Autoblog

Red Bull RX-7 goes drift crazy on New Zealand's Crown Range

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mazda, Specialty, Racing

For the first time ever, the Crown Range, New Zealand's highest paved road, was closed off for the drifting pleasure of one man. That man is Mad Mike Whiddett, and the machine he's piloting is a heavily modified Mazda RX-7 sponsored by the energy-rich crew from Red Bull and powered by a 750-horsepower quad-rotor engine. There will be smoke. Lots and lots of smoke.

Mad Mike hits speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour over the course of the road's six and a half miles, which boasts 47 individual corners at over 3,500 feet of elevation. Scroll down for all kinds of fire-belching, tire-squealing and smoke-inducing action. Or, as Mad Mike himself puts it, "A dream turned into reality."

Continue reading Red Bull RX-7 goes drift crazy on New Zealand's Crown Range

Red Bull RX-7 goes drift crazy on New Zealand's Crown Range originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 May 2013 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is how you use a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 to set a lap record at New Zealand's newest track

Zach Bowman — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Videos, Racing

New Zealand officially has a new international-standard road track. Highlands Motorsport Park is a 2.8-mile circuit with three complete tracks that can be safely operated at the same time. Designed to serve as a members-only facility, the boots on the ground say track is likely one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere.

The organizers behind Highlands wanted give the facility a proper break in, so rather than throw some sort of gala, they simply unleashed Craig Baird and a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 on the course with just one instruction: set the first official track record.

Baird is something of a legend in New Zealand, having won three consecutive New Zealand Formula Atlantic Championship titles as well as four consecutive New Zealand Touring Car Championship titles, and he wasted no time in putting hammer to steel in the MP4-12C GT3. By the time all was said and done, the track was left with a 1:41.9-second lap. Something tells us that one's going to stand for awhile, though Baird says he thinks he can get his time down into the 1:30s with a bit more practice. That may be the case, but we're simply glad for the excuse to watch the guy hammer on this McLaren. Check it out.

Continue reading This is how you use a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 to set a lap record at New Zealand's newest track

This is how you use a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 to set a lap record at New Zealand's newest track originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is how to fix your car's dents with a GoPro

Zach Bowman — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Australia

Body shops employ all kinds of sorcery when it comes to correcting crimes against sheetmetal. Their arsenal of tools is wide and varied and almost always includes a massive suction cup or two. You know, just like the powerful GoPro suction mount.

A skilled hand can apply the suction cup, give a swift yank and fix large, unsightly dents as if they were never there. Curious to apply the theory to your own bruised fender? You're in luck. The video below shows a handful of Kiwis getting crafty with a GoPro mount to fix the rear quarter on their Starlet GT.

Don't have a GoPro? Don't sweat it. Depending on the size and location of your ding, you can pull off the same trick with a little water and an old-school toilet plunger. The move has been saving teenagers from parents' wrath for years. Check out the clip below to see just how well the suction-cup bodywork fix turns out.

Continue reading This is how to fix your car's dents with a GoPro

This is how to fix your car's dents with a GoPro originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Nov 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This cat thinks the Toyota Corolla is to die for

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Toyota

Cats generally don't like car rides. Cats universally detest veterinarians. Yet to showcase the die-for-it allure of the Toyota Corolla in New Zealand (which isn't our Corolla but the European Auris), ad house Saatchi and Saatchi asked, "What lengths would a cat go to for a ride if they loved it?"

The answer is the 90-second tale of a cat who intentionally puts himself through seven feline hells to feed his need for another ride in the new hatchback. To the vet. Implausible, yes. Humorous, also yes. You can watch the ad below.

Continue reading This cat thinks the Toyota Corolla is to die for

This cat thinks the Toyota Corolla is to die for originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Zealand dealership honors $1 Buy-it-Now price

George Kennedy — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, BMW, Australia, Luxury

You've probably heard of more than a few eBay or Craigslist specials that sound too good to be true; "Buy it for just $1- today only!" More often than not, its a ruse, luring you in for a far less inciting, yet more realistic transaction. If you are Stadium Cars, you wish it were the latter, but a mistake on its part led to a BMW being sold for just $1. An employee at Stadium Cars in New Zealand listed a 1994 320i online for auction. The reserve, and thus the "Buy it Now" price? Just $1. At that price, it was scooped up in seconds.

Stadium Cars manager Mike Nokes said that while a car is listed with a $1 reserve every week, the "Buy it Now" option was accidentally activated. Thus, a user by the name of "bignz" was able to purchase the 1994 BMW 320i that otherwise would likely have sold in the $3,000 range. Sure, it's not nearly a brand-new car, but who'd turn down that deal?

Unsurprisingly, it was the cheapest sale of a car in the history of the dealership. At the point, one may surmise that the dealer would embark on legal action to get out of the sale, but according to Nokes, "We are firm believers in the auction process and for it to be fair to buyers and sellers alike." In this case, it seems that the buyer made out with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

New Zealand dealership honors $1 Buy-it-Now price originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is what a six-rotor Wankel looks and sounds like

George Kennedy — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Technology, Videos, Australia

Ah, the Wankel. You magnificent, high-reving feat of unorthodox engineering. Your biggest champion, Mazda, may have left you - at least for the moment - but that doesn't mean some mad mechanics can't rally you and a few friends for a high-horsepower party.

The folks over at Pulse Performance Race Engineering of New Zealand have constructed an engine made from six, count 'em, six Wankel rotors. The mere fact that this engine starts and runs is a testament to the mechanical know-how of these guys. For comparison's sake, Mazda's own Le Mans-winning 787 prototype utilized a four-rotor Wankel. Another four-rotor was constructed by BMI Racing's "Mad Mike," whose engines are worked on by Pulse Performance.

Scroll below to see the video and hear it for yourself. The engine's sound is not what you would expect from a rotary, and if we're being honest we don't find it terribly pleasant to listen to, but it's still an awfully impressive feat of engineering. We're not sure what kind of vehicle this insane powerplant will grace (we're guessing a drag car), but whatever it is, it figures to be one-of-a-kind.

Continue reading This is what a six-rotor Wankel looks and sounds like

This is what a six-rotor Wankel looks and sounds like originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kiwi ute drift goes all wrong, then all right

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Humor

A New Zealand man, for reasons only clear to himself, decides to attempt a Starsky & Hutch drift around a corner in a ute that can only kindly be described as vintage. With that opening, you're no doubt expecting the obligatory "of course it all goes wrong and he crashes."

And that, indeed, is what happens.

What he does next, though, is something straight out of a ridiculous Grand Theft Auto videogame scenario, and the payoff is terrific. See for yourselves in the video below.

Continue reading Kiwi ute drift goes all wrong, then all right

Kiwi ute drift goes all wrong, then all right originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorist gets pulled over by the same cop twice in two years. 12,000 miles apart.

Chris Shunk — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:39:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Humor

Getting pulled over by the police for speeding is among the more unpleasant feelings a driver can experience. But while a ticket can most certainly ruin someone's day, for some reason, most ticketed motorists feel compelled to tell everyone they know the backstory that led to the dastardly fine. The stories are rarely overly interesting, but every once in a while a real Pulitzer-eligible tale unfolds.

A New Zealand driver has just such a yarn to spin after he was pulled over twice in two years by the same cop. In two different countries. 12,000 miles apart. The Daily Mail reports that the unnamed driver was pulled over by officer Andy Flitton in the UK two years ago and again recently in New Zealand. The unlucky driver, who island-hopped to New Zealand after 12 years in the UK, recognized the ticket-giver as the same man who caught him breaking the law on the A5 near London. The officer had recently relocated south after 26 years on the force in England.

Even though the driver was out a good chunk of change for the two infractions, at least the driver can lay claim to the most interesting ticket officer Flitton has ever written.

[Source: Daily Mail | Image: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty]

Motorist gets pulled over by the same cop twice in two years. 12,000 miles apart. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sultan of Brunei's exotic car collection up for sale?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, BMW, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari, MISC

Cizeta V16 among the 25 Ferraris and more for sale - Click above for image gallery

There are many prominent and wealthy collectors of exotic supercars on Earth, but few can rival the secretive collection of the royal house of Brunei. The collection has been the subject of much conjecture, with only occasional leaks betraying its contents, but now part of the collection has apparently gone up for sale.

Among those rarities up for grabs are three Lamborghinis, two lightweight Porsche 911 Turbos, a Jaguar XJ220, one of only eight Cizeta V16s ever produced, the ItalDesign BMW Nazca and no fewer than 25 Ferraris, including an Enzo, an F50, an F40 and a custom 512 TR Spider.

Although the broker - based in New Zealand with the collection rumored to be located currently in Singapore - does not disclose the liquidating owner, few others than the Sultan of Brunei and his controversial brother Prince Jefri could have amassed such an assembly of exotica. Many of the cars have no more on the odometer than their original factory mileage, and all are worth well into the six and seven figures, making this easily one of the most valuable collections ever put up for sale. Follow the link to the sale site and check out the images in the gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: 25 Ferraris and more for sale

[Source: Ferrari Collection for Sale]

Sultan of Brunei's exotic car collection up for sale? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Paddock Hack is a New Zealander's idea of good TV

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Paddock Hacks - Click above to view teaser after the jump

So there are a lot of farm animals in New Zealand - last we checked there were at least six sheep for every one human. And they graze in paddocks, essentially giant sweeps of countryside. And when the sheep aren't around, or, it appears, sometimes even when they are, the average New Zealander likes to engage in a sport called "paddock hacking." That is when you take a clapped out junker and fly that sucker over and through and into anything else occupying the paddock. Think of it as 24 Hours of Lemons meets Home on the Range. With sheep.

Now, since we can't find any official information on Paddock Hacking, we've pieced this together from what's in the video above. That video was sent to us by a New Zealander who's working on a pilot for a television show on the subject. We have no idea what kind of season-long dramatic arc you can get from Death Race cars and trucks rampaging over green antipodean hills, but it's fun enough for now. Follow the jump for the action.

[Source: White Balance Pictures]

Continue reading Video: Paddock Hack is a New Zealander's idea of good TV

Video: Paddock Hack is a New Zealander's idea of good TV originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Crazy Kiwi skateboarders draw ire for passing trucks at high speed on busy road

Zach Bowman — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Australia

Longboarding at 56+ mph - Click above to watch video after the jump

There's crazy, and then there's this level of all-out insanity. A group of longboarders in New Zealand have taken to hopping onto the local highway and coasting down a sizable hill while overtaking local traffic. The speed limit? A heady 56 mph. Police first became aware of the daredevils via a video posted on YouTube. Apparently Canadian Andrew Chapman first posted the quick film on Facebook. From there, it didn't take long for the exploits to make their way to the rest of the internet - and the law.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the boarders cover about 1.5 miles of State Highway 1 before pulling off the roadway and coming to a stop. If that's not bat guano enough for you, one of the characters in the video is clearly seen riding barefoot. Interestingly enough, the crew isn't forbidden from using their boards on the road. Since it changes from a motorway to an expressway at the top of the hills, though, law enforcement could technically charge the longboarders with failing to keep left or reckless driving. Hit the jump to see the video.

[Source: The Daily Telegraph]

Continue reading Video: Crazy Kiwi skateboarders draw ire for passing trucks at high speed on busy road

Video: Crazy Kiwi skateboarders draw ire for passing trucks at high speed on busy road originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hulme CanAm supercars said to be struggling to find investors

Zach Bowman — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Earnings/Financials, Specialty

Hulme CanAm - Click above for high-res image gallery

It seems like every day, a new startup flashes a rendering on the interwebs claiming to be the next big thing in the automotive world. Maybe it's a mid-engine supercar or an all-electric savior that's come to deliver us from dino juice. Either way, only a handful of these ever make it from dream fodder to something that actually puts rubber to the pavement. Few know that better than the crew behind New Zealand's Hulme CanAm.

The car has been the stuff of Kiwi dreams for nearly eight years now, but according to Yahoo! Xtra Sport, a recent lack of funds may force the company behind it and its investors to reconsider the future. After failing to raise $5.2 million USD through an IPO for construction of a facility to build the CanAm and development of the car, Hulme is now forced to refund what money it did accumulate. Investors will be getting checks in the mail.

So what happens to the LS7-powered exotic? At this point, apparently no one knows. Hulme had attempted to raise its capital through New Zealand investors only, so it's entirely possible that the company will begin looking outside of the island nation for a little financial help. For now though, the ambitious project appears to be in serious trouble.

Gallery: Hulme CanAm

[Source: Yahoo! Xtra Sport]

Hulme CanAm supercars said to be struggling to find investors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hulme CanAm now available for order - Hurry, just 20 available

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Specialty

Hulme CanAm - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nearly four years after its debut, New Zealand-based Hulme Supercars has finally opened up the order books for the CanAm, but if you want one, you had better move fast. Hulme will build only 20 examples of the CanAm and they are going on a first come, first serve basis. To get on the order list, prospective customers will have to submit a £10,000 fully refundable deposit (that's around $14,400 at current exchange rates). Production of the CanAm won't start until the fall of 2011 and Hulme will hold a private showing and test drive sometime before the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Hulme will put the deposits in a trust account that will be returned for any prospective customers that decide to cancel. For those that decide to take delivery, the $700,000+ purchase price includes two business class tickets to Auckland, New Zealand for final fitting of the car and some local driving time. Once the customer is satisfied, the car will get shipped to its final destination.

Gallery: Hulme CanAm

[Source: Hulme Supercars]

Continue reading Hulme CanAm now available for order - Hurry, just 20 available

Hulme CanAm now available for order - Hurry, just 20 available originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 May 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World's first motorcycle hearse? [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars

Motorcycle Hearse - Click above to watch video after the jump

Given the level of dedication we've seen from the dead when it comes to their motorcycles, it comes as no surprise that somebody has given one the Munsters treatment and created the world's first motorcycle hearse. Built in Auckland, New Zealand by an automotive engineer, the bike can carry up to 440 lbs in an underbelly cradle. Push a button and the rig slides out to let the pallbearers do their thing. A complex system of hydraulics helps stabilize everything, and two riders are needed to get the deceased from place to place.

Power comes courtesy of a 1,350 cc Harley-Davidson engine, and the motorcycle hearse's inventor, Mike Price, says that he originally wanted to partner with them on the project. Harley wanted Price to sign a lengthy contract before they'd even look at his design, however, so he politely told them where they could stick that dotted line and built the bike himself after work. Are there classier ways to get to your final resting place? Sure, but few are any cooler. Hit the jump for a check out a few videos.

[Source: Papakura Courier, YouTube]

Continue reading World's first motorcycle hearse? [w/video]

World's first motorcycle hearse? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 May 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mooning spectator causes New Zealand rally crash

Zach Bowman — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Mitsubishi, Humor, Racing

Mark Tapper under the full moon - Click above to watch video after the jump

Let's take a moment for quick lesson in target fixation courtesy of New Zealand rally driver Mark Tapper. Earlier this month, Tapper was participating the Rally New Zealand in his WRC Mitsubishi Evo. From the looks of things, the driver was keeping a pretty good pace until he saw something a little out of the ordinary - a full moon.

A spectator on the left side of the course took it upon himself to drop his pants and give Tapper both cheeks, at which point the driver lost his concentration and came into the next corner too hot. The resulting carnage was predictable. The Evo's tail slapped an embankment, causing the whole kit and caboodle to go shiny-side down. Go ahead and hit the jump to see for yourself, but be warned - Tapper's response to the incident isn't what we'd call safe for work. Thanks for the tip, Adam!

[Source: Performance Car]

Continue reading Video: Mooning spectator causes New Zealand rally crash

Video: Mooning spectator causes New Zealand rally crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hulme Supercars to launch Kiwi IPO, playing national pride trump card?

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:26:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Earnings/Financials

Hulme CanAm - Click above for high-res image gallery

New Zealanders are being given a chance to invest in the creation of the country's home-grown supercar. Hulme Supercars Limited is proposing an IPO with share lots offered for as little as $NZ 1,000 ($701 U.S.) that will make the nation part of some future Hulme CanAm tradition, should there be one. A buyer of the LS7-powered car itself would need at least $699,000 more to take one home, so $1,000 for a piece of the company that makes it might not be all bad.

The money will be used to put the car into series production for world markets. If you're interested, you can request a prospectus by e-mailing or writing to Hulme. The offer is only open to New Zealanders, though, so all of you international barons will have to wait for the scraps if there are any left over. Hat tip to Darren!

Gallery: Hulme CanAm

[Source: NZ Classic Car]

Hulme Supercars to launch Kiwi IPO, playing national pride trump card? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Zero wheels, all awesome - Homebuilt Kiwi 'hovercraft'

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Homemade flying hovercraft - Click above to watch video after the jump

Rudy Heeman, an inventor in New Zealand, has created a flying hovercraft. We'll admit right now that it has ~~little~~ nothing to do with cars, but it is ridiculously cool. Heeman wants to make and sell them for only $13,000. Maybe it's time for us to just sell the car and move someplace with waterways for roads. Follow the jump to check it out. Hat tip to Duy!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Zero wheels, all awesome - Homebuilt Kiwi 'hovercraft'

Video: Zero wheels, all awesome - Homebuilt Kiwi 'hovercraft' originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ultimate Crossover: Samoa's plan to switch to left-hand traffic sparks motorist unrest [w/VIDEO]

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Australia

Samoan traffic switches sides -- Click above to view the video after the jump

Samoa's prime minister has decided to do something for his constituents who want to buy cheap cars: swap driving from the right-hand side to the left-hand side. The reasoning behind the move is that Australia and New Zealand are Samoa's biggest trading partners, and driving in the same manner they do -- like the English -- will let Samoans buy cheaper cars from the antipodes. Intriguingly, the prime minister also said the switch will help Samoans avoid tsunamis.

It's not exactly a shock to find that more than a few Samoans aren't happy about it. A local attorney has formed a group called People Against Switching Sides, and he was able to get 30,000 petition signatures in a country with just 200,000 people. Samoa's roads are already dangerous, and his reasoning is that this will only mean more injured and killed citizenry, not to mention a huge bill.

The government wants to hear none of it, sticking to its September 7th changeover date and saying it will be a national holiday. If footage a bus full of people traveling the wrong way down a training road is any indication, though, our advice would be to stick to walking. You can watch a video on the reversing maneuver after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Reed!

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Continue reading The Ultimate Crossover: Samoa's plan to switch to left-hand traffic sparks motorist unrest [w/VIDEO]

The Ultimate Crossover: Samoa's plan to switch to left-hand traffic sparks motorist unrest [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1967 Nissan Prince Skyline 2000GT

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Japan, Nissan, Australia

1967 Nissan Prince Skyline 2000GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Long before Michael Jackson named two of his sons Prince, there was a Japanese manufacturer that went by that name. Actually, they were initially called Tachikawa Aircraft Company (builder of the Pearl Harbor-attacking Zeros) but then changed their name to Prince before changing it again to Fuji Precision Industries before finally switching it back to Prince in 1961, just in time to merge with Nissan in 1966. Stick with us, we're getting somewhere with all of this.

None of that would be important to non-WW2 buffs except for one Prince car - the Skyline. We were lucky enough to drive the latest and greatest Skyline (now known as the Nissan GT-R) the other day and noted how it reminded us of a Porsche 959. At that time, we were talking about the two cars' ground breaking technology and performance - but there's another similarity. Both supercars come from humble bloodlines. After all, the Porsche descended from a Volkswagen Beetle. Godzilla's ancestor is the Prince Skyline.

The second-generation S54 Nissan Prince Skyline is a particularly historic car, as it is the first time an inline-6 wound up under the hood. In fact, Nissan had to graft eight inches onto the front of the Skyline (all in front of the firewall) just to shoehorn in the 2.0-liter inline-six from the larger Gloria S40. The 1.5-liter inline-fours went into stumpier cars.

The car above is the S57 Skyline, slightly tweaked for 1967. Called the GT A200 in New Zealand - where this car hails from - the S57 is usually known as the 2000GT and came with three Weber carbs, a limited-slip diff and a five-speed manual transmission. Pretty sweet stuff for 1967... now you see where Godzilla gets it. The only drawback we can see is the 17-hour flight to Aukland.

Gallery: Nissan Prince Skyline 2000GT

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: 1967 Nissan Prince Skyline 2000GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crazy Kiwis: Buy a new Mitsubishi Triton, get a free goat with purchase

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 30 May 2009 09:25:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Mitsubishi, Humor

New Zealand Mitsubishi wants you to buy a Triton ute, and to lure you into doing it they're using goats -- because really, who can resist a goat? Said Mitsu's New Zealand sales and marketing manager, Peter Wilkins, "three years of drought has severely depleted sheep and beef populations, so what better time to float the goat?''

But wait, there's more! If you don't end up taking the goat -- said to go well with the Triton because goats are "hardy, versatile units which will integrate directly into existing farm operations'' -- a goat-free package is available. That will get you a 5-year extended warranty, five vehicle fitness inspections, five thousand km of road user charges paid, five years of roadside assistance, and $500 worth of Triton accessories.

New Zealand Mitsubishi, working hard to... get your goat. (Sorry, had to...)

[Source: Courier Mail]

Crazy Kiwis: Buy a new Mitsubishi Triton, get a free goat with purchase originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 May 2009 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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