Quick Drives

QUICK DRIVE: Volkswagen Polo R-Line

OVERSTEER ROAD TEST: Volkswagen Polo R-Line We here at OVERSTEER are unashamed fans of Volkswagen’s littlest local offering, the Polo. It has all the charm of cheerful puppy, but can turn savage when pointed at a corner. Savage in a good way, that is, not in “a Kia Rio on Eco-tyres in the wet” kind […]

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First Drives New Cars

FIRST DRIVE: Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf  has long been the five-door hatch benchmark and, as such, played in the upper-levels of the price range for the segment. But now the  Golf goes on the attack with drastically reduced prices and increased spec. We spend a day thrashing a couple of them at the Golf 7 launch. What is […]

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First Drives New Cars

FIRST DRIVE: A pair of Land Rovers

New engines, improved interiors and a transmission we have been waiting for (in a Land Rover, at least) were the big news from a low-key Land Rover launch today. The Freelander gets a brilliant petrol engine that will seem strangely familiar and the Discovery gets a brilliant 8-speed auto transmission. We spent a day sampling […]

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New Cars Road Tests

ROAD TEST: Volkswagen Beetle

OVERSTEER ROAD TEST: Volkswagen Beetle The second incarnation of the new version of a car originally conceived by a genocidal maniac and “designed” by a bloke who actually nicked the design off a another company is finally here. That’s right – the original Nazi fun-wagon is back! We take a Beetle for a blast! While […]

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News

Rolls-Royce reveals new Wraith pic. And a hint of humour.

Rolls-Royce today revealed a new picture of its forthcoming two-door coupe version of the Ghost – the Wraith. Rumoured to be the most powerful production Rolls ever built, the Wraith’s V12 is said to be good for around 450kW, leading RR to display this gem of wit in the press release that accompanied the lone […]

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First Drives New Cars

FIRST DRIVE: Mitsubishi Mirage

The Mitsubishi Mirage was once the sales hero of the Japanese manufacturer’s range in New Zealand, at one stage even claiming a massive 35 percent segment share. Now, after an absence of more than a decade the Mirage name is back to replace the un-lovely Colt. We head to Wellington to take it for a […]

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First Drives New Cars

FIRST DRIVE: A bunch of Hyundais

Two additional body shapes for existing models and a facelift made up Hyundai’s recent “i-Model launch”  – the introduction of the i30 wagon, the i40 sedan and a refreshed i45. We spent a day checking them all out. i30 Wagon Based on the same platform as the i30 hatch (the previous generation wagon had a […]

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New Cars Road Tests

ROAD TEST: BMW M6

OVERSTEER ROAD TEST: BMW M6 BMW’s M cars are, as a rule, rather special. Despite the company’s slightly confused attempt to add SUVs to the M line up, the ‘proper’ M cars (the ones with a single number after the M… or in the case of the 1M, before…) are still very much the heroes […]

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News

WCOTY finalists announced

The 2013 World Car of the Year, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year will all be announced at the New York Auto Show in late March, but in the meantime the finalists in each award have been announced. The 2013 World Car of the Year will be selected […]

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