Your A to Z Guide to the Paris International Motor Show 2008

Thu, Oct 16, 2008

Lotus
The British sports car firm’s Paris news was the debut of the Exige Cup 260, a fresh high performance derivative of the two-seater coupé. Tipping the scales at 38kg less than the standard car – it weighs just 890kg – it will hit 62mph in 4.1 seconds.

Subaru

Thu, Oct 16, 2008

Diesel was still the story on the Subaru stand, with the 2.0-litre boxer engine appearing in the Forester and Impreza for the first time. The firm is claiming the oil-burning SUV is now the class-leader for fuel economy and emissions. It believes no rival can better its figures of 44.8mpg and 167g/km. The Forester is available now, with the Impreza arriving in January.

Toyota

Thu, Oct 16, 2008

The new Avensis was unveiled at Paris. The MkIII model is due on sale in January in both saloon and estate body styles. It comes with a diesel automatic variant for the first time. There are also new variably valve timed (VVT) engines with emissions cut by 10 to 26 per cent and horsepower boosted by between three to 20 percent.

Suzuki

Thu, Oct 16, 2008

The wraps came off the next generation of Suzuki’s Alto city car at Paris. Measuring just 3.5 metres, it’s powered by the three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine that’s already in the Splash. Fuel consumption is 62.7mpg with 103g/km of CO2. The Alto will arrive in Irish showrooms in or around next March. Cute styling and low-cost motoring are big attractions in the current climate.

Skoda

Thu, Oct 16, 2008

A facelifted version of the Octavia – Skoda’s biggest selling model – received its world premiere at Paris 2008. With revised bumpers and front and rear light clusters etc. cued from the new Superb, the new-look Octavia is expected to go on sale in January. It also gets the Superb's centre console and instruments.

Volkswagen

Thu, Oct 16, 2008

Some motor show unveilings will also draw people in and an all-new Golf GTi is certainly one of those. Power output it 210 bhp – it was 200 on the MkV – and it features an electronic limited slip diff linked to the ESP for the first time. The GTI is officially a concept but won’t change much before it arrives here in the spring.

Motorpark launches used car programme

Thu, Oct 16, 2008

This week Motorpark is launching a new used car programme called Motorpark Approved.

Stars shine through the clouds at the Paris Motor Show

Thu, Oct 09, 2008

It was overcast in Paris last Thursday and Friday, but a more threatening cloud hung over the 2008 Paris Mondial De L'Automobile (the Paris Motor Show), writes Padraic Deane.

Your A to Z Guide to the Paris International Motor Show 2008

Thu, Oct 09, 2008

Alfa Romeo

Fab 4 gone 4-ever in two weeks

Thu, Oct 09, 2008

The Windsor Galway scrappage deal is coming to an end in two weeks.

Fiat 500 wins another award

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

The Fiat 500 has won another top award. The multi award-winning 500, which was launched by Fiat earlier this year, has just taken the supermini and city car category in the evecars.com Car of the Year Awards 2008. Evecars is Britain’s top motoring website for women.

Citroen set to add C3 Picasso to MPV range

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Citroen’s latest new MPV, the C3 Picasso, will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show before being launched here in 2009.

New Ford KA makes global debut next month

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

There's more big news from Ford. The new Ford Ka makes its global debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, replacing the iconic original Ka, which brought new levels of style and enjoyment to the small-car market when it was launched in 1996.

The new Mini 4 x 4 x 4 x 4

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

The Mini Crossover Concept is a design study for a fourth variant in the current model range. With four doors, four drive wheels, four single seats, and at four metres in the length, you could say this new Mini is a 4 x 4 x 4 x 4.

Newly revised BMW 3-Series on the way

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

BMW boastfully describes the 3-Series as the epitome of sporty flair in its segment and that for years it has maintained the leading position as the mostly widely sold premium vehicle in the world. And they tell us that with the new 3-Series, it is setting about extending its lead even further in the segment.

Land Rover Discovery 3 voted Best Used 4x4

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

The Land Rover Discovery 3, one of the most decorated 4x4s ever, scooped yet another accolade last week, having been voted the Best Used 4x4 by UK magazine What Car?

The award takes into account the price, performance, availability, desirability, and reliability for the sector for which, the Discovery 3 came out on top, beating the two runners-up, the Nissan X-Trail and Kia Sorento.

Getting new tyres needn’t be tiring with Clonboo Tyres

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Cloonboo Tyres mobile tyre centre takes the stress out of the process of replacing your tyres by providing a mobile service that comes to you, covering Galway city and surrounds.

This one-of-a-kind service means that instead of having to travel, often in the thick of traffic, the mobile tyre centre will come to you during work hours — be it at your home, your workplace, or the roadside — basically whatever suits you.

New Renault Megane hatch breaks cover

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

The new Megane hatch is set to debut at Paris Motor Show early next week, and will be unveiled alongside stunning new Laguna Coupe.

Saab 9-X Air concept reinvents convertible design

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

More than 25 years after unveiling the first four-seater convertible to the world, Saab’s design classic takes on a new form in the shape of the 9-X Air concept car.

Lexus to display a strong hand in Paris

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

The LF-Xh hybrid concept vehicle will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show next week, as will the new LS 460 AWD with permanent all-wheel drive and a full-line up of Lexus Hybrid Drive models.

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