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.