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
Moves are afoot to get a team of Australians over here to help repair North Canterbury's irrigation machinery, ravaged by the big windstorm of late October.
As you approach Hastings from the south along SH2, the colour of the west-facing hills are a good indicator of a drought.
Global beef trade is expected to grow steadily over the next five years, driven by increasing demand from Asia and strategic export expansions by South American countries.
Carpet maker Bremworth is reinstating solution-dyed nylon (SDN) into its product mix but says wool carpets remain central to its brand.
While New Zealand may be under siege from braindead, flesh-eating monstrosities, that doesn’t mean lambing can stop.
OPINION: As negotiations advance on the India-New Zealand FTA, it’s important to remember the joint commitment made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the beginning of this process in March: for a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial agreement.