Electric supercar concept from Nissan

This is Nissan's concept for what many believe will be the next version of its famous GT-R sports car, writes Brian Byrne.

The Hyper Force concept was revealed at the recent 2023 Tokyo Auto Show, and previews an electric powertrain with 1,341hp and a solid-state battery which Toyota has been working on for some time — the first of these batteries are expected in production cars around 2028.

Butterfly doors, a bank of information screens, and a virtual reality helmet that will allow the owner to 'race' on a selection of tracks (while safely parked) are also features of the concept. 

New Corsa coming soon

Opel's latest Corsa will arrive in Ireland in November at a starting price of €23,995, writes Brian Byrne. Now with the front end styling debuted in the Astra, it will be offered in three trims and will have combustion and electric powertrains.

Depending on grade level, there will initially be 1.2 petrol engines with 75hp and 100hp outputs. An all electric version is slated for a spring arrival, with 156hp and a rated range of up to 405km. A 48-volt hybrid option is also planned.

Preview models will be available to view in dealer showrooms soon. 

Kia Ireland helping with coastal cleanups here

Kia Ireland has got involved with the Clean Coasts initiative to promote circular economy initiatives, writes Brian Byrne. Clean Coasts, an initiative led by An Taisce, is a network of volunteers committed to the protection of Ireland's beaches, seas, and marine life. 

The collaboration will support beach cleanup initiatives and explore innovative ways to transform collected waste into new resources.

Cathal Kealey, Head of Marketing & PR at Kia Ireland, notes that by 2030 Kia will have 20pc of all vehicle plastics coming from recycled materials. "Our EV9 which will launch in Ireland in the coming weeks uses ten sustainable items in vehicle production, that have either originated from recycled plastic, or have been sourced from plant-based materials," he says. "We are delighted to support Clean Coasts and to assist them in finding ways to reuse collected beach waste in line with our circular economy initiatives.” 

Cathal Kealey is pictured with Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager at Clean Coasts, and Liane Costello, Campaigns Officer at Clean Coast. 

New vans on the way from Opel

New generations of the Opel Combo, Vivaro and Movano vans will arrive in Ireland early next summer, writes Brian Byrne.

Each will have new exterior and cabin styling and all three will be offered in electric versions.

A hydrogen fuel cell version of the Movano large van will be offered in the near future in selected markets.

More details closer to arrival. 

Skoda celebrates 30 years with 10,000th 2023 sale

Skoda Ireland have celebrated 30 years of the brand in this country with the delivery of their 10,000th vehicle in one year to a customer in the North East, writes Brian Byrne.

The milestone vehicle was an Enyaq RS electric SUV, and the delivery of 10,000 vehicles in a year is a record for the company here. 

The marque is now the fourth biggest can brand in Ireland.

Mazda's MX-5 upgraded for 2024

Mazda have tweaked their iconic MX-5 sports car for 2024, while remaining true to the ethos of the roadster first rolled out in 1989, writes Brian Byrne.

In addition to new LED main lights and some subtle redesign of the rear lamps, the car has interior design enhancements that include new seating materials designed to prevent slippage during 'dynamic' driving.

That last might be particularly appropriate because the technology upgrades add a drive mode especially for tracks use.

In addition, driver assist additions include Lane Keep Assist and Intelligent Speed Control and other elements that bring the car into line with mainstream models. 

Audi e-tron GT review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

The current TV advertisement for the Audi e-tron GT depicts a patently high-level executive woman driving it in a very smart business district, writes Brian Byrne. I wonder how many of the 170 people who bought this car in Ireland over the last two years fit into that demographic?

If there is a high proportion of women, it wouldn't surprise me. Because this electric car is a truly gorgeous one which they could very comfortably feel reflects their ambition and achievement. Unlike some other sporty cars, such as Ford's Mustang with its essentially macho ethos, there is something about the Audi's styling that transcends customer gender-stereotyping.

There's not much I could add with words to the styling which the pictures with this piece show off. Except perhaps to note the truly perfect visual aesthetic of the car's proportions. It is technically a 4-door saloon with full-size access to front and back that somehow manages to retain the classic lines of a 2-door coupe. Without compromising room for rear occupants. At almost five metres long it is a big car, but doesn't appear to be.

Particularly from a side view the e-tron GT offers an image that it wouldn't surprise if there was a powerful V12 under the long bonnet. Indeed, my neighbour commented on a deep 'engine' noise he could hear when I drove away. But that's artificial, Audi engineers' take on the legislative need for pedestrian-protecting sound from otherwise almost silent electric vehicles. In this instance, it's rather like the heavy throb of ET's spaceship taking him home.

Sitting into the car — and here's where my only issue was, that for lanky and no longer youthfully supple me, it was a tricky matter throughout my time with the GT — the ambience is a very good mix of modernity and tradition in the instruments and controls layout. One of the car's key competitors is the Tesla S, and there's simply no comparison between them in the interior style and trim quality. The Audi is a hands-down winner by the proverbial country 1.6km. I instantly felt at home once I got behind the wheel.

Visibility forward and to the side, despite the low stance of the car, is fine. Not so much through the rear window. But for manoeuvring in car parks, the computerised multiple camera angles viewed on the centre screen made it OK.

The e-tron GT is built on an EV-dedicated platform co-developed with Porsche, shared with that brand's Taycan. There are two electric motors, one on each axle, providing AWD and an outsize 637hp in total output. Should you accept the challenge, in safe circumstances, the car will reach 100km/h in 4.1s.

The range from the 84kWh battery is rated at around 425km, and that reflects how most owners will want to drive the car as well as the 2.2 tonnes total weight that the motors are trundling around. On my various drives, I was generally averaging 21kWh consumed per 100km, which is fairly in line most of the larger EVs out there. If you can find one, the e-tron GT's system can charge very fast indeed from an 800v DC unit.

Apart from the fun available with all that power, the sheer drivability of this Audi was quite a joy. I especially liked the steering which, though quite light, keeps the driver feeling very much spot on in control.

I'm fortunate to have driven and be still driving some quite high end cars, but I'm usually much more comfortable with something less expensive and more for the rest of us. That said, I left the e-tron GT back with much more reluctance than would be the case with other equally expensive road-going machines. But I had to. I couldn't afford to keep it.

PRICE: €120,193. WHAT I LIKED: The completeness of the experience. 

Denis Mahony Ltd celebrates 60 years in business

One of Ireland’s leading motor groups, Denis Mahony Ltd, this month celebrates 60 years in business, writes Trish Whelan. 

The Irish family-owned and run business, now in its third generation, was started by former Dublin Gaelic Football captain Denis ‘Danno’ Mahony in 1963, employing 12 people at its first car dealership in Glasnevin Hill. The business, which now employs over 100 people, has gone from strength to strength through the years and opened dealerships in Kilbarrack in 1973 and Exit 5 M50 in 2005. 

Denis Mahony’s son John has been chief executive of the Denis Mahony Group since 1998, while John’s son Stephen is managing director of Mahony Fleet, the vehicle leasing and fleet management arm of the company. In 1973, the business bought the Toyota franchise; the Lexus brand was added in 1990. It continues to supply both these popular brands to customers today. 

John O’Mahony said his father ‘had a real passion for motorcars, and customer satisfaction, and we take great pride in the business that has been built over the last 60 years and we respect the past and our heritage but are always preparing for the future.” 

Stephen Mahony, Joan Mahony and John Mahony are pictured above.

 

Linders awarded Opel Dealer of 2023

Linders, Main Opel Dealer, Dublin 11, has been awarded the Opel Retail Sales Dealer of the Year 2023 title, writes Trish Whelan. 

Paul Linders, Dealer Principal, was presented with the award at the annual Opel Dealer Conference at Gowan Auto’s new Distribution Centre in Citywest on 11 October. 

Celebrating 85 years in business this year, Linders is one of the longest-established and most-recognised passenger car and light commercial vehicle specialist dealers in Dublin. From humble beginnings in Smithfield under the leadership of Patrick M Linders, today, the company boasts extensive showrooms in both Finglas and on the Naas Road. 

Richard Dillon, Head of Retail sales at Opel Ireland, said ‘the team at Linders have delivered a second-to-none Opel sales performance again in 2023, surpassing all targets’. Accepting the accolade, Paul Linders said it was ‘indeed gratifying to know that my team’s continued efforts are recognised by the Distributor, and I personally thank Ross Kenny and Dean Kennedy and all my Sales team for their absolute dedication to the company and to Opel’. He also thanked his customers for their valued support throughout the years. 

Pictured from left are: Richard Dillon, Head of Retail Sales at Opel Ireland; Paul Linders, Dealer Principal at Linder’s Opel. 

 

New Citroen C3 to 'democratise' EVs

Citroen is claiming its new C3 will ‘democratise’ electric cars in the same way as the 2CV did for motoring in general, writes Brian Byrne. That was the view of company CEO Thierry Koskas when he showed the newly-revealed latest generation C3 in Dublin this week.

The car has debuted as an electric vehicle, though there will be thermal engine versions in due course. But the €23,300 price point in some EU markets for the version with a range of 320km is a sweet carrot to be offering. When it comes to Ireland this time next year, however, customers here are likely be coughing up more because of our car taxation regime. Anticipating questions about the range, Mr Koskas said 320km is ‘more than enough for daily use’ in the user segment. 

“We don’t have a price yet,” Citroen Ireland’s Colin Sheridan (below) said at the Dublin reveal, though when pressed he said the new ë-C3 could be coming in at ‘under €30,000’. It's believed that a version to be available in other markets at €19,900, with a 200km range, is unlikely to be brought to Ireland’s buyers.

Apart from the pricing, the Citroen CEO said the comfort and specification levels of the new generation C2 will set it apart from the equivalent products by other brands. He also outlined a simplified  grade structure of just two levels, with automatic air conditioning, LED lights and a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems will be standard throughout. “There will be no options, just a choice of colours,” Mr Koskas said. He added that while the new car sits higher than its predecessor and has SUV elements but remains a hatchback. A B-SUV on the same platform will be revealed later, and teaser slides were shown at the Dublin event, held at the HQ of importers Gowan Auto in City West.

The new ë-C3 will use a less expensive lithium-ferro-phosphate battery to help keep costs down, but it will be capable of 20pc-80pc recharging in 29 minutes.

Citroen 2CV.

Range Rover review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

I remember in the very early 1970s an English friend of my Dad's came to our family pub, having driven over in his new Range Rover, writes Brian Byrne. I had a (much) younger man's interest in cars at the time, though I was still almost two decades away from writing about them.

"Want to take it for a spin?" he said, dropping the keys on the counter in front of me. I didn't need to be asked twice. Two hours later I brought the car back and handed him the keys. "I'm afraid I got it a bit dirty," I mentioned. He grinned. "If the dirt's on the inside, you'd better hose it out."

I had taken the car to an off-road training area not far from my home, operated by the Irish defence forces. And I had fun, even though I'd never at that point had any experience in off-road driving. It was a measure of the car's ability even then that it steered me out of any difficulty. And a measure of my own naivety that I had chanced bringing it into the mud and gullies at all ...

That car was a new take on the Land Rover theme. A modern shape, though still on the body-on-frame platform that served the original LR vehicles so well in rugged terrain use. Smart estate style — though at the time with only two passenger doors. High tech with a 3.5-litre V8 petrol engine derived from a former Buick 'small block', and full-time AWD. Stopping power of disc brakes all round. It was also more comfortable on road than the usual Land Rover, with coil springs instead of truck-style leafs. With all that, though, it wasn't intended to be a luxury vehicle. Vinyl seats and plastic dashboards were designed to be hosed down, just like the utilitarian Land Rovers.

I was remembering those things recently when I collected the latest generation of the Range Rover for review. That it is just the fifth iteration of the car in 53 years says something about the style longevity ethos of the model — change only because it is time to change, and then only with substantial improvements to excellence. It is several generations ago of the Range Rover now since it became a luxury car. And each decade of change since has been to enhance it in that luxury space. But not at the cost of ability to work in the rough, though the technology to allow that has moved by a quantum from the fairly simple AWD system in the original.

The latest Range Rover has the smoothest styling of any of the five generations. A mix of straight lines with subtle edge-softening and a move away from aggressive grille shapes are part of it. Clean but carefully drawn horizontals emphasise the width, which is only exceeded in the segment by BMW's X7 (and even larger Rolls-Royces). There's an engaging simplicity about the rear of the car that hides the two-way tailgate which among other uses provides a clean seating area for those who want to watch the pony shows or picnic to mountain views from the back of the car. While that afore-mentioned subtle curving of the edges minimises any bold look, the car retains a real presence.

Moving inside, plush has gotten noticeably plusher, with a techy edge. The ivory leather in the review car worked well with the dark trims and satin metal fittings on the dashboard, door furniture and storage spaces. The dashboard design itself manages to create both opulence and simplicity, and thankfully makes do with just a single centre infotainment screen, unlike some Range Rover derivative models. Large knobs and buttons for climate control, and a coherent treatment of the primary driving instruments are all welcome. There's more room for the rear seat passengers than in the Range Rover Sport I drove a while back, and the extra headroom also makes a significant difference here. Some of the extra length of the car also extends the boot space.

Like that smaller Range Rover, the power in the big brother came via Land Rover's own 3.0 inline six petrol with plug-in hybrid electrification. The range of the battery on its own proved to be a genuine 80-plus kilometres, while the overall 8.8L/100km that I achieved in my time with the car was quite respectable for a 2.4-tonne vehicle. All travel is done, as it should be for a car with a price that would go a long way to ensuring a small mortgage for an average house, in a smooth and almost serene manner.

And no, I didn't get it dirty. I had previously driven one of this model in some rough and grotty places and knew that I didn't have to do it again. Besides, any time I try for the military training place these days, there's a jeep-load of MPs on my tail in short order ... I think they have a camera there. Also, if I got the inside mucky, I wouldn't be able to hose it down.

PRICE: From €143,998; review car €183,968. WHAT I LIKED: Remembering my early 20s. 

New Citroen C3 revealed as all-electric

Citroën have revealed the fourth generation of their C3 supermini as an all-electric urban crossover-style car at a starting price of €23,300 in Europe, writes Brian Byrne. The price in Ireland hasn't yet been released.

The new car will come with a 44kWh battery pack offering a rated range of 320km and a 20-80pc charging in 26 minutes.

Standard equipment will include Citroën Advanced Comfort® Suspension as standard equipment to all versions. An innovative Citroën Head-Up Display reflects vehicle driving information onto a glossy black section between the top of the dash panel and the bottom of the windscreen, replacing the traditional separate instrument cluster.

The e-C3 also debut's the new Citroën design language previewed in the 2022 Citroën Oli concept. 

Ford Focus Review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

I was feeling quite nostalgic when test driving the face-lifted fourth-generation of the Ford Focus that went on sale here last year, as it is the last model I will have the pleasure of driving because Ford plan to end production of it in 2025. 

The company will solely focus on electric vehicles going forward (pun fully intended). 

Focus made its debut in 1998 as a replacement for the ageing Ford Escort and became an instant hit with motorists. It has undergone several facelifts since then and a variety of body styles including five-door hatch, estate, saloon and cabriolet. It’s a car that I have driven extensively at home and abroad for at least two decades. 

Focus is still a much loved mid-sized family car that has been the means of transport for thousands of owners and their families, and which has always managed to keep up-to-date with new styling, technologies and engines down the years. The reasoning behind ending Focus is that buyers nowadays want to drive larger crossovers and SUVs, not small compact cars. 

The facelifted model has already sold 1,121 this year, an 11.99pc increase on last year’s total sales (SIMI figures), which is ahead of the Blue Oval’s Puma crossover at 1,085 and Kuga SUV at 1,033. The slight facelift mainly involves changes to the front end with a trapezoidal upper grille supported by a gloss black honeycomb finish alongside broader side vents and a deeper lower grille. ST-Line variants feature side skirts, a rear diffuser and a discreet rear spoiler and polished twin tailpipes, red brake calipers, and special ST-Line badges on the outside and in the cabin. 

The spacious interior has lovely premium padded seats with red stitching which are attractive and comfortable. Front ones can be heated and the driver’s gets lumbar support. There is plenty of rear legroom even behind a 6ft 2ins person in front and good headroom. Red stitching was also on the steering wheel and gear gaiter. The dash is dominated by a 13.2-inch touchscreen which incorporates controls for heating and ventilation (previously activated by physical buttons which I prefer to having to scroll through screens). The system also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility allowing you to integrate between smartphone functions and Ford’s SYNC4 which also enables wireless software updates, and a big easy-to-read 12.3-inch driver’s digital cluster. 

Luggage space is a decent 340 litres with rear seats in place and the adjustable load floor can create two separate spaces to keep items more secure. There is a temporary spare. My car also had a B & O Premium Audio with 10 speakers which elevated the whole audio experience. 

My recent drive was in the ST-Line X, powered by Ford's brilliant little 3-cylinder 1.0 EcoBoost 125hp matched to a smooth 6-speed manual gearbox and with 170Nm of torque. Together they can move the car from 0-100km/h in 10.2 secs which is quick enough for most peoples’ everyday driving. Annual road tax is €200. While the claimed fuel return is 5.1L/100kms, my car showed a return of 6.5 litres over a week of ‘ordinary’ driving. 

The comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance technologies (ADAS) includes Pre-Collision Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking and Pedestrian/Cyclist detection. Standard were 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights, rear privacy glass, heated front seats and steering wheel, heated windscreen, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, wireless charging, Ford SYNC 4 Navigation, dual zone climate control. Onboard extras of a Driver Assist Pack, Driver Alert, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Auto High Beam amounted to €1,105. 

On the road, I had a nice comfy driving position and found this a great car to drive - beautifully balanced and with good acceleration, is plenty agile and delivers sharp handling due to the lowered sports tuned suspension that helps it corner so well. It is also so easy to park even in tight spots and, of course, offers better fuel economy that the ST models with more powerful engines. Myriads of Focus owners will lament its passing in 2025.

Priced from €36,347. My car is from €36,347. Prices exclude delivery and related charges.

 

 

Upgrades for ID.4, ID.5 add power and increase range

Volkswagen's ID.4 and ID.5 electric models are getting an upgrade that offers more efficient drivetrains and software enhancements, writes Brian Byrne.

The Pro and GTX grades of both cars will get the new generation motor and battery system that was inaugurated in the ID.7 liftback-sedan launched earlier this year. This develops an extra 82hp, substantially more torque, and the more efficient system provides for a rated range of 550km for the ID.4 and 556km for the ID.5 — 17km and 11km extra respectively.

Inside the cars there are changes to the location of the drive mode selector and a larger infotainment screen with a new design of menu system. An improved Voice Assistant also offers new functions such as real-time weather information. 

The base prices of the two cars will remain the same, according to Volkswagen. 

Prices and specifications revealed for Kia EV9

Kia Ireland has revealed prices and specifications for the new EV9 due to arrive in Ireland in November, writes Brian Byrne.

The SUV format car is the brand's first EV with three rows of seats, which can be configured in either six or seven seats.

Prices will start at €77,500 and there will be a GT-Line grade at €85,500.

The target driving range for the car is 563km, and where ultra-fast charging is available, 249km of range can be added in 15 minutes.

There's a strong emphasis on sustainability, with alternatives to leather and the use of biomaterials and recycled plastic. 

Joe Mallon Motors is new Peugeot dealer for Kildare

Joe Mallon Motors has been appointed to the Peugeot Network of Ireland for new vehicle sales and after-sales, writes Trish Whelan. 

The Peugeot brand will operate from a dedicated, newly constructed showroom located on the Sallins Road in Naas. 

Joe Mallon Motors was established, in its original location on the Dublin Road in Naas in 1986. They moved to their current premises on the Sallins Road in 2001 and opened a second location in Portlaoise in 2011. 

Joe Mallon Motors now employs a team of 65 across the business and was awarded Irish Electric Vehicle Dealer of the Year 2023 by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI). 

The dealership actively contributes to many local causes with current sponsorship of the Joe Mallon Motors Kildare Senior Football Championship, Allenwood GAA and Cappagh GAA clubs, amongst many other clubs, events and charities in Kildare and Laois. 

Pictured (left to right): Des Cannon (Managing Director at Gowan Auto, Peugeot Importers in Ireland); Luke Messit (Sales Director at Gowan Auto). From Joe Mallon Motors Ltd, Philip Mallon, (Managing Director), Colm Valentine (Finance Director), Anthony Mallon (Sales Director), Ethna Mallon O’Brien (After-Sales Director).

 

MG5 review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

With sales of electric cars now approaching one in five of all registrations here, there's no longer a question of when the powertrain will be mainstream, writes Brian Byrne. The next question — what brands are winning the EV race? Probably no surprise that Volkswagen has the lion's share at 18.9pc of EVs sold year to date. Tesla is next at 13pc of EV market share while Hyundai and Kia at 10.5pc and 7.4pc each — in fact combined are snapping at the swishing wheels of the Wolfsburg leader. That the top five placing is filled out by Chinese marque MG and not by any of the mass-market and pioneer electric brands like Nissan and Renault must be a worry to those carmakers. As well as to a range of other European marques which have invested heavily in EVs.

Almost four out of five of those MG sales here are for the compact MG4 hatchback introduced earlier this year, and which I have already reviewed. This week it's the MG5, in Ireland since last year and billed as the first estate car EV to be sold in Europe. Which is maybe why sales haven't been stratospheric in Ireland, given the somewhat strange attitude we have to wagons.

To me, long an estate car fan, the MG5 looks really good. A smooth front, svelte profile lines and a smart rear tailgate where the iconic MG badge in chrome sat very well against the red colour of the review car. The overall looks rival my favourite in the format, Toyota's Corolla Touring Sports.

When Chinese cars first tested the motor show circuit some years ago, I remember the interior quality not being any way close to what would be acceptable by European drivers. That has changed utterly. Sitting into the MG5 is as good an experience as in any mid-range Korean or European car. Maybe a little heavy with the brushed aluminium effect trim on the dashboard and centre console, but nothing brash or off-putting. The style detailing is pleasant, there's good support and comfort in the seats, and even though the car bears no relation to the original sporty brand, there is still something interesting about that MG octagon gracing the steering wheel boss.

The driver's instrumentation is of the EV simple variety, there's not much needed to know apart from speed and range left. The central infotainment screen is probably of the right size and shape to suit most, and is Bluetooth connectible to smartphones. In my review of the MG4 earlier this year I railed against the poor sensitivity of the screen — though similar, this one seemed to be better in that department. There is still an issue in how far through menus you have to go to turn off the more annoying elements of the Advanced Driver Assist system, but this is also becoming an issue with other non-Chinese brands.

The simple concept also applies to the transmission selector, a rotary knob on the centre console. Ahead of it are two switches for drive mode and energy regeneration strength, pleasantly practical to use.

It's a roomy car in all spaces, including for rear headroom, while the longish wheelbase allows passengers there a decent stretch of the legs. The boot capacity of 479L with all seats up is good for most family use needs — you obviously get more with a retracted cover and more again with rear seats folded.

With those ADAS gizmos switched off, the driving experience is smooth and quiet as is the norm with EVs. The overall feel proved almost surprisingly enjoyable, and despite the inevitable heavier car because of the battery, the suspension handled the ride well even on iffy roads.

The electric motor offers 166hp, and the 7.7s acceleration from 0-100km/h is adequately quick, proving that the sometimes outlandish power and torque in many other EV cars is a completely wasted use of resources. The 61.1kWh battery gives the car a rated range of 379km, and over my time with the MG5 I found that to be reasonably close to real-world.

I don't mind saying that I didn't expect this car to be as pleasing as it turned out to be. Maybe that's also what established carmakers on this side of the world are thinking too. If they aren't worried, they should be.

PRICE: From €37,395; review car in Exclusive grade €41,545. WHAT I LIKED: Being surprised by the car's competence. 

New generation of Ford's Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom

Ford has regenerated its Transit Custom van and the Tourneo passenger version with updated styling and new powertrain options, writes Brian Byrne.

The vehicles are on a new and lighter platform which allows better load carrying and more powertrains. The wheelbase can be up to 200mm longer than the previous generation, depending on version chosen. 

There's also a strong emphasis on making the driver more comfortable and efficient. There's a more car-like driving position, while the flat cabin floor along with the electronic handbrake and 'squircle'-shaped steering wheel help cross-cab access. There's a column-mounted gear shifter on models with automatic transmission.

Powertrains will include the latest generation of Ford EcoBlue diesel engines from 110hp-170hp power outputs. The new Plug-In Hybrid offers a combined power output of 232hp, with pure-electric driving range of up to 56km. It is similar to that used by the Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid. An all-electric version will be available to order soon for summer 2024 delivery.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, with the option of a new high-efficiency eight-speed automatic gearbox. A new all-wheel drive system can be specified on Transit Custom for the first time. 

The Tourneo Custom variant now offers up to nine seats.

New generation X2 Coupe from BMW includes EV variant

BMW has revealed its new generation X2 crossover sports activity coupe, alongside the first electric version of the car, the iX2, writes Brian Byrne.

As the second generation of the model, there's stronger styling, more space, and the company claims cutting edge technology.

The top of the range will provide 300hp and 5.4s sprint capability to 100km/h. The iX2 will offer a rated range of 428km.

Prices for the X2 range start at €55,350, with the iX2 priced from €69,500. Deliveries will commence in March 2024. 

Toyota Corolla Cross Review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

After many years soldiering with the RAV 4 nameplate, first introduced in 1994 and considered by many to be the first compact crossover, Toyota has been steadily increasing its lineup in the Europe market SUV space over the last decade and a half, writes Brian Byrne. The C-HR, Yaris Cross, even the diminutive Aygo Cross are all part of the offering. And it was probably inevitable, as the RAV 4 got larger, that a version of the iconic and breadwinner Corolla would also be added to plug a gap in the showrooms.

Of all the Toyotas in the crossover genre, at first glance it seems to be the least adventurous stylistically, certainly compared to other models in the format from the carmaker. Indeed, it looks almost old-fashioned. Which might be deliberate, because while the current and 12th generation Corolla is designed quite up to our times, there's a large cohort of Corolla buyers out there who value part of the nameplate's reputation as perhaps an 'ordinary car for everyone'. That is not a denigration, because technically Corolla has always delivered up to date technology. But is equally has always been regarded as a safe and reliable buy.

When you get close-up to the Corolla Cross, though, there's elegance in the detail of what otherwise could be a me-too of many other crossovers in the compact family car segment. The bluntness of the high front is leavened by a quite clever bumper styling, and a skid-plate element that is coloured the same as the body rather than the de-rigeur elsewhere pseudo aluminium. The headlight treatment that seems quite small from the front proves to be unusually long from the quarter and side views and add quite a 'hawkeye' element. The roofline with integrated rails is highish, which benefits those inside, but a neat chrome outline with 'Corolla Cross' on a wider part at the end prevents the car seeming top heavy. The three-quarter aspect shows a very smart well-presented tailgate section. Overall, as you walk around, the Corolla Cross is visually very together.

Inside, although the Corolla Cross shares its wheelbase with the smaller and sportier C-HR, there's definitely a sense of more room, thanks to the relatively high roofline. The trim and fitting of the overall interior is to the very high quality that is now expected from Toyota (and indeed, from most competitor makers — there's no room left for shoddiness). In keeping with the ethos of the car, there's noting dramatic about the dashboard and instruments design, which are similar to the latest Corolla saloon — graphics and colours in Toyota's instrumentation were substantially upgraded with this. The centre screen and the easy-to-manage climate controls underneath are set quite high, which I liked given the seating position. There's good space in all metrics for those in the rear, and a decent 433-litre capacity for stuff aft of them.

There are two powertrains available, both hybrid, with 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engine options, the larger engine being newer and with a punchier electric motor. You'll pay more than €2,000 for the larger engine, but there's negligible difference  between them in fuel consumption and emissions and you might consider the extra power without penalty worth it. In Ireland, only 2WD versions are currently on sale, but this is a family car offering and off-road capability isn't really a factor.

Toyota was the starting gate leader in hybrid technology, and while they are now in a crowded hybrid field, the company's engineers haven't been sitting on their laurels. The current version is actually fifth-generation Toyota hybrid, and in whatever model application it does work exceedingly well. For the rev-rev brigade, the CVT transmissions don't provide anything close to an adrenaline rush, but they're not the ones this car is aimed at. For those it is being offered to, they're going to get easy and efficient motoring in a car that should tick all the needed boxes.

PRICE: From €37,870. WHAT I LIKED: The extraordinary ordinary, really. 

Contenders for Irish Car of the Year 2024 announced

MMAI Chairman, Joe Rayfus, and Tom Dennigan of awards sponsor, Continental Tyres, with four of the new brand models competing for an award for the first time in this year’s competition.

The list of contending cars for the Irish Car of the Year 2024 awards has been published and number 32, writes Brian Byrne. The awards are presented in association with Continental Tyres, a longtime sponsor of the event. The winners will be announced at a function in Dublin on Friday 3 November.

The jurors are members who are drawn from the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI). The group's chairman Joe Rayfus noted that four new marques have launched models onto the Irish market this year and all are in the running for awards – BYD, INEOS, Maxus and Ora.  

Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres says such a range of new brands extends the breadth of options for Irish motorists and "increased choice and more competition can only be a good thing."

The full field of candidates are Alfa Romeo Tonale, Citroen eC4x, Maxus Mifa 9, Peugeot 408, Audi Q8 E-Tron, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Mazda CX-60, Polestar 2 BST, Audi RS 3, Hyundai Kona, Mercedes GLC, Renault Austral, BMW i7/7 Series, INEOS Grenadier, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Subaru Solterra, BMW M2, Jeep Avenger, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Toyota bZ4X, BMW X1, Kia EV6 GT, MG4, Toyota Corolla Cross, BMW XM, Lexus RX, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota Prius, BYD Atto 3, Maserati Grecale, Ora Funky Cat, and VW e-Up.