New Zealand Driver (Deceased) - 1-Mar-2010

• AMG -First NZ Test of Awesome Mercedes E63
• Disappointments of the decade
• Land Rover Discover 4 Driven
• Mini Countryman revealed
• More..

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• Audi TT Coupe Generation 1
• Honda Integra Coupe R Gen 3 -second hand (hard find non boy racer!)
• Hyundai Tiburon 2.7V6 -second hand
• Jaguar XK8 Coupe with around 60,000lm on the clock yours for $30000
• Kia Koup (new)
• Toyota Celica 1.8

• Refreshing honest experience to a Citroen BX owner whose heart was set on a very rusty Alfa Romeo Alfasud  when Damien was Briefly a Saleman (Great article) -Column Shifter by Damien O'Carroll
• What 2010 holds - Enthusism on cars waned a bit more interested aviation - most interesting new car is Toyota co-produced with Subaru new rear drive FT-86 is it really answer whats enthusists would like (Toyota owners are not impressed with subaru unit going in!)  What is needed is stripped out cars for enthusists  Jem raves new Volkswagen Bluesport (ideal for Hairdressor set get real) -- Talk Convertor by Jem Thompson

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• Mercedes Benz E63 AMG 4 door sedan 6.2V8 7Auto 286kw at 6800rpm ; 630nm at 5200rpm "Computer POwer" qv

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• Subaru al new Legacy sedan and Outback (wagon) for 2010

• Brief Overview of AMG (began 1967 ..that long)  David Feels most later cars after 1990 was all about straight line performance then handling - Now Mercedes-Benz owns the brand fully since 2007 and making amends  discussion of NZ exclusive drive and cover feature car latest E63 4 door sedan

• Discussion of coming decision of Car of Driver Car of Year with 3 judges Him; Damien & David  and discussion competitive magazines own car of year and what goes on with Allan View "as part of my thinking I came to the firm conclusion that nobody in New Zealand really does the COTY thing in a truely professional mannar" qv  Discussion AA Introduced Motoring Excellence that Alan labels "Confusion Central" in terms how it is judged with personal bias  LOL and discussion Motoring Guild verson
• "More Ferrari Tales" qv - Back home after Ferrari Launch of 458 Italia  then off with Granson Navigator Dillon in new Ferrari California heading for Coromandel town ; looking back Ferrari s driven +recent Blue Ferrari EX Sultan of Bruneii Ferrari F355 owned by Wow Museum in Nelson  asks question why car came here (Sultan Son removed around 100 cars  from collection of 5000 plus Know one knows was it Money or just a family feud most of cars went to Europe and the UK included such cars as Bentley Mulsanne Turbo 4x4 Wagon and Ferrari 456 Station Wagons in yellow!)
• More...

• See Classic Driver Preview mention of recent NZ Festival of Motor Racing ...

• BMW X3 (2003)
• Hummer H3 (2006)
• Holden Barina (Daewoo Kalos - GM NZbiggest mistake?) 2005  
• Jaguar X -Type (2001)
• Mercedes-Benz R Class (2005) (same platform as Chrysler Pacifica!)
• Mitsubishi 380 (2005)
• Nissan Primera (2002)
• Project Global PLatform (2005)  Mitsubishi and Daimler Chrysler collaborated (this is interesting!)  Mitsubishi Lancer, Chrysler Sebring ; many of Jeep products all shares same platform!
• Saab 9/5 (never produced apart from pre production - now new owners lets hope so)
• More..

• Audi A5 Sportback 2.0TFSi quattro 7 speed S Tronic dual clutch  "Niche Effort , Audi "qv by Damien O'Carroll6
• Land Rover Discovery 4 "THe Most Important Bits are on the Inside" yes becauuse it looks the same as 3 from the outside  - outline of massive technical improvements
• Skoda Yeti AWD 2.0TD DSG twin cluch "Make Room" qv
• Volvo XC70 Crossover 2.4 D5 Twin Turbo Diesel 5 door Wagon "The XC60 Conservative twin" qv by David Linklater  

Letters (Your Letters)

• Where are your letters?

• Land Rover Discovery 1 (remember when it was a 3 door at the start and most bits came from other pre BL times) buy Damien O'Carrol

• History of Mercedes-Benz in Motorsport and recent Return current profile "Its been a while" qv by Damien O'Carroll
• Michael Schumarcher come back to F1 for Mercedes-Benz  (as of 2009 Mercedes-Benz took over Brawn GP Team) "What Michael did Next" qv  

• None - MTA Whats up?

• Ford Focus Generation 3 Debut at Detroit "Ford creates Global Focus" qv
• Honda CR-Z production coupe is ready
• Mini Countryman Off Roader a 4 door New Mini  to be launched March 2010 at Geneva - here first offical photo
• Peugeot SRI Super low slung coupe Hybrid - using Peugeot new HYbrid4 technology  1.6 Petrol with rear electric motor
• TOmTom Navigation is now available for iPod Touch  
• Volkswagen New Compact Coupe Concept Hybrid 2.0TSI 110kw and 20kw electric motor with 7 speed DSG gearbox
• More... 

• Alfa Romeo Mito to Volvo C70

• NSX new only available for Race drivers - Still born planned replacement is now used as basis for Japans SuperGT racing series  Racing version called HSV-010 GT

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• Just mention of the 'opening of Hampton Downs' with NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Tribute to McLaren and World class racing car classics (part of Classic Driver - no doubt more in deth story will be there)

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• Audi Q5 3.0TDI S-Line 7speed Automated Manual awd "A bit extra in the Pot" qv by Damien O'Carroll
• Peugeot 207 XT facelift 1.6 4Auto "Its not the Automatic Choice" qv by David Linklater - Reads more like a preview??
• Skoda Octavia RS Kombi (wagon) VRS 2.0 Turbo (petrol) 6sp automated manual with twin clutches DSG

• Hyundai Santa Fe Fe CRDi Elite 2.2 TD 6 Auto on Demand awd with Electronic 50/50 Lock (facelift)
• Peugeot 4007 luxury 5 door Wagon SUV (shares Mitsubishi Outlander body) 2.2TDI 6Auto Dual Clutch "Fine wagon - Not French" qv by David Linklater
• Toyota IS250 Sedan Premium or for extra #26200 you can buy late model Jap Import Signature class Toyota IQ 3 door mini car (2008 Japanese Car of Year) also Tested

• Holden Sportswagon SV6 3.6V6 6Auto (Commodore) vs Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0VR 6Auto  "Board Games" qv by David Linklater
• Mazda6 Limited 2.5/4 5Auto 4 door sedan vs Toyota Camry Sportivo 2.4/4 5Auto 4 door sedan  "Special Sports" qv by Damien O'Carroll

• See Motorsport