Motors Ireland Winter 18

MOTORS WINTER 2018

€ 3.95

FIAT

124 SPIDER SEE PAGE 50

IRELAND

/ £3.50

LUDICROUS 1000+ HP AMG PROJECT ONE

O N LY

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Mercedes F1 Car for the Street!

RARE 911 R LUCCA ALLEN INTERVIEW GAA PANEL DISPLAY UNTIL JANUARY 5TH

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Cannonball Review Inside P. 28

9 772009 974019

55th Anniversary of Ferrari 250 GTO P.56 Porsche 911 R

Ferrari 250 GTO

Peugeot 3008

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CONTENTS

Letter from the editor

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elcome to the latest issue of Motors Ireland. Our cover is taken over by the front and rear view of the new Mercedes AMG Project ONE. A phenomenal car and we give it a full preview in this issue. The two-seater supersports show car brings the very latest and efficient, fully-fledged Formula 1 hybrid technology from the race track to the road almost par for par to represent the highlight of AMG’s 50th anniversary. This high-performance hybrid is said to produce over 1,000 hp and reach top speeds beyond 350 km/h. The show car combines outstanding race track performance and day-to-day suitable Formula 1 hybrid technology with exemplary efficiency.

What happens when you put three of the best known names in the world of GAA together? We find out when we attend an event held by Joe Mallon Motors in Portlaoise. Sheer laughter, divlilment, slagging and a true comrade, the latter shining through very brightly when it came to former Dublin footballer Alan Brogan, former Westmeath footballer Dessie Dolan and former Kerry footballer Marc Ó’Sé gathering in Joe Mallon Motors in Portlaoise where a Renault Ireland GAA Panel occurred.

The action packed super car spectacle that is Cannonball took place in early September and the three day long event saw more than 160,000 people line the streets of a number of counties in Ireland to witness top cars including McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentley roll through. This year the event blazed through Dublin, Kinsale, Limerick, Galway Plaza, Claremorris, Sligo, Mullingar and Moneygall with the event concluding in Kilkenny.

Apart from the crazy 1,000 hp of Project ONE on our cover we have a wide variety of reviews covering a good selection of cars hitting Irish roads. We drive the new Opel Insignia Grand Sport, get to grips with the new Volvo XC60, try the well-deserved European car of the year winner, the Peugeot 3008, get into a MINI Countryman hybrid for a surprisingly enjoyable experience and take the fantastic Fiat 124 for a drive to Sally Gap in the Wicklow mountains. Hope you enjoy this issue and drive safely.

Sales & Marketing Director: Anthony Kelly

Motors Ireland Magazine Ltd

Graphic Designer: Colin Brennan

Ph: +353 1 458 7672

Assistant Graphic Designer: Craig Kearney

Email: info@motorsireland.ie

Editorial Assistant: Emer Kelly

Address: The Loft, Main Street, Newcastle,

Advertising Sales: Artur Syroka

Co Dublin

Design & Layout: cleardesigns.ie

© Motors Ireland Magazine Ltd 2017

For all advertising and marketing queries,

ISSN: 2009-9746

contact Anthony on ph: +353 1 458 7672

Winter Motors Ireland or email: 2018 info@motorsireland.ie

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MOTORS IRELAND

NEWS 4 Latest news from motoring sector in Ireland MERCEDES AMG PROJECT ONE 8 1,000+ HP F1 car for the road

BURIED TREASUE 14 Rare Porsche 1968 911 R

FROM HELL TO HEAVEN 22 European Car of the Year Peugeot 3008

CANNONBALL IRELAND 28 Proceeds go to Make-A-Wish Ireland NEW GEAR The latest products and gadgets

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SWEDISH SENSATION 34 Volvo XC60 GAA PANEL The GAA stars shine in County Laois

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PLUG-IN MINI HYBRID 40 MINI Countryman PHEV

LUCCA ALLEN INTERVIEW Formula One is the dream for Lucca Allen

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FIAT 124 SPIDER Fun and Flair with the 124 Spider

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www.motorsireland.ie for further information

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

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NEWS

NEWS The All-New Luxury Audi A8 Officially Arrives In Ireland

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udi Ireland has revealed the pricing of the all-new and eagerly anticipated Audi A8. The premium car-maker’s flagship model, which is set to redefine the future of luxury class, will start from €99,950 OTR and will be available to order from 2nd October, 2017.

In its fourth generation, the Audi A8 truly defines Vorsprung durch Technik, with a contemporary new design, an innovative touchscreen operating concept and a systematically electrified drive. The Audi A8 is also the first production automobile in the world to have been developed for highly automated driving.

The new Audi A8 has launched in the Irish market with two extensively re-engineered V6 turbo engines: a 3.0 TDI and a 3.0 TFSI. The diesel version outputs 286 hp, and the petrol version 340 hp. An eightcylinder version – a 4.0 TDI with 435 hp will follow in the coming months.

The exclusive top engine version is the W12, with a displacement of 6.0 litres.

Stylistically, Audi A8 signals the dawn of a new design era for the

entire brand. With its wide singleframe grille and its fluid, muscular body, the front of the car has a sporty, yet sophisticated look. The Audi A8 design represents the core attributes, for which the Audi brand is renowned worldwide - sports appeal, lightweight construction and quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

New Citroen Aircross compact SUV

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his colourful SUV stands out with its unique body-shape and fresh, forceful attitude. The passenger compartment was designed with Citroën’s unique expertise in terms of on-board space, modularity, and light, so that it sets a new standard in its segment. It comes with a high level of comfort and a selection of 12 modern assisted driving systems and 4 connectivity options. Equally at home in town as on the road, the C3 Aircross invites you to enjoy driving with its SUV feel and Grip Control avec Hill Assist Descent. It represents a new standard in the world of compact SUV in terms of comfort, functional and life on-board facilities.

The cabin offers broad and comfortable seats and class-leading spaciousness (best ceiling height, generous leg room), unrivalled modularity (sliding bench in two independent parts, flat-folding front passenger seat for a load length of 2.40 m) and exceptional boot volume (410 litres and up to 520 litres). It is available with a complete range of driver assistance systems, such as head-up display, the Active Safety Brake function, automatic high-beam

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

lights, speed sign recognition with recommendations, as well as useful technologies including Park Assist and Citroën Connect Nav.

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New XC40 completes global Volvo line-up for fast-growing premium SUV segment

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olvo Cars, the premium car maker, today further expands its line-up of SUVs with the launch of its new XC40 small premium SUV in Milan, Italy. The arrival of the XC40 means that for the first time in its history, Volvo Cars has three new, globally available SUVs in what is the fastest growing segment of the automotive market, paving the way for further growth in terms of sales and profitability.

The new XC40 is the first model on Volvo Cars’ new modular vehicle architecture (CMA), which will underpin all other upcoming cars in the 40 Series including fully electrified vehicles. Co-developed within Geely, CMA provides the company with the necessary economies of scale for this segment.

“The XC40 is our first entry in the small SUV segment, broadening the appeal of the Volvo brand and moving it in a new direction,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. “It represents a fresh, creative and distinctive new member of the Volvo line-up. So it only feels natural to reveal the XC40 here in Milan, a buzzing European hotspot for fashion, art, design and lifestyle.”

In terms of technology, the XC40 brings the award-winning safety, connectivity and infotainment technologies known from the new

90- and 60 Series cars to the small SUV segment. Like its larger siblings, the XC40 highlights the transformational effect of these new, in-house developed technologies on brand and profitability.

These technologies make the XC40 one of the best-equipped small premium SUVs on the market. Safety and driver assistance features on the XC40 include Volvo Cars’ Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road protection and mitigation, Cross Traffic alert with brake support and the 360° Camera that helps drivers manoeuvre their car into tight parking spaces.

The XC40 also offers a radically new approach to storage inside the car. Ingenious interior design provides XC40 drivers with, among other things, more functional storage space in the doors and under the seats, a special space for phones including inductive charging, a fold-out hook for small bags and a removable waste bin in the tunnel console.

From start of production, the XC40 will be available with a D4 diesel or a T5 petrol four-cylinder Drive-E powertrain. Further powertrain options, including a hybridised as well as a pure electric version, will be added later. The XC40 will also be the first Volvo model to be available with Volvo Cars’ new 3-cylinder engine.

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

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BMW i3S

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he BMW i3 shows the way ahead to a new era of mobility. It is recognised the world over as a symbol of driving pleasure, sustainability and intelligent connectivity in the urban traffic environment, which is why it has become the best-selling electric car in the premium compact segment. The recipe for success of the BMW i3 has now been further improved, thanks not just to refreshing styling accents, cutting-edge equipment features and new digital services, but also to the addition of a new model variant. For making its debut alongside the new edition of the first ever premium car to be conceived from the outset for all-electric mobility is the BMW i3s.

With a higher output, model-specific chassis technology, noticeably more dynamic driving qualities and design features all of its own, it generates a particularly intense blend of the unrivalled sporty driving pleasure associated with electric cars from the BMW Group. By offering

a premium-quality, all-electric driving experience, meaning zero local emissions, together with a whole new level of connectivity technology, both models represent the future of urban mobility.

MERCEDES-BENZ PLANNING AN ‘AWESOME’ YEAR IN 2018

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wesome is the word being used by Mercedes-Benz to describe various initiatives planned for the year ahead, all designed to expand ownership and sustain market growth. Against the backdrop of a highly ambitious model development programme one that has seen the Stuttgart manufacturer establish a presence in virtually every model segment. That this is set to continue can be seen in plans to introduce some 18 new models over the next 8 years as Mercedes-Benz pursues its goal to secure number one position in the luxury car market globally.

Evidence that this goal is being achieved can be seen in performance at a local level where sales in Ireland show MercedesBenz achieving a 36% average annual growth over the past four years.

Even in the current year, sales are running 32% above the same period last year, despite an overall 10% market decline.

Looking to 2018, use of the term ‘awesome’ will be a central theme as Mercedes-Benz here, and elsewhere, place focus on their goal of offering motorists even more enhanced specifications levels matched to prices that will be competitive across the board, with particular emphasis on what their sales manager in Ireland, Ciaran Allen calls their ‘main performing models’. “Our overarching commitment to maintain a competitive specifications/ price position across our range, now and into 2018, is one that will be reflected in awesome cars with awesome specifications at awesome prices” Allen said.

With their important C-Class and E-Class ranges, the drive will be to achieve first place in their respective market segments, building on the 22% sales increase being achieved by C-Class and the 70% increase in sales of E-Class this year. Noteworthy in this regard will be an increased emphasis on AMG refinements and a focus on their improved specifications generally. Other models likely to benefit from this new specifications/ price equation are CLA and GLC to top-of-the range models like the new remodelled S-Class, first versions of which have arrived here at a lower-than-expected price marginally above €90,000 for the S 350 version.

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

Also driving this new growth-led approach will be an expanding network of exclusive Mercedes-Benz dealerships. Coming on stream over the coming months will be two new Dublin City outlets – a remodelled MSL Ballsbridge and a completely new MSL Grange dealership at Pottery Road, Deansgrange. In addition to the recently opened Connolly Mercedes-Benz dealership in Sligo town, two further outlets are in the pipeline – one in Galway city and a second in Wexford. Added to them are those dealerships currently undergoing a corporate identity makeover to provide what Ciaran Allen calls ‘a welcoming ambiance for buyers of new and pre-owned vehicles”.

Away from the coalface of model sales and marketing, the year ahead will see Mercedes-Benz place greater focus on other fronts.

One of these will be to introduce customers to the many attractions and advantages that its ‘Connect Me’ system offers, including a ‘track and locator’ function useful should the vehicle ever be taken without authority. On the used car front, new ‘Mercedes-Benz Certified’ branding will also be introduced, the purpose to standardise current approaches and present a uniform, Europe-wide quality assurance message to used car customers.

In order to win a BMW M Driving Experience at Mondello Park answer this question to info@motorsireland.ie: What cars will you drive on the BMW experience powered

by M?

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MERCEDES-AMG PROJECT ONE SHOW CAR

MERCEDES-AMG

PROJECT ONE

Ludicrous 1000+ HP F1 Car for the Street

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

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or the first time, the two-seater supersports show car brings the very latest and efficient, fully-fledged Formula 1 hybrid technology from the race track to the road almost par for par to represent the highlight of AMG’s 50th anniversary. This high-performance hybrid is said to produce over 1,000 hp and reach top speeds beyond 350 km/h. The show car combines outstanding race track performance and dayto-day suitable Formula 1 hybrid technology with exemplary efficiency. This is a world first.

The overall responsibility for the realisation of Project ONE lies with Mercedes-AMG. The complex development work was carried out in close cooperation with the Formula 1 experts at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth and with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport team in Brackley. Together with the four-door AMG GT Concept, the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE provides another insight into the future performance-hybrid drive strategy of the sports car brand within Mercedes-Benz.

Ever since the early days of motorsport, engineers have dreamed of bringing motor racing technology to the road. Mercedes-AMG is now making this dream a reality at the very highest level. “Motorsport is not an end in itself for us. Faced with intense competition, we develop technologies from which our production vehicles also subsequently benefit. We are drawing on our experiences and successes from three constructors’ and drivers’ world championships to bring Formula 1 technology to the road for the first time: in Mercedes-AMG Project ONE”, says Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

“The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE is the first Formula 1 car with MOT approval. Our highly efficient hybrid assembly stems from motor racing and the electrically powered front axle generates a fascinating mixture of performance and efficiency. With a system output of over 1,000 hp and a top speed beyond 350 km/h this hypercar handles exactly as it looks: it takes your breath away”, Ola Källenius says, Member of the Daimler AG Board of Management responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

The concept car gives specific indications of

what to expect from the upcoming production model. “The hypercar is the most ambitious project we have ever undertaken. It marks yet another pinnacle of the successful, strategic development of Mercedes-AMG towards a performance and sports car brand. Project ONE raises the bar in terms of what is currently technologically feasible and thanks to its combination of efficiency and performance it represents an absolute benchmark.

At the same time, Project ONE provides an outlook on how AMG will define driving performance in the future”, Tobias Moers explains as the Head of Management at Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Powertrain: one turbocharged engine and four electric motors The high-performance plug-in hybrid drive system of the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE comes directly from Formula 1, and was realised in close cooperation with the motorsport experts of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth. It consists of a highly integrated and intelligently networked unit comprising one hybrid, turbocharged combustion engine with a total of four electric motors. One has been integrated into the turbocharger, another has been installed directly on the combustion engine with a link to the crankcase and the two remaining motors drive the front wheels.

The 1.6-litre V6 hybrid petrol engine with direct injection and electrically assisted single turbocharging comes directly from the MercedesAMG Petronas Formula 1 racing car. The four overhead camshafts are driven by spur gears.

To achieve high engine speeds, the mechanical valve springs have been replaced by pneumatic valve springs. The vehicle is mid-engined (ahead of the rear axle) and it can easily reach 11,000 rpm, which is currently unique for a roadgoing vehicle. However, for higher longevity and the use of commercially available Super Plus petrol instead of racing fuel, it remains significantly below the F1 engine speed limit.

The electric motors on the front axle are also true rev wonders, with rotor revolutions up to 50,000 rpm – current state of the art is a speed of 20,000 rpm.

The very high-revving engine is additionally boosted by a high-tech turbocharger. The exhaust gas and compressor turbines are separated from one another and located at an optimum position

“The overall responsibility for the realisation of Project ONE lies with Mercedes-AMG.” Summer 2017 Motors Ireland

10 to the exhaust side and to the intake side of the V6 engine, and connected to one another by a shaft. This shaft features an electric motor with approximately 90 kW which, depending on the operating status, electrically drives the compressor turbine with up to 100,000 rpm – for instance when moving off or following load changes. The Formula 1 designation for this unit is MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit Heat).

Lightning-quick response, faster than a naturally aspirated V8 engine The major advantage: the dreaded turbo lag – the delayed response to accelerator pedal commands owing to the inertia of the large charger – is completely eliminated. The response time is greatly reduced, and is even shorter than that of a naturally aspirated V8 engine. The electric turbocharger brings about another advantage: it uses parts of the surplus energy from the exhaust system to generate electricity, and either stores it in the high-voltage lithium-ion battery as part of recuperation or provides additional drive power by feeding it to an additional electric motor. This motor produces 120 kW, has been installed directly on the engine and features a link to the crankshaft via a spur gear (MGU-K = Motor Generator Unit Kinetic) – another technology that ensures maximum efficiency and performance in Formula 1.

New all-wheel drive with purely electrically driven front axle

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

There will also be two further 120 kW electric motors at the front axle. Each is connected to a front wheel via a reduction gear. The fully electrically driven front axle allows individual acceleration and braking of each front wheel, and therefore selective torque distribution (torque vectoring) for particularly high levels of vehicle dynamics. With the axle motors, we estimate that up to 80 percent of the braking energy can also be optimally used for recuperation under everyday driving conditions. This energy is stored in the battery and is available for a longer electric range.

Each electric motor is controlled by its own power electronics located in close proximity to the electric motors in the floor assembly.

Top marks for thermal efficiency The thermal efficiency of the combustion engine with electric turbocharger (MGU-H) in conjunction with the electric motor on the crankshaft (MGU-K) will be over 40 percent.

This is a previously unattained peak value for series production vehicles, and confirms the dominant position of the drive system where efficiency is concerned. This means that the show car obtains significantly more drive energy from one litre of fuel than other cars.

It is therefore both economical and powerful.

By way of comparison, the thermodynamic efficiency of conventional series production engines is around 33 to 38 percent.

Intelligent operating strategies for optimum output and efficiency Overall the high-performance EQ Power+

plug-in hybrid drive system offers numerous intelligent operating strategies which are optimally tuned to different application scenarios. The driving modes range from purely electric operation through to a highly dynamic mode which corresponds to a setting used in Formula 1 qualifying for optimum lap times. Despite the high system complexity, and depending on the current requirement, the driver will always receive the optimum combination of performance and efficiency. In this process, MercedesAMG engineers make use of the many years of experience and know-how from Formula 1, the SLS AMG Electric Drive and Daimler AG’s research and development.

For instance, the driver can move off purely electrically, initially with just the electric motors on the front axle driving the hypercar and the electric motor on the crankshaft supporting short-term acceleration wishes. If the driver presses the accelerator more firmly and demands more output, the V6 engine also switches on. The drive system unfolds its full power as the engine speed increases.

Impressive acceleration figures are possible with the Race Start function: acceleration from zero to 200 km/h takes under six seconds.

If the driver’s foot leaves the accelerator again to let the car coast, the system switches to electric drive at the front axle – whilst braking under normal driving conditions recuperates up to 80 percent of the energy, which is fed into the battery.

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“Our highly efficient hybrid assembly stems from motor racing”

Completely new, automated 8-speed manual transmission Power is transferred to the rear wheels by an 8-speed manual transmission that has been entirely developed from scratch for the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE. It is activated hydraulically and can be operated in automated mode or manually using the shift paddles.

The basis for the outstanding driving characteristics of the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE is provided by the lightweight, highstrength carbon-fibre monocoque body, the technology of which likewise comes from Formula 1. The same applies to integration of the engine and transmission: both have loadbearing functions and completely support the rear suspension.

Exclusive forged wheels with innovative carbon-fibre semi-cover Another completely new development is the 10-spoke forged aluminium wheel with centre lock, which is exclusively reserved for the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE. This has a radial carbon-fibre semi-cover with an aerodynamically sophisticated shape: this improves the car’s aerodynamics and Cd figure by optimising the airflow around the wheels.

At the same time, three flat ventilation slots per spoke section ensure optimum heat dissipation from the brakes. This is another example of how the AMG development team pays the utmost attention to even the smallest aspects, so as to improve the efficiency of the

hypercar.

At the front the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE runs on 10.0 J x 19 dimension wheels and 285/35 ZR 19 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres which were exclusively developed for the hypercar and at the rear the vehicle features 12.0 J x 20 wheels running on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 335/30 ZR 20 tyres.

The car is equipped with an advanced, weight-optimised ceramic high-performance compound braking system. Its low weight reduces the unsprung masses, thus improving driving dynamics and agility. Furthermore, the ceramic brakes are distinguished by a longer service life, higher corrosion resistance and higher thermal stability. The “AMG Carbon Ceramic” lettering and the specially painted brake callipers visually distinguish this unique braking system.

Exterior design: Beauty and the beast The design of the show car is very obviously inspired by the premium class in motorsport.

But above all, it embodies the Mercedes-AMG principle that fascination is always linked with function. Every part has a specific purpose.

The result is a mid-engine concept, extremely muscular proportions with the cockpit well forward, large wheel arches, a wasp waist and an extended rear end.

“The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE is the hottest and coolest car we have ever designed. It combines our design philosophy of Sensual Purity with the performance of our Formula 1 racing cars and is the perfect embodiment of Performance Luxury,” says

Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG. “This hypercar’s extreme design marks a milestone in design there are no lines, and the interior is stripped down to the essentials.”

Front view: Powerful and functional The front view is characterised by the large front apron, the various air inlets of which extend across the entire vehicle width. The trapezoidal centre section bears a large, white AMG logo. Above it, on the vehicle body, is the Mercedes star. The hallmark AMG A-wing below the centre section creates a silvercoloured highlight, and seamlessly transitions into the front wings.

On the left and right are large, prominent air inlets which are framed by Ushaped flaps and each subdivided by two black horizontal fins.

Flat LED headlamps blend seamlessly into the body contours.

The black air outlets in the bonnet guide the hot airflow around the sides of the driver compartment. This allows the flow of fresh air to pass unhindered across the driver compartment and into the intake tract on the roof. The downforce at the front axle is positively influenced by the automatically extending front splitter and the active ventilation louvres in the front wheel arches, contributing to the perfect aero balance of the car.

Taut flanks, large wings The low, dynamic greenhouse has an unmistakable, spherical architecture with a distinctive window pattern. The large, dark area stands for important technical functions.

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

12 These technical components form a visual contrast to the clean overall lines of the vehicle.

The roof line is dominated by an air intake derived from Formula 1, via which the engine takes in large volumes of air. The black intake transitions elegantly into the black, vertical shark fin, which improves lateral stability when cornering at high speed. The rear window placed well to the rear is an integral part of the intake/roof-fin unit. It allows a view of the power unit. Two large NACA air inlets ensure optimum guidance of the airflows for the engine and transmission oil coolers located at the rear end.

The side view also shows a sensuous, clean surface design combined with functional features. The vehicle flanks are tautly recessed, with black carbon-fibre surfaces redirecting the airflow around the vehicle body as in motorsport.

The Petronas green paintbrush design on the flanks is the work of the artist who designed the paintwork for the Formula 1 racing car. All four wheels are spanned by tight-fitting, muscular wings that appear ready to leap into action.

As in motor racing, the doors open both forwards and upwards. The fuel filler flap is at the rear right, the charge socket for the plug-in hybrid battery at the rear left.

Rear end: Fascination and function The sharp, vertical spoiler lip and the large, two-section diffuser, which is interrupted by the central exhaust tailpipe, as well as the twostage extendible rear aerofoil, contribute to aerodynamic efficiency and performance at high speeds. The design of the exhaust tailpipe with its large, round outlet and two further small, round apertures was adopted directly from the Formula 1 cars.

The muscular appearance is further enhanced by the rear apron with its large, black mesh and carbon-fibre components.

The rear lights each feature three rhomboid lighting elements to echo the graphic design of the AMG brand logo, and therefore also the design of the headlamps.

Interior: Formula 1 for two The interior design concept follows function on the racetrack, and this is expressed in the radical design idiom. Formula 1 technology is made authentically tangible on both the race track and the road. Here too every detail has a function, with nothing included merely for visual reasons. In the monocoque interior, the reduced components are emphasised in minimalist style both in design and functional terms.

The ergonomically contoured interior has room for two occupants. The bucket seats with adjustable backrests are integrated into the monocoque. The pedals and steering wheel are adjustable, allowing the driver to adopt the ideal driving position. The centre tunnel visually separates the driver and passenger areas from each other. It blends fully into the seat sculpture and follows the principle of minimalism with its gently rising contour.

Interior with functional structural parts The lightweight construction is also obvious from the slim, wing-like profile of the dashboard.

It appears to be light and free-floating. As a functional, structural component it also rigidifies the monocoque of the MercedesAMG Project ONE. The two high-resolution, free-standing 10-inch displays (one slightly raised in front of the driver, the other on the right of the centre console angled towards the driver) are adapted with high-quality and weight-optimised solid metal components.

The double-nozzle ventilation unit is suspended under the centre screen like a gondola. The screen and nozzles form a single unit, emphasising the lightweight design

principle of the whole. The displays’ rectangular basic form is echoed by the ventilation nozzles, and by the centre console in which the start/ stop button is located.

Also seamlessly integrated as a unit are a high-quality stowage compartment, a reduced switch array and the engine start button. The stowage compartment is fitted with a transparent lid.

Formula 1-style steering wheel The steering wheel with flattened upper and lower sections and an integrated airbag offers motorsport functionality, as do the two integrated controllers which can be used to set adjustment functions, such as the driving modes and suspension setup, or the LED shift display in the upper steering wheel area.

The door panels are in functional, high-grade carbon-fibre, and integrate smoothly into the sporty interior. As if to mirror the aero winglets of the exterior, the door panelling is visually interrupted to create space for technical implements and a generously concave door centre panel. An aluminium cassette combines the air vents and power window switches, which are integrated as deeply recessed rectangles.

The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE: the future of driving performance The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE will not only bring current Formula 1 hybrid technology onto the road and combines top-class race track performance with full day-to-day suitability. Its purpose is also to obtain extensive findings about performance-oriented plug-in hybrid drive technology, further developments of suspension layouts and extended onboard electronics that will later benefit series production AMG cars. The Project ONE team is working hard on successfully bringing this vision onto the road.

THE SPECS

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

Model

Mercedes-AMG Project ONE show car

Engine Size

1.6-litre V6 with direct injection, four valves per

cylinder, four over head camshafts and electrically

boosted single turbocharger, electric motor connected

to the crank shaft

Displacement

1,600 cc

Rear-wheel drive output

+ 500 kW

Front-wheel drive output

2 x 120 kW

System output

+740 kW (+ 1,000 hp)

Electric range

25 km

Drive system

Variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive

with hybrid-drive rear axle, electrically driven front axle

and torque vectoring

Transmission

Automated AMG SPEEDSHIFT 8-speed manual

transmission

Acceleration 0-200 km/h

6 secs.

Top speed

+350 km/h

The award-winning Volvo XC90 t8 twin engine From €76,700* We think about cars in a different way. So we made an electric car.

That’s also a hybrid. The T8 Twin Engine features three modes – pure, hybrid, and dynamic mode – all in one high-performance car.

Drive in soothing silence or switch to power mode to enjoy a rush of high performance that defies the conventions of electric cars.

MADE BY SWEDEN CONTACT YOUR LOCAL VOLVO DEALER TO BOOK A TEST DRIVE. VOLVOCARS.IE/FINDADEALER Winter 2018 Motors Ireland *Delivery and related charges not included. Price inclusive of VRT rebate and SEAI grant for private retail customers. Fuel consumption for the Volvo Range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 35.3 (8.0) – 68.9 (4.1), Extra Urban 58.9 (4.8) – 85.6 (3.3), Combined 34.4 (8.2) – 156.9 (1.8). CO2 Emissions 215 –48g/km. All new Volvo cars come with a 3 year warranty and 2 years’ roadside assistance.

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Buried Treasure

BURIED TREASURE Deep in the forest, an exceptionally rare Porsche – a 1968 911 R – roars into life. One of just 19 lightweight models ever built, the car boasts a unique, fully documented body and engine combination and a prestigious racing history. Its past drivers include none other than Gérard Larousse. This is the extraordinary tale of a buried Porsche treasure.

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

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Words: Thorsten Elbrigmann Pics: Markus Bolsinger

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n the distance, a woodpecker drums its steady beat against a tree. The faint echo reverberates as the branches of the bare trees sway back and forth in the wind. In this forest just to the south of the metropolis of Brussels, all is calm and peaceful. But the mechanical noise of an ignition key turning interrupts the idyllic scene. The fuel pump hums into life, the starter fires up the 10.5:1 engine and sets the crankshaft in motion. 66 millimetres up and 66 down, then the dual ignition responds – the 46-mm IDA triple-barrel carburettor provides a high-precision mixture of fuel and air, awakening the two-litre naturally aspirated engine from its slumber with a foot on the gas.

“Ferdinand Piëch is widely credited as the driving force behind the 911 R.” Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

16 The modern stainless steel silencer certainly looks the part, but whether it actually does the job is another question altogether. The woodpecker has long since been drowned out by the unfiltered noise of a 210hp Porsche six-cylinder flat engine.

It’s enough to give me goose bumps – the sound is phenomenal, reminiscent of the first few seconds of the 1966 film “Grand Prix”, when the camera pans out of the black depths of the exhaust. It’s little wonder that the film’s accolades include an Oscar for best sound effects. And now that sound is here – live and in stereo. It reverberates through my jeans and feels as though it is travelling in the asphalt under my feet, creeping into my body through the soles of my Converse. Kobus Cantraine

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

smiles, and says – or, more accurately, shouts – “It would just be wrong to sell it. It’s too beautiful, right?” Then he puts his foot to the floor and sweeps past the camera. The sight of the round rear lights disappearing on the horizon is unforgettable, leaving the rumbling dry echo of the racing car to persist in its wake.

So that was it: the Porsche 911 R with chassis number 11899016R, number 16 of 19 to roll off the production line. 49 years old and showing no signs of slowing down.

The luxury of a Porsche 911 combined with the comfort features of the 911 S It’s almost exactly 49 years to the day since the day the car was ‘born’: The Kardex card confirms that the car was delivered to

the dealer Sonauto in Paris on April 9, 1968.

Porsche was notified of the car’s purchase on April 24. Its first owner was a company called “Le Danseurs”, which belonged to French entrepreneur and racing driver Claude BallotLéna. So far, so good. But there are some other handwritten notes on the Kardex, the most important of which indicates that the car had a 170hp engine. A perplexing detail – surely the card should state 210hp? Other Porsche documents reveal more: The original engine, number 5080016, was replaced with engine number 961770 when the car had just 40 kilometres on the clock, as evidenced by a single concise and casual remark: “Car converted from type 911 R to type 911 S.” The Kardex card provides an explanation: “S

17

“The fuel pump hums into life, the starter fires up the 10.5:1 engine.”

engine fitted, as 911 Rs were not saleable”.

Ballot-Léna wanted the luxury of a lightweight Porsche 911 combined with the many comfort and convenience features of the 911 S, as he intended to use the car on the road rather than the track. The specification of his “R” is described on the Kardex: “interior panelling, foot mats, normal seat on right.” This was an unorthodox approach, considering the fact that a 911 R came with a price tag of around 45,000 marks at the time, while the “standard” 911 S came in at around half that. But to then add another 10,048.47 marks in conversion costs to the bill before the car has even made it out of the factory? Who would even entertain such an idea? Apparently, only Claude Ballot-Léna – as there are no other known cases of such an unusual R-type conversion. Weighing in at around 70 kilograms heavier (with safety belts and ten litres of fuel in the tank), but with around an entire VW Beetle’s worth less

power thanks to its new 901/02 engine, the 911 R – sorry, S – cruised the streets of Bagnolet in Bobigny, on the outskirts of Paris. However, in June of that year, the first owner sold the car to Xavier Camprubi, a private racing driver who was keen to use the Porsche as originally intended by its designers: on the track. And so the backtracking began: Camprubi had the car converted back into an R-type by the racing department of Sonauto. All the internal panelling and elements of a normal, nonracing car were removed, and the engine was replaced with a 911-R type 901/22 model, numbered AT 961770.

The 991 R: The yellow headlight lenses with flat glass on top In the first few months of its life, this incredibly rare Porsche was radically altered not once, but twice. With this tumultuous history, it was a challenge for Kobus Cantraine to work out precisely what had been done to the car –

and to verify exactly what he was looking at – when he bought the restored vehicle in 2016. Had he really bought number 16? Or had someone somehow put a 911 R together using lightweight parts from another car, such as a 912? “I’ve not found any evidence that this is not car number 16”, he explains. All of the documents back up this assumption.

Magnetic resonance scanning has shown a blank, untouched piece of metal where the VIN would normally be embossed on a standard 911 – and a cleanly imprinted number in the chassis number location for the R. Other details that would be difficult to falsify also proved accurate.

No tin, no sealant, no interior panelling So why the doubt? First of all, converting a 911 to an “R” type using readily available parts is an attractive idea from a financial perspective. Secondly, historic photographs suggest that this 911 R could have undergone Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

18 an undocumented body replacement in its racing car era. Such an action would have been perfectly plausible after a serious accident that took place at Rallye de l’Hérault, with Bernard Gnuva at the wheel.

On all of the photographs taken of the car after this race, the rear end looks significantly wider. Is it possible that only the side sections were replaced? Kobus Cantraine nods: “That’s highly likely”. As evidence to support his assumption, he reports that the open weld seam below the door, where the door sill meets the side section, remained visible even after the accident.

This was just one area where Porsche made weight savings. No tin, no sealant, no interior panelling, drilled holes everywhere, light materials, thin sheet metal – the “R” model is a meticulous adaptation of the 911. The decision to replace the rear lights with round Hella lights and use fibre-reinforced plastic components made especially for this car, represented an enormous modification to the design – just to save a few grams of weight.

The 911 R bodies, built by Baur, were optimised for speed in every possible way: With fibrereinforced plastic components, aluminium, thin wood (not unlike that used to build model aeroplanes), lighter dashboard overlays, no covers or plugs in unused holes that would otherwise have been occupied by seriesstandard equipment, thin glass, Plexiglas, leather straps instead of window cranks with heavy scissor mechanisms, pull ropes instead of interior handles, no sun visor on the right, no heating – in fact, nothing but 210hp and 100 litres of fuel.

Credited as the driving force behind the 911 R: Ferdinand Piëch Today, Ferdinand Piëch is widely credited as the driving force behind the 911 R. In the summer of 1966, work commenced on a rally version of the Porsche 901/911 that had just been launched. The objective was to keep the weight-to-power ratio as low as possible.

Racing expert Rolf Wütherich got to work and calculated that, at an unladen weight of 800 kilograms, 210hp would be sufficient to achieve a weight-to-power ratio of under four kilograms per unit of horsepower – beating the offering of his contemporary competitors by around 1.5 kilograms. Such considerations were necessary for sports car manufacturer Porsche to continue achieving good sales.

But the new 911 was not a fast seller, and the high development and production costs had resulted in a car that was more expensive than expected. The company successfully counteracted this issue with the 912: Porsche sold almost twice as many of its “new woman”

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

in the range than of the new top model, which had been marketed as the new “SC” to the public.

Details of the 911 R Meanwhile, the fact that 911s could be successful on the track was being proven by private drivers rather than the factory itself. A rally version was required, and the Porsche engineers deftly designed a vehicle that came close to the golden figure of 800 kilograms unladen weight, slimming the 911 S down by about 200 kilograms in weight.

The second major focus was the engine.

The 901/22, which had already been used with great success in the Carrera 6, was the starting point for the new rally car. Dual ignition, titanium connecting rods and torqueproof beyond 8,000 revs – resulting in a car that could deliver zero to 100 km/h in under six seconds, and a standing kilometre in just over 24 seconds.

7 and 8, 1969. His lap times were outstanding, and he maintained a constant second place, coming in just under half a minute behind Giunti, the driver in pole position in an Alfa Romeo 33/2 prototype – only a slim gap in a race where lap times average around 3:15 to 3:20. In the ninth and penultimate lap, the right steering knuckle at the front of the car snapped on the small connecting road just before the start and finish straight. The issue brought the race to an abrupt end for Porsche – luckily before the car was damaged or the driver was hurt. Photographic evidence indicates that a minor accident occurred during the eighth lap: The scratches on the bumper, masking tape on the headlights and the crooked rear wheel clearly indicate that an incident on the track could have caused the later failure of the knuckle component.

A fantastic story Xavier Camprubi, who lent Larrousse his Porsche for this race, was probably not best pleased about the damage. But we already know that this would not be the last of this car’s racing woes. In 1970, Camprubi commissioned a factory overhaul then sold the car to 24-year-old Bernard Gnuva. The volatile young driver was involved in a serious collision in the vehicle, and new metal doors and a wider rear wing were fitted. From 1973 onwards, the 911 R no. 16 was used on the road by Jean Gonçalves, then by Raymond Touroul, and finally by Jean-Pierre Bodin, before it was eventually incorporated into a private collection and restored. In 2016, Larrousse was reunited with “his” first 911 R and autographed it. Only after that did it receive its “Larrousse look” makeover from Kobus. What a fantastic Porsche – with a fantastic story.

A record in autumn 1967 In addition to speed, proving the reliability of the engine was a particularly important factor for Porsche. With this in mind, in autumn 1967, the company used the car in a record attempt that was originally planned for the Carrera 6. But the Carrera was too low-riding for the steep banked corners of Monza and came down too hard on the road. Instead, Jo Siffert, Rico Steinemann, Charles Vögele and Dieter Spoerry drove the 911 R, with very few modifications. The car survived 20,000 kilometres at full throttle, set five new world records, achieved 14 international class victories and an average speed of over 200 km/h. The 911 R’s place in the racing car hall of fame was cemented thanks to Gérard Larrousse. In 1969, he won two major victories in his car, which was chassis number five. He went on to win the Tour de France Automobile from September 18 to 26, and was the overall winner of the Tour de Corse held on November Engine 8 and 9. The 911 he drove Displacement was one of two “R” types Bore x stroke with a DOHC engine and Compression ratio Max. power 230hp. The car is now part Max. torque of the Collier collection in Carburettor the USA. Power transmission However, in preparation Unladen weight for these races, Larrousse Length/width/height Wheelbase initially took to the track in Rims a different 911 R – the very Tyres car at the centre of this Vmax tale. He competed in at 0–100 km/h least one official race: the Ronde Cévenole on June

THE SPECS Six-cylinder flat engine 1,991 cm3 80 x 66 mm 10.5:1 210 hp at 8,000 rpm 206 Nm at 6,700 rpm 2 triple Weber 46 IDA 5-speed manual gearbox, rear wheel drive 800 to 830 kg 4,100/1,610/1,320 mm 2,211 mm Fuchs lightweight 6 x 15 and 7 x 15-inch Dunlop Racing 5.00–15 and 5.50–15 230 km/h 5.9 s

Charles Hurst Specialist Cars are the official dealer of New and Pre-Owned Aston Martin, Bentley, Maserati and Ferrari models in Ireland.

Join us for a demonstration where you can experience some of the most luxurious vehicles in the world.

Please contact our concierge service who can arrange your travel to the showroom.

We offer a complimentary collection and delivery service throughout Ireland for all Aftersales Care.

Our staff are trained to the highest Manufacturer standards, which means you are assured of the most efficient servicing, maintenance, parts replacement and accident repairs possible.

Visit our showroom at Charles Hurst Specialist Cars, 62 Boucher Road, Belfast, BT12 6LR www.charleshurst.com 0844 659 9434 Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

SMART NANOTECHNOLOGY WHAT MAKES CARS GET OLD? Engine wear due to friction makes cars feel sluggish and old over time. The main factor responsible for a wear and tear is destructive power of friction. High temperatures and pressure make the matter even worse. The motor oil plays the vital role to fight friction, but lubricating properties deteriorate over time, because of high heat, oxidation, moisture and because of combustion products are getting into the oil.

Applying the product is as easy as pouring the contents into your engine oil crank case, which means no mechanical repair or downtime is required .

HOW DOES THE REVITALIZANT® WORK? REVITALIZANT® gets onto the operating surface together with the lubricant and starts acting exactly in the zone of the heaviest wear, as there is enough excess energy here to start REVITALIZATION®

When you start your car in the morning metal grinds against metal because all of the oil that is supposed to be lubricating your car's engine has drained into the oil pan while your car was not in use.

A brand new car can lose about 3 grams of metal during its break in period, and a loss of only 60 grams is considered critical engine wear.

HOW CAN THIS ENGINE WEAR BE PREVENTED? There are two approaches to fight friction and wear: improve oil lubricating and modify surfaces exposed to friction.

XADO Chemical Group offers the best solution for both cases.

While all oil manufacturers develop a unique package of oil additives to improve lubrication quality, XADO suggests its revitalization technology.

process, which builds a ceramic-metal patch in the place, where the damage occurs. The zone of enormous activity disappears. The energy processes stabilize, the growth of the ceramic-metal coating stops. Due to diffusion of the protective layer into metal, an extremely firm gradient ceramic-metal coating with unique operating properties is created.

BASIC PROPERTIES OF THE PROTECTIVE COATING REVITALIZANT®

WHAT IS REVITALIZATION® TECHNOLOGY?

REVITALIZANT®

The word revitalization (latin vita — life) can be literally interpreted as "bringing back to life". Revitalization is a technology for restoration and strengthening of the friction surfaces of parts of cars and mechanisms directly during their operation.

XADO Chemical Group designed nanotechnological composition, called REVITALIZANT®, an additive to oil, lubricants to modify surfaces, which exposed to wear by friction, high heat and pressure, used thereof to create a new, durable, wear resistant, ceramicmetal surface. This nanotechnology is called smart, because it uses destructive factors, which cannot be eliminated, to create superior surface; at the same time it is self-regulating, formulated to stop bonding after it has reached its maximum thickness. Any excess simply continues safely circulating in the engine oil.

BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES

REVITALIZATION® ensures long, effective and reliable operation of the mechanisms. The field of REVITALIZANT® application is as broad as often we need machines and mechanisms: industrial equipment, transport, household appliances, sports equipment, etc.

REVITALIZATION® protects new cars and revives the old, because it:  restores parts' surfaces and compensates current wear;  creates an active protection system of parts from loads and

overheating;

 improves lubricating properties of oil and tribological characterisThe demonstration item is a conventional axial ball bearing that receives axial load.

The bearing is made of high-alloy, extremely hard tool steel. In the automotive industry it is used to manufacture heavy-loaded units: CV-joints, tappet rollers, pistons of high pressure fuel pumps and support bearings of gear shafts.

Surface of the bearing was purposely damaged to watch the “metal healing” process after the REVITALIZANT® was applied.

      

tics of engine units; reduces noise and vibrations; extends the service life span of the engine; levels and increases compression in cylinders; increases pressure in oil system up to nominal value; reduces fuel consumption; ensures engine protection for 100,000 km (60,000 miles) of run. increases engine power and acceleration capability.

The surface of the race groove with deliberately inflicted defect (in the form of letter N) Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

After 15 minutes rebuilding of the defect is already evident.

After an hour the defect is barely can be seen

Restores parts’ surfaces and protects the new ones from wear.

Increases engine compression and power.

Decreases vibration and noise.

Extends service life span.

No losses resulting from vehicle downtime.

No expenses for overhaul repairs.

Reduces fuel consumption.

Reduces toxic emissions into the atmosphere.

For more information and products visit: Find us on Facebook: xadoireland

22 Peugeot 3008

FROM HELL

TO HEAVEN

Developed during the financial crisis, with the future of Peugeot parent firm PSA being called into question by some financial analysts the 3008 had a lot resting on its shoulders.

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ccording to Peugeot brand chief executive Jean Philippe Imparato: “From hell to heaven, this means too much to us, to every man and woman in the firm.” These were the words he uttered after winning the coveted European car of the year.

Thankfully the work paid off and the 3008 is receiving nods of approval across the motoring world and demand is high. The relationship between demand and supply underlie the forces behind the allocation of resources. In market economy theories, demand and supply will allocate resources in the most efficient way possible. Right now demand for this Peugeot 3008 is exceeding supply and almost 1,000 units have been sold between early March until late August 2017. Diesel is the engine of choice among Irish buyers but petrol is rapidly gaining ground. I’m not going to delve into any more economics but what is it that has peaked the interest of new buyers across Ireland and globally for the French manufacturers new SUV. Don’t forget the 3008 did win European car of the year (the first SUV to do so) and this offering is a real return to form for the brand that dominated the family market for decades.

Ok so first things first, it’s got nothing in relation to the 3008 that came before this version except the name. This is a leap forward in every way compared to the previous generation and this is not a mix of SUV and people carrier. It’s an SUV and having a clear identity is a good thing. Combine that with a comfortable drive, good engines and a top notch interior and you can quickly see its appeal. The new 3008 is very stylish and has a sporty look that makes some rivals look a little boring. Underneath the car is the PSA Group’s Efficient Modular

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Words: Anthony Kelly Pics: Motors Ireland

“Right now demand for this Peugeot 3008 is exceeding supply.�

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“Our test vehicle was the 1.6 BlueHDi 120hp 6-speed auto.”

Platform 2 (EMP2). which also formed the basis of the 308 hatchback and was used under the Citroën C4 Picasso. The EMP2 platform comes with a choice of short and long wheelbase, low or high riding height, and a choice of independent multi-link or twisted-beam rear suspension. PSA claims that the new platform has helped the company reduce the weight of the new 3008 by 70kg. The 3008’s suspension is independent at the front (with MacPherson struts) but via a torsion beam at the rear. Drive is via the front wheels only, but offered as an option across the range is Advanced Grip Control, which tailors the electronic traction and stability control software for optimal progress on snow, mud, sand or asphalt.

Prices will start from €25,995 for the Access trim 1.2 PureTech 130 bhp while the 1.6 Blue HDi 100bhp in Access trim starts from €26,515. If you opt for the Active trim pricing will range from between €28,295 up to €32,045 while the Allure trim will set you back between €29,885 and €33,605 depending on engine and transmission choice. The range topping GT Line that we drove starts from €33,225 up to €36,975 and all above prices are without optional extras.

Our test vehicle was the 1.6 BlueHDi 120hp Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

6-speed auto and it was impressively engaging to drive. It’s very cleverly set up with it aimed at the masses offering limited body roll to deliver car like handling but without comfort being compromised. Overall it’s well refined with limited road noise so feels like you’re driving a car around your local village or town and a good refined drive for the motorway and if like me you tend to be on loose surfaces and back roads then get the aforementioned Advanced Grip Control. Now don’t be silly and go off-roading as yes it will help in low grip road conditions like slippy mud or a loose uphill climb but don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re in a 4x4 as you’re not. Throughout our test the engine offered plenty of power and I can’t fault it with 120hp and 300Nm of torque bringing you from 0-100km/h in 11.6 seconds in the automatic. I’d recommend taking a look at the 1.2 petrol engine though as if not doing long journeys it could suit your needs better so speak to your local Peugeot dealer with regard to what might suit your personal needs.

The interior features Peugeot’s i-Cockpit design theme, which remains standard on all 3008s. The digital cockpit features a 12.3 inch digital instrument panel and a 8 inch

capacitive touch screen. In addition, the GT Line variant features sports style seats trimmed in ‘Imilia’ leather effect and ‘Brumeo’ cloth materials. The ‘Brumeo’ fabric also adorns the door panels and fascia. The Peugeot i-Cockpit also has six elegant piano-key toggle switches giving direct and permanent access to the main control functions: radio, climate control, navigation, vehicle parameters, telephone and mobile applications. The GT version, will feature a multi-point massage function, 8-way electric adjustment, 2-position memory function for the driver’s seat. Both front seats will feature a heating function and panoramic opening glass roof. It also comes equipped with front and rear parking sensors, powered seats, six airbags and touchscreen infotainment system with the latest smartphone interfaces.

I really found the interior a good looking and comfortable place to be and think it’s different to the competition in a good way. Peugeot claims 24mm and 36mm improvements in rear leg and head room respectively over the old model. Boot space stands at 520 litres which expands up to 1,580 litres with the rear seats folded down which is competitive for its class.

26 Conclusion I really enjoyed my time in the 3008 and found it to be both comfortable and enjoyable to drive along with stylish looks. It’s loaded with the latest technology and the designers were really let loose on the inside with it being a step above most in its class with a premium look and feel. I get the feeling this 3008 was an all or nothing from the French brand and thankfully for them they hit the target. There are only a few areas where the 3008 let itself down as overall was great. The new small steering wheel does obscure the large digital instrument display a little bit so would like to see that given attention. I think a 4WD option would be something I’d like Peugeot to offer as it would give those living in challenging environments a real all-rounder in every respect. The diesel I had was great but do look at the petrol option as unless you’re doing big mileage it will take care of your needs. So, if you’re looking for an agile and easy to drive vehicle fully loaded with technology with a very stylish interior and exterior offering competitive consumption figures then the 3008 is something you should seriously consider.

“The interior features Peugeot’s i-Cockpit design theme.”

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

THE SPECS Model

Peugeot 3008 GT Line

Engine Size

1.6 BlueHDi

Fuel Type

Diesel

Power

120hp

Torque

300Nm

Acceleration (0-100km/h)

11.6 seconds

Top Speed

185 km/h

Consumption

4.0/100km

CO2 Emissions

108g/km

Road Tax

€190 per year (Band A3)

Base Price

€25,995

Our Test Model

€34,925

peugeot.ie

NEW PEUGEOT

3008 SUV

CAR OF THE YEAR

Combined consumption (l/100 km): from 4.0 to 6.0. CO2 emissions (g/km): from 103 to 136.

NEW PEUGEOT 3008 SUV

28 CANNONBALL

CANNONBALL IRELAND IS A ROARING SUCCESS! Proceeds from this year’s event went to Make-A-Wish Ireland

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he action packed super car spectacle that is Cannonball took place in early September and the three day long event saw more than 160,000 people line the streets of a number of counties in Ireland to witness top cars including McLaren, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentley. This year the event blazed through Dublin, Kinsale, Limerick, Galway Plaza, Claremorris, Sligo, Mullingar and Moneygall with the event concluding in Kilkenny.

Now in its ninth year, this spectacle has raised almost €900,000 for Irish charities and this year, proceeds from the event went to Make-AWish Ireland, a children’s charity that grants magical wishes to children between the ages of three to 17 years old with a life threatening

medical condition. The gleaming convoy of 190 super cars and novelty cars which were worth an estimated €32million drove through more than 1,000 kilometres of Irish open roads. 40% of Cannonball entries come from outside of Ireland with an exciting team of 10 super cars joining in the fun from Dubai this year.

Cannonball is the brainchild of the Kildare Businessman Alan Bannon who is also the proprietor of AB Signs. This event is estimated to be beneficial to the Irish economy at €2,567,000 per year. With two National Awards and four nominations this year, the super car event shows no signs of slowing down and it is now gearing up for Japan in 2019!

“Cannonball is a fairly amazing event,’’ said Alan Bannon to Motors Ireland at the press call shortly before the event commenced. “We get

“Now in its ninth year, this spectacle has raised almost €900,000 for Irish charities.”

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

Words: Emer Kelly Pics: Andres Poveda Photography

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30 lots of applications every year from lots of different charities but we tend to always go for a children’s charity. Make-A-Wish is a very good choice for us, we have worked with them before and we are looking forward to working with them again. “The weekend is a lot of work but it is always something I look forward to,’’ enthused Mr Bannon. “The work for next year’s Cannonball will start more or less straight away.

The hotels are booked a year in advance and the route is more or less always done on the map straight away but there are always going to be a few changes made to it closer to the time,’’ he explained. “We open for registration about three months before the event but the

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

planning for the event starts more or less straight away,’’ concluded Alan Bannon.

Hone, the revolutionary new renewable energy provider was the main headline sponsor of this event this year. Other headlining companies include Audio Networks and AMA Music Agency. Official partners of Cannonball include Manhattan Popcorn, Advance Security, Krystle, Top Oil, Asytec, Mellett Electrical, Supermacs, Autokey, Karl Goodwin Motors, Monster, AB Signs and Stitchmagic.

For more information, please visit www.cannonball.ie.

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

32 NEW GEAR

NEW GEAR PowerRay Underwater Drone

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rones are great for getting unique, bird’s-eye view photos and videos. But fly that drone into the water and all you’ll be left with is a paperweight. That is, of course, unless your drone is PowerRay. PowerRay, from PowerVision, is an underwater drone ideal for fishermen or adventurers.

With the ability to dive up to 98 feet, PowerRay gives you a glimpse of the fish in the area, beautiful coral, or, you know, whether or not there are sharks where you were planning on diving.

Not getting eaten by sharks is always something we should strive for. It’s packed with a 4K UHD camera and a wide angle lens, and it allows you to stream in real time and post videos to social media, should you wish to share your aquatic adventures.

Price range from €1,900 www.powervision.me

Dewalt Flexvolt Battery

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ob sites are hazardous enough. Cords from your power tools scattered everywhere only make them even more so. That’s why a lot of folks switch to cordless tools whenever possible. Problem is, shortcomings in battery technology have so far hindered their use when it comes to larger tools with huge power requirements. The Dewalt Flexvolt battery changes that. With a max voltage of 60 volts, the battery should be able to supply the greater energy requirement of larger power tools, allowing the company to expand into tools they’ve never been able to offer in cordless form before. That means, you can finally go cordless with most of the power tools in your arsenal, whether you’re a DIY hobbyist who regularly builds stuff in the backyard or a skilled professional.

Even better, the Dewalt Flexvolt won’t just work with the new 60V tools, it’s also backwards-compatible with all of the outfit’s 20V power tools. That’s right, the battery can change its voltage output automatically, depending on whatever tool it’s attached to.

Price range from €140 www.dewalt.ie

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

33

Apple iPhone 8

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pple has recently introduced iPhone 8 introduces and its allnew glass design. The world’s most popular camera, now even better. The smartest, most powerful chip ever in an iPhone. Wireless charging that’s truly effortless. And augmented reality experiences never before possible. iPhone 8 is a new generation of iPhone. The most durable glass ever in a smartphone, front and back. A colour-matched, aerospace-grade aluminum band. New space grey, silver and gold finishes. Precisionengineered to resist water and dust. The glass back enables easy wireless charging.New 4.7inch and 5.5inch Retina HD displays. A Retina HD display that’s more beautiful than ever. With True Tone, a wide colour gamut and 3D Touch. True Tone technology automatically adjusts white balance to match the light around you. For a better viewing experience in all kinds of environments. With a wide colour gamut and the best colour accuracy in the industry, everything on the screen looks more brilliant and vibrant. Dualdomain pixels give you a great view of the screen from almost any angle.

Prices for the iPhone 8 64GB €829 Prices for the iPhone 8Plus 64GB €939 For more information, visit www.apple.com

256GB €999 256GB €1,109

8” Touch Screen Navigation with TomTom maps

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he X802D-U Advanced Navi Station brings the latest media compatibility, cutting-edge navigation technology and Alpine’s audiophile sound quality to your ride. It is fully compatible with the latest smartphones such as the iPhone 7 and the Galaxy S7 and lets you use Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on its 8-inch high-resolution touch screen. DAB+ digital radio, USB video playback, HDMI connectivity and the latest Bluetooth technology are built-in as well. You even have three options for navigation: the X802D-U features the iGo Primo NextGen navigation system with TomTom maps and 3 years free-of-charge map update. It also includes online navigation capability to use Maps with Apple CarPlay and Google navigation with Android Auto. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto apps can access the Alpine navigation antenna for highest positioning accuracy.

Price range from €1,200 www.alpine.co.uk

Xado Atomic Metal Conditioner

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tomic Metal Conditioner Maximum with 1 Stage Revitalizant is an innovative 3-component product specially formulated for treating vital engine parts in cars with oil system capacity up to 5 qt. Due to Revitalizant the product reduces friction, rebuilds worn metal in engine parts and creates protective coating against future wear, thus providing tools-free restoration and anti-wear protection Price range from €49.99

www.xadoireland.ie

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

34 VOLVO XC60 D4 INSCRIPTION

SWEDISH SENSATION Volvo is building one of the strongest line-ups of vehicles in the industry and the XC60 is another success for the brands resurgence

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ased on the same Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform underpinning the XC90, the XC60 is now 40mm longer than the previous model, making it roomier inside. New engines adopt the XC90’s powertrain technology (including a T8 plugin hybrid variant), but like its larger sibling, the key to the XC60’s success will be its style and features. It’s hard to see how Volvo could go wrong with the new XC60 as it closely resembles the larger ninety which was a massive success for the brand. A shorter front overhang, muscular wheel arches and sculpted body panels sharpen the look, and make the XC60 more athletic-looking. Look into XC60’s eyes, and you’ll notice the “Thor’s Hammer” LED daytime running lights, just like on the XC90 and the other 90-series Volvos.

I was suitably impressed with both the S90 when I drove it last year and the bigger version of this, the XC90.

The excellence of the cabin on the bigger cars thankfully has shrunken to a very neat version in the XC60. It feels just as special in here as you’d hope, with a pleasingly clutter-free dash and top quality materials throughout.

Just the bare essential few buttons poke through the fascia, leaving the rest of the functions to be handled by the portrait-oriented nine-inch touchscreen. Tasteful and discreet it’s hard not to be impressed. The aforementioned wheelbase stretch pays dividends in rear-seat space, a weak point of the outgoing model. The improvement is tangible as passengers enjoy generous rear legroom and

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

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Words: Anthony Kelly Pics: Motors Ireland

“Muscular wheel arches and sculpted body panels sharpen the look.�

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headroom. Overhead, a panoramic sunroof is standard on all models and helps brighten the interior. The XC60 is only available with five seats but this should be enough space for most small to medium sized families.

Our test model you see here is the 2.0-litre D4 Inscription variant, essentially a mid-spec model powered by the lower-output diesel four-cylinder, which proved to be very refined. Other than softer power delivery and a little turbo lag it featured few of the traits we’ve come to expect from four-cylinder diesels. All of Volvo’s engines are 2.0-litre in capacity these days, so the difference is just in the tuning and the size of the turbo. The 8 speed auto was very smooth and you can specify paddle shifters if you wish although they are standard on the R Design model. The D5 engine with Power Pulse promises to offer better performance figures with 254hp available but having said that, many buyers will be perfectly happy with this D4 engine as

it offers high torque and with 190hp available it’s no slouch by any means. As detailed in our last issue, Volvo has announced that every Volvo from 2019 will have an electric motor, making the historic end of cars that only have an internal combustion engine (ICE) and placing electrification at the core of its future business.

During my time the XC60 I found it offered plenty of grip on wet roads and as I took some back roads on my way to Blessington in Co Wicklow for our photoshoot, the Volvo turned in neatly with a good level of body control around bends. The ride quality erred more on the side of comfort than dynamics and the suspension soaked up back road bumps nicely. Volvo’s engineers didn’t want the XC60 to feel exactly like the XC90 from behind the wheel. Seeking greater driver engagement, they altered the steering of the XC60 for greater response and giving it some unique characteristics to the larger ninety.

The optional extra’s is always where the price of your vehicle can

“Our test model you see here is the 2.0-litre D4.”

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

37

Conclusion The latest XC60 is another job well done by Volvo.

Offering a stylish, practical, safe and very desirable SUV the Swedish brand should be praised for hitting its target market spot on. The D4 engine in the model I drove is the one to go for as I doubt the D5 with its extra horse power will make any dramatic difference to the majority of families driving needs.

Our model was the Inscription specification and it was highly impressive but check out the very good momentum spec as you’ll save a few euro and is very good indeed. You can’t fault Volvo when it comes to safety so an ideal purchase for family’s but I wouldn’t say the drive was highly engaging or dynamic. Overall it’s a high quality premium SUV and before you go with the usual German SUV offering be sure to consider the XC60 as you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

start to gradually creep upwards so bear it in mind as Volvo like other manufacturers offer a long list. Our XC60 came with a Xenium Pack at a cost of €4,500 which added: Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist Pilot - Automatic Parallel & 90* Parking (inc Front & Rear Park Assist), Parking Camera 360’ Surround View, Power Glass Tilt & Slide Panoramic Sunroof with Sun Curtain and BLIS with Cross Traffic Alert & Rear Collision Mitigation. Add a hefty €1,050 for ‘Denim Blue’ paint finish and you can see the base price rise sharply so just keep in mind what your needs are before you go ticking boxes and end up buy something a lot more than you originally budgeted for.

Expect nothing less than a monumental tech haul as always when you get behind the wheel of a Volvo. The XC60 adds some new features like steering support for the City Safety tech; if the car detects you’re panic-steering to avoid an accident it will brake individual wheels to help you turn and even add steering, while Oncoming Lane Mitigation will steer you back in line if it detects you’re drifting into oncoming traffic.

THE SPECS Model

Volvo XC60 D4 Inscription

Engine Size

2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel

Fuel Type

Diesel

Power

190hp

Torque

400Nm

Acceleration (0-100km/h)

8.4 seconds

Top Speed

205 km/h

Consumption

5.2/100km

CO2 Emissions

136g/km

Road Tax

€280 per year

Base Price

€53,950

Our Test Model

€66,950

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

38 GAA Panel

THE GAA STARS SHINE IN COUNTY LAOIS Renault Ireland brand ambassadors visit Joe Mallon Motors in Portlaoise.

W

hat Happens when you put three of the best known names in the world of GAA together?

Sheer laughter, divlilment, slagging and a true comrade, the latter shining through very brightly when it came to former Dublin footballer Alan Brogan, former Westmeath footballer Dessie Dolan and former Kerry footballer Marc Ó’Sé gathering in Joe Mallon Motors in Portlaoise where a Renault Ireland GAA Panel occurred. At the event, the aforementioned men were joined in conversation by former Laois footballer and sales executive in Joe Mallon Motors Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

in Portlaoise Padraig Clancy, former Kildare footballer Johnny Doyle and referee Maurice Deegan who happens to hail from Laois with RTÉ sports presenter Marty Morrissey acting as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

The reason behind the panel was as Mr Brogan, Mr Dolan and Mr Ó’Sé are Renault Ireland ambassadors and with the event taking place at the end of July when it was right smack bang in the middle of the championship, it was a good enough reason for the men to get out on the road and travel around to various Renault dealerships to speak of their own GAA careers, the championship, their thoughts on the infamous ‘black card,’

discussing the fitness of players and how much of a professional sport it has become in comparison to years ago when it was very much an amateur sport, to nowadays juggling family life as well as holding down a job as well as having to commit to a busy schedule of rigorous training and matches and more or less kissing goodbye to your social life for a certain amount of time.

Throughout the panel discussion, there was large proportions of laughter and slagging as well as the various men regaling the large audience with their time on the pitch, what playing for their County meant to them with Maurice Deegan very poignantly saying how

Words: Emer Kelly Pics: O’Hea PR winning a medal be it of any kind, means more to the community than they do to the player simply because of the pride the player already has engrained within them for playing for their County whilst also representing their club with the five former GAA stars all agreeing with this statement. “I would like to thank Padraig, Maurice and Johnny for joining our GAA panel.

We started the panel in Donagh Hickey Motors in Rathmore to make Alan Brogan drive! Marc Ó’Sé never stops talking about football hence why we kick started this run of GAA panels in Kerry and we finished off in Portlaoise because this County is staunch football,’’ said Country Operations Manager for Renault Ireland, Patrick Magee. “Joe Mallon himself, the motor group and the Mallon family are massive supporters of Laois and Kildare football. They are also massive GAA fans themselves. The Mallon’s partnership with Renault over the last 50 is incredible and they are great friends of ours (Renault) and it was great to finish off the current run of GAA panels here. “Anthony and

his team here are very proud of the place.

There is a great team here in Joe Mallon Motors in Portlaoise so fair play to them for putting on such a great event,’’ added Mr Magee. “Thanks also to Marc, Alan and Dessie and to the person who brings the whole thing together; Marty. Apart from the guys being brand ambassadors they are great guys and it is great to have them associated with Renault Ireland,’’ enthused Patrick Magee.

As the crowd gathered around Marty Morrissey for autographs and selfies, he very graciously took time to have a brief chat with Motors Ireland about the panel. “The GAA panels are something that have evolved over the last number of months. We have had great fun and huge crowds have turned up to each of them,’’ enthused Mr Morrissey. “Personally for me, this GAA season has been one of the most exciting championships ever whether it be in football or hurling. This championship has been exhilarating at times,’’ added Marty Morrissey. As time was pushing on and

the respective people had to hit the road to home, former Kerry footballer Marc Ó’Sé spoke to this publication in the garage’s car park as the rain lightly drizzled down. “The panel in Portlaoise was great and Anthony Mallon and his team put on a great show. It is great to get all of the GAA personalities together and obviously it is spear headed by Patrick Magee and he has done a great job in putting them together,’’ explained Mr Ó’Sé. “It was great to see Maurice Deegan, Johnny Doyle and Padraig Clancy taking part in the panel. The GAA is great for bringing us all together. I go back years with Alan Brogan and Dessie Dolan and there is a great comrade between us all,’’ imparted Marc Ó’Sé.

“Being a part of the GAA panel was excellent. There is a massive appetite in Ireland for GAA and travelling around the country you get to see this first hand,’’ said Dessie Dolan.

“There was a great crowd and atmosphere in every garage we went to. The championship has been excellent this year,’’ added Mr Dolan.

“It is spear headed by Patrick Magee and he has done a great job in putting them together” Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

39

40 MINI Countryman PHEV

FIRST EVER PLUG-IN

HYBRID MINI Oh god, not another hybrid.

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

41

Words: Anthony Kelly Pics: BMW Ireland

Y

es I uttered those exact words as I jumped into what is MINI’s first offering in the petrol/electric combo. But, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and thankfully it’s far from boring. The MINI Countryman PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) offers a greener and more economical choice for urban driving.

Simply charge the 7.6kWh battery on a low cost overnight charge and you are good for a 25 mile electric range. You have a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine if the worst comes to the worst and your all out of electricity the MINI can re-charge while driving through kinetic energy created while braking. Overall you have the best of both worlds with the convenience and reassurance of a petrol engine along with the green zero

“You are good for a 25 mile electric range.”

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

42 emissions for urban commuting. In electric only E-Drive mode the rear wheels alone are used at speeds of up to 125 km/h but the engine can come into effect with a heavy right foot giving you 0 to 100 km/h in just under seven seconds as the six-speed automatic gearbox works through the gears on to a top speed of 197 km/h. In full electric mode acceleration is immediate with a quietness that only disappears as you gain speed and wind noise

picks up.

The electric motor (lithium Ion battery) adds 87hp to the already punchy 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The petrol engine drives the front wheels while the electric drives the rear giving all-wheel drive capability. So all this clever tech means it can do 134.5mpg during official tests so probably a little optimistic in real world conditions but there is no doubt you will see big savings on your weekly fuel bills

with the MINI SE ALL4. Combine that with super low emissions and you are doing your bit for the planet as well.

Now with all the aforementioned benefits of the hybrid is there any drawbacks you ask.

Well, yes there is but there is nothing drastically bad. All this electric power has to come from somewhere obviously. The space and weight associated with the battery pack and electric motor, which add 130kg to the Countryman’s

THE SPECS

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

Model

MINI Cooper Countryman SE ALL4 PHEV

Engine Size

1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder

petrol engine combined with electric motor

Fuel Type

Petrol

Power

224hp (combined total)

Torque

385Nm (combined total)

Acceleration (0-100km/h)

6.8 seconds

Top Speed

197 km/h

Consumption

2.1/100km

CO2 Emissions

49g/km

Road Tax

€170 per year (Band A1)

Base Price

€42,500

Our Test Model

€51,740

43

“The electric motor adds 87hp to the already punchy 1.5-litre turbocharged engine.�

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

44 mass so you’re looking at a 1,730kg MINI plus 45 litres of boot space is gone too (about 10%). But space for passengers still remains good and you would hardly notice.

For the Cooper SE there are discreet but clear indications of the pioneering character of the car’s drive form and are provided by the model-specific design features on the exterior. The connection for the charging cable is under a flap in the area of the left-

hand side scuttle. Other features are the model-specific “E” badge on the side and also a yellow “S” in the model inscription on the rear as well as on the radiator grille and door sill finishers.

On the inside the Cooper SE Countryman All4 is pretty identical to the Cooper S Countryman already on the market. There are a few hints to the hybrid system available, such as model-specific “E” badges dotted

around. The cockpit includes a yellow start/ stop button in the centre of the switch panel, and a performance display in the instrument cluster. On the fun side there is LED lighting around the infotainment display and this can be set to increase with audio volume or even display the battery charge level. The interior is what you would expect with high quality materials throughout and very comfortable seating along with top notch technology.

Conclusion With the new MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4, for the first time you get the hallmark ‘gokart feel’ driving experience of a MINI due to excellent suspension setup with the benefit of electric, zero- emission motoring. Stick it into the sports setting and you feel the suspension and steering tighten with increased throttle responses. Switch to electric in urban areas making use of the electric only Max E-Drive setting and it really is the best of both worlds and that’s what I feel MINI has done right here.

Making it appeal to the many and not the few.

When you think about it why would you choose the diesel or petrol only Countryman models over this SE ALL4 model?

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

88 th International

MOTOR SHOW and accessories

8–18 March 2018 Geneva

www.gims.swiss

#GimsSwiss Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

46 Lucca Allen

INTERVIEW WITH LUCCA ALLEN Formula One is the dream, says Lucca Allen

T

he 15 year old son of Celebrity Chef Rachel Allen and her husband Isaac, Lucca Allen is a name that is going to take the racing world by storm over the next number of years as he is setting his sights on a career on the racing track. Having begun racing karts when he was a mere nine years old, Mr Allen has enjoyed great success both nationally and internationally. He is also one of

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

the six drivers selected by Motorsport Ireland for the Irish elite driver program at Dublin City University’s high performance Sports Science Department.

Lucca took time out to have a chat with this publication about where his interest in racing came from, highlights from his career to date and what he has his sights set on in the future. “When I was about six years old, I got a scrambler and I didn’t even know how to ride a

bicycle at this stage! From the first time I drove the scrambler, I knew that I wanted to keep driving things in the fields around my house as well as driving my parents cars up and down the driveway,’’ said Lucca Allen. “Eventually my scrambler broke so I ended up getting a buggy when I was seven and eventually that broke so when I was nine years old I asked my Dad could I get a go kart so he made a few calls just to see where and how I could

Words: Emer Kelly Pics: Isaac Allen

get one and we went down to the local track when I came home from school and we met with Noel Brennan from Brennan Tech Racing and I ended up driving around the track in my school uniform, so from the first lap I loved it.

“After that test, Noel said that I could race from Brennan Tech in the Irish Championships so Dad bought that kart second hand and for the first year, I wanted to improve my driving so I came eighth in the National Championships

and then in the second year, Dad bought another kart second hand and I came third in the National Championships and eventually I won the National Championships and after that I moved on to the Junior section,’’ he explained. “After six years of karting, I wanted to test cars because the goal is to ultimately make it to Formula One. I tested a few saloon cars and things like that sort of as a stepping stone for F4 and then

once I turned 14 years old, I thought I would test for F4 even though I didn’t think I’d be able for it because I was so young.

“I’m currently racing in British Ford Formula 4 with Falcon motorsport,’’ added Lucca.

Coming from the dynasty that is the Allen Family of Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork, it hasn’t come as much of a shock that Lucca isn’t following in the footsteps of his well-known Mother and Grandmother, Darina

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47

48 Allen. Admitting to know how to ‘cook a bit,’ when Lucca is at home in Shangarry he can be found working on the familial farm.

“Some people would have expected me to go down the food and cookery route but that wasn’t for me. I will have to learn how to cook some more things when I’m a bit older,’’ said a laughing Lucca. Being the second son of Rachel and Issac, he is the younger brother of Joshua and the older brother of Scarlett, he has a close bond to his siblings and parents.

“My Dad is a big motorsport fan and he drives me to anything I need to go to as well as travelling with me to race meetings and so forth. In the six years of karting, I’d say he hasn’t been able to make it to three things due to work commitments. “Luckily I get on

very well with my team manager Noel Brennan so there isn’t any hassle travelling with him,’’ enthused Lucca. Lucca first competed in the F4 British Championships on Monday, 3rd July.

To date he has won the following accolades: Irish Junior driver of the Year 2013, the Munster Karting Championship 2014, the Irish karting Club Championship 2014, the Southern Karting Club Championship 2014, the Motorsport Ireland National Karting Championship 2014, the Irish Karting Club Champion 2016 and the Irish Race of Champions trophy in 2016.

“There have been some really great moments in my career to date so far; some of which would be winning the National Championships and winning the Race of Champions last year. All of my wins are stand out moments for me, there

is no greater feeling than winning,’’ explained Mr Allen. “Being the first Formula Four driver to come from Ireland is also very special and hopefully we see more drivers coming from Ireland in the future.” Lucca who has recently begun Transition Year in Newtown School in County Waterford has agreed with his parents to finish his schooling before embarking on a career in racing full-time. “This year, I was doing my Junior Certificate so it was quite hard to balance racing and the educational part.

Racing comes first for me. I’m doing Transition Year this year so I will be able to take a lot more time off for racing,’’ said Lucca. As to what the future holds for Lucca? “Formula One is the dream,. I love what I do and I’m very focused,’’ concluded Mr Allen.

“There have been some really great moments in my career to date so far.”

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

50 FIAT 124 SPIDER

FUN AND FLAIR WITH THE

124 SPIDER Exactly 50 years later, the iconic 1960s design is back in a roadster created for pure driving pleasure.

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Words: Anthony Kelly Pics: Motors Ireland

O

riginally introduced in 1966, the Fiat 124 Spider is back with a vengeance. This is the Italian carmakers long awaited comeback to the roadster market and it seems like it has been worth the wait.

Now, if you had to bring two major manufacturers together to create a great small sports car you would not go too far wrong with Fiat and Mazda. Fiat are known for their rich history and Italian design flair while the Japanese brand Mazda is synonymous with reliant, affordable and fun cars to drive. Fiat’s new 124 Spider is made in a Mazda plant in Hiroshima, on the same assembly line as the MX-5. Apart from the same assembly line there are other similarities. Both have the same 90.9-inch wheelbase and unibody structure. The control-arm front and multilink rear-suspension layouts are identical, except each has its own springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars. So, they both incorporate the same platform, doors, windscreens and interior design. But when it comes to the rest of the body design and the engines, the cars are very different. So in effect you have the underpinnings of one of, if not the best twoseaters in history with different body styling, mechanical tweaks including a rather nice Italian built MultiAir 1.4-litre turbocharged engine.

The Fiat 124 looks nothing like the MX-5 and has a more smooth retro look compared to the angular sharp lines of the Mazda MX-5. The new 124 Spider has definite design cues from the elegant 1966 124 Sport Spider.

Look at the old 1966 headlights shape and how they have evolved, and how they meet the front grille along with the floating tail lights or even the pronounced edge that runs along the side panels. All going back to Pininfarina inspired 124 Sport Spider and done very tastefully indeed. While you could easily admire just the looks the fun is in the driving. I’ll admit you have to adjust yourself into position as with almost all two-seaters as you get into a comfortable driving position. Once in you are low down and in a nice driving position. With a leather steering wheel in front of you and comfortable leather seats the cabin’s quality is probably best comparable to.. you guessed it, an MX-5. While much of the cabin architecture is different from the MX-5 it’s hard not to make comparisons but that’s not a bad thing. The MX-5 has just come off from winning car of the year so it’s a compliment if anything. Good materials and a feeling of being well built is what shines through. The infotainment

“A rather nice Italian built MultiAir 1.4-litre turbocharged engine.”

Summer Winter 2018 2017 Motors Ireland

52 system and dials all are identical to that of the Mazda MX-5 and are functional and easy to use. The only noticeable difference being the logo of the 124 Spider appearing on startup. The good news is its effective and works perfectly. The convertible roof is easy to use with an easy open and close mechanism meaning you can quite easily open, push the roof back and click it closed, all from the comfort of the driving seat in a matter of seconds.

The 1.4-litre MultiAir is a great little engine.

The 140hp engine has 240Nm of torque and punchy performance with a really nice manual gearbox. It also packs 10hp more than the MX-5 and a higher torque coming from the Italian engine makes it a joy to drive.

The drive is a smooth one and I experienced this first hand on a drive to Sally Gap in the Wicklow Mountains. The suspension set up is

good for Irish roads where you’re fairly sure you’ll have plenty of road imprefections and roughly surfaced areas. On these long cruising and flowing roads in the Wicklow mountains it seemed the ideal car to have. Throw in the nice sunny weather, one of the last before the cold weather took hold and the joy of open top motoring and the Fiat 124 Spider was certainly the right car for this journey.

The higher torque along with rear wheel drive allowed for leaving in gear as approaching and exiting sweeping bends and applying the throttle again as the road straightened out. Peak power is at 5,000 rpm so running through the gears before hitting the limit is a joy and taking in the Irish Countryside while looking over the long bonnet felt special.

So what’s it going to cost. Well entry Classica models start from €32,395 and include air con, cruise control, and keyless engine start. Lusso

models start at €35,195 and add satellite navigation, rear parking sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated leather seat, automatic climate control, and front fog lamps. The model we drove Lusso Plus is priced from €36,695 and adds adaptive LED headlamps, auto lights and wipers and a nine-speaker BOSE sound system.

Just like the MX-5 you don’t buy the 124 Spider for practicality. The 140-litre boot is good enough for a couple of bags, you might even squeeze a few other odds and ends but space is limited. There’s also a lockable storage space between the seats.

Conclusion Back after a three-decade absence, the Spider loves to zip into turns and sprint through traffic. In Passione red the lines of the body styling stand out and the designers did a great job in capturing some of the iconic 1960’s

“The 124 Spider has definite design cues from the elegant 1966 124 Sport Spider.”

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

53

“The 140hp engine has 240Nm of torque and punchy performance.”

design. There is plenty of value to be had with the 124 Spider too and it’s at an attainable price. The ride is comfortable and was good on the sweeping roads of the Wicklow Mountains so is more than capable for relaxing day to day driving. Also, that engine is very nice and makes working your way through the gears

an enjoyable experience. So, should you go for the MX-5 or the 124 Spider. I really liked the MX-5 when I drove it and couldn’t fault it and a friend of mine had one may years ago so I do have a soft spot for them. I guess I’d have to say if your putting your hard earned money down it’s a matter of choice and dependent

on whether you like the styling of one or both.

Both are great cars but if you like the styling of both and not sure which to go for then you would probably stand out a little bit more in the 124 Spider simply due to less of them being on Irish roads.

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

54

THE SPECS

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

Model

Fiat 124 Spider

Engine Size

1.4-litre MultiAir 4-Cylinder

Fuel Type

Petrol

Power

140hp

Torque

240Nm

Acceleration (0-100km/h)

7.5 seconds

Top Speed

185 km/h

Consumption

6.4/100km

CO2 Emissions

148g/km

Road Tax

€390 per year

Base Price

€32,395

Our Test Model

€36,695

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56 Ferrari 250 GTO

THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE 250 GTO

This was the car that summed up Ferrari.

“Twenty of the 36 specimens ever produced were involved in the event.”

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

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T

he rally marking the 55th anniversary of the Ferrari 250 GTO, one of the most iconic cars ever built both in terms of its design and for the wins it collected at some of the world’s most important tracks and races, concluded at the factory in Maranello on Friday.

Twenty of the 36 specimens ever produced were involved in the event that ended on the afternoon of 29 September, when the cars arrived at the company passing under the historic arch on Via Abetone Inferiore. The event

set off from Florence, where on Monday the 250 GTO had driven through some of the most beautiful parts of the city such as the Boboli Gardens. During the rally customers enjoyed Italian gastronomic delights and, above all, competed on one of the most illustrious tracks in automotive history, the legendary Mugello street circuit, a route measuring more than 60 km and until the mid-1960s the scene of battles between champions of the calibre of Mario Casoni, Renzo Sinibaldi and Carlo Facetti.

Returning to Florence on Thursday, the crews headed to Maranello on Friday, retracing the

route of the Mille Miglia and ending the rally at the factory where they lined up in the square in front of the presidential building. It was an extraordinary sight with so many original and certified cars in the different colours of the various national sports federations: the red of Italy to the yellow of Belgium, the blue of France and the green of Great Britain. In the evening, customers were guests at the Classiche department workshop for a very special gala dinner at which Ferrari announced the 2022 rally, which will celebrate the 60th anniversary of one of the greatest cars ever to leave the

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

58 gates of Maranello.

Ferrari 250 GTO Charisma came not only from its innumerable racing victories, but from the unique sum of its parts – stunning looks, a highly competitive chassis and a thoroughbred V12 engine.

The 250 GTO model was the pinnacle of development of the 250 GT series in competition form, whilst still remaining a road car. It made its public debut at the annual pre-season Ferrari press conference in January 1962, and was the only front engine model on display, with its monoposto and sports racing counterparts all having a mid-engine configuration.

The Structure This model had no tail spoiler, but one was added before its competition debut at the Sebring circuit in America in March 1962. On its maiden outing in the 12 Hour Race, driven by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien, the 250 GTO finished second overall to a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sports racing car. It also won the GT category comfortably, an impressive debut performance upon which it would build during the next three years.

The model was built on a 2400 mm wheel base, as had been the 250 GT ‘SWB’ from which it was derived.

Although the chassis was built along the same lines, it used smaller section tubing, with additional bracing for increased torsional rigidity, and was given factory type reference 539/62 Comp., and then 539/64 Comp.

Like the earlier 250 GT ‘SWB’ Berlinettas, four wheel disc brakes were fitted, with a cable-operated handbrake to the rear wheels, and it was also available as both a leftand right-hand drive.

Early development of the new model was shrouded in secrecy, with Giotto Bizzarrini charged with developing a car to take on and beat the Jaguar E Type. In various interviews over the years he has said he was given an old 250 GT Boano chassis as a basis for the project. However, internal factory records show that he was provided with a 250 GT ‘passo corto’ (chassis 1791GT) on which to base the new car.

On its first outing at Monza in September 1961, prior to the Italian Grand Prix, the 250 GTO earned the nickname ‘Il Mostro’ (The Monster), due to its rough-hewn and ill fitting prototype body. During test sessions, Stirling Moss drove the car to record times far better than those ever achieved by a 250 GT ‘passo corto’. A ‘palace revolution’ followed later in the year, and Bizzarrini found himself on the outside, with refinement of the GTO body entrusted to Sergio Scaglietti, who created its definitive shape.

The Body The power unit was essentially a 250 Testa Rossa specification version of the Colombo single overhead camshaft per bank 3-litre V12 engine, with bore and stroke of 73 x 58.8 mm, but using dry sump lubrication, with factory type reference 168 Comp/62. The spark plugs were outside the vee of the block, and there was a

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

“The Kodiaq comes with a first-rate touchscreen.”

THE SPECS Model

Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4x4

Engine Size

2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission

Seven-speed Automatic DSG

Fuel Type

Diesel

Power

190hp

Torque

400Nm

Acceleration (0-100km/h) 8.6 seconds Top Speed

209 km/h

Consumption

5.6/100km or 49.6 mpg

CO2 Emissions

150g/km

Road Tax

€390 per year (Band C)

Base Price

€28,795

Our Test Model

€46,545

59 bank of six twin choke Weber 38 DCN carburettors, with a twin coil and rear of engine mounted distributor ignition system, to produce a claimed 300 bhp.

The engine was coupled to a new 5-speed, all synchromesh gearbox, with an open gate gear-change tower in the cockpit, similar to that used on the sports racing models since the mid-fifties, driving through a propeller shaft to the rigid rear axle, fitted with a Watts linkage. As befitted its intended competition use, a wide range of rear axle ratios was available.

The overall shape of the aluminium bodies designed and built by Scaglietti changed very little during the production period from 1962 to 1964, apart from a oneoff example bodied in the style of the 330 LM Berlinetta.

The last three cars in the series received Pininfarinadesigned and Scaglietti-built bodies of a style very similar to that used on the mid-engine 250 LM sports racing car.

Four earlier cars were also re-bodied in the later style during 1964. Although the overall body shape didn’t alter to any great degree, the detail differences during the production run certainly did.

The early cars in the series had a small elliptical radiator opening, bounded by rectangular driving lights, initially with brake cooling ducts under the nose, which then changed to vertical brake cooling slots in the nose alongside the driving lights, with the sidelights mounted below the Plexiglass shrouded headlights. The rear spoiler was bolted to the tail panel, and there were cabin exhaust air slots in the sail panels. The brake cooling ducts soon became circular, and the side lights moved to a semi-recessed location in the wing sides; a little while after these modifications the tail spoiler, still of the same profile, became an integral, riveted part of the body construction.

The Engine The 250 GTO Berlinettas continued the run of successes of the preceding ‘passo lungo’ and ‘passo corto’ models, and with the manufacturers’ championship being transferred to the GT category from 1962, gave Ferrari a hat trick of victories between 1962 and 1964. They were virtually dominant in their class, and were only being caught by the AC Cobras (with much larger capacity V8 engines) during their last competitive year. Amongst the numerous international successes of the 250 GTO were wins in the Tour de France in 1963 and 1964; GT class wins in the Targa Florio in 1962, 1963 and 1964; victories in the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood in 1962 and 1963; with GT category wins at Le Mans in 1962 and 1963, and in the Nurburgring 1000 km in 1963 and 1964.

The 250 GTO was the ultimate expression of the Ferrari 250 GT car. It was equally at home on the road or track – perhaps the last dual purpose road/race car produced – and has achieved legendary status amongst aficionados of the marque. With only a relatively small production run of thirty-six cars, and with many of the examples produced having a great race pedigree, it has become one of the icons of Ferrari production history, with a revered position in collector’s circles.

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

60 Opel Insignia Grand Sport

INSIGNIA IMPRESSES If Opel set out to offer a better drive, more interior space for passengers and a sleek new look then it’s mission accomplished.

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Words: Anthony Kelly Pics: Motors Ireland

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uilt on a new platform, the Insignia is lower and wider than before and provides more passenger and luggage space. A diet has seen it lose 175kg, despite gaining increased amounts of technology and a more premium feel throughout the cabin and on the road. Given the dimensions of the new car, the Insignia looks far more athletic than the outgoing model. For its overall size at just under 4.9 metres, it looks remarkably elegant and sleek and is one of the most aerodynamic cars in its class. For the Insignia Grand Sport, the platform allowed the engineers to shave off the aforementioned weight and along with that the track has been widened by 0.43 inches and the wheelbase stretched by 3.6 in. The roof has also been lowered by 1.1 in, and the seating position by the same amount, helping to achieve a sportier, more connected feel from behind the wheel.

It’s hard to to find a bad angle on the new Insignia Grand Sport. The design team at Rüsselsheim say the new name reflects the sleeker grand tourer nature of the car compared to the original 2008 car. The low, broad nose with an attractive grille and new headlights that not only give it a more purposeful face, but they also introduce the latest version of the company’s Matrix LED technology called IntelliLux LED. These adaptive lighting units consist of 16 LED elements in each headlight that can open and close ‘tunnels’ of light around other vehicles to enable greater illumination of the road ahead. A new high beam can also project up to 400m. Under that lower bonnet will be a new range of engines including a new 1.5-litre (140hp) turbo petrol unit, the 1.6-litre diesel (110 or 136hp) and the 2.0-litre diesel (170hp). Both the 1.6-litre (136hp) and 2.0-litre (170hp) units are available with both manual and automatic transmission. Diesels are available from €29,350. Our test car came with an array of options bring the price tag to an eye watering €46,985 including but not limited to FlexRide, 20ins alloys, Bose sound, heads up display and very comfortable brown leather seats.

Whereas its predecessor came in different body styles that featured an estate and different hatchbacks and saloons, this time around the offering is just as a hatchback and estate. The hatchback is badged the Insignia Grand Sport (from €27,350) and the estate is badged the Insignia Sports Tourer (from €28,550). Boot capacity has increased, with the Grand Sport swallowing 490 litres and up to 1450 litres should you drop the 40:20:40 split folding rear seats.

With a wheelbase that’s 92mm longer and an overall car length of almost 4.9m the extra size is about increasing interior space, particularly in the rear.

Bear in mind this extra size has not resulted in a heavier vehicle with the vehicle 59kg lighter than before due to a careful choice of build materials.

The interior design will be familiar to anyone who has driven a currentgeneration Astra, and while it’s technically a new design, many elements are very similar, including the steering wheel, media controls and other instruments. The build quality is good but the hard plastics and design mean the Insignia Grand Sport will not compete with the top marques but will easily hold its own against other rivals in this segment. There will be four trim levels available for new Opel Insignia in Ireland: SC (from €27,350), SRi (from €29,350), SE (from €29,350) and Elite (from €31,595). Standard equipment

“It’s hard to to find a bad angle on the new Insignia Grand Sport.”

Summer Winter 2018 2017 Motors Ireland

62 includes Opel OnStar, air con, cruise control, 7″ touchscreen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto projection, 17″ alloys and keyless entry and start. SRi includes navigation, front sports seats, climate control, 8″ touchscreen, rear spoiler and traffic sign recognition. SE includes a 4.2″ colour information display, front and rear parking sensors and driver’s lumbar support. Elite models include leather trim and Intellilux LED matrix headlights. Technology is an integral part of the new Insignia. Opel’s OnStar on line concierge service that it calls ‘a personal guardian angel’ now features the ability to book hotels and even parking and this is all done by a real human via the phone.

A wifi hotspot features with the system and up to seven devices can pair to the car’s in built data sim. In its class Opel leads the way with

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

this type of connectivity.

The Insignia will undoubtedly see many motorway miles and will perform this task perfectly and efficiently with it being a comfortable and quiet drive equal to any vehicle in its class. Throw in the FlexRide chassis control system (€1,300 extra) and you’ll have a vehicle that is perfectly capable to maneuver in and out of corners at pace and is a pleasant surprise. Add to this the lower kerb weight and you start to understand why the dynamics of the car are so impressive. If you push the car understandably its size and purpose of comfort come into play but you can expect good handling, grip and comfort under any normal conditions and it delivered well beyond my expectations.

Conclusion Opel has delivered. Make no mistake, this car is really good. It’s bigger with more room for passengers, it looks very sleek and is competitively priced to make the Insignia Grand Sport very relevant and worthy of consideration as a new company car or family vehicle. It might not be able to compete against premium brands in this segment but it certainly has a product offering that is affordable and a lot more handsome than others in its class and for this reason should prove to be a good seller for Opel in the Irish market.

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“Bear in mind this extra size has not resulted in a heavier vehicle.�

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THE SPECS Model

Insignia Grand Sport Elite

Engine Size

2.0-litre turbo diesel

Fuel Type

Diesel

Power

170hp

Torque

400Nm

Acceleration (0-100km/h)

8.9 seconds

Top Speed

197 km/h

Consumption

5.2/100km (combined)

CO2 Emissions

136g/km

Road Tax

€280 per year (Band B2)

Base Price

€27,350

Our Test Model

€46,985

Winter 2018 Motors Ireland

All-New

Renault KOLEOS Crossover by Renault

Bigger. Bolder. Better.

Model Shown: All-New Renault KOLEOS dCi 130 Signature. RRP from €36,790. The official CO2 emissions are 128 g/km and fuel consumption 4.9l/100km (combined).

More Space, More Versatility #EndlessPossibilities

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