Euro NCAP calls for US-standard truck under-run tech

Top, the US system outperforms the European system, underneath.

A study by Euro NCAP and UK safety organisations reveals that rear impact guards on trucks and trailers in Europe are inadequate, leading to hundreds of road deaths annually, writes Brian Byrne. The study highlights a double failure in road safety: older ADAS sensors fail to detect trailers, and rear safety guards fail to prevent cars from sliding beneath them. 

Euro NCAP is urging EU and UK legislators to implement changes to R58.03 legislation to match the US IIHS TOUGHGUARD standard and for trailer manufacturers to introduce upgrades and retrofit solutions. 

The investigation analysed collision data, focusing on trailer rear underrun impacts. This crash type potentially causes around 400 fatalities annually in the EU and UK. 

Test vehicles detected threats consistently against standard laboratory GVTs but struggled with real HGV rear-ends and impact protection vehicles used in roadworks, highlighting a gap between current and older ADAS systems. With the average car age rising, it will take over 15 years for most cars to avoid stationary trailers, underscoring the need for improved crash protection now. 

Tests of two commonly used trailers with regulated rear underrun protection systems resulted in severe outcomes, showing the car’s crash structure couldn’t protect occupants due to poor impact resistance. 

Since 2017, 70% of the latest US trailers have IIHS TOUGHGUARD-rated devices. Euro NCAP urges EU and UK legislators to update R58.03 legislation to match the US standard and calls on trailer manufacturers to offer voluntary upgrades and retrofit solutions for existing fleets. They also encourage truck fleet operators to request retrofit solutions to replace inadequate legacy guards on EU and UK roads.

Testing was carried out in laboratories across the UK, Germany, and the US. Supporting organisations are Germany’s ADAC, Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the US. 

Irish youth demand transport 'revolution'

Ireland’s young people are calling for a radical overhaul of the nation's transport network, demanding a system that is safer, more inclusive, and significantly better connected, writes Brian Byrne. The National Youth Assembly on Transport 2025 has published a comprehensive report outlining key recommendations to transform how people navigate the country, particularly the youth and those in rural areas.

The report highlights unified digital management of all transport networks, expansion of rail services, a right to safe and accessible transport, school transport issues, and the incentivisation of active travel as priorities.

Delegates proposed the development of a single, high-quality app for all transport modes—including bus, train, and LUAS—featuring live timetables, route planners, and integrated ticketing. The report also suggests enabling Leap Cards to be added to online wallets and ensuring all buses accept card payments.

The government is urged to revisit major rail projects, specifically the revival of the Metro West light rail and the DART underground plan. There is also a strong demand to expand train services to Donegal, Cavan, and Monaghan, and to reopen disused lines across the island, such as the Western Rail Corridor connecting Galway to Sligo.

The assembly emphasised that transport must be a basic right accessible to everyone, regardless of disability or location. Key recommendations include the provision of level boarding, ramps, and accessible bus stops. More staff and CCTV are needed at stations and on vehicles to combat anti-social behaviour. Expanding transport options and frequency in rural areas to ensure equal access to education and work is another demand.

On school transport, delegates highlighted issues of overcrowding and early start times. Proposed solutions include a subsidised student bus app that notifies parents when their child taps their Leap Card, better alignment of bus schedules with school and work hours, and prioritising safe school walkways and traffic calming measures around educational centres.

The report suggests significant investment in Active Travel, including building protected cycle lanes and footpaths to European standards. Proposed financial incentives include removing VAT from the cost of buying a bike, and introducing a congestion charge for cars, with the revenue redirected into developing active travel infrastructure. 

Slattery’s Garage Nenagh is new Citroen Dealer in Tipperary

Slattery’s Garage have been appointed by Gowan Auto as an authorised sales and service dealership, joining the Citroen network in Ireland, writes Trish Whelan. Operating since 1965, Slattery’s has transformed over the years, evolving from agricultural machinery sales to long-standing dealer partner to Gowan Auto. The family-owned dealership has been operating for over six decades. 

The French marque will arrive in Slattery’s brand-new state of the art showroom located off the M7 on the Limerick Road in Nenagh. Slattery’s Garage Nenagh was welcomed to the Citroen dealer network by Colin Sheridan, Managing Director for Citroen Ireland. The Citroen dealer network new extends to 26 locations nationwide. All the brand’s passenger and commercial vehicles come with a 5-year warranty. 

Slattery’s new location is expected to begin operations from early August. Until then, the full Citroen range is available at their existing location in Puckane.

 

BYD Seal 6 Super Hybrid Touring PHEV review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

BYD’s Seal 6 Super Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid with a huge range for long, worry-free journeys. It can also travel around 100 km on pure electric driving, enough to cover most people’s daily work commutes. 

The model is available as a saloon or as a practical estate version called Touring, which was my review car. It's a spacious, aerodynamically designed, and well-proportioned car. The front-end design mixes flowing shapes and sharp lines in the lower bumper for a sporty look, while the side profile combines the sculpted waistline with a gently sloping rear roofline and a contrast finish in the D-pillar that creates a ‘floating’ effect. Other features are aluminium roof rails, a chrome detail across the tops of side windows, and 18-inch alloy wheels with the rather ominous name of ‘flying axe’. Rear tail lights have smoked finishes and layered LED-matrix sequences designed to create a flowing visual motion. 

My car was in the Obsidian Black exterior colour, an expensive extra as are Atlantis Blue and Sandstone colours. Polar White comes as standard. The cabin is a comfy and spacious place for five adults, thanks to its 2,790mm wheelbase, the same in both body styles. 

The estate is marginally taller and heavier than its sibling. I’d have preferred a brighter interior colour scheme to the dark grey in my review car. However, the long panoramic sunroof provided extra brightness in the cabin. Front seats have a sleek one-piece headrest design and lovely vegan leather upholstery. They were comfy and supportive and had power adjustments (6-way for the driver, 4-way for the co-driver). They can be heated and ventilated. You have to go through screen menus on the 15.6-inch ‘floating’ touchscreen display (12.8 inches in the lower Boost trim) for most of the basic key functions, but you can select shortcuts to regular items. There are permanent screen widgets for the dual-zone climate control. Just say ‘Hi BYD’ pressing the button on the steering wheel to sort out the music or navigation. Built-in 4G allows you to stay online wherever you go. The driver’s cluster shows fuel consumption, charging capacity, and current speed. Windscreen wipers are, Oceania-Asia fashion, on the left side of the steering wheel, which is confusing in the European market. The transmission selector is located off the steering column, and the Start/Stop button is on the flat of the central console beside the EV/HEV Mode button. 

Drive modes are Eco, Normal, Sport, and Snow. There's a phone charging pad, two C-USBs front and back, a decent glovebox, good door bins, and a large bin under the front armrest. The steering wheel can be heated. 

The rear has a completely flat floor and generous legroom, though little space for feet under the front seats. Headroom is just about OK for tall people. With just two seats in use, the central armrest has two cupholders, and there is a hatch through to the boot. Rubber floor mats are functional and practical, as is the coat hook on each B-pillar. A power tailgate opens to reveal boot space of up to 675 litres, which can accommodate strollers, full-size suitcases, or camping gear, and is extendable to 1,535 litres. The rear seats are dropped via a lever on either side of the boot. Sturdy hooks can support up to 3kg, and there’s a 12V power socket there. 

Both versions are powered by a 1.5 petrol engine paired with an automatic transmission. Boost trim has 184hp, a 10.08 kWh battery pack, a claimed combined range of over 1,500km and an electric range of 55km. The Comfort model upgrades to a 19 kWh battery pack, 212hp, and a claimed range of circa 1,455km, including an electric range of 105km. The 0-100km/h time is 8.5 seconds. You can recharge the battery at home or opt to DC fast-charge the larger battery from 30% to 80% in 23 minutes. All models have a peak torque of 300Nm. BYD’s DM-i drivetrain prioritises electric power with minimal reliance on fuel. When the battery is fully charged and switched to EV mode, the car drives like a pure electric. When the charge is low, it changes into a standard hybrid. BYD claims an average fuel return of 1.7 L/100km (in ideal use on commuting distances), but during my time with the car, I achieved an average of 4.4 L/100km, which is good. 

I turned off many of the annoying alerts to do with speed limit change prompt tones, lane departure warnings, etc, but I very much appreciated the good blind spot monitors. The reversing camera, all the parking aids, including the 360-degree camera, as well as front and rear traffic alerts, all contributed to the model being awarded a full five-star Euro NCAP rating. The ride could be quite firm on not-so-good country roads, and a fair amount of road noise filtered through on motorway driving. 

The Touring version is priced from €38,990; Saloon €37,490. Warranty on the BYD Blade Battery is 8 years or 250,000 km.

 

Renault upgrades Megane E-Tech Electric

Renault has unveiled an update for its Megane E-Tech Electric, boosting range, performance and technology, writes Brian Byrne. The revised model gets a redesigned front end with new lighting, grille and a sportier bumper.

A new 67kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, paired with a 220hp motor, delivers up to 500km WLTP range and 0–100km/h in 7.6 seconds. DC rapid charging is now up to 165kW, cutting 15–80% top-ups to about 24 minutes. Vehicle-to-Load allows owners to power external devices from the car.

Inside, the Megane retains Renault’s OpenRLink cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 12-inch touchscreen, Google built-in services, EV route planning and voice control, with Google Gemini AI to follow in a future update. More than 30 driver assistance systems are available.

Irish pricing, detailed specifications and launch timing will be confirmed closer to arrival. 

Fifth member of Range Rover family previewed

Range Rover has confirmed a fifth member of its luxury SUV family with the introduction of the Range Rover GT, writes Brian Byrne. It's a new grand tourer focused on long-distance comfort and refinement.

Revealed ahead of its full debut, the Range Rover GT features a minimalist interior, with a single central screen, a separate driver display and a concealed full-width air vent that preserves the brand’s signature horizontal graphic. A woven textile wraps the dashboard, hiding integrated speakers, and the cabin claims class-leading second-row legroom.

The Range Rover GT will be the first all‑electric Range Rover built on the new EMA platform at Halewood in the UK. It will launch initially as a battery-electric vehicle, with a full hybrid option planned later. 

Prototype vehicles are currently undergoing final global testing in a camouflage wrap. More details will be released later this year. 

Sheils Motor Group appointed new BYD dealer in Clare

Clare motor retailer - Sheils Motor Group - has been appointed as a main dealer to represent BYD by Motor Distributors Limited (MDL), allowing the brand expand its presence in the Munster region, writes Trish Whelan. 

Trading as BYD Clare, it will operate from its showrooms on Gort Road, Dulick, on the northern approach into Ennis. 

Established in Clare by Tommy Sheils in 1925, great-grandfather to current Director Ted Sheils, Sheils Motor Group is one of the largest and longest-established, family-owned, automotive groups in Ireland. 

Now in its fourth generation, Sheils employs almost 100 people throughout the group. 

Sheils Motor Group Director, Ted Sheils; and Managing Director, Thomas Sheils, are pictured at the announcement with BYD Ireland National Sales Manager, Vicky Reilly.