What are you driving?
It’s a beautiful, new, white petrol XC60. It has a sports pack along with heated seats and tints. I’m loving the self-parking feature and the touch screen panel on the dashboard to control all settings.
What does being ambassador involve?
Volvo NZ is a brand I’m proud to align with on events both public and throughout its NZ dealerships. It is a new partnership and I am looking forward to building on what we do collectively in 2018, especially around the Volvo Ocean Race.
Did you request the XC60 or did Volvo suggest it?
Volvo recommended the XC60 as a perfect size for city living with a toddler in tow. Road trips to my parents’ beach house require space for a buggy, Lola’s tricycle, endless toys and my husband’s surfboards. It’s a great car for transporting over 200 shoeboxes of new deliveries to our retail stores, too.
How does the XC60 fit your personality?
It’s sophisticated, elegant yet youthful. I like the understated luxury of the car having all the features of a practical car but feeling like a sports car to drive.
And how does it fit your business?
It’s a great car to arrive to a meeting in style, but also useful to drive hundreds of shoeboxes across the city or even across the North Island to a Mt Maunganui stockist for a VIP shopping event.
How often do you clean it?
I drive through the carwash each week and vacuum every visit to the Koru parking at the airport, which is every two or three weeks. A clean car inside and out makes me feel calm, like driving in a peaceful sanctuary in my crazy, colourful, busy life.
What do you keep in your car?
Wet wipes for Lola, my phone charger, a pair of heels in case I’m heading straight out for an event and my yoga mat and training gear, so I have less excuse not to go straight from work.
Who else drives your car?
My management staff love to use the XC60 for deliveries of stock into stores. My husband if he keeps it tidy and puts the seat setting back to my own one.
First car you owned?
At 16 years old I saved up for my first car, I had a shiny red 1968 Californian VW beetle called “Bugsy”. I painted sunflowers on the sun visors.
Your dream car?
I’m loving the new models from Volvo with hybrid engines. They look beautiful and are great for our future generations to come.
Who piqued your interest in cars?
I have always loved Volvos in particular, I fell in love with the design and style of Volvo on family visits to Scandinavia while dating a Danish man.
Who taught you to drive?
My sister’s boyfriend at the time, I was 15 and I learnt in a supermarket carpark after hours. I got my licence first time and did a defensive driving course which I think everyone should do to learn how to handle a car in the wet in corners etc.
Any tips for young drivers?
Take your time and be patient … you’re better to be late and arrive safe … put your phones away!!
Most memorable road trip?
Driving through the countryside and seaside towns of Denmark to visit the Louisiana museum of Modern Art, stopping at cheese stalls and setting up picnics on the roadside. I guess there was no rush and we had all the time in the world to enjoy the view and the drive. These days with Lola I hear “are we nearly there yet mummy?” five minutes into the drive!
Favourite movie car scene?
The Great Gatsby comes to mind. Such beautiful styling in that film with beautiful cars from the era.
What do you listen to?
A playlist through Bluetooth; usually a mix of Beyonce, Otis Redding, Rhianna or concert radio.
Great drive out of Auckland?
Langs Beach is a pretty drive. Anywhere coastal makes me feel calm and grounded to see the horizon.
Technology and cars, embrace or ignore it?
I love technology — and anything new I love to embrace. It’s so exciting where cars are going and each new model I drive has the most incredible features in navigation and safety. I would like to have a go at the driverless features but I’m sure it will take a bit of getting used to.