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Mustang EcoBoost owners rejoice; you get more power!

12 October, 2016

It must be hard being the younger brother to a stonking great big five-litre V8 engine that needs no forced induction to make its brutal power and torque. This is the life of an EcoBoost owner — but not for long, as Ford has announced a performance package for the four-cylinder turbo EcoBoost engine. 

After driving both the V8 model and the turbocharged model, we all agreed that the EcoBoost was great, but it wasn’t the V8, and it certainly didn’t make the same sort of power. The noise that the V8 makes at full noise is intoxicating, whereas the EcoBoost sounds like a modified vacuum cleaner. 

Nonetheless, Ford could sway us with a bit more power, and that’s now an option. With an engine calibration (re-flash perhaps?) and a cold-air intake, the EcoBoost will produce an extra 19kW and 94Nm of torque than the base model. That’s a lot more torque, and, with the cold-air intake, a lot more noise — although we’re not sure the wssssshy noise that it’ll make is a good thing. Peak power will be 250kW and peak torque will be up to a whopping 529Nm — that’s huge! 

With Ford in America releasing a price of $699 for this package, it’ll no doubt be around the $1000 mark here in New Zealand. The package will retain the factory Ford warranty if installed by a Ford Performance authorized dealer. 

Still, cool boost noises aside, the V8 still gets our vote. Which would you choose? Let us know in the comments below. 

Fraser Cars – low flying into the fourth decade

10 July, 2026

With almost three and a half decades under its belt, Fraser Cars is one of New Zealand’s longest-surviving car manufacturers. The company first opened its doors for business in 1988, during the boom time for kit manufacturers. During the ’80s, around 40 different companies were building kits and turnkey cars for this niche market. Of those, only Fraser and Almac Cars (established 1981) are still in business today.
Most of the new kit car companies were killed off in the cradle by the threat of new legislation that never eventuated and definitively by the sudden availability of high-performance Japanese cars when the floodgates to second-hand imports were opened. The now long-retired founder of the company, Neil Fraser, first came across Lotus Seven replicas while racing Lotus Cortinas in the early ’80s. He regularly found himself racing against a little Caterham, a Lotus Seven–styled car built in England. He was very impressed by its simplicity and handling. In 1986 Fraser built his own Lotus Seven–type car, using the knowledge he had gained from several close looks at the Caterham.

2027 Star Insure Calendar Competition Terms and Conditions

2 July, 2026

2027 Star Insure Calendar Competition
We’ve partnered up with Star Insure in search for 13 outstanding classic cars to feature across the 2027 Star Insure Calendar and the December issue of NZ Classic Car Magazine. One standout entry wins the ultimate honour: cover placement on both the calendar and the magazine, with the remaining 12 featured across the monthly pages.
Email your photo to [email protected] and include your full name, postal address, phone number and vehicle details (year, make and model). Entries close Friday, 31 July 2026. *T’s & C’s apply.
Read more to find out the full details >>