The 'green'machine

Much has been written on this page about the Prius, Toyota's petrol-electric "green" car. A year ago, this column said Toyota New Zealand would bring in the Prius for evaluation within 12 months. The carmaker issued the standard response - that it wouldn't discuss future product plans.

Now the Prius is here, unveiled the other day in Palmerston North. Prius is Latin for "to go before." Toyota says it chose the name because the car goes before the 21st century. Australia and Britain went before Toyota New Zealand. Test results in those two countries, mainly by Government bodies which want to be seen saving taxpayers' money, have been positive. The Prius uses a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor. At slow speeds electricity drives the car; at higher speeds the engine takes over. A television-like screen in the dashboard tells the driver what's going on.

The couple who decided for Japanese Penthouse magazine that the Prius was the best car in which to make love probably weren't much interested in the dashboard screen.

The speed trap

The Good Oil was fourth in a line of cars going south on Highway 1 the other day. The first two cars were doing about 70 km/h and holding up traffic, no argument. The third driver, after aborting a couple of attempts to pass, pulled out on double yellow lines and went for it. He was on the wrong side of the road and going over a blind brow still on double yellows when he passed a stationary camera car facing north. The camera didn't flash and the camera car's driver didn't look up from his book. When does speeding become an offence and passing on double yellow lines doesn't?


Tailor-made VWs

Volkswagens have been some of the most customised cars. The Beetle became all things to all people. Actor Steve McQueen turned his into a go-fast dune buggy powered by a 2-litre Porsche engine. Golf models lent themselves to the tailor-made look, too. They still do. Even the latest model is being dressed up, this time with the approval of the factory.

Oettinger is a German company which has been customising VWs since 1951. Now its reworked Golf (pictured) and Passat models will soon be available in New Zealand. Typical modifications include suspension, body and exhaust kits and booting power in the standard 1.8-litre, four-cylinder engine from 110kW to 143kW.

Mini celebrations

A handful of New Zealand Mini enthusiasts are heading to Britain for the car's official 40th birthday in August. The celebrations kick off on August 21 with two days of special events at Silverstone race track. The New Zealanders will return in time to salute the Mini with a special party in Albany on August 28, which will end when a 150-strong convoy of Minis winds its way through Auckland. The Mini is expected to be one of five finalists in the Car of the Century competition. The winner will be named in December.