NZV8 No 210 November 2022

As the editor of NZV8, with three issues under my belt, I can assure you that a lot more goes into producing this magazine each month than you might realise. At times, there is a continual stream of events, features, cars, and columns to plan and write about. The weather and time management would have to be the two major challenges I usually face. Since my kick-ass contributors typically work during the week, photo shoots are scheduled only at weekends. If a shoot is scheduled for a Saturday or Sunday and it’s raining, it will be moved to the following weekend, which can cause tight deadlines because every photo shoot must still go through our design and proofing process. You can start to see how the weather can affect the publication…

The next generation Dodge Charger Super Bee is the second of what Dodge is calling ‘Last Call’ editions. The name signifies the end of the Hemi-powered weapons we love, as the brand transitions to a greener future. The Super Bee name will evoke plenty of emotion from those that know what the name means. As for the Bees of yesteryear, the title signifies that the model is the highest performance Charger on offer. The Super Bee name became legendary back in 1968 and was last used in 2012, although the 2023 version features little resemblance. The cars will come from the factory on drag radials, complete with adaptive damping suspension that includes ‘Drag Mode’. As you’d expect, that SRT hood isn’t just for looks but is functional to allow air to…

Kiwi motorsport icon Greg Murphy is among a raft of new appointments at the quickly expanding group of New Zealand businesses now owned by motorsport entrepreneur Tony Quinn. Murph, who was already a part of the Quinn-owned Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy and the Tony Quinn Foundation, was recently appointed as the new motorsport manager at the Taupo, Highlands, and Hampton Downs motorsport parks, which are owned by Quinn. In the role, Murph will work closely with Quinn, Group CEO Josie Spillane, and each circuit’s team to develop their strategic motorsport plan — something that will be good for racers of all levels. “My role is very much to support the teams that already exist at the Taupo, Highlands, and Hamptons tracks on a consultancy basis to develop a motorsport strategy that is…

A few years back, it would have been unbelievable, but Ford has published details of the soon-to-land Mustang Mach-E, a fully electric SUV wearing the Mustang name. The Mach-E’s only resemblance to the pony cars is the name and badging — which are no doubt being used for the marketing appeal. Three different sub-models are set to go on sale locally in early 2023, including one rear-wheel drive and two all-wheel drive variants. More details will be released closer to the time, but with 80 per cent of Mustang Mach-E customers globally having moved from other car brands to join Ford in its electric transformation, we wouldn’t expect traditional Mustang owners to be queuing up. The cars have proven popular, though, having globally outsold the petrol-powered Mustang by a factor of…

If you’re a fan of the cars and action you see in the pages of NZV8 magazine, then chances are you’re also a fan of Repco Muscle Garage. The weekly TV show brings you the very best of NZV8, including interviews, workshop profiles, the cars, and a look into various sheds around the country. Thanks to sponsors Repco New Zealand, Meguiar’s, Rislone, and Mount Shop Ltd, Season 11 will kick off on Three on Sunday, 16 October, as part of the CRC Motorsport line-up. With 10 shows in the series, there’s plenty of action to satisfy even the most die-hard of V8 enthusiasts. As always, if you’re too busy to catch the action on Sunday afternoons, episodes will be uploaded to The Motorhood soon after they’ve aired and will be available…

After a forced cancellation in 2022, Cruise Martinborough has announced that things are on track for the 2023 running of the event. Set to take place in South Wairarapa from 26–29 January, Cruise Martinborough has become the go-to lower North Island event. With almost all 2022 entrants electing to transfer their entry to the 2023 event, there are fewer than 100 places still available. Event organiser Damien Pivac says, “The schedule has had slight changes as we do each year or from time to time. We will head back to the Gladstone Inn for a riverside lunch, the drive-in movie is back, and the town square in Martinborough is our home for Saturday once again.” That’s on top of all the usual Cruise Marti features, such as plenty of cruising as well as…