Talking about hot Jeeps …

… as we were in the Grand Cherokee SRT-8 item a couple of spots ago, here's a video on the factory Mopar V8 Hemi. You can actually order a Hemi conversion kit from your friendly local Jeep dealer, but the thrill of a 6.4 V8 under the bonnet won't come cheaply; figure on around $30,000 from order to ignition, less if you have the skill to do it yourself.

Mitsubishi drums up interest in Triton with ChargerX

Mitsubishi has added the ChargerX, a tarted-up Triton ute at an appealing $41,388. A regular GLX on which it's based costs $51,990. ChargerX is a vehicle that’ll look good on their stand at Mystery Creek, and later inject showroom interest in the one-tonner. The interesting thing is that many of the extras are things buyers might actually want and find useful, rather than fitted out with bling, such as chrome-plated load-tray faux rollbars. I've had a drive, but what's there to say? The changes make no difference to the Triton's off- and on-road abilities, which are both good.

Jeep's amazing street racer

Been driving around in one of the first Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8s to arrive in the country. What an amazing, wickedly excessive piece of machinery. Its 344kW 6.4 litre Hemi V8 produces 624Nm of torque, has the most amazing exhaust note and can outrun a supercharged V8 Range Rover Sport. The interior and its level of equipment are impressive, too. You wouldn't really want to take one off-road, but at a mere $107,000 it makes a wonderful toy.

This week's mystery pic

Anyone know anything about this Honda City, taken at a 4WD show several years ago?

'Do you speak English …?'

4wdNewz gets a fair number of visitors from all parts of the world – not sure why, but welcome anyway! That's why we now have a translation button just under the introduction at right. This site's words of wisdom can now be translated into all sorts of languages from Afrikaans to Yiddish, thanks to the wonders of Google's technology.  

Spot the changes

Here's the 2013 Range Rover Sport complete with new paint finishes and a wider choice of alloy wheels and interior trim, including carbon fibre highlights. Oh well, they had a major upgrade in 2011. It'll have waded ashore here by September.

Toyota Australia has a sense of humour, too

Take a look at this TV commercial made for Toyota Australia. It's right up there with our Crumpy and Bugger ads.

Shortage of demand for short Defender

Land Rover's importer has told me the company sold 33 Defenders in 2011, but only eight were the two door 90. Mind you, it costs over $68,000 these days so you'd need to be committed to the model to take the plunge. No wonder used ones hold their value so well.

  

Marcel Schreuder

4wdNewz is saddened to report the death last night of Marcel Bernard Schreuder, the partner with Stu Cocking in Motortech 4x4, well known to Auckland-area 4WD enthusiasts. Marcel, 46, was a mechanic who thought about his work and did it with a high level of skill – a real professional and a thoroughly nice guy. He died of complications following cancer surgery. He is survived by his wife and two children. Our thoughts are with his family and the team at Motortech.

Stu Cocking has provided this update: Marcel’s funeral will be held this Saturday (May 19) at 1pm at the North Shore Memorial Park Cemetery and Crematorium at Schnapper Rock Rd, Albany. All are welcome and his family would like to have 4WD procession.

High octane super Jeep arrives: buy it and fly it

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 has drifted into town wearing a $106,990 price tag. This Street and Racing Technology version is powered by the new 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine producing 344kW and 624Nm of torque (4.8 seconds 0-100) and has fuel saving MDS cylinder shutdown to help get it between pumps. Fuel consumption is rated at 13 litres per 100km overall, which is quite good for an engine of this output, but Jeep recommends it be run on 98 octane go lotion. And don't plan on off-roading it as the suspension has been lowered and those expensive 20 inch rims won't mix well with rocks and tree roots.

Anyone for some winter safaris?

Checking the calendar of events in the latest 4x4 Action Adventure magazine, it seems the tag-along safari season's well and truly over. Good news, though, for the trials, off-road racing and winching enthusiasts whose coming months look busy. I know all the potential problems with winter safaris, but it would be great to have a few to keep non-competition types amused. After such a lousy summer, in the north at least, maybe winter's going to be dry and mild. I bet I'm not the only one who stayed away from many of the summer offerings because the idea of a day of slithering followed by a night of tenting in the rain has lost much of its allure.

Lack of direction

A fellow off-roader was looking at my Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs the other day – those funny ones with the asymmetric tread pattern. They're supposed to (and do) combine the advantages of a mud tyre with an all terrain. "Too bad they're directional," he said, "or I'd probably buy a set." True, they do have a "directional" look to them, but in fact are multi-directional, although mount specific in that they have an in-side and an out-side and must be put on the rim accordingly.

Holden might have Fieldays surprise

Holden says it might have a couple of new Colorados at Fieldays June 13-16, weeks ahead of its general release. It's also announced pricing that will range from $38,400 to $61,900. The lineup starts with the DX 4x2 Single Cab, powered by a 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine with manual transmission, the 2.8 litre diesel LTZ 4x4 Crew Cab with automatic, at $61,900. Colorado will be sold in Single Cab, Space Cab and Crew Cab configuration, and in four trim levels – DX, LX, LT and LTZ.  All 2.8-litre models have a 3500kg braked towing rating; take that, Ford Ranger.

Here's more; and even more.

Nissan's desert special

News comes from the Lucky Country that Nissan has released a tarted up Patrol to commemorate the first vehicle crossing of the Simpson Desert. Nissan is also re-enacting the crossing with a restored G60. The Simpson 50th Anniversary Edition Patrol includes satnav, reversing camera, an alloy bullbar, driving lights, roof bars, kick plates, bonnet protector, a 41-litre cool box and various other bits and pieces; in other words nothing of real interest.