VW Commercial Vehicles partner with TaxiWatch

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is partnering with TaxiWatch in a bid to help save lives, writes Trish Whelan.

Founded by Kilkenny taxi driver Derek Devoy, TaxiWatch is a suicide prevention initiative aiming to help save lives. Developed in November 2014, the service came about after Derek saved three people from taking their own lives in Kilkenny City. Since then, over 200 people have been helped through the programme in Kilkenny alone.

TaxiWatch receives hundreds of messages from people in crisis looking for help on a weekly basis. Working closely with charities in Ireland including Pieta House, Samaritans Ireland, Teac Tom and others, TaxiWatch signposts people to charities who provide free counselling and listening services.

With 1,127 drivers currently signed up to TaxiWatch across Ireland and Northern Ireland, the primary aim for the initiative is to increase members. This involves getting as many tai drivers as possible signed up and trained in the SafeTALK suicide awareness course across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. SafeTALK provides drivers with the skills to recognise people who may be in distress and need help. It also upskills drivers in what to say and how to keep people safe until professional help arrives.

TaxiWatch also travels to schools, colleges and workplaces where founder Derek Devoy tells his own life experience story of his personal depression, including suicide attempts and how he overcame his own crisis. His award-winning film documentary ‘Throwline’ is winning awards at film festivals throughout the world. He has also signed a contract for a movie with Octogon Films which starts filming next February.

Speaking of the partnership, Derek Devoy of TaxiWatch said: “We cannot thank Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland enough for providing us with a brand-new Volkswagen Caddy Life. This will ultimately help us save lives. It will give us an additional resource to travel the length and breadth of Ireland and the UK raising the awareness of TaxiWatch, recruiting new members and also helping us deliver our talks to thousands of students.”

Alan Bateson, Managing Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: “This morning we handed over the keys of the new Caddy Life to Derek to support his amazing work and also to support this idea from one of our most important customer groups, taxi drivers. Mental health and well-being in today’s society is incredibly important and Derek’s story is one that truly inspired us. We wish him and TaxiWatch continued success and look forward to working with them to help make a real and lasting difference.”

Derek Devoy of TaxiWatch and Alan Bateson, Managing Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles are pictured above at the handover of the new Caddy Life.

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Fish and Chips in Darwin Harbour a powerful experience

“What’s the horsepower?” I ask Georgia Smith as her brother throttles back following a series of maritime ‘doughnuts’ in the end of evening dark off Stokes Hill Wharf, and settles the boat for its more leisurely finish towards tying up after a night out on Darwin Harbour.

"Triple 300," she answers, meaning three 300hp engines. It doesn't surprise me. The MV Flatback cruiser had shown a very surprising turn of speed several times over the evening as Georgia and her two brothers — “you got the family crew tonight” — had taken us and the rest of the group on the Sea Darwin ‘Fish and Chips Sunset Cruise’ around the harbour area. The engines had been pushed to full song between points of interest, which certainly upped the experience compared to similar trips we've had elsewhere.

Sea Darwin was established by Georgia’s parents, marine scientist Jim Smith and Heather King, after they and their three children had spent a year transiting the West Pacific ocean in a 40-footer. The family are originally from Tasmania, and given that its capital Hobart is acknowledged as the sailing capital of the continent, it’s not surprising that the young people are so obviously at home with the boat, one of three operated by Sea Darwin. And since it is the family firm, so comfortable in letting it rip.

But the power parts are only the in-betweens. Links between the highlights as the cruise goes from bright through sunset to dark. That’s a pretty quick process in the Tropics, without the slow passage through twilight we’re used to in Ireland.

The cruise begins with a complimentary beer or fizzy stuff if that's your preference. An effective ‘get you in the mood’ ploy. After introductions, Georgia then brings us along by the Australian Navy headquarters for the patrol boats which police the Timor Sea, mostly for illegal fishing, but also monitoring for any would-be illegal immigrants.

The pointing out of expensive housing on the passing coastline is thankfully brief, then it's time to pull ashore to pick up the evening meal courtesy of local fish restaurant Rachael's Seafood Shack, with an apparently very good reputation. Numbers had been phoned ahead, the individually packed meals come in insulated bags, quickly distributed as one of the brothers takes the helm and points us seawards again.

There's a short explanation from Georgia, reflecting the importance the family put in sustainable tourism — every year Sea Darwin leads a group of 30-plus people to nearby Bare Sand Island to clear it of accumulated marine debris. “The fish is threadneedle salmon, caught as a byproduct of fishing for baramundi. But our supplier goes to the Fisherman’s Wharf every morning specifically to buy it, making sure it doesn't go to waste. The potatoes for the chips come from our original home, Tasmania, and the containers are made from a sugar cane pulp, renewable and completely biodegradable.”

As we eat fish and chips in the nicest way, with fingers at sea, our next destination is a lucky one, only available to the cruise two or three times a month — sunset on a sandbar. At certain low tides the harbour sand forms a couple of low ‘islands’, and this is one of the nights that the Flatback's crew can beach the boat and let us all off, on bare feet, to watch the sun slip swiftly through the horizon to another side of the world. It might well be the most romantic sunset I’ve ever seen, sea lapping around a sandbar only centimetres higher than the water level as the colours of sky and sea shape-shift quickly from rich oranges to deepening indigos.

Back in the boat, there's an opportunity for another rare diversion. Further out in the bay is a submarine recharging its batteries. It's almost dark when we get to it, so it's not clear if it is a Navy vessel, or someone's private plaything. But it is certainly noisy with its generators going full blast to top up the current. We circle it, watching the silhouette of the sailor on watch duty on the foredeck watching us.

The cruise continues from there back in towards its Stokes Hill Wharf base, with various commentaries from the three young crew on aspects of the city skyline, visible from different angles as they gun the 900 horsepower to provide various perspectives.

It doesn’t sound like a restful couple of hours. But it actually is. There's something about the enthusiasm of Georgia and her brothers not just for their business, but for life itself, which paradoxically slows one down. And of their clear concern for the environment of the Top End, the colloquial nickname for the upper Northern Territory, which is reassuring.

Many of us on the trip that night are of an older generation. Which is the nature of the tourist business during Darwin’s dry season. But there's a magic in the night which somehow makes us all feel a tad, or more, younger again.

Reminding us that youth is not just for the young … and that it is wonderfully infectious.

Brian Byrne.

New Berlingo Van ‘ideal partner for professionals’

The third generation Citroen Berlingo light commercial vehicle, dedicated to professionals, is set for launch at the end of this year, writes Trish Whelan.

Now called Berlingo Van, it is available to order.

This newcomer makes a generational leap in terms of styling and equipment and gains new features for extra comfort and modularity.

It marks the renewal of a best-selling LCV. 

Designed for all uses, and adapted to all professions, the new model comes in two sizes, M and XL. 

Citroen say it is efficient with its large load volume, easy access and numerous cabin configurations including the Extenso Cab or the Crew Cab. 

Citroen Berlingo Van is built on a new platform for better handling, more comfort and more security. It comes equipped with 20 driver assistance systems and four connectivity technologies together with latest-generation engines including the new BlueHDi 1.5 diesel, the PureTech 1.2 petrol and the EAT8 automatic gearbox. 

Citroen achieved 9.7 per cent market share in the commercial vehicle market in 2017 in Europe with almost 73,000 units sold. 

Since launch, Berlingo has been produced in over 1.5 million unis worldwide, over 1.3 million of which are in Europe and over 470,000 in France.

New Ford Focus limits impact of potholes

Potholed roads not only make journeys uncomfortable but harsh impacts with severe potholes can also cause damage to a vehicle’s wheels, tyres and suspension systems resulting in hefty repair bills for car owners, writes Trish Whelan.

Ford is helping limit the impact of damaged roads for drivers of its new Focus by introducing innovative pothole detection technology. The system senses when a wheel is falling into a pothole and adjusts the suspension so that the wheel doesn’t fall as far into it.

Because the tyre and wheel don’t drop as far, they don’t strike the opposite side of the pothole as harshly. The rear suspension can respond even faster than the front with a signal from the front wheel providing a pre-warning to the rear wheel before it reaches the pothole. This all happens in a split second.

The new Focus pothole detection system is a feature of the car’s optional Continuously Controlled Damping technology which every 2 milliseconds monitors suspension, body, steering and braking inputs, and adjusts the vehicle’s suspension responses for the smoothest ride quality.

Ford develops its suspension systems using a specially created road at the company’s test facility in Belgium which consists of precise replicas of some of the worst potholes and road hazards from around the world. 

Engineers further refine the systems with hundreds of hours of testing on a diverse range of European public roads, monitoring loads and strains with equipment similar to that used by seismologists to study earthquakes.

Skoda: Don't leave dogs in hot cars

With today, Thursday, set to be the hottest day on record this year, Skoda Ireland are highlighting the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars during the warm weather, writes Trish Whelan.

The initiative is part of ongoing dog welfare efforts from the Skoda brand which urges car owners to consider the dangers of leaving pets in cars during this heat wave.

Their campaign reveals that even a few minutes in a hot car can prove fatal to a dog. The inside of a car can reach 47deg C in just one hour on a 22deg day, while at 26deg C outside, it can reach 37deg inside a car in the space of just 10 minutes.

They are advising dog owners:

*Never leave your dog in a car in warm weather, even if it feels cool outside

* Don’t excessively walk or over-exercise your dog

* Avoid walking your dog at the hottest time of the day - often morning or later in the evenings can be cooler

* Always take plenty of water with you when out with your dog

* Dogs can get sun burned especially white dogs or those with little hair, so try and keep them out of direct sunlight and apply pet sunscreen when out and about

* Think twice about any car trips with your dog - avoid congested roads or busy times of day when they could overheat in the car if you are caught up in traffic

*If driving with your dog, plan your journey considering cooler times of the day and places to take breaks. Make sure to have plenty of water for your dog.

Commenting on the campaign, Cathal Kealey, PR Manager at Skoda Ireland said “All too often we hear tragic stories of the consequences of dogs being left in cars during the summer months. Dogs cool down very differently to us humans. When in a car during warm weather, we keep cool by rolling up our sleeves, rolling down the windows or turning on the air conditioning, but dogs don’t get a choice of what to wear or how to adjust the temperature.”

He says when it comes to looking after dogs in warm weather, their advice would be to never leave your dog in a parked car. As temperatures rise, even a few minutes can prove fatal for your dog, even if that car has its windows left open or it has been left in the shade.

This year Skoda entered into their sixth year of partnership with Dogs Trust and continue to invest in campaigns to highlight dog welfare, particularly in hot weather. 

Locations milestone for Tesla

Tesla has passed the 400 mark in its installation of Supercharger locations in Europe, writes Brian Byrne.

This represents some 3,200 actual charging units in the network, placed on major roads on all well-travelled routes across Europe.

The average charge time for Teslas on long distance journeys in Europe is 30 minutes adding up to 270km of range.

Tesla has added capacity to existing locations along major routes, as well as adding density to the network with new sites.

Fiat Ireland's Welcome Bonuses

Fiat Ireland are offering customers welcome bonuses of up to €6,000 or 0 per cent APR finance on selected models until 31 July 2018, writes Trish Whelan.

Whether you are a new or returning customer, Fiat can offer you cash savings of up to €6,000 through their new Welcome Bonuses. These are available by model and include: up to €1,750 on the Fiat 500 and 500L models; €1,250 for the Fiat Panda; €1,400 on the Punto; up to  €4,000 on the 500X and €6,000 on the 124 Spider.

Customers opting for a Fiat Tipo model can benefit of a diesel:petrol price match offer (with a saving of €1,750 over previous diesel pricing) plus welcome bonuses of up to  €2,500 across the Tip family (hatchback, station wagon or saloon).

Alternatively, customers can select a low rate finance of 9 per cent APR (Personal Contract Plan or Hire Purchase) across selected Fiat 500, 500X and 124 Spider models.

Paul Hunt, Managing Director FCA Ireland says “Simplicity and transparency are the key pillars of our 182 offers with a continued focus on providing customers with real value for money.”

Offers available to retail customers who place an order from 26 June until 31 July 2018; registered by 31 July 2018. 

Subaru sends congrats to Dublin GAA

Subaru Ireland has congratulated Dublin GAA following the crowning of their Senior Footballers as Leinster Champions for the eight-successive year, writes Trish Whelan.

As vehicle sponsor to Dublin GAA, Subaru provides vehicles to some of the players and management of the Dublin senior football and hurling teams.

The Dublin players enjoy driving the ‘go anywhere’ life-style Subaru AWD vehicle range which includes Impreza, XV Crossover, Forester and Outback.

The football and hurling teams, including the Dublin Ladies, are benefiting from a Subaru Forester van to oversee the transportation of team kits around the country for the All Ireland Championships and National League games.

Dublin Footballers & Hurlers are pictured above with the new Subaru XV Crossover and Impreza.

Below: Kevin McManamon tests out the all new Subaru XV Crossover off-road. 

Easytrip reminder for 182 registration period

Easytrip, Ireland’s only electronic parking and tolling tag provider, is reminding motorists to update their easytrip account details when buying or selling a vehicle during the 182 registration period to avoid incurring toll bills and penalty notices from motorway operators.

“There’s a lot to sort out when buying a new car including sourcing of finance, insurance, and motor tax and sometimes we can forget about the smaller motoring essentials. We’d like to remind our customers to update their easytrip account details if they are buying or selling a vehicle this 182 registration period. Removing your tag from your old car and updating your account details as soon as possible, once change of ownership is processed, will ensure that you avoid incurring any unexpected charges”, says Colin Delaney, CEO of easytrip.

Potential situations that can lead to motorists paying unnecessary toll charges may include:

Buying a new car; if you’ve bought a new car and transferred your existing tag to it but forgot to update your account details, you’ll risk receiving a toll bill (at the higher rate) and penalty charge if you’ve travelled through the M50 toll plaza as your new car number is not connected to your toll tag account.

Selling your old car: If you’ve sold your old car and inadvertently left your tag in the car and haven’t updated your toll tag account, the new owner could continue to use your tag at most barrier toll plazas, racking up a bill connected to your account.

Easytrip customers can update their vehicle details through their online account at www.easytrip.ie or by contacting easytrip on 1890 67 67 68. 

The Barber and the Bicyclist, two tales of Darwin

Two businesses side by side, standout in their ramshackle single stories dwarfed by new high rise blocks on the Darwin skyline, writes Brian Byrne. The dirt car parks on either side wait for somebody to build on them, and presumably also on the businesses.

The barber is happy to talk to a stranger with a funny accent. "It's still frontier up here," David Heinz says as he finishes with his current client. He's just offered me a beer and is surprised at an Irishman turning down alcohol at eleven in the morning. "Trouble is, people don't stay."

That's part of why, he says, the local economy is only operating at 60 percent of its potential. On average, people who come to Darwin only stay four and a half years. "The next group stays for around twelve. Then you have the old Darwiners, but they mostly live outside."

The city is capital of Australia's Northern Territory. The Territory has a Parliament (above), and a Supreme Court and other trappings of a state, all in very impressive and expensive buildings. But NT is not a state within the Australia Commonwealth federation. With an elected Legislative Assembly, it's a bit like Northern Ireland or Scotland in the UK, and restricted in what it can legislate for. The MLAs sit for just 31 days a year, their full-time role mostly spent in pressing the flesh in their home constituencies. With 25 members for a population of less than 230,000, that's easy. But essential because it doesn't take too many votes to either keep you in or dump you.

David lights a cigarette, waiting for another customer. "We get too many 'educated' people from the south coming to tell us how we're not doing things right." That's a dig both at the civil service which is a big chunk of the Darwin economy, and the short cycle stayers of which many of these are a part. "I'm here 24 years, I get someone here for two years saying I don't know anything? They're just climbing, you know? They won't be staying around."

A man comes in with his two children, the boy for a trim. David stubs his cigarette. "A Number two, I guess?" he says after a brief appraisal. The father agrees. "See you in a while." He takes his daughter in tow to somewhere else.

Wrapping a paper collar around the youngster's neck, David keeps talking — "there's a lot of opportunity up here for young people, if they're willing to give it a go". And willing to stay, was the unspoken extra. He didn't specify the opportunity, but talked generally about agriculture, the biggest earner in the Territory.

He clips and snips. "Women run things up here." They do, half the membership of the Territory's Legislative Assembly are women, including the current Speaker, Kezia Purick. She has the distinction of having two periods of office in the same parliament timeframe. She was dumped from her role by one vote while out of the country by her party, the Country Liberals. Then, on a secret ballot when she returned, she was relected Speaker by one — obviously turned — vote. She now sits as an Independent. The CLs, for a long time the dominant party here, lost out badly to Labour in the last election. Kezia Purick was relected Speaker by the new Labour majority.

"Women are good" — David continues his work on the Number Two — "at pointing at things." He doesn't advance any clarification, and I haven't the time in invest in a haircut to gather one. It doesn't sound positive, but he hasn't made it sound negative, either.

There's nothing slick and gleaming about Deadly Treadlies next door. Brian Dalliston is seated in the centre of a sea of apparently dumped and aged bicycles. Not that he appears to be concerned about them as he peruses a catalogue.

"I don't want to be in the picture," he says after agreeing to let me take a photograph, which 'lots of others do'. It really is special, a relic in bicycle shop terms. The empty chair in the picture above is the throne for his kingdom of many wheels.

Brian is 63 years old. He has spent some 55 of those in Darwin — 'not all together'. His background is in bicycle racing, mostly in the Territory. "I went to uni in Melbourne and did some racing down there, but it was too cold and I came up here." I can't get from him whether that was a 'coming back' for an original Darwiner, but it may be likely.

"We used to be easygoing up here, but it's all changing. Mostly for the worse." He's not impressed by the influx of civil servants either. And the bicycle business has changed too. "Too many supermarkets selling bicycles ..." But he has his own loyal following, partly from his racing days. "I get business from the bush people too. I do bicycle workshops with them."

He is passionate about making cycling safer and better in the Territory. Last year he was at the forefront of an ongoing push to have a dedicated 100km cycle path built from Darwin to the town of Bachelor. Part of the path, on an old railway line, already exists as far as Howard's Spring. Extending it 'would boost tourism' and make the ride between the towns safe, he says.

Brian may not be a big talker. But anecdotally he is respected in both the population cohort that has been there long enough to know him, and amongst cyclists who know a passionate peer when they see one.

Possibly he should have been a politician? Well, there's a Brian Dalliston who ran for for the Territory's LA in 1987, in a breakaway party from the Country Liberals. He performed well, but didn't get elected, though his votes helped put in one member.

That might be him. But he's not talking to strangers with funny accents. Still, as somebody who also ran for public office more than four decades ago, and didn't quite make it, I can appreciate that he may well feel that he is the luckiest unsuccessful candidate of his time.

Fighter jet tech for Focus solves glare problem

Technology first developed for fighter jets is helping to improve the driving experience for the new Focus that offers Ford’s first Head-up display for Europe, writes Trish Whelan.

The display will make it easier for drivers to keep their eyes on the road as they monitor information including speed, navigation and road signs on a display that is projected to overlay the view ahead.

For some existing systems there can be a drawback - for those drivers wearing polarised sunglasses which counteract glare, the display can be rendered almost invisible. Ford’s Head-up display also emts the kind of light that polarised sunglasses are designed to eliminate from view. But a carefully tuned filter ‘bounces back’ polarised light to the driver and effectively solves the problem.

Wearing polarised glasses can make a massive difference to visibility for drivers affected by glare, such as when stretches of water, snow or even tarmac reflect sunlight. The Head-up display we are introducing for the new Focus offers one of the brightest screens, has among the largest fields of view, and will be clearly visible to all our customers,” said Glen Goold, Ford’s chief programme engineer for Focus.

You can watch the video on https://youtu.be/Uzn4Uz2cml0

Driving into low sun on summer evenings can be a problem and can cause almost twice as many accidents as snow, rain and fog put together. Ford’s Head-up ensures drivers will not need to glance down and refocus to see the information and notifications that they can select.

While traditional head-up displays utilise light waves vibrating parallel to the road, the Focus Head-up display boosts light waves vibrating perpendicular to the road so the image can be clearly seen through polarised sunglasses. 

The new Focus has been developed from the ground up to provide ‘the most confidence-inspiring, intuitive, and rewarding driving and occupant experience of any mid-size family car in Europe’. It features the widest range of advanced features and technologies on any Ford vehicle, enhance protection, driving and parking, and are designed to make the driving experience more comfortable, less demanding, and safer.

Note: Some sunglasses sold for general use can be too dark or unsuitable for driving. In some countries, drivers can be fined for wearing ‘category four’ sunglasses which let in less than 8 per cent of light. 

Single cyclists wanted for Skoda dating event

If you have a bike, are single and fancy some speedy dating, this is for you, writes Trish Whelan.

Skoda is hosting their first speed dating cycling event on Saturday 30 June from 8.30am in Avon Ri Hotel, Blessington, Co Wicklow. From those who cycle for fun, to the hard-core committed - you’re sure to find someone that rings your bell!

Hosted by Skoda ambassador, Muireann O’Connell, the event is the first of its kind in Ireland and gives single cyclists the chance to kick their dating efforts up a gear. The 60km cycle around Blessington Lake gives single cyclists the chance to meet likeminded men and women with shared interests.

There will be two lines of cyclists, males on one side and females on the other. The (bicycle) bell will ring every 3 to 4 minutes, at which point the front cyclist on the right hand side will drop to the back, and all other cyclists move up a place.

To register for the event, visit http://www.skoda.ie/speeddating.  The cost of entry is €40 and includes a Rider’s Pack containing an individual race number, cycling jersey, a range of Skoda cycling merchandise and some entertainment including a free BBQ for all participants when the cycling is done and dusted. 

There’s a link between the Czech car maker as we know it and bikes as the brand began producing bicycles in 1895 followed by the production of motorbikes and cars.

Toyota & Q-Park create hybrid only parking spaces

Mark Howard of Q-Park and Michael Gaynor of Toyota

Toyota has teamed up with Q-Park to allow all drivers of self-charging hybrids to take advantage of priority parking in four Q-Parks around the country, writes Trish Whelan.

Drivers don’t even need to drive a Toyota as long as it is a self-charging hybrid car.

Toyota’s hybrid only parking bays are currently located in these Q-Park locations: St Stephen’s Green, Dublin; Clery’s, Dublin; Grand Parade in Cork; and Harvey’s Quay in Limerick.

In addition to these reserved parking spaces, hybrid driving Q-Park customers can already save 25 per cent on the standard annual Q-Park Premium Card by availing of the Unlimited Hybrid Premium Card.

Citroen’s LCV range and 182 offers

Citroen say there has never been a better time to upgrade or add to your current commercial vehicle fleet with its LCV  range and 182 offers, writes Trish Whelan.

Scrappage of up to €3,000* is available and a 3.9 per cent APR Finance* offer.

Inspired by customers and their business needs, Citroen say their LCV range has something to suit all companies, no matter what their size or requirements.

The multi-award-winning Berlingo is available from €45 per week, while the Dispatch (Continental Irish Van of the Year 2017) is available from €60 per week. The Relay is available from €65 per week.

(* Terms and conditions apply).

Volvo Cars inaugurates its first US factory

Volvo Cars has today inaugurated its first US manufacturing plant, in Charleston, South Carolina, establishing the company as a truly global car manufacturer with plants in all three major sales regions, writes Trish Whelan.

It follows the company’s global manufacturing strategy, ‘Build where you sell’.

The facility complements its two manufacturing plants and an engine plant in Europe, three car factories and an engine plant in China, and assembly plants in India and Malaysia.

The Charleston plant starts production of the new Volvo S60 premium mid-size sports saloon in this autumn. From 2021, it will also build the next generation of the XC90 large premium SUV. Cars built at the plant are destined both for the home US market and international export.

Volvo Cars is investing around USD 1.1 billion in its US manufacturing operations and will create around 4,000 new jobs at the Charleston site over the coming years. Approximately 1,5000 staff will be employed by the end of this year.

The facility includes an office building for up to 300 staff from R&D, purchasing, quality and sales. The plant can produce 150,000 cars per year at full capacity. The site occupies 1,600 acres and the building space covers 2.3 million square feet. Construction on the facility began in 2015.

The company will build plug-in hybrid cars at all of its car plants globally. In 2017 Volvo Cars was the first global car maker to announce that from 2019, all new models will be electrified.

Motorsport Ireland Weekend Round-up

Photo: Ruaidhri Nash

For the third year in succession, local crew Manus Kelly and Donall Barrett in a Subaru Impreza took top place in the Joule Donegal International Rally, but in a completely different way from their first two triumphs, writes Richard Burke.

 In each of the previous years, they only took the lead on the final stages of the three day rally, but this time, they set the pace on Friday’s opening stage, and apart from slipping to fifth position on the following test, they led for seventeen of the twenty stages, winning by 42 seconds despite easing off for yesterday’s two loops in order not to take any risks.

Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes held runner up spot setting out yesterday morning in the first of a group of Ford Fiesta R5s, but Josh’s elder brother Sam, a former winner of the rally, was on a charge, and took over second place halfway through the day, opening out a 22 second margin by the finish.

 Two recent winners of the Billy Coleman Award for Young Rally Driver of the Year followed the Monaghan pair home, with Killarney’s Rob Duggan finishing fourth and the current title holder, Callum Devine from Derry, fifth. Both of them put in exceptional drives on their first outings in a powerful R5 car.

 There was a heavy toll of casualties among the top 20 seeds, with most of these retiring on Saturday, the longest day of the rally. Declan Boyle’s Fiesta went out with a broken transmission, while Garry Jennings, Rob Barrable, Donagh Kelly and Darren Gass were just some of those who went off the road and couldn’t rejoin.

 In a dramatic finish, Jason Black got the better of a day-long duel with Jordan Hone to claim the Junior Rally by just two seconds on the last stage, after the pair had taken turns to lead.

BMW 8 Series for November launch

The new BMW 8 Series large coupe will launch in November at a starting price of €125,725 OTR, writes Brian Byrne.

The car will be available with a six-cylinder diesel engine developing 320hp and a V8 petrol with 530hp.

The new car will have adaptive suspension as standard, and both feature all wheel drive.

Onboard technologies include BMW's new 7" display-and-control system, access by smartphone, and a full range of driver assist facilities.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car moves to larger Naas premises

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has moved its Naas office to a larger, higher profile premises on the Kilcullen Road, beside the Garda station, writes Trish Whelan.

The new office, officially opened today by North Kildare Fine Gael TD, Bernard Durkan, provides employment for a team of eight including three new employees who have been recruited for an anticipated increase in demand. The new branch continues Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s presence in Naas since the original office was opened over a decade ago.

Bernard Durkan TD commented: “I was delighted to be asked to cut the ribbon on this new Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch in Naas. It really is an ideal location for the company and a great boost to the economic life of the town. I wish them great success with the new branch.”

Operating in Ireland since 1997, Enterprise is an award-winning car rental company that is known for its extensive network of locations, unique free ‘pick up’ service for customers, everyday low rates and outstanding customer service. It currently employs more than 200 staff and has 25 branches nationwide - more than any other car rental company.

Speaking about the opening of the new Naas branch, George O’Connor, Managing Director, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland said: “We are delighted to be opening our new, larger location in Naas. It’s more accessible for our customers in the town and wider area. With more than 10 years operating in Naas under our belt, we’ve built up a sizeable and loyal customer-base of local people and businesses who need reliable, comfortable and affordable vehicles to go about their everyday business. We’re very excited about the growth in population and commercial activity in the Kildare area. The investment in this new facility puts us in a far better position to be able to serve the local needs of the residents and businesses in Co Kildare.”

He added: “Kildare is a great example of a vibrant community where Enterprise can offer all of our mobility solutions to the county that include daily, weekly, weekend and monthly car and van hire solutions and also Enterprise Car Club which provides a unique B2B mobility offering. This is just the latest opening of a new branch for us following similar openings in the last year in towns and cities across Ireland including Blackpool in Cork, Finglas in Dublin, Drogheda and Letterkenny. Car and van rental is becoming a very cost-effective and convenient solution for more people and companies.”

The new Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch on the Kilcullen Road in Naas is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and until 4pm on Saturday and, from 8 July, Sundays from 11am to 2pm. The phone number is 045 895756.

Pictured above cutting the ribbon to open the new branch is North Kildare TD Bernard Durkan, assisted by (on left) Alan Healy, Manager of the new Naas branch; and (on right) Geroge O’Connor, MD of Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland.

Pictured below with a Ford Focus from the recently launched Enterprise Rent-A-Car Car Club are the new Naas branch team: (L to R) Darragh Byrne; Leslee O’Loughlin, Enterprise Group HR Manager; Alan Healy, Manager of the new Naas branch; George O’Connor, MD of Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland; Kevin Naughton; and Martin Doyle.

New Sprinter panel van range now offered

Fergus Conheady with the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van

The latest range of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter panel vans is now on sale priced from €21,950 ex VAT.

This new generation Sprinter is 100 per cent new from tip to tail and is regarded as a conquest vehicle for the brand. 

It is launched with a new design as well as passenger car levels of comfort and safety, a generous load volume and carrying capacity, the addition of front wheel drive, and a new infotainment and connectivity system which will result in better fleet management, lower operating costs and maximum cost effectiveness. 

The company say this is ‘an all rounder for any business sector’. The diverse market includes couriers, express deliveries and parcel services operators, those who use their van as a mobile parts store and workshop; food delivery sector, constructions operatives and trades people, shuttle service, minibus and passenger transport providers. Specialist users like ambulance and rescue services are also targeted.

Sprinter can be adapted to almost any requirement as it comes in compact, standard, long and extra long lengths and three roof heights of standard, high and super high roof. 

Six different body variants in five wheelbase options range from 3250mm up to 4325mm (rear-wheel drive) or 3924mm (front-wheel drive now offered for the first time and with the 80mm lower floor provides added load space); three body heights from 1,719mm to 2243mm;, five weight classes with load compartment volume increased up to 17cu metres with 5.5 tonnes capacity; three drive configurations of front, rear and 4-wheel drive and with a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes.

GVW is up to 5,500kg; payload starts at 975kg.  

Sliding offside access doors and split-opening rear doors give easy access to the load area - rear doors being fitted with self-arresting hinges can be safely opened and closed with just one hand making life easier for the busy operator. 

The boot sill is low particularly on vans with FWD. Pallets can be loaded sideways.

The cockpit has also been redesigned; there is improved cabin comfort and driver access; and a new infotainment and connectivity system which will benefit a company’s fleet management. 

High tech safety features offered include a Rear view camera which is standard on all vehicles; lights come on automatically in a dark parking area; and the vehicle recognises an accident and locks the brakes. Features include Cross Wind Assist, Active Brake Assist; Attention Assist; Blind Spot Radar Assist, and a wet wiper system that uses less water. There’s just a driver airbag but further airbags are available upon request. 

Engines are a 3.0, 6-cylinder unit delivering 190hp and 440 Nm of torque and 4-cylinder units in three outputs for rear and front-wheel drive. The 2.1 engine, with rear-wheel drive, generates outputs of 114hp/143hp or 163hp. With front-wheel drive, the outputs range is from 114hp to 143hp and 177hp. Shifting is done manually via a 6-speed manual transmission or with the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission. 

Customers can model more than 1,700 different units to match whatever corporate or individual requirements they may have.     

“Every panel is new, and it comes with proven power units and more variability. We call it our King of Vans,” Fergus Conheady, sales manager for Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles in Ireland said at the recent launch in The Powerscourt Hotel in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

He added: “There isn’t another manufacturer out there with a range like this. We have a retention rate of 80 per cent - if we can get people into our product, it’s likely they will stay there’. He said it is difficult to source 5- or 6-year old Sprinters as they continue to work well and that 50 per cent of Sprinters purchased get a fairly extensive upfit.

There’s just a driver airbag, but further ones are available on request. 

We got a chance to test drive the Irish vans travelling in convoy on a challenging route around Co Wicklow which included every possible type of road a van could encounter including across the Sally Gap, the narrow and bumpy Military Road to Laragh. In all instances, both the FWD and RWD vehicles we drove proved their mettle; they were easy to drive and manoeuvre and offered great comfort for both myself and my passenger. Loads in each van varied from 450kg - 500kg with spare tyres in one and boxes in others.

First introduced in 1995, Sprinter has sold in excess of 3.4 million units worldwide. Its success is marked here in Ireland by the fact that all previous Sprinter models won the Irish ‘Van of the Year’ award in the years of their introduction. They have become distribution vehicles of choice amongst many high-profile names in food, drinks, courier, parcels and in engineering, manufacturing and servicing sectors.

An e-Sprinter version will arrive next year. 

Pictured at the New Sprinter presentation to van journalists were Liam McEntee (Commercial Vehicle Controller), Gerry McDonnell (Area Sales Manager); Rob Dunne (Marketing Coordinator); and Fergus Conheady (Sales Manger) - all from Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles.

First picture of new Peugeot 508 SW

The first pictures of the new generation Peugeot 508 SW estate preview a car that will get its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in the autumn, writes Brian Byrne.

The car will be available in Ireland from early 2019.

Power options will include 1.6 petrol with 180hp/225hp versions, and 1.5 and 2.0 diesels ranging 130hp-180hp.

Among the technologies to be available on the car will be an infra-red camera to detect people and animals at night beyond the range of the lights.

Porsche names its first electric car

Porsche's first all-electric car is to be called the Taycan, writes Brian Byrne.

Targeting the Tesla Model S, Jaguar's I-Pace, and the Audi e-tron, the car is expected to be unveiled later this year, and be on sale next year.

The dual electric motor will have the equivalent of 600hp on tap, and is expected to have a real-world range in excess of 320km.

The new sport sedan has been concepted as the Mission E.

More than 770,000 Mercedes vehicles under emissions recall

More than 770,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles are under a recall order in Europe following the discovery of illegal emissions control devices on a small number of cars, writes Brian Byrne.

The models affected include versions of the Vito van, the C-Class and the GLC SUV.

It is understood that parent company Daimler does not face any fines over the issue, as there is no evidence of intent by the company to design software to cheat emissions rules.

New Sprinter on sale here

The new generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van has arrived on the Irish market at a starting price of €21,950 plus taxes and charges.

In addition to offering high levels of technical advances, the new version of the van offers a FWD variant for the first time.

A new 3-year warranty is now standard across the Mercedes-Benz vans range.

One innovative feature is a new networked, online connectivity system that gives operators comprehensive fleet control.

Incorporating Mercedes PRO Connect and the company's new MBUX multimedia system, the system's functions monitored include vehicle operation and supervision, fleet communication, maintenance management and a digital driver's logbook.

There are 2.1 and 3.0 engines with power outputs ranging from 114hp-190hp.

Kodiaq sets Nurburgring record

A Skoda Kodiaq RS has set a new record for 7-seater SUVs on the Nurburgring Nordschleife (North Loop), writes Brian Byrne.

The vehicle completed the 20.8km circuit in 9:29.84 minutes.

The car was driven by Sabine Schmitz, the first woman to win the 24-hour race at Nurburgring, who has completed in excess of 30,000 laps of the Nordschleife.

Irish pricing for the Kodiaq RS will be revealed towards the end of the year.

James Wilson is Belgium bound!

James Wilson in action on the Cavan Stages Rally (Pic by Adam Hall).

What an exciting year in rallying it is for twenty-three year old James Wilson from Keady, as now the family team prepare the left hand drive Philip White Tyres backed Peugeot 208 R2 for the Ypres Rally in Belgium, the second round of the British Rally Championship (BRC), writes Andrew Bushe. The event based around the famous town of Ieper, so poignant from the World War 1 battles, will witness some of the best rally stars in the world battling from the 21 - 23 June.

James Wilson

The famous Belgian tarmac closed roads await James for the first time and he’s heard a lot about them. “Some of my main rivals have competed on the rally before and it’s a reputation for being tricky. The weather will be hot but we could be on softer compound tyres than normal due to the smooth roads and the big cuts that are taken. It’s a big experience for us and we have to treat it as part of our learning curve this year in the British Championship” said the young engineer whilst working at his day job in Road Tankers Armagh.

Rallying is a national sport in Belgium and current World Rally Championship leader Thierry Neuville will be present on the event, which counts for the Belgian Rally series and is one of the most famous rallies on the globe. It’s a long trip from Keady, County Armagh to Ieper Belgium, and the back-up crew of Trevor Wilson, Nigel Wilson and Phil Gillespie will set off on the Tuesday evening to reach there on Thursday, whilst James and his Co. Derry co-driver Gavin Doherty fly out on the same day to arrive and engage in the pre event recce making the all-important pace-notes. “It’s totally new for us, the first time the family has really rallied abroad as such, it’s an adventure for sure. We know there will be some local crews who will be very fast, but we need to try and see where our BRC rivals are and aim to finish also. We have a fourth placed finish on round one of the BRC in Carlisle forests to build on and try to keep the points coming in.”

As a warm up to Ypres, and with help from faithful sponsor Tec Industrial, James and Gavin took the Peugeot 208 R2 to the Cavan Stages Rally, trying the Kumho tarmac tyres for the first time, and ended up an impressive nineteenth overall, and second in R2 by just six seconds. “The tyres were excellent, they worked really well, and we think we can make further improvements to the car to suit them also, so that was a good confidence booster.”

Another confidence booster came in April with a nomination from Motorsport Ireland for the Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award, a prize worth €50,000. It was following James’s debut R2 win on the opening Valvoline Irish Forestry round in Carrick on Suir that the nomination was announced, and it’s given the team an extra goal to aim for. “It’s an award that would mean so much, there have been many great drivers to win it and to be nominated was an honour, I still can’t believe it.”

With final car preparations undertaken at the James Wilson Garage Services premises in Keady, under the watchful eye of his father Trevor, uncle Glenn, granddad James Snr.and grandma Hilary, all seasoned rally competitors, the Wilson family effort is all being directed to James Jnr. He has already added to the family tally of Irish Tarmac Championship class wins last year, but can he take the family rallying legacy further? Now the team set sail for Belgium and to battle in Ieper, and hopefully they can continue the excellent run in 2018.

VW snapshot competition back for second year

The Volkswagen Snapshot Competition, powered by The Snapys, is back for its second year, writes Trish Whelan.

The Instagram based contest encourages photography enthusiasts to discover their creativity and upload photos to Instagram using the #VWSnapshot hashtag along with their chosen category hashtags.

The categories for this year’s competition are ‘Design’, ‘Light’, ‘Roadtrip’, Technology’ and ‘Volkswagen’. For a full list of details and categories, visit VWsnapshot.ie or see Volkswagen Ireland’s page on Instagram. 

Prizes include a trip to Barcelona, an escape to Bubblehouse, Finn Lough, drones and premium photography lighting equipment.

Twelve entrants will feature in the 2019 Volkswagen Snapshot calendar, the sales proceeds of which will be donated to Volkswagen Ireland’s 2018 charity partner Focus Ireland. Earlier this year, €3,000 was raised for Pieta House through sales of the 2018 Snapshot calendar.

Mark McGrath, Head of Marketing Volkswagen Ireland said there were over 5,000 entrants last year and the company are pleased to support this very worth cause.

The Snapshot 2018 was launched at Baggots Hutton yesterday, 13 June, where a pop-up gallery of last year’s winning entries was on display.

PG Duffy & Sons join Subaru dealer network

Subaru Ireland have appointed PG Duffy & Sons, Naas Road, Newbridge, Co Kildare as Subaru main dealers for Kildare, writes Trish Whelan.

With over 60 years trading experience, PG Duffy & Sons are well established in the motor industry in Kildare.

At the signing of the dealership contract agreement, Pat Duffy, Dealer Principal said: "Our teams are highly committed to providing a quality customer service and sales experience, and we are excited now to be able to extend this to Subaru customers, new and loyal. A happy and satisfied customer is our priority. We also look forward to working together with the Subaru team over the coming years."

Sean Dunne, Financial Controller, Subaru Ireland welcomed PG Duffy & Sons on board and said he is looking forward to working with Pat, Gerard and all the team in the years ahead.

This latest signing brings to 12 the number of Subaru authorised dealerships nationwide.

Sean Dunne of Subaru Ireland; and Pat Duffy, Dealer Principal at PG Duffy & Sons are pictured above at the singing of the contract agreement.