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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. 

Luxury by design

15 January, 2026

How do you define luxury? To some it is being blinded with all manner of technological wizardry, from massaging heated seats to being able to activate everything with your voice, be it the driver’s side window or the next track on Spotify. To others, the most exorbitant price tag will dictate how luxurious a car is.
For me, true automotive luxury comes from being transported in unparalleled comfort, refinement, and smoothness of power under complete control. Forget millions of technological toys; if one can be transported here and there without the sensation of moving at all, that is luxury — something that is perfectly encapsulated by the original Lexus LS400. It was the first truly global luxury car from Toyota, and one that made the big luxury brands take notice.

NZ Classic Car magazine, January/February 2026 issue 403, on sale now

15 December, 2025

Morris’ ground-breaking, world-beating, Minor
It was Britain’s biggest small car, and it got Britain mobile again.       Morris Motors celebrated its millionth Minor in December 1960, a car that defined the British motor industry, and was in production for 10 years alongside the iconic Mini of 1959.
Whakatane dentist John Twaddle has a passion for Morris Minors going back to 1982, and he still has his first example. There are now three ‘Morries’ in his garage. One, however, is quite special, a rare ‘Minor-Million’. 
One of just 350 made commemorating the millionth Morris Minor produced, the first British car to hit a million units, the well-rounded little Brit’ would end production in 1971with a tally of over 1.6 million units.
John finished his Minor Million six years ago, resplendent in lilac, its official factory colour. He calls it his ‘Minor Resurrection’, and it has won numerous awards.
This summer edition also comes with our annual FREE classic car calendar, a must for every garage wall.
Every issue comes with our FREE huge wall poster; this issue, our poster is of a couple of garage mates, a 1957 Ford Ranchero and a 1968 Lincoln Continental.