Ignition Magazine New Zealand | August 2023

FUTURE RIDE:

HYPERION XP-1

Powered by H2 ohhhhhh!!!

DRIVERLESS CARS

Are autonomous cars really the way of the future?

The Puzzle Game WINNERS

Parts Connection’s New Promotion

Capricorn Preferred Supplier, Parts Connection, is proud to announce the first $10,000 winner of their “The Puzzle Game” promotion.

Each time you purchase parts from any Parts Connection supplier, you'll receive a lucky Puzzle Piece. When you get one, check to see if you’re an instant $1,000 winner or have earned a piece to use when playing the online Puzzle Game. Members have until 30 November 2023 to participate.

The lucky recent winner is: NOVUS GLASS MANUKAU

A big thank you to all Members who have participated in the promotion so far!

More information on how to play (and T&Cs of the Parts Connection The Puzzle Game 2023) can be found at thepuzzlegame.co.nz

Welcomed at over 290 Mobil Allied Fuel Stop, NPD and Waitomo Fuel stations , the Capricorn Fuel Card is the convenient way to save money at the bowser – and consolidate your business accounts.

David Fraser Group CEO

CEO’s message

Change is inevitable—and we are living in a time of incredible change.

In 2016, Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, suggested the world was at the beginning of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He explained we were entering a new era, one that “builds and extends on the impact of the digitisation of our lives in new and unanticipated ways”.

In recent months, since the launch of the artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT, the impact and potential of this Fourth Industrial Revolution has begun to feel more tangible. Lots of people in lots of industries are suddenly concerned about the impact that AI will have on their jobs and businesses. For many, the future seems less certain than it did before this powerful new tool was released. We’ve all become a lot more conscious of the potential disruptive impact of AI on how we live our lives and earn our livings.

Of course, in the automotive industry, we’ve been dealing with disruption for a long time. Our industry was a part of the First Industrial Revolution (the shift from using animals to using machines) and has continued to evolve through the other two of Schwab’s identified revolutions (breakthroughs in power generation in the first half of the last century, and in communication and computing in the second half).

But, like the many industries coming to grips with the potential impacts of AI, the automotive industry feels like it stands on the precipice of major, disruptive change. For the first time since stables and farriers gave way to automotive workshops, it really feels like the next generation of businesses in our industry, and the skills required to operate and work in them, will look very different to what we’ve been used to.

But this change isn’t necessarily something to be afraid of. It holds a huge amount of excitement and opportunity for those that are willing to embrace it in the right way.

In this month’s Ignition, we’re looking at the next generation. You’ll meet our Rising Star winner and read her story. We’ve got articles on self-driving cars and whether they’re really the way ahead and our Future Ride is a hydrogenpowered car—a possible alternative to the electric vehicle pathway we’re constantly told is the future. We’ve also got an article on engaging with online reviews, which is important for attracting the next generation of customers—who are researching online before they’re driving into your workshop.

While the future is always uncertain, there’s plenty we can do to make it less daunting, even in the face of major disruption. While change is inevitable, the pace of change is not. We have time to prepare. Whatever the future looks like, Capricorn will be right there alongside you—because we’re stronger together.

David Fraser Group CEO

Ignition.

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

AUGUST 2023

FEBRUARY 2023

4 MANAGE TRADE ACCOUNT PAYMENTS ONLINE WITH myCAP

Things just got easier and more convenient!

6 THE NEXT-GENERATION WORKSHOP

What skills will you need to thrive in a high-tech future?

8 ENGAGING WITH ONLINE REVIEWS

Why they’re important for attracting the next generation of customers.

11 2023 CAPRICORN RISING STARS WINNER

Meet Chelsea Bowers.

14 FUTURE RIDE: HYPERION XP-1

Powered by H2 ohhhhhh!!!

18 DRIVERLESS CARS

Are autonomous cars really the way of the future?

24 2023 NISSAN PATHFINDER TI-L

An accomplished and refined SUV powered by a smooth V6.

31 FERRARI’S EPIC 24H LE MANS

The prancing horse claims victory again after 58 years.

Managing your Trade Account payments just got even easier!

At Capricorn, we’re all about empowering our Members and making their lives easier and more convenient. That’s why we’re excited to announce that you can now manage the payment methods for your Trade Account online through myCAP.

This means you now have the freedom to do so 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you’re making a one-off card payment or managing your direct debit details, it’s all at your fingertips to manage according to your own schedule.

Direct Debits

We know that most Members prefer to settle their Trade Account using some form of direct debit, be that linked to a bank account or credit/debit card.

myCAP’s new online payment management capabilities mean that Members now have the ability to:

Set up a new direct debit payment (via bank account or credit/debit card).

Change the payment details for an existing direct debit (via bank account or credit/debit card).

It’s the easiest way to make sure that you never miss a payment.

One-Off Card Payments

If you’d like to make a one-off card payment to settle your Trade Account, our new online payment system has you covered. All you need to do is select the “One-Off Card Payment” option and enter your card details.

Where to find it?

There are a couple of ways to access the payments page in myCAP.

You can select the “Payments” tab from the main navigation bar at the top of the screen.

Alternatively, you can also select the “Account” tab in the top right corner. And then select the “Payments” option in the drop-down menu.

Once you’ve reached the payments page, just follow the prompts to manage your payments as (and when) you need to. It really is that simple!

myCAP Manage payments online with

The Next-Generation Workshop

byJeff Smit

Many experts are making predictions about what the aftermarket sector will look like in five or ten years, but like the rest of us they are only guessing. But everyone is talking about it, because whatever happens, there will be some kind of impact on those in business today or planning to open a workshop any time soon.

My role in the industry as a workshop operator, trainer and technical information provider demands that I try to predict the future. I have to admit I don’t know for sure — but I have my thoughts.

I have confessed in past Ignition articles that in my own business I like to think five years ahead, and thanks to my positive outlook about the future of aftermarket businesses, I have survived quite well.

Probably the new direction in everyone’s mind right now has to do with electric vehicles (EV). Despite the fact that some governments have mandated a phase-out of internal combustion engines (ICE) as early as 2030, issues relating to sourcing the rare minerals required for batteries and slow delivery of charging facilities are slowing down the uptake of EVs by the general population.

My view is that the transition to EVs, in whatever form it takes, is going to be slower than expected, but it will happen eventually. The development of electric vehicle technology is far from over. Proof of this is the recent

announcement that General Motors will end production of its bestselling Chevrolet Bolt electric car by the end of this year and will turn to electric pickup trucks. This is merely an indication that electric vehicle technology will continue to change and improve over time.

This leads to the conclusion that ICE-powered vehicles are going to be around for a long time yet, but finding the talent to diagnose and repair these vehicles is going to get a lot harder. There is already a skills shortage in the auto aftermarket, and it will get worse, maybe even lasting until the very end of ICE vehicles.

Trying to find a competent ICE technician in the near future will be like trying to find a good carburettor rebuilder in 2023. An exodus of retirees from long-established aftermarket workshops, expected in the next five years, is only going to make the skill shortage worse for those still in the trade.

Despite these issues, I have a very positive outlook on the future for everyone, and the aftermarket growth potential over the next five years is as promising as it has ever been.

The big question remains. What do business owners need to consider for their own survival, and how can they ensure that the changes being made right now are the right ones?

If the march of technology in the automotive industry over the past decade or so has told us anything, it is that forecasting the future is a pretty risky business.

One thing is certain, the industry is going to be very high-tech. It will need smart technicians able to service, diagnose and repair vehicles that are being sold today. Special skills will be needed in electronics, software programming, ADAS recalibration, and high-voltage electric vehicle diagnosis. Such skills are certainties, so it makes sense for workshop owners and managers to start learning them right now.

For my workshop, I have embarked on my next five-year journey to specialise in electric and hybrid technologies, to add to servicing, diagnosing and repairing regular ICE vehicles. This is not the first time I have undertaken such dramatic action. About 30 years ago, my five-year plan included mobile air conditioning and HVAC systems. A decade later I chose EFI and engine management, and ten years ago I adopted a program of customerfocused service levels covering the full range of automotive care.

Being able to adapt to changes in technologies and market forces over the past 40 years has enabled my workshop to stay ahead of the game — I aim to never be in catch-up mode. Having chosen electric and hybrid specialty services for the next five years takes me back to my roots. I began my time in this trade as a freshfaced 16-year-old apprentice auto electrician. It seemed logical to see out my working life in the same role, as an auto electrician. If nothing else, my experience is a lesson in using your inherent skills to help choose the right direction for your workshop.

My electric journey began years ago with my purchase of a hybrid vehicle, followed by a fully electric vehicle — the Nissan Leaf. My workshop now has two electric vehicles and two hybrids in its loan fleet. It wasn’t long after hanging my new competency certificates on the waiting room wall that repair work poured in. To help spread the word, the workshop spent $500 on a run-down Toyota Prius, restored it to health and adorned it with messages about our electric and hybrid services.

The decisions I made won’t suit everyone, and besides, there are so many opportunities for special skills development now available. Here are just a few.

Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Recalibration of a radar, cameras and sensors, a skill needed after an accident, windscreen replacement or even the replacement of a side mirror.

Thermal management: Overall thermal management of late model vehicles, including full electric and hybrids. Specialised management of HVAC components and the complex cabin climate systems is going to be a long-term growth area and will need advanced skills.

ECU programming and recoding: Another long-term growth area because replaced control units, new or used, genuine or aftermarket, will need programming to link them into the vehicle’s electronic systems.

Key programming and immobilisation: A specialised skill set will be needed because this area includes telematics and vehicle external communication.

Gasoline injector testing and servicing: These skills would cover GDi, FSi and SiDi to name just a few.

There are so many choices for future directions. Some workshops may decide to focus only on current technologies because there is no doubt that low and ultra-low-emission vehicles will need quality service, diagnostics and repair for more than another decade.

Whatever decision you make, make sure you are where you want to be in five to 10 years’ time. The future is looking good for those who plot their course.

Capricorn’s expert guide to engaging with online reviews

Why they’re important for attracting the next generation of customers.

More than threequarters of consumers say they regularly read online reviews when browsing for local businesses.

That’s according to a study by BrightLocal, a UK-based global reputation management company, which has been regularly studying the impact of online reviews since 2010.

Their latest research also found 87% of consumers use Google to evaluate a local business. That’s especially true for automotive businesses. When consumers were asked which kinds of businesses they were most likely to read reviews on before engaging a company, automotive industry businesses came second only to healthcare providers.

So, there’s little doubt online reviews are an important part of the modern business landscape, whether we like it or not.

Where consumers are leaving reviews

BrightLocal found Google is the most trusted platform for reviews, while Facebook’s relevance for reviews is continuing to fall. It’s worth noting Facebook replaced reviews with recommendations which, rather than offering a rating out of five, ask consumers to say yes or no when asked if they would recommend the business. Facebook then aggregates a score, based on the total recommendations. Other popular review sites are Yelp and Trustpilot.

Why you cannot afford to ignore online reviews

Wherever reviews are being left, it’s critical that workshop owners and managers monitor them and engage with them—ideally responding in less than a week.

While we know from our State of the Nation surveys that Capricorn Members consistently say 75% of their business comes through word of mouth, BrightLocal found 46% of consumers feel online reviews are as trustworthy as personal recommendations from friends and family.

Here’s why online reviews matter:

Social proof: Reviews (even bad ones, if you respond to them well) build trust and credibility with potential customers.

Insights: Review feedback can help you identify problem areas you might not have been aware of, so you can make improvements.

Engagement: Responding to reviews is an opportunity to thank customers and reinforce your values, customer service style and much more.

Free content: Leverage positive reviews in social media posts, newsletters and testimonials on your website to spread the message even further.

How to respond to online reviews

Responding to positive reviews is an opportunity to thank the customer, publicly, for writing a review. That’s not just good manners, it’s smart business: others will read the love-in and feel positive about your business. Responding to negative reviews can be harder, but it is no less essential. How you handle it can change everything.

Investigate:

Before you respond, look into the substance of the complaint with your team to get to the bottom of what happened.

Respond ASAP:

Don’t leave bad reviews hanging out there, unanswered. It might be costing you customers!

Stay professional: Don’t get personal. Keep it courteous, but be authentic in your response.

Acknowledge:

Always recognise that the person feels they had a sub-par experience. Be honest about any mistakes and explain your plans to remedy the situation.

Apologise: You may have nothing to apologise for, but at least show compassion and empathy.

Next steps:

Whether you invite the customer to give you a call or promise to call them yourself, make it clear you’re happy to talk about the situation to find a satisfactory resolution.

Accountability:

Sign off with your name and title. It shows you’re taking the situation seriously and not running away from it.

Capricorn Rewards has all the must have products to enhance your viewing experience. Whether you are watching with a group of friends or prefer to watch uninterrupted, Capricorn Rewards has the products that will make your experience unforgettable.

CHELSEA BOWERS! Congratulations to

We are excited to announce the

2023 CAPRICORN RISING STARS APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR,

CHELSEA BOWERS,

from John Edwards Automotive in Geebung, Queensland!

The Capricorn Rising Stars is awarded to an apprentice who shows initiative in the workshop, eagerness to learn and a commitment to the automotive aftermarket industry. Chelsea was chosen from among over 600 nominees this year and you might even remember seeing her face previously in the Top 5 Finalists of the 2022 Capricorn Rising Stars.

“I feel like I’m a part of something that the younger me would have been really proud of,” Chelsea said of her win. “It really blew me away. One of the people I really look up to in this industry, Gabby Clift, won it in 2020, so I feel like I’m standing on the podium with her and I feel very lucky to be there with her.”

The Capricorn Rising Stars awards have been running for six years and have been won by three male and three female apprentices—a fact not lost on Chelsea. In the March edition of Ignition magazine, she shared with Capricorn Members her story of trying to get her start in the industry as a female apprentice. She explained that the workshop where she started her apprenticeship had not been

supportive, had a negative culture and had her washing cars instead of servicing them. She left, went to university but didn’t enjoy it, then decided to finish her apprenticeship, finding a far more supportive workplace in John Edwards Automotive.

“It was the first time I wasn’t judged as a female but just as a person walking in to get a job,” Chelsea told Ignition. “It was the first time I realised not all places were like that first one.”

Given an opportunity to follow her dreams in an encouraging environment, Chelsea thrived. It’s something she reflected upon after her Rising Stars win.

“I felt really unsupported in my earlier years, and I just feel like I’ve now become this role model that other people can maybe look up to and know that it can be done. You can succeed and thrive,” she said.

“I mean that humbly.”

Chelsea said she felt inspired by 2020 winner Gabby Clift, whom she got to know on training days with Bosch (they both worked at Bosch service centres) and at the Motor Trade Association of Queensland.

“Gabby used to answer all the questions, and be the first one to put her hand up. She volunteered to do anything and really study what we’d learned the day before and come back with any questions she had about the work we were doing,” Chelsea said. “And I just thought, ‘Wow, there’s someone who’s really into their work and passionate’. We’ve kept in touch. She’s one of my mentors. I really look up to Gabby. I was so proud of her when she won the 2020 Capricorn Rising Stars award.”

Chelsea had been applying to the awards since 2020 and nearly didn’t apply this year, having been a finalist last year, until her employer, John Edwards, encouraged her to try again.

John said, "This is your last time to do it, just give it a go and see what happens’. Then, when I got it, I just felt like I’d made it. I’m absolutely chuffed.”

While the award settles into its new home on the shelf, Chelsea already has her eyes on the future and she and her partner have long-term ambitions to succeed John in the workshop.

“My entry strategy and his exit strategy are to buy the business off him,” she said. “That’s my goal with my partner at the moment, just to carry on his legacy.”

In his nomination comments to Capricorn, John said, “Chelsea consistently proves to us that she is dedicated, hardworking and thoroughly passionate about the automotive industry. She takes initiative in finding and scheduling extracurricular training to broaden her knowledge base and improve her mechanical skills and understanding.”

Chelsea and her partner are already doing courses in business management and attending Bosch network events and council meetings to learn how to successfully run the business. Doubtless, the prizes she receives as a Rising Stars finalist and winner will help with that.

Chelsea’s now also sharing her passion with the next generation, attending career days at high schools to encourage young people especially girls, to consider automotive industry careers.

“I’d love to have my own apprentice or apprentices one day, and teach them in a really kind environment, like the one I had, so they thrive,” Chelsea said. “I hope one day my apprentice wins a Capricorn award too.”

What’s Chelsea’s advice to any apprentices considering entering next year’s Capricorn Rising Stars?

“Absolutely just go for it because I feel as though even just answering the questions, and even if you get into the finalist stage where you can talk more about your story, that is just as valuable as winning,” she said. “I found that even last year, the opportunities that I had from being in the Top 5 were huge for my pathway… Go for it!”

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our incredible sponsors - Castrol, Repco, and The Workshop Whisperer – once again for their generous support and contributions which ensured that Chelsea, the Top 5 Finalists and their nominating workshops all received recognition and amazing prizes. Special thanks also to all the Members who took the time to nominate their exceptional apprentices and encouraged and supported them during the application process. We can’t wait to hear from next year’s crop of fantastically talented apprentices!

I feel like I’m a part of something that the younger me would have been really proud of.”

HYPERION

THE FUTURE MAY NOT BE BATTERY-POWERED.

XP-1HYPERION

n the race to replace the internal combustion engine, all the publicity and hype has been around battery electric vehicles. But there is another technology that’s challenging the ascent of the battery EVs: hydrogen power.

Hydrogen is an ideal fuel. It is the most abundant element in the universe. We can extract it from water—which is precisely where hydrogen cars get their energy.

Here’s the science at its most basic. In its molecular state, hydrogen is made up of two atoms bonded by an electron (to make water, just add an oxygen atom). By passing hydrogen molecules through a fuel cell (which takes water from the air) it’s possible to split the two atoms apart and release the energy in the electron to power whatever you need to power. In the case of today’s Future Ride, that means powering the Hyperion XP-1.

If we have to say goodbye to the internal combustion engine, then at least the Hyperion XP-1 looks like the future that Hollywood studios and video game designers have been promising us for years. It’s stunning.

Weighing in at just over 1000 kg, with a powertrain comprising hydrogen fuel cells and supercapacitors (instead of batteries), a threespeed transmission and four axial-flux electric motors, this hypercar has a range of 1635 km and a power output in excess of 1500 kW. It does zero to 100 km/h in 2.2 seconds and has a top speed of 356 km/h. It has a small battery, recharged using regenerative braking. Those aren’t just compelling promises; this is what Hyperion has already delivered. The XP-1 isn’t a concept car; you can go online, watch videos of the XP-1 in action, and pre-order yours now (although they’re only making 300 at the moment).

Hyperion’s background is in delivering hydrogen propulsion systems to NASA, various other space agencies, and engineering firms. Their stated goal in creating this sleek hypercar is to get people educated and excited about hydrogen—perhaps so when people think of hydrogen’s use in transportation, their minds aren’t immediately cast back to old newsreel footage of the Hindenberg disaster.

In an interview with Business Insider, Hyperion Chief Executive Officer Angelo Kafantaris said: “We needed to focus on a car, to tell the story in a compelling way to the consumer”.

What better way to do that than with a fast, sexy machine that’s quicker to 100 km/h than any model of Tesla, with twice the range and ticks a heap of other boxes, as well?

Which boxes, you may ask? We’ve already looked at performance, so let’s start with the design. The XP-1 looks cool. It has a carbon titanium monocoque structure, aluminium alloy suspension, a titaniumreinforced composite body, and a profile set to turn heads.

Then, there’s the hydrogen fuel cell technology that overcomes many of the problems that have been a stumbling block to the fast adoption of EVs. Hydrogen gas is very light, compared to heavy batteries, making the vehicles more energy efficient, and giving them a much longer range than EVs. There’s no need to spend three-quarters of an hour at an electric charge point, as the Hyperion XP-1 recharges in three to five minutes. Hydrogen gas doesn’t wear down or degrade. If Hyperion is to be believed, hydrogen is all upside.

Lastly, there’s the emissions. What comes out of the XP-1’s spectacularly futuristic exhaust? Nothing more than water and water vapour, the synthesised by-product of the hydrogen fuel cells.

Short of scientists discovering nuclear fusion, Kafantaris says hydrogen is the best fuel humanity can hope to use. Which is why his company—which, after all, is in the hydrogen business, not the vehicle manufacturing business—is now launching hydrogen refuelling stations all over the United States. The stations, which also have EV charging stations, are equipped to produce hydrogen onsite using water electrolysis. The plan is that if you make it easier for people to refuel, you remove a barrier to them buying a hydrogen (or electric) car.

Of course, not many of us can afford a hypercar like the XP-1. But the XP-1 is really more about the “hype” than the “car”. Many other vehicle manufacturers are playing with designs and releases of hydrogen models more suitable to your family’s daily commute. Hyperion is just selling us the sizzle. It could yet be the likes of Honda or Toyota who sell us the actual sausage. But who really knows what the future holds? Maybe the future is still battery EVs? If the future is hydrogen, however, it might just be the XP-1 that gets us there.

XP-1

Driverless cars

Are they already here?

Driverless

For a while there, plenty of car manufacturers and tech companies were talking up the massive potential of driverless cars. Enterprises as diverse as Audi, Uber, Tesla, Apple and Google were investing fortunes in technology and trials. In 2017, the Brookings Institution said US$80 billion had been invested in developing driverless cars. The talk was of a US$7 trillion market for driverless cars.

Then, after all that fanfare, things went a bit quiet. So where are we at? What is the current state of autonomous vehicle technology and the potential market? And when can we expect to see driverless cars in Australia and New Zealand?

What is a driverless car?

Different jurisdictions and manufacturers have slightly different definitions of what exactly constitutes an autonomous car but, in essence, it’s a vehicle that uses a combination of cameras, radars, sensors and artificial intelligence to travel from A to B without the need for a human driver. There are six different grades of autonomy, but a fully autonomous vehicle can navigate to a predetermined destination over ordinary roads without any human intervention. Tesla’s Autopilot, probably the best-known driverless tech, is only a level two. Its full self-driving capability is still in beta testing in the US (and has been for three years).

Are driverless cars operating anywhere in the world?

We’re a long way from the driverless utopia promised by the car and tech giants a few years ago but, nevertheless, the technology is already in commercial use in a few places. In the US, Google is operating a trial taxi-like service with its fully driverless Waymo cars, which operate using cameras, radar and LiDAR sensors, in San Francisco, California, and Phoenix, Arizona. According to reports, the Waymo cars have driven more than a million miles without a driver. The Arizona trial is the largest fully operational driverless service in the world. Closer to home, RAC WA and the Western Australian Government operated the trial of a level four autonomous electric bus in South Perth between September 2016 and June 2023. It was a hit with passengers, with four in five saying that they would be happy to ride in an automated vehicle, and 99% believing the technology could be used for public transport in the future.

Is driverless technology really up to the job?

In popular culture, driverless cars have come in two chief varieties—cool or chaotic. KITT from Knight Rider was the former, Herbie the Love Bug was the latter. As a society, we loved them both. But in real life, we’ve been much less enthusiastic about strapping ourselves into a car that has a mind of its own. The reason? According to a survey by the Pew Research Center in the US in 2021, it’s trust. Almost two-thirds of respondents said they would not travel in a driverless vehicle and 45% said they didn’t want to share the road with driverless vehicles.

But, what’s the experience of riding in one actually like?

A Phoenix resident, David, used Waymo’s service for 90 days and said the technology was better than he expected it to be, and the ride was “easy, safe, comfortable”. When the car encountered an accident on the road he expected it to struggle but “it handled it perfectly, navigating around all of the obstacles and easily continuing on its way”

In San Francisco another driverless car startup, Cruise—which has received more than US$10 billion in funding from the likes of GM, Honda and Microsoft—has also driven more than a million autonomous miles. When Cruise benchmarked their driverless vehicle data against human drivers in a comparable driving environment, they found their vehicles were involved in 54% fewer collisions overall, 92% fewer collisions as the primary contributor and 73% fewer collisions with a meaningful risk of injury. In one million miles, there were only 36 collisions, 94% of which were caused by the behaviour of the other party involved. These accidents resulted in only one injury. That’s quite compelling data.

When will we see driverless cars on our roads?

For all the reticence of some motorists to adopt driverless vehicles, there are places where automation of this kind has become an important part of life. Australia’s mining industry, for example, has adopted driverless vehicles at scale and found them to reduce costs, improve efficiency and productivity, improve safety and reduce the exposure of staff to hazardous conditions. Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill mine in Western Australia already had 77 autonomous haul trucks and is now adding another 97 to the fleet. The company says this has been possible because they have continued to invest in and improve the tech.

But the open road is a very different environment to a mine site, and the public’s lack of trust in the technology remains. The introduction of driverless vehicles to our roads in Australia and New Zealand is being approached with caution. In Australia, transport authorities are developing regulations and guidelines they hope will be introduced by 2026. NZ authorities are taking an even more cautious approach. A report released late last year acknowledged the potential disruption of driverless vehicles, but questioned whether the technology would even take off.

What is the future for autonomous vehicles?

There are, undoubtedly, still challenges to the widespread adoption of driverless cars. Although the outcomes have shown potential, there is an existing sense of distrust among customers due to the novelty of the technology. We like the idea of the cool KITT, but we’re worried we might end up with the slightly more chaotic Herbie or, worse still, Stephen King’s vehicle of terror, Christine.

Arguably, the recent rationalisation in investment by manufacturers suggests they aren’t sure the market is there for driverless vehicles just yet, either. But the developments we’ve seen to-date have already given us adaptive cruise control, parking assistance, lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking. So, even if we’re still sitting in the driver’s seat for a few years to come, there’s little doubt technology that takes the human element out of driving will continue to play an increasing role in our driving experience.

Car Review

Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L 2023

It may have been six long years since I last drove a Nissan Pathfinder, but even after hundreds of car reviews in that time, I still have fond memories of the V6 Nissan Pathfinder. For 2023, Nissan has “comprehensively redesigned” the Pathfinder. Gone is the CVT transmission (it wasn’t a bad CVT, but let’s be honest — no love lost there) and in its place is a “normal” 9-speed automatic gearbox. That’s a great start.

The design of the car is completely different, too, and it’s exploded in size. Nissan says it’s a ground-up redesign, so nothing has been left untouched. Nissan’s advanced Pro-PILOT semi-autonomous driving system also makes its debut on Pathfinder as a standard inclusion on both models.

Testing out the all-new Pathfinder included a 600 km return trip to Hawera to work on our project car, so in total we drove the car for around 1,000 km.

What we like and dislike about the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L

What’s in the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder range?

You get to choose from two Pathfinder models:

Ti $83,490

Ti-L $88,490 (tested)

Both have the same powertrain, a 3.5-litre, V6 petrol motor that manages 202kW of power and 340Nm of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a 9-speed automatic transmission.

How does the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L compare to its competition?

When we last tested a Pathfinder in 2017, four vehicles on the table were V6 petrol-powered models and now there is just the Pathfinder standing alone. We’ve stuck to medium-to-large, petrol-powered, seven-seat SUVs for our comparison table. All prices below exclude the refund or additional cost of the New Zealand Clean Car Programme.

First impressions of the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L

Well, when Nissan says it’s a completely new car, they are right. The new model is a complete departure from the old one and seems to have expanded in all directions.

For me, it now looks a bit like the new Range Rover, with lots of smoothed-out edges. The front looks complicated with so many lines and angles, but it still works. It’s certainly something different with the gap between the daytime running lights and the headlights. Finished in Scarlet Ember, this part of the Pathfinder really stood out on our test car.

With heavily tinted rear side windows, side-on the Pathfinder looks tall with that high waistline and bulging guards. Around the back, I see more hints of Range Rover with sharp, crisp lines, a heavily tinted rear window and a large roof spoiler. The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder looks great from any angle.

What’s the interior like in the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L?

Without a doubt, the interior is a highlight of the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder. There’s a sense of both luxury and space as soon as you open any door. The top-spec Ti-L we are testing has a huge panoramic sunroof as standard, and it lets in an enormous amount of natural light. Add to this that Nissan had the sense to have headlining and pillars finished in beige, and this leaves passengers with a feeling of gallons of room. And it’s not just a feeling — there is plenty of room for all here, with a huge amount of headroom and width in the cabin.

The panoramic roof has an electric blind, and looking around the cabin there’s little that this model is missing in equipment levels. The front seats are heated and cooled and the middle row is also heated. There’s tri-zone AC, a Qi wireless phone charger, an electric steering wheel tilt/ telescope adjustment, a digital rearview mirror, a power tailgate, and a 360-degree camera. In short, the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L seems to have everything (apart from a heated steering wheel).

The seats are certainly something to write home about. They look excellent and feel great. Since we’re in the top-spec model, that means we have ‘only’ seven seats, but that also means the second row is set up like captain’s chairs, with armrests and a removable centre console. The seats slide too, giving the third-row passengers more legroom when needed. The second row also gets window blinds in the doors and access to its own AC and heated seat controls.

Third-row passengers aren’t quite as well spoilt, with a single USB-A port and a couple of cup holders each. The legroom in the third row is acceptable even when the middle row is pushed back.

Back up front, things are pretty darn nice. The finish is great, there’s a decent 9-inch centre screen, and the front-seat passenger has a cellphone shelf above the glove box. From either front seat, all the finishes are soft touch with some excellent materials used. Front seat passengers also get access to single USB-A and USB-C ports, a 12-volt socket and a large centre console cubby. In fact, there are spots all over the cabin to store stuff for a long trip.

The gearshift isn’t traditional but it’s super easy to use. Below the screen are the controls for the aircon, and I love that Nissan has stuck with physical knobs and buttons to control AC and seat heating/cooling, too. With so many manufacturers moving to touchscreens, having actual controls for these is excellent. It just works. Surprisingly, even with the third row of seats up, there’s still 205 litres of space behind the back seats. With both the second and third rows of seats down, the total available space isn’t massive at 782 litres, but it’s still a very usable space.

What’s the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L like to drive?

Picking up the Pathfinder, I saw a range of 632 km with a full tank of fuel. With a trip to Hawera the next weekend to work on our project car, I’d be spending a week commuting to the office, then off on a 600 km road trip. It would be a great combination of driving and use. On leaving the dealership, I realised it’s been far too long since I last drove something with a petrol V6. Smooth, refined, and powerful: the new Pathfinder may be big, but this engine certainly seems up to the task. With only slightly less weight than the previous model but exactly the same engine, the new Pathfinder can really move it. I think this is down to that new 9-speed automatic transmission; it’s a world away from the CVT it replaced and is a superb transmission in its own right.

One thing that took a little getting used to is the “Intelligent Rearview Mirror” in the top-spec model (which I last encountered in the Nissan Leaf). It’s essentially a screen to see what’s happening out the back of the car, instead of a mirror. I struggled with getting used to it in the Leaf, but this time committed myself to only using the digital mirror. Using it allows a fullwidth view of what’s happening to the rear of your Pathfinder. Not only that, but it’s not really affected by rain and at night it’s also very clear. By the end of my week and 1,000 km of using the digital mirror, I was sold on it.

As a commuter, the Pathfinder has great visibility due to its height and huge side windows (with the bonuses of blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera). That being said, it’s a big wagon, and around Wellington’s narrow streets it often felt a bit cumbersome.

On the motorway, Nissan’s adaptive cruise control works very well, being smooth and predictable. It will bring the car to a complete stop if needed, but like the Subaru Outback XT we recently reviewed, the Pathfinder will beep quite a lot. For example, when someone enters your lane, beep. Car in front exits your lane? Beep. It’s not as bad as the Outback, but it can get irritating and I couldn’t turn the beeping off. On the plus side of things, the Pathfinder will recognise speed limit changes quite well and if you want to, pushing the ‘set’ button will drop cruise control speed down to the new limit (if it’s lower) and pressing ‘resume’ will set it to the new speed (if it’s higher).

My first 45 km of commuting in the Pathfinder Ti-L saw fuel consumption of 10.3L/100km, better than the 11.7 that Nissan claims. The rest of that week was spent commuting, most of the time in Eco mode. With 340 Nm of torque, the Pathfinder copes very easily in Eco mode, which switches the car to front-wheel drive.

After the week of commuting, it was time to head away for the weekend to work on our project car. The new model now has a digital dashboard with an analogue-looking speedo and rev counter. The gauges are very clear and easy to read, although there is no 50km/h marking. It doesn’t need that anyway, with the heads-up display (HUD) giving you a constant readout. The HUD also shows you the current speed limit, sat nav directions, audio track/station selection and cruise control settings. It’s one of the better ones out there and has all the information you need right there on the windscreen.

The Pathfinder’s infotainment system is good for speed and resolution. While the car has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, the built-in infotainment system is good enough on its own.

On the not-so-good front is Nissan’s Pro-PILOT. This helps steer the car, keeping it in its lane to reduce driver fatigue. While on the whole, the Pathfinder’s self-steering system is ok, I couldn’t rely on it. Too many times it didn’t know what to do and would start weaving in its lane, left to right. Not badly, but obviously wasn’t sure exactly where to steer the car. Of course, you should keep your hands on the wheel at all times, even when using Pro-PILOT, but I ended up fighting against it too often, so I turned it off.

The actual steering wheel is great; it’s the perfect size and thickness and feels excellent. It weighs up nicely at speed but is nicely light around town.

On the open road, the V6 purrs along and is barely audible. Switching to Sport mode will see better performance, but honestly, it’s not needed as there’s plenty of performance in any mode. Maximum torque is at a high 4,800 rpm, so you’ll need to rev it out for the quickest and safest passing manoeuvres.

From a stop in the wet while in Sport mode, fullthrottle acceleration will see a little wheelspin, and then electronics will kick in and get some grip happening. It’s not dramatic at all, and that’s a good thing. In this regard, the Pathfinder is a pretty safe drive. With almost torrential rain, I did find the weight and height of the car a bit of a handful on the few twisty bits of the road from Bulls to Hawera. In Auto drive mode, the Pathfinder will allocate traction front/rear as it sees fit, but even then, it’s still a two-ton car with a high centre of gravity. Take it easy on the corners. After the weekend in Hawera, I headed back 300 km to Wellington. Impressively and surprisingly, the V6 Pathfinder returned 8.7L/100km — that’s an excellent figure for such a heavy V6 petrol-powered SUV. In the end, after driving the car over 1,000 km, our total figure was 9.4L/100km. While 600 km of that drive was on the open road, it’s still an excellent result, especially when you compare it to Nissan’s stated figure of 11.7L/100km.

Seat comfort over that distance is excellent; the seats look good and feel good. The driver also gets four-way electric lumbar adjustment if needed.

2023 Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L Summary

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L is accomplished and refined. Add in a luxurious feeling, lots of space, and decent (relative) fuel economy and you have an SUV that’s worthy of adding to your list of ‘must drive’ vehicles if you are in the market for a mid-sized, petrol SUV.

The Pathfinder and I really fell into a groove over my 1,000 km of driving it. I asked it to do stuff, and it did it without complaint. Before picking this car up, I didn’t really feel there was still a market for a V6 petrol-powered SUV, but the Pathfinder proved me wrong; I loved driving this SUV.

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Be

58

YEARS

between 24 Hours of Le Mans victories

FOR FERRARI

by Paul Marinelli

The epic 24 Hours of Le Mans race is one of the top three in world motorsport. Together with the Indy 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix, these events form the triumvirate of motor races that every racing driver and car manufacturer on the planet dream of winning.

YEARS

On 10 and 11 June 2023, the 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrated 100 years since the first race was run at the classic and super-fast La Sarthe circuit in France.

For the legendary Italian prancing horse team, Ferrari, their last 24 Hours of Le Mans victory was gained back in 1965, making it a long 58-year wait before Italian drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Alessandro Pier Guidi and Briton James Calado took their outstanding victory in this year’s epic race. This fairytale victory of Ferrari winning the world’s toughest motor race was also the Italian manufacturer’s first appearance since 1973 in the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

The scarlet-red team had everything thrown at them during the gruelling day, night and day race, including inclement weather, surviving a barrage of high-speed competitor accidents and even an electronics system episode that almost completely derailed their challenge. Emerging from the overnight stint, the race became a close battle between the Ferrari and the rival number 8 Toyota Hybrid Hypercar. A spin by Ryo Hirakawa caused front and rear damage to the Toyota, requiring a pit stop to fit new bodywork. This saw the Japanese Toyota factory driver rejoin the race, albeit a lap behind the Ferrari.

A bigger drama that had the whole nation of Italy biting their nails took place when Ferrari driver Pier Guidi found himself unable to restart the number 51 Hypercar after a routine refuel and tyre change pit stop, losing crucial seconds in the pits.

The team was joined by every Ferrari fan on the planet in a collective sigh of relief as Pier Guidi restarted the engine after about 30 seconds of resetting the electronic start sequence system. He had the honour of taking Ferrari to the 24H Le Mans chequered flag for the first time in almost six decades, crossing the 24-hour finish line one minute and 27 seconds ahead of Hirakawa, the ever-quick Kiwi Brendon Hartley, and fellow ex–Formula One driver Sebastien Buemi, from Switzerland.

This very special Ferrari victory saw Giovinazzi unable to control his emotions, with the former Formula One racer (and current Ferrari Formula One team Reserve Driver) becoming the first driver since Spanish superstar Fernando Alonso to win the 24H Le Mans race on his first attempt.

Legendary IndyCar and NASCAR team boss Chip Ganassi flew the American flag at 24H Le Mans with Cadillac Racing, clinching strong third- and fourth-place finishes with Alex Lynn, another Kiwi star, and former 24H Le Mans champion Earl Bamber and Richard Westbrook. They led the sister car of Renger van der Zande, French ace Sebastien Bourdais and yet another Kiwi star, Scott Dixon.

The Centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans saw three different car manufacturers take the major honours with Ferrari, Toyota and Cadillac on the podium. In another very successful 24H Le Mans effort for the Modena stable, the number 50 Ferrari 499P Hypercar, driven by Nicklas Nielsen, Antonio Fuoco and Miguel Molina, rounded out the overall top five.

This incredibly demanding endurance race saw many accidents during the first two hours and throughout the event, with a number of sad stories of teams dropping out due to failures or accidents while leading or running strongly in this classic World Endurance Championship race.

One of the biggest names in the field, Porsche Penske Motorsport, had a difficult race. The squad led the race but went on to suffer from a series of misfortunes, including a retirement for the number 75 Porsche 963 with a fuel pressure problem. The number 6 Porsche 963 crashed at the fittingly named Porsche Curves, with Frenchman Kevin Estre at the wheel, then suffered further time loss due to a battery problem. The team’s number 5 car was in contention for a top-five finish until a broken driveshaft in the race’s closing hour dropped the car to ninth.

Local hero car manufacturer Peugeot was an early race leader with their number 94 car but dropped out of podium contention when American racer Gustavo Menezes crashed in the middle of the night at the first Mulsanne chicane.

With qualifying and race speeds exceeding 340 kmh, the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains one of the world’s most incredible tests of man, team and machine, and the centenary edition in 2023 was no exception.

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