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Motoringnz

Car Stuff You Should Know

News and Car Reviews - Independent and Authoritative

Motoringnz
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Latest News

November 12, 2025

NZ-bound Hilux models detailed

November 12, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
NZ-bound Hilux models detailed

Heavy emphasis on four-wheel-drive but 48 volt hybrid only goes to half the range, and manuals miss out on some kit. 

Read More
November 12, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, Toyota New Zealand
November 10, 2025

2026 Hilux: What changes, what doesn’t

November 10, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
2026 Hilux: What changes, what doesn’t

The covers have come off Toyota’s one-tonner. There’s ‘new’ new and ‘new’ that’s ‘not so much’. 

Read More
November 10, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, Toyota NZ, one-tonne, widetrack, ute, turbodiesel, electric, hydrogen fuel cell, Nick Hogios, Tatsuya Ishikawa, Cyber Sumo
October 03, 2025

Hybrid not a hybrid - Hilux/Prado back in spotlight

October 03, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
Hybrid not a hybrid - Hilux/Prado back in spotlight

Toyota NZ’s desire to market its 48 volt-assisted diesel as a hybrid doesn’t wash with its Aussie counterpart, which is back on the attack about mis-labelling.

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October 03, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia, Toyota New Zealand, Hilux, Prado, Landcruiser 300, LandCruiser, Palmerston North, Manawatu, Hybrid Synergy Drive, EFficiency Hybrid, Performance Hybrid
March 10, 2025

Hilux world record probably wasn’t

March 10, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
Hilux world record probably wasn’t

Toyota New Zealand explains big gathering didn’t meet Guinness criteria.

Read More
March 10, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Toyota NZ, Hilux, Southland, GWD
November 14, 2024

Hybrid Fortuner out of reach

November 14, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
Hybrid Fortuner out of reach

Latest variant with Hilux mild hybrid drivetrain hasn’t been ticked off for NZ, but if that changes, it might be considered.

Read More
November 14, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, Fortuner, hybrid, 48 volt
November 04, 2024

Toyota heavyweights go old school for SEMA

November 04, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
Toyota heavyweights go old school for SEMA

A lid-less Land Cruiser Prado and a recreated 4Runner take pride on place in Vegas.

Read More
November 04, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, Prado, Land Cruiser, Toyota, 4Runner, SEMA, Las Vegas
August 28, 2024

Fortuner’s demise finally acknowledged

August 28, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
Fortuner’s demise finally acknowledged

Toyota NZ has announced a well-foreseen death in its SUV family.

Read More
August 28, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Fortuner, Toyota NZ, Hilux, SUV, ute, one tonne
July 08, 2024

Toyota New Zealand chief executive confusion continues

July 08, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
Toyota New Zealand chief executive confusion continues

Market leader still mum as CEO saga takes another turn.

Read More
July 08, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Toyota New Zealand, Tatsuya Ishikawa, Neeraj Lala, Palmerston North, Hilux, hydrogen, hybrid, PHEV, Lexus NZ, Toyota NZ
June 13, 2024

Hybrid heavyweights’ eco improvements shared

June 13, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
Hybrid heavyweights’ eco improvements shared

Emissions, economy returns from Prado, Hilux are improved, if modestly.

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June 13, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hybrid, Hilux, Prado, emissions, CO2, economy, diesel
June 12, 2024

Shark 6 ute reveal includes attack on Hilux

June 12, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
Shark 6 ute reveal includes attack on Hilux

Blood in the water as BYD local boss uses Shark 6 unveil as opportunity to savage “dirty diesel” competition.

Read More
June 12, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
BYD
Shark 6, Warren Willmot, BYD NZ, ute, diesel, Simeon Brown, Ranger, Hilux
May 21, 2024

Electric Hilux coming - but is it welcome?

May 21, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
Electric Hilux coming - but is it welcome?

Kiwi ute buying and usage habits would require change for the Revo to earn a living here.

Read More
May 21, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, E, EV, Thailand, Revo, Pras Ganesh, Ford Ranger
March 25, 2024

Hilux hybrid still behind Ford biturbo

March 25, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
Hilux hybrid still behind Ford biturbo

Blue Oval sees red about suggestion impending Toyota has a Green edge.

Read More
March 25, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, hybrid, Toyota NZ, Ford NZ, Ranger, biturbo
February 21, 2024

‘V-Active’ tag for Hilux 48 volt here?

February 21, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
‘V-Active’ tag for Hilux 48 volt here?

The mild hybrid system coming to Toyota’s one-tonne ute has a fancy descriptive … in Australia.

Read More
February 21, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, V-Active Technology, hybrid, Synergy Drive, 48 volt, Toyota NZ
February 02, 2024

Hilux hybrid install ties to styling freshen, kit lift

February 02, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
Hilux hybrid install ties to styling freshen, kit lift

The 48 volt system is the single biggest change, but it won’t be hard to pick the 2024 refresh of NZ’s second-favourite ute.

Read More
February 02, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, hybrid, 48 volt, SR5, Synergy Drive
January 30, 2024

Popular SUVs, ute and van snared in Toyota testing issue

January 30, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
Popular SUVs, ute and van snared in Toyota testing issue

Admission of ‘irregularities’ has compelled Japan’s No.1 to suspend shipments of popular diesel models - including Hilux.

Read More
January 30, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, HiAce, Land Cruiser 300, Fortuner, Prado, Toyota New Zealand
October 25, 2023

Electric Cruiser, Hilux - big luggers say sayonara diesel!

October 25, 2023/ Richard Bosselman
Electric Cruiser, Hilux - big luggers say sayonara diesel!

Is this what outdoorsy Kiwis will ultimately be slinging their Swanndri, gummies and hunting gear into?  

Read More
October 25, 2023/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Tokyo Mobility Show, Hilux, EPU, Land Cruiser, Prado, 300 Series, electric, Toyota New Zealand
September 29, 2023

Car industry calls out ‘gas guzzler’ report

September 29, 2023/ Richard Bosselman
Car industry calls out ‘gas guzzler’ report

Data suggesting big name car makes paying lip service to Clean Car aspiration is “out of date”, MIA boss says.

Read More
September 29, 2023/ Richard Bosselman/
Industry
Motor Industry Association, Toyota NZ, Hilux, CO2, Clean Car, Dr Kirsty Wild, Aimee Wiley
June 28, 2023

NZ-kept hybrid Hilux secrets blown

June 28, 2023/ Richard Bosselman
NZ-kept hybrid Hilux secrets blown

Still under wraps here, estimated economy improvement is in media share out of Australia that also suggests sensitivity about how to name the incoming system.

Read More
June 28, 2023/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, hybrid, 48 volt, Neeraj Lala, Toyota Australia, Toyota NZ
June 27, 2023

Inbound Hilux hybrid cutting different track

June 27, 2023/ Richard Bosselman
Inbound Hilux hybrid cutting different track

The badge is the same as you see on Toyota and Lexus cars, but the tech is altogether different - and might potentially be less impactful.

Read More
June 27, 2023/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
Hilux, hybrid, 48 volt, Synergy Drive, Electric, Neeraj Lala, Toyota New Zealand
March 03, 2023

Incoming hot Hilux might be a small serving

March 03, 2023/ Richard Bosselman
Incoming hot Hilux might be a small serving

GR Sport volume will be limited as TNZ aims to pin back ute demand.

Read More
March 03, 2023/ Richard Bosselman/
Toyota
GR Sport, Hilux, Steve Prangnell, Toyota NZ
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Motoringnz

MotoringNZ reviews new cars and keeps readers up-to-date with the latest developments on the auto industry. All the major brands are represented. The site is owned and edited by New Zealand motoring journalist Richard Bosselman.

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