Fleet Car Spring 2015

IRELAND’S FOREMOST FLEET & CORPORATE SECTOR GUIDE

Volume 14. No. 1. Spring 2015

Geneva Motor Show 2015 - Review & Pictures Motorcheck.ie Fleet Car Awards 2015 - Shortlist announced INTERVIEW: Carl Dorgan, Fleet & Affinity Manager; SEAT Ireland LAUNCH PAD: Volkswagen, Fiat, Suzuki, Ford, Honda, Kia, Peugeot & Mazda

www.fleetcar.ie | 3

Contents Spring 2015 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 Contributors: Paul White, ACFO, Donal Byrne Photography: Jarlath Sweeney, Cathal Doyle, Paul White, Newspress, Headline Auto

4 News Driverless Cars are go • More Low Emission Zones • Renault ZOE from zero to win!

• Car sales up across Europe • Essential Guide for France plus Junction Box 6 Interview with Carl Dorgan, Fleet & Affinity Manager, SEAT Ireland

16 Launch Pad New cars hitting showrooms from Volkswagen, FIAT, Suzuki, Opel, Ford, Honda, Kia, Peugeot and Mazda 20 Test New Ford Mondeo 22 Comment Range Anxiety on the double!

8 Review Geneva International Motor Show, Switzerland 11 Awards Shortlist announced for 2015 Motorcheck.ie Fleet Car Awards

P18

Administration: Orla Sweeney, Denise Vahey, Paula Mullarkey Advertising: Mary Morrissey Design: Eamon Wynne

P4 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.

P5 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.

THE MOST EXPERIENCED VEHICLE LEASING COMPANY IN IRELAND. Call us now on 01 866 0520 or visit us at avisfleetsolutions.ie for any vehicle leasing enquiries you may have.

www.fleetcar.ie

4 | NEWS I

Autodrive - Introducing Driverless Cars

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s a key partner in the consortium that won a multi-million pound ‘Introducing Driverless Cars’ competition, MIR A Ltd., the Midlandsbased vehicle engineering, research and product testing organisation will contribute to integrating driverless cars into everyday life on British roads promoting autonomous systems technology.

mobility.

The partners within the ‘Autodrive’ consortium are MIR A, Arup, Milton Keynes Council, Coventry Council, Jaguar Land Rover, Ford Motor Company, Tata Motors European Technical Centre, RDM Group, Thales (UK), Oxbotica, AXA, international law fi rm WraggeLawrence-Graham, the Transport Systems Catapult, the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and the Open University.

The project will see research teams assess public reaction to autonomous vehicles in Milton Keynes and Coventry.

It will also consider the implications and challenges of introducing driverless vehicles on UK roads. The three year project, worth £19.2m, will provide insights for vehicle manufacturers, cities, commercial operators, legislators and insurers to develop the legal framework for the roll-out of autonomous

European Low Emission Zones expand

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ew Low Emission Zone legislation is being steadily rolled out across major towns and cities throughout Europe. Similar in the manner that the London Congestion Charge works, many European cities are regulating the emission classification of vehicles entering the city and these regulations often apply to foreignregistered vehicles.

european-low-emission-zones.html & http:// urbanaccessregulations.eu/home provides useful information detailing the requirements, while the Urban Access Regulations website provides a useful tool to search city-by-city in Europe for Low Emission Zones (LEZ). While there are many LEZs, which cover trucks and buses/ coaches, most major cities in Germany now have restrictions for cars, as does Utrecht in Holland and Milan and Rome in Italy.

According to the Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) through Marshall Leasing, in certain countries such as Germany, a copy of the V5 registration document is needed as proof of the vehicle and its Co 2 , emissions so that the driver can apply for the appropriate environmental sticker to apply to the car meaning they are not charged when travelling into certain cities. The following websites - htt p://www.theaa.com/motoring _ advice/fuels-and-environment/

Renault ZOE’s remarkable performance at 2015 ZENN Monte-Carlo Rally

F

ollowing its victory last year, Renault ZOE has put in yet another remarkable performance at the 2015 ZENN Monte-Carlo Rally with four ZOE models taking the top four places.

With eight racing zones punctuated with five regularity tests in this year’s ZENN Monte-Carlo Rally (ZENN standing for “zero emissions, zero noise”), the competitors drove a total of 130 miles over seven and a half hours.

FLEETCAR | Spring 2015

E nter pr i se Europcar

r u le s

over

Following a judgment, the High Court in London has ruled in favour of Enterprise Holdings in a trademark dispute with Europcar. The dispute focused on the use of the “e-logo” by Enterprise Holdings’ fl agship brand, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and occurred when Europcar introduced an “e” logo in its branding in 2012. Th is was subsequently used extensively in Europcar’s advertising and marketing campaigns across Europe. Enterprise claimed that the new Europcar logo was confusingly similar to the Enterprise RentA-Car trade mark, a variant of which has been consistently used across Europe since 1994, when Enterprise Holdings set up its fi rst branch operations in the UK. The court found that the Enterprise RentA-Car trademark had distinctive character and reputation as a result of extensive use, and confusion had been caused by Europcar’s use of its “e” logo. Therefore, the court concluded that Europcar’s use of their logo infringed on Enterprise’s rights.

Land Rover Ireland partners Irish Red Cross Land Rover Ireland has formed a three year partnership with the Irish Red Cross, helping to bring safe drinking water to regions of Niger affected by drought and failed harvests.

The partnership has already seen great success with the fi rst Land Rover funded water tower completed in November 2014, benefiting 3,000 people in the village of Tchimatt an, plus thousands more from communities in the surrounding Tanout region. A further two towers will be built over the course of the partnership, aiming to reach more than 12,000 beneficiaries in total.

Land Rover is also the official sponsor of the Irish Red Cross annual fundraising adventure the Sunrise Summit Challenge.

See www.redcross.ie/sunrisesummit.

NEWS II | 5

Increase in new car sales across Europe Windscreen glass repair and replacement company Autoglass has launched Ireland’s first wet weather mobile windscreen repair and replacement service. This development sees the company move from a branch based vehicle windscreen repair and replacement model to a 100% mobile technician led model in some regions of the country. Autoglass mobile technicians can now repair and replace windscreens at the customer’s location (through an extendable canopy fi xed to its fleet of mobile technician’s vans), rather than requiring the customer to visit an Autoglass branch even in adverse weather conditions.

Rugby Stars 'n' Cars!

Jack McGrath, Irish Rugby International & Leinster star has been appointed Nissan Brand Ambassador for the Windsor Motor Group’s Dundrum dealership……

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As in January, the five biggest markets in Europe (France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain) recorded growth in the new car market compared to February 2015. Spain experienced the highest increase (up 22.2%) compared to the same month last year, while Italy and Great Britain also recorded double digit growth.

Volkswagen remains the market-leading brand, with Renault overtaking Ford for second position for both February and the year-to-date, with sales increases coming from the new Twingo and the Captur. All of the top 10 brands saw their volumes increase for the month, with BMW posting the strongest growth at 14.8% driven by the new 2-Series Active Tourer. Outside the top 10 growth was also driven primarily by new models, with Nissan volumes up 26.8% for the month, SEAT up 20.9%, MINI up 33.4%, Mitsubishi up 45.1%, smart up 44.3% and Jeep up 186.2%.

The Volkswagen Golf remains the market leading model, with a 5.8% increase in February sales, followed by the Polo in second place with 7.2%

Book Review:

Autoglass under cover

ew car sales analysis from JATO Dynamics reveal that for the month of February registrations were 7.8% higher across Europe than the same month in 2014. Combined with the rise seen in January this means that the market is already 7.1% ahead of 2014 year-to-date.

Outside the top 10, the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka recorded a 66.6% increase due to growing demand for small crossovers; while the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class increased sales by 53.4% compared to February 2014 the new Renault Twingo sold 132% more units than its predecessor managed in February 2014. However sales increases for the month were not limited to new or facelifted models, as demonstrated by the Fiat 500 (up 12.8%) and SEAT Ibiza (up 22.4%).

“Car buyer confidence has remained strong across Europe through February,” commented Brian Walters, Vice President of Data at JATO Dynamics. “New models have brought customers into showrooms, and attractive offers have maintained demand for many existing models.

We wait to see if this momentum can be maintained in the months to come, following a successful Geneva Motor Show and the prospective launch of new models.”

The Essential Guide for Car Enthusiasts – France by Julian Parish Published by Veloce – www.veloce.co.uk - ISBN 978-1-845847-42-5 £14.99

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lthough this book is titled to attract travel enthusiasts, France’s long history in the automobile industry and motorsport world is very well covered within this 250 page book, so the appeal is much broader. Published

by Veloce under its “Essential Guide” theme, over 200 things to do and see are expertly portrayed by author, Julian Parish. Featuring museums, shows/tours, motorsport and its circuits together with information on marketplaces, this soft-back is packed with information and advice on what to do and how to do it. For convenience, the country is divided into five regions – Paris and the Îlede-France, Western France, Southern France, Central France and the Alps and Northeast France. while Rugby Legend Shane Jennings has signed up with Dublin SEAT dealer McCoy Motors. Pictured are Art McCoy Junior; McCoy Motors and Damien Byrne, Sales Manager at McCoy Motors presenting Shane with the keys of a new SEAT Leon 5-door.

more units sold following last year’s facelift. The Renault Clio (up 1.9%) took third place, ahead of the Ford Fiesta (down 1.5%) and Peugeot 208 (down 2.7%). Volkswagen’s new Passat increased sales by 63.8% year-on-year compared to its predecessor last February, to record a year-to-date increase of 44.0%, making it the most improved performer across both measures among the top 10 models.

Campervan owners will love this book too as its an excellent reference guide for a most interesting tour around the regions. Julian, domiciled in Paris for over 15 years, discovered a need to write a descriptive book in English that helps us to find the many places and events to follow around France relating to France’s car industry. “France has fewer grand collections sponsored by its major manufacturers than neighbouring Germany, but many of its provincial museums have exceptional collections and are unjustly overlooked. Whether you choose to take part or simply visit them as a spectator, I hope you will enjoy discovering these places and events as much as I have done in

researching this guide. "Bonne Route", stated Julian in his introduction.

Obviously the most popular destinations such as Monaco, Le Mans and of course some of Fra nce’s legendary rally stages can be v isited w ith races re-run memories relived.

Before all the information can be digested, best to take in all of the signposts and map markers illustrated on pages 6 & 7. Then there’s the museums to visit dedicated to France’s big brand names such as Renault, Peugeot and Citroën. A handy event calendar is featured at the end of the book with details on how to obtain further information on the venues and event happenings. Throughout, colour photos help to turn the clock back and get the minds and hearts set on taking the trip to France and undertake it this memorable way.

Jarlath Sweeney www.fleetcar.ie

6 | INTERVIEW

One-to-One

“value” to them with fleet vehicles, outside the usual offerings that are currently out there.

We of course offer fleet servicing packages tailored to each corporate need, as do all Brands, but we offer something different. We of course offer an optional 4 and 5 year Warranty extension to all of our fleet customers, which is factory approved up to 150,000 kilometres or 5 years. If Warranty extensions are not seen as a “value” item, we at SEAT Ireland offer a goodwill ratio of 50/50 in Year 4 and 5, which is fantastic.

with Carl Dorgan, SEAT Fleet & Affinity Manager, SEAT Ireland

S

EAT might not be the fi rst brand you think of in the fleet / company car sector in Ireland, but with the appointment of Carl Dorgan as SEAT Fleet & Affi nity Manager that means the Spanish brand is clearly targeting this important market. Fleet Car caught up with Carl to fi nd out about plans and targets for the brand to grow in this market.

What does your specific role entail?

My role as Fleet and Affi nity Manager for SEAT Ireland is to be responsible for the growth and development of the brand through SEAT Ireland’s highly effective new Fleet and Affi nity strategy.

What are the challenges you see in growing the SEAT brand in the fleet sector?

We need to build our awareness within the Irish, or indeed international markets for fleet – that is the fi rst thing. We are a very progressive brand with an expanding product range. We need to actively promote our new “SEAT for Business” brand so that fleet companies / customers have another brand to drive and enjoy, whilst ensuring their financial expectations are met.

We are part of the Volkswagen Group, and so we are Spanish and German! The challenges facing us initially are to make sure that we have the best product and value available to all customers when they are choosing their next fleet vehicle. We need to ensure that we are a viable partner in all B2B fleet companies to ensure we are offered to all business users at the right time. With an ever expanding product range we need to showcase this lineup to the fleet companies under the “SEAT for Business” umbrella.

Our role here is to promote “SEAT for Business” through Small, Medium, and Larger Organisations who may not have a structured process for their fleet drivers. We offer a demonstrator programme with all models available to all organisations looking to update / upgrade their fleet. Assisted by the arrival of the SEAT Mobile Showroom, this has become an integral part of our plans going forward.

It allows us to bring our extensive product range to your premises for test drive, or just a chat and coffee!

We also have an excellent Dealer Network that are excited about the prospect of building the Corporate side of the business with fleet opportunities. Within our strong Dealer Network (22 Dealer Retail Centres, 1 Service Centre and 1 Express Service Centre), many have excellent long-standing relationships with Corporate clients where they are already providing an excellent service. It is important to allow this area develop within our Network, and for us to assist in this growth.

We also offer A A Roadside assistance breakdown for the first 3 years, with the option of a 4 and 5 year extension. Although our AA Roadside Assistance covers the normal items, such as Breakdown and Home-Start, we offer full cover, which includes Accident, Home Start, Puncture and Fuel. No other brand presently offers this in their fleet packages.

Th is allows you to get on with your business, and leave everything else up to us.

What models in the SEAT range will you be targeting at the fleet market?

The Leon Sports Tourer, the Leon 5 door range, and the Toledo i-TECH. These three vehicles are excellent options and fit very well into the fleet market in Ireland presently.

Will you have fleet specific offerings or incentives?

In particular, the Leon Sports Tourer, which we are presently achieving great press and recognition for, is exceeding all fleet expectations. It’s fuel efficiency, build quality, and overall drivability are next to none. It competes in all these areas, and price, and once any prospective clients drive the car (or indeed our brand), they are delighted with its overall performance. Th is coupled with our recently launched Leon X-Perience, which is our fi rst 4WD vehicle.

We have spoken with existing and potential clients, and asked them exactly what is of most

SEAT for Business is here, and ready to provide all fleet solutions for your company.

Will the fleet side of the business be driven at distributor level, dealer level or both?

Good question!

SEAT fleet will be driven by many different ways within SEAT Ireland.

Between the team and I we have the responsibility for identifying and implementing our successful fleet and corporate support structure through proven partner fleet / leasing companies.

FLEETCAR | Spring 2015

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

YETI SHERPA COMMERCIAL FROM €18,511*

The ŠKODA Yeti is synonymous with practicality and now this same practicality is available to commercial customers. Supplied with its rear seats removed to accommodate equipment and tools of any trade, the Yeti Sherpa is built to carry any load. It is comfortable both in city and motorway driving making your journey from A to B more enjoyable.

Should your business require an even more durable work horse, for an additional €1,300* the Yeti Sherpa is also available in 4x4 transmission that can tow up to 2.2 metric tonnes.

MODEL

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2.0 TDI 140bhp 4x4 DSG

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Terms and conditions apply. Prices displayed are recommended retail prices with 3 years warranty and exclude the recommended retail delivery charge and related fees. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy, however errors may occur and specifications may change without prior notice. Metallic paint is an optional extra and due to the nature of VRT varies from model to model.

8 | REVIEW

Many highlights at Geneva International

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lthough the Geneva Motor Show 2015 was dominated by Sports Utility Vehicles at all levels from budget to luxury, there was still plenty of room for mainstream saloons and hatches that will continue to appeal to the fleet/corporate sector.

Toyota led the way with the heavily revised Avensis and its arrival in Ireland will not be a moment too soon as its main rivals the new Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo are on sale for the past few months. Since 1997, the three generations of Avensis’ to date has produced over 1.7m units sold across Europe. For the next model line, five key strands emphasise the significant improvements made to styling, sensory quality/comfort, safety, equipment/value and driving pleasure/TCO. New Avensis sports Toyota’s new family look and feel both inside and out. Regarding safety and equipment, active systems have been developed together with the latest infotainment touchscreen technology, while new diesel engines offer lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions from the 1.6 litre 112bhp D-4D and a 2.0 litre D-4D 143bhp unit, both mated with 6-speed gearboxes.

Toyota

Škoda heralds a new era for the Czech Republic marque with the premiere of the new Superb.

Conscious of not losing its broad appeal generated from when it was fi rst launched in 2001 (and more than 700,000 unit sales since) new Superb has a much sleeker, sportier look and becomes more embedded within the Volkswagen Group family. With power outputs ranging from 120PS to 280PS, power has been improved while gaining up to 30% in fuel economy. The new car and estate are lighter too by an estimated 75kg. Safety, space, comfort, infotainment and connectivity have all been improved also.

Škoda

Mercedes-Benz was keen to cover a broad customer base ranging from the AMG GT3 on the motorsport side to the exclusive Mercedes-Benz Maybach Pullman limo at the top end.

The C-Class C350e with plug-in hybrid drive sat along side the Concept V-ision e, based on the successful V-Class, similarly equipped with plug-in diesel-electric hybrid technology. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Daimler AG Chairman and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars related the AMG GT3 to the success that its Formula 1 team achieved in recent years, with Dr. Thomas Weber, Research Head at Mercedes-Benz covering the new C350e. It runs for 31 kilometres on electric only, with the car’s overall consumption down to 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres with the diesel drivetrain on tow. Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans surprised everyone attending the conference with the V-ision e, a similar plug-in hybrid, it offers 333hp and has like-for-like drivetrain technology with the C350e, but can achieve 50 kilometres in electric mode and 3.0 L/100 kms in fuel consumption. Also, taking its share of the spotlights was the all-new GLE 450 AMG Coupe

Mercedes-Benz

While most of the limelight at Volkswagen centered on its 2015 European Car of the Year win with the new Passat, the German brand premiered four new models with the Touran, Sharan and Passat Alltrack, all sitt ing prett y alongside the all-new four-door Sport Coupé Concept GTE. Th is high-tech all-wheel-drive prototype features plug-in hybrid drive through two electric motors and a petrol TSI engine that produces 380PS. Both the Touran and Sharan MPVs continue to be among the leaders in the ‘space race’ with new more economical engines and more driver assistance programmes. Meanwhile the Passat Alltrack which offers all-wheeldrive with off-road mode, has a distinctive look, compared to the standard estate version.

Renault, following an investment of €420m at its Douai plant, has began production of an allnew Espace crossover based on the Renault Nissan Alliance modular platform. So the original ‘big’ people carrier is reinventing itself as a large SUV - interesting! Also making its fi rst show appearance was the Kadjar, its new mid-sized SUV, which uses the Nissan Qashqai chassis and aims to challenge the success of its partner in this segment.

Renault

Citroën marked the inaugural introduction of the DS as a separate premium brand within the PSA portfolio. Its ‘Spirit of Avant-Garde’ motto was in evidence as the new DS 5 sports the new brand’s grille. Two show cars, the Divine DS and DS21 Pallas clearly demonstrated where the marque is heading. Its parent Citroën premiered the new Berlingo in Multi-space and Mountain Vibe concept forms. New for 2015 is the revised C4 range and C3 Picasso with the C4 Cactus Airflow 2L concept producing less than 2.0 litres per 100 kilometres.

DS

SEAT FLEETCAR | Spring 2015

Ford

REVIEW | 9

Motor Show - Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland Hyundai

SEAT had two main talking points with the 20V20 SUV showcar and a Cupra version of the Leon ST wagon, indicating the speedy progress of the Spanish Volkswagen Group brand in recent years. The 20V20 concept is not far away from the production model, according to sources, as it features a 300PS plug-in hybrid drivetrain with DSG auto transmission. Leon ST Cupra 280 is described as SEAT’s ‘muscular estate car’ that produces 280bhp from the 2.0 litre TDI and moves from 0-100 km/hour in 6 seconds.

Volkswagen

Volvo Peugeot

Performance is the buzz word at Ford these days as its stand was dominated by the fi rst look at the new GT and Focus RS. For rally fans, the Fiesta R2 was there as was an Escort Mexico and Sierra RS Cosworth. New GT which follows on from the GT40 from the sixties and the GT of 2005/06 is powered by a V6 EcoBoost engine that produces Volkswagen Passat - Car of the Year 2015 more than 600bhp. Th is is one of twelve new ‘Supercars’ that Ford wishes to create between now and 2020. Former Formula 1 and sports car race winner Johnny Herbert was the special guest presenter of the new cars to the Press on the eve of the fi rst media of the show.

Levorg is the new model name from Subaru as the Sports Tourer now has been specified for Europe as has the new Outback. Mentioning Sports Tourers, Kia Motors set the tone for the future with the Sportspace concept which we hear will be in production after the Frankfurt Motor Show next Autumn.

SsangYong fi rmly set out its stall on the compact SUV category with the new Tivoli, sporting the brand’s new identity. At fi rst it will have a 1.6 litre petrol (126bhp) engine powering through the front wheels, with diesel and 4x4 versions from this Autumn.

FIAT

An OPC version of the Opel Insignia Sports Touring was certainly an eye-catcher not to mention what’s under the bonnet – a 2.8 litre V6 Turbo pushing out 325PS. Meanwhile, back at ground control KA RL, the new entry level 5-door city car from the German manufacturer was launched here with a 1.0 litre 3-cylinder 75bhp petrol engine. Corsa, its supermini has also got the OPC treatment.

All across Hall 5, brands from the recently formed FIAT Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) were to be found from Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, FIAT, Jeep, Lancia, Abarth and Mopar. Alfa had the 4C Spider shown for the fi rst time, FIAT debuted the passenger version of the Doblò with a fresh face and new drivetrain in 7-seat form. Jeep had a novel accessory with the Renegade, its compact SUV launched here last year, in the form of a shapely trailer. Fleet Car met with Roberto Artioli from Italian component supplier Berman, organiser of the annual Autostyle Design Competition, who mentioned that this company has FCA and Toyota among its prominent customers.

Opel

The Peugeot 208, successor to the ever-popular 207 was unveiled in Geneva three years ago and has now been revamped with styling changes and technical improvements aplenty.

As well as the S60 and V60 Cross-Country models introduced by Volvo, all eyes were on the allnew XC90 flagship model. The large SUV also comes with a hybrid plug-in version for the fi rst time boasting an average consumption of 2.5 litres/100 km and CO 2 emissions of 59 g/km.

Hyundai had a very busy stand with at least four new arrivals starting with the i20 Coupe to the i30 Turbo powered by a 1.6 litre 186bhp petrol, to the recently revamped i40. Star of its stand however was the all-new Tucson SUV which replaces the ix35.

SsangYong

Subaru

Kia

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

www.fleetcar.ie

ALL-NEW FORD MONDEO Ford Dynamic LED Headlights

Light the way.

ford.ie Model for illustrative purposes only. Ford Dynamic LED Headlights are available as an optional extra.

CONTENDERS | 11

Anticipation mounts ahead of Motorcheck.ie Fleet Car Awards 2015

T

he countdown to fleet and motor industry. determine the best fleet cars currently on The process to decide on the winners sale in Ireland is well of the 2015 Motorcheck.ie Fleet and truly underway. The winners Car Awards began at the start of the of the 2015 Motorcheck.ie Fleet year when the judges, comprising a Car Awards will be announced panel of specialists in the company/ at an eagerly anticipated Awards corporate car industry including Networking Luncheon & Fleet fleet buyers, motor assessors, safety Forum at Clontarf Castle, Dublin experts and motoring journalists, on 21 April. Now in its fourth voted on a long-list of contenders edition, the annual awards event, well in excess of 100 cars. which recognises the best cars for John Courage; Motorcheck.ie and Cathal Doyle, Fleet Car at the launch of the the company car and fleet sectors Motorcheck.ie Fleet Car Awards 2015 From that long-list, thirty five across a range of categories, has contenders listed below representing become an important part of the Irish motoring cars themselves, but how they perform within eighteen manufacturers were selected as calendar, and will be attended by most of the the company car sector, while points are also shortlisted contenders across eight categories. leading representatives of the motor industry awarded to brands that can demonstrate they These include two new categories for 2015 - Irish and fleet car industry. have proactive and progressive fleet strategies Green Fleet Car - Electric and Irish Green Fleet and policies in place.

Car - Hybrid, reflecting the growing importance Organised by Fleet Car magazine in association and relevance of these vehicles for certain with Motorcheck.ie, Ireland’s leading specialists As well as the actual awards, the Networking company car usage. Each of the shortlisted in vehicle data and intelligence, the awards Luncheon & Fleet Forum at Clontarf Castle will contenders were then driven by the nine judges are open to all fleet relevant cars currently on also feature a number of guest speakers making over a two day refresher period at Citywest in sale. Contenders are assessed not just on the presentations on topics of specific interest to the Dublin last month before casting final votes.

C-SEGMENT

Ford Focus

Peugeot 308

Skoda Octavia

The arrival of a significantly facelifted Focus brings Ford straight back into contention in this category. Renowned for one of the best handling cars in its class, the latest Focus comes with new smart styling and new safety technologies.

Peugeot has moved back into contention in the family sized car market with the latest 308 thanks to a smartly styled cabin, a large boot, and fleet friendly frugal and green engines.

For fleet customers looking for space and practicality it’s hard to beat the Octavia in this segment. There’s a lot more though to the latest generation of Skoda’s popular mid-sized offering with well appointed cabins, increased levels of refi nement, and economical engines.

Toyota Auris

Volkswagen Golf

Toyota continues to be a major player in the fleet market, and with the latest Auris is well placed to continue that success. Frugal engines, excellent reliability and residuals, and a strong dealer network all contribute to ensuring the Auris remains near the top of every fleet manager’s list.

Winner of this category for three years in a row, the Golf is a superb all-rounder. A broad range of models and specifications mean that it’s a car that senior executives are as happy to be driving as junior reps, while solid residual values mean it is always a safe bet as a company car. www.fleetcar.ie

12 | CONTENDERS - SHORTLIST

C-SEGMENT Premium

Audi A3

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Volvo V40

The arrival of a stylish saloon version of the A3 broadens its appeal significantly in this category. The A3 saloon features a top quality cabin and a good sized boot, while there are a number of fleet friendly economical engines on offer.

The stylish looking CLA has certainly given Mercedes-Benz added appeal in this sector.

The four door saloon with coupe-like styling comes with lots of standard equipment, a surprisingly generous boot and plenty of safety equipment.

New powertrains have significantly boosted the appeal of the V40 with impressive fuel economy and CO 2 emissions figures. Upmarket cabins remain a strength, with lots of equipment and excellent seats, while Volvo remains at the cutt ing edge for vehicle safety.

Ford Mondeo

Hyundai i40

Opel Insignia

Ford’s new big car offering has been anticipated for some time, but now that it’s here expect it to be a popular choice. A roomy interior, excellent driving dynamics, and a more upmarket feel to the interior make it an easy car to live with for fleet drivers.

Hyundai is one brand that has focussed heavily on the fleet sector in recent years and it shows, with the i40 claiming significant success in the company car market. A mildly facelifted model plus a new specification aimed at business users keeps the i40 to the fore going into 2015.

The introduction of new more efficient engines and a mid-cycle facelift that includes a significantly updated interior have boosted the appeal of the Insignia, which continues to perform strongly in the fleet market.

Toyota Avensis

Volkswagen Passat

A new model was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, however despite being the oldest car in this category the Avensis continues to perform strongly. It’s a proven package and fleet managers know the Avensis can be depended on to provide reliable, economical motoring.

The Passat has long been a popular choice for user choosers for its premium build quality and the new eighth generation model is set to build on that. It’s the most upmarket version yet with a broad selection of engine and equipment options.

D-SEGMENT

D-SEGMENT Premium

Audi A4

BMW 3 Series

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Audi’s mid-sized offering may be gett ing on a bit but it continues to offer a pleasing blend of a top quality cabin, a comfortable ride, and strong equipment levels. Engines are powerful but economical and the A4 is a competitive option to run for company buyers.

The 3-Series remains one of the best handling cars you can buy with a dynamic chassis and a broad range of responsive and eco-friendly engines. Equipment levels are high, and the cabin is well designed and a pleasant place to spend time.

The new C-Class moves the game on significantly from its predecessor. More spacious and better to drive, the cabin is of very high quality and there’s plenty of standard equipment. Low emissions mean it’s a fleet friendly car too.

FLEETCAR | Spring 2015

CONTENDERS - SHORTLIST | 13

CROSSOVER

Honda CR-V

Hyundai ix35

Nissan Qashqai

The CR-V has long been a competent SUV/ Crossover, but the arrival of new 1.6 litre diesel engines fi rstly for front wheel drive models and now AWD versions bring class leading levels of fuel economy and emissions without compromising performance.

Due to be replaced shortly by the new Tucson, the ix35 has proven to be a very popular car with both fleet and private customers since its launch. It’s practical and economical to run, yet comes well equipped for competitive prices.

The car that started the Crossover revolution, and the winner of this category in 2014, the second generation Qashqai builds on the strengths of the original to offer a strong allround package for company car buyers.

Renault Captur

Toyota RAV4

Renault’s new challenger in the Crossover segment comes with competitive pricing, strong styling and a practical layout with good equipment levels. Its platform comes from the successful Qashqai.

The RAV4 has one of the biggest cabins in the Crossover category as well as a spacious boot. It handles well, offers strong levels of refi nement and on-road manners, and is competitively priced.

ESTATE

Ford Mondeo Estate

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

SEAT Leon ST

The old Mondeo was a prett y useful load-lugger but the estate version of the latest model is equally cavernous. Combined with new levels of refi nement while remaining excellent to drive, the Mondeo Estate is a very useful all-rounder.

It’s hard to beat an E-Class for premium level spaciousness, and the latest offering from Mercedes-Benz doesn’t disappoint. It’s bigger than most rivals, comes with a range of effective engines, and features lots of safety equipment.

SEAT has only recently started focussing on the fleet car segment, but in the Leon ST it has a stylish and practical offering for buyers in the estate segment. Economical engines, plenty of standard equipment and good handling are among its att ributes.

2015 Motorcheck.ie Fleet Car Awards Networking Luncheon & Fleet Forum Skoda Octavia Combi

Volkswagen Passat Estate

The latest generation Octavia Combi is the most refi ned yet and comes with loads of equipment as standard. Yet it remains one of the most practical load carriers in its class, with an enormous boot, while efficient engines keep running costs down.

The new Passat Estate brings a touch of refi nement to the estate class with a spacious and luxurious cabin, excellent refi nement and a comfortable ride. It’s also practical with the boot more than capable of accommodating large or bulky loads.

at Clontarf Castle, Dublin on 21 April. Invitation Only.

Please contact denise@fleet.ie or call 094 9372819 www.fleetcar.ie

14 | CONTENDERS - SHORTLIST

EXECUTIVE/LUXURY

Audi A6

BMW 5 Series

Jaguar XF

The A6 received a makeover last year that gave it new levels of equipment and technology as well as cleaner and more refi ned engines.

It also got an improved automatic gearbox, while there’s a new SE Business trim. The A6 remains a practical, comfortable and refi ned executive car.

The 5-Series has been the benchmark in this category for a few years and continues to be an excellent all-round offering. The cabin feels suitably upmarket and classy, while frugal engines keep running costs down, and there’s a good balance between dynamic handling and comfort.

The XF is very well priced against executive rivals and makes for an appealing alternative.

The cabin remains one of the nicest in the business while the 2.2D engine is powerful, yet it has low emissions. A new model is on the way.

IRISH GREEN FLEET CAR - ELECTRIC

BMW i3

Nissan Leaf

Renault Fluence ZE

Quirky styling makes the i3 stand out from the crowd. BMW’s electric offering comes with a high quality cabin and is surprisingly accessible thanks to rearward opening rear doors. It’s also good to drive. For added peace of mind and extended running time there’s the i3 with Range Extender.

The car that can be said to have brought electric motoring into the public consciousness, the Leaf offers an attractive mix of practicality and stylish design. It’s easy to drive, can seat five in comfort and comes very well equipped.

Renault was one of the first to offer a full family sized electric car in the Fluence ZE and despite losing significant boot space to batteries, it remains one of the more practical electric cars on the market.

IRISH GREEN FLEET CAR - HYBRID

Lexus IS 300h

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Toyota Prius

The IS 300h combines Lexus/Toyota’s proven petrol hybrid technology in a stylish executive saloon. Performance levels are strong, the cabin is of high quality and there’s loads of standard equipment.

Mitsubishi has set the benchmark for plugin hybrid vehicles with its clever PHEV technology which combines a petrol engine with electric motors in a variety of ways to maximise low emissions motoring.

The original petrol hybrid, the Prius switches smoothly between electric motor and petrol engine giving strong economy figures, especially when used around town. Despite the addition of an electric motor, the Prius remains a practical and roomy five-seater.

FLEETCAR | Spring 2015

T H E

N E W

B U I L T

C I V I C.

F O R

• • • • •

F E E L I N G.

Arresting good looks.

Award winning customer satisfaction.

City-Brake Active System as standard.

Honda Connect on-line touchscreen infotainment system.

Agile Handling Assist for a sportier drive.

From €219 per month* at 4.9% APR*.

Finance Example: On the Road Price €22,495 including delivery/related charges. Deposit €7,290. Finance Advance €15,205. 36 monthly payments of €218.91.

Total cost of credit €1,796.25. Optional Final Payment €9,057††. APR 4.9%. Model shown for illustrative purposes. ††Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV) payable if you renew/retain vehicle at end of agreement. Further charges may be applied subject to km limits/vehicle condition. *Lending criteria, terms and conditions apply. Finance provided by hire purchase. Finance based on 4.9% fixed rate APR inclusive of once off documentation fee of €63.49. To qualify for this Finance Offer; a min deposit of 10% of the ‘On the Road Price’ and a max term of 37 months applies. Rate quoted correct as at 20th October 2014 and is subject to change. Offer available on all new Honda Civic models registered before 31st March 2015. Credit provider is Bank of Ireland Finance.

16 | LAUNCH PAD I

Volkswagen adds new LIFE to Caddy passenger range

O

f the 720 Volkswagen Caddys that leave the Poznań factory in Poland every day, over 44% of them are panel vans, with the remainder going to domestic households as compact 7-seat people carriers.

This version which is marketed as the ‘LIFE’ model in Ireland has got special attention from the design team with a number of ‘luxury’ touches to the fourth generation Caddy’s exterior and interior. Chrome embellishments surrounding the front grille bring a more premium feel to Caddy 4 while the interior moves away from the utility based design and finish from here-to-fore. Here, the whole dash area gets its own creation with higher quality materials used as well as additional comfort features not found in the van version. Unlike the van version, the Caddy LIFE’s glove box and storage bin in the dash remain closed areas. What has not changed is the vast amount of space available inside, enhanced by the

obstacle, the system automatically applies the brakes and ensures that the speed of any collision is reduced. The cruise control system now has a speed limiter and for the first time Adaptive Cruise Control can be specified. Then there’s Park Pilot, which, using beeps, helps the driver manoeuvre into a parking space.

convenience of the sliding rear doors.

Many new driver assistance and safety systems are to be found in the new Caddy LIFE. For instance, side and curtain airbags are fitted, also on board is the ‘Front Assist’ surround monitoring system which helps to shorten stopping distances while City Emergency Braking provides assistance at low speeds of under 30 km/h. If the driver fails to see an

Powering the new range will be 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre TDI’s, the latter Euro 6 compliant that uses Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology that requires AdBlue, a special urea based solution, which will have to be topped-up by the driver.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is equipping the Caddy with a new radio and navigation system, some with 5” and 6.33” touch-screen.

Bluetooth and USB connectivity is part of the package.

Jarlath Sweeney

New FIAT Doblò – Approved for ‘family’ life!

O

ne of the issues that the FIAT Doblò has to deal with like the Volkswagen Caddy and Ford Transit Tourneo is that the passenger version is derived primarily from the light commercial. But in certain markets the passenger type outsells its van counterpart. So, in order to increase market share in these regions, more investment has been made and more ideas pitched at them by its designers to make the passenger car version more ‘car’ and less ‘van’ like. As we have seen with the Volkswagen and the Ford before it, the recently revamped models have gone all out to attract the family buyer that is looking for a versatile, durable multi-purpose vehicle but at a cheaper price than the mainstream MPVs. FIAT has thrown its hat into the ring by upgrading the Doblò’s interior and by offering additional storage spaces for family crews to use. With double-sliding rear doors, the convenience of getting little ones in and

not be among the best sellers in the line-up here, where the 1.6 and 1.3 litre MultiJets will do most sales. Still the high level of comfort, quietness and smoothness while on board had to be appreciated. New Doblò is definitely a step up from the outgoing model. When behind the wheel of the 1.3 and 1.6 litre units in the Doblò Cargo versions, this elevation was experienced likewise.

out plus the fact that three child seats/boosters can fit in one line is the Doblò’s one major advantage. The other is that as a 7-seater and with the two rear-most seats taken out, a huge load space opens up.

Driving the range topping 2.0 litre MultiJet II with 135hp on tap in Italy at launch was a litt le against the grain as this flagship model will

Apart from the diesel engines offered ranging from 90/105/135 bhp from the 1.3/1.6 and 2.0 litre MultiJet IIs, 1.4 litre petrol units with 95 and 120hp will be specified and take-up is expected here as fuel prices remain at their lowest for years.

A broad range of lifestyle orientated accessories such as roof and bike racks can be fitted to add to the Doblò’s versatility. Target market remains at 30-50 year old parents with young families.

Prices are expected to be 2% higher.

Jarlath Sweeney

All-new Suzuki joins burgeoning Crossover segment

T

he fourth generation of the Suzuki Vitara goes on sale in Ireland this April. The compact SUV is being launched here at a special introductory price starting from €19,999.

Available in 2WD or ALLGRIP 4WD formats, the new Vitara is powered by 120PS 1.6 petrol or diesel engines. Both offer significantly improved emissions and fuel economy with the 2WD versions returning CO2 figures of 123g/km for the 1.6 petrol and 106g/km for the 1.6 DDiS diesel.

Th ree trim levels are offered - GL, GL+ and GLX. Standard equipment includes seven airbags, DAB radio, Bluetooth, Cruise Control and Speed Limiter and automatic aircon. The GL+ adds smartphone link audio, navigation and a reversing camera. Move to the GLX and FLEETCAR | Spring 2015

protection, while the Urban Package consists of fog lamp bezels (chrome-plated), body-side mouldings, and a roof spoiler.

In addition the Vitara is available in some striking colours - ten in total - and a range of design options including front grille side bumper garnishes, instrument panel trim, ventilation louvre rings and centrally located clock. you get Radar Brake Support, Adaptive Cruise Control, LED headlights, suede seats and a panoramic sunroof.

The Vitara will be available with a range of personalisation options including Urban and Rugged Packs. The Rugged Pack consists of front and rear skid plates, black fog lamp bezels, body-side mouldings, and loading edge

The special introductory price will be available until October 2015 with prices across the range expected to increase by about €1,000 thereafter.

What’s expected to be the volume seller, the 1.6 DDiS GL+ model, is priced at €22,995 with the top of the range 1.6 DDiS GLX ALLGRIP available at €27,995.

Cathal Doyle

LAUNCH PAD II | 17

International launch for new Opel engines in Ireland

I

n what was the first international motor press launch in Ireland for over fi fteen years, Opel brought over 550 media from all over Europe and beyond to Wicklow in February to experience new engines for the Insignia and Mokka. There was a special cameo for Caravan Cruise Ireland, with our sister publication’s caravan used by international lifestyle journalists undertaking tow car reviews.

The all-new Euro 6 2.0 CDTI in the Insignia comes with 170bhp, 5% more than the unit it replaces., while 400Nm of torque provides excellent low down grunt.

Quieter by up to 5db, secondary order engine vibrations are down by up to 83%. It’s also prett y parsimonious, returning up to 4.3 l/100

Meriva and Astra. It’s likely to be a big hit in the Mokka though as it’s a far more refi ned and civilised unit than the the old 1.7 CDTI it replaces.

Power and torque figure of 136 bhp and 320Nm respectively are more than up to the job, while emissions are down to 109g/km, and fuel consumption is quoted at 4.1 l/100km (68.9 mpg) - 9% better than before.

km (65.7 mpg) while CO 2 emissions of 114 g/km put it into tax band A4.

Both new engines go on sale in April.

Prices for the Insignia with the new 2.0 CDTI start from €30,395. The new engine will be introduced in the Zafira Tourer later in the year. The Mokka with 1.6 CDTI is priced from €25,245.

Cathal Doyle

The 1.6 CDTI ‘whisper’ diesel for the Mokka has been seen already in the Zafi ra Tourer,

New technology and sharper looks for latest Ford Focus

S

ince its launch back in 1999, the Ford Focus has consistently remained one of Ireland’s best selling cars, with over 115,000 units registered in that time. A new significantly face-lifted model has gone on sale and promises to keep Ford to the fore as the batt le for new car sales hots up.

Visual updates include a more prominent front grille and narrow lights that not only give the Focus a lower, wider and more striking appearance but brings it in-line visually with the Fiesta and Mondeo. Inside there’s a more upmarket cabin, with improvements to noise, vibration and harshness levels.

The latest Focus is available with a number of

of Ford’s infotainment interface.

new technologies including ‘perpendicular parking’ park assist, a hands-free parking technology that helps drivers reverse into spaces alongside other cars. It includes Cross Traffic Alert which warns drivers reversing out of a parking space of vehicles that may soon be crossing behind them. Also available as an optional extra is SYNC2, the latest generation

A new 1.5 diesel will follow later, but initially engines are largely carried over from before. The 95PS 1.6 TDCI is expected to take the volume sales.

It’s also available with 115PS in the Titanium model. There’s also a 2.0 TDCI with 150PS and the highly regarded 1.0 Ecoboost petrol engine with 100 and 125PS outputs. Driving enthusiasts will be pleased to note that the chassis and suspension - long a highlight of the Focus - have been further tuned to deliver more responsive feel and steering feedback.

Four trim levels are offered, with prices for new Focus starting from €20,295 to €30,490.

Cathal Doyle

Upgraded Honda CR-V and Civic in Showrooms now!

H

onda is having a busy 2015 with a host of new models being launched. The recent Geneva Motor Show saw the unveiling of a new compact crossover, the HR-V, the Jazz supermini, the high performance Civic Type R and the second generation NSX supercar.

up. The City Brake Active System is standard across the range. Prices start from €31,995, but the AWD model now costs between €2,500 and €4,500 less than before.

Ahead of those the 2015 model year Civic and CR-V have gone on sale in Ireland, both featuring significant revisions.

Spearheading the updates to the CR-V is a new 160PS version of the 1.6 litre i-DTEC diesel engine that was launched last year in 120PS front wheel drive form. Replacing the old 2.2 litre for the all-wheel-drive versions, it’s more powerful, yet significantly cleaner and more economical than before, producing FLEETCAR | Spring 2015

129g/km of CO 2 and returning a combined 4.9l/100km (57.7mpg) Relatively minor exterior and interior upgrades, revised steering and suspension to improve handling, and better soundproofi ng also feature, while Honda’s Connect multimedia system is standard from ES grade

The 2015 model year Civic also gets minor styling revisions and the Honda Connect system. The biggest addition is AHA - Agile Handling Assist - which improves handling with substantial revisions to steering, suspension, dampers and noise levels. Joining the family is a new sporty looking mode, the Civic Si bringing Type R derived styling including a new rear spoiler, new lights with integrated daytime running lights, sporty bumpers front and rear with a diff user style fi nish and mesh grille. Prices for new Civic start from €21,895.

Cathal Doyle www.fleetcar.ie

18 | LAUNCH PAD III

All-new design for third edition Kia Sorento SUV

T

he success over the years of Kia Motors sports utility models has helped the Korean brand gain a prominent presence in the Irish markets. The Sorento and Sportage are popular choices, both new and used.

Now comes the time for the introduction of new generation models, starting with the larger Sorento model.

Sorento3 builds on the popularity of the outgoing model with modern style, practicality and technology. The sleeker look of the new Sorento is enhanced by its

extra width (+5 mm to 1,890 mm).

Kia Motors Ireland is marketing two AWD variants of the new car - the EX 5-seater at €38,995 and the expected volume model the Platinum 7-seater at €43,995.

increased length (+95 mm to 4,780 mm), reduced height (- 15 mm to 1,685 mm) and

Power continues to come from the Kia 2.2litre 197hp Euro 6 diesel unit which sees a drop in C0 2 from 155 to 149gms, leaving it in Band C (€390) for road tax purposes.

Jarlath Sweeney

New Peugeot 508 moves more upmarket

2

015 will prove to be one of the busiest in relation to new arrivals in the D-segment, large family/fleet car sector. The latest Peugeot 508 is one of them, sporting new exterior and interior styling, new equipment levels and the latest economical engines.

The new Peugeot 508 range is powered by a choice of a 1.6 eHDi diesel 115hp SST 6-Speed manual or Ecomatique, a 2.0 HDi diesel 140hp 6-Speed or a 2.0 HDi 163hp 6-Speed Automatic.

Available in both saloon and SW versions, it retails from €26,750, plus dealer delivery related charges.

replacing the popular 107 four-seater, jointly designed with Toyota and its PSA partner Citroën.

A brief test drive in the scenic beauty of West Galway provided an indication of Peugeot’s intent on moving the car more up market. With the improved comfort levels and smoother driveline, particularly from the transmission, the Peugeot design team has achieved this goal.

With affordable quality a key consideration, the new Peugeot 108 is priced from €13,290 plus dealer delivery related charges, for a 1.0 litre petrol 5-door Active model. It comes to market with an extended warranty peace of mind motoring for five years similar to other Peugeot models sold here.

Jarlath Sweeney

In the city car class, the 108 is totally new,

Mazda revise 6 and CX-5

Y

ou will need your magnifying glass and a very keen eye on the specification list for Mazda’s revised 6 and CX-5 to determine exactly how much has changed on these cars, compared with the versions they now replace. In fairness, Mazda is not claiming the newer versions are dramatically different – this is more a tweaking exercise for the company to try to align its cars a little better.

That said, both of the previous versions had

FLEETCAR | Spring 2015

their virtues – quite good styling; reasonable running costs and a good reliability record.

One serious source of annoyance with the 6 has been addressed at noise levels are substantially reduced and this in itself is a welcome improvement. The car also gets LED headlights and all grades now get a 7” touch screen. It also gets an automatic parking brake – a fi rst for Mazda – and some cosmetic improvements for the interior.

Engines in both the 6 and the CX-5 remain the same – 2.0 litre petrol and 2.2 litre diesel units that are the same as the older versions had.

However, the diesel, with 173 bhp, remains a strong contender in the fleet sector with good economy despite its size and excellent torque.

On the road prices are €29,295 for the 6 and €27,995 for the CX-5 – an increase of about €500 on the previous versions.

Donal Byrne

As dreams take over, I take control.

I am a Continental tyre – with maximum braking performance.

When braking counts www.continental-tyres.ie

20 | TEST

Ford Mondeo enriches choice for fleet buyers

interface. It’s a well designed and easy to use unit, with the caveat that some of the buttons on the touchscreen are small and difficult to hit when moving. That’s an issue with a lot of touchscreens these days though.

For long distance runs, the Mondeo is an amenable companion with a decent driving position with comfortable seats, decent sized door pockets and a rather deep compartment in front of the gearstick that will accommodate most odds and ends. There’s good visibility from the driving seat too.

Other nice technology features includes traffic sign recognition, lane departure aid, and heated steering wheel.

The Mondeo is a big car, something that you do notice when manoeuvring in tight car parks, but the upside is one of the most spacious cars on the market. Whether seated front or rear, there’s acres of space, and the boot is large enough to be worthy of chucking in the proverbial kitchen sink should you be going on holiday.

I

t’s major makeover time in the all-important D-segment. A new Volkswagen Passat, recent updates to the Opel Insignia, a fleet oriented trim and updates to the Hyundai i40 and a facelifted Mazda6 and new Toyota Avensis on the way mean company car buyers are spoiled for choice in 2015.

Then of course there’s the all-new, albeit longawaited Ford Mondeo. Is Henry’s latest product good enough to compete against formidable opposition?

Most fleet buyers are likely to find themselves in the 1.6TDCI Zetec model, though at this level, it’s becoming increasingly important to have a car that can also appeal to more executive buyers, something that Volkswagen in particular has had a lot of success in. So a test drive in what’s the Mindeo flagship - the 2.0 TDCI with 150PS Powershift automatic transmission and full-on

Titanium spec is a useful insight into whether it’s a car that can meet from premium brands like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz as well as more mainstream opposition.

First impressions are certainly positive. It’s fair to say that the new Mondeo has quite a commanding presence. The back bears distinct styling cues from the outgoing car, but the front, with prominent grille and rather beady headlights brings the car in line with the latest Focus and Fiesta styling, but additionally can look rather menacing in rear view mirrors particularly with optional LED headlights as fitted to the test car.

The inside is also rather a nice place, though with rather a lot of black (high quality) plastics, it falls a little way short of what you’d expect in premium segment cars. The all-new dash is dominated by an eight inch multimedia screen featuring Ford’s latest SYNC 2 multimedia

The old Mondeo had a worthy reputation as one of the best handling cars on the market, and keen drivers will be pleased to find that dynamically the new car is still top of the class. The steering is weighted just right and offers plenty of feedback, and the chassis feels nicely responsive, riding bumps impressively and gripping tenaciously in corners. For all that though, the Mondeo is a big car and its size encourages a more relaxed driving style. You might not drive it to its limits too often, though it’s nice to know it will respond when you do.

Worth commenting too on the latest version of the Powershift auto gearbox. Previously we’d have opted for the manual shift in the Mondeo, but the latest version is much improved and bears comparison with the better double-clutch systems on the market.

Certainly the new Mondeo can stand proud against the latest range of challengers in the D-Segment.

SPEC Check Make/ Model Engine Gearbox Power

Ford Mondeo Titanium 2.0 TDCI Powershift Automatic 150PS

Tax Band B1 Standard Specification • 17” 5x2 spoke alloys wheels • Front fog lights • Climate Control • SYNC 2 with 8” Touchscreen • Heated windscreen • Lane Keeping Aid • Traffic Sign Recognition • Automatic lights & wipers • Power-fold mirrors • Front & rear parking sensors • Keyless Start Optional Equipment • Winter pack (Heated front seat ; Heated steering wheel) = €320 • Adaptive LED headlamps - €1,280 Price: Entry price for Mondeo from €28,995 Price: Mondeo Titanium model from €36,445 plus optional items = €38,015 FLEETCAR | Spring 2015

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

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BMW i

The Ultimate Driving Machine

22 | COMMENT

Range Anxiety – Highs and Lows

S

uffered a double bout of ‘Range Anxiety’ in the last few months. Both resulting from long distance drives across the country, that proved to be stressful and frustrating and time consuming.

Coincidentally both events involved cars featuring the latest, albeit differing propulsion technology. And to be clear, it wasn’t the cars that were at fault per se, rather the necessary infrastructure to literally keep them going.

I’m talking here about firstly an inadequate nationwide charging system for electric cars, and secondly the unavailability of AdBlue in small quantities for top-up purposes.

Part 1: Electric Car Infrastructure Challenges Firstly the tale of woe with my cross-country run in a Nissan Leaf. Th is all-electric zero emission compact 5-door hatch is beautiful to drive. The only drawback, being all-electric, like all EVs it simply is not practical for certain applications and locations around the country, super in the cities or large towns where there may be a number of charging points conveniently located. Unless of course thoughtless motorists decide to park in the dedicated coloured parking slots. But that’s another story, mine too!

So a journey from Dublin to Mayo in Nissan’s EV might be seen as an interesting challenge, but it was one I had planned well for, with all recharging points all mapped out. Th is journey normally takes approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, but allowing for extra time to stop and recharge the Leaf, I estimated that it should take double that time. If only.

Heading westward taking care not to go over 100 kp/h on the motorway in order to conserve energy generated, an initial recharging at the quick charge facility in Applegreen Services at Enfield went without a hitch.

Another stop at Roscommon presented a problem with two vehicles parked in the designated parking spots, but I got a place without too much of a delay.

Forty minutes later, 82 kms remaining charge was showing, enough I hoped to reach the Plains of Mayo, but en route it became clear I’d need to stop and recharge one more time. To Castlerea therefore, where two charge point locations have been installed. Got to the first one to discover it was not yet in service, thanks to the ‘receptionist’ at the Call Centre ‘help line’. “Go to the other one in the town square” they advised. Duly did, to discover that again the parking areas were blocked.

Having eventually connected up I figured another 30 minutes should be enough to see me home. Not so fast, mister. You see there was a problem with the connection from the car to the charge box. The plug could not and would not release itself. Another call to the helpline. “We have a problem with some of the systems,” he said. “We can send out a technician to you but it will take about 3 hours.” You can imagine my humour! Speaking to the technician directly, it turns out he was on a

FLEETCAR | Spring 2015

similar rescue mission in, wait for it…Kildare! “Just leave the cable at the box after disconnecting from the car,” he said, “and I will leave it at the local hotel for you to collect again.”

Part 2 - AdBlue Woes If setting off on a cross-country run in an electric vehicle was always liable to present challenges, I expected no such worries ahead of driving from Mayo to Dublin in Audi’s latest A6 2.0TDI diesel. A fine all-round car, it has a Euro 6 engine that uses AdBlue to meet the stringent emissions standards. AdBlue is a clear liquid that is injected into a honey combed shaped filter inside a square shaped exhaust system. The whole programme developed by manufacturers called SCR – Selective Catalytic Reduction has been used in trucks and buses for over ten years now. Typically though they have their own yard supply and don’t depend on service stations to refi ll.

Failure to top up AdBlue means that without it the vehicle will go into slow motion and will not restart.

Since Euro 6 engines have started appearing in cars and vans, manufacturers have been stating that it will only require topping up at service time in other words drivers do not need to worry about it. That patently is not the case, as shortly after leaving home, the warning light to top up the AdBlue came on in the Audi, which had just passed its 10,000 km mark. Coincidentally a colleague had a similar experience in an E-Class Mercedes-Benz at around the same mileage.

That’s where the fun started. Aware of the problem I searched several towns en route from Mayo to Dublin, but nowhere was there AdBlue in stock.

So from Roscommon to Dublin, a close eye on the remaining content had to be kept with driving style adjusted accordingly. By the time I got to Dublin Airport, just 20 kilometres was left in the AdBlue tank.

So what’s to be done?

Well apart from the obvious of not undertaking cross-country drives in electric vehicles, my experiences point to a number of steps that need to be taken urgently. Firstly the sooner legislation is passed making it an offence for non-electric vehicles to park in dedicated charging bays the better. And secondly, if there are going to be ongoing infrastructure issues with the recharging network, then there needs to be sufficient technicians in all parts of the country to ‘rescue’ drivers that experience problems.

On the AdBlue side, firstly the onus is on manufacturers to educate drivers about AdBlue, and the consequences of what happens if used up.

And secondly supplies of AdBlue in 5 litre containers or less should be obtainable practically everywhere.

On the positive side, having referred this AdBlue issue to both Maxol through its lubricants division, and the Brockley Group through its BlueCat brand, both have said that they are planning to make provisions in this area in due course.

Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

Leather Interior. Engine Efficiency.

Luxurious Swedish DESIGN. The Volvo S60 D2 SE from €34,995* with complimentary leather interior.

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PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL VOLVO DEALER TO ARRANGE A TEST DRIVE.

*Delivery and related charges not included. Terms and conditions apply. Model shown is the Volvo S60 D2 SE. Manual priced at €34,995. Fuel consumption for the Volvo Range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 26.9 (10.5) – 68.9 (4.1), Extra Urban 41.5 (6.8) – 83.8 (3.4), Combined 34.4 (8.2) – 76.3 (3.7). CO2 Emissions 169 – 48 g/km.

All new Volvo cars come with a 3 year warranty and 2 years’ roadside assistance.

MY GOAL? THE NEXT CHALLENGE.

Dunlop tYres are dedicated to real drivers.

Those who push themselves to the limit, who never give up and most of all: enjoy the sheer passion of driving.

SPORT MAXX RT