Volvos make a splash

The 20 special edition Volvo Ocean Race cars have unique specifications. Photo / Supplied.

While the boats may be struggling in the Volvo Ocean Race, the support cars used during the recent Auckland stopover are shipshape and ready for new owners.

Twenty special edition Volvo Ocean Race cars - V60, XC60 and XC70 - have unique specifications including a Volvo Ocean Race personalised number plate, badging and decals.

The fleet were used by officials and the six competing teams, and as it was the first time in 10 years the Volvo Ocean Race has had a stopover in Auckland, the cars make a special memento.

The XC60 and XC70 Volvo Ocean Race Editions add sport 18" Argus alloy wheels, aluminium inlays to the centre stack, Volvo Ocean Race-branded tread plates and load covers, cross-stitched leather upholstery embossed with the Volvo Ocean Race logo, and a choice of Ocean Race Blue II or Electric Silver metallic paint finishes.

The XC60 and XC70 models all come standard with the Technic pack; which includes a satellite navigation system, blind spot monitoring, Bi-xenon headlights with active bending, Bluetooth and park assist camera.

The V60 special edition cars are a variety of D3 and T4 models. This is the fourth time Volvo has launched a special yachting range. All the Volvo Ocean Race cars have had little use, with some showing only a few hundred kilometres on their odometers.

"The cars are up to $10,000 off the retail price. They represent remarkably good buying," said Steve Kenchington, the general manager of Volvo Cars.

The vehicles are for sale at Auckland's Archibald and Shorter, and Roverland dealerships.

Toyota set to launch 'elegant yet athletic' replacement for big sedan

Toyota will unveil an "all-new" sedan next week at the New York auto show that probably will be a replacement for the full-sized Avalon.

Dealers who saw a preview of the car last year said the sedan represented a dramatic styling change for the brand.

Toyota has previously declined to comment on future plans but a teaser sketch of the vehicle released shows styling similar to the coupe-sedan lines of the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS.

In a statement, Toyota called the sedan's styling "elegant yet athletic".

The Avalon has been Toyota's full-sized sedan since 1995, when it replaced the Cressida as the brand's top-line vehicle.