Tabla de contenidos para April 2024 en NZ4WD

As much of the world awaits a proper double-cab electric ute with the steering wheel on the ‘right’ side, the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger is avoiding the crippling range anxiety afflicting the early-adopters of EV trucks. Along with a 494kW (663bhp) AWD powertrain, Ram's plug-in-hybrid pickup has a 6,350kg (14,000-pound) tow rating and targets 145 miles of electric range. American media are all a-quiver, and rightly so. Electric trucks are great for avoiding gas stations (well, duh) and providing huge torque and performance. However, when EV pickups are pressed into duty to haul a decent payload or tow something sizable, their driving range and efficiency plummet while their owners’ anxiety usually skyrockets. Enter the new plug-in-hybrid Ramcharger, a full-sized plug-in hybrid pickup. The coming Ramcharger is a bridge between the…

NEWS American mobility company Segway Powersports is expanding into New Zealand, building its New Zealand dealer network. In February, Segway showed off its offering for the recreational off-road market, the Villain UTV. The two-seater has remote reservoir shock absorbers, a 1.0-litre two-cylinder engine and part-time 4WD with diff locks. The Segway Powersports ATV and UTV lineup consists of the Snarler 570, Snarler 1000 ATV, Fugleman 570, Fugleman 1000 Utility UTV, and Villain 1000 Sport UTV. The Snarler (570AH, 570AF S, 570AF L, and 1000 AF) ATVs all use 570cc to 1000cc engines that produce between 34 and 80kW. Fugleman versions use a traditional petrol-powered engine in either 570cc single cylinder or 1000cc twin cylinder configuration. These ATVs can produce 80kW horsepower and 72 lb-ft of torque. As a utility UTV,…

As global EV demand cools, Elon Musk has stayed ahead of the field by cutting prices for Tesla's flagship cars and sacrificing profitability to boost demand. But Carlos Tavares, CEO of Chrysler parent company Stellantis, is warning of a ‘bloodbath’ if others follow suit. Ford has cut back production and laid off workers making its F-150 Lightning electric truck. Tavares was launching Stellantis’ new large-platform battery system. In 2023, American carmakers scrambled to catch up to market leader Tesla, spending billions on new EV lines. Now, BYD threatens to overtake Tesla in production volumes and may be the first to offer a right-hand drive ute in New Zealand. Ford has divided internal combustion business from its new EV business, but now admits its EV line lost around $4.5 billion last…

PRODUCT There are a multitude of rust protection products available these days: fishoilene, lanolin, bitumen-based products. Some are better and longer lasting than others but each has its own benefits, especially when it comes to protecting the chassis and underbody. NZ4WD's Project Jeep 12K is used in all environments off-road, including on beaches. We have also been meticulous in cleaning the underbody including water blasting and hosing inside the ‘chassis’ rails to remove dirt and salt spray. We wanted something to apply to the underbody and keep moisture and oxygen from contacting the metal surfaces and prevent rusting. Prolan is a lanolin-based rust protector, a New Zealand product from raw lanolin (wool grease), a natural substance secreted by sheep to provide a protective coating on their fleece for protection in…

A unique step in Ford's SUV range. Apparently, it happened in an unusual way. Ford has transplanted one of the bestknown nameplates in the Ranger world onto its strongselling four-wheel drive SUV sibling, and Kiwis got it first. Australian media say the 2024 Ford Everest Wildtrak was initially revealed for New Zealand, but was later added to their local line-up “as a slightly cheaper, slightly more rugged alternative to the rangetopping Everest Platinum”. Rugged it is, and off-roadcapable. T6.2 is what Ford calls this next-generation platform, which is an evolution of the 2011 set-up. It's still a ladder chassis with familiar suspension set-ups front and rear. The wheelbase is longer by 50mm (to 2900mm), which was done by pushing the front axle forward relative to other frame hardpoints. Apparently, this…

MY 4WD MAZDA BT-50 BUILD Back in 2013 I had a small window of opportunity to upgrade my Mitsubishi Pajero which I used for towing the rally car and for camping. I looked at several double cab utes and it came down to a choice between a Ford Ranger and a Mazda BT-50. The Ranger felt more agricultural to drive while the BT-50 felt more like my Mazda 6. The BT-50 came with an LSD as standard (the Ranger didn't). The BT-50 was really a Ranger in town clothes (same 3.2 litre five-cylinder engine, chassis, suspension, and drive line) so I stumped up the cash and traded in the Pajero for a new BT-50. I opted for a Utemaster hard lid rather than a canopy as I felt that this…

4WD TYRES Sometimes, even the best all-terrain tyre isn't quite aggressive enough off-road. Till now, the next step has been a mud-terrain tyre. Noisier, prone to wear out when used on tarseal. The new tyre design causing a stir off-road bridges that gap. It's called a rugged-terrain (R/T) or hybrid tyre. Endowed with excellent grip on tarseal and in the dirt, the Falken Wildpeak R/T 01 is developed for lifted trucks, SUVs and turbodiesel utes and pickups. Featuring the ultimate hybrid terrain tread pattern, the Wildpeak R/T is built to deliver an ideal combination of traction, durability, and longevity, It provides the tenacious off-road traction expected of an M/T tyre while retaining the tread life and stability expected from an A/T. The ‘tectonic’ tread blocks in the centre of the…

Adventure Nestled amidst the rugged beauty of New Zealand's South Island is the breathtaking Hopkins River Valley, a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a wilderness escape. While I'm under no illusion that the Hopkins is a well-kept secret, it remained a mystery to us. Despite being just a fourhour drive from Christchurch, the Cashmere crew (that's us) had never quite found the right moment to pack up and hit the road down to Ohau. Then New Year's 2024 presented itself, with yours truly in a cast and unable to ride bikes (our other expensive hobby). Wheeling and camping became the obvious activity of choice. But of course, the New Zealand weather was not going to make it easy. Our original plan was to convoy down south on Dec 30, camping…

4WD Sport News Manufacturers are returning to extreme off-road events as a means of proving the toughness of their vehicles. A factory-backed, modified Chevrolet Silverado will contest in the Production 4WD class of Australia's Finke Desert Race 7-10 June. V8 Supercar legend Craig Lowndes will drive the truck partnered by experienced co-driver Dale Moscatt, who has previously competed in the Dakar Rally alongside Molly Taylor. Lowndes won the Australian Safari in 2010. The Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Off-Road Racer was unveiled as a concept ahead of the 2022 Adelaide 500. It has been brought to life thanks to a partnership between Australia and the GM Motorsports Division in the United States. Chris Payne, General Manager Chevrolet Racing Australia and New Zealand, says, “Extensive testing has proven this off-road racer is no…

Fitting: the content should be what you expect. It should do what you want of it. First time around we often get choices wrong. Readjusting may cost but may not be a total loss, so long as we learn from it. Discover that a Hummer or large 4WD may not be the best choice to commute in the city or explore narrow bush tracks. Conversely a lightweight 4WD may not be best choice to tow a laden horse float across a wet paddock or on a hilly highway. That may require unloading the cargo, harnessing them to the front and cracking the whip! In the beginning (mine) I had short wheelbase ragtop Land Rovers. They were all we could get, worked fine, and did what we expected of them. Many…

NEWS Phew. It turns out someone in Jeep's product planning area has some sense of heritage. Until now, Jeep's attractive wee Avenger SUV has been FWD-only, but now there are signs it will also have a 4WD version. The new version is only being aimed (for now) at Europe where the Avenger offers electric, hybrid, and combustion powertrain options for buyers in Europe. The Avenger isn't a plug-in hybrid like other 4xe models, however. This one uses a 48-volt mild hybrid system, combining an internal combustion engine with two electric motors. One of the motors is integrated into a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and with the help of Jeep's “power looping” technology, all four wheels can get power regardless of the battery's state of charge. The Avenger 4xe can also…

Big American metal remains popular, even as Kiwi government departments weather intense abuse for choosing big pickups. Chevrolet is onto a winner, with 10,000 Silverados sold through its GMSV operations in Australia and New Zealand. The vehicle that achieved this milestone is a MY2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD in the newly introduced Slate Grey colour. It was presented to its new owner Joseph Vrapcenjak as remanufacture was completed at the stand-alone GMSV facility in Dandenong, Victoria. This is the second Silverado for Joseph, who also owns a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium. Jess Bala, Managing Director of GM Australia and New Zealand, said: “As we celebrate this milestone for GMSV, I would like to thank our remanufacture partner, Premoso, our dealer partners and our customers for their support across Australia…

NEWS Auto brands are going all-out to prove the reliability and viability of their electric vehicles. With an eye to easing consumer fears about range limitations, Nissan has supported British husband and wife explorers, Chris and Julie Ramsey, in a world-first electric vehicle expedition. The couple have successfully driven an all-electric all-wheel-drive Nissan Ariya from the 1823 Magnetic North Pole on the frozen Arctic Ocean, to the South Pole in Antarctica. Their 10-month adventure started in March 2023 and they reached the South Pole in December, having driven a +30,000km route through the Americas. Along the way, the Ramseys put their Ariya through the toughest tests in extreme temperatures, at high altitudes and across long distances and varied terrains. The SUV kept its standard production specification, particularly the standard battery…

JLR (formerly Jaguar Land Rover) is slowing down its electric car programme across all its brands, partly to allow further development time but also to cater for a recent spike in demand for its plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company had earlier said it would have six EV Land Rovers by 2026 but now says it will have six EVs across the group. The first of JLR's new electric cars is the Range Rover EV, for which it has already taken more than 16,000 expressions of interest ahead of its launch later this year. The launch date of that model may be moved back “to ensure it is fully ready for the market”. Another factor in JLR's decision to slow down its EV roll-out is a rise in demand for plug-in…

22-24 MARCH Kaukapakapa Volunteer Fire Brigade Safari Hosted by the Rodney Off-road Club. Formerly the Ahuroa Safari, now a new location and beneficiary. The event will be on one or two large private properties in Kaukapakapa with camping on-site. Great views, good 4WDing, raffles, prizes, great food and refreshments. Lunch and dinner provided on Saturday and breakfast Sunday (for two people, additional cost for further passengers) with finish around lunch time Sunday. Early start Saturday so arrival Friday is recommended. Camping is available from Friday. There will be a cash bar open Friday and Saturday night with the raffle draw on Saturday night. Participants need to be members of NZFWDA (day membership available) and vehicles require recovery points and usual safety and recovery equipment. Vehicles must have all terrain tyres,…

TESTED FORD EVEREST PLATINUM We're confused. Slightly puzzled. The sheer capability of Ford's three-row Everest SUV makes it a 4WD of the year contender. If ultimate Everest luxury is the goal, the urban-oriented Platinum packs in extra kit including low profile tyres on 21-inch alloy wheels and has that strong street-level appeal. The top of the range, though, combines Everest's undeniable off-road ability with a strong urban flair. For us, the two aren't always comfortable bedfellows. This is the Platinum version of the Everest, and it makes a bold and telling statement when it comes to class and refinement. But off-road adventurers would certainly shy away from low profile tyres on 21-inch aluminium alloy wheels – a recipe for disaster in many off-road scenarios. That said, NZ4WD did take the…

Radar 4WD tyres represent “the definition of premium accessibility”. Radar has made significant advancements in technology, offering drivers enhanced performance and safety on and off the road. In New Zealand, with ever-evolving road conditions and weather patterns, the need for reliable and versatile tyres has never been greater. Radar 4WD tyres meet this challenge with a blend of innovation and engineering excellence. Radar has new patterns such as the Renegade A/T Pro and the Renegade X. These new products and patterns from Radar feature an all-new focus and direction in their 4WD and SUV line-up, giving superior performance capabilities. Designed with deep treads and specialised rubber compounds, these tyres provide drivers with the confidence and performance needed to navigate through their daily driving demands, whether it be on-road or in…

Adventure Aussie After packing and securing our load ready for sand dune country, we left the metropolis of Oodnadatta heading towards Pedirka's Track (a short cut) to Dalhousie Springs approximately three hours to the north and the true start of the Simpson Desert. Pedirka Track goes through pastoral lease land, which for us was very green due to the heavy rain and floods a few months prior. The Old Ghan railway also came through here, so more ruins to explore, including the Dalhousie Homestead which was once regarded as the most isolated of all the South Australian settlements. It was established by an Irish surveyor who constructed the first 800 km of the Overland Telegraph Line in the 1880s. The settlement and surrounding land has a colourful history of various…

4WD Sport Heading for Taihape, I passed through Hunterville and it was going off, the main road was closed and cars were jammed in every possible place. It was the day of the Shemozzle and central zone hosts Grace and Hailey Hintz were competing in it. A running race of five km including a good bit of vertical all while wearing a wet sack, crawling over hazards like a pipe or a fence, eating a lamb's tongue and finding your sheep dog afterwards – a shame I missed it (not really). Our new season began with a few new competitors keen to see what offroad trials are about. I started the new year with a rorty new exhaust from Bubba's Speed Shop of which my Suzuki-pedalling mate Barry said, “Whenever…

Kia's incoming ute will be a dieselpowered dual-cab benchmarked against the best in the business: the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger. Australian media are in a frenzy, announcing the impending arrival of the off-road capable ute and second-guessing its power sources. Online website CarsGuide has revealed “new and exciting details” about Kia's attack on the massive dual-cab ute market with the new ute code-named TK and likely to be called the Tasman. They are picking a diesel engine, along with substantial payload and towing targets. The model will be tailor-made for Australasia, with Kia's international engineers undertaking top-secret missions to Aussie. Like the current Ranger (and others), the ute will be undergoing a localisation program in Australia, fine-tuning the ride and handling for local roads and conditions. “The brand is…

NEWS Back to the future: the all-new Land Cruiser Prado range arrives in Australia in mid2024 with a new off-road focussed variant, 48-volt technology across the range, and retro-inspired styling. The five-variant Prado range blends the rugged capability worthy of the Land Cruiser name with major improvements to driveability, technology and design. Toyota says the Prado has become a favourite for Australians in need of an SUV able to transport the whole family during the week and go off the beaten path on the weekend, all with signature Toyota reliability. The same is seen to apply to the New Zealand market. “The new-generation Prado will continue the legacy forged by its predecessors when it arrives here later this year, with the addition of 48-volt technology and the new Altitude grade…

The biggest rural event in Australasia is happening again: New Zealand's national Fieldays at Mystery Creek near Hamilton runs from 12-15 June. It attracts 100,000 people over four days, and in addition to the latest agricultural equipment, it always puts 4WDs, UTVs and ATVs on display. A good year for New Zealand's farmers adds up to a big display of 4WDs – arguably Fieldays is the closest thing this country has to a Car Show, especially given the ongoing dominance of utes and SUVs in our New Vehicle monthly sales statistics. Best of all, we townies are welcomed by the many exhibitors with open arms. Just a note to those heading to Hamilton in June – buy some Red Band gumboots by all means, but make sure they aren't shiny…

TESTED FORD EVEREST SPORT For a long time NZ4WD has touted the Ranger Sport as ‘best of breed’. Tough looks, even tougher drivetrain, comfy cab. A true all-rounder. So, is the same true of Ranger's sibling the Everest? A blacked-out grille, skid-plates and side-steps give Everest Sport a bold on-road presence and a tough athletic look in the dirt. Black ‘Everest’ lettering on the hood stands against the body colour in a signature statement. A set of 20” high gloss black alloy wheels add to Sport's rugged look. Our white Sport was shod in the industry's ‘go-to’ highway tyre, Goodyear's Wrangler Territory HT but there are more and more all-terrain treads becoming available in this size all the time. Look at this as an enjoyable aspect of owning a late…

TESTED SUZUKI JIMNY FIVE-DOOR It's light. Only the three-door Jimny treads more lightly on the ground. Less than a month after the launch event took us up to the top of Skipper's Canyon, the Jimny five-door is in the driveway for a longer test opportunity. The initial impressions from the launch are confirmed: Jimny five-door is in every sense everything the threedoor is, and more. Good things do take time, but it's only taken five decades to deliver us a five door Jimny. In Aussie, there's already a nine-month waiting list. Rightly, Suzuki has kept the five-door model range simple. There's a single common trim level for manual and auto, the manual at $40,990 and the four-speed auto $44,990. The current Clean Car Standard is built into the latest prices,…

4WD TYRES Just bought a ute or SUV? Driving around urban streets, thinking of excellent off-road adventures? Stop. The tyres of many new 4WDs are best suited to urban and open road use. That reflects the main use patterns manufacturers expect their clients to experience. Or maybe the 4WD is ‘pre-loved’, and arrives with some big gnarly mud terrain tyres that leave black marks all over the driveway as the family departs on the school run each weekday morning. Let's face it, manufacturers aren't psychic. They can't know how a particular client plans to use the shiny new 4WD after it rolls off the forecourt. Likewise in the case of a secondhand 4WD, the previous owner has different uses for the vehicle. It's probably more important, then, to choose the…

4WD TYRES New Zealand's management of old tyres is changing. Shortly, the first stage of government regulations designed to reduce environmental harm from end-of-life tyres will take effect, something the tyre industry has been working hard to get into place for years. The first stage of regulation commences on 1 March, when a tyre stewardship fee is added to new tyres, or included in the price of a new vehicle. The fee will be used to manage those tyres at the end of their life. It will be applied at a standard rate across the country and has been set at $6.65 plus GST for a standard passenger tyre and will go up in increments depending on the size of tyre. The fee payable on new tyres for their future…

Weekend Drive In the last article the first two days of our pre-Christmas escape had taken us from windy and wet Wellington to a sunny and calm campground at the coastal settlement of Pourerere. While most of the campground was occupied by permanently established caravans, we were warmly welcomed and given the largest of the four available sites, right above the beach. We were told that there was no rush to leave in the morning, so after a pleasant night with the sound of the surf rolling in just behind us and waking to a warm, sunny morning we took the time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a walk along the beach to start the day. We had a few chats with locals also enjoying the morning, and I…

By now we should be one round done and dusted in the national championship and be bracing ourselves for rounds two and three out at West Melton. But the weather had other ideas. On Saturday 24 February, after months of 30-degree days, the clouds rolled in over Manukau and dumped a weather bomb of rain. Though the track itself does start to resemble some kind of brown industrial grease after rain, there was more concern that the teams might be unable to get out of the pit/paddock area. There has been a heap of work done in the area to establish other motorsport codes and the available pit/ paddock area has been cut by half. Given that it's just a cow paddock, that leaves a lot of water flowing int…