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Suzuki reckons family saloons need to be more exciting, hence the futuristic Kizashi prototype it unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Its outrageous design previews the look of the Japanese carmaker's upcoming rival to sedans from Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi. Whatever Suzuki finally decides to call the model, it will be the largest Suzuki in the line-up. The new car will come in sedan or station wagon body-styles, powered by 2-litre petrol or diesel engines mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox and driving all four wheels. It is expected to hit showrooms in 2009.
New-car sales down
New-car sales in September were down 5 per cent on the same month last year but commercials were up nearly 8 per cent. "It's business as usual," said Perry Kerr, CEO of the Motor Industry Association. "We're encouraged by the continuing confidence that the public is demonstrating in the safety, environmental and value benefits of new vehicle ownership." Sales so far in 2007 are up on last year. At the end of September, 57,264 new cars had been sold, exactly seven more than for the same period in 2006. Commercial sales were stronger in the nine months too - the 18,928 units were 4.5 per cent up on last year. Toyota had 22 per cent of the market for the month, followed by Ford and Holden.
Early model of van
Hyundai is showing its commercial clients an early production model of the new H1 van it will launch here in the New Year. It's a tidy carry-all, too, with a smart looking and practical dash/console assembly. It will be powered by a 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine, producing around 400Nm of torque. Phillip Eustace, executive director of Hyundai Motors NZ, reckons he can sell 40 models a month. "Our commercial clients kept asking us, 'when are you going to bring in a new van?'." The new H1 replaces the H100.
Our man is no fool
One of the Good Oil's mates has been driving for 50 years this month and agrees that the "give way to oncoming traffic turning right rule" is the dopiest in the world. "It creates indecision and confusion," he says. "The old rule about turning right only when there was nothing coming towards you worked perfectly. Then some civil servant decided the rule could do with a bit of so-called Kiwi ingenuity. It didn't need it." Our man says he mostly ignores the rule. "So do a lot of drivers - I see it every day," he says. But what if everyone ignored it? He paraphrased Yossarian in the book Catch 22: "Then I'd be a damned fool not to ignore it, too."
Been drinking doubles?
Police in Wisconsin arrested a disabled man for drink-driving after they allegedly caught him behind the wheel of a pick-up truck while his drunken friend worked the pedals. The man argued he wasn't really driving - he was just steering it and his friend was controlling the brake and accelerator.
