Innehållsförteckning för November 2024 från NZ4WD

Toyota's full-size Tundra pickup will officially go on sale in Australia in November 2024 following final approval of the project by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan. Toyota Australia has partnered with Walkinshaw Automotive Group to re-engineer the US-built Tundra from left-hand drive to right-hand drive, with the vehicle to be produced at Walkinshaw's manufacturing facility in Melbourne. The new Tundra will launch in Limited grade with a new Australian top-of-the-range premium version to join it in the second quarter of 2025. Both versions use the TNGA-F platform that underpins the LandCruiser 300 Series and are powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that generates 326kW of power and 790Nm of torque, driving through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Tundra's engine is mated to a part-time 4WD system with a dual-range…

NEWS The mad world of swamp buggy all-terrain vehicles is getting popular. Joining the Atlas, profiled recently by NZ4WD, and the Sherp, apparently available in New Zealand, is Atrina. It's a completely new all-terrain vehicle that runs – like others in the global ‘swampy' market – on ultra low-pressure tires. It can be used to transport goods, equipment, people, and is also being used for recreation, hunting, fishing and mining. Atrina's design consists of two independent and absolutely sealed hydraulically driven ‘boat' frames that rotate about their axis and can fold almost in half. In the process of overcoming obstacles, the volume of air can move between the rear and front wheels, thus ensuring the passage of areas with difficult terrain. It is powered by a four-cylinder, 1.5 litre petrol…

NEWS Three years ago, Indian auto maker Mahindra launched the Thar. It appeared to ‘quite similar' to Jeep's Wrangler. That sparked a bit of a stoush between Jeep and Mahindra. Now, Mahindra has created a new variant of their go-anywhere 4WD with two extra doors and a longer body. Say hello to the Mahindra Thar Roxx. Perhaps this one also bears a resemblance to another 4WD. Mahindra used to make the Jeep under license, and some of those vehicles – loosely based on the Jeep CJ4 – even came to New Zealand. They may have also borrowed some styling cues from those vehicles over the years. But back to the Thar Roxx itself. The boxy SUV gets a six-slat grille that's divided into two tiers. It has LED daytime running…

EVENT The bi-annual Automechanika show in Frankfurt is the world's largest expo focussing on automotive repair, parts and accessories. The editor of our sister publication, Motor Equipment News, attended this year's event and found lots of interest in the 4WD area – starting with some interesting vehicles plus some accessories and repair equipment. We always think the pictures tell the story at events like this!…

TESTED MITSUBISHI TRITON GLX-R It's not often NZ4WD gets a fully loaded 4WD to test. Canopies, racks and storage systems are usually left to the aftermarket which means magazines seldom get to try out this important gear. But this second drive of the new Mitsubishi Triton in popular GLX-R trim also comes with a serving of accessories that many 4WD users will envy. About the truck: the Triton complies with Mitsubishi's policy of longer model life, punctuated by regular model refreshes. This means owners of a particular version get excellent residual value, while the arrival of an all-new Triton means a significant step forward. Combine that with Mitsubishi's policy of loading the Triton's standard spec sheet to the hilt and the popularity of this 4WD ute is clear. Now in…

Vehicles like the Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota Hilux and even a wagon like Pajero Sport, Land Cruiser or Patrol are designed with margins of capability and safety typically well above the ordinary road car. They tow more, carry more, go more places than sedans and ersatz SUVs that have the look but not the mechanisms. Learning how to exploit this in-built potential will improve a driver's skillset on road and in the bush. It's a mistake, though, to assume that 4WD is simply invulnerable to incidents on road trips or out there in the rough stuff. In particular, pay attention to the vehicle's rated payload and other numbers. The Aussies are better at this than most Kiwis. They look at the GVM (gross vehicle mass) and GCM (gross combination…

Adventure To many, very many in fact, the Ford Everest is a large family-sized SUV that takes the kids to school, handles daily chores with aplomb and since it boasts a 3.5-tonne towing rating, will happily tow the boat and other toys for long-weekend aways. But it's also an incredibly capable off-roader that will conquer most of the rugged terrain that our blue planet has to offer. To prove the latter, Ford invited us to South Africa to climb a mountain, ford some streams and play with some of the local wildlife. The event was split into two challenges, the first being a Safari drive on a quest to spot Africa's ‘Big 5'; the second being a gruesome climb up to the peak of the eastern escarpment's tallest mountain. Let…

For the first time this century, rally cars and off-road racers will compete at a toplevel super stage event. Counties Manukau Offroad Racing Club has set in place a televised three-round rallysprint series for December 2025, January and February 2025. The series will run alongside three Mickey Thompson-backed events: the Offroad Grand Prix on 7 December, the opening round of the 2025 New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship on 18 January and the Stadium Offroad Championship event on 1 February. Rallysprint entries are being handled by former top rally driver Marty Roestenburg and the first rally crew to enter the event is 2025 European Rally Champion Hayden Paddon. All three rounds and the off-road racing events take place on the Counties Manukau club's purpose-built racetrack in the Colin Dale Motorsport Park…

It has been raced and won by Kiwis – admittedly, that was last century. The Rainforest Challenge remains the toughest off-road mud plug known. It started way back in the late 1990s in Malaysia and now RFC events are held in more than 60 countries. As it expanded from its single-event origins to a global event series managed by RFC International it has attracted the toughest of the tough to compete in national RFC events with the aim of selecting the participants for the international final. Though not strictly a ‘race' the RFC is ranked among the top five toughest off-road races in the world. That ranking puts it ahead of the Baja 1000 and the Dakar rally. Some might disagree. The RFC circuit of events is expanding and events…

NEWS Plug-in hybrid pickups take a step forward with Ford confirming its new Ranger PHEV. The PHEV drivetrain will be available in Wildtrak, Sport and XLT Rangers, and Ford is introducing a PHEV-exclusive Stormtrak launch edition. The limited-run vehicle features a new Chill Grey paint colour, the practical Flexible Rack System5 and a luxurious cabin with unique finishes. The new model offers the same towing, payload and off-road performance as other Rangers along with electric-only driving ability, strengthening Ford's leadership of the pickup market in Australia and New Zealand. Ranger PHEV combines a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine with a 75kW electric motor (e-motor) and 11.8kWh (usable) battery boosting the off-road and towing capability that Ranger owners need for work and play. The ability to provide smooth, electric-only driving…

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has launched an updated plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) model of its Outlander crossover SUV. and premiered it in Europe. An update for the petrolonly model is planned to follow in 2025, and both PHEV and gasoline models will then be refreshed in markets including North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Mitsubishi Motors says the Outlander PHEV brings together the best of the brand's electrification and all-wheel control technologies. The model is a three-row seven-seater. The PHEV has a bigger battery to boost EV range to more than 80 kilometres. It features optimised S-AWC, updated suspension and new tyres. Interior convenience and comfort have been improved with the introduction of a navigation system featuring a large 12.3-inch display, enhanced connectivity features, and seat ventilation. There is a…

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is due by the end of 2024, but the aftermarket accessory sector is already busy. The Prado has already been beefed up by Japanese car customiser Wald International, creating a wildly modified Prado. While the factory version has bold, confident styling, Wald has taken the Prado to another level with almost every panel tweaked. There are custom lights, front grille and a wild front bumper along with a bold new bonnet featuring a large air intake flanked by bulges on either side. Off-road tyres and six-spoke alloy wheels are also offered. Wald body kits and alloy wheels range in price, with details yet to be shared on the Prado upgrades. Expect an invoice between $1,000 and $5,000.…

Isuzu has followed Toyota's lead in showing a near-production battery-electric version of its best-selling ute, the D-MAX. The BEV version was confirmed at the time of its announcement as being developed for the Australian market. First, a production model will be ready for the Norwegian market next year, based on a prototype that features a 130kW/325Nm dual-motor powertrain and 66.9kWh lithium-ion battery. Crucially, the D-MAX EV can still tow 3500kg and maintains the diesel's circa-1000kg payload. Isuzu has been developing the EV version since 2023, and is also said to be working on hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Isuzu D-MAX for markets where charging infrastructure lags behind the EV transition.…

EVENT The 4x4 Outdoor Expo in Christchurch kicked off on a warm spring Saturday. The two day event at the Wolfbrook Arena was full of eye popping 4WDs and all the cool gear you could ever want. So with shorts and sunnies on, our family jumped in the 4WD and headed down. Upon arrival it was impossible not to go straight to the show and shine lot. The place was absolutely packed with amazing rigs. There were so many trucks that it was almost hard to take them all in, though each one separately would have turned my head on any other day. We all picked out our favourites with mine being an older white SAS Hilux Surf with some retro Toyota yellow, orange and red stripes down the side,…

TESTED SUZUKI JIMNY FIVE-DOOR AUTO In Aussie, they call it the ‘XL'. Realistically, it's more of an ‘L'. At the beginning of 2024, Suzuki's Jimny 4WD became a more practical compact 4x4 off-roader with the arrival of the five-door, which opens up a whole new market for the wee SUV. The Suzuki Jimny is a mechanical anachronism in every sense, harking back to a time when ‘SUV' was not really a thing and 4WDs rarely even had interior trim. It has everything it needs: live axles, hi-lo transfer case 4WD, a wheel at each corner. What it doesn't get loaded with is electronic fruit. Stuff that nags the driver if it thinks they are not paying attention to the road. Stuff the grabs the wheel if the car thinks it's…

ROOFTOP TENTS The summer season is here and many 4WD enthusiasts will be planning getaways into the outdoors to enjoy the beauty of the 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. They also offer a simplified set-up and pack-up to ensure there's more time for adventuring. Even better, there is a tent to suit every need. Soft shell rooftop tent Provides the ultimate in ease and convenience when traveling. Unfolding in minutes, a rooftop tent provides sleeping quarters off the ground, protected from the elements. Spacious and comfortable, all bedding can remain inside…

TECH TALK Winter's gone, no real need to be thinking about water intrusion, right? Nope. Many parts of the 4WD need protection from the elements year-round, particularly when there are water crossings to complete. There are plenty of components that do not like water: fuse boxes, breathers, intakes, engine computers, the alternator, batteries, and lots more electrical items. Here are a few ways to protect a 4WD from water and the elements. Breathe air, not water Water entering a four-wheel drive's air intake can cause damage to components, causing permanent damage that will require a rebuild of the engine. Small amounts of moisture in the air intake can also cause an engine to stall. The last thing you want happening when you are guards deep in a river. To avoid…

Weekend Drive We were keen to explore the northern half of the Forgotten World Highway on our way to the centre of the North Island. While at Bushlands, we had heard rumours of the road north being closed for roadworks to seal the final section of through the gorge so we had a plan in place for a longer back-road detour if needed. However, were hoping we would not need it since this section of the iconic Forgotten World Highway was a major drawcard for the trip, especially for those who had already explored the area but had bypassed the highway in favour of the more remote routes. So, with Ashley leading, we headed north with fingers crossed. We saw a lot of equipment but no sign of anyone working,…

The track belongs to the young racers as Waikato Offroad Racing Club hosts a youth race day at the Tect Park near Tauranga on 16 November. The day follows last year's inaugural ‘Skux' race day and will give young racers in the Kiwitruck categories of offroad racing centre stage in a day packed with short course and short enduro races. The Kiwitrucks are miniature race trucks, with two classes powered by ‘stationary' engines or motorcycle engines. They enable school-age children to take part in racing in a safe environment. There are more than 30 Kiwitrucks in New Zealand. The event will be part of the club's Christmas celebration, with families invited to camp at the venue on Friday and Saturday nights and a BBQ on Saturday evening.…

Summer is just around the corner. In a little over six weeks, it will be Christmas and that leads us into 2025 and there are already quite a few trips on the calendar, with many more to come. Whatever type of adventure you want there will be a safari, tag-along or competition to suit your needs. But what is a tag-along safari? Tagalong safaris are usually aimed at the general public with a 4WD and club vehicles that are also fully road legal with WOF and registration for insurance purposes. Generally, the worst that usually happens is a little bush pin-striping but some events cater for the ‘tougher' modified vehicles such as the recent Matariki Forestry trip or will have ‘play areas' where you can have a go with recovery…

The long-awaited new-generation Nissan Patrol has been shown in Abu Dhabi, but there's a long wait for a righthand drive version. The new Y63 Patrol is the first new version in 14 years. The 5.6-litre four-cam V8 engine used in the current Y62 will be replaced by a choice of V6 engines. A 3.5-litre 317kW/700Nm turbocharged petrol V6 is confirmed as the engine fitted to versions of the Y63 coming to Australasian markets. There will also be a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre V6 producing 236kW and 386Nm of torque for some markets. The Y63 Patrol will use a Jatco-sourced nine-speed torque converter auto paired with the familiar full-time 4WD system. The Patrol will ride on a new platform underpinning a 35mm longer (5202mm) and 35mm wider (2030mm) vehicle riding on the…

BMW will launch its first mass-market hydrogen-powered car in 2028, followed by multiple other fuel-cell variants of existing models, making it the first manufacturer to do so in what it has called “a milestone in automotive history”. It is likely the first model to benefit will be the X5 SUV. BMW was the first to create a hydrogen powered vehicle when it built a 7 Series that burned hydrogen in its internal combustion engine 20 years ago. That project was a demonstration of the practicality of the fuel. More recently, BMW also produced an X5 that burns hydrogen in its internal combustion engine, again as a proof of concept. The new fuel cell cars being developed for sale will use powertrains co-developed with Toyota with the announcement coming as part…

It may be the longest vehicle launch announcement ever, but Kia's 4WD ute appears to be set for a proper unveiling in early 2025. The company has posted official video of the truck being tested in the desert at Al Qudra in the United Arab Emirates, which reveals a little more of its layout, including a live, multilink rear diff and coil spring rear end. Media overseas reckon the engine will be a version of Kia's 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine. The flat-fronted truck still wears its arty camo wrap, concealing any styling of the body except the unusual wheelarch ‘eyebrows' seen in all official photography to date. Kia said the Tasman will have a global launch, but it specifically mentioned Korea, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East as target markets to…

EVENTS 2 NOVEMBER NZFWDA National 4x4 Trial – Round 1 Hosted by Hawke's Bay 4WD Club, the first round of the 2024/2025 season kicks off in sunny Hawke's Bay. 1383 Argyll Road Otane. More info: www:nz4x4trials.co.nz/calendar 30 NOVEMBER NZFWDA National 4x4 Trial – Round 2 Hosted by Thames Valley 4WD Club. 1051 Tahuna Road, Waiterimu. More info: www:nz4x4trials.co.nz/calendar 18 JANUARY 2025 NZFWDA National 4x4 Trial – Round 3 Hosted by Levin 4WD Club. 2247 Rangiwahia Road, Rangiwahia. More info: www:nz4x4trials.co.nz/calendar 25-27 JANUARY 2025 Matiere Cosy Club Safari Hosted by King Country 4WD Club. Matiere is a historic settlement on the Forgotten World Highway in the heart of the King Country with panoramic views of river, railway, bush and farmland. Camping at the Matiere Rugby Club, the safari will travel over…

LOAD CARRYING Fully Equipped has established itself as a prominent supplier of aftermarket automotive accessories for utes and 4WDs in New Zealand and around the world. With over 30 years of experience, the company has earned a reputation for its flagship products, including the renowned Crown canopies and Tuf Dek liner. These products are meticulously designed to withstand New Zealand's diverse and often harsh conditions. Beyond its in-house offerings, Fully Equipped sources high-quality accessories from globally recognised brands such as EGR, ECB, TJM, Bott, Realtruck, Narva, Projecta, BedSlide, Rola, Warn and more. This diverse portfolio enables Fully Equipped to provide a wide range of products for 4WDs. Expertise in customisation A commitment to vehicle customisation is at the core of Fully Equipped's operations. The company takes pride in its extensive…

ROOFTOP TENTS Welcome to the all-new IRONMAN 4x4 rooftop tent collection. Named after famous star constellations, the tents are compact, functional designs that enhance offroad adventure and touring camping. Orion 1400 aluminium hardshell rooftop tent The Orion features complete blackout fabric in modern grey and black to keep the sleeping environment dark for late risers. The tent is raised in a single action and packs away with bedding in place. Integrated roof plates support up to 50kg. There is also integrated LED lighting. Roof plates and side tracks make it easy to mount a wide range of accessories, like solar panels and bikes. When the Orion is open, keep up to 30kg of gear on the roof. Weight is 92kg (including ladder and molle plates). Ursa 1300 ABS hard shell…

MY 4WD Jamie Winsloe's 1993 Toyota Hilux has been reborn several times. Built for hard farm work back in the early 2000s in Christchurch, it went to a farmer near Lake Hood in Canterbury. It was used to cross a river on the property almost daily, avoiding a longer commute down to the state highway to use a bridge. It had an on-board air compressor to positive-pressurise the starter motor and diffs to prevent water getting in. Next, it was sold to a new owner in Gore, where it got a new low km engine. It then went to another new owner who fitted a new transmission, before being bought by Jamie. “The previous owner was a good friend of mine. He had the truck for years, using it as…

It's big news, and it's out there: Giti will be the naming rights sponsor of the longest off-road endurance race in the southern hemisphere, the NZ1000 at Kurow. This epic race runs across two farm holdings just outside the Kurow township, and the Otago club has just confirmed its 2025 race date. That means it's time for race crews to start planning their ‘1000' weekend, booking accommodation (or sorting out options for sleeping at the track). Also means we'll be getting the Giti Racing Chev ready for a big outing. I hear there are already a few Aussie teams looking to front up, which will make the ‘1000' this country's sole international race. Barry Phillips at the Otago club says the race laps may even be longer than they were…

‘Useful': able to produce good results'. ‘Utility': useful'. Dictionary says it all! The first mass production, wheeled, self-powered, 4WD ute must have been the WW2 Jeep. But take out ‘wheeled' and the history prize goes way back to slavery – captured, bought, or traded. ‘Here's an apple for lunch, bring trice cords of burnwood of length one cubit. By sundown.' What a life. Also the beast of burden – horse, llama, donkey, or the camel whose back was broken by that ‘last' straw. Did the ancient word for straw include fenceposts? Give that man a ute! I fail to quite get the current ute attraction, being personally more focussed on the 4WD off-roader-I-can-sleep-in aspect. If you need to shift a load, get a flatdeck, small or lorry, or a trailer,…