Table of contents for September 2023 in NZ4WD

GWM has confirmed pricing on two variants of its Tank 300 SUV. It will be offered in two versions: Lux Hybrid and Ultra Hybrid. Both feature a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor to produce 258kW and 615Nm of torque all up. The transmission is a nine speed automatic. The Tank 300 Lux Hybrid is priced from $56,990. It has 17-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a 360-degree camera system. The Tank 300 Ultra Hybrid builds on the entry-level model with 18-inch wheels, leather seats, an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat, wireless phone charging, a nine-speaker sound system, and a locking front differential. It is priced at $61,990. Standard safety and driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control,…

NEWS Ford Australia has opened the order books for its F-150 pickup this week, the four-variant range priced from AUD$106,950 plus on-road costs and offering what Ford Australia says are “generous standard features for customers that want an uncompromising truck for work and play”. Short and long-wheelbase F150s will be available in several trim levels including XLT and Lariat, each backed by a five-year/unlimitedkilometre manufacturer warranty. Ford Australia says the reintroduction of the F-Series comes after significant demand from local customers. The model has undergone extensive reengineering work by the Blue Oval's Aussie engineers and RMA Automotive and promises to be ideally suited to the harsh local environment. “As an iconic full-size American pickup, the F-150 is joining Australian showrooms thanks to an extensive and meticulous local reengineering program,” explained…

It's an American event that is legendary the world over. The most extreme 4WDs contest the hybrid race/rally/rock climbing contest every year. Manufacturers produce ‘tribute’ builds in its honour. It is so popular that its pre-entries closed two months ago. So popular that it creates its own village in the Californian desert, Hammertown. For context, it's a couple of weeks after the Dakar Raid race and a couple of weeks before the SCORE San Felipe 250 off-road race. It's King of the Hammers, a four-wheel torture-fest in the California desert where rocks chew up driveshafts and spit out sheet metal like broken dreams across the dusty desert dirt. It's like no other racing event anywhere in the world, on or off-road. The vehicles that attempt this feat are almost all…

TESTED: VW AMAROK STYLE A split-second decision at an intersection was all it took. Exploring the limestone-pocked, storm scarred coastal ranges south of Port Waikato, we went right instead of left and found ourselves on a skinny ridge track barely wider than the Amarok Style. Great blisters of clay interrupted the volcanic pumice and ash surface. Wild goats stared out of roadside manuka. A pair of heifers got the wrong idea and ran away down the road, forcing us to follow them for 500 metres or so before pushing through a gate and into a hillside paddock all the while the sun was edging down to the horizon, and in the growing gloom the visibility was turing pretty ordinary. Phone signal? Nope. Fortunately, the Style's navigation picked up where Google…

4WD ACCESSORY KIT-OUT Regular NZ4WD contributor Richard Soult has been using Lazer Lamps in his 4WD guiding business www.4x4exploreradventures.co.nz, and is now bringing the brand to New Zealand. “As passionate overlanders, running our own guiding business here in New Zealand, and often travelling in Europe, we really put our gear to the test and only rely on the very best. Both our UK and New Zealand-based vehicles are equipped with Lazer Lamps, and for a very good reason! In New Zealand, our winters are long and dark and although trying to be in camp before sunset, we often find ourselves driving challenging tracks in the dark. Having lights that we can rely on provides us with the ability, confidence and safety to travel at night, being able to see what…

DESTINATIONS AND ADVENTURE GEAR Kiwi offroad adventurers are pretty well known for setting up their 4WDs for the adventures they are planning, whatever the season. By adding the right gear, the truck becomes better and also becomes unique. The right vehicle for the right job. Southern adventuring is distinctly different from opportunities in the north, so much so that it guides vehicle buying decisions. Up north, short wheelbase trucks are popular on the tight and bushy trails; offroad adventuring in the south encourages longer SUVs and utes. Most of the tougher trucks rumble around on mud-terrain tyres up north, while all-terrains are fine for a lot of southern offroading. Have to be careful using ’80-20’ or HT tyres for anything too ambitious though. If the big rig is in the…

DESTINATIONS AND ADVENTURE GEAR Built for adventure: the new Kiwi single axle offroad caravan may well be the most capable ‘home away from home’ to venture into New Zealand's wild places. At 13’6” the Kiwi is compact enough to get into challenging spots that are off limits to bigger caravans, but it's fully featured and jam-packed with all the features 4WD enthusiasts would expect in a full-size van. The Kiwi is 100 percent Australian made, built in Melbourne on an Australia 150mm steel Duragal chassis. It can be configured with two single beds or a queen east/west bed format. Most importantly, it is “ridiculously capable” of tackling all terrain and off-road tracks and trails in New Zealand. The Kiwi has a full-size shower and toilet cubicle – all internal, meaning…

Off-road racing has ridden the roller-coaster of pandemic, storms and recession and emerged shaken but still viable. This year has been about transition for many. We have a new ORANZ executive which will put the sport's future on a stable footing. Have to be ‘glass half full’ about that stuff. One big challenge remains: how to maintain recruitment of new drivers. More senior drivers will talk fondly about 1980s and 1990s, the era regarded as the heyday of the sport. National championship rounds saw class 3 fields of 30 or more. The unlimited class one cars were generally so ‘reliable’ they were referred to as grenades. Short FJ40 Land Cruisers were winning the unlimited truck class. Entry lists for classic races like the Woodhill or Leadfoot stretched to 100 cars…

TECHNIQUE TALK Many of the most memorable off-road and overland adventures involve river crossings. Exciting. Fun. Also a bit risky, even for old hands who've done hundreds of crossings. The big point to remember is that every water crossing is a new river crossing. North Island rivers are different (often deeper) than the braided rivers of the south. Even when it's the second crossing at the same point on the same day, it's a mistake to assume the base of the creek or stream will behave the same on second approach as it did first time around. River crossings can easily catch a driver off-guard. Established tracks often offer more assurance of a suitable entry and exit, but many enjoy tackling water obstacles on their own terms. Like other hazards,…

NEWS Revealed: the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. Hyundai has take a bold step in styling the fifth-generation Santa Fe SUV. For the first time since 2018, the Hyundai Santa Fe receives a comprehensive redesign. The new model has boxy proportions that align Santa Fe with recent Hyundai design directions, along with new H-shaped headlights for a more premium look that Hyundai says is optimised for outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts. Described as a ‘radical’ departure from the current model, the fifth-generation Santa Fe will be fully revealed in August. Only concept images of the new look have been released ahead of that date. Hyundai says the new design of the crossover SUV was shaped by big data around the latest outdoor trends. “The all-new Santa Fe is an SUV that finds a…

The trade and car show, Autorama, is racing. The event brings together the wide range of businesses that supply the machinery, tools and parts to the automotive sector. For example, Treadway Equipped will be exhibiting their range of workshop equipment and Wurth will be present with their high-quality range of tools. From aftermarket 4WD suspension components and bolt on accessories to metal fabrication machinery, Autorama will have it on display. At least three new professionally built cars will be unveiled at Autorama. Names like Rods By Reid and GMS Hot Rods are no strangers to high quality builds and awards. These professionals are at the top of their game in NZ and internationally. Their order books are full but they understand the need to maintain their brand presence in the…

Terrain Tamer has recently expanded its range of Air Filter Inserts to include a kit for Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series, adding to their already existing catalogue for other Land Cruiser models, as well as Hilux and Prado vehicles. Many vehicles, including Hilux KUN/GUN models, as well as the Land Cruiser Prado 120/150 series, VDJ76/78/79, and VDJ200 models are prone to the issue of dusting, and since its release in 2022, the 300 Series has proven to have similar issues. The original design of the airbox, or upper filter housing, of these models features a seal surface which is too narrow to match the seal of the filter itself. As a result, the filter is not able to be fully effective, as it does not properly seal, allowing dust to…

NEWS NZ4WD has featured Torsus offroad buses before. The company makes 4WD go-anywhere transports for the mining industry and to service remote communities in places like Western Australia, eastern Europe, Alaska and Canada. Now Torsus has announced a partnership with JRZ Suspension Engineering BV, global leaders in off-road suspension and dampers. The companies have engineered a custom heavy-duty off-road suspension configuration that “delivers unparalleled performance over any terrain”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, JRZ Suspension Engineering has almost three decades of experience in creating suspension systems for motorsport. Its products also enhance the ride and handling characteristics of elite sports cars, and enable off-road buggies, heavy-duty vehicles, and armoured cars to master the most unforgiving terrain with impunity. The company's ultra-advanced suspension upgrade takes the Terrastorm 4WD all-terrain minibus to new…

TESTED TESTED: CHEVROLET SILVERADO LTZ Since we can't yet buy a Ford F150 in New Zealand, Chevy is one of only two brands offering real-life American pick-up motoring. It continues to be one of only two nameplates with that eight-cylinder soundtrack. Two variants are being offered for 2023 – the luxury-focused Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium with standard Z71 package to enhance its off-roading capability and the new Silverado 1500 ZR2 offering a Ford Raptor-style boost to its all-round driveability courtesy of lifted suspension, bespoke dampers, additional off-road-focused drive modes and unique styling details that butch up its look and improve its approach and departure angles. Uniquely, the LTZ Premium features bright-silver 20-inch alloys with 275/60 Bridgestone Dueler tyres, an all-black leather-appointed interior, adaptive cruise control, and a full-colour 15.0-inch head-up display,…

4WD ACCESSORY KIT-OUT Individualising that 4WD makes it unique, distinct and well capable for work or play. Adding lights, bars, guards, energy management systems and more creates a tough and handy vehicle for that overlanding mission, for towing gear to that special backwoods spot, for getting the boat to the water for a day out fishing. But how to know what to buy? Talk to established companies with a good track record in-country. Talk to companies that use the gear they sell. Make use of expert advice from experienced 4wders. Choose wisely, ask intelligent questions. Decide whether you are DIY or Do It For Me. There's no shame in the second option. Not everyone has the mechanical ability to carry out modifications, or even the time to do the job.…

4WD ACCESSORY KIT-OUT Redarc has launched its new RS3 Inverter range and Alpha150 150Ah lithium battery. Available in both 12V and 24V across 1200, 2000 & 3000W capacities, the durable new RS3 Inverters deliver a range of new features tailored for both installers and end users. Fitted with builtin Automatic Transfer Switching (ATS) as standard, this game-changing functionality ensures a seamless, reliable transition between battery and mains power. Thanks to their improved surge capacity (200 percent higher and for twice as long as comparable inverters), smaller inverters can power more demanding appliances. By downsizing their inverter, users can save valuable space and reduce weight. Additionally, the RS3 Inverters operate up to 75 percent quieter than comparable models, ensuring they won't disrupt the tranquillity of the best camping spot when powering…

The ‘Wild’ West Coast Wanderer, a seven-day/eight-night trek exploring the South Island's West Coast is the new offering from High Country Journeys. Ranfurly-based owner-operator John Mulholland says adding the new West Coast tour offers existing and new clients a third tour option alongside their flagship ‘Grand Slam’ and the more challenging ‘Explorer’ tag-along guided tours. These self-drive 4WD tours or ‘tagalongs ‘as they are known as require high-clearance 4WDs with low range. The West Coast Wanderer tour is a more middle of the road tour that features four or five days of off-roading on 4WD tracks and a couple of days exploring many of the hidden gems of the West Coast such as the Denniston Plateau, Stockton Mine, Blackball, Punakaiki, Hokitika Gorge, Okarito and Gillespie's Beach. A couple of days…

The Bushwakka outdoor gear company is expanding its range with new tent and awning offerings, and has big plans for Kiwi 4WD owners. Its latest shipment arrived in August and includes the Extreme Darkness left-handside awning, now with a D-zip opening. In roof-top tents, Bushwakka now offers the Shack and the Big Shack, upgraded to LED lights, with improved memory foam mattresses. The Big Shack roof-top tent is all new. For a spot of instant shade next to the 4WD, Bushwakka has a range of awning options: roof-mounted car awnings that provide sufficient shade without the tiring effort. Choose from 180, 270 and now a fullcover 360 awning for adventuring. The awnings fit securely to the roof of the vehicle and are then deployed for covered comfort. The strong hinge…

Adventure NZ Despite having grown up in Christchurch in the 1970s, and having since lived in the UK and France, I have to say that I don't really like living in Christchurch. The city that I grew up in doesn't exist anymore, and I find it slightly embarrassing that, so long after the earthquake, a lot of the city centre i s still controlled by Wilsons, the car park company. As a kid growing up in Burnside, I used to catch the Fendalton 9 bus to Cathedral Square and get off by the statue, before walking to the cinema on a Saturday afternoon. None of that exists anymore and I rarely head into the city centre these days. Christchurch does, however, have positive points. We live in New Brighton and…

Right alongside the arrival of the Mitsubishi's new production version of the Triton 4WD, Ralliart has revealed an all-new off-road racer designed for Asian endurance events. Mitsubishi will enter three rally-ready pickups in the championship, with each being fitted with some rather tasty-looking off-road modifications. Based on a Thai-spec dual cab model, Mitsubishi has beefed up the ute with a roll cage and bumper guard to ensure the body and chassis are protected inside and out as it traverses over uneven terrain at speed. Most of its body panels including the bonnet, front and rear doors, and the bed are made from carbon fibre in order to reduce weight. Rally-specific twin-damper suspension has been fitted front and rear with a limited-slip differential that improves traction. The 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine…

Mitsubishi has unveiled its new Triton, with bi-turbo diesel power and a safety suite including a Driver Monitoring System, rear Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Mitigation with pedestrian detection, cyclist detection and junction assist. A centre airbag makes its Triton debut. The new-gen Mitsubishi Triton arrives in Australia in early 2024; New Zealand stock likely to be around the same time. The new engine is a bi-turbo diesel with 150kW and 470Nm. Mitsubishidesigned and developed, the engine uses ‘twin stage’ turbocharging – two turbochargers, one small for fast response at low revs, and a larger turbo to fortify the top end. The engine will feed power through an updated six-speed automatic transmission. In some markets, a six-speed manual will also be offered on some variants post-launch. Mitsubishi says the new…

After the recent cyclones in the Hawke's Bay region, Waikato farmers Nathan and Adrianne Boyd became aware that farmers in the Tutira area were suffering badly because of extensive damage to their farms and the loss of all road access into the area. Wanting to do something that would be of practical help to the farming community, Nathan hatched a plan. The Tutira farmers faced many problems, but one of the big ones was the loss of many kilometres of fencing which was making it difficult to manage the farms livestock, resulting in stock loss and cash flow problems for many farmers. Nathan's plan involved the purchase of 200 rolls of fencing wire at a heavily discounted rate. He would hunt for sponsorship for each roll of wire that was…

Having put its batteries through some of the most strenuous tests in the industry, Century Batteries is confident that the Lithium Pro battery range is the best in the business. To reinforce its commitment to offering quality classleading products, Century has announced that the warranty on the Lithium Pro range is being extended from three to five years. Ward Lye, Century's National Sales Manager, says the new warranty is the result of stringent performance testing and evaluation, which has demonstrated that Century's Lithium Pro has what it takes to go the extra mile. “Our Century Lithium Pro range incorporates advanced technology and state-of-the-art internal components, to deliver longer life and exceptional performance in deep cycle applications. The superior energy capacity, operating temperature range and lightweight design makes Century Lithium Pro…

NEWS Toyota has confirmed that its first fully electric offering, the bZ4X, will be launched in New Zealand in 2024. Criticised by some for being tardy in the headlong rush to electrify private passenger vehicles which will land on our shores early next year. The carmaker's application of hybrid technology, though, has been world class. Now, the incoming EV SUV is set to break new ground for the brand. It will play an important role in the company's science-based commitment to reduce tailpipe emissions from its portfolio by a minimum of 46 percent by 2030. Globally, Toyota sees the bZ range growing in popularity and, in large numbers over time, reducing worldwide carbon emissions as the company works towards a net zero carbon position by 2050. Toyota says Kiwis can…

MY 4WD Rare indeed, and rare enough: Calvin Johnson was a devout Toyota bloke out looking for a replacement for his 80 Series, but ended up with a unicorn. “I was sick of my 80 Series double cab as I had owned it for six years and rebuilt everything on it at least twice. I went looking for something tough to drive the harder tracks with and after missing out on a SWB 80 series I found the unicorn of a short wheelbase Safari.” The truck is a New Zealand-new 2001 SWB GU fitted with a six litre V8 HSV engine. The big engine is fitted using a Mark's Adaptors kit. It takes air through a custom four-inch stainless steel snorkel to a Trundles sealed airbox and four-inch intake system.…

Owners of 4WDs can now take control of their vehicle with a system that offers an unprecedented level of monitoring and automation. Redarc's RedVision is like having a remote control for theyour 4WD, letting you take control of all your devices in one place. With a user-friendly interface designed around convenience, the RedVision system can be easily configured to control and monitor 12v devices. That means it's easier than ever to keep track of everything the system is doing no matter whether standing beside the vehicle or not. At the beginning of the day, power on camp lights and start up the coffee machine from anywhere in the camp. With the ability to add a range of sensors, use the RedVision smartphone app to check the outside temperatures, and make…

Busting to get outdoors, but is the 4WD in the midst of a rebuild? Frustrating, but there may be a solution. Many decades ago, a crowd called Cross Country Rentals started offering proper 4WDs for rent. Land Cruisers, Nissan Patrols and such. They were probably the first in this country to do so, and the vehicles were well capable of doing off-road work. In fact, that was how they were marketed at the time. The company relied on careful choices of vehicles that suited such uses, and people used the for recreation and work. This year, a crowd called Jimny is offering a modern take on the idea, using (you guessed it) the mighty Suzuki Jimny. The company's website Jimny.co.nz says it has been dedicated to assisting Suzuki Jimny owners…

DESTINATIONS AND ADVENTURE GEAR Aaron Rich is building his ideal overlander, starting with a new Toyota Hilux. This month, he tests the new jumbo/family size hard shell roof tent from Eezi-Awn of South Africa. “Massive. Eezi-Awn's Sword hard shell roof tent is a unique, all new jumbo-sized hard shell from one of the world's most original roof tent designers (since 1983). With any high quality roof tent, especially hard shells, the main joy is knowing that anywhere the 4WD is parked even if it's just roughly balanced on rocks, bed is a minute or two away up top. That's awesome, but the Sword offers something more. Climbing up into the Sword the first impression is of huge internal space. Like the Tardis from Dr Who, it somehow seems even bigger…

Weekend Drive Waking up in Taupo, the crisp three degree morning reminded us we had left the coast and were now at higher altitudes, and while we were nice and warm in the K-Pod, we glad we could have breakfast in the warm camp kitchen while we planned some exploring detours on our generally direct route back to Wellington. After stocking up our supplies, we followed SH1 around Lake Taupo, pausing for lunch at a boat ramp on the side of the lake. Having not followed the main highway around the side of Lake Taupo for a few years now, I was seeing the scenery with fresh eyes – it must be up there with some of the most scenic main highway scenery I have seen on YouTube overlanding videos…

Four-wheel driving is often about trial and error and over the years we can all admit to making a mistake or two or more along the way and we learn from this (hopefully). There are plenty of wrong ways but here some of the worst four-wheel drive mistakes people make. I may be guilty of one or two of these over the years but which ones are you guilty of? Not airing down (enough): It's your most valuable asset off-road and the easiest to do to increase your capability. Driving serious off-road tracks with on-road air pressures is dumb and possibly dangerous. I've been lazy before and have done it; once you air down a good amount it's incredible what difference it makes. It doesn't matter if it's forest, desert,…