HOT TOPIC
Best to worst: New Zealand’s car insurance providers ranked
New Zealand’s top-rated car insurance brands have been revealed as part of the inaugural Finder Awards.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/124516754/best-to-worst-new-zealands-car-insurance-providers-ranked
NZ’s best car insurance companies revealed
A new study has ranked and rated New Zealand’s eight best car insurance companies out of 20 popular name-brand candidates.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/nz-s-best-car-insurance-companies-revealed
HOT TOPIC
Toyota boss talks smack about Apple car prospects
The long and meandering journey tech giant Apple has had in its push to make a car took an interesting series of turns earlier this year.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/toyota-boss-talks-smack-about-apple-car-prospects
Toyota chief’s warning to Apple: the car business isn’t easy
Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda offered a warning to Apple, which is plotting a foray into the auto industry: There’s more to the business of selling cars than just having the technology to produce them.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/300250833/toyota-chiefs-warning-to-apple-the-car-business-isnt-easy
HOT TOPIC
New Zealand’s ‘biggest supercar show ever’ detailed
Giltrap Group has released details of its inaugural Starship Foundation Supercar Show, set to be hosted at its 119 Great North Road, Grey Lynn premises next month, on April 11.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/new-zealand-s-biggest-supercar-show-ever-detailed
Giltrap group hosting Starship supercar show
On Sunday April 11, 2021 the Giltrap Group’s showrooms at 119 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, will host the Starship Supercar Show to raise funds for the children’s hospital.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/giltrap-group-hosting-starship-supercar-show
HOT TOPIC
Inspections to clampdown on cars with ITS Connect
Toyota and Lexus models hit by advice to damage-flag cars featuring technology prohibited in New Zealand.
https://autofile.co.nz/clampdown-on-its-connect-systems-
ITS connect systems must be disabled in Japan
From April 1, 2021 Waka Kotahi/NZTA is requiring all Border Inspection Organisations to identify and damage-flag all Japanese cars with an ITS Connect system that operates on the 760MHz frequency, which is not compatible with the licensing framework in New Zealand.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/its-connect-systems-must-be-disabled-in-japan
HOT TOPIC
Cute ute? dinky new electric pick-up unveiled
It feels like we’ve been talking about the fabled fully electric ute for years and years now, but finally it looks like light is appearing at the end of the tunnel.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/cute-ute-dinky-new-electric-pick-up-unveiled
Canoo’s electric ute leaked
A Canoo electric ute (pickup truck in the US) featuring powered workbenches, tool storage, a modular expandable bed and more has been revealed on Reddit.
https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/canoos-electric-ute-leaked/
BEST OF THE REST
Nine european countries push to ban petrol and diesel cars
A group of European Union member countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, and the Netherlands, are all in the process of lobbying for an end-date to be established for the sale of new pure internal combustion vehicles on the continent.
IN OTHER NEWS
Portage cars opens fourth used-car dealership
Imported used-vehicle dealer Portage Cars has opened its fourth dealership in Takanini, South Auckland to meet growing demand.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/portage-cars-opens-fourth-used-car-dealership
Renault to supply European ‘sister models’ to Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors dealers in European markets will offer a model mix of the Eclipse Cross PHEV and two ‘sister models’ produced by alliance partner Groupe Renault from 2023.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/renault-to-supply-european-sister-models-to-mitsubishi
Air taxis to take off
The market for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis will reach US$14.7 billion by 2041.
https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/air-taxis-to-take-off/
April 12/13 new EV conference dates
EVs and Beyond’s The EVent conference will run on April 12 and 13, 2021, following its postponement prompted by Auckland’s COVID-19 March lockdown.
https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/april-12-13-new-ev-conference-dates/
Video: Honda e quick drive
We check out the electric Honda e that Drive EV Taupo has here, and its plans to bring in more.
https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/video-honda-e-quick-drive/
US$42m funding allows sea electric expansion
Following substantial growth in new markets, global automotive technology company SEA Electric Holdings Pty Ltd – which has a New Zealand facility
https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/us42m-funding-allows-sea-electric-expansion/
Tesla ‘full self-driving’ incapable of self-driving?
Tesla lawyers admit the NZ$11,400 option that Tesla sells as Full Self-Driving Capability is incapable of full self-driving. “Currently neither Autopilot nor FSD Capability is an autonomous system,”
https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/tesla-full-self-driving-incapable-of-self-driving/
Can Jeep’s new luxury SUV be a Land Rover killer?
After unveiling a stunning concept Grand Wagoneer last September, Jeep has revealed both the Grand Wagoneer in its production guise, as well as identically sized but slightly less-grand standard Wagoneer.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/can-jeep-s-new-wagoneer-luxury-suv-be-a-land-rover-killer
Honda, Piaggio, KTM and Yamaha have teamed up on batteries
Four of the biggest players in the motorcycle game have teamed up to work on swappable batteries for electric motorbikes.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/124508720/honda-piaggio-ktm-and-yamaha-have-teamed-up-on-batteries
It just got easier to fit an EV into your life
One of the main obstacles a lot of people face when considering whether to make the switch to an electric vehicle is whether it will actually suit their lifestyle.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/evs/124492042/it-just-got-easier-to-fit-an-ev-into-your-life
Quick Charge 13/03: this week in EV news
Following shortly after Hyundai revealed its upcoming Ioniq 5 EV, Kia has teased its strangely similarly-sized electric SUV called the EV6. Strangely similar because it is based on the same architecture, of course.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/evs/124496803/quick-charge-1303-this-week-in-ev-news
Hyundai teases hot Kona N SUV
Hyundai has offered a glimpse at the new high-performance Kona N. The go-fast Kona will be the first time Hyundai’s N division has tuned an SUV, but the release doesn’t mention anything about power.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/124503657/hyundai-teases-hot-kona-n-suv
Watch: Which ‘Clean’ car is best? Zooming with DRIVEN
This week for Expert Car Picks, we’re talking about the government’s new ‘Clean Car Standard’, and the cars that we would choose within the restrictions.
https://www.driven.co.nz/news/watch-which-clean-car-is-best-zooming-with-driven/
The Good Oil: When Toyota Yaris met the America’s Cup… in 1999
The new Toyota Yaris is bold, brilliant and highly acclaimed (just announced as European Car of the Year, no less). But it’s not the first time it has stunned and surprised.
https://www.driven.co.nz/news/the-good-oil-when-toyota-yaris-met-the-america-s-cup-in-1999/