CAR CULTURE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 02 | 2013

Winning Formula

High achieversHonda’s Jazz and Insight Hybrids

It’s a weird worldVisit New Zealand’s stranger places

Falling in love with the CR-Z

Cover The shark fin antenna on a Honda CR-Z.

Eclipse magazine is published by NZ Contract Publishing Ltd for Honda New Zealand Ltd. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced in any form without written permission. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Honda NZ or NZ Contract Publishing. Designed and printed: Image Centre Group. All address changes to: Hondacare, Honda NZ Ltd, PO Box 97340, Manukau City, Auckland 2241, FREEPHONE 0800 246 632, email hondacare@honda.co.nz All enquiries to: Marketing Department, Honda NZ Ltd, FREEPHONE 0800 246 632, email marketing@honda.co.nz All journalistic enquiries to: Aana Marinovich, NZ Contract Publishing Ltd, phone 09 412 9685, email aana@xtra.co.nz. More information on all things Honda can be found on the website www.honda.co.nz

Eclipse magazine is printed on paper that contains wood fibre from a well-managed, sustainable forest. The paper is manufactured using an Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) process within an environmental management system, ISO 14001. This publication is printed using vegetable oil-based inks.

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Features

04 DRIVEThe hybrid vehicle revolution has just stepped up a level thanks to the success of Honda’s Insight and Jazz models.

08 ROAMIt’s a weird world … buckle up and go see some unique and unusual Kiwi stopovers.

12 WORLDBack on the grid … Honda is returning to the exhilarating world of Formula 1 after a seven-year absence.

15 FUELCelebrity chef Ruth Pretty suggests ways to fill that little space left after dinner’s main course.

18 IN bUSINESSFootball or wine, it doesn’t matter … a Honda fleet suits very diverse business images.

20 TESTDriving’s in the blood of Phil Kerr, a veteran of the global motor racing scene, but Honda is in his heart.

24 CLIpSTwo true Honda fans and new plants spring up.

25 QUIZHow well do you know Honda? It’s time to take the ultimate Honda test.

26 NOSTALGIAIn 1991 New Zealand got 10 metres shorter, our cash got decidedly heavier and a racy little Honda was seen on our roads.

Back in March I put myself into a black CR-Z, Honda’s sporty hybrid. What a fun car to drive. It’s a two-seater, of course, so not so good for the family, but this is a driver’s car and you can have a ton of fun in it without using a lot of fuel.

Many years ago, when there didn’t seem to be the emphasis on speed limits and demerit points – and maybe because I was younger – every longer trip seemed like a sporting event with a focus on the shortest possible transit time. Seemingly it was a race to beat everyone else on the road. Now, for lots of very good reasons, motoring is not like that. But that’s not to say that a lot of fun can’t be had from a car and how it drives.

That’s certainly the case with the CR-Z. It’s low, wide and very, very agile. I get this certain smile every day after I’ve eased myself in. It suggests to me that I could re-enter that sporting event on every drive. Each day it says to me, “If only you would let me go, we could just …” And I do, but within reason.

Like all of our new vehicles, the CR-Z acknowledges you for driving economically. In the CR-Z’s case it rewards the driver with tree symbols. I’m almost embarrassed to say that here I am, 8000km later, and nearly at the top scale on the economy reward system. Maybe I should have been having even more fun.

How is it that I’m in a sports car but getting this kind of result? My excuse is that I must have been lulled by the smoothness of the car’s drive. Actually, I should say I have no excuse.

Spring is almost with us so I’ve resolved that I’ll be pushing that “Sport” button more often. I need to because this level of fun surely can’t last forever and I can’t stay in this car

forever. I have a boat to tow and a two-seater sports car just doesn’t do it.

Another car that is delivering fun is our new Jazz Hybrid which has surprised us with its runaway sales success. We apologise to those customers who have waited so long for delivery of their Jazz but those of you who have yours already will know it’s the zippiest, smoothest, quietest and roomiest mini vehicle there is, end of story. It’s a car with attitude in all sorts of new ways. The best Jazz yet – and it costs 30% less to run.

New car sales are increasing and Honda’s figures are up again on last year after an increase of 15% on the year before. Honda quality, fun, function with new levels of safety technology and a reviving economy are driving these trends.

It’s been an unusually good winter for most, but spring and summer are more conducive to road trips and picnics and that means more time in the car. We wish you safe and happy motoring.

Graeme Seymour MANAgINg DIRECToR HoNDA NEW ZEALAND

The fun never stopsTake a sporTy lITTle Honda Cr-z HybrId, mIx IT wITH any sTreTCH of road … and enjoy!

IT’S A CAR wITH ATTITuDE IN ALL SORTS OF NEw wAyS. THE BEST JAZZ yET – AND IT COSTS 30% LESS TO RuN.

Two big news flashes came out of Honda HQ in the past 12 months which indicate that the company’s development of hybrid technologies and commitment to the environment are bearing fruit.

In october 2012 worldwide sales of Honda hybrid vehicles surpassed one million units. In March 2013 Honda announced that it had established a revolutionary new process to re-use rare earth metals extracted from nickel-metal hydride batteries to use in its hybrid vehicles.

It all bodes well for the future. Honda has continually been enhancing its hybrid range and now sells eight models in about 50 countries. The company invests more in research and development per vehicle than any other manufacturer.

With great strides being made in hybrid technology seemingly every year, when it comes to responsible motoring and doing your bit for the environment, there’s never been a better time to invest in a hybrid car.

The Honda Insight and Honda Jazz fit the bill perfectly. Both are available as hybrids with their own unique style and characteristics, but both are unmistakably Honda – good looking, environmentally sound and fun and economic to drive.

Rolled out on to Japanese roads in November 1999, the Insight was

Hybrid hottiesTHE HyBRID VEHICLE REVOLuTION HAS JuST STEPPED uP A LEVEL THANKS TO THE SuCCESS OF HONDA’S INSIGHT AND JAZZ MODELS.

Honda’s first hybrid model and it has always been in a class of its own.

The Insight got a sharper look in 2012, with a new illuminate grille and redesigned front bumper. There were impressive upgrades to the engine and transmission, aerodynamics and tyres, and a power-saving electric fuel pump to improve economy by a huge 6.5%.

The class-leading cargo space, plush interior, low tailgate, easy-lift hatch and 5 Star Euro NCAP safety rating are all still there, making the Insight the market leader.

It also has its fair share of celebrity fans.

“It was an easy decision for me to choose an Insight because when I took it for a test run, the spaciousness was the first thing I noticed,” says Jared Turner, the New Zealand television star of Go Girls and The Almighty Johnsons and presenter of New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s Energywise The Energy Spot.

“It makes economic sense for me to have a hybrid vehicle. It’s amazing how much money I save in petrol in a week. I have a young family, so when I’m not doing the school run, I’m coming into the city quite often for auditions, filming in the studio or out on location.

“IT MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE

FOR ME TO HAVE A HyBRID VEHICLE. IT’S AMAZING HOw MuCH MONEy I SAVE IN PETROL IN A wEEK.

I HAVE A yOuNG FAMILy.” JARED TuRNER - ACTOR

HoNDA INSIGHT& JAZZ HYBrIDS• ECONbutton• Greenthinking• Fuel-efficient• Responsible• Sustainable• Lowemissions• Alternativeenergy• Noisereduction• Clean• CO2reduction

Continued on page 7

wORDS BeN WHITTAker-Cook

5Hybrids Drivewww.honda.co.nz

The Honda Insight and Jazz Hybrids have class-leading cargo space and seem to swallow luggage, golf clubs ... even small trees.

Testing the Insight HybridA one-hour trip from Auckland’s North Shore to orewa and back on a very wet August morning tested our driver’s capabilities more than the very accomplished Insight.

The first surprise when test-driving an Insight Hybrid comes when you buckle up and turn on the engine. It’s so quiet I had to double-check that the car had actually started.

We all know Honda’s most efficient hybrid vehicle drives well, but its impressive handling and smooth acceleration made the journey simple and painless.

Manoeuvring efficiently through Auckland’s legendary stop-start commuter traffic was hassle free and, once on the Northern Motorway, passing was slick and comfortable thanks to the Insight’s CVT automatic transmission. Driving with the ECoN button activated seemed to give the Insight more power – not bad when it also helps with fuel economy.

Inside the car is roomy and elegantly finished. The reversing camera is great fun to use when parking in a tight spot and the multimedia options, particularly the navigation, are clear and easy to operate.

Testing the Jazz HybridThere’s no doubting the Jazz Hybrid’s big-city credentials – coping exceptionally well in crowded areas thanks to its slick handling and compact size – but out of town it performs just as well.

Following the Insight’s motorway route, the Jazz Hybrid felt satisfyingly “grippy” on the tighter corners. It was rewardingly easy and fun to drive, with Honda’s legendary i-VTEC engine packing plenty of punch when needed.

The Jazz Hybrid’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) was especially useful when a bit of rapid acceleration was needed. At this level the throttle opens and engine and electric motor combine to provide powerful acceleration while limiting fuel consumption.

Inside it’s very spacious – two children and two sets of golf clubs were no problem. Most satisfying of all, at journey’s end the car’s fuel needle hadn’t left the “full” mark after a whole hour of driving.

“I’ve had my Insight for three years and it’s never let me down. I also love its green appeal and that’s something that sits nicely with me,” Jared adds.

The Jazz Hybrid is as breezy to drive and as easy on the eye as it has always been. It’s economical, boasts a world-class safety record and, thanks to Honda’s “Magic Seat” technology, is incredibly roomy.

Two very different cars in look and appeal, but both the Insight and Jazz share Honda’s unrivalled hybrid technology. Both models have an i-VTEC IMA engine which gives more power, better fuel efficiency and few emissions. It works by controlling the timing and lifting of the camshafts, depending on engine speeds.

The valves open less at low engine speeds to achieve maximum fuel efficiency, and more at higher engine speeds to achieve higher performance.

So what does this mean for a hybrid? From a standing start the electric motor delivers maximum torque from zero revs per minute to give the engine a helping hand.

As the car enters a low-speed cruising mode, the electric motor alone powers the vehicle, so petrol consumption is zero, contributing to excellent fuel efficiency.

As the car speeds up, it runs on engine power alone and the electric motor is deactivated, saving electric power. During faster speeds, the motor and engine work in unison to produce powerful acceleration while limiting fuel consumption.

If that wasn’t enough, both the Insight and the Jazz come with the ECoN Fuel Saver System, which achieves better fuel economy in a number of ways, such as modifying engine control, producing more efficient gear changes and adopting cruise control.

Driving is believing and Honda’s hybrid vehicles are at the top of their game. For information and to book a test drive, visit honda.co.nz/contact-us/book-a-test-drive/.

jazz HybrId speCIfICaTIons• i-VTECengine

• SwitchableECONFuelSaverSystem

• Drive-by-wireelectronicthrottlecontrol

• CVTautomatictransmissionwithGearLogicControl

• Maximumpower72kW@5800rpm

• 15-inchalloywheels

• ElectronicStabilityControl

InsIgHT HybrId speCIfICaTIons• i-VTECengine

• Economy-enhancedtechnology

• VariableCylinderManagementforoptimisingpowerandefficiency

• IntegratedMotorAssist

• CVTautomatictransmissionwithGearLogicControl

• Maximumpower72kW@5800rpm

• 16-inchalloywheels

• Steeringwheel-mountedshiftpaddles

• ElectronicStabilityControl

• Touchpanelmultimediasystem

• NavigationreversingcameraContinued from page 5

7Hybrids Drivewww.honda.co.nz

Let the fun begin ... (clockwise from left) zorbing in Rotorua; a Spookers zombie and the old psychiatric institution; a shipwreck on the Kaipara Harbour; and the Lost gypsy gallery housebus and some of its extensive gizmo collection.

See New ZealaNd before you See the world, SomeoNe oNce Said. See theSe uNique Kiwi StopoverS aNd you’ll certaiNly See a very uNuSual world.wORDSSHAroN STepHeNSoN

Walk through the icing-sugar sand of the inaccurately named beach (it actually runs for 55 miles, or 88km) and search for these ancient bones. Experts suggest the best pickings can be found after a storm or heavy rain, when the sand cover will have been washed away. And if you’re not sure if the bone once belonged to a moa, or is something less interesting, then most museums are usually willing to help verify it for you.

BESpOOkEDThink being chased by a chainsaw-wielding maniac or mauled by a zombie sounds like fun? Then go to Spookers, New Zealand’s only haunted theme park. Housed, appropriately, in an old psychiatric institution in Karaka, south of Auckland, Spookers features room after room of terrifying people jumping out at you. If you survive that, you get to run through a haunted maze while being chased by a lunatic with a chainsaw.

www.spookers.co.nz

VISITThELOSTGypSyMuSEuMShould you find yourself in Papatowai down south in the Catlins, then you mustn’t go past the Lost gypsy Museum. Think housebus-cum-museum-cum-gallery filled with mechanical gizmos,

So you’ve bungy-jumped off Auckland’s Sky Tower, ridden Wellington’s cable car and screamed yourself hoarse on the Shotover Jet. Hopefully, you’ve had a fantastic holiday and have the photos to prove it.

And while we love these attractions as much as the next tourist, New Zealand is full of other equally impressive things to see and do. From rolling down a hill in a plastic ball to visiting a leaning tower and roaming around a medieval castle, there’s no shortage of unique, quirky things to get stuck into.

Because, after all, one day when you’re sharing your photos and memories with your grandchildren, chances are the less-mainstream adventures are the ones they – and you – will get the greatest kick out of.

We’ve rounded up some of the more unusual things to see and do in this green and pleasant land of ours. get ready to enjoy yourself ...

huNTMOABONESHundreds of years ago, these flightless, ostrich-like birds roamed New Zealand. At Northland’s 90 Mile Beach, on the bit poking its toe into the Pacific ocean, you can search for their bones.

weirdworldIt’s a

gadgets, discarded junk and jumble, scrap metal, old bottles, bottletops, shells and every imaginable bit of recycled material. As you’d imagine, it’s fully interactive with plenty to push, turn, twist, wind and play with. A giant mechanical whale that swims when you crank its handle competes with a sunglass-wearing skeleton which rides an old bike and an elaborately fashioned waterwheel that gurgles when a mug of water is poured over it. The museum should come with a warning that there are so many things to see, you’ll find yourself suffering from sensory overload.

open from November to May. Phone (03) 415 8908.

LOOkFORSpANIShGALLEONS

It’s a controversial topic, but some people believe Spanish and Portuguese whalers and fur sealers ventured into New Zealand waters before Abel Tasman. A key argument in the believers’ defence is that a 15th century Portuguese or Spanish galleon lies in the sandy mouth of the Kaipara Harbour. If such a wreck is proved to be authentic, then this may change New Zealand’s history as we know it. get your wetsuit on and go find out for yourself.

9Roamwww.honda.co.nz Weird

Spelling test ... the sign for the longest place name in the world near Waipukurau.

Stop and see ... (clockwise from left) the Aramoana Mole stretches out to sea; riding high at The Waterworks in Coromandel Town; the Castle Pamela at Tirau; the married quarters built in 1872 and the last remaining two-storey wooden quarantine building in New Zealand on Quarantine Island in otago Harbour; kiwiana in otorohanga; and liquid fun at The Waterworks.

Seeing is believing ... (above) Stonehenge Aotearoa in the Wairarapa; and (centre)

Roman toilets and (top) the leaning clock tower at Puzzling World in Wanaka.

VISITThELEANINGTOWEROFWANAkAThe tower, which is part of Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World, leans at a dizzying angle of 53° to the ground and contains a backwards clock that was started on the eve of the millennium. There’s other fun stuff, too, including the world’s first 3D maze and five rooms of optical illusions, including a hologram hall and Armed Forces Perspective Room that uses the same technology as that employed in Lord Of The Rings to create the illusion of tall and short people.

www.puzzlingworld.co.nz

GETzORBEDLet gravity mess with your head – and your lungs – as you hurtle downhill in a giant plastic ball filled with water. on paper it sounds silly, but zorbing is strangely addictive. Rotorua has never been so much fun.

www.zorb.com

STAREATSOMESTONESYou don’t need to squash into a flying tin can for 28 hours to be able to see a bunch of over-sized stones that people have gazed at in awe for millennia. That’s because a full-scale working adaptation of Stonehenge has been built just outside Carterton in the Wairarapa. Stonehenge Aotearoa is a window to the past where visitors can rediscover the knowledge of their ancestors. It incorporates ancient Egyptian, Babylonian and Indus Valley astronomy, Polynesian navigation and Celtic and Maori starlore.

www.astronomy.org.nz

VISITACASTLEonce again, the world comes to us at Tirau (no need to wander around draughty European castles). The Castle Pamela combines the traditional atmosphere of a castle, complete with moat, with New Zealand’s largest doll, toy and train collection. It just shows what decades of collecting and a bit of imagination can produce.

ARAMOANAREVISITEDAramoana, a sleepy village at the entrance to otago Harbour, is all beautiful beaches and classic Kiwi cribs. Walk the Mole, a long breakwater stretching out into the harbour entrance. It’s exciting when the seas are big and a great spot to watch albatrosses swooping on to Taiaroa Heads on the other side the harbour. Look out for seals, sea lions and penguins, too. The place is so peaceful it’s hard to accept that it’s where the 1990 shooting of 13 locals occurred.

hOWDOyOuSpELLThAT?Have a Kodak moment near Waipukurau in southern Hawke’s Bay, at the sign for the longest place name in the world. Meaning the “summit of a mountain”, this seemingly random collection of letters actually features in the guinness World Records as the longest place name still in use in the world.

VISITQuARANTINEISLAND/kAMAuTAuRAuThe largest island in otago Harbour is also one of its most interesting. Covering 15 hectares, the island served as a quarantine station from 1863 to 1924 when passengers arriving in otago Harbour with infectious diseases were

sent to the island until they got better or died. The major buildings are listed with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the island is jointly managed by the St Martin Island Community and the Department of Conservation.

www.theisland.org.nz

FINDOuTWhATMAkESkIWISTICkIt doesn’t get more Kiwi than otorohanga, deep in the King Country, which lays claim to being the Kiwiana HQ of New Zealand. The displays in the Sir Edmund Hillary Walkway feature everything from Buzzy Bees, Marmite, Pavlova and Weetbix to No.8 wire, kiwi, sheep and farm dogs. There are Kiwiana murals and sculptures and even the toilets celebrate what it means to be a Kiwi.

To complete your Kiwiana experience, check out the world-

famous otorohanga Kiwi House and Native Bird Park where you can eyeball real kiwi, as well as a selection of native birds and reptiles.

DOAMAzINGThINGSWIThWATERThere’s something like 1,260,000,000,000,000,000,000 litres of water on earth and at The Waterworks in Coromandel town, they’ve taken some of it and turned it into liquid fun.

There are more than 60 attractions and things to do, including a water-powered wooden clock, water cannons to blast away on and bikes that pump H2o. Don’t leave without checking out the human-sized hamster wheel. And if you haven’t reached water overload, take a dip in the natural swimming hole. Pack your togs and have a unique and fun Kiwi adventure.

www.thewaterworks.co.nz

11Roamwww.honda.co.nz Weird

Back on the gridhoNda iS returNiNg to the exhilaratiNg world

of formula 1 after a SeveN-year abSeNce.

NEw F1 ENGINESFormula 1’s new engine regulations come into play in 2014. Honda engines will make their debut at the beginning of the 2015 season.

ENGINE1.6-litre V6 with single turbo. Revs up to 15,000rpm

TuRBOunlimited size, revs up to 125,000rpm

FuEL Limited to 100kg (140 litres) per race; 30% increase in fuel efficiency

THERMAL EFFICIENCyTarget of 40%

ERS SySTEM161bhp for 33.3 seconds every lap

WORDSBen Whittaker-Cook

13Newswww.honda.co.nz Formula 1

Violet Crumble

It’s an announcement that has the paddock buzzing – Honda will be back on the Formula 1 starting grid for the 2015 season.

In a joint project with McLaren Racing, it’s a move that revives the glory days of the late 1980s and early 1990s when Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost swept all before them.

“It’s good for Honda but I think also good for the image of F1,” says Prost, a four-time world champion. “We have new and very complex technology coming next year and manufacturers want to be involved in F1 again because of that, which is great for F1 in general.”

Honda will be in charge of the development, manufacture and supply of the McLaren power unit, including the engine and energy recovery system.

A keener emphasis by the FIA to make Formula 1 more affordable, sustainable and greener are at the heart of the new engine rule changes announced for the 2014 season. This desire mirrors Honda’s philosophies on motoring in general.

At the heart of the 2014 revolution is a requirement to get more efficiency and power while using less fuel – virtues Honda has been extolling for decades.

It’s a mission statement not lost on 2009 world champion Jenson Button who, with teammate Rubens Barrichello, was one of the last drivers to compete in Formula 1 for Honda – in the Honda Racing F1 Team in 2008.

Button says: “I think it’s very good for the team and for McLaren’s future, but I think it’s also good for the sport. It means we’ll have four engines in Formula One and I think it will pave the way for even more carmakers to come in.”

The 2014 engines will extract energy from an electric turbo and a heat connector, which puts more energy at the rear axle and aligns Formula 1 more with the innovations being made in road cars. The teams that can walk the tightrope between high performance and efficient fuel energy consumption will do well, and the new engine regulations will benefit manufacturers who place importance on technology and innovation – aspects Honda prides itself on.

New 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engines will be introduced, with 2014 cars requiring around 50kg less fuel than this year to complete a race distance. There’s also a fuel limit per race,

which will require a 30% increase in fuel efficiency.

The changes will also help create more exciting racing because cars will need to balance faster speeds with harder-working technologies. With Honda already preparing for its arrival in 2015, this will be one of the most intriguing periods in Formula 1 history.

The changes are also central to Honda’s decision to rejoin the starting grid.

“The new F1 regulations with their significant environmental focus will inspire even greater development of our own advanced technologies,” says Honda President Takanobu Ito.

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh adds: “Together we created some of the greatest, most iconic Formula 1

moments of all time which are still being talked about today

around the world.”

Iconic moments indeed. Senna and Prost produced one of the sport’s great rivalries (see sidebar) and Honda’s legendary 2007

“Earth Car” flew in the face of motorsport convention.

Its livery was stripped of sponsor logos in favour of a satellite

picture of the planet to highlight environmental concerns – unheard of in motorsport circles.

Honda made its Formula 1 debut at the German Grand Prix in 1964, with

American speedster Ronnie Bucknum having the honour of first drive. Compatriot Richie Ginther claimed Honda’s first win – leading from start to finish in the 1965 Mexico GP.

Honda left Formula 1 at the end of the 2008 season and its return is a real shot in the arm for the sport.

“Honda without F1, and F1 without Honda – they’re not the same,” says Barrichello, who was the last person to make it on to the podium in a Honda F1 car, at the 2008 British Grand Prix.

The opportunity to develop new powertrain technologies within the glamorous and spectacular world of Formula 1 was central to Honda’s decision to participate in 2015.

As a new generation of Honda engineers and motorsport fans embrace the challenges and thrills of operating at the pinnacle of motorsport, two things are certain: the McLaren Honda will be right up there at the front of the grid battling for points and podiums and, somewhere, the late Ayrton Senna will be nodding in approval.

RecoRd bReakeRsHonda’s golden period in

Formula 1 included six straight years of constructors’ titles from 1986 to 1991. With Honda, McLaren won 44 GPs between 1988 and 1992, yet it is

McLaren Honda’s invincible 1988 season

that forever altered the history books.

The team won 15 out of 16 races that season and the legendary Honda V6 turbo engine helped propel ayrton senna to his first Formula 1 world title. senna won eight races to teammate alain Prost’s seven and McLaren Honda racked up an astonishing 199 points in a one-sided constructors’ championship.

The duo swapped places in 1989 as the McLaren Honda romped away with another constructors’ title, while senna and Prost cemented one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries, albeit under the same famous red-and-white livery.

treatsSweetRuTH PRETTy’S COOkING SCHOOLPHoToGRaPHy STEPHEN A’COURT

Fill that last little gap aFter your main course with one oF these delicious desserts.

15FuelWinter Warmerswww.honda.co.nz

Lavender Truffles

Sprinkle the second third of filling on to pastry. Repeat the process using another four sheets of filo and the remaining filling.

Place the remaining 10 filo pastry sheet squares on top of filling, brushing butter on every second layer, including top.

Trim any excess pastry from the sides of the tin so the pastry is level and neat. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to two hours.

Preheat oven to 180°C.

Remove chocolate baklava from refrigerator and, leaving it in the baking dish, cut it into nine even-sized squares, then cut each square into two triangles, then cut each triangle in half again to make 36 petit four-sized pieces. Brush top layer with a second layer of melted butter.

Place into oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden.

Remove chocolate baklava from oven and pour cooled syrup evenly over the top (some will run into the cuts but do not deliberately pour into the cuts). Allow chocolate baklava to stand and absorb the syrup for at least two hours before serving.

Store covered at room temperature for up to four days, or freeze for up to three months.

ORANGESyRup(enough for 1 x 23cm baklava)

INGREDIENTS

150g (¾ cup) sugar90ml (6 tbsp) orange juice200ml (¾ cup plus 1 tbsp) waterfinely grated zest of 1 orange60g (4 tbsp) light-flavoured honey such as Tawari

METHODInto a small saucepan set over medium heat place sugar, water, honey, orange juice and zest. Stir until sugar is dissolved.

Bring to boil, turn the heat down and simmer very gently for five minutes or until syrupy.

Remove from heat. Cool. (use cold syrup on hot baklava or hot syrup on cold baklava.)

LAVENDERTRuFFLES(makes 40)

Dried culinary lavender is available at specialty food stores and health food stores. English varieties of lavender are suitable for culinary purposes as they are less “soapy”-tasting than French varieties and this truffle is very delicately flavoured with lavender. use white chocolate in this recipe as opposed to white chocolate melts.

INGREDIENTS

125ml (½ cup) cream¼ tsp dried culinary lavender175g white chocolate tablet (finely chopped)175g milk chocolate tablet (finely chopped)125g unsalted butter (cubed and room temperature)150g white chocolate tablet (melted)extra dried lavender or silver cachous

METHOD

Pour cream into a medium-sized pot, set over a medium heat, add lavender and stir. Bring cream and lavender to the boil. Remove from heat and leave to sit for 10 minutes for lavender to infuse. Strain and discard lavender.

Return cream to the same pot and bring just to the boil. Remove from heat and let sit for a few minutes. Add white chocolate and milk chocolate and stir till melted and smooth. This makes a ganache. Cool.

Place butter into a bowl and beat till pale yellow and fluffy. Add ganache and fold together.

Leave mixture till it slightly sets on the surface.

Carefully fold the mixture together again. Place in refrigerator for one hour or till mixture has hardened.

Roll into small, walnut-sized balls. (If you wish, make them to fit into pretty truffle cases and make them so they fit well – not too big, not too small.) Place on a foil-lined tray and then put in refrigerator for 30 minutes or until firm.

Dip in melted chocolate. Place back on to foil-lined tray and decorate with a tiny piece of dried lavender or a silver cachou. Return to refrigerator for 30 minutes or until chocolate firms up.

Pack into a lidded container layering truffles with greaseproof paper. Store in a cool pantry for up to three days or in refrigerator for up to one week.

you’ve finished your main dinner course and fancy that little something more. who doesn’t love a scrumptious sweet dessert to complete a meal? As the saying goes, “you can never be too full for dessert as there is always the little gap for something sweet”. So here are recipes for three dessert treats to be enjoyed after dinner. Bon appetit.

VIOLETCRuMBLE(makes about 25 pieces)

Arrange in a muddled fashion in a pretty bowl. For gifts, wrap pieces in soft foil wrapping papers.

INGREDIENTS

105g (½ cup) castor sugar12g (1 tbsp) honey13g (1 tbsp) golden syrup5g (1½ tsp) baking powder200g-250g dark (70%) chocolate tablet (chopped and melted)

METHOD

using baking spray or oil, lightly grease a small sponge roll tin.

Into a medium-sized saucepan set over medium heat place sugar, honey and golden syrup.

Stir constantly until mixture begins to bubble around the edges and sugar is melted.

Reduce heat to a simmer and stir constantly for 3-4 minutes or until mixture looks creamy.

Add baking powder and quickly stir to combine.

Remove from heat and, working quickly, transfer mixture to prepared tin. using a metal spatula spread to an even thickness. This will fill only one-third of the tin.

Leave at room temperature to cool.

Line a tray with foil.

Break into about 25 serving-size pieces and dip into dark chocolate. Set aside on prepared trays to set. Store at room temperature.

If you wish to keep for more than 24 hours, place table salt in base of an airtight storage container, cover well with baking paper and place violet crumble on top. Top with more baking paper and close lid.

ChOCOLATEBAkLAVA(makes 36 petit four-sized pieces)

Serve small pieces late afternoon or after dinner with a sticky sweet Muscat and coffee if you wish. I like Muscat to be served chilled.

INGREDIENTS

85g (¾ cup) unsalted pistachios110g (¾ cup) blanched almonds185g (70%) dark chocolate (finely chopped)150g dried figs (finely chopped)1½ tsp ground cinnamon¾ tsp ground clovesfinely grated zest of 1 orange28 filo pastry sheets (thawed) 100g unsalted butter (melted)Orange syrup

METHOD

using additional butter, lightly grease base and sides of a 23cm square baking dish or cake tin.

To make filling: place pistachios and almonds into a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until chopped, medium to fine in texture. Place into a bowl and add chocolate, figs, cinnamon, cloves and orange zest. Mix together. Divide mixture into three.

Place filo pastry sheets in a stack on a chopping board. Cut the stack so the width equals 23cm. Leave the length as it is. Cover pastry with a lightly damp cloth (muslin is great for this) to prevent drying out while you work.

On to a flat surface place one filo pastry sheet and brush with butter. Repeat the process until there are 10 buttered sheets in a stack. Lift pastry sheets and place evenly into baking dish, covering the base, with the excess coming up two of the sides.

Sprinkle one-third of filling evenly over the top surface of the pastry.

Cut remaining stack of filo pastry sheets to equal 23cm squares.

Place two squares of filo pastry on to board and brush top sheet with butter. Place another two squares on top and again brush top sheet with butter.

Chocolate Baklava

www.honda.co.nz 17FuelSpring

Product tasting … Mandy Allen (right) with daughter Sarah and son John.

When Football South and Turanga Creek Vineyard wanted to update their corporate image, they looked to the most visible part of their business: their fleet of cars.

“We chose Honda Civic Euros because they’re really sporty and functional,” says Football South general manager Bill Chisholm. “The cars fit well with our image and we’ve put the Football South logo on them for more impact. People comment about how good the Hondas look.”

Football South is one of NZ Football’s federations looking after a large geographical area, so the cars’ ability to cover long distances with reliability, safety and economy was an important consideration.

Positive impactwORDS DANIELLEWRIGhT

football or wiNe, it doeSN’t matter … a hoNda fleet SuitS maNy differeNt buSiNeSS imageS.

“our relationship with Southern Honda has lasted for more than 10 years,” says Bill. “We know we’ll get really good service. We really appreciate the service Southern Honda gives. That’s as important as anything. The decision was a no-brainer really.”

Football South’s development officers transport gear around the lower South Island. They like the versatility of the Civic Euros and the balance between the cars having enough room for all the gear and being very fuel efficient.

“We’ve had the cars since April and it’s hard to compare the Honda to other brands in terms of capability and balance,” says Bill.

Football South went for a white fleet and then had its blue, maroon and silver logo put on the cars, providing an impressive sight as staff drive to sporting venues.

“We’re a passionate bunch in the south,” says Bill. “We like to think football gives people light relief from the daily grind. As gM, I’m not really allowed to have a local team, but I know my team when it comes to cars.”

Turanga Creek VineyardLocatedinWhitford,TurangaCreekisafullycertifiedorganicvineyard,thefirstofitskindintheAucklandwineregion.MandyandWayneAllenmovedtotheareawiththeirthreechildrenandwerekeentorecreatethelookandfeelofBordeauxattheirvineyard.Theychosewineastheircropbecausetheylovetodrinkit.

football southFootballSouthlooksafter93clubsandalmost9000playersinSouthCanterbury,OtagoandSouthland,aswellasmanythousandsofcoaches,referees,administratorsandsupporters.Itoverseesteamsfromfour-year-oldsrightuptoMasters.ThegrowthareaforNzFootballisfemaleplayersandcoaches,whoFootballSouthislookingtoattracttothesport.

For Mandy and Wayne Allen, owners of organic winery Turanga Creek Vineyard, the eco philosophy of Honda had a big appeal in their purchase decision.

“We’re trying to keep on the organic trail with our business so the Honda Insight Hybrid fits our image really well,” says Mandy. “The Honda brand means reliable and economical. Hondas are pretty well-known for being solid cars. Plus, they look really great.”

After their first Honda purchase 18 months ago, the Allens have since taken up lease deals on a Jazz and a Civic, which Mandy drives.

“My favourite is the Civic,” she says. “It has a really nice shape and I like how it drives. I like that it looks like a two-door, but isn’t. There’s plenty of room.”

Turanga was the original name for the outer Auckland area of Whitford. It had to be changed because mail kept ending up in Tauranga, which is where Wayne grew up. Mandy and Wayne particularly like Whitford’s village atmosphere and the rural life it offers near the big city.

Their 24-hectare property was originally a run-down horse stud until six years ago when the couple embarked on a full-scale redevelopment, creating the vineyard practically from scratch. Buying the fleet is a result of all the hard work.

“We’re proud to be driving those cars,” says Mandy. “We feel really good in them and it suits our image. our salesmen get a lot of positive comments about them when they drive around the central city. The Hondas look cool.”

Bill Chisholm ... "People comment about how good the Hondas look".

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19In businessHondawww.honda.co.nz

Any conversation with Phil Kerr is likely to produce names such as Bruce McLaren, Bernie Ecclestone and Jack Brabham.

That’s because the 78-year-old not only went racing with these titans of Formula 1, he also befriended them, especially Kiwi racing legend McLaren, who he was best mates with from the age of 17.

It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to Kerr’s impressive list of achievements: do we talk about his involvement with both the McLaren and Brabham racing teams, or his management of teams and drivers who won five Formula 1 world championships? or should we wax lyrical about his part in the famous Nurburgring 500 motor race in 1964 in which a little-known Honda S600 surprised everyone by winning?

It’s quite a journey from Mt Eden where Phil was born, the oldest son of two classical musicians. He was educated at Auckland grammar and Auckland university, where he studied business management, and he later gained an automotive qualification in the uK. one thing was always a constant: his love of cars.

For the love of HondaDRIVING IS IN THE BLOOD OF PHIL KERR, A VETERAN OF THE GLOBAL MOTOR RACING SCENE, BuT HONDA IS IN HIS HEART.

wORDSSHAroN STepHeNSoN|PHOTOGRAPHS NIGeL MArpLe

“In the 1940s there weren’t that many cars in New Zealand,” Phil recalls, “but a neighbour had a 1936 Ford V8 that he kept in our garage. I was about 11 and was absolutely intrigued with this car. I’d spend hours sitting behind the wheel, pretending I was driving it.”

As soon as he turned 15, Phil got his licence and, at 17, was given his first car – an Austin 7 – by his parents. It was a short leap from there to car clubs.

“That’s how I met Bruce. We became instant friends and raced and rallied all over New Zealand during the ’50s. Bruce won the Driver to Europe award and we ended up flatting together in the uK.”

They were heady days for the young Kiwi lads and Phil says he never got over the thrill of meeting men he had idolised and read about in the magazines he’d religiously bought in New Zealand as a teenager.

“guys like Sir Jack Brabham and Sir Stirling Moss, men who made motor racing what it is today. Jack, in particular, was a mentor. I became his manager and a director of the Brabham Racing Team. When Bruce

“ THE CR-Z HAS

BuCKETS OF CHARACTER.”

www.honda.co.nz 21TestCR-Z

Surprise package ... the little Honda S600 which Kiwi motor racing legend Denny Hulme drove to victory in the under-1000cc class at the 1964 Nurburgring 500 motor race.

an expert’s view of the Cr-zIt’s very interesting to compare Honda’s CR-Z to the S600 as the latter was an amazing, small, two-seater sports car (there was also a coupe version) in 1964. It had a brilliant engine, four cylinders, only 606cc, yet developed 43kw (57bhp) at 8500rpm and was happy to rev over 9000rpm.

The car was a very light 715kg with independent suspension and handled very well. It would have been even better with disc brakes as the drum brake set-up was only adequate, but that was par for the course back then.

By comparison, the CR-Z is technically very advanced as one would expect some 48 years on, but follows the same formula, now with a great, small-capacity i-VTEC engine, 1.5 litres, with excellent power for its size, 91kw at 6000rpm and comfortable at 6500rpm. It’s also lightweight at 1170kg with independent suspension.

The styling is attractive and the car looks right from any angle. It sits low but a lot of thought has gone into the chassis engineering. It has a firm but comfortable ride and the steering and handling are very precise. It’s fun to drive and it is easy to develop an affinity with the car the more one drives it. The disc brakes with ABS are superb.

Performance is deceptive because even though it may not have lots of power, it accelerates more rapidly than one realises. This is, of course, in large part because of the hybrid drivetrain where the electric motor, IMA (Integrated Motor Assist), provides additional torque just when you need it for acceleration.

Overall, the fuel economy is outstanding with a claimed 4.7L/100km. There are three drive settings – Normal, Economy and Sport – and I admit to enjoying the Sport setting most because of the maximum assist from the electric motor. The extra fuel cost is a small price to pay for it.

The CR-Z is fun, it does everything so well and it looks great. The dash layout is clear and attractive with blue backlighting and all the bells and whistles are easy to follow.

It has 2+2 seating but the rear seats are minimal and more suited as additional luggage space. I’d suggest it’s probably an ideal second car for a family.

“The engine in the S600 was amazing. It blew all those other European cars away.”

And so was born Phil’s enduring love affair with Honda cars. “They gave Jack an S600 road car after the race, which we drove in the uK. It was certainly an improvement on that early Morris Minor.”

He admits he’s always admired Honda’s engineering capabilities. “They build superb engines and provided the Formula 1 engines for McLaren-Honda to win the world championships in 1988, 1990 and 1991.”

Phil returned to New Zealand 35 years ago, basing himself in Coatesville, north of Auckland. He set up McLaren Motorsport which specialised in vehicle engineering for 20 years and now includes a motorsport memorabilia company and his wife Patricia’s IT consultancy.

His loyalty to Honda has never wavered. He’s owned several Honda

later formed his own team, I joined him as joint managing director of McLaren Racing.”

Phil laughs when he compares their experiences with those of the current F1 teams.

“There was none of this private jet business. In the beginning, Bruce and I would drive a Morris Minor across Europe to some of the races.”

one of the most memorable of those was in September 1964, when Honda and the Brabham team fielded the Honda S600 in the famous Nurburgring 500 motor race.

Phil recalls: “No one rated us or the S600 because although Honda made great motorbikes, they had only just started manufacturing cars.”

But the then 28-year-old Denny Hulme, competing in the under-1000cc division, not only won that day, he returned to the same track three years later on his way to winning the Formula 1 World Championship.

Honda’s CR-Z ... a clear and attractive dash layout and plenty of power from a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine.

Accords and, more recently, three CR-Vs.

“All have been exceptional in terms of reliability. We’ve never had a problem with any of these cars. My wife particularly loves the CR-V because of the higher seating position and wouldn’t consider any other make or model.”

And while Phil does admit to having a sweet tooth for classic racing cars, he was “delighted” to be asked to test drive Honda’s new CR-Z.

“It’s a really cool car with great technical features. There are some cars that do what you need them to, that go through the motions, but don’t have any personality. The CR-Z, however, had buckets of character. It came to life in my hands and I had a smile on my face the whole time I was driving it.”

For more of Phil’s take on the Honda CR-Z – and his comparison with the S600 he drove in the 1960s – check out the sidebar story.

“THE ENGINE IN THE S600

wAS AMAZING.

IT BLEw ALL THOSE OTHER

EuROPEAN CARS AwAy.”

www.honda.co.nz 23TestCR-Z

The ultimate Honda quizloVe Honda? of Course you do, buT How well do you know Honda? IT’s TIme To Take THe quIz To end all quIzzes. THe answers are aT THe boTTom of THIs page.clips

NEwS AND VIEwS FROM THE wORLD OF HONDA

ANSWerS: 1 1948. 2 1963. 3 S500. 4 80mph. 5 VTEC. 6 Civic (in May 1976). 7 Acura. 8 Jazz. 9 1979. 10 wako, Japan. 11 True – in August 1981. 12 Accord. 13 Lane Keep Assist System. 14 NSX. 15 N360 and S600. 16 Dreams. 17 Prelude. 18 Low Emission Vehicles. 19 1969. 20 Indigo Haze. 21 Integrated Motor Assist. 22 Ayrton Senna. 23 ECON. 24 14. 25 FCX. 26 Vehicle Stability Assist. 27 Hybrid. 28 2002 (August).

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Southern smiles

Allan and Lois Cunningham are true Honda fans – the oamaru couple have owned nine Hondas in the past seven

years.

They started out with a CR-V import but their affinity for

Honda was really cemented when they bought their next

CR-V – New Zealand new, four years old and well out of its

warranty period.

Allan went to adjust the vehicle’s tappets and discovered the camshaft lobe was worn. He took the vehicle to gillies Service Centre, which does Honda servicing in oamaru, and was told: “Hondas just don’t do that – we’ll fix it free under warranty for you.”

An old hand in the motor trade, having owned the local Mazda and Mitsubishi dealership for 33½ years until 2003, Allan was more than delighted.

“You just don’t get that attitude elsewhere,” he says. “It really impressed us.”

He and Lois are now regular customers at Southern Honda in oamaru. Their current Hondas are a V6 Accord and a CR-Z Mugan. They run the Mugan in sports car rallies all over the South Island.

Allan is still involved in the trade as an executive member of the oamaru Automobile Association and keeps his hand in doing the occasional warrant of fitness checks for the AA tech centre.

“Put us down as real Honda people,” he says.

TreeFund planting tops 530,000In a bid to help restore the biodiversity of New Zealand’s native bush through its TreeFund initiative, Honda has paid for the planting of more than 530,000 native trees since 2004.

Honda New Zealand Managing Director graeme Seymour says: “Loss of biodiversity is a major environmental challenge that has a significant impact on our eco systems and, through TreeFund, we can help restore our native bush to its former glory.”

one of the many projects that has benefitted from Honda’s TreeFund is CuE Haven, a former dairy farm in Kaipara, north of Auckland, owned by Thomas and Mahrukh Stazyk. The Stazyks want to restore the farmland back to native bush then apply for a QEII covenant to protect the land from future redevelopment. More than 70,000 trees have been planted on their land since 2008 with Honda funding about 3000 of these.

Happy planters ... (from left) Molly Coburn and Leanne Frisbie; Tom Stazyk and Ella Merrylees; and Nadine Bell at a planting day at CuE Haven in June.

Lois and Allan Cunningham with their latest Hondas.

The Honda Motor Company was founded in what year?

In what year did the first Honda production

car appear?

what was it called?In 1989, Honda developed the world’s first valve control technology. It’s better known as what?

which Honda model was the first to be assembled in New Zealand?

what is the name of Honda’s North American luxury brand?

8 “Economical, zippy and easy to drive. It’s the perfect way to fit in more fun” … the Honda website is describing which model?

The three-door Honda Accord was launched in New Zealand in 1977. when did the four-door model appear?10

Honda’s legendary research and development building is located where?

11 True or false, Honda developed the first navigation system developed for use in a car?

12

The uSA’s biggest-selling car from 1982 to 1997 was which Honda model?

13what Honda technology helps a car stay in the centre of the lane?

15 which two Honda models were the first to appear in New Zealand in the 1960s?

14 Robert Redford, Elton John and Harrison Ford have all owned what Honda model?

16Honda’s famous tagline is “The Power of . . . . . .”

17 which Honda model was the first production passenger car in the world equipped with four-wheel steering technology?

18LEV engines are fitted to all New Zealand-new Hondas. what does LEV stand for?19

The N600 was the first Honda car to be officially imported into the uSA. In which year – 1965, 1967, 1969 or 1971?

20

which of these colours is not available for new Honda CR-Vs – Twilight Blue, Alabaster Silver or Indigo Haze?

21 IMA stands for what?

22which legendary F1 driver helped develop the Honda NSX?

23Name the button that modifies various vehicle systems to improve your Honda's overall energy use – ECON, EON, ICON or VIRO?

24 How many different new Honda models are available in New Zealand?25 what is the name of Honda’s

range of fuel cell vehicles?

26which Honda system helps

correct the car should it deviate from its path?

27In September 2012, Honda sold its one millionth what vehicle?

28 In what year was the Honda Jazz launched in New Zealand?

Its top speed was 65mph, 70mph or 75mph?

25QuizHondawww.honda.co.nz

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A couple of decades ago, Paul wales began noticing a new sports car zipping around the streets of Christchurch. The Honda NSX had the streamlined look and performance of a European supercar, at a far more accessible price for the everyday car enthusiast. Paul was impressed by its engineering – legendary race driver Ayrton Senna was involved in the design, which incorporated Formula 1 technology.

In 2001, Paul finally bought a 1991 model and since then it’s been his everyday car. “I’m amazed how easy and cheap on fuel it is to drive and maintain. It’s very reliable compared with other similar makes and the roadholding and driver comfort are great.”

But one of its best points is its racy look. “Most people don’t know what it is,” says Paul. “I often get asked about it and comments range from ‘If I had it, I would put a Ferrari badge on it’ to ‘That isn’t a Honda, is it?’ young kids sometimes recognise it from playing PlayStation.”

Paul, who owns stamp collecting website Classic Stamps and is a member of the NSX Club of America, says he’s had several offers for the car, but he’s sentimentally attached and doesn’t want to sell.

However, he does admit to an interest in the new-model NSX-R, due for release in 2015.

In 1991, the year that Paul’s NSX was first sold in New Zealand, our $1 and $2 notes were replaced by shiny and far more durable gold coins (or aluminium bronze, to be precise). As of a couple of years ago, the Reserve Bank estimated that more than eight million $1 notes and 10 million $2 notes were still in circulation. It might pay to check in that dusty old cupboard under the stairs, because the bank will still swap these notes for the equivalent coins.

At midnight on December 14, 1991, a massive avalanche struck Aoraki/Mt Cook without warning. Millions of tonnes of rock, snow and ice tumbled at up to 300kph, scattering debris over seven kilometres, creating a shockwave of the magnitude of a 3.9 earthquake, and setting off a huge roar that lasted for two hours. when the dust settled, the mountain’s peak was 10 metres lower. Late mountaineer Rob Hall was on the mountain at the time. “I heard this crashing noise,” he said. “I looked up on the east face of Mt Cook and I saw sparks all over the place, like fireworks. Essentially, the top of Mt Cook fell off, which is incredible.”

wORDS BroNWYN SeLL

Retro rewindIN 1991 NEw ZEALAND GOT 10 METRES SHORTER, OuR PuRSES AND POCKETS GOT DECIDEDLy HEAVIER, AND A CHEEKy LITTLE SPORTS CAR DEBuTED ON OuR ROADS.

Above: Paul Wales in his Honda NSX.Left: Aoraki/Mt Cook broods in the background.

www.honda.co.nz

From $31,500 + ORC. Or lease from Honda Lease Direct.292kms based on ADR fuel economy of 4.5 vs 6.7l/100kms.

Imagine an extra 292k’s from the same tank of gas. With a spot of genius, Honda’s new Jazz Hybrid makes it all possible. And all that’s Jazz makes this the most versatile, hybrid electric car on the market. With Jazz, you are buying cool technology and getting a car that you can use all day, every day. Great around town or the highway, with space to pick up your 50” TV on the way home. Big space, little car, big life.

Jazz. By Honda. Batteries included. No cables required.

Book a test drive at honda.co.nz/jazzima, call 0800 255 666 (Mon-Fri) or visit your local Honda agent.