Bang-up SUV just what they want
As the top selling model for Kia Motors, the arrival of the 2016 Sportage SUV is timely considering New Zealand's current love affair with this type of vehicle.
First came Kia Motors New Zealand’s launch of the Niro Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models in March, and now the company reports strong interest in the all-electric Niro EV recently unveiled in Korea.
“The acceptance of the hybrid and plug-in hybrid Niro models by New Zealand buyers has been exceptional,” says Todd McDonald, general manager of Kia Motors NZ.
“There is a place in the market for a well-designed SUV with astonishingly low fuel consumption”.
The Niro EV is powered by Kia’s next-generation electric vehicle powertrain.
Equipped with a high-capacity 64kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, the Niro EV is reckoned to do at least 380km on a single charge or up to 240km when paired with an optional 39.2kWh battery system.
Described as sporty and versatile, the vehicle is the work of Kia’s design centres in California and Namyang, Korea.
It will be launched in the home market in late 2018 and in NZ in 2019.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.