DRIVING CHANGE

Ebbett is driving into the future with an unusual new high-profile location. It’s a first for the family-owned car dealership, and one which could change the way cars are sold here in New Zealand.

We usually head to the mall for a spot of shopping, a visit to the Food Court or to catch the latest blockbuster movie. But how about picking out your new car before popping in to browse the latest fashions or meeting your friends for coffee?

In Hamilton, you can now do exactly that as the Waikato’s longstanding, family-owned car business Ebbett has opened a new dealership at popular shopping spot, The Base.

“Opening a dealership at a shopping mall is not something we've done before,” store manager Ben van den Engel enthuses. “It’s a whole new concept. It’s exciting and scary at the same time.”

It’s a bold and innovative venture for Ebbett Group, which has long been recognised for its commitment to customer service and the local communities that are home to its dealerships.

Instead of the traditional car yard, Ebbett The Base offers a premium and high-end experience.

“It’s less intimidating for people,” Ben says. “You're not going to this big, shiny showroom with thousands of cars and lots of salespeople waiting to pounce. It’s more intimate and more approachable.”

While a mall-based dealership is a new concept in Aotearoa, Ebbett director Richard van den Engel explains that while the high-profile location attracts foot traffic, the customer experience must remain seamless.

To that end, shoppers can explore vehicles in a premium, transparent environment with glass walls, couch seating and refreshments. For anyone wanting an immediate test drive, the demo vehicles are parked right outside the door. “It’s got the best of both worlds,” Richard smiles.

While it may look and operate differently from traditional car dealerships, all the expected aspects of the buying process can be handled in-store. Trade ins are appraised immediately, financing and insurance are handled in-house and mechanical services are coordinated with Ebbett’s workshop, conveniently located only a minute’s drive away. Simply drop your car off at the mall and they’ll handle the rest.

And unlike traditional dealerships, where customers encounter multiple staff members for sales, finance and aftercare, Ebbett takes a more personal approach.

“You’re dealing with the same person for all of those experiences all the way through,” Ben says. “It’s much more personal. And what Ebbett is all about.”

Another exciting development for Ebbett is the addition of the luxurious and technologically cutting-edge brands Zeekr and Geely range to their stock line-up.

“Zeekr is a premium Chinese brand that is looking to compete with Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes,” Ben says. “It’s got all the gizmos and fit and finish that you’d expect of a European car.”

When you consider Zeekr’s heritage, this isn’t surprising. The EV brand is part of the larger Geely family, the ninth largest seller of motor vehicles in the world. Its upmarket siblings include the elite sports car manufacturer Lotus, the European luxury brand Volvo and performance brand Polestar.

Ben explains that the Zeekr range consists of premium, sporty, cutting-edge vehicles, while the Geely range offers premium tech at a price point that's accessible to everyday Kiwis.

“Geely and Zeekr might be new brands in New Zealand, but they’re not small players,” he says. “Chinese manufacturers are often at the forefront of technology and innovation, and both of these brands deliver premium comfort, cutting-edge features, and competitive performance. I had a customer the other day get out of a Porsche Macan to test drive the Geely Starray, and he was blown away with how well it drove and the comfort and finish on the interior.”

Like the store itself, these two flagship brands challenge traditional market expectations. Zeekr, for example, offers high-performance vehicles that rival established European models. Their 7X model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, delivering thrilling performance without compromising on comfort.

The community response to Ebbett’s new shopping mall location has been enthusiastic, with shoppers embracing the new format, testing vehicles, engaging with staff and sharing their impressions.

For both Ben and Richard, the most rewarding aspect has been the alignment of their values with daily operations.

“We try to do things differently at Ebbett. Our values are integrity, care, excellence and respect. And we actually strive to live that each and every day,” Ben says. “We want to give you such a great experience that you come back to buy a second car and tell your friends and family. Our vision is customers for life. That culture permeates through everything we do. It’s a buzz to be a part of.”

EBBETT.CO.NZ/DEALERSHIP/EBBETT-THE-BASE

An electric dream

With the futuristic RZ 450e Dynamic, Lexus has raced straight to the top
of the electric car category.

Words Karl Puschmann

Photos Karl Puschmann + supplied

Here’s the scene. I’ve just pulled into the Bethlehem shopping centre car park. It’s mid-morning and the place is heaving. I’m behind the wheel of the luxurious Lexus RZ 450e, a car so new that not even the good people at Lexus of Tauranga have had much of a chance to test drive it before I drive it out of the lot. I know this because when I go to charge it at the
end of the day, the packaging is still on the charging cable. 

As I hunt down a space to park I notice people gawping at the car. It’s easy to see why. The space-age design and aggressive styling make the car a guaranteed head-turner. Especially as this is the flagship “Dynamic” model, which boasts a sophisticated grey and black two-tone
paint scheme and matching 20-inch alloy wheels. 

Finally, I spot a park. Rather than being overjoyed at my good fortune on this busy day, I begin to feel very nervous indeed. And it’s not because the empty space is squeezed between an electrician’s van and an oversized ute. 

You see, the one futuristic feature of the RZ 450e that I’ve been most excited by, but also the most hesitant to try, is what Lexus calls their Advanced Parking System. What this translates to is auto-park and it’s something that feels straight out of a sci-fi film. Simply push a button and the car parks itself. All you have to do is sit back, relax and let its vast array of cameras and sensors do their thing. 

That’s the idea anyway. But actually letting go of the steering wheel and putting all of your faith and trust into the car to pull into a parking spot safely and without incident is easier said than done. At least the first time.

It was incredibly nerve-wracking to hand over complete control of the car to its computer. Especially with its $150,000+ price tag bouncing around in my head. As well as other drivers looking for a free spot, there were also pedestrians springing out from all directions that the car had to negotiate. There was a lot that could go wrong and I didn’t fancy returning it with a ding, dent or scratch.

Pushing the button to give the car autonomous control I silently cursed myself for deciding to try the feature in the middle of the day at a crowded car park instead of late at night in an empty one. Although there was some solace in the fact that this was indeed a ‘real world’ test and would certainly be challenging for the RZ 450e to pull off. 

The car started beeping to indicate it was reversing and we started moving. It braked to a halt to let a shopper walk past behind it, then continued. We backed past the open space and stopped. Then the steering wheel began quickly spinning in front of me like the little girl’s head in The Exorcist – which was apt because it does feel like the car is possessed while it’s doing this manoeuvring. Once the wheel had spun further than I would have thought possible the car began moving forward with far more confidence than I, a human driver, would have dared. 

I was literally on the edge of my seat watching the car’s vibrant and crystal-clear 14-inch iPad-style touch display. Usually, you use this to control the climate, maps, stereo and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but it also shows different camera views when needed. Right now it was showing two different angles; a general camera that focused on the front or rear depending on which way we were going and a top-down view showing the roof of the car and nearby obstacles. Both views presented the anticipated driving arc the car would take.

I was watching both like a hawk, my foot hovering over the brake ready to stamp it down if for even a second it looked like the RZ 450e had made a miscalculation and was in danger of getting even the merest of scratches. Or, you know, hitting someone. 

But there really was no need. We’d gracefully pulled straight into the park in one sweet turn. But the car wasn’t finished. The steering wheel began spinning, the beeping started up and we slowly reversed out of the park, only stopping to let an oncoming car drive past us. Once out, the car lined itself up and drove forward into the park completing one of the most perfect parking manoeuvres I’ve ever seen. We were precisely in the middle of the space. I couldn’t help the big grin from spreading over my face.

In fact, that big goofy grin was pretty much permanently etched on my face for the entire four days I spent with the car. That’s because, even with all its many luxurious touches and commitment to comfort, the Lexus RZ 450e is just a stupendously fun car to drive. 

The fully electric car has two engines, one each powering the front and rear wheels and pulling a combined 308 horsepower. When you put your foot down it shoots forward like a rocket with a satisfying thrust that pushes you back into the incredibly comfortable Ultrasuede seats. Capable of hitting 100kms in just under 5 seconds, not much will be getting away from you at the lights. And, being electric, you don’t have to feel guilty about burning recklessly through your petrol tank. 

Of course, with electric vehicles, battery life is all important. Lexus says the battery in the RZ 450e is good for a whopping 470kms, which is enough juice to get you to Auckland and back on a single charge. I didn’t keep a record of distance but I can tell you I only charged it once during my time with the car which included everyday errands, school runs and day trips to Waihi Beach and Katikati.

The cabin has a sophisticated simplicity to it. It’s surprisingly roomy, even in the back, and the power-dimming panoramic glass roof ensures it’s bright and feels airy. Needless to say, it’s just lovely to sit in.

There are all the modern features that you expect of Lexus, like heated seats and heated steering wheel, phone charging pad and a driver HUD display projected in front of you, but also new ones like the car’s personal assistant which you operate by saying “Hey Lexus” to issue voice commands like changing radio stations or finding maps without needing to have your phone connected. Of course, the Bluetooth connectivity was flawless, instantly connecting as soon as I hopped in. A special mention also has to go to the car’s 13-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Audio stereo system, which was powerful yet clear and detailed. It sounded terrific.

Safety-wise there’s more than just the Advanced Parking system. The RZ 450e also boasts lane-keeping assist, which doesn’t let you stray out of your lane, and adaptive cruise control, which keeps the car moving at a speed you set as well as keeping you a safe distance from the car in front of you. If they start to slow down, so do you. A full auto drive feature cannot be far away. 

With the release of the RZ 450e, Lexus have comfortably driven to the top of the electric car category. It delivers comfort, looks, speed and the all-important distance, and wraps all of these up in a layer of understated sophistication. 

It kept me smiling the entire time I had it. In fact, the only time the smile left my face was when I handed the keys back. 

lexus.co.nz/en/dealers/tauranga