Enhanced Hilux hits the spot
The war for supremacy in the ute market is still being waged by market leaders Toyota and Ford, with the Hilux and Ranger.
Toyota’s Hilux-based Fortuner SUV line-up has had an aggressive upgrade in New Zealand with the addition of a TRD (Toyota Racing Development) enhanced version.
A honeycomb grille, front spoiler, side steps, rear trunk garnish and 18-inch wheels are added to the top-of-the-range Fortuner Limited variant.
“The result is a beefed up, great-looking, top-end SUV,” says Neeraj Lala, Toyota New Zealand general manager of product planning and new vehicle sales.
“It builds on the head-turning features of the Fortuner Limited and follows in the footsteps of other great Toyota TRD models.”
Available in Crystal Pearl, Graphite or Eclipse exterior colours, the Fortuner TRD includes all of the Limited’s luxury and driver-friendly features, e.g. leather-accented seats and a premium JBL audio system with 11 speakers.
The TRD Fortuner package retails at $59,990 including registration, a full tank of fuel, the Toyota Care Service Advantage package, floor mats and 1000km of pre-paid road user charges on diesel vehicles.
Saving money, environment
A waterborne paint system at Toyota NZ’s Thames Signature Class plant is saving the company $40,000 a year and is kinder to the environment, particularly the workers and the Thames environs.
The plant, among NZ’s largest car painting facilities, has two triple paint and drying booths where six vehicles can be worked on at a time. Annually this cuts solvent use by 50% and energy use by 35%, saving about $40,000 a year.
Though the 12,000L of paint used each year costs a little more, less is used and the drying/curing cycle time is reduced by 35%, requiring less energy.
And fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted from the base coat, better for worker health and for air quality.
Colour matching is said to be easier when only part of a vehicle is being painted.
The upgrade cost $235,000, mainly for air-drying blowers to speed up water evaporation, and retraining for the paint booth staff. Fewer problems and repaints are among the paybacks.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.