Let’s get the obvious out of the way, this is an extremely pleasant place to be. The car welcomes you like a prince into unlimited luxury. Understatement is the name of the game here, it’s a classically British car which wraps brawn with exquisite tailoring. Beautiful stitched leather integrates seamlessly with alcantara and combination of […]
The Aston Martin Vantage V8 is an event. More than virtually any other car I have driven. Aside from its staggeringly gorgeous looks, the trim and finish puts it among an exclusive set of cars exhibiting ultimate luxury and ultimate performance in a single exclusive package. Starting with the looks, it is simply one of […]
Toyota New Zealand loaned writer Tim Warren a smoky blue 2024 Toyota Prado Adventure to go and have a good Kiwi summer. The Prado Adventure, equipped with a 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine paired with a 48V Hybrid System, produces and impressive 150kW and 500Nm torque. Offering both power and efficiency, Prado is the ideal companion […]
Toyota New Zealand loaned writer Tim Warren a smoky blue 2024 Toyota Prado Adventure to go and have a good Kiwi summer. He did that and we are publishing Tim’s exploits progressively. Read on and enjoy! Patchy and wet dawns the day. I’m unperturbed because today is a ‘beach in a four-wheel drive’ mission and […]
I’ve been loving the latest Maseratis. In recent months i’ve driven the Grecale midsize SUV, the imperious GranTurismo, and the stunning MC20 supercar, each one of them beautiful. Now Maserati are fusing design elements from the fashion world. Fuoriserie is Maserati’s customisation program, and their new “Fuoriserie By” collection brings renowned designers into the mix. […]
The Toyota land cruiser Prado has been around through many iterations since 1990. The last major upgrade was 2009. Now with a new model, new chassis and new design, Toyota is keen to show the motoring world what the new Prado can achieve in a range of conditions. Bring on two days of diverse driving […]
When you fly to Queenstown for a launch event, you know it’s got to be something special. The natural location is beautiful, and Lexus matched the hospitality to the location, lodgings at Gibbston Lodge, discovering Ben Bayly’s Aosta in Arrowtown, and visiting Te Kano Vineyard and Winery and Edgewater, all beautiful locations in themselves. Yet […]
When someone calls and says, “Would you like to drive the new Maserati GT,” there’s only one answer. So without any hesitation, I locked in a date. There are a lot of cars badged ‘GT’, yet few deserve it. This car does. GranTurismo means great drive, and what it means in car circles is a […]
I’m seated in an electric blue Corvette Stingray with a huge smile on my face, I haven’t been this excited to drive a car in months. First appearing on race tracks in the ’50s and showrooms in the ’60s, it’s an icon with a cult following. A classic that got me into cars yet I’m […]
Picture the scene: Sean Connery, a suave tuxedo, and the gleam of a Rolls-Royce Phantom III taking centre stage. It’s been 60 years since Goldfinger hit the cinemas, and while Bond has a whole arsenal of gadgets up his sleeve, who would have thought one of the deadliest tools in Auric Goldfinger’s collection wasn’t hidden […]
The 2024 Maserati Grecale Trofeo puts you in a different world of luxury, but more importantly, sophistication, elegance and refinement. Luxury is something that you can buy – sophistication is not. Luxury can come at you like bubbles from a young waiter at a society event, sophistication is a different matter. Sophistication won’t announce itself […]
Photography by Jake Hoare The new 2024 Mercedes-Benz C 63 SE is a completely different animal from the car that started the legend. Packing a staggering 500 kilowatts and 1020nm, it delivers breathtaking performance with possibly the most sophisticated drivetrain of any production car. The original C 63 (reviewed here) virtually created a new category: […]
Photography by Jake Hoare I have owned a 2008 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 since 2014, and I just can’t part with it. From track to touring, the C63 is one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. I’ve driven many cars, but this one sets a benchmark that few can match. Despite being 16 years old, […]
Honda must be feeling in a nostalgic mood as it dug back through it’s catalogue all the way back to their very first concept car, the Honda HP-X. This hot little Wedge shaped number was Styled and handcrafted by renowned Italian design house Pininfarina and hasn’t been seen publicly since it debuted in 1984. It […]
The Mercedes G-Class is an icon, well established since 1979. Now it seems for no particular reason at all they are celebrating this icon with a premium glow up in the form of the special Mercedes-AMG G 63 Grand Edition. Limited to just 1,000 units globally the G 63 Grand Edition features gold details both […]
Photography by Jake Hoare Driving the Rolls-Royce Spectre electric transforms your perception of the world. You become acutely aware of your surroundings, yet remain unaffected by them. This car is the choice of kings, queens and titans of industry. As you float across roads, weaving through traffic and over any riding surface, you find yourself […]
While business leaders from a range of sectors gathered to understand how to leverage AI for the future of industry at the M2 AI Summit held at Shed 10, Auckland, on May 23, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Auckland showcased the future of ultra-luxury motoring. The Rolls-Royce Spectre. The first all-electric super coupé from the marque, marking […]
Maserati describes the MC20 as a super sports car and they are right. Yet somehow that phrase fails to capture the sheer beauty of this beast. People stop in their tracks, mouths hanging open wanting to know what it is. That was my first reaction on seeing the car across a crowded parking lot. It […]
What might be a dose of adrenaline-inducing good news for Porsche aficionados down under, is that the German marque has teamed up with legendary Manthey-Racing GmbH, to unleash a suite of performance upgrades that promise to transform already formidable Porsche GT models into track-devouring beasts. With a trophy cabinet bursting with motor-racing accolades, including numerous […]
Aston Martin is known for assertive yet timeless design, and the release of their new V8 Vantage in Melbourne bought another chapter for one of the most iconic British sports car brands. M2 was in Melbourne covering Formula One and as Aston Martin was in town for that little race, their director of design Miles […]
My journey with McLaren started with me barely knowing the name. Vaguely aware of the Formula 1 team, I knew Bruce McLaren was a driver, I didn’t realise he was a genuine New Zealand hero. In 1992 the groundbreaking McLaren F1 road car was released, bringing McLaren out of the pitlane and onto the mainstreet. […]
The Range Rover Evoque hybrid is a sorted car. It’s compact it’s easy to get around but it brings that measure of luxury of the status of a quality brand. The model we drove is a plugin hybrid and I’ve only got praise for its driving characteristics sending the power of a 1.3L turbo to […]
In ode to the annals of Greek mythology, where Daedalus crafted his intricate maze, Rolls-Royce engineers have woven their own complex masterpiece, the Arcadia Droptail. This chariot, not of the sun but of the roads, is not just a nod to the pastoral utopia of Arcadia but a technical odyssey that would make even Hephaestus, […]
Rolls-Royce, in a stroke of what can only be described as automotive couture wizardry, has rolled out the Ghost Prism. A limited edition, 120-unit tribute to the brand’s 120th birthday. And it looks like the party began with a particularly avant-garde game of Twister to choose the color options. The Ghost Prism comes in Gunmetal […]
You probably will have noticed by this stage of the magazine that this is the Year of Dragon. While Swiss watch brands have done a pretty good job of a bit of horological celebration, Rolls-Royce has entered the stage with a loud mic drop and four magnificent fiery beasts to pay a serious nod to […]
Driving the BMW i5 M60 xDrive and I wonder to myself… “Where can cars go from here? Is this the pinnacle?” The handling is superb, suspension so smooth it glides over just about anything you put in its way. It’s as quiet as can be, and boasts just about every feature and function from a […]
Tesla is well…. Tesla. Different. And now that Tesla is just a little bit better. I had the privilege of attending the launch of the updated Model three. Model three is the mass market car, that car that the Model S and X paved the way for. The one that’s attainable and affordable and it’s […]
In the pantheon of automotive excellence, Rolls-Royce occupies the high altar, the sanctum sanctorum of motoring royalty. And within that revered space, a new deity rises, casting a shadow that is both literal and metaphorical. Welcome to the stage, the Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost Ékleipsis. A name like a spell, a car like a charm. […]
BMW has just thrown down the gauntlet in high-end, high tech luxury automotive design with the new fully electric i7 xDrive60, and it’s as subtle as a sledgehammer in a library in the best way possible. In the metal, the new 7 series is an absolute unit – imposing and defiantly modern. The car’s aero-efficiency […]
Enter the Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail, a car that makes a statement louder than a rock star’s wardrobe and yet, somehow, more refined. This isn’t just a car; it’s a rolling piece of art, commissioned by someone whose wallet is as thick as their passion for unique gems. The Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail is the latest plaything […]
This year The House of the Trident revealed the Maserati GT2 at the legendary 24 Hours of Spa in Belgium. This marks the return of Maserati to GT competitions, after previously carving a name for itself with the MC12 dominating from 2005 to 2010. This beast has been built for private teams and gentleman drivers, […]
Bugatti, the purveyor of all things fast, luxurious, and jaw-dropping, has taken automotive performance to the next level with the Bolide, a track-only hyper sports car that puts the “hyper” in hyperbole. First teased as a wild idea in late 2020, the Bolide is now roaring to life, with the prototype entering the next phase […]
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have unveiled the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow, a limited edition of 12 cars worldwide, marking the end of the production of one of the most transformative models in the marque’s history. As the last V12 coupé the company will ever make, this Bespoke masterpiece is a fitting tribute to the Wraith […]
The Revuelto is the newest offering from Italian automaker Lamborghini, and it’s really not your average supercar. It’s also hybrid by the way and it is a long, long way away from your average hybrid also. Apparently, when Lamborghini does electric motors, they like to bring in three of them and then combine them with […]
The Ferrari 812 GTS is a special vehicle but for one Ferrari collector, it just needed a little bit of something else. Enter the Ferrari SP51, a very one-of-a-kind vehicle that draws on the best of Ferrari past and present. Commissioned by one of Ferrari’s most loyal collectors in Taiwan, the SP51 is a V12 […]
The Bugatti Chiron Profilée has made history by becoming the most valuable new car ever auctioned. Sold for a staggering 9,792,500 euros net at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Paris on February 1st, the Chiron Profilée is a one-of-a-kind piece of Bugatti history and the last W16-powered car available directly from the atelier in Molsheim, […]
Lamborghini has revealed two special edition vehicles, the Invencible Coupe and Auténtica Roadster car as a farewell to Lamborghini’s naturally aspirated V12 engine and the Aventador platform. They are the final examples of a breed of supercars that are becoming increasingly rare in today’s market. For enthusiasts who appreciate the power and sound of a […]
One of the most recognisable mascots in the automotive world, actually just the world is celebrating its 112th anniversary this year. Originally called the “Spirit of Speed,” the Spirit of Ecstasy was first introduced in 1911, appearing on the radiator cap of a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. The mascot, which is a symbol of luxury and […]
Ever seen a really cool vehicle in a racing game and wanted to drive it in real life? Obviously, the designers at McLaren Special Operations had because they have turned what was a radical McLaren concept vehicle originally created for the virtual racing world in Gran Turismo into a real-life track-only hypercar and there’s not […]
Ferarri has celebrated its 30th anniversary of having a presence in mainland China in the most appropriate manner by unveiling a one-of-a-kind Ferrari Roma Tailor Made. The new Ferrari Roma draws inspiration from traditional Chinese aesthetics and craftsmanship and pays tribute to the brand’s milestones over the past three decades in China. The unveiling of […]
Choosing a birthday present for someone you care about can be tough, especially when they turn a decently round number. Spare a thought then for Bentley then when Brussel’s Motorshow turned 100 this year. Just what do you get for a Motorshow that has it all? Luckily though Bentley had a couple of very special […]
The creative team behind the video promo for the 2023 Lamborghini have been really getting into dirt. In fact according to the very deep voice over “dust is gold, dirt is for the bold”. This ode to the off road is accompanied by shots of a snowboarder caving down the side of desert cliffs and […]
There’s something freeing about an open-top roadster. The wind in your hair, the feel of the sun, the smell of the open road. Hollywood has latched onto the concept also and once you have escaped with the money and got the girl of your dreams, you ride off into the horizon while the audience gets […]
There’s something romantic about the concept of the Grand Tourer, a vehicle designed to help liberate you from the shackles of the day-to-day routine and allow you to explore the open road in comfort, style, luxury and some pace to go with it. The concept of grand touring, or GT, dates back to the 1950s […]
Is there a surgeon in the garage? Well yes. Bentley has unveiled a one-of-a-kind, bespoke Flying Spur Hybrid at its pinnacle evening event during Art Basel Miami. The unique car was created by Bentley’s in-house personal commissioning division, Mulliner, in collaboration with “The Surgeon,” a leading figure in the custom shoe industry known for his […]
The Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition is a new high-performance version of the popular Vantage sports car that has been produced as a celebration of the company’s return to Formula 1 after more than 60 years and what a way to celebrate. Developed based on the Vantage’s role as the Official Safety Car of Formula […]
The other day, via the magic of that great culinary archive, YouTube, I was watching a Michelin star Italian chef put together pasta aglio e olio, which just has to be one of the simplest utilitarian Italian meals there is. It basically means pasta with olive oil and garlic – no more, no less. Not […]
Founded in 1963 by fellow Kiwi, racing car driver and inventor, Bruce McLaren, the McLaren Brand has always paved the way for worldwide high-end automobile technologies to come to the forefront. Since its humble Grand Prix beginnings from Bruce’s little Austin 7 Ulster, to the much more modern Grand Tourer released in 2019, McLaren has […]
Ah Ferrari. It’s almost the default brand that comes to mind when you hear the term ‘sports car’. That hasn’t happened by accident; it’s the product of 81 year track record in designing some of the most desirable luxury cars ever made. It makes sense then that they’ve drawn from that history in designing their […]
Bentley Mulliner has just made their most powerful car to date, and you’ll probably never see it in real life, let alone give it a test drive. Costing in the ballpark of US$1.95m all 18 of this limited run supercar have already been sold. Not surprising consider some of the buyers already own the previous […]
The illustrious Colorado event, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, started all the way back in 1916 by Mr. Spencer Penrose. Throngs of car lovers have since enjoyed either spectating or participating in battling up the 20km stretch of gravel, complete with its 156 sharp turns. Only the bravest drivers compete. At this year’s Pikes Peak, […]
For some people, their word is law – so, with them, a promise made is a promise kept. One such person is Charles Rolls; better known as the man whose name is half of the legendary marque Rolls-Royce. Back in 1900 Charles had an enthralling vision; an electric version of these new-fangled motor vehicles he […]
Last time the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail graced our pages, it was for the custom coachbuild that was rumoured to cost upwards of $28 million and delivered to Jay-Z and Beyonce. We’ll never know for sure, unless Jay-Z is caught at the traffic lights with that beautiful machine but the Rolls-Royce Coachbuild team has been busy […]
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Auckland Brand Manager, Ruwan Siriwardena takes us on a tour of the iconic Phantom VII Drophead Coupe. A very special 2012 edition of the famous range. And not only does this model come from royal heritage, but it is also comes dressed in a bespoke wrapped finish, coupled with Piano Black interior […]
As far as exclusive car brands go, Rolls-Royce takes the cake. But if you want your exclusivity just that bit more exclusive, you’ll be pleased to know that there is a Rolls-Royce Bespoke division. We talk to Gavin Hartley, the Head of Bespoke Design about the growth of luxury personalisation, how one-on-one customer relationships are […]
One of the greatest series of cars to launch into the Geneva International Motor Show this year was Rolls Royce’s Bespoke cars. All the way from their headquarters in Goodwood, West Sussex, the car brand is renown for accessorising the look and feel of luxury. First off the racing mark is their Phantom Tranquility, which […]
As I raced around the corner from a tar seal road to a metal road the back of Rolls-Royce’s latest model, a Super Luxury SUV, swung out, I’d clearly taken it too fast, but before I could even think to correct, the four-wheel steering system took over and I was back in control. While, this […]
