Car 6

Renault’s All-New Captur SUV has been awarded the maximum 5-star Euro NCAP safety test rating, writes Trish Whelan . Based on the new modular platform of the CMF-B Alliance, the New Captur joins the New Clio (also 5 stars) on the list of the safest vehicles. It benefits from an optimised body structure, revised seat structures and seat belt fasteners designed to provide optimal support for all occupants with pyrotechnic pre-tensions and force limiters. New features include the option of a 360-deg camera and active emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, which are both firsts in the Renault range. The highlight is the Highway & Traffic Jam Companion which is rare in the small SUV class and provides significantly improved comfort and tranquility when driving. This advanced driver assistance system constitutes a first step towards autonomous vehicles. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) available on the New Captur include Driving, Par...

The fifth generation Renault Clio has arrived on Irish shores and continues the trend for success and innovation set by the 1990 original of the species, writes Trish Whelan . It arrives here with totally refreshed exterior styling combined with a revolutionary interior design. It is now available to order at any of Renault’s 27 dealerships priced from €16,990 - €25,190.   Underpining the new Clio is the strong and scalable CMF-B platform which delivers improvements in space, safety, technology and weight saving. Customers can chose from a new range of petrol and diesel engines ranging from 75hp up to 130hp with automatic, manual, petrol and diesel to cater for every customer’s driving style. The ‘exceptional’ new TCe 100 engine will be a popular choice for Irish motorists producing class-leading performance while achieving a CAFE-beating 99g/km of C02. A new E-TECH petrol-electric hybrid option will arrive here in late 2020. This new Clio feat...

The iconic Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden in Connemara, one of Ireland’s best-loved tourist attractions, has just begun its electric journey by taking delivery of three fully electric Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 vans, writes Trish Whelan . Pictured above are: Padraic Kenny, Estate Foreman at Kylemore Abbey; Gary Breen, Renault Ireland Fleet Sales Manager; Conor Coyne, Executive Director, Kylemore Trust; Barry Molloy and Joseph Burke both from JJ Burke Renault. The electric vans will be used by staff, maintenance, groundskeepers and cleaners in the course of their duties on the grounds and will be the only vehicles permitted on the newly landscaped area around the Abbey. Kylemore Abbey and Gardens welcomes over 550,000 visitors annually, making it the second most visited attraction in the Republic of Ireland outside of the Greater Dublin Area. It launched a new multi-million-euro visitor experience, From Generation to Generation, earlier t...

Dacia Duster Commercial Renault Group Ireland is introducing commercial versions of the New Dacia Duster and the electric Renault ZOE to its line-up, writes Trish Whelan . Available to order now, these are locally converted vehicles, with the conversions arranged by Renault and Dacia dealers on behalf of customers. Benefits of these conversions for business owners are that they can reclaim the VAT on the vehicle, enjoy a lower rate of BIK for employees taking a company van over a car, as well as the comfort and refinement of a car with an easily accessible and capacious load are in the back. The Dacia Duster Commercial has been a very successful vehicle for Renault Group dealers with its competitive pricing and low cost of ownership. Plus its rugged style and go-anywhere 4x4 capability.   Priced from €16,302 excluding VAT for the core version. The 4x4 version is priced from €17,675 excluding VAT. Dacia Duster Commercial  The electric...

Joe Donoghue, Minister Catherine Byrne, and Conor Dixon of Renault Ireland. Renault Ireland has handed over a specially converted nine-seater Renault Trafic minibus to Fatima Groups United Family Resource Centre in Rialto, Dublin 8, writes Trish Whelan . Based on the Trafic van, the converted minibus will be used by the centre during the course of its work within the local community. The centre is the representative body of residents and projects in Fatima and Herberton, and operates from community development principles providing key services in the areas of health and wellbeing, education, employment, arts, childcare, counselling supports, information and advice, family support and advocacy, civic awareness and community development. Renault supported the Family Resource Centre with the purchase of the minibus and also plans to supply an electric Kangoo Z.E. van to the centre for use in its catering service. At the handover, Conor Dixon of Renault Ireland sa...

Renault Captur Renault Group Ireland enjoyed a strong start to the busy 192 registration period finishing Number One in the Light Commercial Vehicle market and with a 10.2pc combined share of the new car and van markets for July, writes Trish Whelan . In the LCV market in July, Renault came in first position with 20.4pc market share, up 5.8pc on the same time last year, maintaining third position year-to-date. Master, Trafic and Kangoo took the top spots in the large, medium and small van markets respectively. Kangoo finished the month as the Number One van in Ireland while Master maintains its leadership position in the large van segment year-to-date.   The electric vehicle market continued to grow in July to 3pc share of the market. The electric Renault ZOE had its strongest ever month, maintaining third position in the segment with 12.8pc share, up 7pc versus last July. The electric Kangoo Z.E. was Ireland’s best-selling electric van last month.   The ...

Marc O Shea As the official car partner of the GAA and GPA, Renault Ireland has created a video series featuring some of Ireland’s best known GAA players, including Renault Brand Ambassadors, to be rolled out across its social media channels this summer as the GAA Championship season heats up for 2019, writes Trish Whelan . Entitles DRIVEN, this series features six prominent GAA personalities taking a reflective, honest and open look at where each discovered their love of the game and learned their trade, while reminiscing on career highlights and the pride of wearing the county colours. Anthony Daly Over 2,500kms were clocked up during the making of the series all around Ireland in the home clubs and counties of each player over six days of filming. The series takes viewers on a journey with Renault Brand Ambassadors including Kerry footballing legend Marc O Shea, Clare hurling captain Anthony Daly, and Westmeath star Dessie Dolan, as well as Kilkenny hurling champ Jackie...

Renault’s Captur small SUV is one of the most easily recognisable cars on our roads, writes Trish Whelan . In a sector that has become extremely competitive, New Captur has reinvented itself without losing the unique identity that made the original such a success. It is now more grown-up than ever with an even stronger SUV identity. Next year, it will become the first model in its class to be offered with a plug-in hybrid engine, E-TECH Plug-in, designed to appeal to customers where the car will be the household’s only vehicle delivering the longest driving range in electric mode and ‘the best all-round performance for a plug-in hybrid model’.   In total, Renault has registered over 150 patents for the E-TECH Plug-in engine fitted to the new Captur. It will be capable of driving up to 45kms in pure electric mode. The electric part of the drivetrain is linked to a new and reworked 1.6L petrol engine. Customers are supplied with a Mode 2-compatible chargin...