The last of the Sports Cats
The launch of the Series 2 HSV SportsCat was an endorsement of the risky decision to take the performance brand into the crowded high-end ute market.
You might have to wait a while to buy one, but Holden will premiere the new Commodore Sportwagon at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
It’s said to have been on a diet compared to the current model: clever use of lightweight materials has shed 200kg from the overall weight, but the load space is still a useful 1640L.
Power plants will be a turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol or diesel, and a flagship V^ will deliver 230Kw and 370Nm torque.
A new adaptive all-wheel drive option will be available, combined with a twin clutch rear diff, and a first for Holden – a 9-speed auto transmission.
Expect to see plenty of bling: an automated rear door lift which works when you swing your foot under the rear bumper, head-up display so the driver keeps his eyes on the road, and the now almost obligatory safety features adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning and rear cross traffic alert.
Also expect to see the love-it-or-hate it stop/start engine system and a new adaptive Flexi-Ride suspension system offering tour, standard or sport settings
More than 150 people turned up at Parliament recently to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ).
Biosecurity New Zealand says Kiwis should continue to keep an eye out for yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) over the holiday season.
The Push-Up Challenge, an event which combines mental health and fitness, is set to launch in New Zealand in 2026.
Last month's Agritechnica event led to a wide group of manufacturers celebrating successes when the 2026 Tractor of the Year Competition winners, selected by a panel of European journalists, were announced in Hanover Germany.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.