Opel plans a new C-segment SUV

Opel has announced its intention to produce a new C-segment SUV in Europe, the first model of the intended expanded partnership with Leapmotor, writes Trish Whelan. Both are part of the Stellantis Group. The SUV would be designed and created at Opel in Russelsheim and developed by international teams located in Germany and China. 

The completely new, all-electric SUV will extend the brand’s current line-up. With Stellantis and Leapmotor contemplating an expansion of their partnership, the new vehicle is intended to serve as a blueprint for efficient global collaboration. It would also enable the German manufacturer to take a major step forward in terms of electrification within the shortest possible time scale with sales of the newcomer expected to start in 2028. 

The new vehicle would be expected to use core components of the latest Leapmotor electric architecture and battery technology, combined with Opel’s signature design, on-board experience, chassis engineering as well as lighting and seat technology. The newcomer would benefit from the Stellantis production network in Europe and its production in Zaragoza, Spain, alongside the Opel Corsa is under evaluation. The Spanish plant has been home of Opel’s B-segment icon since 1982.

New Mercedes-Benz Vito Edition and Sprinter 2 Series

Mercedes-Benz is enhancing its van line-up with the introduction of the new Vito EDITION, alongside the return of the Sprinter 2 Series, writes Trish Whelan. 

Priced from €35,008 (ex-VAT), the Vito EDITION provides an accessible entry point into the Mercedes-Benz van range. Designed with everyday business needs in mind, it combines practicality with premium comfort, and comes with enhanced specification that includes smartphone integration, air conditioning, a comfort driver’s seat, and factory-fitted ply lining as standard. 

Meanwhile, the Sprinter 2 Series (pictured below) returns following strong customer demand. Priced from €39,366 (ex-VAT), it continues to offer a balance of capability, efficiency, and driver-focused technology, supporting businesses across a wide range of industries. 

Together, these Mercedes-Benz van updates reflect what their commercial vehicles sales manager, Fergus Conheady, says is a ‘continued focus on delivering a smarter way to drive a Mercedes-Benz, offering customers greater choice, enhanced spec, and solutions tailored to modern business needs’.

 

Kia expands sponsorship of Rás Tailteann

Cathal Kealey (Head of Marketing & PR at Kia Ireland), Liam Crowley (2026 Rás Tailteann competitor) and Séamus Domegan (Cairde Rás Tailteann) pictured at Kia’s sponsorship launch of Rás Tailteann 2026.

Kia Ireland has renewed and expanded its sponsorship of the 2026 Rás Tailteann, the iconic five-day international cycling race taking place from May 20 to 24 across Ireland, writes Brian Byrne. Kia’s support includes a fleet of plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles and fully electric PV5 Cargo vans to help with race logistics. 

The company is also sponsoring the race’s yellow jersey, awarded to the overall leader after each stage.

Now in its 71st edition, this year’s Rás Tailteann will cover more than 793km across 11 counties, featuring 21 categorised climbs before concluding in Dunboyne, Co Meath.

Kia Ireland said the partnership reflects its commitment to the event, while organisers welcomed the increased backing as 'hugely important' for the delivery of the race. 

Nissan Micra First Drive: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

When a small car lasts through six generations without changing its name, there's obviously a level of trans-generational affection involved, writes Brian Byrne. That's the case with the Nissan Micra, introduced in Ireland in 1983, the same year that Shergar was kidnapped and never seen again. (Who was Shergar, you wonder? Yep, well that's absolute trans-generational and nothing to do with cars — a valuable horse stolen for ransom, it's believed by the Provisional IRA.) Anyway, between then and the end of the 'noughties', some 140,000 Micras were sold in Ireland. Over four of those model generations, it was the car that most people were likely to learn to drive in, and most likely to downsize to when they became empty-nesters. For the record, we owned a late 2002 version that served faithfully for a decade before suffering terminal damage in a 'timpiste'.

It's fair to say that the last two versions didn't make the same impact on the Irish market, up against a trend towards larger cars and a lot of competition in the segment. But now, the brand is aiming to win back a whole new generation, as Nissan's most accessible electric car.

Let's deal with the elephant in the room first. The new Micra is on the same platform as the Renault R5 and is built on a Renault assembly line in France. That doesn't make it any less a Nissan, and the styling sets it distinctly away from the French car. 

As was the case with the second and third generation Micras, the designers of this latest one clearly wanted their customers to smile when they looked at their car. The big semi-circles of DRLs/indicators above and below the main lights up front — help to make that happen (they also 'wink' when the car is unlocked). These are reflected in the round styling of the rear lights, softening the look at both ends but without taking away from what is a purposeful profile. Nice that they didn't try to make it a pseudo-small SUV — it's a hatchback in the best of that small car tradition. Not of that tradition are the large wheels, 18-inch as standard, adding to the overall stature of the car. Upper versions have a contrasting black roof, giving it the popular 'floating' look.

Inside, there's nothing small-car about the driver space. A large panel integrates the infotainment and the driver's instrumentation. All graphics are big and intuitive — this is where the Chinese competition still has, largely, something to learn. Key climate controls are proper switches on the centre stack, and there's a single switch to change to preferred driver assistance setups (making most of the beeps and bumps switch off).

The driving position feels good and provides excellent visibility in all directions. The steering wheel is flattened top and bottom and is pleasantly grippable (remind me to tell you about the 'yoke' in the Lexus I'm currently driving. Gimmicky change is not for the best). I had plenty of head and elbow room, though getting in and out was a little iffier, but that problem is me being older and more stiff than I used to be. The new Micra is longer, wider, and has a longer wheelbase than the most popular one from 20 years ago. The cargo volume is 326L, a good 30 per cent more.

The powertrain has two battery sizes, offering rated ranges of 317km or 416km — the Irish market reality in this scenario is that most people buy the larger battery model, for an extra €2,000 or so in the Micra's case. There are three grades; the middle Evolve one is expected to be the dominant choice.

I had a good opportunity in my first drive event with the Micra to test the 'smiley' character. It's definitely there, and I look forward to more grinning when I have the time to take it for a full evaluation. Meantime, I think there will be many smiling owners already on the road by then.

Nissan has the longest experience in electric car sales, from the original Leaf's launch in 2010. More than any other, they arguably know best how to pre-qualify a customer for an EV — in other words, their salespeople are told not to sell one to a customer for whom it wouldn't suit. Nissan Ireland's own research is that 95 per cent of their EV customers over the decade and a half have been happy with their choice. The new Micra will probably raise that ratio even higher.

PRICE: From €25,995. WHAT I LIKED: Another car to smile about. 

Škoda previews new Epiq with sketches

Škoda Auto has released the first interior sketches of the upcoming Epiq, its most affordable all-electric compact SUV, ahead of the model’s world premiere on 19 May 2026, writes Brian Byrne. The Epiq is the first Škoda production model to fully showcase the brand’s Modern Solid design language.

The sketch shows a clean, angular interior focused on simplicity, space and ease of use. A horizontal layout replaces the traditional dashboard, giving the cabin a more open feel.

Part of Volkswagen Group’s European Urban Car Family, the Epiq is expected to play an important role in expanding electric mobility to more customers and in helping Škoda double its battery-electric vehicle portfolio in 2026. 

In the first quarter of 2026, Škoda Auto became Europe’s second best-selling car brand, delivering 222,500 vehicles (+17.1%) and outperforming the overall market. Worldwide deliveries to customers increased 14.0% year on year to 271,900 vehicles, driven mainly by the all-electric Elroq and Enyaq, which ranked second and fifth among Europe’s best-selling BEVs.

EV demand boosts Irish April car registrations

Skoda Enyaq best selling electric car in April.

New car registrations in Ireland rose 17% in April to 10,184, driven by strong demand for electric vehicles, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, writes Brian Byrne. Year-to-date registrations are up 2.1% to 75,074.

Battery electric vehicle registrations more than doubled in April to 2,779, up 109.7% year-on-year, while 2026 EV sales to date have climbed 48.5% to 16,779.

Hybrids remain the most popular engine type, with 26.67% of the market, followed by EVs at 22.35% and petrol at 21.25%.

SIMI said private buyers account for 77% of EV sales, helped by government supports, but warned that more incentives and charging infrastructure are needed to encourage sales that will meet climate targets.

Commercial vehicle registrations were weaker, with light commercial vehicles down 3% and heavy goods vehicles down 20.5%. Imported used car registrations rose 43.1%.

The top-selling new car in April was the Toyota Rav4; the top-selling new electric car was the Skoda Enyaq. 

XPeng G6 AWD review - Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Chinese car company XPeng arrived in Ireland early last year with its first model, the ‘ultra smart’ all-electric G6 mid-sized coupe SUV, which is quite similar in size to its main rival, Tesla’s Model Y. The exterior features a coupe-style silhouette, contoured bodywork, a forward-sloping bonnet, frameless windows, and a rear slope to the roof. Full-width taillights make the car appear wider and glow beautifully at night, with a rear design reminiscent of the Porsche Macan coupe. All models sit on 20-inch alloys. This is a fairly long vehicle with a 2890mm wheelbase, offering ample interior space for five adults. 

The cabin exudes a premium feel, with high-quality materials, soft-touch coverings, a minimalist dashboard, and a centre console. The winter-white faux leather upholstery enhances the spaciousness of the interior. Front seats are heated and ventilated, with multiple adjustments including a memory function for the driver’s seat. A large panoramic glass roof lets in more light. The infotainment system operates on the latest XPeng Smart OS, and there are no physical buttons on the dashboard. Most functions are accessed via the 15.6-inch touchscreen, including adjusting the side mirrors, climate control, vehicle settings, drive modes (Eco, Sport, Individual), the 360-degree camera, fixing the tailgate height, and adjusting and saving driver seat and lumbar support settings. You can also control seat heating and massage functions. 

Navigating the menus proved somewhat time-consuming and confusing, as they’re not very intuitive, so I used the Voice Assistant by saying ‘Hey XPeng’ for key shortcuts. The two-tone steering wheel can be heated in cold weather. A customisable 10-inch digital display for the driver provides essential driving information in a minimalist format. However, in bright sunlight, I found it difficult to see my current speed, displayed in small black figures at the top of the cluster. There was no Head Up Display. The vehicle has four USB ports, a 12V power socket, and two wireless charging pads for smartphones. It lacks a glove box, but the large open area beneath the floating central console more than compensates, capable of holding a bag and an iPad. There’s a spacious compartment below the front armrest, sizable front door bins, and smaller ones at the rear. 

Rear passengers benefit from class-leading leg and headroom, as the panoramic roof does not intrude on headspace. Rear seats are heated, with two USB-C ports, pockets on the back of the front seats, and a fold-down middle armrest with two cupholders. The rear floor is flat. The power-operated boot offers 571 litres of luggage space, expandable to 1,374 litres with rear seats folded, with a small storage area beneath the floor. There is no front 'frunk’. 

Standard and Long Range versions are powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor with an estimated range of 435km, while both the Long Range and AWD Performance models, equipped with larger 80.8 kWh batteries, claim a range of 570 km. I found this figure to be quite accurate. 

My test car was the Performance AWD variant, with an impressive torque of 660Nm, achieving a spirited 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.13 seconds. The additional electric front wheel motor raises total output to 476hp. 

During my week with the car, I averaged 16.5 kWh/100 km. A standard heat pump helps extend driving range in cold winter conditions. Blind spot detection is well implemented on the driver’s screen and side mirrors, part of the XPILOT driver assist system, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning. Parking aid features are excellent, including the Surrounding Video System providing a 360-degree view. Additional safety features include forward collision warning, door open alert, and rear collision warning with rear cross-traffic alert. The large windscreen offers great visibility forward, though the narrow rear window limits rearward view. 

The ride is quite firm, with very light steering. An irritating feature is the Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS), which emits artificial sounds to alert pedestrians or cyclists about the approaching silent electric vehicle. It activates at speeds up to 30 km/h and even when slowing at roundabouts, which can be intrusive inside the cabin and cannot be turned off. A rear tow hook is available as an optional extra on all models. XPeng can tow up to 1,500kg. 

In Ireland, the brand is distributed by Motor Distributors Limited (MDL) on the Naas Road in Dublin. The entry-level Standard model starts at €42,000, the Long Range at €49,440, and the Performance AWD from €54,500. Prices include VRT relief and the SEAI grant but exclude dealer delivery charges.

Volkswagen reveals ID. Polo

Volkswagen has unveiled the ID. Polo, an all-electric reinvention of one of its most successful models, writes Brian Byrne. Debuted in Wolfsburg on 29 April 2026, the compact hatchback combines familiar Polo branding with a new electric platform and a starting price of €24,995 in Germany.

The ID. Polo will be offered with three power outputs — 85 kW, 99 kW, and 155 kW — along with two battery options. Volkswagen says the top version can deliver a WLTP range of up to 454 km, while DC fast charging from 10% to 80% takes around 23 to 24 minutes, depending on the version.

The front-wheel-drive ID. Polo offers space for five and a luggage compartment larger than some compact-class rivals. The interior features a Digital Cockpit, a 13-inch infotainment display, and physical buttons. 

Higher-spec versions add features such as Connected Travel Assist, automatic traffic light recognition, one-pedal driving, and vehicle-to-load capability.

Pre-sales in Germany have opened.