Latest Motoring News
Stay informed with the latest automotive news for NZ drivers — from tyre safety and EV updates to new car reviews and road conditions.
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Can Denza really establish itself as a luxury brand?
As Denza prepares to hunt Porsche customers, we ask: is glitz and glamour enough to join the old guard? The BYD-owned Denza brand has thrust itself onto the European stage with a lavish launch event at the Palais Garnier in Paris. This cinematic, blockbuster-scale soirée marked i
New Denza Z9 GT EV: £100k, 1140bhp Porsche Taycan rival tested
Crab-walking, 0-62 in 2.7 secs and nine-minute charging: can it justify that £100,000 price tag? This Denza is not quite like any Chinese car that has gone before it. You can - and I would - argue that other Chinese cars aim to beat the competition by offering more: more power, m
Australia delays EV road user charge slammed as 'thinly veiled tax'
A proposed national road user charge for electric vehicles (EVs) appears to be on ice after comments from the federal Transport Minister suggesting it could hinder a recent surge in sales. As fuel prices reached record levels across Australia in March 2026, the proportion of EVs
New Bentley Bentayga due 2028 as high-performance PHEV
Firm has delayed its full EV plans in favour of plug-in hybrids – but will still offer some pure-ICE special editions The next Bentayga SUV will arrive in 2028 as the flag-bearer for a new wave of Bentley plug-in hybrids following a major rethink of its EV strategy. The Crewe man
Fuel app to ‘name and shame’ most expensive servos as price scrutiny ramps up
Updated Service Victoria feature highlights highest-priced stations, giving motorists clearer visibility on fuel price disparities across suburbs. The post Fuel app to ‘name and shame’ most expensive servos as price scrutiny ramps up first appeared on WhichCar .
BYD Shark 6 cab/chassis wouldn't exist without Australia, says Chinese brand
The BYD Shark 6 cab/chassis unveiled in Australia last week wasn’t part of the brand’s original local product rollout plans, with strong customer demand prompting the company to introduce the new body style. BYD’s first ute was launched in a single body style in October 2024 and
Level-three autonomy falters but China fear pushes car makers on
Key backers BMW and Mercedes pull support for next level of self-driving tech, citing low uptake and use limitations Level-three autonomy is on the ropes again – just as it looked like the dream of your car taking over the boring bits of driving was becoming a reality. The two ca
BYD working on Ford F-150 rival for Australia
Top-selling Chinese brand BYD is working on a full-size pickup, with its Asia Pacific boss confirming the company hasn’t abandoned plans for a larger dual-cab despite higher fuel prices. Speaking to media in Melbourne, BYD Asia Pacific boss Liu Xueliang confirmed the brand – whic
MG4 EV Urban Lands in New Zealand – Practical, Peppy and Priced to Move
The MG4 EV Urban has officially arrived in New Zealand, a design-led, front-wheel-drive hatchback that promises everyday practicality, attractive pricing and genuinely usable electric range for Kiwi drivers. Launched by MG Motor New Zealand with a late‑April arrival window, the U
GWM unveils the all-new ORA 5 SUV
GWM has announced the upcoming arrival of the all-new ORA 5 SUV in New Zealand, a next-generation SUV that they say represents a significant advancement in the brand’s New Energy Vehicle (NEV) strategy and reinforces its commitment to expanding accessible Battery Electric Vehicle
Another Chinese brand is coming to Australia, and it's another one from Chery
It can be hard to keep track of all the Chinese auto brands coming to Australia, and it’s getting hard to keep track of just those from Chery. Chery Australia has confirmed it will launch the Freelander brand here next year, after the news was first broken by TheAutoExec last wee
Australia’s EV boom is in full swing – here are the top 10 cars people are buying
As fuel prices continue to surge amid the Middle East conflict, Australian new car buyers are gravitating to EVs in ever-increasing numbers. The post Australia’s EV boom is in full swing – here are the top 10 cars people are buying first appeared on WhichCar .
BMW i4 eDrive40 review – How an EV Gran Coupe should be
If you want a driver-focused electric sedan that feels more like a refined 4 Series than a radical handset-on-wheels, the BMW i4 eDrive40 is surely the one. It’s a lucid blend of traditional BMW driving cues and modern EV practicality, a car that quietly reminds you it’s still a
Defective Ford F-150 Lightning EVs from collapsed conversion firm can now be fixed... at a cost
The owners of 146 battery-powered Ford F-150 pickups produced by a failed Brisbane converter have been thrown a lifeline by a fellow Queensland company – but they’ll have to pay for a recall fix to prevent their fingers being burned, literally. Following the end of F-150 Lightnin
Paddon and Kennard back on WRC podium after dramatic Croatia Rally
Hayden Paddon and John Kennard have returned to the World Rally Championship podium, finishing third at Rally Croatia in a demanding and incident-filled event. The result marks their first podium in the World Rally Championship since 2018, coming in just their second outing of th
Hyundai reveals bold EV concepts as it fights back against Chinese brands
Hyundai is preparing for a major overhaul of its electric vehicle (EV) strategy in China, spearheaded by the official local launch of its Ioniq EV sub-brand and previewed by two radical concepts. The Venus sedan and Earth SUV are two China-specific concepts that signify a drastic
Scoular shines on European debut with Barcelona podium
Kiwi Zack Scoular has made an immediate impression on the European endurance racing stage, securing a podium finish in his debut appearance in the Michelin Le Mans Cup at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Representing leading outfit R-ace GP, Scoular underlined his potential in one
Van Gisbergen caught in Bristol chaos as Gibbs claims maiden Cup win
Shane van Gisbergen endured a bruising afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway, with the Trackhouse Racing driver caught up in a race-defining incident that ultimately derailed his charge in the NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500. After lining up 33rd on the grid, van Gisbergen’s race q
Australian Government tells motorists to drive less, close their windows and pump up their tyres amid fuel shortages
The federal government has launched a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign encouraging Australians to cut down on their fuel consumption, as hundreds of service stations across the country remain out of one or more types of fuel. Dubbed 'Every little bit helps', the campaign
Toyota GR86 GTS v Hyundai i30 N Premium: Affordable, sporty driving from two classics of the genre
It’s a question now five decades in the making. Traditional sports car or practical hot hatch? This month Wheels looks for the redline in two of the best to find the answer. The post Toyota GR86 GTS v Hyundai i30 N Premium: Affordable, sporty driving from two classics of the genr
Tata may be eyeing a return to Australia… again
After two failed attempts, could Tata be mounting another return to the Australian market? Tata first launched here in 1996, lasting almost a decade before quietly shutting up shop in 2005 – before another attempt kicked off in 2013 by a different importer and distributor. Now, a
Hyundai’s ute may be late, but it will be ‘highly competitive’
Hyundai’s forthcoming ute isn’t expected to be launched until 2028, yet development of the all-new model is believed to be well underway. Little is known about Hyundai's first global pickup, but in recent days the Korean automaker unveiled the Boulder – an off-road SUV ‘design st
The Metro 6R4 isn't the best Group B monster, but it is the coolest
Just like your nan used to drive, except cooler, noisier and more terrifying I have never hung art in my bedroom. I can never find anything that looks right: too cliché, too kitsch or too highbrow. I have, however, always displayed a poster of a Metro 6R4 , mid-slide. That, for m
2026 Mazda CX-80 P50e Touring review
Australia is falling in love with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). We bought 53,484 PHEVs last year alone, up 131 per cent on 2024, and that’s despite the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption ending on April 1. The technology is clearly seen as a palatable bridge between