Latest News from NZ Autocar
NZ Autocar
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
A Honda NSX-R recently netted almost $NZ1.8m
Last weekend someone with deep pockets purchased a rare 2003 Honda NSX-R for €934,375. The car was sold at the Broad Arrow Concorso d'Eleganza Villa D'Este auction. This was an original Honda NSX-R version. The second-generation of the model stopped selling in the US in 2022. Why would someone have spent so much on this particular NSX? Because the R was the lightest, most focused, most special version of the original and only a few were made. The first limited run was produced between 1992 and 1995, while the second went from 2002 to 2005 after a facelift. Of the latter, Honda only built 140 examples, and all were for the Japanese market. The example that sold recently was finished in the classic Championship White livery. It featured colour-matched BBS wheels and red interior trim. The odo said it had travelled just 16,000 kilometers and presentation was immaculate. Evidently this was the first 2002-2005 NSX-R to come up for public sale in quite some time. It sold for far more than any recently offered 1992-1995 NSX-R. The next closest was a 1995 NSX-R that sold in 2023 for $US632,000. Only two NSXs have sold for more. The first example of the second-generation NSX and the first example of a 2022 NSX Type-S both sold for $1.1 million in charity auctions.
NZ Autocar
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
2024 BYD Dolphin Premium Long Term
The BYD Dolphin is the brand's most affordable machine, an all-electric hatch starting at $39,990 for the Essential. That's $10k cheaper than when it first arrived here. The choice for buyers is whether to go for the Essential value, or pay extra for the $48,990 Premium. This more potent model has recently joined the NZ Autocar line-up, resplendent in its striking pink livery. The difference between variants is more than just specification. Essential comes with a 70kW/180Nm motor but the Premium has double the power, with 150kW and 310Nm of torque. That means 0–100km/h drops from a sedate 12.3sec to a brisk seven seconds in the Premium. Read more 2023 BYD Dolphin Extended review Of more relevance perhaps is the extra range you get with the Premium. The Essential offers a respectable WLTP driving range of 340km from its 44.9kWh Blade battery. Step up to the Premium, and you'll get a larger 60.48kWh battery offering 427km. DC fast charging also improves: the Essential supports up to 60kW, while the Premium can hook up to 80kW chargers. Both models are well specified with BYD's rotating 12.8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a full suite of driver assistance systems and V2L (vehicle-to-load) functionality. The Premium adds extras like heated front seats, wireless phone charging and a panoramic glass roof. There's also a suspension upgrade. Where the Essential uses a torsion beam set-up in the rear, the Premium switches to a multi-link arrangement for improved ride and handling. Upping the spend to the Premium seems justified in our eyes, given you get more than just a few extra creature comforts. The added power, range and dynamic boost are good value for the money. Our GM, Gavin Shaw, has been enjoying the Dolphin for the past month. With his weekly mileage amounting to around 350km, he is getting by with one fast charge a week. He says this takes around 40mins, and it is easy to monitor the process if you are not in the vehicle by using the app. After being an EV skeptic for many years, he has enjoyed the refinement of the power delivery and the ample power of the Premium. Equally impressive for him are the open road dynamics with controlled body roll in bends and a good ride on the highway. His only real bugbear with the Dolphin is the thick A pillar restricting outward vision at some intersections, especially when turning right. While not a fan of the colour combination, he is getting used to the constant comments questioning his supposed lifestyle choice. He says women love the colour combination however. After having spent the past few months being electrically motivated (he was in the Atto 3 prior to this) his view on EVs has changed somewhat. He says he has been pleasantly surprised, particularly as a die-hard enthusiast of petrol power. He reckons that anyone who is hesitant about the idea of an EV should experience one for more than just a quick drive around the block. He reckons the benefits, including the relative ease of refuelling at home, can only be realised with an extended test drive. BYD Dolphin Premium$48,990 / 15.9kWh/100km / 0g/km 0-100 km/h 7.0s Motor 150kW / 310Nm Battery LFP 60.5kWh Drivetrain 1-speed auto / FWD Range 427km
NZ Autocar
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Will Alpine launch a hydrogen-powered supercar eventually?
Alpine is continuing with development of its hydrogen-powered Alpenglow concept, now evolved into the Hy4 prototype. First revealed in 2022, the Alpenglow's transformation into the Hy4 suggests Alpine is increasingly serious about hydrogen combustion technology. The Hy4, built on a Ligier LMP3 racing chassis, swaps the original single-seat layout for a more conventional two-seat set-up, suggesting a shift towards a road orientation. The Hy4 was set to debut at the World Endurance Championship in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. However, an electrical fault prevented that. Alpine's design chief, Antony Villain, is still optimistic. He said that the Alpenglow was always envisioned for both road and track ends. Villain added that Alpine is considering a small production run of the hydrogen-powered supercar. He stressed that both hydrogen-combustion and battery-electric technologies are being pursued at present. Development was always aimed at eventual production, he said, calling the Alpenglow more of a 'programme' than a concept. Future versions will evolve with improved styling and added everyday utility. A critical part of this update is a new V6 hydrogen engine being developed entirely in-house by Alpine. It is set to replace the existing turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder sourced from motorsport partner Oreca. The new V6 should add both power and efficiency. The Hy4's range currently stands at around 100km at race pace. Le Mans racers generally run 10–20 laps of the 14km circuit before refueling so added efficiency is an imperative. Racing vehicles director François Champod stressed the engine will offer accessible, user-friendly power, unlike a high-revving F1 unit. There are still engineering challenges to overcome. Alpine's hydrogen engineer, Pierre-Jean Tardy, explained that while hydrogen combustion produces similar engine response and sound to petrol, it behaves differently. Running lean for efficiency and low NOx emissions leads to cooler exhaust gases, creating challenges for turbochargers, especially increased lag. In addition, hydrogen's wide flammability range complicates combustion control, increasing the risk of engine knock. Mixing hydrogen gas with air uniformly is another major stumbling block, especially at high engine speeds. Hydrogen is injected at very high velocities, making it harder to mix properly and increasing the risk of abnormal combustion. Temperature management within each combustion chamber must also be uniform to avoid reliability issues. Alpine acknowledges that its hydrogen-combustion technology is in its infancy. The V6 has only recently begun testing on a dynamometer. But the goal is to power the Alpenglow with hydrogen by year's end. While Alpine is eyeing entry into the hydrogen-combustion class at the 2027 Le Mans 24 Hours, it has not made a formal commitment yet. A road-going hydrogen car from Alpine remains a long-term possibility. Champod warned that the broader hydrogen infrastructure will determine its future. The current hydrogen refueling network can only support a limited number of vehicles. However, Renault Group's Hyvia venture, focused on hydrogen-powered vans, could aid infrastructure development. Trucks and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) are expected to lead the rollout of hydrogen stations, indirectly supporting niche vehicles like the Alpenglow. Fuel storage on board remains a significant challenge. Hydrogen tanks require more space than petrol equivalents—over 350 litres versus 50 litres—posing packaging problems. Moreover, Alpine insists hydrogen use must be 'clean' to justify its environmental benefits. That means only decarbonized hydrogen (with carbon capture) or green (via renewable-powered electrolysis).
NZ Autocar
a day ago
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
First official pictures emerge of new Jeep Cherokee
The first images of the next-generation Jeep Cherokee were released by Stellantis overnight. And it resembles an enlarged Compass. It is another Jeep that will come with the option of EV power. Spy shots of camouflaged Cherokees emerged earlier this year. Due for an official debut late in 2025, new Cherokee is expected to launch globally in 2026. The first images of this new LR Discovery competitor suggest that it borrows styling cues from the recently revealed Compass. Underneath, this new version will bear no relation to its predecessor. For it will utilise the new Stellantis STLA Large underpinnings. That means it can be offered with hybrid and pure-electric power. Jeep has not confirmed which will debut first, nor are any technical details available. However, it will be closely related to the next-generation Alfa Romeo Stelvio; the pair share the same platform. The first images emerged just days after former Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa was named as the new CEO of Stellantis. His replacement at Jeep, CEO Bob Broderdorf, said: 'The all-new Jeep Cherokee headlines our efforts to deliver more product, innovation, choice and standard content to customers than ever before. 'Jeep Cherokee will boast competitive pricing that strikes at the core of the largest vehicle segment and sits perfectly between Jeep Compass and Jeep Grand Cherokee to bolster our winning mainstream line-up.' Heritage is everything for new Jeep models. These pictures confirm that the new Cherokee shares several design cues with the electric Wagoneer S, such as the sloping roofline, rear doors set into the wheel arches and door handles recessed into the body. Up front is a more prominent version of Jeep's seven-slot grille, mirroring that on the latest Compass. The ICE version of the new Cherokee may get the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre 'Hurricane' straight six from the petrol-powered Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. They are offered with outputs of 313 and 380kW. Read our 2025 Jeep Wrangler Overland review. Expect the electric Cherokee to come with the 447kW dual-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrain out of the Wagoneer S. This is powered by a 118kWh NMC battery pack, giving it a range of 485km (EPA test), so at least 500km on the WLTP regime. On the inside is an infotainment touchscreen similar to the 12.3-in unit featured in the Wagoneer S. It features rotary control dials on its sides. Climate functions are operated using a touchbar recessed into the dashboard below the main screen. Jeep Recon has removable doors, like the outgoing Wrangler. In other Jeep news, the Grand Cherokee will be withdrawn from sale in Europe soon to make room for the Wagoneer S. And the same may happen to the Wrangler, succeeded by the upcoming Recon EV (above).
NZ Autocar
a day ago
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
The MG HS just got a performance and economy boost
A new Hybrid+ model joins the MG HS line-up overseas and is due here as well soon, though exact timing is unclear. In the UK, the MG HS comes with either a 125kW/275Nm 1.5 turbopetrol or a plug-in hybrid powertrain. In New Zealand we currently get the former only. However, it comes in three trim levels, Vibe, Excite and Essence. And price ranges from $35,990 to $42,990. Overseas the new Hybrid comes in SE or Trophy guise. Here the MG ZS Hybrid+ is available in Excite or Essence trim so likely as not the HS will too. Which would put it in the $45k-$50k price point, hazarding a guess. There's no official word as yet from MG New Zealand, except to say it's 'Coming Soon' on the website. The MG HS Hybrid+ powertrain comprises a turbocharged 105kW 1.5-litre petrol engine, and a 1.8kWh battery. The latter is the same as that in the MG3 and ZS Hybrid+. Its lithium-ion battery powers an auxiliary electric motor producing 145kW. The combined output is 165kW/340Nm. That allows the HS Hybrid+ to get from zero to the open road limit in a claimed 7.9sec. There's a two-speed automatic transmission that also features in the other Hybrid+ models available here. Fuel efficiency is more important than performance per se and is quoted at 5.5L/100km overall. That compares with 4.7L/100km for the ZS Hybrid+ and 6.9L/100km for the 1.5T pure petrol HS model. Externally the HS Hybrid+ looks the same as the other variants. Standard specification includes LED lights front and rear, 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, and a 'follow-me-home' light function. Expect also rear parking sensors, a six-way adjustable powered driver's seat, air conditioning, keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function. Cabinside are two 12.3-inch displays. The central touchscreen comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The top model gets a 360-degree camera, wireless smartphone charging pad and an uprated eight-speaker sound system. A customisable driver's screen allows you to integrate sat-nav. The battery siting has no effect on the HS's interior or boot space. Like the petrol models, the Hybrid+ offers a 507L boot capacity, increasing to 1484 litres with the rear seats down. We will let you know as and when we hear from MG Motors New Zealand about the availability of this new HS addition.
