Car4

This car offers pure performance for people who love to drive, writes Trish Whelan . Renault's Megane RS C-segment hot hatch lives up to its promise of offering exhillerating driving. It can be a right howl to drive, or a well-mannered everyday car.   But performance is the reason customers would want to buy a motor like this, and Renault have a long standing involvement in topflight motorsport and this third generation of the model is packed full of Renault Sport expertise and passion.   My press car dazzled in its Volcanic Orange exterior paintwork that attracted appreciative, and envious looks wherever I drove it. And naturally I loved to show it off. The stand out colour and special engine sound from a new version of the 1.8 direct injection turbo petrol engine delivering a sizzling 276bhp and 390Nm of torque, which blasts it from 0-100km/h in just 5.8 seconds, certainly turned heads during my time with this very special Megane variant from Renault S...

Three Mitsubishi cars of interest to Europe will be on display at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, writes Brian Byrne . They include the concept vehicle Engleberg Tourer, the debut of the 2020 model year ASX, and the European debut of the new generation L200 pickup. The company is saying little about the concept except that it will bring 'more SUV, more EV, more technology and more style'. The external design of the ASX will show a more robust style and details of the style cues of the latest Outlander. The L200 also gets a new style treatment and will be powered by a new 2.2 diesel, with options of 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions. An improved AWD system is also promised.

The second generation Audi A1 Sportback is now available to order in Ireland at a starting price of €25,450 OTR, writes Brian Byrne . The car has more interior space and a large complement of driver assistance systems, and externally has a more striking look than its predecessor. The 335L luggage capacity is larger than before, and up to 1,090L is available with the rear seats folded. Improved connectivity includes IOS and Android smartphone linking, and the entertainment system includes DAB radio. Engines are all petrol, with outputs from 116hp-197hp.

A Kia concept to be shown at Geneva will provide a preview of future all-electric cars from the Korean brand, writes Brian Byrne . In the usual non-specific language of teasers for such events, the car, designed at Kia's European design centre in Frankfurt, is 'a visual embodiment of the company’s desire to move forward in the exciting world of electrification'. It is 'designed to not only get your pulse racing, but to also signpost our holistic and emotional approach to electrification', according to Gregory Guillaume, Vice President of Design for Kia Motors Europe. There you have it … until 5 March.

X-Class pickup Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles division will be amongst the leading exhibitors attending the forthcoming 5th Annual National Construction Summit taking place at Citywest, Dublin, on 14 March next, writes Trish Whelan . Coupled with a manned trade stand, models showing from its light commercial vehicle range will be the mid-sized Vito van and X-Class pickup - a unit designed to suit all lifestyles and work environments. With an expected attendance of over 3,000 delegates from across the construction industry in Ireland, key themes flagged for this year’s event include Brexit, foreign direct investment, infrastructural investment, public & private housing and jobs, skills, training and education.   Vito van

Ford’s new Focus ST hot hatch, with advanced sports technologies, will go on sale in the summer in five- door and wagon body styles. The car was developed by Ford Performance to deliver nimble hot-hatchback thrills in a stylish, comfortable and practical family car. It offers ‘the most responsive and agile Focus ST driving experience ever - on road and track’. Yet the car has been developed to be as comfy as it is fun-to-drive and features ‘an upscale interior that balances everyday practicality and a true sporty driving experience’. The wagon has a maximum 1,653 litre luggage capacity and a boot space that can comfortably take a large dog crate.   Ford say the Focus ST also benefits from the comprehensive range of sophisticated Ford driver assistance technologies that have helped the new Focus win 13 awards and a 5-star safety rating since going on sale in 2018. Technologies include Adaptive Cruise Control, Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System, Active Park A...

Six world premieres and one show premiere take centre stage on the Mercedes-Benz stand at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show . Six new models getting their world premiere will be a shooting brake version of the sporty CLA Coupé and a facelifted GLC mid-size SUV. Others will be a Formula E showcar, ahead of the first foray into the sport by the Mercedes EQ division. Alongside these will be a Concept V-Class and two high-performance AMG models — a GLE 53 SUV and GT R Roadster. Making its show premiere will be a facelift 300d V-Class MPV (pictured) which arrives here later this year.

Peugeot Ireland has launched the latest version of the 508 mid-range car at a starting price of €32,400, writes Brian Byrne . The car comes with petrol engines in 180hp and 225hp versions and diesels with 130hp. 160hp and 180hp outputs. There are four grades available including a GT version flagship. Other than a manual 6-speed available with the 130hp diesel, all versions have an 8-speed automatic. The car is a liftback coupe format, and an estate version is due in the autumn. Its interior features the Peugeot i-cockpit design with the instruments visible over the top of the small steering wheel. In a deliberate policy, the 508 has no badges identifying which fuel type it uses, and only the exhaust tailpipe design indicates it. This will apply to all Peugeot models in the future, including Low Emission (LEV) versions. Colin Sheridan of Peugeot Ireland said the brand intends to continue its investment in improving diesel and petrol engines as well as adding LEV solut...

Paul Mahon, Outfront Events, (second from left), and Tom Dennigan, General Sales Manager, Continental Tyres Ireland (send from right) with adventure athletes, Padraig O’Connor, Kelly Farrell, Laura O’Driscoll, National Champion; and Bernard Smyth. Continental Tyres has agreed to be title partner of the Irish National Adventure Race Series in conjunction with Series founders Multisport Adventure Ireland and promotion partner Kayathlon.ie, writes Trish Whelan . The initial one-year partnership will debut at the sold-out ‘Quest Kenmare’ adventure race along the Wild Atlantic Way on 2 March, concluding with the ‘Sea2Summit’ race in Westport, Co Mayo on 9 November. Adventure Racing is an increasingly popular, outdoor multi-sport event that includes running, cycling and kayaking in some of Ireland’s most rugged and scenic terrains. Events are open to experienced competitors seeking an endurance challenge, as well as novice participants looking to set a personal goal ...

Windsor Airside Renault and Dacia dealership in Swords was the number one Renault dealership in Dublin for January, writes Trish Whelan . The Renault Clio was the bestselling small car in Dublin in January. Renault and Dacia took nearly a 9pc share of the city’s new car market for the first month of the year. The dealership, launched late last year, is now the flagship for Renault and Dacia cars and vans in North Dublin and is the second location for Windsor Renault and Dacia, having also launched its Galway dealership last summer. Windsor Airside Renault caters for the large North Dublin market in a state of the art facility which houses all Renault and Dacia models and Renault Pro+ vans, as well as a key Service Area with highly skilled Renault technicians. The dealership is offering keen finance offers for February across the range, available through Renault Bank, on all orders taken and registered before 28 February 2019. Renault say these complete offers are...

A high performance version of Volkswagen's T-Roc will be shown in close to production form at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, writes Brian Byrne . The T-Roc R as a 'concept' at the show has been produced by Volkswagen R, the wholly-owned performance subsidiary of VW. It will show specific style details for the T-Roc R production version, for both  external and interior design. Though no specifications are yet officially available, it is believed the vehicle will have a 310hp 2.0 unit based on that in the Golf R. Volkswagen Ireland say they hope to have news on price and availability 'soon'.

The New York Museum of Modern Art has placed a 1965 Fiat 500 as part of an exhibit called 'The Value of Good Design', writes Brian Byrne . First launched in 1957 as an 'affordable car', the highly successful car was designed Dante Giacosa, and more than 4m units were built through to 1975. The modern version of the Fiat 500 was launched in 2007.

A selection of the most iconic and rare vintage passenger cars from the acclaimed O’Flaherty Mercedes-Benz Classic Collection is on exhibition from today in the recently redeveloped showrooms of MSL Ballsbridge Motors on Dublin’s Shelbourne Road. Intended as a tribute to company founder, the late Stephen O’Flaherty and his eldest sons, Michael and Nigel O’Flaherty, this is the first occasion on which the Collection will be placed on display for public viewing. Cars from the collection will be displayed on a rotational basis for a limited four-week period in each case throughout the year, each model being replaced by another until visitors have had the opportunity to view all of the cars involved. Centrepieces at a reception to launch the exhibition were the two most prized models in the O’Flaherty Mercedes-Benz Classic Collection. These are a limited-edition working replica of Karl Benz’s famed 1886 Benz Patent Motor Car, the world’s first passenger car, and a 1898 Benz Velo C...

Honda has launched the hybrid version of its CR-V SUV in Ireland at a starting price of €38,000, writes Brian Byrne . The car is powered by a powertrain system based on a 2.0 petrol engine and an innovative generator and electric motor system which has the wheels powered by electricity most of the time. There is no gearbox. Available in four grades, the new car represents the first time that Honda has used an electrified powertrain in an SUV. There will be no diesel. A petrol-powered CR-V has been on sale here since last autumn. Unlike the hybrid, which is limited to five seats, it has a 7-seat variant. John Saunders (above left) , Sales and Marketing Director for Universal Honda Ltd, says the initial delivery of 100 units of the hybrid vehicle have already been sold, and he envisages total sales in 2019 of the car at around 300 units. He has also said the CR-V hybrid marks the beginning of Honda’s commitment to an electric future in Europe with a specific aim to have elect...