If you drive a small car, or are thinking about downsizing to a lower fuel use, more efficient smaller car for around town use, then you need to see the Hyundai Accent. This zippy little hot hatch has it all! Small on size but massive on features across the model range. We have a wide range of quality used vehicles like this one in our central Nelson Yard. Click here to find out more.
The Honda Urban SUV Concept is shown at media previews for the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Photo/ Paul Sancya (AP)
After scoring a hit with its CR-V compact SUV, Honda has offered a glimpse at what the automaker's new, even smaller SUV might look like when it hits streets.
The "Urban SUV Concept" made its debut during press previews at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Honda Motor Co. plans to launch a small SUV based on that concept vehicle in Japan by the end of the year and in the US in 2014.
The concept SUV is 22.86 centimeters shorter than the CR-V, and hidden rear door handles give it a smooth, coupe-like presence. When it goes on sale in the US it's expected to be priced below the existing CR-V, which starts around $22,700(US) for a 2013 model.
"We believe there is a good market potential for this vehicle," Tetsuo Iwamura, president and chief operating officer of Honda's North American Regional Operations, said in an interview with reporters at the show.
The release late last year of the 11th generation 2013 Toyota Corolla was quite a big thing for Toyota. The Corolla is New Zealand's favourite car, and the biggest selling car model...... (your best Jeremy Clarkson internal voice please)....IN THE WORLD!
When any new model is launched there is a fair bit sales training that goes along with it from Toyota. Dealerships have to make sure that all salespeople are totally up to speed with all of the ins and outs of each car variant in the range. This can be quite a task, each new model has tweaks to the previous year, some models have completely new features. When it comes to generational, or face-lift models like the new 2013 Corolla Hatch, the changes are even more dramatic.
Toyota New Zealand's Sales Training guru, Igino Quattrucci tours the country giving all of the Toyota Sales teams advanced training on each new vehicle launch. Part of this training is a series of role plays in which members of the sales team play prospective customers asking a series of random questions to other sales team members. Sounds complicated? It isn't, but what it does do is create a scenario where each salesperson is put in a situation with a customer full of questions. The sales team learn how to answer these questions and how to bring into the conversation important features that customers need to be made aware of.
This is important training within the Toyota way of doing things, so imagine our pride when one of our sales team, Chae Baird-Booth, was awarded a prize for one of the best presentations during Igino's nationwide tour.
Bowater Toyota Salesman Chae Baird-Booth with his gift voucher for Best Corolla Presentation.
When it comes to making a great tasting Nelson wine few are better than Waimea Estates.
The Bolitho family have owned and operated the Waimea Estates since 1993, when Trevor and Robyn Bolitho first planted grapes on the Waimea Plains.
Today, the business is run by a dedicated team of professionals headed by Trevor and son Ben, who since 2005 has been the Waimea's Viticulturalist.
Like the Bowater Motor Group they are a family based business with a large and committed focus on the Nelson / Tasman region. You will often see the Waimea Estates flag at many a local event, and their wine on many a local dining table, picnic blanket or BBQ bench.
Waimea Estates are very passionate and professional when it comes to wine making. They are consistently winning award after award, and place quality in high regard. They tend to like to do things properly, so when it came time to purchase a new car for the business they came to Bowater Toyota. They have been proud owners of Toyota's for many years, and recently they just added another one to their stable, this time a Toyota Yaris for their Nelson Sales Rep Chris McCarthy.
Pictured: Nelson Sales Rep Chris McCarthy & Anna Bolitho Administration Manager.
When it comes to sending a car around the track as a part of the annual Port Nelson Street Races, Nelson Road Racing Association president Nick Marer called upon Bowater Toyota with only one car in mind.
That car, is of course the Toyota 86. The perfect car for the job.
Nick was on the hunt for the Official Pace Car for the annual 2013 Port Nelson Street Races. This street race is an iconic street circuit motorcycle race, held in Nelson since 1992, and featuring multiple classes of racing, culminating in the King of the Port Race - always a hotly contested event.
We jumped at the chance to get the Toyota 86 into it's "natural" environment, an official "closed road" track where it could stretch it's legs unhindered and without breaking any laws!
The chance to get trackside does not happen that often in Nelson. Normally those wanting to get some track day action have to travel a long way to satisfy that urge, or just resign themselves that it is not a reality, and just the dreams of car crazy young boys.
The Toyota 86 has changed all of that. Finally a car has come onto the market that is not only remarkably priced at just $41,986, but has actually been designed for those wanting to enjoy a perfectly respectable, everyday car 90% of the time, but also experience the thrills of Track Days if the opportunity arises.
All this being said, the 2013 Port Nelson Street Race gave us the perfect opportunity to show the motor racing fans of Nelson the new face of the performance side of Toyota.
