Gowan Auto, the importer and distributor of Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Honda, Jeep, Opel and Peugeot in the Republic of Ireland, was back at the National Ploughing Championships this week.
Gowan Auto boasted a 96m-long display exhibiting some 45 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, and a stage on which a packed calendar of entertainment and brand ambassador interviews took place, hosted by sports pundit Phil Egan.
Citroën displayed 11 vehicles including the new ë-C4 X, combining the elegance of a fastback silhouette with the modern attitude of an SUV and the timeless cachet of a spacious four-door. Fully electric, with a 360km range, it is due to arrive in petrol and diesel later this year.
The French marque also displayed the award-winning C4, C5 Aircross SUV and C5 X, Irish Large Crossover/SUV of the year 2023. The award-winning Citroën commercial vehicle range was also on show, including the ever-popular Berlingo Van, ë-Dispatch, Relay and the new C5 Aircross Commercial SUV which offers optimal comfort alongside 2.2 m3 of load space.
Visitors also had an opportunity to see the Citroën AMI, regarded by the company as a breakthrough in urban mobility solutions. Offering 100 per cent electric, zero-emissions mobility with a driving range of 75km and a top speed of 45km/h, AMI has an ultra-compact design, standing at just 2.41m long, 1.39m wide and 1.52m high.
The AMI has space for the driver, a passenger and one small item of luggage, with the heated interior bathed in light thanks to the panoramic glass sunroof.
In a nostalgic nod to the iconic Citroën 2CV, which celebrates 75th anniversary this year, the manual side windows of AMI can be opened by flipping the glass upwards into a fixed raised position.
The quirky quadricycle will makes its debut in Ireland soon, but visitors to the ploughing championships could enjoy the first glimpse pf the AMI in person.
At the Fiat booth were the popular Fiat 500 and 500X ranges, and Fiat Professional displayed its diverse range of light commercial vehicles, including Doblo, Scudo and Ducato. Alfa Romeo exhibited the Tonale, in both mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid guises, and the multi-award-winning new, all-electric Jeep Avenger, voted Europe's Car of the Year 2023, made its public debut at the National Ploughing Championships, taking pride of place on the Jeep stand.
Opel displayed the Corsa, Crossland, new Mokka, new Grandland and new Astra, Irish Compact Car of the Year 2023, together with the Combo Life Electric seven-seater and Vivaro Electric Combi MPV.
And at the Peugeot stand, every model displayed was electrified, full-electric or plug-in hybrid electric.
