Car 6

Delivery drivers have tried a unique virtual reality experience that allows users to see the world from either a cyclist’s or a driver’s point of view in a virtual space, writes Trish Whelan . The aim of the award-winning WheelSwap virtual reality experience - part of Ford’s Share The Road campaign - is to encourage people to make a few small changes to the way they drive or cycle so that everyone is a bit safer on the road. More than 35 drivers from consumer delivery firm Hermes took part in the training at tone of the firm’s London depots. Hermes delivers 390 million parcels a year and employs thousands of drivers across its network. The exercise provided an opportunity for drivers to see the road from a different perspective, with 88 per cent agreeing that the experience would encourage them to change their behaviour. There are more people on our roads than ever before, and an increasing number of them are cyclists. Share The Road is Ford’s campaign aimed...

Subaru Ireland have launched their all-new Forester e-BOXER, with prices starting at €45,545, writes Trish Whelan . The Forester e-BOXER features custom-built horizontally-opposed powertrains combining motor-assist with two of Subaru’s core technologies: Boxer engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive as standard, and an improved X-Mode system. Since its first launch in 1997, the Forester has proved popular very among customers. The fifth generation model continues the brand’s lineage and heritage in this new model which is built on the Subaru Global Platform. Subaru say it offers ‘new dynamic values that result in superior handling and stability, improved hazard avoidance performance, more responsive steering, exceptionally low vibrations and driving comfort’. Forester e-BOXER incorporates a direct-injection 2.0 horizontally opposed, four-cylinder engine, featuring 80pc new components, paired with an electric motor within the customised Lineartronic transmis...

New Mercedes-Benz GLB SUV Mercedes-Benz has raised its SUV range offerings to a new level with the launch of their new GLB to the compact SUV segment, writes Trish Whelan . It is one of 22 newcomers from the luxury carmaker set to arrive here in 2020.   It’s likely to appeal to families with children to transport as it gives the option of seven seats. While it stays within the current eight-strong Mercedes-Benz compact car family (alongside the A-Class, A-Class Saloon, B-Class, CLA Coupe, CLA Shooting Brake and GLA), the brand says this new GLB blows open the definition of a compact car by offering exceptional levels of spaciousness and passenger capacity not naturally associated with its category.   New GLB is the first Merc in its class to offer a third row, seven-seat option. The additional two bucket seats are fully retractable and provide seating for small passengers. The second row seats split 40:60. The GLB has the longest wheelbase of the ...

Drogheda Car Sales in Co Louth will be opening the doors to their newly-built standalone state-of-the-art Suzuki showroom in January 2020, writes Trish Whelan . The spacious six-car dealership in Drogheda, nearing completion after a five-month project, follows the recent appointment of the family-owed and award-winning Doran Motors Carrickmacross business to operate the franchise in this region. Drogheda Car Sales Ltd is in the process of building its new Suzuki showroom next door to its existing Hyundai showroom on the North Road in Drogheda where it has been in operation since 2012. During the final stages of the build, customers can continue to purchase a new Suzuki or have their car maintained at the existing temporary facility on the North Road. Peter Doran, Dealer Principal at Drogheda Car Sales Ltd said Suzuki has a long nd well-established presence in Counties Louth and Meath and we are pleased to be creating a new retail destination that will show off t...

With every third Mercedes-Benz vehicle now being an SUV, the new GLB compact SUV will fill a slot between the GLA and GLC, writes Brian Byrne . Available with an optional third row of seats, the car has a longer wheelbase than the B-Class compact car, offering more interior room. The rear seats are essentially for children, with a height of 5'6" available. The engines are 1.3 petrol and 2.0 diesels with outputs respectively of 163hp and 224hp. A 306hp AMG version will also be available. All are automatics. An AWD drive version will be available. Driver assist systems include an automatic speed adjustment facility related to the terrain and conditions ahead, as picked out with the map and navigation data. It also comes with the MBUX graphic display and connectivity systems. The GLB will be the first of a range of Mercedes-Benz cars to arrive in Ireland in 2020, followed quickly by the GLA, GLE Coupé and GLS. The EQA and S-Class will arrive later in the year, most pr...

Mazda has revealed full details of its first electric car, the MX-30, in the format of a compact SUV coupe for five people, writes Brian Byrne . The designers are emphasising exterior simplicity as a feature, as also is the interior with materials chosen to minimise environmental impact. The car has a 33.5kWh battery which gives it a range of around 200km. Mazda says this far exceeds the average daily drive of 48km by European commuters. Arrival in dealerships is expected for late 2020 in Europe, early 2021 in Ireland and UK.

A second generation Mercedes-Benz GLA will be revealed on 11 December in an exclusively online reveal , writes Brian Byrne . Retaining the current car's hatchback format, the new car is higher. It is also shorter, but with more legroom for rear passengers. It will be built on the same architecture as the latest A-Class and CLA and the new GLB SUV.

Ireland rugby legend Paul O'Connell is now driving a hybrid RAV4 as a Toyota ambassador. A Toyota ambassador since 2010, he has made the switch from diesel, conscious of his carbon footprint and the 'negative affect diesel can have on our environment'. Toyota ended using diesel engines in its passenger cars last year. RAV4 prices start from €37,915.

Mazda Ireland has partnered with the upcoming weekend's Taste of Dublin Festive Edition , running from 28 November through to 1 December at the RDS, writes Brian Byrne . The brand will showcase its new CX-30 compact SUV at the festival where food lovers can enjoy lively music, fiery food, and somewhere to get in the mood for a Christmas celebration. Rachel Allen, Mark Moriarty, Paul Kelly, Sharon Hearne Smith and many more will demonstrate their cooking tips and tricks to hone your Christmas cooking skills. Tickets can be purchased at www.dublin.tastefestivals.com and Mazda will also run a competition on the company's stand for a €1,000 shopping spree.

Nissan's TV ad campaign for the new generation Juke promotes individuality in a family-driven message, writes Brian Byrne . It tells the story of a mum and daughter’s visit to a toy shop to buy a birthday present. The young girl must choose between the present she really wants and one that would be more acceptable to her peers. The film delivers an important message about not being afraid to make the choice that is right for you. The soundtrack is on the theme of 'don't be just the same', from Little Boxes written by the late Malvina Reynolds in 1962. The film was made by an all Irish cast and production team and is a testament to the creative and acting talent that exists in this country. "Nissan are delighted to support the Irish Arts and to promote Irish talent,” says Jeanne McGann, Head of Marketing at Nissan Ireland. Prices for the new Juke start from €21,995.

Not for the many, Daimler has just revealed a super-luxury version of the GLS top end SUV, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, writes Brian Byrne . Features include an exclusive to Maybach 558hp V8 engine, reclining rear seats, and extra noise insulation, as well as running boards which automatically deploy when a door is opened. The car is due to arrive on the market in the second half of next year. No prices as yet.

Dacia offers are available in the brand's 27 dealerships through today and tomorrow, Saturday 23 November, writes Brian Byrne . They include a 201 offer of no deposit and 4.9pc APR across the Dacia range of Duster, Sandero Stepway, and Logan MCV. Local dealers will also add their own offers during the event.

The new Mercedes-Benz Actros has won the 2020 International Truck of the Year award, writes Brian Byrne . The vote was given by 24 commercial vehicle editors and senior journalists, representing 24 major trucking magazines throughout Europe. They praised the introduction of the Actros MirrorCam system, which replaces the traditional exterior rear-view mirrors and supports the driver in manoeuvring, cornering or changing lanes. It also saves fuel by improving the aerodynamics of the truck. Fergus Conheady, Sales Manager for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in Ireland, said this latest award is a recognition of the giant leap forward in terms of innovation and technology that makes the new Actros a standard-setter in the field of long-distance haulage. The new Actros was recently launched in Ireland.

A new electric bus may be going into service in Ireland soon, following a presentation to potential buyers by importers Harris Group, writes Brian Byrne . The China-made Steed, an acronym for Sustainable Transport Electric Energy Delivered, is built by the Higer company and has a passenger capacity of 48 and a claimed operational range of over 200kms. Its own CCS2 DC fast-charging infrastructure provides a full charge in less than two hours. The bus is also fully wheelchair accessible.

Ford has won the 2020 International Van of the Year and the equivalent International Pickup Award , the only carmaker to do so twice, writes Brian Byrne . The IVOTY award went to the new Ford Transit Custom plug-in hybrid, picked by an international jury from 25 European countries. The Ranger won the IPUA, largely due to enhanced performance and fuel efficiency with advanced connectivity and driver assistance technologies to boost productivity for businesses. Ford is Europe’s top commercial vehicle brand. Year to date sales for Transit Custom reached 114,000 in October, up 2.6pc year on year. Ranger is Europe’s No 1 pick-up, with sales of 43,300 for the same period.

BMW is set to introduce an electric car aimed directly at the Tesla Model 3, recently launched in Ireland, writes Brian Byrne . The i4 will, according to reports, have a 600kms range, with a fifth-generation design battery, powering a 523hp electric motor system that will offer a 0-100km/h in under four seconds. The car will be fast-chargeable to 80pc of capacity in 35 minutes. The new battery is less than half the size of the previous generation unit. The car is based on the i Vision Dynamics concept shown at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show (pictured).

MC for the event Eimear Ní Bhraonáin of KCLR with guest speakers Paul O’Sullivan, Ford Ireland Sales Director and Ronan Flood, MD of Kia Ireland. A panel of motoring experts at an event in Dooley Motors Ford and Kia in Carlow agreed that the recent Government target of having a million electric vehicles on Ireland's roads by 2030 was 'overly ambitious', writes Brian Byrne . Tom Cullen of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry said the target is 'wildly' ambitious. But he also said that Ireland is in a 'leading position' for the development of autonomous driving technologies. Sales Director of Ford Ireland Paul O'Sullivan noted that Ford is investing millions in exploring autonomous and electric vehicle technologies. Ronan Flood, MD of Kia Ireland, said the future of motoring was about giving choices to consumers 'so they have the options to meet their personal driving needs'. David Swaine, Product Sales Specialist from Tokheim Serv...

Many of the 400-plus Irish motorists who have put down €1,000 booking fees for the new Volkswagen ID 3 electric car are getting their first 'see, touch, and sit in' the car today and tomorrow, writes Brian Byrne . At a presentation in a hangar at Weston Aerodrome in Celbridge, the prototype of the car is on display for the 'pre-bookers', with four workshop modules where they are getting details of the charging systems, the car itself, finance options, and a timeline for when they may get their car. The pre-bookers will have an 8-week 'window' in March-April to confirm their purchase and take up a finance option that suits them. Those who change their mind, or don't confirm, will get their €1,000 back. According to Mark McGrath of Volkswagen Group Ireland, the more than four hundred pre-bookers here, in proportion to population, is 'massive' in comparison with many other markets. Some 36,000 overall have pre-booked to get the limited edition ...