Celebrating diversity

The motor industry here continues to defy gravity, with robust sales across the board last month.

Already this year there have been almost 104,000 new vehicles sold, a remarkable number that suggests momentum continues in the market, and that total sales will set a new annual record by the end of December.

While sales of SUVs and utes continue to soar, the market is also gearing up to cope with the impact of more new hybrids and electric vehicles arriving on the scene.

For example, a new all- electric fleet of short- term rental vehicles began operating in Christchurch this week, and rental car company Europcar announced the arrival of the first 10 new Volkswagen eGolfs joining its rental fleet this month. Both initiatives provide a simple and easy way for those interested in switching from petrol or diesel to electric or hybrid to trial the technology.

This bumper 48- page edition of Driven demonstrates the pace of change, and vast range of models TONY VERDON now available in this marketplace.

From Mazda’s new engine technology that sees petrol engines matching their diesel counterparts in terms of fuel efficiency, BMW’s 330e plug- in hybrid and Nissan’s newgeneration Leaf, there is plenty to read.

For those looking for an even sportier drive there is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce ( Pg 21) and the latest incarnation of the Volkswagen Golf GTI ( Pg 33), while motorbike enthusiasts and those with a mechanical bent will be fascinated by Mathieu Day- Gillett’s story about the remarkable Madboxer home- made monster motorbike, beginning on page 38.

That is one of the most diverse collection of articles run in Driven this year, in one of the largest editions of the year. ABOUT US