This Hyosung GV250 carries way more than just riders
Motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes, arguably with even more variation than cars, which we cover here more frequently. This usually helps convey their purpose and intended use even before the rider climbs on them. And, ever since their inception, the luggage they carry in terms of stories is frequently larger than their physical […]
Doomscrolling – BAIC X55 Review
Being the new kid on the block, especially a highly contested one, is never easy. The New Zealand compact SUV market has become one of the toughest segments in the industry. Buyers are spoilt for choice, whether with established players like the Toyota Corolla Cross, Mazda CX-5 and Kia Seltos, or the increasingly aggressive wave […]
Gentlefolk, start your engines! The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is this Sunday, and you can be part of it!
The countdown is on! One Week To Go for Auckland’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride 2026, and I’m riding it! In our Tarmac effort to attend as many events as possible in 2026, one of the most special ones is just around the corner. This weekend, I’ll be buttoning up a jacket, putting on a peak hat […]
That fine line – All-new 2026 Nissan Navara Review
The ute market in New Zealand finds a way to become more of an arms race each passing year. Bigger screens, more composed manners, increasingly car-like cabins, and enough driver assistances to make some of them feel closer to luxury SUVs than the ladder frame workhorses they started life as, decades ago. For many buyers, […]
Big space, big progress – BYD Sealion 8 Review
The large PHEV SUV – or should it be PHESUV? – segment has been getting more attention lately, with more entrants trying to secure a slice of this profitable market that comes with an ever growing list of requirements. One of the newest players is the BYD Sealion 8, and if it is an indication […]
China has cracked cars. Motorcycles may be a harder battle
Here at Tarmac, the recent onslaught of Chinese cars coming to our market is a constant topic of discussion, and the disruption that this brings to the whole industry – not just the products themselves. When it comes down to motorcycles, we are seeing something similar happen, albeit under a different lens. For years, “Chinese […]
I raced the new Range Rover Sport SV on a track – no, seriously
The Range Rover Sport is a vehicle ready for anything, anywhere. And, to demonstrate this point to its furthest extent, the brand has chosen the right spot to host us: Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. The latest Range Rover Sport lineup, including the weapon that is the Range Rover Sport SV, was presented to us trackside, […]
Cheerful Parity – BYD Atto 1 Essential Review
For years, the industry (and the public) have been talking about a certain event horizon where you could choose a size of car that works for your needs, and then the drivetrain choice (whether powered by dinosaur juice or electrons) would just be another step on the decision tree, and not a fundamental fork right […]
Done Right – BYD Atto 2 Premium Review
The compact EV SUV segment is getting crowded fast, and standing out is becoming increasingly hard. The BYD Atto 2 takes a tried and true approach to that assignment: reuse the learnings from previous models, refine what worked based on feedback, keep what’s good, and get pricing right. And boy, did it work. After a […]
Loud pipes, louder message – The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
There’s something slightly surreal about seeing hundreds of motorcycles roll through a city, ridden by people dressed like they’re on their way to a black-tie gala. It is certain to turn heads everywhere with the loud theatrics, but if that’s all you take away from the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, you might be missing the point. […]