Holden Colorado breaks cover – here mid year

Photos released today by Holden of the next Colorado prompt 4wdNewz to again wonder what they were on when they did the exterior styling? Still, if you're going for "odd" might as well do a Hilux with mumps rather than something from Fairyland, like Mazda's BT-50. Not to worry though; under its skin the Colorado has some good stuff, including two new diesels and braked towing of 3500kg from the bigger of the two engines chosen for the New Zealand lineup. The ute will be here in June.

It's good to see that Holden hasn't gone made in the torque race, making do with a quite adequate 350Nm from the 2.5 litre 110kW diesel and 470Nm from the 2.8 132kW unit that most people will want. That output drops to 440Nm on five-speed manual models.

Like its newer rivals, Colorado has lots of safety stuff, including driver and front passenger airbags, side curtain airbags, ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Electronic Stability Control. "Lifestyle and comfort" features include Bluetooth, aircon, power windows, auxiliary plug and USB port, two auxiliary power outlets and an iPod compatible audio system.

Presumably traction control will also be part of the Colorado package, but Holden's initial dripfeed of information makes no mention of it. 
Here's our first look at the truck.

Those were the days: Land Rovers in the early 50s

I've had these photos for ages; they were sent to me by Ken Sibly, the well-known writer on 4WD matters, including the South Island off-road guides. Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

Thirteen new Land Rovers outside the Christchurch Car Exchange in St Asaph Street near the corner of Colombo Street in 1950. Wonder where they all went? Standing at left is Laurie Smith and on the right, Jack Carthy. The Christchurch Car Exchange was the agent for Rover cars after the Second World War so naturally became agent for the Land Rover. The company name later changed to Carthy Motors.

New Land Rover, somewhere in Christchurch.

Bruce Kahn (left) and Max Carthy (right) with a new Land Rover outside the Christchurch Car Exchange.

Land Rover negotiates the Avon River just downstream from the Armagh Street Bridge in the centre of Christchurch.

The Land Rover comes up the stone ramp by the Armagh Street Bridge.

A new Land Rover and a new 1949 Rover 75 outside the Sydenham Fish Supply in Colombo Street (1950)

A Land Rover equipped to load Tiger Moths in the early days of aerial topdressing.

New Land Rover with an unknown driver somewhere in Christchurch.

Tribute to a great all rounder

An early petrol Surf takes on the mud … until its electrics got too damp.

Surfs are up! The no nonsense Toyota is one of the most popular 4WD used imports. The Hilux Surf, or 4Runner as it was known in export markets including New Zealand, was conceived as a wagon bodied Hilux, primarily for the North American market. Those that began to filter into to New Zealand in the dawn of the used import era came first with the two litre petrol motor or the 2.4 litre turbo diesel. In 1987, the 1998cc motor was replaced by the larger 2247cc motor and fuel injection replaced carburetion. A 3.0 V6 petrol version, developed principally for the North American market, was sold here both new and as an import, but its improved performance and smoothness came at the cost of relatively high fuel consumption.

When imported new, the 4Runner was available with the 2.4 litre petrol motor producing 75kW of power and 185Nm of torque (at 2800rpm); the 2.8 diesel producing 65kW and 183Nm (at 2400rpm); and the V6 producing 105kW and 240Nm (at 3400rpm).

Although the five speed manual rules the roost, Surfs were imported with a four speed automatic gearbox.

The Surf gradually became more refined, getting four doors, a fully integrated wagon body and double wishbone independent front suspension replacing the beam axle. Although the IFS was quite good off-road, some serious owners retro-modified their Surfs to a beam front axle.

By 1989, the part time 4wd system had become more sophisticated, Toyota ditching the basic auto hubs for units that electrically engaged by a switch on the transfer case lever.

A weak point of the four cylinder (and V6) petrol motor, as is the case with all petrols, is the vulnerability to water of its electrical system, but otherwise was a good alternative to diesel for people using it off road. It had an ability to lug nicely at tickover speed and, on road, had a reasonable turn of speed. Off road, though, it’s hard to look past the diesel, which particularly impressed with its ability to climb steep hills at almost an idle.