2.2 diesel for next Freelander

A new 2.2-litre diesel engine developed from the joint venture between Ford and PSA Peugeot-Citroen is expected to be the main power unit for the next Land Rover Freelander.

The new car is slated for debut in the latter part of next year, and will be the latest phase of the renewing of the models in the brand which began with Discovery 3 and continued with the recently-launched Range Rover Sport.

The engine is claimed to give the performance of a 2.5-litre unit and will come in 154hp single-turbo and 168hp dual sequential turbo versions.

It was specifically designed with pedestrian safety regulations in mind, and will appear first in a new PSA car.

Brian Byrne.

Dates with Clio

Renault in Switzerland is using a 'dating agency' format to push the new Clio towards the young singles market it wants to attract.

The 'Date and Drive' scheme involves holding 'singles parties' in selected dealerships, where participants will be introduced to the car ... and to each other.

Men and women are 'matched' for a 15-minute test drive, then they come back and are matched with new partners for another drive, and so on.

Renault's local advertising manager Anne Thorens says she's hoping that people 'will fall in love twice'. "Once with someone else, and once with the car," she grins.

G4 contenders go to next level

Three Irish people have been selected to go forward to the International Selection stage of the next Land Rover G4 Challenge, the global adventure event due to be staged next spring.



The three are two men and one woman, Vanessa Lawrenson and Paul Mahon from Dublin, and Gary Robertson (left above) from Five Mile Town in County Tyrone.

They came to the top from a group of 44 men and women who spent last weekend competing at a special Land Rover G4 adventure testing site in Solihull outside Birmingham.

— Brian Byrne.

Hyundai reveals new Santa Fe

Hyundai has just revealed all-new Santa Fe SUV is larger and more refined than its predecessor.

Power options include an all-new diesel, the D-2.2 which delivers 153hp coupled to an all-new five-speed transmission.

Third-row seats can be easily stowed away and fold flat into the floor. — Brian Byrne.

Swift wins Semperit Irish Car of the Year

The Suzuki Swift is the 2006 Semperit Irish Car of the Year.



Chosen by the members of the Irish Motoring Writers Association, it became the car to win by the highest margin in the 16 years since Semperit sponsored the competition.

The Swift garnered 119 points ahead of the Volkswagen Passat with 86 points, Ranger Rover Sport with 75, the Citroen C4 with 64 points and the Toyota Aygo with 61.

There were 33 original contenders this year. It is the first time Suzuki has won the competition, which was won last year by the Ford Focus.

The award was presented to Niall O'Gorman, general manager of Suzuki Ireland by Paddy Murphy of Semperit Ireland, in the presence of IMWA chairman Padraic Deane.

The Citroen C4 van won the Semperit Irish Van of the Year 2006 accolade. Paul Cregan, MD of Citroen Ireland, is pictured receiving the trophy from Paddy Murphy.



— Brian Byrne.

C6 gets first four-star pedestrian-protection

The Citroën C6 is the first car to be awarded the maximum four stars for pedestrian protection in the Euro NCAP crash test programme.

The car is also awarded five stars for adult occupant protection and four stars for child protection.

The C6 detects when a pedestrian has been struck and activates a ‘pop-up’ bonnet to give greater clearance between the bonnet and the rigid parts of the engine.

The Seat León is awarded three stars for pedestrian protection, while the Jeep Grand Cherokee scores zero points in this area.

A struck-through three-star rating for the Chevrolet Matiz for adult occupant protection indicates an unacceptably high risk of life-threatening injury in one aspect of the car’s performance, in this case chest protection in side impact.

The Matiz lags behind the Fiat Punto and the Toyota Yaris, both of which are awarded the maximum five stars for adult occupant protection. — Brian Byrne.

New Yaris aims high

The new generation Toyota Yaris will sell some 5,800 units in 2006 if Toyota Ireland's expectations are correct.

The latest version of what is acknowledged by Toyota as being its most important model in Europe is larger inside and out, has evolved into a more muscular style, and will come with a choice of three engines.

The entry level price has risen by €400 to €14,995 for the 3-door Terra 1-litre, which uses a version of the 3-cylinder engine used in the new Toyota Aygo, the brand's smallest car in Europe.

There are three specification levels, including Strata and Sol, and the top-end price at launch is €19,750 for the Sol+Luxury Pack 1.3.

A 1.4-litre 90hp diesel will also be on the lists.

The original Yaris was launched in 1999 and has achieved a 12 percent or more market share in four of the six years since. — Trish Whelan.

Irish contest for G4 Challenge

Forty-eight people will compete this weekend to represent Ireland in the 2006 Land Rover G4 Challenge.

The 48 men and women from around the country have been chosen from over 300 applicants to take one step closer to the 4-week world adventure.

The group is being flown to Land Rover’s ‘Home of the Legend’ off-road adventure facility at Solihull near Birmingham in England this weekend. They will be put through two days of physical and aptitude challenges including extreme 4x4 off-roading using the latest vehicles Land Rover Discovery 3 and the Range Rover Sport, navigation, kayaking, abseiling and overnight camping among its many activities.

The National Selection weekend is a test of initiative, strategic thinking and team spirit as physical fitness, sporting skills and driving ability. The Challenge is designed to test every aspect of the competitor’s character, demanding the flexibility to work as a team.

This weekend, three contenders: top male performer; top female performer and the next best contestant, will then be chosen to go through to the International selections in January.

The global Challenge takes place in April 2006 over a four-week period. It is set against the backdrop of four countries - Thailand, Laos, Brazil and Bolivia with the overall international winner driving away with a new Range Rover.

According to John Paul Mooney, marketing manager, Land Rover Ireland, the Land Rover G4 Challenge brings the essence of the Land Rover brand to life and the meaning of 'challenge' to new heights.

"The varied terrain will demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Land Rover vehicles, while the sports and activities will test the skills of the contenders to the extreme," he says. "The national selection finalists will be given a taste of what is to be expected in the global Challenge." — Brian Byrne.

Next open 3 Series is hard-top

The very successful BMW 3-Series convertible is to be replaced by a folding hard-top format car.

The new car is expected to come on the market in spring 2007, and the roof will be supplied and fitted in a 'factory within a factory' at BMW's Regensburg plant in Germany by a roof specialist company, Edscha.

The current generation 3 Cabriolet sold more than 40,000 units last year, and in 2002, its best year, some 54,000 were built. — — Brian Byrne.

Dangerous tyres

An annual study by the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA) suggests a sharp increase in the number of illegal tyres on our roads.

The inspection of thousands of tyres submitted for replacement at tyre depots found 47% were already below the legal tread limit of 1.6mm – a 17% increase on this time last year.

The findings were announced to coincide with the launch of Tyre Safety Week which runs from November 28 to December 4. — Brian Byrne.

Lexus IS goes on sale

The new Lexus IS goes on sale today, set to change the whole perception of the nameplate in Ireland.

Apart from being much more stylish, and substantially larger, the new generation IS also has two completely new engines, one of which is the brand's first-ever diesel.

According to Lexus Ireland MD Mark Teevan, the arrival of the new 'small' Lexus will put sales of the brand in Ireland 'over the 1,000 mark' for the first time.

He estimates that 650 IS units will be sold in Ireland in 2006, an increase of 120 percent over current sales of the outgoing version.

Up to 55 percent of sales will be 2.2-litre diesels, which will actually be the least expensive of the versions on offer at €43,790.

Sales of the petrol version, from €44,950, begin immediately. The first diesel will arrive in January, and a higher-performance 'Sport' version of the diesel will go on sale in March.

A full 'First Drive' report will appear in the upcoming issue of Irish Car. Trish Whelan.

Renault going for SUV share

Renault will enter the European SUV market in 2007 with a vehicle built by its Korean subsidiary Samsung.

The H45, its current code-name, will use the platform of the Nissan X-Trail but will have a much more rounded shape, rather similar to the Nissan Murano.

It will be the first SUV in the Renault model lineup. Brian Byrne.

Next S80 for Geneva

Volvo's next generation S80, the car that prompted the famous advertisement involving an American astronaut wondering 'how long have we been away?', will probably debut at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show.

The car will be based on a completely new platform developed by the brand's owner Ford, likely the same one to carry the next Mondeo.

Later in the year the Swedish company will also show its C30 hatchback, based on the same architecture as the S40 and V50 and using elements from the 2001 Volvo Safety Concept Car and the 3CC shown last year.

A small SUV also based on the V50 platform is also under consideration, possibly to be dubbed and XC50. Brian Byrne.

Clio III voted European Car of the Year 2006.

Clio III has been voted Car of the Year 2006 by a jury of 58 motoring journalists from 22 European countries. Clio III scored 256 points, ahead of the VW Passat (251 points) and the Alfa Romeo 159 (212 points).

A total of 28 new models were in the running for the Car of the Year 2006 award.

This is the sixth time Renault has won the European Car of the Year award. The Renault 16 was the winner in 1966, followed by the Renault 9 in 1982, Clio I in 1991, Megane Scenic in 1997, and Megane II in 2003.

"We are delighted with today's result," Bill Cullen, Chairman, Renault Ireland, said. "We were quietly confident that Clio III would perform well following its success in the Euro NCAP safety tests and from the very postive feedback we have received from the motoring press.

"In the Irish market so far the orders for the new Clio have been very firm and we are looking to a very successful year in 2006." Brian Byrne.

Upstyled Meriva in 2006

A revised version of Opel's Meriva small MPV is set to go on sale in the first quarter of 2006, with a freshened front end, a reprofiled bumper, and some interior revamps.

Two new engines will also become available, including the 1.3-litre CDTi diesel, as used in the Corsa and Tigra, offering a combined fuel economy figure of 57mpg. The 1.6-litre 105hp Twinport engine used in Astra and Zafira will also be available, with an economy figure of 42.2 mpg.

All versions of the new Meriva will feature a halogen version of Opel's Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL).

Prices and trim levels will be confirmed nearer to its launch in the New Year. Brian Byrne.

Saab plans sports cars and small SUV

Saab may add a two-seat sports car to its lineup as part of its product expansion, according to a report in the coming week's Automotive News.

Saab will show a front-wheel-drive, 250hp V-6-powered concept for the potential new model at the Geneva auto show in March.

Svante Kinell, Saab's European product marketing business manager for the 9-3 and 9-5, also confirmed that Saab is developing a small SUV similar in size to the BMW X3.

The SUV will be called the 9-4X. Brian Byrne.

Brookes for Killarney Historic

The 2005 Killarney Historic Stages Rally has received a significant boost with the news that former British Open Rally Champion and Irish Tarmac Rally Champion, Russell Brookes, is to enter the event in a Porsche 911.

Brookes won the Circuit of Ireland Rally in 1978 and 1983

The Killarney Historic Stages Rally, which will take place on December 3rd and 4th, is organised by Killarney & District Motor Club. Brian Byrne.

Jetta preview next week

Irish motorists will get their first chance to see the new Volkswagen Jetta when left hand drive versions arrive here for a special pre-launch open day which takes place in all VW dealer showrooms on Saturday November 19 next.

The car will officially be launched here in January.

The new Jetta has a significant increase in interior spaciousness over the Bora which it replaces, providing more leg room, more rear space, extra head room, and a luggage compartment 72 litres bigger than Bora. Brian Byrne.

BMW extends Irish range

BMW Ireland has launched the single largest set of engine variants in the company's history.

Among the new models, the BMW 130i, offers the most powerful engine ever to appear in a production compact segment car and the world’s lightest six-cylinder petrol engine.

In the 3-Series the the new BMW 318d, 318i and 330d Saloons join the 320i, 325i, 330i and 320d models in the 3 Series range.

In the 5-Series range, the V8-powered BMW 540i and 550i are both introduced at the same time as the 367hp 4.8-litre V8 engine also debuts in the 650i Coupé and Convertible. Sport variants of the 6-Series also appear for the first time.

A new long-wheelbase diesel-powered 7-Series plus new 2.0-litre petrol and 3.0-litre diesel-powered X3 models complete the new products.

In addition the current line-up receives increases in specification levels while the distinct ‘M-Sport’ variants are also launched on five of the models in the BMW range, and come as standard with M Aerodynamic body styling, M Sports suspension, high-gloss shadow line, M Sports steering wheel, Sports seats, M gear lever, M Sports door sills, M interior trim and anthracite headlining.

“BMW heads into 2006 with a very optimistic outlook. With our sales already exceeding 5,600 units this year, BMW achieves a market share of 3.3% for the first time” stated Conrad Schmidt, Managing Director, BMW Group Ireland. “Our expanded model line-up, the cost effective 5year/100,000 km Service Inclusive offer and our broad range of Financial Services products will hopefully continue to make BMW the most attractive proposition for our customers in the premium segment in 2006.”

Short list for ICOTY announced.

The five cars shortlisted by members of the Irish Motoring Writers Association for the Semperit Irish Car of the Year are the Citroen C4, Range Rover Sport, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Aygo and Volkswagen Passat.







The winner will be announced at a function in Dublin on November 24.

Safe driving in winter!

Irish Advanced Motorists has advice for drivers to keep safe during the coming winter months which include the following:
 
Don’t wait until it’s fully dark to turn your lights on: “see and be seen”.

Take particular care where children may be playing as light fades, especially  between 4pm and 6pm.

Clear all ice and debris from your windows & mirrors before you start driving.

Check your windscreen wiper blades are in good condition and reservoir topped up. Keep the windscreen clear.

Carry a spare pair of shoes in your car as dry soles make it easier to drive.

Check your lights and tyres, including your spare tyre and carry a spare set of light bulbs.

Wipe your head lights and tail lights to keep them bright.

Citroen pay your VAT

Citroën Ireland have introduced a less taxing approach to new car buying for 2006 with their Happy Deals Promotion.

Buy a new Citroën C2, C3, C4, Xsara Picasso or Berlingo Multispace Citroën will pay your VAT.

This means savings of between €2,000 and €4,100, depending on model.

Yaris makes five stars

The new Toyota Yaris has achieved a 5-star rating in Euro NCAP tests, and scored 35 points for adult protection.

The car, due in Ireland soon, is equipped with the segment's first driver knee airbag.

The adult protection score is the highest score ever for a Toyota car.

Jetta, Fox, on way

The all-new VW Jetta is set to make its appearance on Irish roads from January onwards.

Replacing the current Bora model, the new car has extra interior space, large luggage compartment, better vehicle dynamics and a high quality finish.

In February the new Volkswagen Fox - successor to the VW Lupo in the expanding supermini segment - makes its appearance.