Zooming with DRIVEN

We're back for 2023!

In the first episode of Zooming with DRIVEN for the year (Sam had a loooong holiday...) we take a look back at what has happened (and what we have driven) since the last episode.

Dean tells us about his recent trip to Japan for a drive of the all-new Mazda CX-60 (and also about some gross things he ate while he was there...), while Damien headed off to Scotland to drive the fantastic Ineos Grenadier in the wintry Highlands.

David tells us about the local launch of the new all-electric Skoda Enyaq and takes a look at GWM's future plans in this part of the world (and also drove the Tank 300 and Ora Sport), while Dean got a first taste of the deeply impressive BMW i7, as well as the first hybrid AMG - the Mercedes-AMG C43.

Then there's also MX-5 racing, another Car of the Year award AND we get to have a play in some legendary hot Hondas from Honda New Zealand's Heritage Collection, including the awesome NSX!

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In the final episode of Zooming with DRIVEN for 2022 we finish off our countdown of the twenty most popular stories on DRIVEN for the year, covering off the top ten - you can watch last week's episode where we look at #20 to #11 here.

What was the most read story of the year? You'll just have to watch the episode to find out, but it surprised us...

Also in this episode, Dean talks about the Hyundai N Festival he recently attended in Australia where he got to drive the RN22e, which is a very fast experimental version of the forthcoming Ioniq 6, while Damien talks about the Praga Bohema, a new hypercar powered by a worked version of the Nissan GT-R's engine, which you can read more about here.

David runs through the refreshed Mazda MX-5 with its new 'Kinematic Posture Control' and Dean also manages to bring up Waze - his favourite navigation app - again, this time previewing his interview with the company's New Zealand social media manager, Hayden O'Brien, which you can watch right here.

Don't forget you can also check out more DRIVEN videos on our YouTube channel!

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In the penultimate episode for 2022 Dean, David, Damien and Sam kick off our countdown of the twenty most popular stories on DRIVEN for 2022, covering off #20 to #11 this week, while David also tells us of the all-electric MG4's recent success in NCAP crash testing, where it scored a full five stars. It was also confirmed that the small BEV will definitely be coming to New Zealand next year as well - you can read more about that right here.

In more BEV news, Damien runs through the recent news that Hyundai will be supplying the NZ Police with its first round of electric vehicles, with more than 30 cars (a mix of Ioniq 5s and Kona Electrics) being dispatched to 15 locations around the country for use by support staff. And this is only the beginning, because the police plan to have an emission-free fleet within the next five years. Read more about it all here.

Dean then gets very excited by Travis Pastrana's latest entry into the long-running (and iconic) 'Gymkhana' series of videos, with an even more elaborate set of amazing car stunts than his illustrious predecessor in the series, Ken Block.

And it really is worth getting excited about, as it is utterly spectacular! You can watch all the action right here.

Don't forget to tune in next week for the top ten stories of 2022 on the last Zooming with DRIVEN for the year, but you can also check out more DRIVEN videos on our YouTube channel!

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On Zooming with DRIVEN EP113, David tells us about his first experience with the all-new Range Rover Sport in the South Island - it's a big deal for Land Rover New Zealand, while being smaller than the full-size Range Rover, that is. And bigger than a Velar, but about the same size as a Land Rover Discovery... it's confusing, but you can read more about the newest member of the Land Rover family right here.

David then warns of a new and improved email scam that pretends to be from the NZTA and we all snigger like children over Volkswagen Italy's social media blunder, before fantasizing about a new Auckland apartment complex with parking specially designed for supercars. Yes, really - you can read all about that one here!

We then play a new game we are calling "Guess What" where the poor contestants have to guess the car from a movie or TV show from an on-screen description of the car. It sounds easy, but Sam's face will tell you otherwise. I mean, do you know what the car described like this is: "The very latest in interception countermeasures. Titanium armor, a multi-tasking heads-up display AND six beverage cup holders. All in all, rather stocked."

Spoiler alert: David did, but he is a MASSIVE movie car nerd...

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Welcome to the biggest and best Zooming with DRIVEN show of the year, where we announce the winner of the 2022 AA DRIVEN New Zealand Car of the Year. 

As well as the overall winner of AA DRIVEN Car of the Year, we announce the winners of each class.

Cars eligible for the AA DRIVEN NZ COTY include any vehicle currently on sale and that the AA and DRIVEN judges have all had a chance to experience, which means last year’s winners are also in with a chance for a repeat.

Last year, the Toyota GR Yaris took out the award, but in a year where supply issues, the move the cleaner cars and the rise of EVs and hybrids have changed the landscape, the popularity of SUVs and the resilience of utes have both remained.

2022 AA DRIVEN NZ COTY CLASSES

1. Small SUV
2. Medium SUV\
3. Large SUV
4. Clean Cars
i. HEV
ii. PHEV
iii. BEV
5. Passenger (sedan, hatch, wagon)
6. Sports & Performance
7. LCV (van & ute)
8. Luxury (above $100k)
9. AA Safest Car
10. People’s Choice
Overall 2022 AA DRIVEN NZ COTY

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In Zooming with DRIVEN EP111, Toyota has made the Prius fast and sexy, but it's too late for NZ.

David chats about a Ford Ranger Raptor, largely showroom-standard, that won the Mid Size Stock class in the Score International Baja 1000 last week.

Damien checks out the cars up for grabs in Webb's classic car auction, and we talk about our top picks. 

More finalists for AA DRIVEN Car of the Year are announced, this week it's the best luxury, the safest vehicles, and the best light commercial vehicles (utes and vans) of 2022.

It's your last chance to go in the draw to win $5000 for either petrol, thanks to AA SmartFuel/BP, or $5000 worth of EV charge credit, thanks to ChargeNet, just by voting for your favourite car in the Peoples Choice category. Entries close at 5:00pm, Saturday 26th November!

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On Zooming with DRIVEN EP110, Damien chats about weird off-road sports cars, the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Steratto.

David mentions that from December, all new and used-vehicle importers in New Zealand will have to operate a Government "CO2 account".

And more finalists are revealed for AA DRIVEN Car of the Year, this time it's the finalists for the Passenger and Sports and Performance categories. 

Remember, you can go in the draw to win $5000 for either petrol, thanks to AA SmartFuel/BP, or $5000 worth of EV charge credit, thanks to ChargeNet, just by voting for your favourite car in the Peoples Choice category. 

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On Zooming with DRIVEN episode 109, Opel launches in New Zealand. David was at the launch, and gives us insight into the automaker's first NZ cars. 

It's Damien's first week on Zooming with Driven, and he chats about Formula One NFTs. 

Dean checks out Countdown's Brick toys, and takes us through more AA DRIVEN Car of the Year finalists. 

Remember, you can go in the draw to win $5000 for either petrol, thanks to AA SmartFuel/BP, or $5000 worth of EV charge credit, thanks to ChargeNet, just by voting for your favourite car in the Peoples Choice category. 

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On this episode of Zooming with DRIVEN, we drive the Honda Civic Type R!

David checks out the Ford Ranger XLT and Wildtrak, and Dean shows us a NASCAR wallride video. 

Dean shares his thoughts on the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53, and chats about the upcoming Opel open day. 

AA DRIVEN NZ Car of the Year is kicking off, you can check out more info on the categories and People's Choice voting here. 

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On episode 107 of Zooming with DRIVEN, Dean drives a Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7.

David chats about the Honda Civic Type R, Polestar 3, and Rolls Royce Spectre.

Dean talks about the record-breaking price that a Nissan Pulsar GTI-R Nismo sold for at auction and announces that AA DRIVEN Car of the Year is kicking off this weekend. 

Voting for People's choice is opening soon, so keep an eye out for it, and vote for your chance to win $5k of fuel, either petrol or EV charge credit. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.