HOT TOPIC

// Automotive trades fast-tracked for residency

The Motor Trade Association (MTA) has welcomed the Government’s decision to restore fast-track residency pathways for panel beaters and vehicle painters, calling it a long-overdue but vital move to address workforce shortages in the automotive sector.

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// Ford Ranger Super Duty: robot test driver used for the bumpiest bits

Ford’s new Ranger Super Duty made its New Zealand debut last week at Fieldays. The bulked-up ute, due for launch next year, features heavy duty underpinings, a tow rating of 4.5 tonnes and gross combined mass (GCM) of 8t.


IN OTHER NEWS

// Subaru WRX 2.4T tS Spec B has arrived in all its manual glory

This special 2025 WRX model is engineered to deliver a more engaging driving experience. The manual-only WRX features Drive Mode Select, with four different drive options.

// Surprise takeover bid targets Tourism Holdings

Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL), New Zealand’s largest campervan rental company, has been targeted in an unsolicited takeover bid by Australian investors — raising the prospect of a major shift in ownership for the dual-listed operator.


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INTERNATIONAL EV NEWS

// Porsche “Blasphemy” from Sacrilege Motors

There is an air of reverence and a whiff of blasphemy in its name: Sacrilege Motors. Devoted to a different kind of automotive restoration, the Connecticut-based Sacrilege Motors has taken upon itself a polarizing yet undeniably compelling mission — to convert classic, air-cooled Porsches into bespoke electric vehicles.


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