top of the range is also LTZ based and called the Custom Sport.…

4WD ACCESSORY KIT-OUT Ironman 4×4 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 has more than 50 years of 4WD industry experience. Why are Ironman bars so good? Ironman 4×4 has a huge range of replacement winch/bull bars which are designed, engineered and tested in Australia. Every Ironman 4×4 bull bar is carefully crafted from premium grade materials and components to deliver the most comprehensive frontal protection and styling available. Ironman 4×4 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 oiled and pickled Steel (not mild Steel) to…

Kicking off those winter blues, people are planning the coming season of 4WD adventuring and exploration. By adding the right gear, the truck becomes better and also becomes unique. The right vehicle for the right job. Overnight accommodation is catered for by roof tents or even a full-on off-road caravan. Having the latter means a base camp can be set up and the 4WD can be used for shorter day trips exploring the area. Arrive back at camp, tired and happy, and climb into a plush and comfortable living environment. Now that’s roughing it! Hardy souls down south will still go for a rooftop tent - even in winter it’s much quicker to get cozy that way than in a stand-alone tent. Campsite solar is popular, keeping batteries topped up…

Adventure A trip to the west coast of Australia has been on our bucket list for a few years now. So six months ago we decided to get serious and make it happen! The main goals were to see the sights, swim with whale sharks and experience the outback. We decided on May 2024 - whale shark season, good settled weather (hopefully) and avoiding the June/July peak season. We also decided to end up in Broome to coincide with ‘Staircase to the Moon’ - a full moon phenomenon. There were three of us: Klem and Sharon Christensen along with our son James. We are business owners, 4WD enthusiasts and keen campers who live in Taupo. After some research and planning we settled on an itinerary from Perth up the west…

The Central Zone Club Truck Challenge encourages new entrants to come and try their hand at an event. But constantly comparing your effort to the next person makes you sharp and pushes you to get better. The event at Colyton (near Fielding) was the penultimate round of the CTC season and class positions were starting to shake out. Steve Stewart has competed in almost all 55 rounds of the CTC that have been held over the last 13 years since it began in September 2011. He’s run the same truck for the whole time, his trusty Nissan Patrol. This year he has had some stunning results, taking a handy lead into the penultimate round and capping off the day with another class win. Brendan and Raewyn Watchorn put in the…

Vehicles on beaches has become a worldwide issue as the availability of 4WD vehicles increases and the recreation of four-wheeling grows in popularity. In some places it is a matter of sheer numbers of 4WD users wanting to drive on beaches, while in many others there are behavioural issues around how 4WDs and other ‘off-road’ type vehicles are used in beach environments. Areas of sand anywhere can be an interesting and often fun to engage with in a suitable vehicle, although there are always risks. Here in New Zealand we have few areas left of shifting sands, with most having been ‘stabilised’ with pine trees, farmland or housing. The pine plantations completely alter the land when planted on sand, as their uptake of any underground water can severely affect the…