Taking AIMS – 4WDs at the Australian International Motor Show

Holden's Colorado 7 shows lots of promise as a rival for the Mitsubishi Challenger and recent used-import Toyota Surfs. It's based on the Colorado ute, but its chassis was separately developed. Drivetrain is the same as the ute's and includes a limited-slip diff. It's a decade since we last saw a wagon with low range gearing in the Holden lineup. It was one of the most interesting off roaders at this year's AIMS at Sydney's Darling Harbour.

New wagon has seating for seven. There's nothing particularly exciting about the interior design, but nothing wrong with it, either.

Here's a reminder of the Colorado 7's roots. This ute's decked out with a snorkel and bumper available from the dealer network.

And here's Isuzu's take on the same truck, a D-Max SX fitted out for use in the mines. Presumably it'll be a familiar bit of gear to many of the New Zealanders seeking their fortune in the Lucky Country. The mine-spec package includes external rollover protection; checkerplate floor in the alloy tray; high visibility markings; a pair of 3m-tall flag mounts; a 4.5kg extinguisher; a light bar with LED tail lights, a revolving beacon and work lights; UHF radio; wheel nut indicators; and a combined jump-start, starter motor and battery isolator.

Volkswagen, meanwhile, was showing a single cab Amarok with a really nice alloy deck, available from dealers in Oz.

There's more than $27,000 Aussie dollars worth of luxury tax plus $8000 worth of NSW stamp duty on this diesel G350 G-Class; the main reasons why New Zealand buyers get a better deal on this amazing (but sadly amazingly expensive) vehicle.

4wdNewz was first with the news that the new V8 petrol Patrol will come to New Zealand, after giving up on getting a diesel any time soon. The Aussies have managed to keep the pricing commendably low, but Nissan NZ is still working on what we'll pay.

Nissan reckons the new Patrol will really pull the women.

The show was used to unveil the new Range Rover to Australasia. It's a stunning vehicle, but will be so expensive and is so luxurious that it's almost irrelevant to off-road enthusiasts. Still, it's nice to look and touch!

The ground clearance is almost car-like as Land Rover goes all out to make the Rangie more … car-like! Good job the clearance grows deeper at the turn of a knob.

Looking for an average off-roader? Then check out the Terracan

This 2004 V6 Terracan GL auto wasn't up to much when new, so why would anything have changed? It's still active, with around 130,000km on the clock.

Had a question from a visitor to 4wdNewz about the wisdom of buying a Hyundai Terracan, the wagon based heavily on Mitsubishi's Pajero and built from 2001 to 2007. Check Trademe and you'll see that good ones are available for around $20,000, which seems a bit high to me. The would-be owner probably asked the wrong person, because I didn't think much of the Terracan when new and nothing's really changed, except they're older and cheaper. As an all-rounder, the Korean was average in every way and the V6 version used way too much petrol. Off-road, it had limited articulation, limited approach and departure angles and limited all-round ability. Aftermarket products to improve its off-road competence are relatively thin on the ground, compared to major makes. I'd sooner just get a better vehicle and not bother with coaxing more out of what is now an orphan. Still, people do persist and modify a Terracan for club-type activities. If you're thinking of becoming one of these people, here's an excellent website with lots of good info.

It's showtime in Australia again

4wdNewz is packing its bag and heading west tomorrow for the annual Australian International  Motor Show, now one of the best in the world. The big exhibition alternates between Sydney and Melbourne and it's Sydney's turn this year. The mission: to seek out all the interesting 4WD stuff among all those bloody cars. The preview day isn't until Thursday, so if you're interested in what we'll be seeing here next year, check back later.

Discovery 3's suddenly looking better as an enthusiast vehicle

Wow, high mileage Discovery 3s are now selling in the mid-$20,000 range, putting them at or close to the point when you'd consider one as an off-road tourer, when the odd scratch and scuff won't matter so much. True, it's packed with electronics just waiting to go wrong on a cold and damp trip, but the model's overall reliability has turned out to be way better than the original Disco or Disco 2. The lower-priced ones will almost always be 4.4 litre V8s; the desirable TDV6 diesel attracts a premium. 4wdNewz drove the diesel shown here back in 2005 and it's alive and well today with almost 140,000km on the clock.