News and General

Isuzu D-Max refreshed for 2024
Thursday, 18 April 2024
Isuzu has revealed the updated 2024 D-MAX range. It includes a revised line-up of variants including the new X-Rider. The entire range has improvements to design, multimedia and safety.
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Improving excellence
Thursday, 18 April 2024
Since it was released in 2021, the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series has built a reputation for combining modern comfort with impressive off-road capabilities.
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One tough LC40
Thursday, 18 April 2024
You know the one, it has had three new blades and four new handles but it is still grandad’s original axe!
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Nankang: formidable contenders in the dirt
Thursday, 18 April 2024
For decades, Nankang has been synonymous with quality, reliability, and innovation in the tire industry.
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Toyota launches hybrid Hilux
Thursday, 18 April 2024
The race is over: Toyota is the first auto maker to bring a right-hand drive hybrid 4WD ute to market.
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Ineos launches a specialist Quartermaster ute
Thursday, 18 April 2024
Hot on the heels of the Grenadier SUV, Ineos Automotive has launched a five-seat double cab-chassis variant of the Grenadier Quartermaster pick-up, aimed at specialist vehicle converters and commer
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Ford adds Tremor to Ranger line-up
Thursday, 18 April 2024
This one will work for a living. Edging into an already packed Ford Ranger family above the Sport, the Ranger Tremor promises off-road capability and excellent handling.
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Tyreshop Online
Thursday, 18 April 2024
One of the most frequent questions that Priscila Martins and Ross McAinch, the owners of tyreshoponline.co.nz gets is, “Are your prices for real?” and their answer is “Yes”.
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A proper all-paw Avenger
Monday, 18 March 2024
Phew. It turns out someone in Jeep’s product planning area has some sense of heritage.
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Radar has new 4WD treads
Monday, 18 March 2024
Radar 4WD tyres represent “the definition of premium accessibility”.
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New Zealand goes Tyrewise
Monday, 18 March 2024
New Zealand’s management of old tyres is changing.
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New Prado heads for Aussie
Monday, 18 March 2024
Back to the future: the all-new Land Cruiser Prado range arrives in Australia in mid-2024 with a new off-road focussed variant, 48-volt technology across the range, and retro-inspired styling.
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KIA is aiming high
Monday, 18 March 2024
Kia’s incoming ute will be a diesel-powered dual-cab benchmarked against the best in the business: the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
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Lexus gets dirty offroad
Monday, 19 February 2024
Making a bold play for recreational rough-road users, Lexus has toughened the new GX550 as it adopts the new angular design cues of the Land Cruiser and Prado.
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NZ4WD Oztent winner
Monday, 19 February 2024
Taupo reader Mike Quartermaine is the winner of the NZ4WD Oztent competition, and is looking forward to testing it out in ‘4WD-land”, especially while the late-summer weather holds on.
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Nissan’s x-trail hybrid
Monday, 19 February 2024
There’s a new wave of hybrid SUVs sweeping into the market.
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Raptor edges ahead of Ram’s TRX
Monday, 19 February 2024
he V8 is dead. No, wait, it isn’t. While the Ford F150 heads into V6 territory along with its rivals, something extraordinary has snuck into showrooms in the USA.
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Extreme truck builder
Monday, 19 February 2024
Dan Cowper is the force behind the Suzuki Extreme 4x4 Challenge and Cowper Trucks and more recently the Extreme 4x4 Experience at Turakina.  
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A Triton for every need
Monday, 19 February 2024
New year, smart new look. Mitsubishi’s Triton is going great guns with a comprehensive rework for 2024.
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Adam’s Jimny adventure build
Monday, 19 February 2024
This is a story of passion and dedication. It is woven into the cult status of the Suzuki Jimny 4WD. It started, as so many Jimny builds do, with a stock truck bought new in 2019.
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Jimny five door launch
Monday, 19 February 2024
There are only a handful of 4WDs that can genuinely lay claim to being ‘cult’ vehicles. Most of them occupy price landscapes well north of $70,000.
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Game changer: Ineos Grenadier
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Imagine being in the oil exploration business, and (of course) using tough long wheelbase 4WDs to get into and out of remote and inhospitable places as a matter of course.
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SEMA standouts
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
From mild to wild, America’s annual SEMA show displays the automotive industry at its most inventive and passionate.
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4WD performance upgrades
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
The world of performance upgrades is vast, and it’s easy to get lost in a maze of tweaks.
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Performance Mechanical and Engineering
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Performance Mechanical and Engineering in Taupo has a well-stocked 4WD accessory store, backed by an extensive workshop and service capability for installations and repairs.
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