Car 6

The traditional big motorshows in Europe are becoming more for their local consumer markets, and many carmakers are preferring to have their more important reveals at events of their own, writes Brian Byrne.  Though the Frankfurt Motor Show this week is still a draw for many thousands of journalists and motor business people to the Press Days debuts, the no-shows include Aston Martin, Bugatti, Citroën, Ferrari, Fiat, Jeep, Kia, Lancia, Mazda, Nissan, Peugeot, Rolls-Royce, Suzuki, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota and Volvo. But there's still a fair bit to report on, much of it electric. With an even greater emphasis on electric cars than has been growing over recent years of shows, the Mini Electric detailed a few months ago makes its public stage debut. Available from next year, the car is expected to be one of almost half of the total BMW range which will be fully electric by 2023. It has a 0-100km/h capability of 7.4s. The Tavascan all-electric SUV concept from Cupra, the standal...

Gowan Distributors, Peugeot Importer in Ireland, has teamed up with Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) and Bikers Ride out for Prems, as official car partner to the Miles for Smiles taking place from today to Sunday 5 September, writes Trish Whelan . Since the launch in February, the event has seen 20 bikers and supporters raise over €55,000 in funds which will go towards both the building of a room at the new RMHC House at the site of the new National Children’s Hospital, Dublin 8, and to buy medical equipment for Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in hospitals around Ireland. Over the 4-day venture, the group will cover in excess of 1,500km around Ireland visiting hospitals and delivering life-saving and life-maintaining medical equipment bought with the proceeds to NICUs.Participants in the Ride Out will have the honour of naming a room at the new Ronald McDonald House which in Ireland provides support and care to families who have seriously or terminally il...

Fergus Conheady, Sales Manager for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in Ireland. The new Mercedes-Benz Actros – latest version of what is one of the most successful trucks ever to run on Irish roads – has been  launched in Ireland, writes Trish Whelan .   Flags hip of the Mercedes-Benz trucks range and a multiple Truck of the Year winner, this standard-setter in the field of   long-distance haulage comes equipped with a range of high-tech features that will surely make it a driver’s dream machine. Commenting, Fergus Conheady, Sales Manager for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in Ireland, said: “Whilst retaining all of the operational excellence that have made successive Actros models the truck-of-choice for so many, this latest version represents a giant leap forward in terms of innovation and its application of latest technology”. Arguably, its most talked-about feature will be  MirrorCam , a new televisua...

Lexus is launching a new used car programme, Lexus Select, designed to give customers greater benefits when purchasing a used Lexus car, writes Trish Whelan . To qualify for Lexus Select, all vehicles must pass a 100-multi point and safety check with a hybrid health check which is completed by Lexus specialists, meaning that only the best used cars will make it to the programme. In addition, customers can avail of competitive tailored finance packages from Lexus Finance Service, Lexus’ own finance provider. Each vehicle in the Lexus Select programme comes with 24 months warranty and 24 months roadside assistance for vehicles with less than 160,000kms and seven years old. In addition, Lexus Ireland has also created the Premium Used programme. The Lexus models in this programme will be between seven-ten years old and will have between 160,000 - 200,000kms. Every Premium Used approved pre-owned vehicle will have a minimum of 12 months warranty and roadside assistan...

Ford has revealed its high spec Ford Puma Titanium X model ahead of its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany next week, writes Trish Whelan . Ford say it will have a distinctive character all of its own, and standard technologies usually reserved for large executive cars deliver ‘exceptional comfort for compact crossover customers’.   It will offer premium comfort and convenience including standard removable seat covers, lumbar massage seats, wireless charging for smartphone devices, a segment-first hands-free tailgate and a premium B&O Sound System.   Offered in 125hp and 155hp variants, the self-regulating mild-hybrid system can utilise the stored battery charge to deliver torque substitution, reducing the amount of work needed from the petrol engine for a fuel efficiency improvement of up to 9pc based on WLTP analysis.   Ford say New Puma delivers best-in-class 456 litre rear load space and with rear seats folded flat, c...

Déjà vu Donegal was a resounding success for participants and spectators alike when the sun shone on a record number of glistening entries on Saturday, 31   August and thousands of euros were raised for the Donegal Hospice.  Rally fans flocked for autographs and selfies as their heroes, including 11 former Donegal International winners and international superstars as the seven-time Belgium Champion Patrick Snijers and five-time British Champion Jimmy McRae gathered in Ballybofey. James McDaid and Sean Doherty, Patrons of the Donegal Hospice brandished the county flag along with Jack Beatty, the seven year old “Little Blue Heroe” in his Garda uniform, who  suffers from brittle bone disease, to start the million pound parade on a 120 mile journey. Their progress north over the Letterleague Stage was uneventful apart from the breath taking views of Muckish mountain but flooding as they entered the Glen Stage required their experienced navigators ...

New GLB SUV Mercedes-Benz will unveil a new GLB SUV at the forthcoming Frankfurt International Motor Show, writes Trish Whelan .   The GLB is positioned between the smaller GLA and larger GLC and is the most versatile compact SUV the company has ever built. Sharing its space will be a high-performance AMG GLB 35, AMG A45 and the AMG GLC 43 variants from Mercedes-AMG. Alongside a new EQV all-electric MPV and the recently launched EQC 400 4MATIC SUV, there will be a number of new plug-in hybrids from the EQ Power range, the A250 PIH, B250 PIH, GLE 350 PIH. The all new GLE Coupe will also make its debut at the show. The show is open to the public from 12-22 September.