Mercedes E-Class crowned UK Car of the Year

Thu, Mar 30, 2017

British motoring journalists followed their Irish counterparts by voting the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class the UK Car of the Year Awards 2017.

PSA Group takes over Opel

Thu, Mar 30, 2017

PSA Group (Peugeot Citroen) has bought Opel/Vauxhall from General Motors. This will make PSA Group the second-largest automotive company in Europe behind Volkswagen, with close to a 17 per cent market share.

The purchase will have no immediate impact on Citroen (and DS), Peugeot or Opel dealerships in Ireland, and therefore it is business as usual for Irish new car buyers of each of these brands.

Lexus LC named Production Car Design of the Year

Thu, Mar 30, 2017

The Lexus LC luxury coupe has been named 2016’s Production Car Design of the Year, an honour bestowed by a 20-strong judging panel featuring some of the world’s top car designers.

Side wind stabilisation now standard for Transit

Thu, Mar 30, 2017

Ford tells us all Transits will be fitted with a new feature as standard - side wind stabilisation.

Mercedes-Benz spring run to the west

Thu, Mar 30, 2017

It is that time of year when the Mercedes Benz Club invites members and friends to visit Donegal in May.

Sean McGreevy, the Galway-based Mercedes-Benz Club regional officer for Connacht, says this year the club has arranged excellent accommodation at the Mill Park hotel in Donegal town with gala dinner on Saturday night.

World Car of the Year 2017 finalists announced

Thu, Mar 30, 2017

The shortlists for the World Car of the Year six award categories were announced at the Geneva International Motor Show. And 2017 World Car Awards winners will be unveiled at New York International Auto Show on Thursday, April 13, 2017.

VW Golf GTI TCR lines up with new aerodynamics

Thu, Mar 30, 2017

It is not one seen at a local Volkswagen car dealership, but the curtain has been raised on the new Golf GTI TCR - the race version of the compact classic from Wolfsburg, which generates up to 350hp.

How Volkswagen is developing the car of the future

Thu, Mar 30, 2017

Bright sunlight floods the Volkswagen virtual engineering lab in the German city of Wolfsburg. Two dozen screens flicker, some of them showing graphics, and others hundreds of lines of programme code.

New Opel Crossland X is stylish with SUV coolness

Thu, Mar 30, 2017

Described by Opel as crisp and compact on the outside and spacious and versatile on the inside with trendy two-tone paintwork, the new Crossland X has a cool SUV look.

Suzuki Ignis shortlisted for World Car ‘Urban Car’ award

Thu, Mar 23, 2017

Suzuki is understandably pleased its Ignis has made it to the final three cars in the new ‘Urban Car’ category of the 2017 World Car of The Year. And they deserve to be. As the former Irish juror for a six year WCOTY term, I know how difficult it was and is for smaller cars from outside the larger manufacturers to be recognised.

Kia reveals new Stinger and more in Geneva

Thu, Mar 23, 2017

Kia Motors unveiled four new models at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. The new Kia Stinger fastback sports sedan makes its European premiere, alongside the new Kia Picanto city car. Advanced powertrain technology features in two other new Kia models on show for the first time – the Niro plug-in hybrid crossover and Optima sportswagon plug-in hybrid.

New Honda Civic offers style and substance

Thu, Mar 23, 2017

The new 10th-generation Honda Civic has been launched here with an entry-level price of €23,750 for the 1.0 litre i-Tech 120 Smart. Honda boasts that it represents a significant step forward for it in the C-segment, benefiting from the largest single model development programme in the company’s history.

The Civic is a core model for Honda in Europe and it has been at the heart of the brand’s sales and manufacturing heritage in the region. Building on this 40-year heritage, the car stays true to the original Civic concept of “a car for all people, a car for the world”, but the development team, in targeting a dynamic rejuvenation, said new thinking and new approaches to body construction, vehicle aerodynamics and chassis design were required. The end result is a marriage of distinctive design, sporty styling and versatile practicality – with a renewed focus on rewarding driving dynamics.

Facelifted Skoda Rapid models here in July

Thu, Mar 23, 2017

Skoda is enhancing its Rapid and Rapid Spaceback with numerous innovations as part of a facelift ahead of their arrival in Ireland this July.

Passengers will also have the option to be ‘always online’ thanks to a WLAN (wireless local radio network) hotspot and additional new connectivity features from Skoda Connect.

Mazda unveils three new models at Geneva Show

Thu, Mar 23, 2017

Mazda celebrated its 50th appearance at the Geneva International Motor Show with the European premiere of the new Mazda CX-5, the second-generation of its very popular compact SUV. Also centre stage at Mazda’s stand were the 2017 Mazda CX-3 and 2017 Mazda2, the latest editions of the Japanese company’s B-SUV and supermini.

Dacia unveils new Summit special editions

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Dacia launched new special edition versions of the Duster, Sandero Stepway, and the new Logan MCV Stepway at the Geneva International Motor Show.

Renault Ireland supports St Patrick’s Festival

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Two colourful characters from street spectacle Artastic took a break from parade rehearsals to announce Renault Ireland as the official car partner of St Patrick’s Festival.

New Seat Ibiza makes its debut

Thu, Mar 16, 2017

The fifth-generation of the Seat Ibiza makes its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show. It is the Spanish brand’s historic best-seller, with more than 5.4 million units sold.