CUPRA RAVAL LAUNCHES IN IRELAND

The new Cupra Raval has been launched in Ireland at a starting price of €23,495, writes Brian Byrne. With front-wheel drive, customers can choose between a 37kWh LFP battery for urban use with up to 323km rated range or a 52kWh NMC battery with a range of up to 448km. Charging capabilities range from 50 to 105 kW, allowing for a charge time of approximately 23–28 minutes.

The grades lineup includes Urban V1 and V2, Endurance V1 and V2, and the performance-oriented VZ, with the Endurance producing 211hp and the VZ 226hp.

Features include heated seats and steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, a rear camera, mobile digital keys, and a 12.9-inch infotainment screen with Android OS. The Endurance V2 is expected to be the best-seller, with the VZ also attracting interest. The Irish market is anticipated to prefer the larger battery option.

The Raval competes against models like the Volkswagen ID Polo and Renault 5. As a brand, Cupra is gaining traction among younger buyers. 

BWM iX3 REVIEW: BRIAN BYRNE, IRISH CAR

BMW's supply chain is some 2,700 providers long, across 31 global production sites, writes Brian Byrne. That's a complicated web of people, equipment, products and processes to keep tabs on, along with development, design, and production of over 70 variations on its core lineup of around 11 model series. So it's a big decision when it comes to a total platform renewal like the Neue Klasse that's to underpin all future cars from the Munich-based company. With the fourth generation of the X3 crossover only launched in 2024, it probably surprised most of us when the battery-electric new iX3 was revealed last year as the first of the Neue Klasse cars, eschewing the older platform on which the first BEV X3 had been built. Yet it makes sense: just taking the Irish market, if the electric and combustion X3s are combined, it makes the model series the biggest seller for the brand.

The car certainly makes a visual impact for Neue Klasse, with styling details that completely sever from most of the largely evolutionary changes that have been a BMW hallmark over two decades. There are things, of course, that must be retained. The 'kidney' style grille shape, in this instance, and thankfully, much smaller than some of the more brutish iterations of recent years. The signature 'Hofmeister kink' on the rearmost window pillar. After these, the designers had free rein. The tall fascia is still impressive enough to give the car an unmissable presence when trying to nose into moving traffic. The rear, with a very distinctive lighting pattern, will distinguish the car from behind in these upcoming dark evenings. Overall the new iX3 looks leaner than the predecessor, thanks to being a little longer and rather lower, which provides both more legroom for passengers and some extra luggage space.

The interior has drama and a technological buzz. The clean basic dashboard structure sports a centre screen with edge-to-edge graphics and a kinky shape that is quite attractive and shows its information and virtual buttons in bright and colourful fashion. The driver information is provided by a panoramic screen that runs the full width of the windscreen base (the Citroën C3 uses a similar system, though it's only in front of the driver). The owner can decide which 'widgets' to have across the panorama, besides the essentials such as speed. The centre console offers charging for two phones, and also houses the transmission selector and the radio volume. The really futuristic item is the steering wheel, styled to encourage the quarter-to-three hold that I learned during a driving course with the company many years ago. The button controls on the wheel have their own distinctive styling, all quite intuitive. Some of the buttons only become visible when triggered, such as by an incoming call.

The seats, front and rear, are a comfortable mix of artificial leather and suede, and I found them well supportive and long-distance comfortable. The middle rear seat is best used for a smaller person, but there's lots of legroom.

There's a lot of improved tech in the drivetrain. Notably with the battery pack, which is next-generation and offers a 20 per cent energy efficiency improvement over the previous iX3. Worth noting too is that, taking overall lifecycle CO2 reduction, this car reaches emissions break-even with a combustion-engined car at around the 20,000km stage: that's a 42 per cent reduction compared to its predecessor, which should give owners something of a warm glow of smugness.

The rated range is up to 805km, my calculations in my time suggest a real-world figure of around 680km, which is in itself impressive anyway. If you're at a fast charger, you can get up to 372km in ten minutes. There's 469hp available, which will allow a sprint to 100km/h in under five seconds (if you do a lot of that, forget about my range calculations).

I took delivery of the new iX3 expecting to be impressed. But not as much as I actually was. This is one of those cars that you really enjoy, and look forward to the next while every time you click the key fob to open it up. It's not any one thing; more that in their work in the development of the car, including directing those 2,700 component suppliers, they have put together a vehicle that just feels right in almost every aspect. That's what makes the brand premium.

PRICE: From €66,985. WHAT I LIKED: The determination to get something right. 

EV VRT RELIEF TO CONTINUE TO END 2028

VRT relief for electric vehicles has been extended for two years in Budget 2027, writes Brian Byrne. Finance Minister Simon Harris announced that the relief will continue until 31 December 2028, while VRT on more polluting cars (A3 to F) will increase by one per cent to encourage low-emission vehicle purchases. 

Additionally, the temporary fuel excise reduction is extended until 28 February 2027, with gradual restoration by 30 June 2027. 

Recent analysis of customer searches by Done Deal Cars indicates a strong shift in consumer preferences, with electric vehicle searches rising by 75% and hybrid searches by 17% between September 2025 and September 2026. Diesel searches fell by 23% and petrol searches increased by 3% in the same period. 

JAGUAR DETAILS TYPE 01

Rendered images: JLR.

Jaguar has provided details the Type 01, a luxury four-door grand tourer with a unique body architecture and electric powertrain, writes Brian Byrne. Featuring a low roofline, long bonnet, and 23-inch wheels, it includes over 360 patent applications, making it the most technically advanced Jaguar ever according to the company. 

The Type 01 achieves a drag coefficient of 0.23 and offers two dynamic driving modes, with a power output of up to 1,030PS and 1,365Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds and has an expected range of up to 644km. The interior includes a 24-inch OLED screen, a central touchscreen, and a bespoke Jaguar Immersive Sound System. 

The car is expected to go on sale early in 2027. 

RANGE ROVER ELECTRIC REVEALED IN IRELAND

Range Rover Electric has been unveiled, maintaining the brand’s luxury and capability while introducing EV performance, writes Brian Byrne. The starting price in Ireland is €160,620.

The design brief was for a “Range Rover first, electric vehicle second” approach, preserving the iconic design and all-terrain abilities. The car is built on the Jaguar Land Rover MLA platform, which was developed from the start to use various powertrains, including electric. 

JLR developed the battery and twin electric drive units in-house, and the new car claims a 531km WLTP range, and has 900mm wading capability. 

Performance figures include the capability to accelerate from 0–100km/h in as little as 4.5 seconds. Features like twin-chamber air springs and active noise cancellation enhance refinement and performance, and the car is said to be the quietest Range Rover yet. 

BYD EXPANDS IRISH LINEUP

Atto 2.

The BYD lineup in Ireland has been expanded with the introduction of the Atto 2 Super Hybrid and the Atto 3 EVO, writes Brian Byrne. The Atto 2 Super Hybrid, available in ‘Active’ and ‘Boost’ models priced at €32,990 and €35,990 respectively, offers up to 1,000km range and 90km electric-only range. 

The Atto 3 EVO, available in ‘Design’ and ‘Excellence’ variants at €40,530 and €43,985, features all-wheel drive, a rated 510km range, and rapid charging capabilities. 

Both models include a 15.6-inch touchscreen, panoramic sunroof, and vehicle-to-load technology, with a six-year vehicle and eight-year battery warranty. 

BYD is distributed in Ireland by Motor Distributors Limited (MDL).

TEXACO CHILDREN'S ART EXHIBITION

Junction 14 Mayfield on the M7 in County Kildare is hosting an exhibition of the top 21 artworks from the 72nd Texaco Children’s Art Competition, running until 1st November, writes Brian Byrne. The competition dates back to 1955.

Located off the M7 motorway near Monasterevin, the exhibition features 1.5-metre-tall artworks visible to thousands of daily visitors. Liam Fitzpatrick, co-owner of the venue, praised the young artists’ talents, while James Twohig of Valero Energy highlighted the long-standing partnership with the Fitzpatrick family. 

The exhibition showcases artists from counties including Cork, Dublin, and Galway.

Pictured at the opening is James Twohig, Director of Operation, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited; Pauline O’Connell, Final Adjudicator of the Texaco Children’s Art Competition; Mary Therese Fitzpatrick, co-owner of Junction 14 Mayfield; Laois student artist, Abdul Ahad Zulfiqar; and local art teachers Sandra Doyle and Ciara Connolly. 

MGS6 REVIEW: BRIAN BYRNE, IRISH CAR

The only MG car that our family ever had was the Magnette Mark IV my Dad owned in the mid-1960s, writes Brian Byrne. A trimmed-to-luxury level of the Pininfarina-designed British Motor Corporation mid-sized saloons produced under the Morris, Austin, Riley and Wolseley marques, it was walnut veneer and leather, comfortable, tough, and in British Racing Green was a handsome enough beast. It didn't have quite the same cachet as the Jaguar 240 he had traded in for it, but, unlike the Jag, it wasn't always refusing to start on any kind of a chill morning. In fact, for the four years he kept it, the Magnette proved utterly reliable. And the toughness was exemplified during one weekend when I had taken it to Achill, and had to tow at least three other cars out of the ditches they had slipped into from the high and narrow roads of the island.

In 2005, following the collapse of the MG-Rover Group in the UK, the Chinese Nanjing Automobile Group bought the MG brand and assets. Nanjing was subsequently bought by SAIC Motor of Shanghai, which in recent years has been strongly pushing the MG brand in the UK, Europe and Australia. The MG4 EV launched in 2022 has offered affordability and decent quality in the compact family electric car segment, a key driver in making MG one of the fastest-growing brands in Europe. In Ireland, MG has gone from less than a thousand units in 2024 to more than 2,400 this year to date, largely thanks to that MG4. Now at 16th place in Irish registrations, this Chinese revival of a quintessential British brand has left many established European carmakers struggling to catch up, offering four BEV models as well as PHEV and hybrid cars.

The MGS6 I drove recently has only been here since March, but is already making a serious impact in the medium-large SUV space. Before I had travelled many kilometres, I was already thinking that this is the car that most European premium carmakers are scared of. If they're not, they should be.

In style, its profile is much like any other modern SUV, but the front-end design has a mix of simplicity and detail that gives it a very elegant look. Both of those elements are repeated in different forms at the rear, the whole ethos coming out as a very smooth result. 

The elegance is also apparent inside, with smooth curve-lines around the dashboard and doors, and a relatively restrained use of chrome-style detailing. The traditional octagon surround of the MG badge is mildly repeated in the shape of the steering wheel, but not so much as to make it awkward. A fairly large centre console has a selection of knobs and buttons to manage radio volume and some climate. Transmission selection is a rotary knob on that console, underneath which is space for a handbag. The infotainment screen is a quantum better in design and usability than those in earlier MGs from China. Graphics and permanent virtual buttons are large and clear, and other carmakers from that part of the world should take note. On the other hand, the over-sensitivity of driver monitoring that seems to be elemental in Asian cars is still an annoyance.

The seats are large and well upholstered in an artificial leather and suede material that both looks good and is comfortable, especially in hot weather. As a D-segment car, there's plenty of room for the rear passengers. Though this is not priced as a premium car, the whole materials selection and fit were upmarket in feel.

That sense was also evident in the drive. Obviously, the electric drivetrain was going to be quiet, but the overall road and wind noise is also noticeably well damped, with most progress verging on the serene. I'm not going to throw a large SUV around on twisty roads, but on all normal driving it was clear that the MGS6 will cope with any conditions very well indeed. (Perhaps even towing cars out of ditches on Achill.)

The 240hp electric motor gives this big car a very sporty 5.1-second sprint capability to 100km/h, vastly superior to that original Magnette. There's a rated 530km range that in practice came out at around 480km for me, and the 13.6kWh/100km was a very respectable energy efficiency.

So, no walnut veneer, and no real leather. But the MGS6 is definitely going to take a solid chunk of that almost-premium business.

PRICE: From €39,495. WHAT I LIKED: Modern execution of a premium sporty heritage.  

BMW NEUE KLASSE 3 SERIES ARRIVAL

Details of the eighth-generation BMW 3 Series with Neue Klasse design and technologies have been announced by BMW Ireland, writes Brian Byrne. They include fully electric models, the BMW i3 40 xDrive and BMW i3 50 xDrive, available from launch, with a BMW i3 M60 xDrive M Performance model to follow.

The i3 50 xDrive offers up to 912 km range (WLTP) and 400 kW DC rapid charging. Petrol options include the BMW 320 and the six-cylinder BMW M350 xDrive. All models share a consistent design, equipped with BMW Panoramic iDrive, BMW Operating System X, and advanced driver assistance technology. 

Prices in Ireland start at €71,935 for the BMW 320 and €60,285 for the BMW i3 40 xDrive. Customer deliveries for the i3 begin in autumn 2026, with petrol models arriving in January 2027. 

NEW CONTINENTAL VIDEO FOR TYRE SAFETY DAY

Continental Tyres Ireland has commissioned a new video for Tyre Safety Day, marked on October 5, in collaboration with content creator Michael Deady, writes Brian Byrne. The video aims to encourage motorists, especially younger drivers, to regularly check their tyres. 

Tom Dennigan, Head of Continental Tyres Ireland, and Deady highlight examples of neglected tyres at a Dublin Modern Tyres outlet, emphasising the risks of driving on tyres below the legal tread depth or with visible damage. 

Dennigan stresses that regular, simple inspections can prevent serious safety issues and extend tyre life. The video will be available on Continental Tyres’ Instagram account.