Crystal Summer's August offers to Austria

Crystal Summer is offering a last minute summer escape to Austria, famous for its spectacular scenery including lush valleys, incredible mountains and shimmering rivers and lakes, writes Trish Whelan.

Travelling 13 August 2014, spend 7 nights in the 3* B&B post hotel resort Mayrhofen from €579pp.

Price includes return flights ex. Dublin, 7 nights accommodation, trip to Salzburg, transfers, taxes and charges. Based on 2 sharing. Upgrade to half board for an extra €125pp.

Road test: Honda Civic Tourer

Honda’s new Civic Tourer is a practical family estate car with a huge boot, writes Trish Whelan. The estate version is versatile and practical, two ‘musts’ for a family car.

It also means low fuel bills if you opt for the lightweight 1.6 diesel engine which sips around 3.8 litres per 100km, equivalent to 74.3mpg. Some Honda customers have taken up the challenge and discovered they can achieve this with their own car - Honda claims some have even bettered this and ‘stand to save hundreds of euro a year in fuel costs’.

The car is stylish without being over-the-top. While my review car had a red exterior which looked really well, to me white looks the best.

Honda expect the Civic Tourer to appeal to private buyers as well as to fleet businesses with its class-leading load space, low emissions, good performance, frugal fuel economy and the long list of standard items. These things take time and the car has had something of a slow start since launch in February while its hatchback sibling clocked up a healthy 433 sales for the first five months of this year. But Honda expect Tourer sales to take off when people become more aware of how much the car has to offer.

Find yourself on Land Rover picture at Horse Show

The Land Rover Puissance show jumping competition will take place on Saturday, 9 August at the Dublin Horse Show in the RDS, sponsored by Discover Ireland, writes Trish Whelan.

For the first time, Land Rover will capture a 360 degree image of the crowd cheering on the riders competing to clear 'the big red wall'.

Once published live at landrover.ie/fanpic on Sunday, 10 August, fans at the event will be able to tag themselves in the picture and to share the image with their friends via Facebook and Twitter.

Those who tag themselves will be in with a chance to win prize of a Land Rover off-road driving experience with an overnight stay in Carton House Hotel in Maynooth.

Melanie McCourt, Marketing Manager, Jaguar Land Rover Ireland says the FanPic 'will add another dimension to our sponsorship and will offer the crowd an opportunity to engage with the event after the Horse Show has ended'.

Land Rover Puissance

GoCar celebrates One Year Anniversary

Ireland's only car sharing initiative, GoCar is celebrating its one year anniversary this week having set up in business on 1 August, 2013, writes Trish Whelan.

To celebrate, GoCar is offering to wave the €50 sign-up fee for the service for anyone who joins before midnight on 1 August as well as offering the first hour of use completely free of charge.

Colm Brady, Managing Director of GoCar Ireland says in the last year GoCar has surpassed all expectations accumulating almost 15,000 trips, growing its fleet to over 70 vehicles, and enjoying a membership base of over 2,000 people.

He hopes to exceed 20,000 trips this year and to add more bases across Dublin. The start of July saw a new base added to the UCD campus and Colm Brady expects further additions at St Stephen's Green and Merrion Square in the coming months.

GoCar allows the freedom to access a vehicle when and as people need it. Members using on-street GoCars aren't charged for parking at any pay-and-display parking space. The service also removes the stress and cost associated with NCT's, vehicle servicing and insurance premiums.

Dublin City Engineer/Director of Traffic, Michael Phillips says the entire scheme 'can only be described as a complete success'.

Michael Phillips is pictured above with Colm Brady.

Six new Mercs due this autumn

Mercedes-Benz in Ireland is facing into a busy Autumn of new model launches with a further six new arrivals set to hit our shores during the September to November period, writes Trish Whelan.

In the pipeline is a new C-Class Estate to join the recently launched C-Class saloon range, plus two new S-Class derivatives - an S-Class Coupe AMB with all of the sporty trim that the letters AMG suggest, and an S-500 Hybrid to join the S-300 version already here.

For CLS admirers, new versions of the Coupe and Shooting Brake models are promised along with an AMG GT which will be a head-to-head competitor for the iconic Porsche 911.

Commenting that these new arrivals will top what has surely been the most active period of new model development in Mercedes-Benz history, their sales manager in Ireland, Ciaran Allen said that 'for environmentally-conscious motorists, the year will close on a high with the arrival in November of an electric-powered B-Class'.

Pictured above is the new C-Class Estate set to go into production in September. It will be the first of the new models to arrive here.

Last remaining Lake Garda places from Crystal

Crystal Al Fresco are offering a family getaway to the Altominico family park in Lake Garda, writes Trish Whelan.

The Altominico Family Park's facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, lagoon style paddling area with slides, several children's play areas, mini golf and family entertainment. Outdoor activities include volleyball, football and bike hire. Windsurfing, tennis, horse riding and scuba diving are available close by.

There are only a few remaining places left in the Altominico this summer. Spend 7 nights in the Altominico Family Park from €399pp; based on 4 people sharing, but other share options are available. The price includes 7 nights accommodation, flights, and transfers.

To book or to order a brochure call (01) 433 1056 or visit www.crystalalfresco.ie. Crystal is fully licensed by commission of aviation regulation.

Volkswagen launches Junior Masters Ireland

Volkswagen Ireland has launched the Volkswagen Junior Masters tournament at the AUL complex to support soccer stars of the future, writes Trish Whelan.

The car company has sponsorship agreements already with a number of top Irish teams including Shelbourne FC, Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers.

Sixteen teams are participating in this 11-a-side tournament played according to official FIFA rules on regular sized pitches with regular size goals. The group stages, in which there are four groups of four teams, will be played on Saturday 9 August with the semi-finals and finals taking place on Sunday 10 August. The Grand Final will take place at 2.30pm on Sunday.

Pictured at the launch are Mark Hughes, Leigh Reilly, Jack Dolan and model Holly Carpenter.

Jimmy Devane Memorial Grass Surface Autocross

The late Jimmy Devane in one of his Nissan cars

The Jimmy Devane Memorial Autocross takes place on Sunday next, 3 August, writes Austin Shinnors.

A grass surface autocross, it will be hosted by Killarney Motor Club, and be based in Aghadoe, Killarney, less than 5kms from Killarney Town and beside Aghadoe Heights Hotel. Clerk of the Course Denis Nagle (Mob 087 2680257) has announced Scrutiny at 10:30am with the first timed run at 12:30pm. Prizegiving will be held in the Golden Nugget Bar, Fossa.

The Jimmy Devane Memorial Autocross is now an annual event and constitutes Round 4 of the 2014 Munster Autocross Championship which is sponsored by O'Shea Bus Hire, Kilfinny, Co Limerick.

With three rounds completed, the championship is dominated by JB Buggies. Leading is Clare driver Padraig Egan with 41 points, followed by Galway brothers Adrian and Derek Deane who are tied in second place with 36 points. Killarney man Tom Daly is fourth with 32 points and Tipperary man Whitby Moynan completes the top five with his Toyota Special on 28 points.

London spectacular planned for Jaguar XE debut

Emeli Sandé with the new Jaguar XE.

British car manufacturer, Jaguar, is preparing a spectacular event for the world premier of its all-new, mid-sized XE saloon, the newest model which will compete in the medium premium segment represented by the BMW 3 Series, writes Trish Whelan.

The audio-visual spectacle will take place in London on 8 September and be seen and heard across the River Thames.

Among those signed up for the 'FEEL XE' project from the worlds of music, film and design are British song writer Emeli Sandé who will perform on that day. She is inviting members of the public to influence her special new track via social media using #FEELXE.

Others involved in projects will be British designer Stella McCartney and Emmy nominated British actor Idris Elba.

The XE has been designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK. Jaguar claim it delivers 'game-changing driving experience and performance' and will bring new levels of aluminium-intensive lightweight construction expertise to the segment'.

The XE will be the first user of the Ingenium engines in four-cylinder, 2.0 petrol and diesel variants. The engine line-up will allow Jaguar to offer vehicles with class-leading performance, including top speeds of over 300km/h (186mph) and emissions lower than 100g C02 per km. It will be the most fuel efficient Jaguar ever to achieve over 3.8 litres per 100kms (75mpg).

Mercedes-Benz backs Bumbleance Mega Push

Mercedes-Benz will be adding its weight to the upcoming Bumbleance Mega Push - described as a spectacular and challenging fundraiser that will see the distinctively illustrated Mercedes-Benz-powered children's ambulance pushed all the way from Dingle to Dublin.

Spearheading the venture is Tony Heffernan - the powerhouse behind The Saoirse Foundation and Bumbleance - the world's first interactive children's ambulance service which provides free transport for children from all over Ireland to and from children's hospitals, respite, treatment centres and hospices. Fronting the project with him is well-known Kerryman, and fellow Dingle resident, ice explorer and adventurer Mike O'Shea.

The Mega Push will see a special Bumbleance vehicle being pushed from Dingle to Dublin, a distance of 355 kilometres along a route that will take it over the Conor Pass and onwards on a 9-10 days push through the towns and villages of Camp, Castleisland, Templeglantine, Adare, Birdhill, Moneygall, Mountrath, Monasterevin and Kill, finishing in St Stephen's Green on 20 September.

Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles sales manager Fergus Conheady said "We are proud to have been involved in the Bumbleance project from the word go and to see our Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star motif adorn the fascia of such a special and worthwhile vehicle".

Pictured above are Mike O'Shea and broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan as they help launch the fundraiser.

New Volvo XC90 'one of safest ever'

Safe Positioning feature

Volvo Cars' all-new XC90, to be revealed in August, will offer the most comprehensive and technologically sophisticated standard safety package available in the automotive industry, writes Trish Whelan.

These new technologies will bring the company closer to its vision that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020.

The standard safety package on the all-wheel drive, seven seat premium SUV will include two world first safety features; a run-off road protection package and auto brake at intersection capability.

The run-off road is a common accident type with various causes, such as driver distraction, drowsiness or poor weather conditions. In Sweden, single-vehicle accidents involve one-third of all fatal and severe injury crashes with passenger cars and Volvo is troubled by this statistic and developed the technology to protect occupants should these situations happen. "It's about finding out how and why accidents and injuries occur, and then developing the technology to prevent them," their Senior Technical Specialist Safety at Volvo Cars Safety Centre, Prof. Lotta Jakobsson explained. The result is their Safe Positioning feature where in a run-off road scenario, the new XC90 detects what's happening and the front safety belts are tightened to keep occupants in position. The belts stay tightened as long as the car is in motion.

The second world-first feature ensures automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car, like at busy city crossings. The car detects a potential crash and brakes automatically.

The Volvo XC90 also has a broad range of other safety features like pre-crash protection in rear impacts, rollover prevention and protection, City Safety auto braking functions, and enhanced road sign information.

Automatic braking feature

Ian Madigan lines out for Citroen

Leinster and Ireland fly-half rugby star Ian Madigan recently collected the keys for his new multi-award winning DS 3. Ian is continuing his role as Citroen Brand Ambassador and says he is delighted with his new car which gets a lot of attention when he travels to training.

Louise Murphy, Marketing Manager, Citroen Motors Ireland, says they are thrilled to have Ian on board as Brand Ambassador. The DS 3, she added, is the perfect fit for Ian, as like him, it is sporty and agile.

Citroen wish him well for his upcoming season with Leinster and Ireland.

Ian is pictured above with his new DS 3.

Skoda renews partnership with Dogs Trust

Skoda is renewing its partnership with Dogs Trust as the official vehicle supplier to the charity, writes Trish Whelan.

As Ireland's largest dog welfare charity, the core function of Dogs Trust is to reduce the number of stray dogs that are destroyed in Irish pounds each year and to educate the public about responsible dog ownership.

Since opening its state of the art rehoming centre in Finglas, Dublin, in November 2009, Dogs Trust has helped save the lives of over 4,000 stray and abandoned puppies and dogs. It also launched a new Puppy Wing this summer, in response to surging levels of puppies being abandoned in Ireland. The new wing will save the lives of an additional 500 puppies and the mothers each year and will cost an extra €400,000 a year to run; it also provides veterinary care.

Skoda will add a Yeti and a Roomster to the charity's existing fleet of their vehicles.

Pictured at the renewal of the partnership were Ciara Walsh, Marketing Communications Manager, Skoda Ireland; model Vogue Williams, a Skoda Yeti driver; and Mark Beazley, Executive Director, Dogs Trust, at the Dogs Trust Dublin rehoming centre in Finglas.

2014 Skoda Yeti

New Vito will carry more, cost less

When the new generation Mercedes-Benz Vito Van arrives in Ireland next spring, it will offer more and less than the current model, writes Brian Byrne.

The more will include a FWD version for the first time, a new 1.6 diesel, and more carrying capacity. The less will be a lower price at entry, though the numbers haven't been agreed for the Irish market yet.

The RWD configuration continues, aimed at operators needing to manage heavier loads. An AWD version won't be available in RHD.

The 1.6 diesel comes in 88hp and 114hp versions, while the familiar 2.1 diesel has 136hp, 163hp and 190hp options. Both engines have 6-speed manual, while a 7-speed automatic is available with the 2.1.

The average fuel consumption for the range is now down by 20 percent according to Mercedes-Benz at the reveal of the van in Berlin yesterday. A 40,000km service interval also helps keep down the overall cost of operation.



A newly designed interior features a quality finish and robust materials, and increased seat travel to cater for taller operators.

Pictured below is Fergus Conheady of Mercedes-Benz Commericals Ireland.

Conti.eContact - ready to roll for hybrid vehicles

Tyre manufacturer Continental has taken the Conti.eContact which was originally launched in 2011 with electric vehicles in mind, and refined it to meet the needs of hybrid models, writes Trish Whelan.

Continental believe hybrids could account for as much as 8 percent of vehicles by 2020.

With this in mind, the Conti.eContact features a range of newly developed technologies and is also the first tyre in the range to obtain the top A label rating on the EU Tyre Label for both wet grip and rolling resistance.

This new tyre comes with a 20 percent reduction in rolling resistance, thanks to the newly developed Green Chili compound. The silica compound of the new tyre is constructed in such a way that the internal friction of the filler particles and the polymers is lower than in conventional rubber compounds. This results in lower rolling resistance, whilst maintaining the highest level of handling and braking performance when pushed to the limit.

The sidewalls of the new tyre have also been redesigned with a focus on minimising aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance.

Hybrid vehicles are virtually silent when run in electric mode. As tyre noise is no longer drowned out by other sources of noise such as a conventional engine, it's all the more noticeable. This new tyre has been designed to generate minimal audible noise in the cabin, achieved with the aid of ContiSilent technology, a thin layer of polyurethane foam attached to the inside of the tread that reduces the vibrations that are generated as the tyre rolls across the surface of the road.

The Conti.eContact will have a 'BlueEco' logo on the sidewall and be available in six sizes for 17 and 18-inch rims, specially designed for models like the BMW 5 series ActiveHybrid, Lexus LS 600h and Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid. It will also be available for other cars and SUVs with hybrid drive.

Continental boss warns of fitting part-worn tyres

Commenting on the part-worn tyre market at a Continental Tyre briefing to motoring journalists this morning, Tom Dennigan, General Manager, Continental Tyres, said he wants to warn motorists not to consider fitting such tyres to their vehicles because there is no way of knowing what hidden damage may have been caused to the tyre in its previous life, writes Trish Whelan.

Experts in the UK have pointed out that the majority of tyres that are offered for sale as part-worn have come from 'End of Life Vehicles' (ELVs), cars and vans that have been involved in accidents. Ask yourself, he said, would you be happy letting the safety of your family depend on tyres that may previously have been on a vehicle involved in an accident, or perhaps even written off.

"Irish motorists should also be aware that a lot of the tyres that are sold as part-worn are winter tyres from European countries and that, if these tyres are put on the same axle as the existing standard tyre, the car will automatically fail the NCT as the Road Safety Authority has ruled that winter and summer tyres can not be mixed across the one axle."

Mr Dennigan said, while there are no reliable statistics, part-worn tyres continue to be a significant part of the market here. He believed their market share is at least 10 percent, maybe more. He also pointed out that in the last few months, the number of part-worn tyre outlets has decreased here.

Enjoy a summer escape at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel

The summer holidays are flying by but there is still time to enjoy a family break as Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney. The hotel has a package available for families before the new school term starts in September.

From €499, families (based on 2 adults and 2 children under 12) will enjoy a three-night break with full Irish breakfast each morning and dinner on one evening during their stay. Guests will be treated to wine and chocolates in their room upon arrival as well as a family pass for a Dublin Bay Cruise, Dublin Zoo visit, or entry to Airfield, Dundrum (Dublin's only 38 acre working arm that is open to the public).

Families can travel from Dun Laoghaire to Dalkey Island or Dublin Bay with Dublin Bay Cruises, at 5pm or from Dun Laoghaire at 9am to Dublin City Centre, offering a quirky commute into town. While on board, they will enjoy a choice of soft drinks, tea or coffee.

The blue flag Killiney beach is just a short walk from the hotel. The hotel will also provide packed lunches for families on the move and a Children's Club will run during August with lots of games and fun activities.

Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel is just a stone's throw from Dalkey and enjoys stunning views over Dublin Bay. It has 113 luxurious bedrooms and suites, two award winning restaurants and a 20m swimming pool within its fully equipped fitness centre. The hotel is within easy ready of Dalkey dart station for exploring Dublin city centre.

To book, call (01) 2305400 or email reservations@fitzpatricks.com

Ireland's tyre market steady at 2m units per year

Continental Tyre Group estimates the Irish car, 4x4 and van tyre market will be in the region of two million tyres per year, with some very notable trends in the market place.

Tom Dennigan

Speaking at a Continental Tyres media briefing earlier today, Tom Dennigan, General Manager, Continental Tyres Ireland said "By our reckoning, the replacement tyre market in any country can normally be estimated by assuming one tyre purchase per year, per car. However, the unregulated sale of second-hand, or part-worn tyres, is accounting for a larger section of the market than previously thought."

He said the 205/55 R16 tyre size remains the most popular size in the Irish market with a 25 percent share. This size is used on the Audi A3, Ford Focus and VW Golf. When looking at rim size, 14" and 15" continue to decline in the face of continued growth in popularity of 16" and 17" rims.

He added there has been a rise in popularity of high performance car tyres, but the run flat market had a slight decline in 2013.

On van sales, Mr Dennigan said 16" rims, and larger, currently make up 60 percent of the van market tyre. He added that almost one in three vans across Europe are fitted with Continental tyres.

Figures used are from the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association, representing the mainstream tyre brands.

Wi-Fi more important in hotels than hot water, breakfast or parking

Shelbourne Hotel

In a recent survey of hotel guests, 70 percent of Irish people said they are now ignoring the TV in their hotel room, and choosing to stream content through services such as Netflix on their own laptops, tablets and smartphones.

Irish tourists and business travellers said that reliable Wi-Fi is more important than hot water, breakfast and parking.

Over half of those surveyed said the last time they stayed in a hotel in Ireland, the Wi-Fi was slow or of a poor quality. 62 percent said they would pay for fast and reliable Wi-Fi.

28 percent said social media is the main activity they use hotel Wi-Fi for, while 23 percent use Wi-Fi to check their emails. Bitbuzz, Ireland's leading independent provider of Wi-Fi, now has over 12,500 hotel bedrooms in its network and over two million registered users across the UK and Ireland.

The Bitbuzz Wi-Fi service enables users with a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect to the internet at broadband speeds without the need for any cables or wires.

Craig Breen ready to fly in Finland

When Peugeot Rally Academy driver Craig Breen was in his first full season of rallying in 2009 at the tender age of 19, the Kel-Tech team packed up their humble two wheel drive Fiesta ST and set off to take on the world over the mighty gravel jumps of WRC Rally Finland.

Since then like every aspiring driver Craig (pictured) has always dreamed of going back there in a full spec world car and later this week the Kel-Tech crew after progressing through the ranks using R2 and S2000 cars over there since will do just that.

Fresh from a win on his home Ravens Rock Rally Craig and his co-driver Scott Martin, while on a break between rounds from their regular FIA ERC duties with the Peugeot Rally Academy team, will use the same Fiesta RS WRC that they used back in February on WRC Sweden where they took 9th overall on Craig’s first event in the car. This time the pair will use the all gravel rally to further evaluate their pace up against some of the world’s top drivers on another road surface.

C1 is Most Reliable Car up to three years old in Which? guide

C1 is Most Reliable Car up to three years old in Which? guide 2014/2015, writes Trish Whelan.

The first generation Citroen C1 has been named the most reliable car up to three years old in the Which? Car Guide 2014/15, the UK's biggest car reliability and satisfaction survey which ranked 283 models in total.

With some 49,023 car owners reporting on 58,055 cars, the Which? guide collates real ownership experiences from both their members and from the general public.

The C1 achieved the highest reliability score overall of 99.3 percent compared to the survey's lowest score, for cars up to three years old, of 75.2 percent. It came top for reliability in the supermini category for cars of the same age, with no C1 owners surveyed reporting any time off the road during the period surveyed and an average annual repair cost of just 49p.

Welcoming news of the award, Frédéric Soulier, Managing Director of Citroen Motors Ireland said the C1 'has proved a very successful model selling over 780,000 units world-wide since its launch in 2005'. He believes the new version will continue to build on that reputation of 'providing reliable, accessible and enjoyable motoring'.

The latest C1 goes on sales here in August, priced from €10,995. It will be available in both three and five-door versions as a hatchback, and as a new open-top body style named Airscape. Three trim levels are - Touch, Feel and Flair. The car will be powered by two fuel efficient petrol engines, VTi 68 and PureTech 82.

Skoda sales up 25.7 percent from 2013

Skoda Ireland's H1 sales figures are up by more than a quarter from 2013 in the first half of 2014 (4,426 vs 3,520), greater than the overall increase in the total car market (23.4%), writes Trish Whelan.

The Czech brand currently sits in sixth position in the Irish car market with a market share of 6.75 percent, an increase from 6.62 percent in H1 2013.

This year's growth can be attributed to the addition of five new dealerships to their network, including the recent opening of MSL Park Motors, Navan Road, in Dublin, bringing the brand's dealer network to 26 nationwide.

In addition to new car sales, their finance and parts business has shown positive growth.

New car turnover has increased 30 percent from €41.8m to €54.38m and vehicle parts and accessory turnover has also increased 9 percent from €3.14m to €3.42m. A growing number of customers are also availing of Skoda finance offers available through Volkswagen Bank.

Skoda Ireland expects to exceed €100 million in revenue for the first time in 2014.

Pictured above is the Skoda Octavia Scout which will have its market launch at the National Ploughing Championships on 23 September with prices starting from €33,795.

Road Test: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Let's not get too bogged down in technicalities, but the new plug-in hybrid version of the Mitsubishi Outlander is a major upshift in car powertrains, writes Brian Byrne.

We're all pretty well used to the hybrid concept by now, electric motors and normal engines combining to provide more efficiency, sometimes more power, depending on the driving conditions. Toyota has and deserves the credit for sticking with development of the systems until everybody else had to tag along in some form or other.

Then we've had, not nearly as quickly as the makers would like, some level of acceptance of pure electric cars, mainly as suburban commuting vehicles. Still a long way off mainstream, though.

Spirit of Dunboyne wants Marshals

The organisers of the Spirit of Dunboyne 2014 festival have put out a call for people to act as Marshals during the event on September 28, writes Trish Whelan.

Training will be provided, and the Dunboyne Motor Club has organised a familiarisation/training night on August 7th. Things get started at 8pm upstairs in the Fingal House (aka Mulvaneys /Kellys Corner) in Dunboyne Village.

All Marshals will be stationed in the middle of the town, where everything is happening. If you want to help, and get a great view of the event, contact the club's Vice-Chairman Thomas Cannon at 087 6691034 for all the details.