Driven Car Guide

BMW's iX3 M60 xDrive has provisional outputs of 450kW and 875Nm from its two electric motors. BMW's provisional figures include up to 754km WLTP range and a maximum DC charging rate of 400kW. German orders open at the end of January 2027, with production scheduled for northern-hemisphere spring. BMW has unveiled the iX3 M60 xDrive, an M Performance range-topper that pairs electric power with revised suspension and a rear M Sport differential.

BMW's new iX4 50 xDrive has a 108.7kWh usable battery and up to 828km WLTP range. Initial iX4 40 and 50 xDrive models are scheduled to launch in March 2027. The 50 xDrive supports DC charging at up to 400kW, with battery and charger conditions affecting performance. BMW has unveiled the iX4, a new electric coupe SUV from its Neue Klasse family, with a claimed driving range of up to 828km for the 50 xDrive.

With EV sales forecast to grow 220% this year, Auto Distributors NZ’s CEO Simon Rutherford on why independence – not just fuel prices – is driving the shift, and where the Arcfox T1 fits in. With EV sales forecast to grow 220% this year, Auto Distributors NZ’s CEO Simon Rutherford on why independence – not just fuel prices – is driving the shift, and where the Arcfox T1 fits in. Sponsored by Arcfox Independence.

Wilderness has been a long time coming for Subaru New Zealand. It's a specification created by Subaru of America to give the brand's crossovers a more rugged flavour, with raised ride height and extra styling addenda. Pops of colour are a Wilderness thing. Given it's a US thing rather than a Japanese one, it's taken a while for the brand to be convinced that it's worth having for right-hand markets as well. But here we are.

Nissan NZ's first electrified ute and first PHEV of any kind. Based on Dongfeng platform, Australasia first for RHD. Prototypes testing in Australia since 2025. Nissan New Zealand will launch a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Navara ute next year: its first-ever electrified one-tonner. But it's not a Navara as we know it (neither is the current diesel one really, as it's a version of the Mitsubishi Triton).

Renault has reimagined the original Gordini as a carbon-bodied electric coupé with seating for two. The concept combines six round lamps and double white stripes with a largely stripped cabin. It is a one-off design exercise, with a Paris Motor Show appearance ahead of museum display. Renault’s latest heritage exercise swaps the compact saloon shape of the original 8 Gordini for something lower, wider and considerably more dramatic: a two-seat electric coupé.

New renders show the optional High Downforce Kit planned for Lanzante's limited run of 59 cars. The package changes the front bodywork, doors and rear aerodynamics while retaining the twin-turbo V8. UK pricing starts at £1.02 million (about NZ$2.4 million) before taxes; the kit's price remains undisclosed. Lanzante's three-seat 95-59 already has an unusual proposition: a McLaren-based supercar with an entirely new carbon body.

New Untamed Edition adds protective exterior details, with suspension and tyre upgrades depending on market. Camping equipment includes an Autohome roof tent and Helinox chairs and tables for outdoor stops. Production begins in Leipzig this November, ahead of an early-2027 launch, with NZ details undisclosed. Mini's new Countryman Untamed Edition adds camping equipment and protective body details, with a suspension lift and all-terrain tyres available in selected markets.

The Foton Tunland has been part of the New Zealand ute landscape for longer than its current profile might suggest. The original Tunland arrived here in 2014, imported by BYD, Ram and Jeep distributor Ateco Automotive, at a time when Chinese automotive brands were still very much outsiders in the local market.

Hyundai's 2025 Crater Concept off-road SUV is set to join the line up in The Crew Motorfest. The off-road concept is part of the open world video game's Season 11 content drop. The Crater Concept is the first Korean car to feature in the game and will be joined in later seasons by other Hyundai models. Hyundai is bringing some serious off-road vibes to popular open world racing game The Crew Motorfest with the digital debut of its Crater Concept in game.