Take care out there, guys

From tonight's news (reported by Fuseworks): "The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter was responded to a 4WD vehicle accident at Puketitiri. The vehicle with two occupants had rolled 100m down a bank before stopping. The woman sustained head, pelvic and arm injuries and the man sustained minor back injuries. Both occupants of the vehicle were airlifted by rescue helicopter to Hawke's Bay Hospital. The ages of the man and woman are not known - they are believed to be in their twenties."

And the winner is ...

Holy crap, Top Gear NZ has given its 4WD of the Year award to the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Hang on, just let me scribble something on this piece of paper and seal it in the envelope: "and the 4wdNewz vehicle of the year award goes to, envelope please, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo." Crowd breaks into wild applause. PS: The award would have gone to the Mercedes G-Class, but it's too damned expensive.

Flashback time

Who remembers the Vitara Safaris in Woodhill Forest near Auckland back in the late 1990s? Never have so many Vitaras been seen in one place – at least in New Zealand. The safaris were so successful that Suzuki did the obvious thing … and dropped them.

Hilux makes it 30 in a row

Toyota's Hilux has now been the country's best selling utility for 30 years in a row. Steve Prangnell, the general manager of sales and operations, said in a press release just before new year, “Hilux is a mainstay of heartland New Zealand, with more than 86,700 sold here since 1976." Toyota was expecting Hilux sales to top 3800 for 2011. Worldwide, it sells more than 500,000 a year.