First new BMW 3 Series deliveries in Ireland in later summer

First customers in Ireland will get deliveries of the new BMW 3 Series during this summer, writes Brian Byrne. The price is €56,700 and BMW 3 Series Touring from €58,910 for the cars, which will begin production in July.

The new cars show an evolved body design that maintains the traditional look of the 3 Series, with strongly sculpted sheetmetal and a distinctive iteration of the brand's kidney-themed grille.

Petrol and plug-in hybrid engines offer power ranges between 184hp-374hp, with new batteries in the PHEV versions providing electric ranges between 83-101km.

The interior features the latest BMW integrated dual screens for driving information and infotainment, managed through the 8.5 operating system software and choices of the iDrive console controller and intuitive and simplified steering wheel controls. 

Dacia Jogger Hybrid review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

When Dacia revealed a new brand identity package in 2022, they were signalling a visual upshift that reflected a doubling of sales in Europe in the previous decade, writes Brian Byrne. Which was a significant achievement for a car brand that had only been launched eight years before that. That same 2022 was ten years after the Renault-owned budget brand had arrived in Ireland. In that decade, Dacia sold over 30,000 units here, led by the small SUV Duster. For the first quarter of this year, Dacia's Sandero hatchback was the best-selling car in Europe.

All that is to give perspective to the Dacia Jogger of this review. Although in the third place in sales of the four models on sale here, the Jogger is doing a healthy 15pc of the brand's performance. Sold only as a 7-seater in the B-segment family space, it has similar dimensions to the Volkswagen Tiguan, but is not an SUV itself, rather is formatted as an estate wagon on the Sandero's platform. Jogger is actually the longest Dacia model at some 4.5 metres.

The original logos and typeface styles of the Dacia brand became very familiar as the face of budget cars. But the new versions are so far ahead of these that I'd suggest they add a couple of thousand euro to the perceived value of each car. Jogger is certainly an example of this, looking sleek and assertive and exceptionally modern from both front and rear without any body shape changes. The transformable roof rails, which can be converted quickly to cross rails, add to the side profile's attractiveness. 

Inside, the driver and front passenger space is straight from the Sandero. In the base model, you get a holder for your smartphone to be comms and navigation in the centre dash. In my review top range version there was a centre screen with inbuilt navigation and radio apps as well as Bluetooth linkage to smartphone systems. It’s a lowish definition screen but is adequate. The driver's instrumentation is also an upgrade to current Renault style.

There's a long 2.9-metre wheelbase, giving the Jogger a lot of inside space to play with. The middle seats roll forward for access to the rearmost pair. Behind the two is a rather small cargo area, but they can be tipped forward to extend it. They don’t fold flat into the rear floor, but they can be removed, and stored in bags provided for that purpose, making the Jogger a 5-seater with a seriously big boot. Especially in a B-segment car.

There are three grades, the lowest one coming with the more spartan specification that makes it a relative bargain. Mine was the Extreme top end, and while that brings the specification closer to that in Renault cousins, it also brings the price closer to them. The grade does add some copper detailing that enhances the car's looks. 

When Jogger was introduced to Ireland a couple of years ago, I liked it well for all that it provided in a fairly budget place. At the time the only powertrain was a petrol unit, with a manual gearbox that I didn't particularly like the action of the clutch — just a personal thing, maybe not a fit to my lanky physique. One of the reasons for my revisit to the model is the arrival of the hybrid version, and for me that has been transformative, not least because a hybrid is by its nature automatic and eliminated my only significant issue.

It's the Renault-familiar system of a 1.6 petrol engine paired with two electric motors — a 49hp traction motor and a smaller high-voltage Starter Generator, plus a multi-mode clutch-less gearbox. The arrangement allows for full-electric starting and quite brisk acceleration. The system automatically chooses the best combination of petrol or electric power to suit conditions, and switches between them quite seamlessly. Along with what is a good-handling car, the power unit made for a very pleasant drive. The 1.2kWh hybrid battery is under the floor and doesn't impact on load space. The hybrid also has as standard automatic headlights, and cruise control with speed limiter.

Moving to the hybrid powertrain, and with the review car's Extreme specification grade, it's arguable that the Jogger is then competing price-wise with more sophisticated competition. But given the hike that all car prices have taken since the pandemic, there's probably room to justify the extra. Certainly, the €4,000-odd difference between the two powertrains would be worth it to me.

PRICE: Jogger Essential from €25,940; review Hybrid 145 Extreme €32,940. WHAT I LIKED: Nice drive with big capacity in good looking car. 

Call for better enforcement on dangerous tyres

A call for full enforcement of penalty points for dangerous tyres has been made by the boss of Continental Tyres Ireland, Tom Dennigan, writes Brian Byrne. He says the current level of enforcement in this area is way below that for other offences.

"Has any motorist in Ireland ever seen a roadside Garda checkpoint assessing the state of tyres on vehicles?" he asks. "A cursory look at the penalty point offences statistics will show that while many of the offences have been attributed to thousands or hundreds of thousands of licence holders, in particular, for speeding or mobile phone use, those for tyre related penalty points are barely in the hundreds.”

Dennigan commends the introduction of various tyre safety regulations over the last ten years. These have included the tyre-related penalty points in 2016, and more recently the National Car Test (NCT) dangerous fault classification targeting any vehicle that is presented with dangerously worn or defective tyres. But he says surveys at tyre depots across the country have shown that in some cases, cars on extremely worn and dangerously defective tyres made up more than 50 percent of customers pulling in to have their tyres checked or replaced. 

“Seeing with my own eyes the state of tyres on cars that five minutes earlier were on roads and motorways across the country, I have no doubt that damaged or dangerously worn tyres are a key factor in many road traffic collisions on Irish roads," he says.

Dennigan is also calling on motorists in Ireland to get more proactive about looking after their tyres, their vehicle’s only contact with the road. "Like any piece of high tech equipment, they are subject to wear and tear and need to be replaced when they become damaged or overly worn. A very high number of motorists in Ireland do not give their tyres a second thought."

A tyre check can be carried out in a matter of minutes: make sure the tyre is inflated to the correct level, then examine for any cuts or abrasions and finally check the tread depth. If the tyre is any way badly worn or in poor condition, get along to your local tyre dealer to have them properly checked. 

New Citroen C3 begins markets rollout

Citroen has revealed the latest iteration of the C3 Aircross, which clones with a longer body and with up to seven seats, writes Brian Byrne.

The car will be available as a multi-powertrain vehicle, with petrol, hybrid and all-electric versions.

The new C3 Aircross shares its platform with the latest hatch C3 variant, and the car  will be rolled out in various European markets over coming months.

Irish specifications and pricing will be available at a later stage. 

New generation BMW X3

A new generation of BMW's X3 SUV is now available to order for first Irish deliveries in the autumn, writes Brian Byrne.

The car is available in four versions at a starting price of €69,410, including petrol, diesel and PHEV options. All versions come with the brand's xDrive AWD technology.

Style changes both outside and in the interior emphasise a new design language from BMW.

The PHEV petrol hybrid engine now offers an extended EV range, and the most powerful version of the car is the M50 with 398hp on tap. 

Now there are three e-tron GTs

The arrival of the Audi RS e-tron GT to the nameplate offering brings the RS performance designation for the first time to an electric car from the brand, writes Brian Byrne. With it, there are now three variants of the car, including two performance options in the RS specification.

Prices for the S e-tron GT start at €139,635, the RS e-tron GT at €163,395, and the RS e-tron GT performance at €177,650.

Powertrains now offer between 680hp-925hp, making the Audi RS e-tron GT Performance the most powerful car the brand has ever produced.

Bodywork details, bespoke wheels, and colour options within the RS ethos distinguish it from the standard 'S' designation. The interiors have also been tweaked to reflect the upgrades to the cars.  

BMW's new M2 now available to order

BMW’s new M2 will combine compact dimensions, updated chassis technology and a 20hp increase in power output, writes Trish Whelan. 

 

It will have new exterior design accents, a refreshed interior and the introduction of BMW’s Operating System 8.5, digital control for the climate functions. A 12-inch information display and 14.9-inch control display feature the latest evolution of the brand’s iDrive control system. Standard equipment also includes the BMW Live Cockpit Plus with BMW Maps navigation system, a Head-Up Display and an Augmented View on the control display. Semi-automated driving and parking systems come as standard. 

Offered in a two-door form, and featuring a straight-six engine, an optional six-speed manual gearbox, and rear-wheel drive, new M2 offers a claimed combined fuel consumption of 8.17-8.0 L/100kms, C02 emissions of 223 - 218 g/km WLTP, and now tops out at 480hp. Peak torque remains at 550Nm; with the standard eight-speed M Steptronic transmission, this rises to 600Nm. BMW say the 3.0 engine only slightly differs from the unit in the M3/M4 range. 

Customers can order their new M2 in a choice of three solid colours, five metallic shades and six BMW Individual paint finishes. The new M2 will be built alongside the new 2 Series Coupe in Mexico with production starting in August and first customer deliveries this autumn 2024. With a start price of €115,760 RRP, the new M2 is now available to order at BMW retailers across Ireland.

 

Grande Panda: Fiat's new global player

Fiat has revealed the first pictures of its new Grande Panda, the firstborn of the new family inspired by the 1980s Panda, a compact family mover, writes Trish Whelan. In the year Fiat celebrates its 125th anniversary, the Italian carmaker is introducing this new global model which they claim is ideal for family use, for shopping and for driving in towns and cities - in every country. 

The Grande Panda, designed in Turin, will first land in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and will be available in both electric and hybrid versions. 

This is a B-segment car under 4 metres long, with clean lines, good inside space, and can carry five adults. 

It will be followed by the launch of a new vehicle every year until 2027. Fiat intend to manufacture vehicles on the same global and multi-energy Smart platform allowing the brand create many different vehicles and respond to customers’ needs worldwide. More details when we get them.

 

New 5-door Mini Cooper

The new Mini Cooper 5-door from BMW will be available in Ireland from August with a starting price of €33,435, writes Brian Byrne. It joins the 3-door version launched a few months ago.

The car is offered with a choice from two petrol engines, with outputs of 156hp and 204hp, designated as 'C' and 'S' versions respectively. Tested acceleration for each to 100km/h are 8.0s and 6.8s.

The new 5-door has similar exterior dimensions as its predecessor but a longer wheelbase enables better interior space for occupants. 

Review: Peugeot E-2008: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Peugeot is renowned for the style it brings to its passenger cars and the French carmaker’s updated crossover 2008 certainly delivers on that front as it’s a real head turner. Peugeot is part of the Stellantis group and the E-2008 is based on the 2008 petrol model. 

The car received a significant update to its design and a larger battery for improved range when it went on sale last year. It competes in the B-segment. Measuring 4.30m long, 1,987m wide and 1.55m high, it is positioned below its 3008 sibling. The car’s height makes it easy to get in and out which is important for many owners. 

The facelift gave the model a more assertive design with a new front end with the new Peugeot shield logo, new vertical claw-like Daytime Running Lights in the lower bumper instead of the previous 'fangs', and new E-badging around the exterior. My car was in a dark shade of grey called Selenium Grey that everyone admired as it showed off the car to perfection. The stylish look included privacy glass, a gloss black roof and roof rails, some sharp shapes and silver trim along the sides. I particularly liked the upward sweep to the C-pillars. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard on Allure and top GT models. 

The interior is well laid out and user-friendly with a good feel to it. You're cocooned with the sweep of the dash around to the sides emphasised by very nice carbon effect trims. There’s much black gloss on the central console area. Peugeot’s i-Cockpit setup includes two dials on the dash, a small compact steering wheel over which you can see your current speed in the driver’s screen above. In my top GT spec, the 3D instrument panel looked great and you can switch between the displays. The 10-inch central touchscreen, angled towards the driver, is a big improvement on the previous model's but isn’t always intuitive. You can stay connected with the I-Connect system as it offers full connectivity through wireless mirroring (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto) and allows easy access to all the infotainment functions via the OK Peugeot voice command. A row of piano-type keys below the screen allows you access some shortcuts and there’s a proper knob for the volume. 

Seats are both comfy and supportive, with manual adjustments. They also look great with a mix of leather effect and patterned cloth. Rear ones split 60/40 and headroom for tall people is just about adequate. The person seated in the middle rear seat has a transmission tunnel to contend with. Cubbies include a smallish glovebox area, an area below the narrow armrest, big cupholders and good sized door bins. There's a wireless charger on the dash, two USB C and a 12V socket up front, and two USBs more in the back. 

The boot size remains unchanged at 434 litres; there’s a split level floor so you can store the charging cables below. There’s no lip which makes it easy to lift items in and out. The toggle gear selector is on the flat of the central console. Driving modes are Normal/Eco/Sport. Numerous features included a good reversing camera and a HD parking aid camera that can be changed to show wide areas around the car including at the rear. I was able to get a good driving position and felt very comfy behind the wheel but the thick bases of the A-Pillars hindered my vision. Side mirrors come with small blind spot monitors but work fine. 

On the road, the car seemed very agile and nimble with a small turning circle, and decent acceleration. It’s such an easy car to drive on all types of roads but really comes into its own in urban conditions. Press the ‘B’ button to activate the regenerative braking mode to help energy consumption. Battery usage is around 14.5kWh/100km which is impressive for this segment. The electric motor produces 156bhp and offers a claimed range of up to 406km (WLTP combined), up from 345km in the pre-face lifted model. The battery has a capacity of 52.5 kWh and can be charged to 80pc in 30 minutes using a fast DC charger. A full charge takes 7.5 hours using a 7kW wallbox charger. 

There are also 1.2 petrol 100bhp/130bhp options from €31,040-€34,595 as well as a hybrid petrol with automatic transmission from €35,450. My GT electric 156bhp version is from €40,675 after subsidies. Annual tax is €120.

 

First Drive in new Fiat 600 Hybrid: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Fiat Ireland have this week launched their new Fiat 600 which builds on the enduring popularity of the iconic 500. Fiat Ireland expect this newcomer to resonate just as strongly with Irish motorists as has its smaller sibling. The 600 arrives just in time for the 242 registration period and the car is offered in hybrid or full electric versions. 

At 4.17 metres in length, the new model is longer and wider than the 500 but measures just about the same in height. In size, the new 600 sits a little larger than Opel's Mokka and a tad smaller than Ford's Puma. Compared to the 500, it has a sharper and more assertive 'face' with large circular headlights, the overall look set off by black matt skirts and wheel arches. Wheels of up to 18 inches are available. This 5-door comfortably fits five people with good head and legroom for rear seat passengers and has 15 litres of interior storage. 

The very stylish interior is likely to appeal to people of all ages with its simple and user-friendly design and colour schemes. You feel quite pampered with very comfy and stylish seats that in the entry spec feature recycled-fabrics with white accents and a matte black bio-based plastic dashboard fascia. The top La Prima version has ivory synthetic leather seats with the Fiat monogram, with turquoise accents. There's three-stage heating, the driver’s seat gets power adjustments and a back massage function. 

Features include a 10.25-inch fully customisable screen with Navi, CarPlay and Android Auto wireless, a 7-inch driver's cluster which displays your current speed in large digital form, and connected services. The boot has up to 385 litres of load capacity and is available with a hands-free power tailgate. I could adjust the boot in the hybrid to different levels as it includes a removable shelf, boot floor, and space underneath for a spare wheel. While a spare is not included in the spec, owners can purchase one from any Fiat dealer nationwide at an additional cost which will depend on the type of spare wheel (whether a space saver or regular), wheel dimensions, brand and rating of the tyre. All powertrains come with a tyre repair kit as standard. 

The other key difference from the nowadays electric-only 500e, apart from size, is that the 600 is offered in both hybrid and fully electric variants. My first drive was in the 100hp 48V Hybrid which uses a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox with an integrated electric motor. On our drive from Fiat’s HQ at City West it seemed seamless in operation, we hardly felt any gear changes. The hybrid is capable of a 0-100km/h time of around 11 seconds and has almost instantaneous torque delivered from the e-motor. 

The all-electric 600e’s lithium-ion batteries, with a capacity of 54kWh, give a claimed range of more than 400km in the WLTP combined cycle and more than 600km in the urban cycle. It comes with a 100-kW fast charger system and an 11kW on board charger and a Mode 3 cable for charging at home or in public which ensures a full charge in under 6hrs. This electric powertrain has an output of 115 kW allowing acceleration from 0-100kmh in 9.0 secs and has three driving modes - eco, normal and sport. Both versions of the car come with a host of safety features including Adaptive Cruise Control, Electric parking brake, and Autonomous Emergency Braking. 

Prices start from €28,995 for the hybrid and from €32,995 for the fully electric 600e (incl grants). Annual road tax is €180.

Ciaran Cusack, Marketing Manager of Fiat, Gowan Auto, is pictured above at the launch of the new Fiat 600.

 

Nissan reveal new start price for Ariya EV

Nissan has announced a new start price of €39,995 for its 100pc electric Ariya crossover, writes Trish Whelan. The new pricing extends across the Ariya range. 

The lead-in price is available on the new 63 kWh Ariya Engage which delivers a range of 404kms. Customers looking for an even more luxurious drive can opt for the Advance or Evolve grades with a choice of a 63 kWh battery which is priced from €42,995, or the bigger 87 kWh battery with a range of up to 532kms and priced from €51,995 for the Advance grade and at €54,495 for the Evolve grade. All prices are inclusive of Government grants. 

The car comes with a futuristic design, premium feel and spacious interior and is the most technically advanced Nissan car to date. Standard features include Intelligent Forward Collision Warning/Cruise Control, Blind Spot Warning and intervention, Cross Traffic Alert, and Nissan’s e-Pedal technology that allows drivers to launch, accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator. The top Evolve spec adds a Wireless Phone Charger, Intelligent Rear View Mirror, a Heads Up Display, ProPilot Park, heated and cooled front seats/heated rear seats, and an openable panoramic sunroof. 

Nissan says the entry grade price is on a par, or less than the cost of buying the same sized petrol or diesel car.

 

Fewer new cars registered in May 2024 - SIMI

New car registrations for May were down 15pc (6,407) when compared to May 2023 (7,545) while registrations year-to-date are up 3.8pc (at 77,453) on the same period last year (74,612), writes Trish Whelan. 

Sales of Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) dropped by 22.3pc (1,950) compared to May last year (2,511) and year-to-date LCVs are up 21.3pc (19,543). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are up 24.4pc (265) in comparison to May 2023 (213) and year-to-date HGVs are up 20.2pc (1,707). 

Imported used cars saw a 22.9pc (5,514) rise in May this year compared to May 2023 (4,486) and year-to-date imports are up 26.00pc (26,207) on 2023 (20,797). 

Figures from The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) also show fewer new electric cars registered in May (1,044) which was a 39.1pc drop over the 1,715 registrations for May 2023. So far this year, some 10,062 new electric cars have been registered which is a 21.8pc decrease compared to the same period in 2023 at 12,875. 

The top selling car brands 2024 are: 1. Toyota, 2. Volkswagen, 3. Skoda, 4. Hyundai, 5. Kia. The top selling EVs are: 1. VW ID.4, 2. Tesla Model Y, 3. Hyundai Kona, 4. Tesla Model 3, 5. MG MG4. The top selling car for May was the Dacia Sandero (pictured above) and the top selling electric car was the Tesla Model Y (pictured below). 

Petrol cars continue lead the new car market at 33.30pc followed by diesel at 23.06pc, Hybrid (petrol electric) at 20.18pc, Electric at 12.99pc, and Plug-in Electric Hybrids at 8.86pc. Electric cars have seen a fourth consecutive month of decline in sales with the EV share of the market now at just 13pc, down from 17pc on last year. Commenting on the figures, Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, said the private consumer is the driver of EV sales in Ireland and they need greater reassurances on their EV investment which includes, as a minimum, the extension of current incentives and delivery on an electric charging infrastructure as well as encouraging the company car market - and to delay the phasing out of the BIK concession until such time as EVs become firmly established.

 

 

Opel launches trio of light commercial vehicles

Opel’s new generation of light commercial vehicles will land in Irish showrooms from this month, available in both diesel and all-electric, writes Trish Whelan. Each of the trio features a new exterior styling and a redesigned cockpit and with enhanced safety equipment as standard. 

The compact new Opel Combo is available in two trims and two lengths (L1 and L2), and has a maximum load length of 3.4m, a load volume of up to 4.4m3 and payload of up to 1000kg. The level one trim, L1H1 1.5 turbo diesel 100hp retails from €26,495, plus delivery. Standard equipment includes cruise control, intelligent speed assist, rear parking sensors, six airbags, smartphone station with voice recognition, spare wheel, air con, solid bulkhead with trapdoor and automatic high beam assist. The level two Combo Sportive trim is from €28,895 and gains a 10-inch touchscreen, 10-inch driver information screen, Matrix LED headlamps, 180-deg rear view camera. 

The medium-sized new Opel Vivaro comes in two trims and two lengths with a maximum load length of 4m, load volumes of up to 6.6m3 and payload of up to 1,400kg. The Komfort L1H11 turbo diesel 120hp retails from €35,995 plus delivery. The level two retails from €37,995. 

The large new Opel Movano, available in Komfort trim, will arrive in the coming weeks in panel van body type offering three length and three height variants and a chassis cab body type. It offers a payload of up to 2 tonnes and has towing capacity of up to 3 tonnes and load volume of up 17m3 (5 Euro pallets). The panel Van retails from €38,295. It includes a full steel bulkhead. Battery-electric versions include up to 420km on a single charge for the Movano Electric - the interior pictured below. 

Year-to-date Opel LCV registrations have seen a major uplift of 53pc here, winning an 8.2pc market share and maintaining 5th place in the marketplace.

 

 

Continental Tyres again partners with Blood Bikes

Continental Tyres Ireland has renewed its partnership as support vehicle tyre partner for Blood Bikes Leinster, the east coast chapter of the nationwide Association of Blood Bikes, writes Trish Whelan.

The registered charity celebrated the renewal of the partnership for 2024 with the fitting of a new set of UltraContact NXT tyres for one of their support vehicles, a specially liveried Mitsubishi Lancer at Heffernan Tyres in Kildare town. 

Blood Bikes is a registered not-for-profit Irish charity, set up by local volunteers, who look after the timely delivery of blood and associated blood products, human donor breast milk, cancer medication treatments and other time-sensitive material to hospitals and medical centres across the country. It depends totally on public donations and corporate sponsorship. The service is run free of charge for the medical bodies, thanks to the legion of volunteers who give their time freely for this life-saving service. The Blood Bikes teams carry out this valuable service to hospitals ensuring that ambulances or Garda vehicles are not taken out of service and are kept where they are needed the most. 

Fergus Lennon, Regional Coordinator of Blood Bikes Leinster, said they are very appreciative of the partnership with the Continental Tyres Ireland team. “When you spend the amount of time on the road that our volunteers do, you come to appreciate the value of premium tyres both for providing high levels of safety for our drivers and for the longevity of the tyres themselves.” He said these latest tyres from Continental, ’will keep our volunteers safe as they clock up the kilometres’. 

Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland said: “We are only too happy to renew our support to Fergus and his team of volunteers as they provide their life-saving service to the people of Ireland.” He added that they do ‘some really incredible work as they were recently in the UK to collect a heart that could not be transported by aircraft - it had to be transported by car and ferry. Continental is supplying its award-winning tyres for use on the Blood Bikes support vehicles, including a 4x4 model, that enables the service to continue operating during even the most arduous of weather conditions. Fergus Lennon and Tom Dennigan are pictured with one of the Leinster Blood Bike support vehicles.

 

Iconic Wagoneer from Jeep here next year

A new all-electric large Jeep will arrive on the Irish market in 2025, following its planned US and Canada rollouts in the second half of this year, writes Brian Byrne.

The Jeep Wagoneer S is the first global battery-electric vehicle from the iconic brand, with a claimed range of more than 600km and a sub-4s acceleration to 100km/h capability.

The Wagoneer nameplate was originally sold as an SUV from 1963 for 30 years, and was revived in the US in 2022.

Specifications and prices for Ireland will come in advance of the car's launch here. 

SEAT celebrates 40 years of Ibiza with new edition

Since its introduction in 1984, the SEAT Ibiza has spanned five generations and sold over 6 million units, becoming the brand’s best-selling model, writes Trish Whelan. 

Now, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Ibiza, the brand’s Ibiza Anniversary Limited Edition is now available to purchase. This special edition features new equipment and colours, as well as new alloy wheel and design cues. The exterior design has an exclusive Graphene Grey colour on the body and Cosmo Grey on the 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin sees the introduction of exclusive textile Bucket seats in the front. 

There is also a SEAT Arona FR Limited Edition now available, also with Graphene Grey body, exclusive 18-inch Cosmo Grey wheels and interior touches like grey air vents and Dark Aluminium Matte mouldings. 

SEAT June 2024 offers include the Ibiza from €199.00 p/m; Ibiza FR40 from €209.00 p/m; Arona from €189.00 p/m; Arona FR40 from €219 p/m; Ateca from €289.00 p/m; Leon from €229.00 p/m; and Tarraco from €449.00 p.m. All except the Tarraco are 0pc APR; Tarraco is at 5.9pc APR. These offers are available on new retail sales ordered between now and 30 June 2024 and registered before 31 August 2024.

 

Renault announce 242 finance offers

Renault’s 242 finance offers include a 0pc APR or a €1,500 trade-in bonus available across Clio, Captur, Arkana, and Austral E-Tech full hybrid models, writes Trish Whelan. 

The 0pc HP APR finance offer with Mobilize Financial Services (MFS) is based on a maximum finance amount of €25,000 and a maximum term of 48 months, saving customers over €3,000 in interest versus high street banks. This offer is available up to 31 July this year. 

The Scenic E-Tech electric (Car of the Year 2024 and pictured above) a 4.9pc APR HP offer is available from MFS. 

Renault is also offering a €500 ‘Go Anywhere’ hotel gift card to the first 100 customers ordering their new Scenic before 31 August. The car has a WLTP range of 610kms and quick charging of up to 150 kW with a 545 litre boot. 

Renault’s ‘early-bird’ 242 PCP offer of 3.9pc APR applies to all its models including Scenic, its new flagship Rafael (pictured below) and Megane. This offer is up to 30 June for registration by end of July.

 

New deals on electric Mokka, Astra

Opel Astra Electric.

Opel Ireland are offering deals on their electric Astra and Mokka models which will make them available significantly below their petrol or diesel equivalents, writes Brian Byrne.

The offer runs on new registrations up to the end of July and include competitive APR interest rates of 0pc HP or 2.9pc on PCP contracts.

In conjunction with the SEAI grants and  a €5,000 Eco Bonus, a level two Mokka Elegance Electric model now retails from €30,849 plus delivery related charges, representing a cost saving of €4,746. A level one Astra SC Electric model now retails from €34,598 plus delivery related charges, representing a cost saving of €2,697.  

New generation BMW 1 Series

The fourth generation BMW 1 Series is now available to order in Ireland with first customer deliveries from October, writes Brian Byrne.

The new car is longer and higher than the predecessor, with a new iteration of the BMW grille in a front end that sits closer to the ground to enhance a sporty look.

There's a new generation of engines, including a 48v mild-hybrid 3-cylinder petrol with a 170hp output and a 100km/h sprint performance of 7.8s. A dual-clutch automatic is standard in this version and also in a M variant with 300hp.

There's an expanded range of driver assist and connectivity systems, and the latest version of BMW's iDrive operating system. The fully digital display offers new functionality such as controlling the air conditioning digitally via an always-visible array of controls.

New seats with heating are standard, and an option of sport seats and electric operation are available. 

Prices start at €40,330.