Leapmotor C10 family electric SUV: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

The newest car brand in Ireland, Leapmotor, has put down a marker of its intention to be a big player in the Irish car market with the arrival of its first models — the T03 (Tzero3) urban car priced at under €19,000, and the more expensive C10 large family SUV. Both are claimed to deliver the best in their segment for standard specifications and technology. 

The C10 is a smart-looking five-seater family SUV with a smooth exterior design, slim LED headlights, and door handles that pop out when you unlock the car. My first drive car looked good, with a black exterior and a dark orange colour on the dashboard/door/seats, a vibrant colour that would take some getting used to. The fit and finish are good, and the car feels solidly built, with lots of space and comfort. The cabin floods with light from the full-length sunroof, another plus. I got a good driving position behind the large steering wheel, and all-around visibility was good even through the rear-view mirror, thanks to the big rear window. 

Seats are very comfy, and the front ones have power adjustments. There are no buttons on the dashboard, with all functions accessed through the huge 14.6-inch central infotainment screen. It has a row of virtual buttons for key features at the base of the screen. The separate 10.25-inch driver information cluster shows all relevant info, including your lane and nearby traffic. There's no blind spot indicator on the side mirrors. 

The big reversing camera offers a 3D dual view of the car, covering both the immediate area behind as well as an overhead view. Storage areas are excellent with a cavernous space below the front armrest and a big open area with a power socket and USB points under the flat area of the central console. Other cubbies include large door bins and a decent glovebox. Rear passengers have good head and legroom, and the boot space of 435 litres can expand to a really useful 1,410 litres with the rear seats folded down. 

Trims are Style and Design; buyers can choose from five exterior colours. C10 is available as a battery electric vehicle (BEV) with a WLTP-rated range of 420km. The car combines a 69.9 kWh battery with a 215 bhp electric motor. A hybrid version gets a far smaller 28.4 kWh battery, with a claimed pure electric range of 170km and a 1.5 petrol generator that acts solely to keep the battery charged. The engine never drives the wheels. The hybrid combination gives a range of up to 975km which is a game-changer for those who regularly drive long journeys. DC charging from 30-80 per cent takes around 30 minutes. I discovered you lock the car by tapping the key fob on the small icon on the top of the driver’s wing mirror! 

The C10 has been awarded a maximum five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. Leapmotor gives a six-year/unlimited mileage warranty across its line-up in Ireland, which will be expanded by the imminent arrival of two more models, the Leapmotor B10 mid-sized SUV due in November, and a new B05 family hatchback in 2026. Two more models will arrive by the end of 2027. Gowan Auto is the national importer for Leapmotor vehicles. 

The four strategically located dealers already in the network are Joe Norris Motors (Navan), Dan Seaman Motors (Forge Hill, Co. Cork), Greenhall Motors (Buttevant, Co. Cork), and Kenny Galway (Tuam Road, Galway). Plans are afoot to raise this to 18 by the year-end. 

Prices are from €38,995-€45,420, the latter for the extended range version and include the SEAI grant and VRT rebate.

New Mazda6e awarded five stars

The new Mazda6e has achieved a maximum five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP in its recent series of tests, writes Trish Whelan. 

 In the two categories of Adult Occupant and Child Occupant protection, it scored 93 per cent. The Mazda6e was also rated 74 per cent for the protection of Vulnerable Road Users and 77 per cent for its Safety Assist systems.

Leapmotor prices B10 SUV

Leapmotor Ireland has announced prices for its B10 SUV, from €32,984, writes Brian Byrne. The fully electric C-segment vehicle, to be revealed at the upcoming NEVO EV Motor Show in Dublin, will be available in two grades, with battery options giving rated ranges of 361 km or  434 km.

The B10 is powered by a 218hp electric motor, with a 0 to 100km/h capability of 8 seconds.

Leapmotor B10 will arrive on forecourts this month, exclusively available at Leapmotor Ireland’s nationwide network: Joe Norris Motors (Navan, Co. Meath); Dan Seaman Motors (Forge Hill, Co. Cork); Greenhall Motors (Buttevant, Co. Cork); and Kenny Galway (Tuam Road, Galway).

The car joins the T03 city car and family C10 SUV. The range offers a 6-year/unlimited mileage warranty. 

Cadillac coming to Dublin

Premium US carmaker Cadillac is to have its first showroom in Ireland, in Dublin, writes Brian Byrne. The outlet is in association with the Charles Hurst Group and will only have electric models.

The Lyric and Vistiq models are being showcased at the upcoming NEVO EV Motor Show in Dublin. A third model, the Optiq, will follow in 2026. Cadillac is part of the General Motors Group.

Cadillac has been selling electric cars in Europe since 2023. The Lyric is currently available in Switzerland, France, Sweden and Germany. It's a 550hp SUV with a rated range of around 530km.

The new dealership, in south Dublin, will open in 2026.

 

SEAT unveils new Ibiza and Arona

SEAT has refreshed two of its most popular models - the Ibiza and the Arona, writes Trish Whelan. 

Both models now feature updated styling, vibrant new colours, and a completely renewed range of alloy wheels available in sizes from 16-inch to 18-inch. The cabins have new embossed textiles, refined materials, darker headliners, and neutral accents on the air vents. In the launch edition FR trim, bucket seats now come as standard. 

Both models are powered by a range of petrol engines from 80hp to 115hp. They include a 1.0 MPI 80hp 3-cylinder engine with 5-speed manual gearbox (exclusive to Ibiza); a 1.0 TSI 95hp also with 5-speed manual gearbox; and a 1.0 TSI 115hp with 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox. 

Designed, developed and built in Martorell, Barcelona, both models are available to order now at SEAT retailers nationwide. 

The SEAT ’261’ sales event takes place at the brand’s dealerships from 3-15 November.

Jeep Avenger Van Review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

The car-derived small van segment is less than 2 per cent of the overall light commercials market in Ireland, writes Brian Byrne, but there is still a buyer cohort to be served. In fleets, they can be supplementary vehicles for use where a larger 'proper' van would be inappropriate or inefficient. For small individual trades contractors, or retail with a light local delivery component to their business, or small service and repair businesses, they can be very useful. It's no wonder that Citroen, VW, Toyota, Peugeot, Ford and Opel still offer, and sell, van versions of their C4, Corolla, Golf, 308, Focus and Astra.

Now a new kid is prowling that block. And it's electric.

The Jeep Avenger CDV doesn't look like a van because the conversion retains the glass in the rear doors, simply blanking it out from the inside. The giveaway that it's a conversion, not a factory build, is the retention of the doors' interior trim and armrest, with the disconnected electric window switches. The back seats are gone, giving a floor at the same level as the lower part of the boot space. Since they left in that space's upper cover, it's a two-step cargo level. It's all very well done, with a neat finish in black flock material. A mesh protector is part of the deal, ensuring any cargo won't end up in the front in an emergency stop. As a piece of metalwork, that itself is a classy build. 

The conversion is done on the original car's Altitude grade, so the Avenger CDV's overall specification is high. I was also glad they didn't try to gain more load space by sacrificing seat travel in the front, so long people like me have no issues finding a proper driving position.

Since the Avenger first arrived, I have liked the overall layout of instruments, screens, and real switchgear for all the essential on-the-run controls. The quality, look, and feel of the cloth-vinyl seat covering and trim are good. So I was very much at home taking the van version to the road. The push-button transmission selection takes a while to get used to, but by the second day, it's second nature.

Altitude also gives the van the 17-inch painted alloys and body coloured detail pieces, which keep the car's stylish look. The rear skid plate is cosmetic because this Jeep is an FWD and is unlikely to be driven in any serious off-piste terrain. An off-road version of the passenger car is available, but the van isn't going there.

The powertrain is a 156hp equivalent electric motor, which I have already driven in other cars. At 9 seconds to 100km/h, it's not going to strip the tyres, but it's plenty peppy for any use I'd need. The rated combined range is a little under 400 km, significantly more if you're doing the level of urban driving where this van will be in its best element. I know from experience that the Avenger is a very comfortable vehicle for longer trips.

This could be a nice option as a personal car for couples who want to take a pair of folding bicycles for weekend greenway trips. I'd quite like one for myself, as our children and grandchildren are all grown up in other countries and continents, and there's no need to be able to accommodate them. It's still expensive enough if you don't have the business advantage of being able to hive off the VAT component. For that small business owner, though, the Avenger CDV is well worth consideration if usage and carrying capacity suit your needs.

PRICE: €32,964 inc grant and VRT relief; or €26,800+VAT. WHAT I LIKED: It's just a smart, stylish package. 

Most powerful Golf GTI on the way

Volkswagen is launching a special edition of the Golf GTI with 325hp to mark the 50th anniversary of the model next year, writes Brian Byrne. The Golf GTI Edition 50 has a starting price of €54,540 in Germany.

The version will be the most powerful Golf GTI ever produced, with a 0-100km/h performance of 5.3 seconds.

More than 2.5 million Golf GTIs have been produced.