Peugeot Ireland has opened orders for the new 5008, a seven-seat SUV available with both hybrid and fully electric powertrains, writes Trish Whelan. Pricing starts at €50,995 (includes SEAI grant).
The EX40 starts at €54,250 and the EC40 from €54,250, including grants. Both twin-motor versions now have a Performance software pack offering up to 436hp and both also have a a Black Edition in their range.
The EX40 has a rated electric range of up to 569km and the EC40 up to 576km.
The 5-seat vehicle is powered by a 1.5 diesel engine. A 7-seat longer version is available to order and is powered by a petrol engine as standard.
The T-Class is being aimed here at families with school-going children as well as owners with active weekend lifestyles including paddle boarders and mountain bikers.
The first model here will be the Xpeng G6 mid-size SUV, to be followed by other models from the brand.
All Xpeng models, including the G9 flagship SUV, and the P7 sedan with its Pt+ fastback variant, are full battery electric models.
The brand joins MDL's other Chinese makers distributed by the company here, the Smart and the BYD companies.
The new HR-V's powertrain is a petrol hybrid with a total output of 131hp and a rated fuel economy of 5.4L/100km. The engine package comprises a 1.5 Atkinson-cycle unit with two electric motors.
The car comes with a full suite of driver assist features, but with an interior design emphasis on traditional climate and audio volume switchgear and a relatively small touchscreen to minimise distraction.
There are four grade options, to a top price of €49,750.
According to key importer Automatic Motor Car Centre, based in Lusk Co Dublin, Brexit is just part of a 'perfect storm' in the used imports industry, along with ever-increasing prices for new cars, and Irish car buyers' demands for more value for money.
The change means that Japan is now the top source country for second-hand imports here, bumping the UK off top rung of the ladder it held until 2019. Cóilín Garvey, Sales Manager of AMCC.ie says motorists here have realised that Japanese imports are very well specced cars, much better than the average equivalent in Ireland. "In general, Japanese motorists look after their cars better than Irish drivers do," Mr Garvey says. "What’s more, Japan has one of the most advanced road infrastructures in the world, which helps to improve the longevity of these cars."
Japanese imports also tend to be packed with the latest technologies and that helps to make the cars top performers in terms of safety and fuel efficiency.
While one in four of the AMCC imports are bought directly by private buyers, the majority are stocked by secondhand car dealerships across Ireland. The importer has an exclusive partnership with NextGear Capital, the largest provider of stock funding facilities for used vehicle dealers, to facilitate these customers.
Pictured are Cóilín Garvey, (AMCC Sales Manager); Áine Cantwell (AMCC Business Manager); Anthony O’Neill (Account Manager, NextGear Capital); and Peter Molloy, (Ireland Manager, NextGear Capital) at the announcement of the partnership between the two companies at the amcc.ie premises in Lusk, Co Dublin.