Sales of new and used vehicles were down in January, according to Land Transport Safety Authority figures. There were 5245 new vehicles sold, a 6.4 per cent drop on January 2000. Holden led with 832 sales (15.9 per cent of the market), followed by Ford with 709 (13.5 per cent) and Toyota with 679 (12.9 per cent). Next came Nissan with 662 (12.6) and Mitsubishi 334 (6.4), then Honda, Mazda and Hyundai. . BMW was the big luxury player with 178 sales. Sales of used imports were down 5.5 per cent to 9560.
Bigger is better for Evo
Automotive News on Wednesday has exclusive pictures of the new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII, to be launched in New Zealand in about six weeks. The car is longer and taller than the outgoing Evo VI, but the width remains the same. Weight is up, but Mitsubishi says this is absorbed by the new dimensions. The body has 50 per cent more rigidity than the Evo VI. The 2-litre, 16-valve engine has better throttle response and more turbocharged pulling power. The motoring newspaper also reveals Saab's new four-wheel-drive wagon, Subaru's new Impreza sedan, Ford's plans for a 255kW 5.7-litre Falcon engine to out-muscle the HSV Clubsport, Suzuki's new seven-seat Vitara, Hyundai's Mazda MX-5 rival ... There is much more, including how to store 200 songs on your car's stereo.
The eyes have it
A survey in Europe revealed that for car buyers, looks are more important than safety. Nearly 50 per cent of respondents were more interested in a car's colour than whether it had airbags. About 25 per cent reckoned a CD player was more important than ABS anti-lock brakes.
Look mum, no hands
An Argentinian engineer who built and drove a car without a steering wheel says a Japanese carmaker has offered him nearly $60 million for the concept. Fernando Lopez, aged 34, says the carmaker is one of seven bidding for his design. The car is controlled by a digital panel that responds to touch. Lopez says he got the idea while watching a video on disabled war veterans.
Not so gently, Bentley
Asia-Pacific was the fastest growing region in the world last year for sales of luxury Bentley cars. In 1999, Bentley sold 54 cars in this region. Last year it sold 96. The increase was mirrored worldwide, with overall Bentley sales in 2000 totalling 1364. . The next big event for Bentley will be the unveiling of a special limousine for Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee in 2002.
We are the world
* Actor and gun lobbyist Charlton Heston poked his head out of the sunroof in his limousine to wave to fans, just as his driver was gaining speed. You guessed it - the wind blew off Heston's hairpiece.
* American police are testing a portable eye-scanner called a SafetyScope, which will reveal whether motorists are too drunk or tired to drive. The device analyses eye movements and displays its findings inside 90 seconds.
* Five armed men drove off in soccer star Ronaldo's BMW X5, after forcing the Brazilian striker from the vehicle at gunpoint. The four-wheel-drive was recovered an hour later, thanks to its global-positioning alarm system. Ronaldo, aged 24, later went on television to appeal to the bandits to return his wallet.
Vehicle sales down
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