Fleet Car Winter 2019

IRELAND’S FOREMOST FLEET & CORPORATE SECTOR GUIDE

Volume 17. No. 3 Winter 2019

Mazda in Motion CX-30 & SkyActiv X highlight Japanese brand’s innovative approach

FEATURES

Kia e-Soul - Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year 2020

INTERVIEW: Christian Schultze, Mazda Motor Europe ADVENTURE: Ashford's new 4x4 Off-Road Centre TEST DRIVE: Nissan Leaf 62kWh DESIGN: Autostyle Design Competition 2019 REPORT: Ford Performance cars driven LAUNCH PAD: Škoda Superb & Kamiq • Nissan Juke • Peugeot 208 • Renault Clio • Mercedes-Benz EQC

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Contents Winter 2019 Fleet Car Magazine, D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

Tel: +353 (0)94 9372819/ 9372826 Fax: +353 (0)94 9373571 Email: enquiries@fleet.ie ISSN: 1649-9433 www.fleetcar.ie Editor: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie Deputy Editor: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

4 News Move on hydrogen power Audi on board at Dublin Airport Alternative fuels in fleets rise plus Junction Box 6 Interview With Christian Schultze, Mazda EU 8 Cover I Mazda CX-30 breaks cover

18 Test Drive Anxiousless trips in Nissan Leaf 20 Launch Pad New Skodas, latest Juke, choice of 208s, 5th gen Clio & Merc EQC 22 Report Driving latest Ford Performance cars

P4

Contibutors: Rob Van Dieten

10 Cover II Kia wins hearts and minds of voters

Photography: Jarlath Sweeney, Cathal Doyle, Newspress, Fennell Photography

12 Adventure Get a little stirred at Ashford Castle!

Administration: Orla Sweeney, Denise Owens, Paula Mullarkey

14 Reading Matters Book Reviews

P12

Advertising: Mary Morrissey Design: Eamon Wynne

15 Advice Are you sitting correctly?

16 Design Autostyle Car Design Competition

Fleet Transport/ Fleet Car/ Green Fleet Management/ Fleet Van & Utility/ Fleet Bus & Coach/ Fleet Trailer & Body Builder/ Fleet Maritime are published by JJDS Publications Ltd. Registered Office: D’Alton Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo.

Co. Reg. 368767 Directors: Jarlath Sweeney, Sean Murtagh.

Disclaimer: Fleet Car Magazine management can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Fleet Transport management, save where otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this

publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, Editors or publishers.

The Editor reserves the right to make publishing decisions on any advertisements or editorial article submitted to the magazine and to refuse publication or to edit any editorial material as seems appropriate to him. Professional legal advice should always be sought in relation to any specific matter.

www.fleetcar.ie

4 | NEWS I

EU must act to build up muchneeded hydrogen infrastructure

T

he European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), Hydrogen Europe and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) are jointly calling on European policy makers to ramp up investments in EU-wide hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for fuel cell electric vehicles.

Fuel cell vehicles can contribute positively to the overall decarbonisation agenda of the EU. With zero tailpipe emissions, they help reduce CO2 from road transport while improving air quality for European citizens.

Advantages of hydrogen technology include short refuelling time and a long driving range, as well as a vehicle weight and load-carrying capacity that are comparable to conventional vehicles.

Unfortunately, hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is severely lacking in Europe today, putting at risk the development of this innovative zero-emission solution. In addition, incentive schemes for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen mobility are much needed to make it affordable.

At the recent Hydrogen for Climate Action conference – organised by the European Commission (DG GROW) and Hydrogen Europe – ACEA, Hydrogen Europe and IRU came together to sign a statement urging the next European Commission and newly-elected MEPs to provide the right framework to support the roll-out of

hydrogen infrastructure across the entire EU. Th is includes revising the EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive to include mandatory targets for hydrogen, developing new financial instruments for infrastructure investments, as well as tapping into existing EU funding mechanisms (eg the Connecting Europe Facility).

A strategic plan for the pan-European deployment of infrastructure for fuel cell vehicles needs to be put in place, which also has to take into account the specific requirements of trucks, such as large storage capacities and strategic locations (eg logistic centres).

European industry players are at the forefront of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and future policies at national and European level should confirm this leadership.

“Along with other alternatively-powered vehicles, fuel cell vehicles hold a strong potential to help make the transition to zero-emission mobility,” stated ACEA’s Director General, Eric-Mark Huitema during the signing ceremony. “But their ability to reach this potential depends on a network of hydrogen refuelling stations being built up right across Europe. Today, there are just 125 hydrogen stations in the EU, so there is much work to be done in the coming years.”

New appointments at Opel Ireland Lots of changes taking place at Opel Ireland in the wake of the parent company’s integration into Groupe PSA. Following the announcement that Gowan Group will be Opel’s wholesale import partner in Ireland, the company has announced the appointment of James Brooks as Managing Director.

Previously the Managing Director of Kia Ireland, James is also a former Treasurer and President of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry.

In a separate announcement, Emma Toner, Marketing Manager for Peugeot at Gowan Distributors, has been appointed to the role of Opel Marketing DIrector.

From County Down, Emma holds a BA Hons. in European Business Studies with French from Ulster University and a PRII diploma from the Public Relations Institute of Ireland. In addition to her new position she will continue in her current role with Peugeot until Quarter 1 2020.

Gowan Group is the exclusive importer and distributor of Honda, Opel and Peugeot motor vehicles in the Republic of Ireland.

New Motor Distributors Ltd CEO Motor Distributors Limited, importers and distributors of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, light and heavy commercial vehicles in Ireland has announced the appointment of Patrick Finnegan to the position of Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Finnegan succeeds the current Chief Executive, Stephen Byrne, who is retiring having successfully ser ved 44 years with the

FLEETCAR | Winter 2019

NEWS II | 5

company.

A Member of the Institute of Bankers, Patrick is new to the motor industry, having held a number of senior management positions, principally in the finance, insurance and global security sectors.

BMW appoints new Managing Director Kevin Davidson, a 24-year veteran with BMW has been announced as Managing Di rec tor of BMW Ireland.

Previously t he ret a i ler development director with BMW UK, his previous roles included general manager of used cars for the UK operation.

He succeeds Paulo Alves, who is leaving the position after five years in charge to head up BMW UK’s motorcycle division, BMW Motorrad UK.

Volkswagen’s new Logo To mark the launch of its new era of electric motoring, Volkswagen took the opportunity at the Frankfurt Motor Show to unveil a new logo. In the company’s words, ‘the new Volkswagen logo with its flat two-dimensional design is clearer and has been reduced to its essential elements.’

“The new brand design marks the start of the new era for Volkswagen,” said Jürgen Stackmann, Member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Sales, Marketing & After-Sales. “By formulating new content and with new products, the brand is undergoing a fundamental transformation towards a future with a neutral emission balance for everyone. Now is the right time to make the new attitude of our brand visible to the outside world.”

Audi Airport Service at Dublin Airport launched

A

udi owners can now avail of a new service when flying out of Dublin Airport. The Audi A irport Ser vice offers customers park ing in the short-term car park Pictured at the launch were; Thorsten Godulla, Managing Director, Audi at Terminal 2 as Ireland, Loreto O’Byrne, Head of Advertising Sales, Dublin Airport and well as additional John Sisson, Head of Commercial Car Parks, Dublin Airport. services including a complimentary mini valet; an AdBlue and Commenting, Audi Ireland’s Brand washer fluid top-up, full charge for electric Director, Thorsten Godulla said: “We are car drivers, an Audicheck.ie vehicle check delighted to introduce the Audi Airport and a free Audi gift upon departure.

Service; enhancing the Dublin Airport experience for our customers. Launched Launched by Audi Ireland in partnership in collaboration with Dublin Airport this with the Dublin Airport Authority, unique service provides real added value customers simply book their Audi parking to Audi drivers when traveling through via www.audiairportservice.ie. On arrival, the airport. We want to give Audi drivers customers are greeted by a member of the one less aspect of their traveling plans to Audi Airport Service team, hand over worry about and believe customers will be their keys and walk straight through to amazed with the experience and happy in the departures area. The service is initially the knowledge that their Audi has been left in the right hands.” available on weekdays only.

Increased interest in leasing AFVs

N

ew data from the UK is showing that interest in leasing electric and alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) has increased dramatically over the last 12 months and is outperforming demand seen in the overall consumer new car market.

According to Leasing.com there was a 54.8% increase in the registration of battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hybrids and mild hybrids during September 2019 compared to the same month last year.

However, when it comes to personal leasing, enquiries on all these vehicles were up 209% year on year in September 2019.

Furthermore a separate recent survey found that 40% of drivers planning to lease a car in the next five years would choose an electric vehicle.

most in-demand all-electric models.

Paul Harrison, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Leasing.com, said that as more fully electric and hybrid models hit the market over the coming year, they expect to see an even stronger rate of adoption via leasing: “As more emphasis is put on moving to lowemission drivetrains, leasing offers personal customers the perfect way to transition into ever-cleaner models without the large, long-term commitment of buying. Interest in alternatively fuelled vehicles on Leasing. com has outstripped national levels so far in 2019 and accounted for 7% of all enquiries in the fi rst half of the year.”

The Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen e-Golf and Jaguar I-Pace were the www.fleetcar.ie

6 | INTERVIEW

One-to-One with Christian Schultze, Mazda Motor Europe

“Absolutely. I think electric vehicles make sense when you talk about local emissions. Electrification makes sense to enhance the overall efficiency of vehicles.

For example we have introduced mild hybrid technology on our SkyActiv G and SkyActiv X engines. But, there’s absolutely no need to say we need to stop tomorrow with our internal combustion engines.”

“I will give you a simple example. Two thirds of worldwide electricity production is from fossil fuels. So, if we now convert all internal combustion vehicles into electric vehicles then there are still emissions.

Electricity power plants have different emissions, for example coal stations emit SO2 , and there are other dangerous exhaust gases. So I think we have to look at it from a much more high level point of view. We have to take all opportunities to reduce CO2 .”

Mazda doing it their way Mazda is a car brand that likes to think outside the box and doesn’t necessarily follow conventional thinking on current fads or developments. We’ve seen it in the past with its rotary engines, and more recently with its refusal to adopt turbo technology on its petrol engines to give just two examples.

Its most recent technical innovation has been the launch of the SkyActiv X, a petrol engine that uses compression ignition technology from diesel engines.

It combines the free-revving performance of a petrol engine with the superior response of a diesel, according to Mazda engineers.

Christian Schultze is the Director of Technology Research & Technical Regulation Compliance as well as Deputy General Manager at Mazda Motor Europe’s R&D Centre in Germany. At the launch of the CX-30 crossover we asked him if he saw a longer term future for internal combustion engines.

FLEETCAR | Winter 2019

“That means we should look into alternative fuels. CNG is a perfect simple fuel to reduce CO2 . Hydrogen is another fuel we can do a lot with, we can burn it perfectly in a rotary engine, for instance.

We need to think about synthetic fuels because we will not see any time soon an airplane that goes from Madrid to New York on a battery. So we need some kind of fuel that is CO2 neutral. We can develop or produce this from wind energy for example, take CO2 from the air and create natural gas made from methanol.

If you have such a fuel that is CO2 neutral why should you not use it.”

The SkyActiv X engine is the fi rst time compression ignition technology has been used in a petrol engine. We asked Christian what were the challenges the company faced in developing this power plant.

“There’s one point that everyone knows about gasoline engines and that is, knocking kills your engine. As we have engines that work on compression ignition we need to be sure that this knocking would not happen. As far back as 30 years ago they have been researching engines called HCCI from various OEMs which worked on compression ignition. But there were no means to control it so there was no knocking. These engines could only run in limited areas and otherwise they had to

switch to a normal plug spark fired engine.

Our task was to develop a controlled compression ignition engine that had no knocking. That’s why we introduced this additional spark where it ignites a very small amount of fuel as a control factor to introduce a full compression ignition.”

“That was the most difficult part. The second part is when you go out of the laboratory environment you have to cope with different temperatures of the air, different humidity, different altitude and the composition of the air, and you have to live with different fuel qualities.

We had to fi nd out how we can control these. That is why in this engine we have introduced a real time pressure sensor.

With this we can understand how the compression works and we can then control, for example, the injection timing amount and ignition timing.”

We wondered why Mazda doesn’t use turbo charging technology in its diesel engines. Christian’s response revealed the driving enthusiast behind the engineer.

“Because we love the instant reaction to the thrott le input. When you are driving our SkyActiv X or G at medium speeds and you vary your throttle position, immediately there is a response from any speed. It’s completely driver oriented. The turbo engine doesn’t deliver this to you because it has to accelerate the turbo and then you get torque which you cannot control because it really depends then on the amount of air you compress. So it’s very difficult to have a perfect control.”

He added that there are fi rm engineering reasons also behind Mazda’s decision to stay normally aspirated. “We don’t like the turbo engine for one fact and that is in low power regions it’s efficient but once you require power the efficiency suffers so much. Th is way our engines are much more honest, frankly speaking.

With the SkyActiv X we have a very wide area of high efficiency, especially in the customer relevant area. I think that is very important. We need an exact ‘dosing’ of the amount of air compared to fuel to have our exact lambda regions. With the turbo lag or turbo overshoot we cannot do that,” he concluded.

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

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8 | COVER I

First Drive: Girona, Spain

Mazda’s CX-30 brings tech and style to midsized crossover market

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hese days it’s not enough to have a representative crossover in a model line-up. Instead any manufacturer worth their salt needs to have a high-rise model to fit into every segment and sub-segment.

expected to be its natural home. Behind the rear seats the boot offers 430 litres of space which is on par with competitors in this segment.

Thus we get the new Mazda CX-30, slott ing in between the brand’s existing CX-3 and CX-5 crossovers. The CX-30 nomenclature apparently comes about because the more logical CX-4 name is already being used on a different model in China.

Offered in four trim levels of GS, GS-L, GT and GT Sport, equipment levels on even the entry level GS versions are generous and include LED headlights, a colour head up display (HUD) and cruise control. Prices for the new Mazda CX-30 range from €29,495 to €43,115.

The CX-30 is the second new model using the latest evolution of Mazda’s Kodo design philosophy, following the launch earlier this year of the latest Mazda3. Like the 3 it’s an elegant shape, borrowing some styling cues from that car, notably the shark like front nose styling. Equally from the side view, there are hints of coupé styling, making this one of the more att ractive looking products in a fairly identikit market.

There’s a choice of one diesel and two petrol engines similar to those found in the Mazda3. The most interesting one is the SkyActiv-X petrol engine which is Mazda’s answer to the diesel backlash.

The 180PS 2.0 litre unit uses a unique combustion method where spark plug ignition is used to control compression ignition. Combined with mild hybrid technology, the result, Mazda tells us, gives diesel performance and economy in a petrol engine.

Clamber inside and you’re unlikely to be disappointed either. Mazda’s interiors are among the nicest in the business and the CX-30 doesn’t let the side down at all with a pleasing blend of quality materials and good ergonomics. We particularly like the mix of digital and analogue dials which retain Mazda’s signature white dials on black background. They’re simple yet classy, imparting all the information you need at a glance without looking gaudy, as is the case with many of the digital displays now appearing on some cars.

The CX-30 addresses one of the shortcomings of the CX-3, namely a lack of space for rear seat passengers. That’s in spite of it being about 7cm shorter than the Mazda3 on which it’s based, the reason for that apparently being to allow better mobility in the urban areas that are FLEETCAR | Winter 2019

While Mazda certainly deserves kudos for thinking outside the box, whether the hype lives up to reality remains to be seen. We’ve only had a brief run in a preproduction version of this engine and to be honest it didn’t feel a whole lot different to a regular petrol unit performance wise, so it will be interesting to see how it shapes up in fi nal production form. Furthermore, the quoted CO 2 emissions figure of 133g/km and WLTP measured combined fuel economy of 5.9 l/100km, while respectable enough, cer tainly aren’t

going to be challenging for any green grant incentives.

The alternative engine options are a 122PS 2.0 SkyActiv-G, also with mild hybrid technology, and a 116PS 1.8 SkyActiv-D diesel. If you want four wheel drive it’s an option with GT-Sport trim and the SkyActiv-X engine.

There’s a choice of six-speed manual or auto gearboxes. The manual is slick and accurate, whereas the auto - an old style torque converter type - can be a bit slow to fi nd the right gear at times.

Dynamically the CX-30 a typical crossover, which is to say it’s not going to excite the keen driver but is a comfortable and easy car to drive. One does have to rev the normally aspirated petrol engines somewhat to get the best out of them, which is somewhat anathema to drivers used to torquey turbo units, but do so and they are decently responsive.

Overall though, this is a very likeable contender in the ultra-competitive C-SUV segment. If you’re in the market for a premium standard but affordable car featuring some ground-breaking technology, a visit to your local Mazda dealer should be on the cards.

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

OUTSTANDING Product of the Year 2019 We are delighted to win the Product of the Year award for our unrivalled success across all of Auto Express’ tyre tests.

Whatever the season, whatever the weather we have the perfect tyre for you.

“It proves that, currently, if you

want the best choice when choosing your tyres, you can’t go wrong with Continental.”

Steve Fowler Editor-in-Chief, Auto Express

www.continental-tyres.ie

10 | COVER II

Kia e-Soul is Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year 2020

Citroën Berlingo / Opel Combo Cargo / Peugeot Partner win Continental Tyres Irish Van of the Year 2020

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eflecting the changing shape of the motoring world, the Kia e-Soul has been crowned Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year for 2020.

It marks the fi rst time that an all-electric car has won the prestigious award, which is voted on by 32 of Ireland’s leading motoring journalists from print, online and broadcasting media including Jarlath Sweeney and Cathal Doyle from this publication.

In the other main award presented at the Gala Dinner at the Westin Hotel in Dublin on November 7, the joint entry of Groupe PSA triumvirate Citroën Berlingo / Opel

Combo Cargo / Peugeot Partner was voted as the Continental Tyres Irish Van of the Year 2020.

The Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year Awards 2020 black tie event, hosted by comedienne Katherine Lynch, was attended by Ireland’s leading car brands, importers, distributors and other motoring dignitaries.

Ronan Flood, M.D. of Kia Ireland celebrates winning Continental Irish Car of the Year 2020 with the Kia e-Soul. Left to right are Anthony Conlon (Joint-Chairman of the Irish Car of the Year Committee), Tom Dennigan (Continental Tyres), Ronan Flood and Bob Flavin (Joint-Chairman of the Irish Car of the Year Committee) FLEETCAR | Winter 2019

Tom Dennigan, representing sponsors Continental Tyres said the awards were important in helping car buyers make decisions on what to buy in an increasingly diverse marketplace: “The advice of the Irish Car of the Year jurors is instrumental in helping consumers here to make sense of the ever-growing complexity of the cars we drive – both from the point of view of the increased fuel options and the myriad of new safety features and technologies that are found on even the entry level models of all brands.”

The Kia e-Soul which went on sale in Ireland earlier this year, was praised by the judges for its long battery range, strong equipment levels and competitive

Presentation of the Continental Irish Van of the Year Award. Left to right are Cathal Doyle and Anthony Conlon (motoring journalists), Des Cannon (Peugeot), Pat Ryan (Citroën), Rodney Sheridan (Opel) and Tom Dennigan (Continental Tyres)

COVER II | 11 pricing. Featuring a 64kW battery, it offers a range of up to 452 kilometres on a single charge. Offered in two trims of K2 and K3, it’s priced at €35,995 (K2) and €37,495 (K3), both prices including VRT relief and Government grants.

Receiving the award for Continental Irish Car of the Year 2020, Ronan Flood, the newly appointed MD of Kia Motors Ireland said: “Right from the start we have received really positive feedback from journalists after they had driven e-Soul particularly in regard to build quality, driving dynamics, comfort and of course the 400km plus range on a full charge. Credit for this of course goes to our designers and engineers in Korea who are of course also responsible for our e-Niro model.”

Ten category winners Prior to the announcement of the overall winner, category winners across ten segments were announced, with AlfaRomeo, Audi, Ford, Peugeot, SEAT, Toyota and Volkswagen collecting accolades.

As well as winning the overall award, the Kia e-Soul created another piece of history by winning two categories - Continental Tyres Irish Compact Car of the Year and Continental Tyres Irish Green / Efficient Car of the Year.

In the Irish Compact Car of the Year category, the e-Soul saw off challenges from the Audi A1, Renault Clio and another electric contender, the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Rivals in the Irish Green / Efficient Car of the Year category included the Kona Electric, Audi E-Tron, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Tesla Model 3 and sister car, the Kia e-Niro.

Representatives of the successful brands celebrate with motoring journalists

Peugeot also had a very successful night claiming a further two category wins.

The 508 won the Continental Tyres Irish Large Car of the Year accolade against competition from the BMW 3-Series, Lexus ES, Tesla Model 3, Toyota Camry and Volvo S60. Meanwhile, the Rifter won the Continental Tyres Irish MPV of the Year, defeating sibling rivals the Citroën Berlingo Multispace and Opel Combo Life.

Volkswagen’s T-Cross was successful in the Continental Tyres Irish Compact SUV of the Year, winning the award ahead of the Kia XCeed and Lexus UX. The Continental Tyres Irish Medium SUV of the Year went to the Audi Q3. It won against competition from the Citroën C5 Aircross, DS7, Mercedes-Benz EQC, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Range Rover Evoque, and Toyota RAV4.

The third brand within the Volkswagen Group to claim a category award was SEAT which won the Continental Tyres Irish Large SUV of the Year with the Tarraco. Other contenders in this category were the Audi E-Tron, Audi Q8, BMW X5, BMW X7, Ford Ranger Raptor and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Ford won the Continental Tyres Irish Hot Hatchback of the Year award with its new Focus ST against rivals Cupra Ateca, Mercedes-Benz A35 AMG, Renault Megane RS Trophy, and Škoda Kodiaq RS. Claiming the prestigious Continental Tyres Irish Performance / Luxury Car of the Year category was the Alfa Romeo Stelvio QV. It won the award against rivals Audi RS4 and RS5, BMW’s 8-Series and Z4 and the Toyota Cupra.

Recognising the success of all the winners on the night, Joint-Chairman of the Irish Car of the Year Committee, Anthony Conlon said: “Congratulations to the Kia team on a very worthy win, I am sure that the Irish Car of the Year title will be a huge boost for the e-Soul during the busy January car sales period.”

Fellow Joint-Chairman of the Irish Car of the Year Committee, Bob Flavin added: “Th is is the fi rst time that an electric car has won Irish Car of the Year, a real sign of things to come I think. Regardless of its fuel type, the e-Soul came out as the clear winner and was hugely popular with my motoring journalist colleagues.”

Continental Irish Car of the Year 2020 - category winners: The Toyota Corolla was the winner of the Continental Tyres Irish Medium Car of the Year category, claiming the award against opposition from the Kia e-Niro, Kia ProCeed, Mazda 3, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Mercedes-Benz CLA and Škoda Scala.

In addition to its success in jointly winning the Irish Van of the Year Award, Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

Continental Tyres Irish Compact Car of the Year: Kia e-Soul Continental Tyres Irish Medium Car of the Year: Toyota Corolla Continental Tyres Irish Large Car of the Year: Peugeot 508 Continental Tyres Irish Compact SUV of the Year: Volkswagen T-Cross Continental Tyres Irish Medium SUV of the Year: Audi Q3 Continental Tyres Irish Large SUV of the Year: SEAT Tarraco Continental Tyres Irish Hot Hatchback of the Year: Ford Focus ST Continental Tyres Irish Performance/Luxury Car of the Year: Alfa Romeo Stelvio QV Continental Tyres Irish Green / Efficient Car of the Year: Kia e-Soul Continental Tyres Irish MPV of the Year: Peugeot Rifter www.fleetcar.ie

12 | ADVENTURE

Ashford Off-Road Experience – Licence to Thrill!

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rom two wheels to four-wheel drive, that’s the journey Irish Olympic track cyclist David O’Loughlin has taken as he begins his big next sporting challenge.

The Cong, County Mayo native now has a viable, interesting, entertaining addition to his Ashford Outdoors business at the Ashford Castle Estate with a newly created off-road 4x4 driving course.

The Ashford Off-Road Experience is a “Licence to Th rill” (and the James Bond theme terminology is no accident as former 007 Pierce Brosnan held his wedding reception at this historic venue) with two testing routes carved out through the undulating spread of forest that surrounds the 800 year old Estate. Hotel guests and non-residents to the estate can avail of this unique opportunity to discover or hone their off-road driving skills over half day David O'Loughlin

or full day all-terrain courses. The ‘Ashford Castle Estate Course’ begins close to the River Cong that flows into Lough Corrib and can take up to 2 hours while the Discover Connemara Course is a full day’s exercise that includes the Ashford Estate and nearby at Derroura Forest.

“Participants can learn how to manoeuvre their vehicle across a variety of routes within the courses including navigating natural and purpose built obstacles for an action packed experience. Rut driving, ascents and descents are part of both courses with deep-water crossings and side slope driving added to the Gateway to Connemara experience at Derroura,” explained David, the three times national road champion cyclist.

“For the fi rst-timer, the Ashford Castle Estate course is a great way to enjoy

the outdoors and be immersed in the rugged landscape of Cong. Th is unique activity can be tailored to suit individuals, families, party or corporate groups. In fact, all experienced levels are catered for, including advanced drivers, all overseen by our expert qualified instructing team.” he added.

Operating all year round, the peak period for David and his team is the summer months, with the majority of clientele stemming from North America, he said as we sat down at the Equestrian Centre located on the grounds nearby and run by his wife Mary. We had just completed the Ashford Castle Estate Course in a trusty Land Rover Defender County 110, and in not sparing the machinery had a thoroughly enjoyable experience – a bit shaken but not stirred – pun intended!

What led to this development? David explains: “I was always interested in cars, motorsport and off-road. That we have fantastic terrain here for off-road driving was a key factor as well as this activity is not weather dependent and not too physical. Once you can drive a car there’s no reason why you can’t drive off-road. Even if you’ve never driven a manual or stick-shift, as the Americans affectionately call it, we can still make it happen,” he said.

Any complications with right-handdrive? “Yes, it’s a litt le challenging for instructors sometimes, as occasionally

FLEETCAR | Winter 2019

ADVENTURE | 13

they are driving too far to the left – spatial awareness is not what they might be used to – so you will notice the left side of the Defender, there’s a few scrapes on it.”

What’s involved with the induction programme? “After a short explanation, we get them into the vehicle and on to the course, starting with some shorter sections – here we can assess their capabilities immediately, see how they are at changing gears, observation, etc.

But you also walk the course with them on occasion? “Yes, we’ll walk some of the route to highlight the features that may be of a technical nature, explain to them exactly how to drive it so they have a good awareness of what’s coming. For a lot of people, it’s just about gett ing into their heads how to use the clutch properly.

Obviously once you touch the clutch you lose control of the vehicle, so it’s about gett ing the feet fi rmly on the floor, hammering that message home and also emphasising the merits of engine braking.

Usually we start in the low range fourwheel-drive gear selection and it’s then running between fi rst and second gear so that it’s safe to get around and ensure the traction required is obtained.”

not the most comfortable to drive. The driving position is far-off to the right, almost against the door and the turning circle is shocking! So, you’re turning in earlier than you normally would, so that’s another thing we try to get across.

Another common thing is oversteer in the deep ruts that have now been carved out in the pathways. We encourage people to take their hands off the wheel completely just let it go. Usually what happens is that they’re oversteering and all of a sudden, it grabs them!”

What about your own qualifications?

“Fellow instructor Mark Bonner and myself went to Land Rover in Scotland to undertake an instructors’ course. It was an excellent time of the year as it was all snowed-up in the mountains. We learned fi rst-hand about best practice under the Land Rover Experience guidelines, know more about customer service standards and also how they operated things in general. They’ve a good set up over there.”

As well as the leisure aspect to this new venture, there is the corporate side and business to business element that you wish to explore? Yes, we are very interested in accommodating the B2B side as the venue here offers the complete package with the Ashford Castle Hotel and The Lodge at Ashford within the grounds.

Here automotive manufacturers can test out their latest all-wheel-drive vehicles off-road and in a safe environment and we can even provide a new car/4x4 launch platform here too! Also, we can facilitate fleet days and team building exercises in a unique way.”

All that was left to say is that an open invitation is there for interested parties to come to Ashford Castle, taste and feel the splendour around the 350 acres of woodland and open landscape and get stuck into the action in the Off-Road Course. We would be fairly sure that Pierce (James Bond) Brosnan would like to have a go too!

Have you picked the Land Rover Defender for a reason? “Yes, they’re very hardy vehicle, perfect for the job, with the only repair work typically needed being clutch replacement. Usually after the drives people get a broader appreciation of how durable the Defender is once they fi nish the session.

Any pitfalls about this iconic vehicle?

“Well, everyone appreciates that it’s Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

www.fleetcar.ie

Book Review:

14 | READING MATTERS

Pub2Pub

by Ben Coombs ISBN 978-1-7-787113-60-2 £14.99 | www.veloce.co.uk5 t took four years of planning and eight months to undertake – Ben Coombs’ ambitious adventure to drive from the most northern pub in Scandinavia to the southern-most one in South America is brilliantly described in his Veloce Publishing book titled appropriately enough as Pub2Pub.

I

In turning the 240 pages within this paperback, the story is as much about the car that Ben travelled in as the Bristol native himself. The 27,000 mile journey proved a good challenge for the Blackpod built TVR Chimaera, resplendent in its British Racing Gear and affectionately called ‘Kermit’.

Ben took on the task as a way to beat his depression demons and it worked as the arduous route through land and sea brought him many highs and lows, all of which he conquered. The reader is taken on an educational journey with Ben - together with friends and acquaintances who joined along the way - with interesting insights into geography and history lessons of significance.

A deserted hotel bar in Svalbard, an island

Clare Island

by John Feehan Royal Irish Academy Mayo.ie ISBN: 9781911479130 - £40

W

hile the vast majority of visitors to Clare Island are eager to discover its centuries old history, some might be interested in its genealogy, ecology and even geography.

Th is new book entitled Clare Island by John Feehan chronicles Holywood, County Down native Robert Lloyd Praeger and the Clare Island survey from 1913 and the more recent Royal Irish Academy exercise one hundred years later. The 310 FLEETCAR | Winter 2019

in northern Norway was the unusual starting point, with the epic journey ending at Tierra del Fuego, the archipelago in southern South America.

Some enjoyable and entertaining stop-offs were recorded along the expedition, notably driving the Nurburgring in Germany and visiting the Koenigsegg Sports Car factory in Sweden. Armed with a few spares, some cash and sponsor decals on Kermit, a Dodge Charger with its 5.7 litre HEMI V8 accompanied the TVR on the transAmerican part of the route. Deadly spiders in Arizona and a call to the cheekily called Ale ’Inn bar in remote Nevada, were just some of the memorable episodes. cars than most people realise”.

Brushes with the law were aplenty, requiring a mixture of stubbornness, determination and creativity on Ben’s part to get the righthand-drive two-seater sports car through border controls,. It took 10 days sleeping in the car before approval was granted to enter Costa Rica. Other memorable moments included latching on to the Dakar Rally in Peru and a courageous trek across the flooded Salt Flats Lake in Bolivia, described as the ‘world’s biggest mirror’.

Indeed Kermit turned out to be quite the hero, necessitating few roadside repairs, nothing that couldn’t be dealt with by Ben’s persuasiveness and intuitiveness. As Ben acknowledged: “Back in 20th century Blackpool, they were building much tougher

As a car nut, Ben took notice of many different makes and models as each country and continent was passed and got prett y excited with the lavish car collections in Chile, which included a DeLorean. It was then as the adventure came towards the end that he began to worry about family and became anxious about Kermit’s condition and stamina on the last leg. There was no need to fret, as the 1997 example of the TVR of which 6,000 were made, is now probably the most famous of them all.

Live the dream with Ben and his team via this fascinating read, with his carefully scripted descriptive text enhanced by a selection of superb photographs.

page large paperback highlights the life and times on the island before the Irish naturalist Praeger first visited in 1903 and the author looks into the future viability of its agriculture productivity. John also covers its rock formation framework going back to the Ice Age and looks at its ancient archaeology and early history which can still be seen today.

To many that chapter well into the book will have particular interest as it features Granuaile’s Castle, associated holy wells and the three phases of building the Abbey, which dates back to the thirteenth century.

Tradition has it that Granuaile (Grace O’Malley) ‘The Pirate Queen of Ireland’ is buried here, in a tomb surrounded by elaborately painted motifs overhead, some of which, amazingly, survive today. Other aspects of note include weather patterns,

seaweed and sea life in general while the plant life covers flora, fauna and insect activity.

Prior to taking the boat to the island, it would be extremely beneficial to read this book, digest the data and bring the information to life. Cycle through its narrow road network and follow the nature trails. A very interesting read, pre or post visit.

Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

ADVICE | 15

Why sitting correctly in your car seat is critical for your long-term health Driver fatigue is a contributory factor in 1 in 5 driver deaths in Ireland every year

C

ompany car drivers know more than most the importance of a good car seat that provides proper support. Equally important though is for the driver to sit correctly in their car seat. How you sit and the position of your seat can have a huge impact on your musculoskeletal health down the line. Furthermore, sitting incorrectly is likely to tire you out more quickly, with driver fatigue recognised as a major contributory factor in road traffic accidents.

“Sitting in the wrong position can be taxing on a person mentally as well as physically,” he explained. “Th is is quite dangerous for those who drive for long periods of time, as driver fatigue is one of the top causes of vehicle collisions. It is therefore imperative that employers have an ergonomic assessment carried out to ensure that drivers have their seats adjusted correctly for their unique characteristics, posture, work practices and needs.”

“Drivers are often neglected when it comes to ergonomic assessments, but their health and wellbeing is just as important as someone who is working in an office environment,” says Brian Crinion – director of Spectrum Optimise, an Irish company that offers a range of services to help promote better workplace environments. “If they are sitt ing incorrectly every day, in the short term it can cause discomfort, but if not addressed, can cause serious damage to the spine in the long run.”

While Brian recommends an ergonomics assessment for optimal health and wellbeing behind the wheel, he offers the following tips to check you are sitt ing right when driving: • •

•

•

•

Raise the seat: Adjust the seat so your hips are in line with or slightly lower than your knees.

Get support: Adjust the cushioned part you sit on (either pump it up or down), so that your thighs are fully supported.

There should be a more even pressure along the thighs with a 2-4 fi nger breadth distance between the seat and the backs of the knees.

Don’t recline: The back of the seat should provide continuous support along the length of your back, so avoid reclining the seat too far. Roll the seat back just enough so you are sitt ing at a slight angle, ensuring that your shoulders are behind your hips and not in line with them or ahead of them. The ideal angle is 104°, but overall is should feel comfortable!

Check the wheel: Adjust the steering wheel rearwards and downwards for easy reach. In terms of height, your chin should be in line with the top of the wheel. When reaching for the wheel, ensure there is a slight bend in your elbows, and the wheel should be a minimum of 102 inches away from the driver’s breastbone.

Relax the upper body: Place hands at a 9 and 3 o’clock position, this will allow your shoulders to relax and take pressure off your neck, especially important for long journeys. Ensure that your head is in a neutral position and you can see all your mirrors without straining your neck.

With employers having a duty of care obligation towards employees who drive for work, Brian recommends an ergonomics assessment for optimal health and wellbeing behind the wheel.

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

www.fleetcar.ie

16 | DESIGN

16th Berman Autostyle Design Competition

2019 edition of the automotive design event creates unique platform

A

splendid new venue at the Corte Peron in Marmirolo (Mantova), in North East Italy, was chosen for the sixteenth edition of the annual Autostyle Design Competition, the international invitation-only event dedicated to automotive design.

The new location provided a beautiful backdrop for an exclusive exhibition of models from the design schools, joined once again by an outdoor show like no other featuring twenty of the most significant models of the year, including prototypes and standard cars and of course, jaw-dropping supercars.

Organised and promoted by leading automotive component and accessories producer, Berman S.p.A., headed up by company founder Roberto Artioli, over one hundred applications were submitted by budding car designers attending top Design Collages worldwide, with only eleven shortlisted to be among the prize winners.

Among the special cars on display were: the Alfa Romeo Tonale concept, the new Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari Monza SP1, Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato and new Sian concept, Lexus UX and the latest Pagani Zonda F.

Th is year’s technical and media partners at the event, which was held on 3 & 4th October, were 3M Italia, which demonstrated a unique interactive armchair to virtually drive a car equipped with innovative materials, together with Wacom, which supplies the latest in computer aided design systems. Also present were Auto & Design, the Italian based magazine on automotive design, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and has been present since the fi rst edition of the Autostyle competition, along with Fleet Car magazine, with its editor Jarlath Sweeney on the adjudication panel.

As per previous years, the chief designers of these sports cars and others made special presentations about their desirable creations during the Workshop sessions over the two-day event.

Dallara’s Dialma Zinelli addressed the subject of reducing aerodynamic drag. Taking lessons learned from the racing world it is now becoming more important than ever for optimising fuel consumption and the performance of standard cars. John Paul Gregory from Bentley presented intricate details of the new Continental GT, while Hideaki Iida and Stephan Jubt Rasmussen from Toyota ED2 European Design Center in France illustrated the new Lexus UX Compact Crossover, with Lamborghini Design Manager Mitja Borkert covering the new developments from the iconic Italian luxury sport car manufacturer.

Regular presenter Alessandro Maccolini from the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, discussed the design elements of the Tonale SUV concept, which debuted at the last Geneva Motor Show, while three representatives from the Ferrari Design Centre from nearby Maranello, spoke about the new generation of the Monza SP1 & SP2 high performance sports cars.

Two other high profi le personalities within the automobile and jewellery industries offered interesting insights into their chosen careers: Horacio Pagani, the famous founder of the supercar brand, illustrated the history of the Zonda Collection, while Fabrizio Buonamassa from Bulgari, a former car designer with

FLEETCAR | Winter 2019

DESIGN | 17

Best Proposal Urban Cross Over Andrea Pomponio (Italy) Università degli Studi, Gabriole ’Annunziio – Facolta di Architett ura

Fiat outlined the parallel relationships between the different sectors in the world of design.

The prize winners of the Autostyle Car Design Competition XVI 2019 are as follows:

Best Proposal Sports Cars Simon Kafmann (Italy), Umeå Institute of Design

Audience Award Sabrina Rungaldier (Italy), ISSAM Modena

Sabrina Rungaldier (Italy), ISSAM Modena

RahulRamith Vishigu (India), Domus Academy

Andrea Pomponio (Italy) Università degli Studi

Simon Kafmann (Italy), Umeå Institute of Design

Autostyle 2019 – Award Winners

Creativity Design Auto & Design RahulRamith Vishigu (India), Domus Academy Simon Kafmann (Italy), Umeå Institute of Design

Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

www.fleetcar.ie

18 | TEST DRIVE

Say goodbye to range anxiety with new Nissan Leaf 62kWh

W

hile any new technology will always have early adopters, the majority of people tend to step back initially and assess before committing to a purchase. Often it’s prudent to wait for the second or third generation of a product, at which stage many of the initial bugs or failings have been ironed out.

You feel that electric car ownership is rapidly going that way. If up to now it was dedicated environmentalists or new tech geeks who were clambering on board this brave new world, we’re now at the stage where there is much wider genuine interest from the typical motorist looking to move away from petrol or diesel.

The key driver in this is improving range capabilities. We’re now seeing a number of electric cars come on market that can cover over 300km on a single charge. That means that tackling a longer journey is no longer the same adventure in logistical planning and hope that it often was with earlier electric vehicles.

That point was brought home to me when I tested the latest Nissan Leaf. It now comes with a 62kWh battery compared to the previous 40kWh version (which is still available). The upshot of this is that the Leaf will now do a WLTP measured 385km on a single charge. That’s 115km or 42% better

range than the 40kWh version offers.

Now over the years I’ve tested a fair number of electric cars by driving them crosscountry from Dublin to Mayo and back. The results, it has to be said, have been fraught.

That’s because at a distance of 250km, I invariably needed to stop and charge in order to complete my journey. And has been well documented, the state of our public charging network does leave a lot to be desired (though that is being addressed in fairness) resulting in some very stressful and extended journey times.

With the 62kWh Leaf I could comfortably complete my cross-country run in comfort, and without having to drive economically.

Realistically 350km is achievable with a little care, though motorway speeds are still a killer on battery life.

The significance of being able to go prett y much anywhere in Ireland in an electric car without having to stop to recharge en route cannot be understated. Not least because you can now actually plan how long a journey will take rather than be at the vagaries of our public charging network.

For potential fleet drivers who have to be in places at set times, this suddenly makes the electric car a far more feasible option than hitherto.

Apart from the bigger battery, the 62kWh Leaf also has a more powerful electric motor, up from 110kW to 150kW, which equates to around 217PS. That makes it a prett y nift y machine away from the lights - 0-100km/h takes just 6.9 seconds.

On the downside, the bigger battery means

FLEETCAR | Winter 2019

15 litres less boot space than before. It also needs to be pointed out that the 62kWh Leaf comes with a heft y price premium of €6,700 over the 40kWh version so in SV Premium trim it’s priced at €37,840 and in SVE spec at €40,500 (inclusive of Government grant).

Otherwise the Leaf is pretty much the same as before, with only a blue trim on the front bumper and a little e+ logo on the charging port differentiating it from the 40kWh model. It is heavier by 130kg which means the ride height has been raised by 55mm with stiffer suspension to compensate.

In fairness unless you do a direct back to back test with the old car you’re unlikely to notice a difference - it still rides and handles very nicely.

A note on the e-Pedal which isn’t new but worthy of comment. It’s essentially a regenerative braking technology as found in most electric vehicles, but whereas other cars typically tend to apply a fixed amount of regenerative braking adjustable via paddles on the steering wheel, e-Pedal applies less or more depending on how much you lift off the throttle. It takes a little getting used to, but with a little practice you’ll find it’s hugely satisfying to be able to prett y much drive around without having to put your foot on the brake purely by lifting on or off the accelerator.

The Leaf hasn’t been the world’s best selling electric car for no reason. It’s great to drive, a practical family car and affordable within this category. With its extended range offered in the 62kWh version, there’s no reason why the Nissan Leaf won’t continue to go from strength to strength.

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

20 | LAUNCH PAD I

Škoda Superb enters third generation….

Š

koda has strengthened its product range by offering a new large car that’s as well equipped as many premium models. The Czech brand’s Superb flagship has just entered its third generation, extensively revised both inside and out.

As before, Superb is available as a Saloon (fastback) and Combi (estate) and its legendarily space inside is as good as ever, as is the luggage area, with fit and fi nish better than before.

A 1.5 litre TSI (150 bhp) petrol and a

Speaking at the launch of the new Škoda Superb, Ray Leddy, Head of Marketing & Product said: “Thanks to its reliability and excellent residual values the Superb has been a major success with business and fleet customers, with 23% of SUPERB sales being att ributed to this channel.” choice of 1.6 litre TDI (120 bhp) or 2.0 litre TDI (150/190 bhp) diesels are offered that can be mated to a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG automatic. Most customers passover the entry level Active version and select either the Style, Sportline and L&K models and that is expected to be the case with the new model.

The Superb range begins with the 1.5 TSI, 150 bhp Active with prices from €30,750.

Jarlath Sweeney

….While all-new Kamiq takes to the roads

A

dding further appeal to the Škoda brand is the launch of an all-new compact crossover, the Kamiq.

Slott ing in below the Kodiaq and Karoq, it’s a sister vehicle to the Seat Arona and Volkswagen T-Cross, but is, says Škoda, one of the most spacious cars in the segment, comparable in size to the old Yeti - in fact it’s 20mm longer and has 24mm more headspace than that car. A 521 litre boot is the largest in the segment.

Petrol engines include 95bhp and 115bhp versions of the 1.0 TSI as well as a 150bhp

bar prep / Hill Hold and LED daytime running lights while Ambition trim adds the likes of cruise control, multi-function steering wheel, Smartlink connectivity and rear parking sensors. Style versions get full LED headlights, rear view camera and 8” ‘Bolero’ entertainment system amongst other features.

1.5 litre option. A 115bhp 1.5 TDI is the diesel choice. Gearboxes are 5 and 6-speed manuals or a 7-speed DSG. With prices from €21,300 to €30,625, the Kamiq comes in three trim levels of Active, Ambition and Style. All models get air-con, Lane Assist / Front Assist, Tow

Separately Škoda has also unveiled the next generation Octavia which will arrive in Ireland next summer and will include plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid and CNG models as well as petrol and diesel.

Cathal Doyle

Bigger and better Nissan Juke arrives

A

n all-new Nissan Juke goes on sale in Ireland this November.

Sharing a platform - the CMF-B - with the forthcoming Renault Captur, it’s longer, wider and higher, with a wheelbase 10cm longer than before.

An option of 19 inch rims - a fi rst in this segment - helps to accentuate its off-roader stance.

The signature circular headlights are now full LEDs while Nissan’s signature V-shaped grille brings the Juke in line with other models in the family.

Inside there’s 58mm more rear-seat knee room and 11mm better head room. A boot capacity of 422 litres is almost as generous as that of its bigger sister, the Qashqai.

FLEETCAR | Winter 2019

New technology includes ProPILOT which offers electronically assisted steering, acceleration and braking. Also included are safety features such as Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Sport Intervention, Traffic Sign Recognition and Intelligent Lane Intervention.

There’s just a single petrol being offered - a 117PS version of the 1.0-litre threecylinder DIG-T turbocharged petrol engine seen previously in the Micra but tuned specifically for the Juke. It’s matched to a six-speed manual gearbox or a new 7-speed dual-clutch (DCT) auto with paddle-shift s - the previous version came with a CVT type auto transmission.

Connectivity wise there’s the latest generation NissanConnect infotainment system and an optional 8-speaker Bose sound system.

The Juke will be available in 5 different trims – XE, SV, SV Premium, SVE and N-Design. The entry-grade XE model is priced from €21,995 rising to €26,950 for the range-topping SVE and N-Design grade versions.

Cathal Doyle

LAUNCH PAD II | 21

Peugeot’s multi-powered new 208

P

eugeot enters a new era with the next generation 208 which goes on sale early next year. As well as petrol and diesel versions, there will also be a full-electric e-208 offered to meet the growing demand for greener motoring.

Prices are from €18,300 plus delivery related charges for the Active 1.2 PureTech 75bhp model. while the e-208 Active retails from €27,334 inclusive of the Government grants.

Petrol and diesel versions come in three trims of Active, Allure and GT Line, while the electric model also includes an additional range-topping GT version.

1.2 litre PureTech petrol engines come

accelerate to 100km/h in 8.1 seconds.

Interior and boot space are the same for the e-208 as the petrol and diesel versions.

in 75bhp, 100bhp and 130bhp power outputs and with a choice of 5 or 6 speed manuals or 8-speed automatic. The sole diesel offering is a 100bhp 1.5 BlueHDi with 6-speed manual gearbox.

The e-208 boast a 100 KW (136 bhp) electric motor with a 50kWh battery delivering a range of up to 340km under WLTP certification. With three drive modes of Eco, Normal and Sport, it will

All models feature multifunctional leather steering wheel, cruise control and speed limiter, extended traffic sign recognition, DAB radio, rear parking sensors, and Peugeot’s i-Cockpit interior. Features such as automatic emergency braking system, quartz 3D instrument cluster, full LED headlamps, high beam assist and reversing camera are available on higher trims. The electric only GT comes with hands-free access, Active Blindspot Detection and heated seats.

Cathal Doyle

New Renault Clio set to continue success

T

he 5th generation Renault Clio is now available at dealerships.

Since the original Clio was launched in 1990, more than one every minute has been sold, equating to 15 million units worldwide, with Ireland accounting for fi ft y five thousand of those.

The all-new model is the first car to be built under the new scalable CMF-B platform, and offers better safety, space and weight saving than before.

If the exterior styling is an evolution of the old car, the interior is significantly different with a focus on a better quality fit and finish.

Notable is the new EasyLink multimedia

seller. There are also Sce 75 and Tce 130 petrol engine choices and an 85bhp Blue dCi diesel. A CVT auto is available on the 100 and 130bhp engines. Next year will see the launch of a new E-TECH petrol-electric hybrid option.

with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In Iconic trim the built-in navigation includes intuitive Google address search. Optional is the ‘Smart Cockpit’ with 9.3-inch portrait infotainment screen and a 10-inch TFT instrument cluster available as an option on R.S. Line models.

A new Tce 100 petrol engine with 99g/km CO2 emissions is expected to be the volume

Offered in four trims of Expression, Dynamique, Iconic and R.S. Line, among notable standard features are LED headlights on all models, as well as a wide selection of ADAS safety feature which have enabled the Clio to obtain a 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating. Prices range from €16,990 for the Sce 75 Expression to €25,190 for the Tce 130 Auto in R.S. Line trim.

Cathal Doyle

Mercedes-Benz launches all-electric EQC

M

ercedes-Benz’s first fully electric passenger car marks a significant milestone in the company’s lauded history.

Inside it feels like a regular MercedesBenz, the most notable difference being a special EQC tile on the digital display with information such as charging efficiency.

The EQC, a mid-sized premium crossover SUV, is the fi rst of 10 purely electrically driven vehicles to be launched by 2021 and will include the recently unveiled V-Class derived EQV, two smaller models, the EQA and EQB based on the GLA and forthcoming GLB crossovers, and versions of the f lagship E-Class and S-Class saloons, the EQE and EQS.

Prices start at €89,450 excluding current Government grants. An AMG exterior can be specified which brings the price to €91,897 while there are also the options of AMG Electric Art Interior trim (€92,713) and full AMG body kit (€93,546).

Cathal Doyle

Featuring a lithium-ion 80kWh battery, the EQC delivers 408hp and 765Nm of torque, enough to propel it to 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds. Range measurements under WLTP calculations are between 375km and 417km.

www.fleetcar.ie

22 | REPORT

Maintaining the ‘Blue Ovals’ proud sporting heritage Driving the latest Ford Performance cars

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glance at a selection of the titles on my bookcase probably give the game away. ‘Twice Lucky’ by former Ford Motorsports Director, Stuart Turner; two editions of ‘The Works Escorts’ by Graham Robson; ‘Boreham - the 40-year story of Ford’s motorsport dream factory’ by the same author, ‘Ford and McRae’ by Derick Allsop; ‘RS: The Faster Fords’ by Jeremy Walton, are just a few of the titles taking pride of place.

Yes, I’ll confess that when it comes to motorsport and fast road cars, I’m rooting for the Blue Oval every time. Part of the appeal was growing up watching Escort Twin Cams, RS1600s and RS1800s during the heyday of the Circuit of Ireland rally, but just as relevant is the fact that over the years Ford has produced some of the best driving cars out there under its various performance brandings.

Therefore it will be no surprise that an opportunity to try out the latest generation of Ford Performance vehicles at the home of M-Sport, the team that runs Fiesta WRCs in the World Rally Championship, didn’t take a lot of deliberating over.

Ford Performance includes a broad umbrella of vehicles under a pyramid type hierarchy. At the bottom level are ST-Line badged cars - in reality everyday models with a sporty body kit. The more serious stuff starts at the HP2 level (HP for High Performance); this tier includes the Fiesta ST and Focus ST, modified and significantly more powerful versions of the everyday cars, but still practical as day to day runarounds.

The second highest tier, HP1, is where you’ll fi nd cars like the Focus RS (not currently in production, though a version based on the latest body shape is expected), the Mustang, and the Ranger Raptor Pick-up. Finally the top Elite tier is the home of the GT supercar.

figures from the 5.0 litre V8 are impressive - 450PS and 529Nm of tongue - but it’s the aural delivery of that power and sheer presence of the car that makes it such an intoxicating if flawed machine. Eco-friendly it's not, but it’s a car that would definitely be on my Lotto winning shortlist.

You have to love the person that thought ‘Let’s make a sporty Pick-up’. Oxymoron perhaps, but the Ranger Raptor throws every definition of a Pick-up out the window.. As a workhorse it’s frankly prett y useless, with a payload of just 650kg and its towing capacity is reduced, but forget that. It talks the talk with a 213PS / 500Nm 2.0 diesel engine and 10-speed auto gearbox, but more to the point walks the walk too, with a ride and handling agility that’s never been seen in this class of vehicle before. Serious fun.

On the agenda were drives in the new Focus ST, Mustang GT, Ranger Raptor and GT. Quite an eclectic collection of machines.

Getting a run in Ford’s own supercar, the GT, was something special though. Th is is a car with serious heritage - not only did its ancestor win Le Mans multiple times in the sixties (check out the fi lm Le Mans ’66 now in cinemas), but this version also won the Le Mans GT category 40 years later. It looks and feels every inch the supercar. You need to be agile to climb in and out and it’s claustrophobic enough inside to quickly perish thoughts of using the car on an everyday basis - even if it is road legal.

It says something about the development of cars in the last decade that not only does the latest Focus ST readily handle 280PS through its front wheels, it does so in a prett y undramatic manner. This ST may be the most powerful to date with a 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds, but it’s a car that you could safely hand to your elderly aunt and know it wouldn’t frighten her. As docile as a lamb but also a seriously fun track car, the Focus ST is a complete all-rounder.

On a steaming wet track at M-Sport’s facilities, discretion was the order of the day, but even so, the 650PS GT felt a world apart from the other models we drove. Apart from the acceleration, which could easily spin the wheels on the wet road in prett y much any gear, what stood out were the impressive brakes, and the accuracy and grip of the steering and tyres when pointing for an apex. Truly a supercar.

Which isn’t something you’d say about the Mustang GT. Th is is a car that needs serious respect, a proper old school rear wheel drive machine that will bite if not treated with respect. The

Four very different machines but each a joy to drive. I came away happy that Ford’s sporting heritage is in good hands. There’s a Blue Oval book or two to be written yet…

FLEETCAR | Winter 2019

Text & Photos: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

www.kia.com

Introducing the All New Kia XCeed Available with 0% APR

Kia XCeed 1.0 K2 Petrol - 0% HP

€26,345

Deposit

Loan amount

Loan period

48 payments of

€13,172.50

€13,172.50

48 months

€274.43

Effective annual Total amount rate of interest 0% fixed

€26,345

The All-New Kia XCeed. It won’t be a secret for long.

The new Kia XCeed’s fearless design, sporty crossover coupé styling and sturdy yet distinctive grille bezel are destined to turn heads. This is a car for all those who want to break the mould and seek to experience thrills on every journey.

This a car that needs to be test driven - at your local Kia Dealer now.

Excludes delivery & related charges. Models are for illustrative purposes only. Please check our website for Irish Specification. Finance example for XCeed is based on a fixed rate APR of 0% and is inclusive of a once off purchase instalment of €10. Minimum deposit of 40% of the retail price applies and a maximum term of 48 months applies. 0% APR is available on all new selected 201 XCeed models ordered by January 31st 2019 at participating dealers only. Finance is provided by way of a hire purchase agreement.

Rate quoted is correct as at November 2019 and is subject to change. The credit provider is Bank of Ireland Finance which is a registered trading name of Bank of Ireland. *The Kia 7-year/150,000 km new car warranty. Valid in all EU member states (plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Gibraltar), subject to local terms and conditions.

Better is closer than you think.

The 2020 CLA from â‚Ź34,850* mercedes-benz.ie

*Excludes dealer delivery and related charges. All prices are valid until 31st March 2020. Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

Model shown for illustrative purposes only. C02 range for the Mercedes-Benz CLA 180 Coupe petrol manual: 127 - 121 g/km and 5.6 – 5.3 l/100km.