Renault partners with Dubs

The current All-Ireland Football Champions lined out, not for a clash on the pitch, but to launch their official car partnership with Renault Ireland.

Renault will partner the team for 2012 and a number of players will drive new Renault models.

Eric Basset, MD Renault Ireland (pictured with team members) said the Renault dealership network has always had a long and successful involvement with their local GAA teams, so it seems like a natural progression for the company to build on these strong roots and work with the county teams.

Footballers Denis Bastick, Kevin Nolan, Barry Cahill, Michael Dara MacAuley, Eoghan O'Gara, Alan Brogan, Bernard Brogan will all drive Renault cars for the next years as will Dublin hurling manager Anthony Daly.

Both the Dublin football and hurling teams will be supplied with new Renault Trafic vans to help with training and transporting gear for their busy season ahead.

Camino Ways offer pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

If you want a relaxing holiday combining walking, sightseeing and spirituality then taking a Camino Ways pilgrimage could be just for you.

The Camino Primitivo, or Original Way, is the first pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and to the remains of St James. The route, which is split into two walking sections, one of 10 nights and one of six nights, is quiet and unspoilt.

Sights along the route include the Walled City of Lugo, the Embalse de Salime, which is the largest Spanish dam, and the Cathedral de Santiago. Another site along the route is the Cathedral of San Salvador which is home to a Romanesque statue of Christ that dates back to 100 years prior to the Camino.

During the trek, you stay in accommodation, on a half-board basis, which has been hand-picked by the Camino Ways team.

Camino Ways are now offering this pilgrimage holiday from just €590pps. Price includes luggage transfers from hotel to hotel, en-suite rooms in selected accommodation on a half-board basis, a holiday pack. It does not include return flights, insurance, drinks/dinner on the first night or airport transfers. See www.caminoways.com or call (01) 525 28 86.

New Malta brochure launched

Concorde Travel, the only Irish tour operator specialising in package holidays to Malta, has just launched their new 2012/13 edition of their brochure to Malta, Gozo and Comino.

It offers a selection of 3*, 4* and luxury 5* hotels in the fashionable resorts of St Julians, Valletta; Qawra, Buggibba, and Mellieha.

Concorde Travel are also giving people the option to stay in self-catering villas and apartments in the Gozitan countryside with car hire included.

This latest brochure also features information on how they can help you plan your wedding in Malta.

Concorde Travel is a fully bonded Tour Operator, and part of Joe Walsh Tours Group. www.concordetravel.ie or phone (01) 775 9300.

New Grand Scenic Bose goes on sale

The new Grand Scenic Bose is now available in 1.6dCi Start&Stop at Renault dealerships.

This Bose audio system is specifically designed for Scenic and gives a unique acoustic experience which Renault say is 'close to that of a live performance'.

Every seat has Bose speakers, so no one is left out.

The 1.6 dCi 130 Stop&Start boasts 20 percent better fuel consumption than its former 1.9 dCi 130 stablemate, together with greater performance and lower emissions - in Tax Band A. The car has been awarded a maximum 5 stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, with six airbags, ESP as standard, and Isofix anchors.

Both Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic are manufactured in Douai, northern France. Almost 20,000 Ren ault Scenics have been bought by Irish customers since 1996.

The new Grand Scenic Bose version comes with five years unlimited mileage warranty. The new Scenic range starts from €23,990 RRP. The Grand Scenic Bose Edition 1.6 130bhp Stop&Start edition is €32,390 + options. The new 1.6 dCi engine falls under Tax Band A, which is rare for a vehicle in the MPV segment.

Zombies on cellphones

It's just not worth it! We love this one. From Sacramanto's Channel 10 in California.

Mikkelsen makes Circuit of Ireland return as reigning IRC Champ

Skoda UK Motorsport's Andreas Mikkelsen will return to Ireland for the first time since 2007, when the Intercontinental Rally Challenge Champion and current points leader contests the team's home round of the series, The Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, in his Fabia S2000.

Andreas took part in several rounds of the Irish Tarmac Championship when he was 18-years old, which included a 3rd place finish on the Circuit of Ireland (the year it was called the UAC Easter International Rally). Having initially visited Ireland as a young rally apprentice, he now returns as the driver all IRC competitors aim to beat.

He will be co-driven, as in 2007, by Ola Floene, and having never rallied around the host town of Armagh before, a good recce and accurate pace notes will be the first steps towards success.

The Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally starts outside Belfast City Hall at 16.00 on Friday, 6th April and goes into what promises to be a sensational Titanic Super Special Stage at the Titanic Quarter, which forms part of the Titanic Festival. From there, it moves to Armagh for two stages. Leg 2 on Saturday 7 April starts at 08.00 and contains 10 stages, finishing in Armagh at 19.00 after 137.62 miles of flat-out driving.

Room-only deal from Clarion Hotel Limerick

The Clarion Hotel Limerick is offering €55 per room per night, if you book by 4th April. The price is for a stay from now until 31st August.

All guests can have full use of the SanoVitae Health & Fitness Club. Their complementary Children's Club operates daily during Easter, July & August 2012 for all children.

For an additional €20 per night, you can upgrade to one of their Riverview Deluxe Rooms. The room only rate is based on up to two adults.

Things to do in Limerick City include a visit to Thomond Park Museum Rugby Tour, King John's Castle in Nicholas Street, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Limerick Greyhound Track, the Milk Farmers' Market, Hunt Museum, Delta Adventure City and Karting, the Georgian House & Gardens, and a roller disco & leisure in Ballysimon.

Ford partners with Titanic 100 Cobh project

Ford Ireland has become a partner of the Titanic 100 Cobh 2012 centenary project with the provision of a pair of specially liveried new Galaxy models that will be used during the year-long commemoration.

Cobh (or Queenstown as it was known then) was the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic on April 11, 1912, when 123 passengers boarded the ship before it put out into the Atlantic ocean. Three days later, the 'unsinkable' ship sank following a collision with an iceberg in the north Atlantic.

To commemorate the visit of the Titanic to Cobh and the terrible tragedy, the Titanic 100 Cobh project has been set up and will run a packed agenda of events throughout 2012.

Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland said: "The Titanic is an important part of Cobh and Cork's history so it is fitting for Ford, with our historical Cork roots, to be involved in this project. In addition to providing these vehicles for use during the year." He is pictured (left) with Mark Anderson, Director of Titanic 100 Cobh project at the handover of the two Ford Galaxy vehicles.

Ford are also sponsoring a novel Titanic themed short film competition for budding film-makers." Entrants are invited to produce an 8-minute short film inspired by one of the themes of Titanic. Twelve finalists will be given the chance to showcase their work to the wider film industry and the general public at a family evening at Fota House Cobh on Saturday, 9th June, when one overall winner will be chosen and will receive the use of a Ford Fiesta for a year, fully fuelled, taxed and insured.

Visit www.8minutes.ie for more information. Information in relation to the Titanic 100 Cobh 2012 project and events planned can be accessed at www.titanic100.ie

Dermot and David win Peugeot Aftersales awards

Peugeot made a number of awards at their annual Aftersales Conference held in Dublin recently, and attended by 70 Parts Managers, Service Managers and Technical Advisors from across the Peugeot Dealer Network in Ireland.

The Peugeot Parts Manager of the Year award went to Dermot Warren, Parts Manager at Doyle's Garage Courtown, Wexford.

Dermot, from Kilmuckridge, was presented with the trophy for his 'outstanding performance in marketing Genuine Peugeot Parts and Accessories'.

Peugeot Aftersales in Ireland assess their Dealers by examining progress throughout a 12-month period and ensuring the highest Peugeot standards are implemented: stock management, accomplishment of sales targets for parts and accessories and showroom display of Peugeot Boutique. Dermot was a clear winner of this year's title with the highest Peugeot parts sales in Ireland. He is pictured above with John Burns, Peugeot Parts Manager.

The Total Peugeot Technician of the Year award to David Dunne, Technical Advisor at Clonee Motor Centre, Clonee.

David, from Ratoath, Co Meath, has worked at Clonee Motor Centre since 2006 and was selected from 48 Peugeot Technical Advisors to win the title. He has a wealth of experience in the Irish Motor Industry and Aftersales market and has been with the Peugeot brand for over 26 years.

During a 12-month period, David scored 85 percent in his evaluation programme consisting of 137 detailed questions across a broad spectrum of technical training areas.

Pictured are Sean Holland, Sales Director at Total, sponsors of the Peugeot Technician of the Year award; David Dunne with his trophy; and Des Large, Peugeot Aftersales Director.

Road Test: Skoda Yeti

I remember the first time driving a Skoda Yeti AWD, writes Brian Byrne. It was in the depths of mountain snows in south Wicklow last year and it showed itself to be just the right car for the job. Not a heavy duty 4x4, but able to hold its own in some quite difficult situations.

Recently, in the entirely different mild conditions we've had as this year's late winter, I had the opportunity to revisit the Yeti AWD. And found it engagingly practical in the normal bustle of family motoring.

BMW/Toyota batteries, diesel cooperation

BMW and Toyota have completed an agreement by which they will work together to improve the performance of batteries for electric and hybrid cars.

Under the agreement, originally announced last December, BMW will also supply Toyota with diesel engines for its cars sold in Europe.

The battery research will involve working on new combinations of materials to extend the range of lithium-ion batteries.

'Stop all car calls' - safety czar

America's top transport safety boss has called for a complete ban on phones use while driving, even hands-free, writes Brian Byrne.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman also criticised the makers of in-car IT, saying they are more interested in producing things that sell than things that are safe.

Regulators in the US say 3,092 deaths in 2010 can be attributed to distracted driving.

Ms Hersmann says the 'myth of multi-tasking' has to be dispelled, asking what's the price of the desire to be mobile and connected at the same time?

Her comments came against the background of Intel setting up a $100m fund to spend on technology for the 'connected car'.

BMW 5 and 6 Series recalls

BMW is recalling 1.3 million 5 and 6 Series cars worldwide to attend to a possible battery cable problem, writes Brian Byrne.

The recall affects cars built between 2003-2010 and involves the battery cable cover in the boot, which the company says can in 'some remote cases' be incorrectly mounted.

Consequent malfunctioning can lead to start failures, charring or fire. There are no known cases of accidents or injuries related to the problem.

Motor trade appointments

Nigel Donovan has been appointed Honda Brand Manager—Cars at Bradley Motor Works, Galway. He was previously Sales Manager at Monaghan and Sons Limited with responsibility for the Honda franchise in Galway City and County. Nigel is pictured above on left with Robert Bradley.

Ford Ireland has appointed Ciarán McMahon as Commercial Vehicle Sales and Marketing Manager. He was previously Ford Ireland’s Dealer Partner/Fleet & Rental Manager.

Donella Creedon has been appointed Supply and Distribution Manager with Ford Ireland. She has been with Ford for 15 years and in that time she has held roles in Distribution Administration and Ford’s Fleet Department.

New M-Class on sale

The new generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV has gone on sale in Ireland at a starting price of €71,060, writes Brian Byrne.

The vehicle is much smoother in design than the predecessor, and is powered by a 2.1 diesel which delivers up to 28 percent better fuel consumption than the one it replaces.

There's also a V6 3.0 diesel option with a consumption improvement of 24 percent.

A more spacious and comfortable interior with more elbow room, and a new dashboard and upholstery feature on the interior improvements.

The M-Class is equipped with permanent four-wheel drive and a new 7-G Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission.

Safety features includes drowsiness-detection and tyre-pressure monitoring, adaptive brake lights, and electronic brake assist.

Citroen releases revised C1

The revised Citroen C1 has gone on sale in Ireland at a starting price of €10,150.

There are 3- and 5-door variants among the three versions, all powered by a 68hp 1.0 petrol engine offering fule consumption equivalent to almost 68mpg.

A launch offer makes the 3-door VT available from €8,995, with details available from www.citroen.ie or your local dealer.

International EV conference for Dublin

An international electric vehicle conference scheduled in Dublin in July will bring together delegates from Europe, the US and China along with representatives from the car industry and EV components suppliers.

'Fully Charged' will be held on 11 July in the Convention centre Dublin. It is organised by ESB ecars, and co-hosted by the EU funded Green eMotion project. Executives from IBM, Nissan, Renault, Siemens, and the International Energy Agency will share their knowledge, latest research results and views.

A panel discussion with those responsible for ecar programmes in Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and UK will provide delegates with an insight into the business models, consumer uptake and challenges of EV adoption. In addition, first year results from Green eMotion, the largest EU funded transport research project in Europe with a total budget of €42 million and 43 partners, will be discussed.

A range of electric cars and related EV products and solutions will be on display in the exhibition area. A number of Irish small and medium enterprises who, over the last two years, have invested in developing a range of innovative products/services for the EV market will be showcased using the umbrella Ecar Ireland brand.

Members of the public will also have the opportunity to test drive electric vehicles in Dublin city on the same day. Interested parties should register online at www.fullycharged2012.com

Easter treat at Strokestown

Strokestown Park in Co Roscommon is offering a special Easter Sunday family fun promotion which will run from 12 noon to 6pm with a programme of activities aimed at children of all ages.

For an entry fee of €10 per child (admission is free for adults accompanying children) guests can enjoy live Puppet Shows from Conor Lambert’s Custard Pie Puppet Company, face painting, bouncing castles, and craft workshops presented by the Eco Envolve Team.

There will also be a live musical performance by Eileen O’Toole, and an Easter Egg Hunt. Unlimited access to the Park’s six acres of gardens is included.

Special lunch rates will be available in the Strokestown Park Woodland Walk Café, with separate menus for Kiddies and Adults, for €5 and €10, respectively.

Pre-booking is advisable, so secure your tickets today! Tickets are available online or by phone at 071 9633013.

Kia Optima arriving soon

The new Kia Optima will go on sale in Ireland over the next two weeks at a price of €26,995 for the EX entry version.

A Platinum specification will cost €28,995, adding larger alloys, panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery and reversing camera amongst its extra features.

Both versions will be powered by a 134hp 1.7 diesel.

As with all Kia models sold in Europe, the newcomer will be offered to consumers with the manufacturer’s unique 7-Year/150,000km Kia Warranty, which is fully transferrable to subsequent owners.

Dublin Tunnel Commercials is Main FUSO Truck Dealer

Already an established VTN test centre and a service centre for LCV and HGV commercial vehicles in North Dublin, Dublin Tunnel Commercials has been appointed as a FUSO Sales and Service Truck Dealer.

Operating from a prime location close to the Port Tunnel and Dublin Airport, Dublin Tunnel Commercials is a renowned specialist in all aspects of commercial vehicle maintenance. The appointment brings to fourteen the number of main FUSO Sales and Service Dealers nationwide.

Gerard Rice, General Manager of FUSO Ireland says "The Canter EURO 5 is the current Irish Truck of the Year, the new Canter Duonic Auto range has just been launched in Ireland, and we have Hybrid and 4x4 Canter launching later this year."

He said to capitalise on these developments, 'we need new Dealers to grow the brand'. "As a highly regarded Dealer in a very important market location for the FUXO brand, we are delighted to welcome Dublin Tunnel Commercials to the Dealer network."

Monaghan knocks Wexford off top of 'Pothole leader board'

Due to the mild winter, damage to vehicles in Ireland as a result of potholes are down on last year according to results of an AA membership poll of over 20,000 people.

At the end of January, some 11 percent of respondents said they have sustained damage to their vehicle since the start of the year having hit a pothole. This was 16 percent during the same period last year.

The AA's patrols attended over 1,400 call outs over punctures and warped wheels in January alone. The AA submitted over 10,000 pothole petition signatures to local authorities around the country last summer urging for repairs to be carried out.

Last year Wexford and Roscommon were the worst afflicted with 23 percenty of respondents from each county having had to have repairs carried out as a result of a pothole. This year Monaghan (23 percent, Cavan (19 percent) and Clare (19 percent) came out as the worst affected based on the poll results.

Wexford ranks seventh this year while Roscommon is now mid table. Dublin had the lowest percentage of incidents, down from 12 percent in January 2011 to jus t7 percent this year.

BMWs 2012 fleet delivered to Olympics

BMW Group, the Official Automotive Partner to the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, has delivered the first 40 cars that will be used for this summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.

The vehicles will form part of the full fleet to be used by LOCOG to help drive the Games. The fleet consists of electric, diesel, and hybrid cars, as well as a range of motorcycles and bicycles, and benefits from BMW's EfficientDynamics technologies meaning that it will achieve LOCOG's strict 120g CO2/km emissions target.

Amongst the first cars to arrive were the 520d EfficientDynamics and the 320d EfficientDynamics, both of which will be active throughout the course of the Games.

The ultimate honeymoon destination

Wings Abroad, the Turkish holiday specialists, say the beaturiful Turkish town of Altinkum is the perfect spot to spend your honeymoon in the lap of luxury, relexing in a romantic resort.

Venosa Beach resort and Spa has its own private beach, surrounded by pine trees and offers all the facilities of a modern 5* resort. Spacious pool areas and a variety of restaurants with international cuisines make it an ideal choice for a honeymoon destination. The resort and spa is located on a small bay approx 5km along the coast from the resort of Altinkum. The hotel has a spa centre with an indoor pool, hot tub, Turkish bath, steam room and sauna.

You can stay on an all-inclusive basis, travelling on 20 May from €709 for 1 week; €1,159 for 2 weeks.
Departing on 30th September, it will cost €759 for 1 week, €1,019 for 2 weeks. Leaving 7th October, €699 for 1 week, or €959 for 2 weeks.

Prices are per person based on two adults aharing. Only extra €3 Government tax per person. Price includes 7 / 14 nights accommodation, return flights and return transfers. Contact www.wingsabroad.ie or call 01 8719444 or contact your local travel agent.

Cruzes get ready for challenges in Valencia

Following a terrific start to the season in Monza - where Chevrolet collected a double and triple podium finishes in the two races at Italy's temple of speed the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza - the Cruzes are heading to another of the most popular venues in the WTCC calendar, Valencia, Spain.

Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2012 FIA World Touring Car Championship take place there on 31 March and 1st April.

The Circuito Ricardo Tormo plays host in the second round. The circuit is one of the most challenging for the Cruzes, which are still carrying additional weight ballast as in the Monza races. With its twisty and technical design, Valencia is a punishing circuit for brakes and tyres, and one where rear-wheel drive and lighter cars have a clear advantage.

The Chevrolet team of Muller, Huff and Menu are undergoing further testing in Italy in preparation for the Valencia event.

Opel Ampera to make Irish debut at Energy Show

The Opel Ampera, a new type of electric vehicle, will make its Irish debut next week at the Energy Show in Dublin's RDS Main Hall on Wednesday 28th and 29th March 2012.

Earlier this month, the Opel Ampera was awarded the European Car of the Year title by a jury of 59 journalists from across Europe. It has also recently been awarded the maximum of five Euro-NCAP stars for safety.

The Ampera uses a 16kWh lithium-ion battery pack that feeds an 111 kW/150hp electric drive unit to deliver between 40 and 80 km of pure electric driving with zero emissions.

It has enough power to cover most drivers' daily commute and for longer journeys, a range extender kicks in when the battery is low. The range extender is a petrol powered generator that supplies electricity to the car for a further 500km. The car's battery can be recharged in four hours at home or anywhere through a 230v conventional outlet.

The Ampera is expected to go on sale in Ireland this September.

Kia invests further at its European facility at Zilina

If you drive a Kia vehicle, this is where your car was born.

This is the Korean company's Slovakia production facility at Zilina in Slovakia which posted record production and investment figures during 2011.

The Kia facility produced more than 252,000 cars and 359,000 engines in 2011, representing increases of 10 and 12 per cent respectively over the previous year.

Kia also invested heavily through 2011, recruiting an additional 900 employees to staff a third production shift in January this year, bringing the total workforce to over 3,900 employees.

This year will see Kia invest another €110m in its Zilina facility and launch production of the all-new Kia cee'd. The SportageSUV, cee'd 5- and 3-door and estate models, along with the Venga are built at the plant.

At this moment, Kia are the fastest growing brand in Europe.

Kids free to Britain with Irish Ferries til year end

Irish Ferries has introduced a Kids go Free to Britain offer on all motorist bookings, on all sailings, including Dublin Swift, on every day from now until the end of the year on all bookings made by 31st March.

Coupled with their lead-in fare from €89 for car plus driver, motorists can now save up to 30 percent on the pay portion while having the chance to take the kids for free.

For bookings and information, visit www.irishferries.com or call 0818 300 400.

Skoda's Citigo small car here in July

Skoda is introducing its seventh model, the Citigo, in early July priced close to 10,000. It will be the entry-point to the range. Available in two body styles, the 3-door coming first, with the 5-door following later in September, and priced at around €500 more.

Citigo will be available in three specifications, Active, Ambition and Elegance.

2011 saw Skoda Ireland increase its share of the Irish market to a record 5.2 percent. Skoda here aims to become a Top Five best-selling car brand by 2016.

Last year, Skoda Ireland recorded a turnover of €74.5m with Parts & Accessories turnover growing by 24 percent in comparison to 2010. The Octavia model was the stand out performer within the range accounting for 46 percent of overall sales.

Ford B-MAX safety tech will help avoid city shunts

The all-new Ford B-MAX will reduce the risk of low-speed accidents as well as the likelihood of injuries, thanks to the introduction of Ford's low-speed collision avoidance system Active City Stop.

Low speed front-to-rear collisions are one of the most common accidents in urban traffic; they can happen at traffic lights, intersections, roundabouts and other stop-start driving situations, and you don't have to be travelling fast to get infured. Even at very low speeds you can suffer soft tissue neck injury.

First launched on Ford Focus last year, Active City Stop is now being launched on a compact Ford vehicle for the first time. It monitors traffic ahead and applies the brakes if it detects a collision with a vehicle in front is imminent.

The system was awarded an Advanced reward by Euro NCAP last year.

Easter package prices reduced to Croatia and Portugal

Thinking of jetting off on a relaxing holiday this Easter?

Concorde Travel have announced that package prices for their Easter holidays have now been reduced.

You can now enjoy seven nights in Croatia or Portugal from €499pp.

Departing on 1st April for 7 nights at the 3* Antuninska Apartments in Dubrovnik Old Town (pictured above), self catering, is now from €499pp. Other offers departing 6th April, for 7 nights, include Hotel Adriatic, Hotel Kompas, Oberostar Hotel Albatros in Cavat, Grand Park & Villas Hotel, Dubrovnik, 5* Hotel Croatia in Cavat, and 5* Rixos Libertas Hotel in Dubrovnik.

Prices include direct return flights from Dublin to Dubrovnik, return airport transfers, assistance of a local Concorde rep, accommodation as stated, and all taxes and charges.

Portugal - departing 9th April, for 7 nights, at the 4* Vila Gale Estoril, b&b, are from €499pp. Other hotels include the 3* Saboia Hotel in Estoril, 4* Vila Gale Cascais, and the 5* Palacio Estoril from €749pp.

Prices include direct return flights from Dublin to Lisbon, etc. as above.

To book, or for further information visit www.concordetravel.ie or phone (01) 775 9300.

VW and Sinnott Autos sponsor Bray Wanderers Football Club

Volkswagen and Sinnott Autos have been unveiled as new sponsor of Bray Wanderers Football Club.

The 'Seagulls' and Sinnott Autos dealership, in partnership with Volkswagen, will begin an exciting one year venture that sees Sinnott Autos as the main shirt sponsor of the club.

Bray Wanders is one of the country's leading football clubs, having won the FAI Cup twice. They have also represented Ireland in European competitions.

In 2011, they finished in the top six of the Airtricity League and qualified for the first time in the club's history for the Setanta Sports Cup.

Simon Elliott, Group Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Ireland said, similar to their Sligo Rovers sponsorship, 'this is a direction that the Volkswagen Group has wanted to explore for some time now'. He said they are committed to giving back to local Irish communities and what better way to do so than by supporting great local clubs, such as Bray Wanderers.

Air rules on gadgets to be reviewed

Those announcements about switching off gadgets before a plane takes off and lands may, slowly, be heading towards their end, writes Brian Byrne.

According to reports in the New York Times, the US Federal Aviation Administration says it is to take a 'fresh look’ at the situation, at least in relation to e-readers and tablets.

Although there have been no actual verified reports of personal electronic gadgets causing interference to a plane’s avionics, the FAA and its equivalent agencies around the world have taken the cautious route of banning them during landing and take-off.

The FAA situation is that airlines can ask for a relaxation of the rule if they can show that they have tested the devices and proved they don’t interfere.

But this would be a tremendously expensive process for individual airlines, because it would mean testing each version of a device like an iPad separately, in an empty plane in flight, for each model of plane in the airline’s fleet.

Now the FAA is to look at the matter itself. This might mean airlines clubbing together to fund tests organised by the Administration.

So far, a baby step in a giant’s journey. In the US, it is estimated there will be 40m e-readers like the Amazon Kindle in circulation by the end of this year, and 60m tablets like the iPad.

That’s a lot of switching off when the aircraft doors are closed.

Rob Kearney launches Audi Inspiration Sales Event

Irish rugby international full-back and Audi brand ambassador, Rob Kearney, has launched the Audi Inspiration sales event which was launched at Audi dealerships on 18th and will run until 31st March.

Exclusive Audi limited edition option packs are available during this time, giving motorists the opportunity to avail of savings up to €6,595.

A Personal Contract Plan (PCP) is available to both existing and prospective customers.

Movies are on VW when you test drive a Volkswagen in March

To celebrate Volkswagen Open Month, Volkswagen is giving customers who test drive a new Volkswagen car in March two free cinema tickets and a free Spring Health Check for their current Volkswagen car.

For anyone who purchases a Volkswagen this month, they will automatically be in with the chance of winning a €2,000 holiday voucher.

Contact your local Authorised Volkswagen dealer for a test drive. You can find your nearest one at www.volkswagen.ie

Alton Towers promotion

To coincide with Alton Towers unveiling two new attractions—‘Nemesis-Terra’ and ‘Ice Age The 4-D Experience’—Irish Ferries is promoting an Easter break to Britain’s top theme park.

A three-nights stay with breakfast in the nearby Holiday Inn Express Hotel is €461 for a family of two adults and two children under 11 years, inclusive of return car ferry crossing and one full day at Alton Towers. The promotion is valid for travel between 2nd and 15th April.

Bookings can be made on 0818 300 400. For further information visit www.irishferries.com/alton

Evoque lifts JLR sales high

Sales of Range Rover's Evoque have underpinned an upsurge in Jaguar Land Rover sales last month, by 49 percent to 32,257 units.

The Evoque has been an unqualified success for the brand, to the point that the company is finding it difficult to meet demand. The Irish distributor says availability is the biggest problem.

Jaguar Land Rover is owned by India-based Tata Motors, and the boost in sales has helped to offset slower growth for Tata vehicles in its home country.

A cabrio version of the Evoque was shown at Geneva in concept form (above).

How green is thy chariot, Patrick?

He may be looking a little lost, but St Patrick is definitely greener than ever this year, arriving in Dublin for tomorrow's parade in a Nissan Leaf electric car.

He will be accompanied by two Bui Bolg festival characters who will present ‘How is Electricity Made?’ in the parade, as part of this year’s science themed event.

Uninsured cars 'won't get petrol' plan

British Government officials are said to be considering a new way of tackling uninsured cars—by making it impossible for them to fill up at petrol stations, writes Brian Byrne.

The scheme would use CCTV cameras already in place to discourage motorists driving away without paying for petrol, according to a report in the Mirror newspaper. The cameras use automatic numberplate recognition technology and only allow fuel to be poured when the registration number has been logged.

The scheme would involve linking the cameras with the UK's car registration database, the DVLA. This already knows whether cars are insured or not.

If the scheme was implemented, petrol wouldn't pour for an uninsured car.

Critics are calling the plan 'daft', 'Big Brother', and ask what about all the people who come to petrol stations with cans to fuel lawnmowers and other garden machines?

It is estimated Britain has 1.4m motorists who drive without insurance. That's one in 25, said to be the worst rate in Europe.

Kia scores more red dots

Kia has been awarded two top honours for its Picanto (above) and Rio (below) models in the 2012 red dot design competition.



The five-door versions of both cars were winners in red dot’s ‘Product Design’ category. More than 4,500 products were entered by 1,800 manufacturers from 58 countries across a variety of product sectors.

These two latest wins bring Kia’s red dot total to six, with the Soul crossover winning in 2009, Venga compact MPV in 2010, and both Sportage compact SUV and Optima sedan claiming top spots in 2011. Optima was also named ‘best of the best’ in 2011.

The Kia Rio is the Continental Irish Car of the Year 2012 winner, selected by the Irish Motoring Writers Association.

Vienna car2go powering on

The latest city to roll out the Daimler car2o short term car rental scheme is Vienna, where more than 7,000 city dwellers have registered for the service, writes Brian Byrne.

With 500 Smart ForTwo vehicles available in the city since early December, the scheme has already registered more than 60,000 rentals. The current rate of new journeys is 10,000 a week.

The scheme is similar to the bike rental facilities available in many cities, including Dublin, and in Vienna's car2go four out of five journeys last less than 45 minutes. The average distance is between 5-10 kilometres.

The system involves a once-off registration fee of €9.90, and after that customers can spontaneously rent available cars on the street, or find and book them using smartphone apps or their computers. Accessing the cars is via the membership card.

The cars can be left for free in any public parking space or short term parking places inside the city operating area. The scheme pays a blanket parking fee to the city to cover this.

More than two thirds of users are between the ages of 26-50, and a fifth are under 25.

Charges are by the minutes driven (€0.29) and parked (€0.09) with discounted prices for hourly and daily use.

The car2go scheme was inaugurated by Daimler in 2008 and is already operating successfully in nine cities in Europe, the USA and in Canada. Nearly 3,000 vehicles are currently in operation for more than 70,000 customers.

Leprechauns to patrol Las Vegas traffic

Traffic police in Las Vegas will be donning leprechaun costumes on St Patrick's Day to help keep pedestrians and motorists apart.

It's the latest in a trend of officers getting into seasonal costumes to try and cut down accidents.

In November they dressed as turkeys. At Christmas a number had Santa outfits.