Car4

Nissan Qashqai Nissan will absorb the 1pc budget increase in VRT rates on all new diesel cars and has also introduced a price freeze in a move to reward customers ordering new 191 cars before the end of the year, writes Trish Whelan . It means significant savings for new car buyers. “The customer is king at Nissan and we offer the best value to anyone thinking of buying a new 191 car. Our price freeze makes it possible to register a new Nissan in   January 2019 at 2018 prices,” said James McCarthy, CEO of Nissan Ireland. “Most other manufacturers have had to increase their prices in response to the new 1pc VRT rate and increasing costs associated with new EU emissions standards. We took a view when it came to importing new cars and preparing for the changes in the market and this has resulted in us being able to freeze our prices and offer real value to new car customers in 2019,” Mr McCarthy added. Nissan offers a choice of petrol and diesel engines across its entire r...

The recently launched all-new Honda CR-V (non hybrid model) In a first for a Honda SUV in Europe, the new CR-V will be offered with advanced hybrid powertrain technology, writes  Trish Whelan . The world’s favourite SUV will arrive into Irish showrooms in early 2019 priced from €39,500. The price after Government Hybrid VRT allowance of €1,500 is €38,000.   The hybrid   is equipped with an efficient 2.0 petrol engine, a powerful electric motor and a lithium ion battery pack. The maximum output is 184hp with torquer of 315Nm. Under the combined cycle of the revised NEDC test, the front-wheel-drive CR-V hybrid achieved C02 emissions of 120g/km and official average (combined) fuel economy of 5.3 L/100km (53.3mpg). The all-wheel drive version has C02 emissions of 126g/km and achieves 5.5 L/100kms (51.4mpg). Honda’s i-MMD technology automatically switches seamlessly between three driving modes to provide the best possible efficiency - EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, a...

Ronan Beirne, Commodore NYC and Sean Dunne, Director, Subaru Ireland Subaru Ireland is ready to set sail with the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire as the main sponsor and vehicle partner of the Flying Fifteen World Championships 2019 to be held from 2-13 September 2019 at The National Yacht Club, and Dublin Bay, writes Trish Whelan . Subaru will also become a sponsor and corporate vehicle partner of the National Yacht Club. Speaking at the launch on 23 October at the National Yacht Club, Commodore Ronan Beirne said the Club was delighted to partner with Subaru as the club’s ‘Vehicle partner’ and for the Flying Fifteen World Championships 2019. “Subaru is a quality brand and to endorse the National Yacht Club like this allows us to share the Subaru brand definition of ‘Confidence in Motion’ as our members enjoy sailing and as the National Yacht Club prepares for the only World Sailing Championships to take place in Irish waters in 2019.” Sean Dunne, Director, Subaru I...

Rob Parks Junior from Ballina, Co Tipperary, has been selected as the Young Racing Driver of the Month for September, writes Richard Burke . The 16 year-old took a win and a second place in the Ginetta Junior races at the Leinster Trophy meeting at Mondello Park to score his fourth victory of the year. Combined with his other podium positions during the season, this leaves him in runner up spot in the Junior championship. Rob Parks Junior Rob started motorsport in 2016, at the age of 14, when he drove in Midget Car Racing, winning the Junior Midget Car title and also contesting some Ginetta Junior events. At the final round of the Midget Car season, he led the “Devil take the Hindmost” race from start to finish. Last year, he concentrated on the Ginetta class and finished fourth in the series, with two third places along the way. During 2018, he stayed with the Ginettas apart from a one-off outing at Brands Hatch last weekend in one of Alan Kessie’s Pirelli Supercars, wh...

Each year in the run up to Hallowe’en, local authorities remove thousands of tyres from bonfire stockpiles around the country, writes Trish Whelan . Continental Tyres Ireland is strongly advising people not to include tyres among the material they plan to burn in bonfires this year. Tom Dennigan, General Manager of Continental Tyres Ireland, says: “Each year at this time, we hear reports of many thefts of old tyres from tyre dealer premises and we know that there are some unscrupulous tyre dealers who are giving old tyres out to youths who are collecting material for the traditional Hallowe’en bonfire. We would strongly advise against burning tyres on a bonfire, for, aside from it being illegal, smoke from burning tyres carries toxins that are detrimental to both humans and animals.” He says the residue from burnt tyres can also be very damaging to the environment and the only safe way to burn a tyre is in a concrete kiln which would have sophisticated filtration systems in ...

This is a preview of the kind of digital instrument panel you may see in future Kia cars, writes Brian Byrne . It will launch in models in Korea next year, and offers a 3D experience by tracking the driver's eyes and then giving an illusion of depth to the imagery via stereoscopy. If that makes you queasy, you'll be able to switch it off. Like most current digital displays, different modes and customisation will be available.

Volkswagen yesterday gave its new small SUV a three-continent world premiere, in Amsterdam, Shanghai and São Paulo, writes Brian Byrne . The T-Cross is the company’s first small SUV, shorter than the T-Roc introduced in Ireland at the beginning of this year, and is the SUV equivalent of the company's Polo. Depending on market, the car will be offered with three petrol engines and one diesel — two 1.0 TSI three-cylinder of 95/115hp and a 1.5 TSI four-cylinder with 150hp, as well as a 1.6 TDI four-cylinder offering 95hp. Standard equipment includes Front Assist area monitoring system with Pedestrian Monitoring and City Emergency Braking System, Lane Assist, Hill Start Assist, and Blind Spot Detection. By 2025, Volkswagen will be offering more than 30 SUV models throughout the world.

The Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo has been given the green light for production, writes Brian Byrne . The all-electric sports car, which was debuted as a concept, will follow the Taycan electric car (below) introduced just over a week ago. The four-door Cross Turismo will offer 600hp of system performance with acceleration to 100km/h in 3.5s capability. The 800-volt electrical architecture will allow it connection to a fast-charging network, with a suggested 500km range (it WLTP terms, probably 400km). Charging time on a suitable network will give 400km range in 15 minutes. Porsche has committed to having half of the cars it sells after 2025 to be fully electric.

This is how Skoda is experimenting with a drone to do stocktaking tasks, writes Brian Byrne . At its Mladá Boleslav plant, the Czech car manufacturer is currently testing the unmanned aerial vehicle, which can identify and count containers outside the factory from the air. The drone fully autonomously records the number of empty containers outside a factory hall three times per day. The data is then automatically transferred to the IT systems at Skoda Auto's logistics department, where it can be processed.

New Corolla Hybrid Toyota Ireland’s five new self-charging hybrid cars are set to land on Irish shores from January, writes Trish Whelan .   Prices have now been revealed by the company. Corolla: The new generation of the popular C segment car, the new Corolla Hatchback features a new 2.0 full hybrid powertrain which joins the 1.8 Hybrid and 1.2 petrol engine variants. Priced from €203 monthly on PCP, and available from €26,370 for the hybrid; the 1.2 petrol is from €25,995. Corolla Hatchback can now be pre-ordered with deposits being taken now as demand is expected to be heavy. Corolla Touring Sports: This car is available as a 111 hp / 1.8 hybrid, 180 hp/2.0 hybrid, or 116hp / 1.2 conventional petrol powertrain. Prices start from €28,420 or €234 monthly on PCP. Available to pre-order now. Camry Hybrid Camry Hybrid: After a 14 year absence here, this new 8th generation Camry returns in early April 2019 with a new 2.5 hybrid, power output of 218hp. Three grade option...

The new 2018 Mazda6 has been awarded a maximum five star rating by Euro NCAP in its latest series of safety tests, writes Trish Whelan . This is the first Mazda to achieve an overall five star rating under the new, more stringent 2018 Euro NCAP crashworthiness ratings. The increase in the rigidity of its impacting-absorbing but lightweight body architecture, more advanced safety technologies to help drivers identify potential risks and reduce the likelihood of damage or injury, and an improved pedestrian protection performance, played their part in this top safety rating achievement as well the new car’s superior driving dynamics. Of the four test categories involved in the ratings - Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User (pedestrian safety) and Safety Assist, the Mazda6 bettered or equalled three out of four scores achieved by its predecessor in 2013. This new Mazda6 is on sale in Ireland priced from €31,945. Three spec levels are: Executive SE, Platinum a...

The first all-female racing team will compete in the 6-hour endurance race in Mondello Park on Sunday, 4 November, writes Trish Whelan . The race will start at 12pm and finish in the dark at 6pm. Emma Dempsey, who made a comeback to Motorsport recently as a competitor, has entered the first ever all-female team in the 6 hour Ford Fiesta Zetec Endurance race which takes place at Mondello Park (Naas Co.Kildare) on Sunday, 4 November.  Women in Motorsport Racing (WIM) including Emma Dempsey, Aimee Woods, Ruth Nugent and Nicola Watkins will race against some of Ireland’s top racing drivers including ex Formula 1 Legend Tommy Byrne. Emma Dempsey (Ashbourne, Co Meath)  was born into the Motorsport paddock. Her father Cliff Dempsey was a well-known racing driver before setting up his own successful race team Cliff Dempsey Racing in 1988.  For many years Emma looked on as a spectator until she was given the opportunity to race fo...

JJ Burke Car Sales, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, won the Renault 2018 LCV Dealer of the Year award, presented at the annual Renault dealer convention Thursday night last in Kilkea Castle, Co Kildare. The annual awards are presented to Renault Group dealerships for outstanding performance in the respective categories throughout the year. Dealer principal Joseph Burke described the award win as 'brilliant'. "The whole team at the dealership work hard every day to ensue the highest level of service from all departments, so we are delighted to accept this award on behalf of the whole team.” Pictured are Garry Breen, Fleet Manager Renault Ireland; Conor Dixon, Key Account Manager, Renault Ireland; Pauline Burke-Ryan, Dealer Principal, JJ Burke Car Sales; Karen Burke, Dealer Principal, JJ Burke Car Sales and Paddy Mc Gee, Country Operations Manager, Renault Ireland.

Audi has given its R8 supercar more power and a sharper look, writes Brian Byrne . Due in Ireland in the first quarter of 2019, the car's 5.2 V10 engine in the quattro performance version has been boosted by 10hp to 620hp. Suspension settings have also been retuned. Changes to the front end styling make the car look wider.

Adaptive Cruise Control Sophisticated technologies designed to make the new Ford Focus driving experience more comfortable, less demanding and safer, have been commended by the Euro NCAP independent crash test authority following its first-ever automated driving assessment event, hosted by the ADAC mobility organisation in Penzing, Germany, writes Trish Whelan . The Focus, which earlier this year was awarded a maximum 5-star safety rating by Euro NCAP, received recognition from the organisation as part of a new initiative designed to deliver a greater understanding among consumers of the benefits of advanced driver assistance technologies. Focus was selected for testing after introducing a wider range of advanced driver assistance features than any Ford vehicle before, enabled by three radars, two cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies enhance protection, driving and parking.   The Euro NCAP evaluated the Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & ...