AUTO TITLES ; The thinking man's porn; Auto magazine readers are spoilt for choice at present but is this a category under threat from internet trading sites? Simon Hendery investigates.

It's a tight squeeze on the automotive racks of the local mag shop. Whether your interest is in trading up, comparing models, or just dreaming about that Lamborghini, you'll find a slew of glossy titles vying for your attention on the shelves.

Maybe it's New Zealanders' long-standing love of

And while the auto magazine category may be as crowded as an Auckland motorway, that isn't stopping new publications hitting the road. Publishers insist they offer advertisers a compelling "lifestyler" readership base.

A recent arrival on the scene is Top Gear NZ, the local franchised magazine spin-off of the BBC TV show of the same name. Burgeoning boutique publisher Jones Publishing launched Top Gear last year and has now produced four alternative-month issues.

Buoyed by encouraging ABC figures - February's inaugural audit showing a circulation of over 15,000 - Top Gear has announced it will go monthly from September. Editor Cameron Officer says Top Gear has had good early advertising support from car brands, although he admits it faces a battle winning some advertisers away from other well-established titles.