With the ‘car’ parks that encircle the Mystery Creek site packed full of them it only stood to reason that turbo-diesel double cab utes were very much the flavour of the 50th anniversary New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays event, which opened on Wednesday June 13 this year Story and photo by Ross MacKay
With a fully audited 130,866 people coming through the gates this year (well exceeding the average across the last five years of 125,000 people) you can certainly understand why companies like Isuzu spend so much creating a dedicated, self-drive, compound to showcase their particular ute (The D-Max) and ute-based (MU-X) offerings. Not to mention why Ford used the event to reveal its new ‘hero’ TD/DC ute the Ranger Raptor.
National Ute show
Every importer with a TD/DC ute to sell had a major presence, in fact. Mitsubishi again delighted those into raising and otherwise modifying the current generation of tops sellers with last month’s ‘cover car,’ the limited production Huntaway ll taking pride of place on its stand.
Joining it was another version altogether, one which shared the same locally created wide body flares but was as low as the Huntaway ll is high. On which more in another issue.
Juts down the roadway from Mitsubishi Nissan had an airbrush expert painting up a Navara ute, while around the corner Ford had not one , not tow, but three Rangers to pull in the punters, the all-new Raptor, and two modded current, er, models, one a co-lab (of which you can read more next month) with local roof-top tent and general adventure specialists Feldon Shelter, the other Ford and CTB-backed drifter Fanga Dan Woolhouse’s tow vehicle.
Matching Ford’s stand for size and interest was Holden’s, the key exhibits as far as readers of this magazine are concerned, the new Colorado Xtreme. Though not as, er, extreme as Holden’s own one-off show model of two years ago, the new’un is a genuine production model this time around and comes complete with a new front bullbar and winch!
At Fieldays last year Mercedes-Benz Commercial could only offer a Virtual Reality look at the new X-Class ute. This year the Commercial wing of the German giant had X-Class TD DC utes for Africa (plus a tricked up Fire Service version of the G-Professional) on a large site adjacent Toyota’s usual ‘Hilux Corner.’
Gladiator II – The Return!
Not to be outdone by Mitsubishi, Toyota also had an updated version of its own Gladiator concept ute (which like last year’s version included a set of ARB BP-51 bypass shocks at the front) on show, as well as the usual comprehensive line-up of other Hilux models and the new TRD-spec Fortuner.
Volkswagen also got in on the act with a nicely-accessorised Amarok up front on its stand, while the impressive new T-60 TD DC ute (unveiled here at Fieldays last year) drew plenty of show-goers to the LDV stand.
New, meanwhile, on Jeep/Chrysler and RAM dealer Ateco’s stand was the RAM 1500, the 5.7 litre petrol V8 version, officially the country’s most powerful ‘utility’ (and who are we to argue!).
Newest model to the market meanwhile, had to be the Rexton-based SsangYong Musso ute, effectively the replacement (once run-out stocks are sold) of the top-selling Actyon model.
When at Fieldays it’s always a good idea to take up any special offers going and such was the case of a lap of Isuzu’s vehicle test track courtesy the company, 4WD trainer and course designer/programme boss Colin Burden and (both his and our) right-hand man, Ashley Lucas.
Try before you buy
Because you complete the course in 4WD low-ratio, speed is low. But the various lumps, bumps, and hollows are all there to showcase the go-anywhere nature of both D-Max and MU-X models and like a roller-coaster ride, the first lap is over before you want it to be, leaving you wanting to line-up and go around again!
The big take for me came just after the start when Ashley pointed me in the direction of a sidling. Though I was immediately out of my comfort zone Ash just chuckled and asked if I had seen the ute parked (on what looked like its side) on the way into the stand.
I had so Ashley pointed out that it was set there at 49 degrees. We on the other hand were at just over 30….well within the design parameters of the D-Max in other words!
Key 4x4 sector suppliers like ARB, Airplex, Rugged Valley, ECU Chips, Fully Equipped and Black Duck also use the annual Fieldays event to showcase their aftermarket products to their target markets.
Joining them this year were some new players, including Kumeu-based roof top tent specialist Feldon Shelter (with a collab fully-kitted out Ranger ute on the Ford stand, as well as their own corner site near the main expo building) and turbo-diesel tuning specialist Agri-Tune NZ.
To read the full story in the August 2018 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (July 13) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
