The good oil: New Rover on a roll

The Rover 75 has won itself a serious gong. Motoring writers worldwide have voted it "World Car 1999." Cars are assessed for their design, engineering integrity and quality and the international panel reckoned the Rover 75 was the best of a pretty impressive bunch. The last BMW-Rover model to win the title was the BMW 5-Series in 1996. Rover the other day in London took the covers off two new cars, the 25 and 45 - models which "present the confident new face of Rover," said the carmaker's perky brand director John Parkinson.

Zane zeros in


Zane Shelley, a technician from Whangarei Hyundai dealer Northland Auto, has finished third in Hyundai's Skill Olympics competition in Korea. The competition involves things like diagnosing and fixing engine problems in the shortest possible time. Shelley received a bronze medal. The winner, a Singapore technician, walked away with a cheque for nearly $6000. It was the third year of competition. Australian technicians won the first two.

Keeping lid on unrest


Ford of Britain is blaming alleged racism at its Dagenham plant on inflammatory and exaggerated media coverage. That's what its chairman Ian McAllister said anyway. But the fact is that workers voted to hold a strike ballot following claims of "institutionalised racism" at the Essex plant where black and Asian workers form about 40 per cent of the workforce. Ford executives have acknowledged that there have been some isolated incidents but they are trying to keep a lid on things. Ford is about to spend $1 billion to kit out the factory to produce the next-generation Fiesta model and it doesn't want its plans jeopardised by worker unrest.

French connection


Meanwhile, Ford is getting together with PSA Peugeot Citroen to develop new diesel engines for cars and light trucks. The PSA group is Europe's biggest producer of diesel engines and Ford has been anxious to tap PSA's expertise to increase its share of the diesel engine market, particularly in Europe. Ford president Jac Nasser said the tie-up with PSA could enable Ford to introduce its diesel technology in the United States for the first time. The growth of clean, high-tech diesel engines is plain to see.

Birthday special


The Volkswagen Golf is having its 25th birthday this year. To celebrate, the distributors in New Zealand have imported 40 anniversary models, equipped with fancy alloys, air-conditioning, CD player, birthday badging - and personalised number plates, from "Golf01" to "Golf40." Buyers have the choice of three colours: satin silver, black magic or indigo blue. Since 1974, the Golf has been Europe's most popular car. Four generations have been built and 19 million sold.

Beetle's about


While we are on things Volkswagen, the first right-hand-drive New Beetle landed in Auckland the other day. It is fire-engine red and was quickly delivered to VW's advertising agency to go before the glare of campaign cameras. VW hopes to receive its first shipment of New Beetles in December, although production delays at the factory in Mexico may mean it doesn't make it here in numbers until the New Year.