IRELAND’S FOREMOST FLEET & CORPORATE
Edited by Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie
ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, has published the latest edition of its essential fact book for everything related to the automobile industry in 2024. The Automobile Industry Pocket Guide 2024/2025, an 83 page fact book covering all aspects of the motor industry, is available for free download via ACEA’s website at https://www.acea. auto/publication/the-automobile-industry-pocket-guide-2024-2025/ Featuring all the latest data on employment, production and sales, trade flows, vehicles on roads, road safety, environmental impact, innovation, and
Latest ACEA Guide on automotive industry published
taxation, the Pocket Guide is a useful and in many case essential tool for anyone working in or involved with the European motoring industry.
Among the information revealed in the latest edition is that despite ever increasing competition from outside markets, EU vehicular exports outstripped imports, generating a trade surplus growth of 5%. EU car production jumped in 2023 to nearly 15 million vehicles – almost two million more than the previous year - while commercial vehicle production also increased by 20%. This marks the fastest growth in the past decade.
The Guide also highlights the EU
Over one third of vans used solely for leisure, survey finds
A survey in the UK has revealed that increasingly motorists are buying vans for personal and general leisure use rather than for business purposes.
The research by The Green Insurer found that currently more than a third (36%) of van owners aged 25 to 34 said that they are using their vehicles solely for social, domestic and leisure purposes. Three in 10 (29%) said that they used their vans for both work and leisure, while 35% admitted they used it only for their business.
The survey also identified that
region’s record in improving road safety, with the average number of EU road fatalities having plummeted by around a quarter since 2012. Globally road fatalities have fallen since the last edition of the Pocket Guide.
“The ACEA Pocket Guide underlies why it is so important to ensure critical industries like ours are allowed to thrive by investing and trading freely. A holistic and coordinated industrial strategy that exceeds other regions’ ambitions and puts in place the right conditions for competitiveness matters,” said ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries in her foreword to the Guide. “Whether it’s trade, investment, road safety, employment and beyond, our industry touches so many facets of our everyday lives – allowing businesses to grow and keep society on the move.”
drivers of all ages, and both males and females, are open to owning vans –around one in 12 (8%) of the motorists surveyed said they are considering purchasing a van as an alternative to a car. Around 7% of women said they were considering vans compared with 8% of men.
Vans’ ability to carry large items such as surfboards or camping equipment was cited by 71% of respondents as one
of their top three reasons for choosing a van over a car. This was followed by a van’s versatility to be used for both work and family leisure activities (54%), the ability to carry more people (49%); and the flexibility afforded by a van to adapt the interior space in terms of seating or large object storage (41%).
There was a certain inevitablity that, following Ford’s renaming of the Puma and Explorer to new modern day models, more historic names from the past would re-emerge. Now past meets future with the new Capri. The original Ford Capri was and still is a cult classic. Enter the new all-electric Capri as a sports utility coupe. To the
Ford’s legendary Capri name returns
surprise of many it must be said. New Capri is set to feature many innovations such as a massaging driver’s seat and a touchscreen that slides to reveal secret storage area.
With more than 620 km driving range, fast charging … and more than 570 litres of boot space, new Capri is set to make a big impression to a whole new audience and tempt the minds of past owners - or young passengers from back in the day.
Volvo’s new all-electric flagship
While all the headlines in recent days were about Volvo Cars pushing back its deadline to become a fully electric brand, a reflection of the current slowdown affecting the EV market worldwide, the Chinese owned Swedish company underlined its long term commitment to electric power with the launch of an all-electric flagship model, the EX90.
The seven seater SUV majors on comfort and safety, with features such as active suspension offered as standard, while on the safety front it comes equipped with a Lidar featuring no fewer than eight cameras, five radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors. That will ensure the EX90 will be capable of autonomous driving capabilities should such
automation be legislated for in the future.
Even in a vehicle that weighs 2.5 tonnes, a 11kW battery will deliver a claimed range of up to 614 km. Performance is hardly tardy either, with power outputs of 408hp or 517hp accelerating the car from rest to 100km/h in under six seconds (under five for the more powerful version).
In 1969, Ford Europe created an all-new sports coupe and the new Capri became an instant hit with 400,000 examples sold in the first two years. More than 1.8 million units were produced across three generations between 1969 and 1986.
“The new all-electric Capri is exactly how the iconic sports coupe would have evolved had it stayed in continuous production. Classic Capri design cues are reimagined for the electric age. It’s not every day that you have the chance to redesign an icon,” explained Thomas Morel, Exterior Design Manager
Jarlath Sweeney
On the practical front there’s 360 litres of boot space even with the third row of seats up. On sale this autumn, prices for the EX90 are from €117,910 for the 408hp version or €122,910 for the Performance model.
Separately Volvo has revised its
plug-in hybrid XC90 model with updated styling features inside and out including a new larger touchscreen. The suspension has also been upgraded. The hybrid unit remains as before, matching a 2.0 litre petrol engine with a 107kW electric motor to give an all-electric range of up to 72km.
All-new Fourth Generation Swift Hybrid
car, a former Irish Car of the Year in its earlier life, is now more attractive than ever as the latest Swift just launched is now even better value for money. Model Year 2024 includes a higher standard of finish and better equipment specifications than before, together with lower CO2 emissions and a further emphasis on levels of safety equipment. With a new K12E 1.2-litre (12V Mild) Hybrid three-cylinder engine, the Swift offers up to 10 % additional torque versus the previous K12D engine, with CO2 emissions of just 99g/km. CVT automatic transmis-
sion is a desirable option as it drives very well.
Low cost of ownership is also bolstered for Suzuki customers with the inclusion of up to seven years / 160,000 kms warranty - whichever comes first. More than 9 million Swifts have been sold worldwide since first launch in 2004. It is produced in Japan for European markets. Prices start at €21,495.
“The Swift has always been designed to be fun to drive and the new car is no exception,” Masao Kobori, Chief Engineer.
Jarlath Sweeney
Cathal Doyle
All-new Fourth Generation Swift Hybrid Probably the most under-rated supermini in the marketplace is the Suzuki Swift. The five-door compact
Peugeot broadens appeal of electric models with new upmarket 3008 and e3008
If the price of EVs is regularly touted as one of the main reasons holding back new customers from joining the electric revolution, then Peugeot will happily point you to the new e-3008 which has launched in Ireland for slightly cheaper than its hybrid counterpart.
This is the third generation 3008, and succeeds the very successful model launched in 2017 which saw over 13,000 examples purchased in Ireland. This time around there are no straight petrol or diesel versions; instead the all-electric e-3008 is joined by a mild-hybrid variant paired with a 136bhp 1.2 litre Puretech petrol engine. Prices for Allure models start from €43,995 for the mild-hybrid, whereas the e-3008 can be had from €43,965 (after government subsidies). As well as the Allure spec, the 3008 and e3008 are available in GT trim, with prices from €47,995 and €49,795 for the hybrid and electric models respectively.
Peugeot has had aspirations for some time to move into the more premium echelons of the motor industry and this new 3008 is arguably its most assertive nod to that ambition to date. From first impressions it looks and feels like a quality product inside and outside. Of course convincing a sceptical public
that they should consider a Peugeot instead of say, one of the premium German products is no easy task, but certainly within the Stellantis family it feels that Peugeot is starting to more clearly define its position amongst the plethora of brands that hitherto have been squabbling within the same market space.
Built on a new STLA Medium platform that will form the basis for a host of future EVs from Stellantis, the new 3008 is, as before, a mid-sized family crossover SUV. Notably it features fastback styling that gives it a quite distinctive appearance, especially from the rear. It’s certainly one of the more stand-out contenders in a category of largely lookalike vehicles.
Despite the more sloping rear roofline, luggage space has not been impacted, at 520 litres, while all but the very tallest rear seat passengers should not be restricted by the fastback styling. If coupé styled crossovers remain something of an oxymoron, at least the advantage of starting with a tall vehicle is that headroom isn’t compromised too much with a sloping rear roof.
The cabin offers a pleasing environment centred around Peugeot’s now well established i-Cockpit philosophy. The familiar small steering wheel sits below what is a pretty impressive digital display measuring 21 inches wide that is slightly curved towards the driver. It is in fact composed of two separate screens, with a non-touch sensitive drivers’ display combining with a touchscreen for the multimedia functionality. There are thankfully some physical controls and customisable touch-sensitive i-Toggle
switches for the more often used controls. The use of soft touch plastics and high quality textures give an upmarket feel to the cabin, while practicality is well served by plenty of storage places.
While the hybrid version makes do with the single 136bhp option, there are three electric powertrains to choose from…or at least there will be from early next year. All offer strong range performance. Available now is the 210bhp/157kW Standard Range model. It utilises a 73kWh battery to give a stated range of up to 527km with power sent to the front wheels.
Coming in Q1 2025 is a Long Range version, also front wheel drive, but using a 230bhp/170kW motor matched to a 98kWh battery which promises an impressive range of up to 680km. The third version is a Dual Motor model with all-wheel drive courtesy of a second electric motor driving the rear wheels and giving a total power output of 320bhp/240kW. It uses the 73kWh battery with an expected range similar to or slightly below that of the Standard Range model. Prices for these latter two variants have yet to be announced. Text & Photos: Cathal Doyle – cathal@fleet.ie
Visit ftai.ie/events, call 01 8447516 or email info@ftai.ie to book your place! Programme includes:
• Keynote Speakers
James Lawless Minister of State in the Department of Transport
• GHG Calculation and Reporting –How it Informs Decarbonization of Logistics
Alan Lewis
Smart Freight Centre
• Launch of the Managers Guide to Distribution Costs Report 2024
• Operational Compliance
Paul Maguire
Senior Training Executive Freight Transport Association Ireland
Thursday 17 October The Johnstown Estate, Enfield, Co. Meath
“Opel’s 125-anniversary year - An important milestone in its electrification-offensive to be the 2024 Electro pioneer”
How have you adapted from the French business culture in your earlier career in sales and marketing to working in Germany and the multi-cultural elements that Stellantis involves?
I have lived and worked in France for about eight years, but my business culture experience goes beyond that with working in many organisations outside Germany. This internationality has enabled me to understand various perspectives and I value the variety of backgrounds in teams today. Multiformity is the basis for success for every organisation in today’s global society and with Opel growing internationally, conquering also new markets, I am looking forward to everything ahead together with my motivated team.
With the EV market currently facing challenges, are any changes planned re production into the future for your electric versions? Are the projected numbers adding up?
With our multi-energy platform we already give our customers this year the full choice of buying a fully electric variant for any model in our portfolio.
Our 125-anniversary year is also an important milestone in our electrification-offensive to be the 2024 Electro pioneer. We are the first German car manufacturer offering a completely electric portfolio, thereby full freedom of choice for our customer. Our next step in 2025 is that every newly launched Opel in Europe will be electric only. You see, we are fully committed to e-mobility.
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Florian Huettl, CEO Opel Automobile GmbH
With our two newcomers Grandland and Frontera, which both had their public premieres recently, we have completed this electric portfolio. The new Grandland will be fully electric for the first time and will further broaden our range of electric cars. Our new Top of the Line-SUV is the first Opel model to be based on the state-of-the-art and flexible STLA Medium platform. Thanks to the new architecture, particularly flat battery packaging with a battery capacity of up to 98 kWh, the new Grandland Electric can travel up to around 700 kilometres. Features include the 3D Vizor with illuminated Blitz logo at the centre and the permanently illuminated “OPEL” lettering at the rear. In line with Opel’s Greenovation approach to conserve all resources related to the automobile, the name of the car is no longer displayed by chrome lettering. Furthermore New Grandland is also available as a Plug-in Hybrid and Hybrid with 48-volt technology.
We are celebrating another major milestone by opening the order books for the new Opel Frontera in selected countries these days. This new model plays a highly important role in our portfolio. Our latest newcomer will be available as the fully electric Frontera
Electric and as the Frontera Hybrid with 48-volt technology. With our new Frontera, we are once again confirming our brand promise of making electric mobility and innovative technological features accessible to a wide customer range. This of course includes an attractive price. In Germany, prices for the Frontera Hybrid will start at under 24,000 euros, for the Frontera Electric they will start at under €29,000. This is highly competitive and marks the next step in reducing the cost of fully electric or electrified family-friendly vehicles.
In conversation with Jarlath Sweeney
Pictured (l-r) are James Brooks, Managing Director of Opel Ireland; Florian Huettl, global CEO of Opel and Michael Dwan, Gowan Group Managing Director.
MUTEC Mercedes-Benz
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As reported elsewhere in this issue, Ford has revived the Capri name, with the launch of an all-electric crossover SUV that shares its underpinnings with the likes of the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5. You don’t have to travel too far online though to come across the howls of protest at this decision. Most of the derision is aimed, not at the fact it is electric or that it has Volkswagen underpinnings, but that as a large crossover it bears nothing in common with the sleek American styled fastback coupé that went through three incarnations from the sixties to the eighties. Whereas the original Capri, brilliantly captured by the marketing tag ‘The car you always promised yourself’, oozed sleekness and cross-Atlantic appeal, the new incarnation is just another bland high rising crossover, say the purists.
Of course, manufacturers re-use names from the past all the time, and normally it doesn’t rouse anything like the opprobrium Ford is getting with the new Capri. Take for example the new Renault Scenic E-Tech. Like the Capri, this is also an all-electric crossover SUV that takes the name of an earlier model in La Regie’s lineup. The previous Scenic - which only went out of production a couple of years ago - was an MPV, so technically it was a different class of car and therefore it could be argued the new model is not a true successor. However, whether because the lines between MPVs and crossover SUVs are blurred anyway, or that the Scenic never garnered the same level of iconicity as the much loved Capri, few are getting too het up about the name of the new car.
What’s in a name?
In fairness to most manufacturers, when they choose to apply an historic name to a new model, the modern car bears at least a passing resemblance or connection to the original. The Fiat 500 is a good example, clearly a much bigger car than the original from the 1950’s, but it’s easy to see the heritage from the styling and silhouette of the modern iteration. The soon to arrive Renault 5 E-Tech (below) is a faithful homage appearance wise to the original 5 of the
It does raise an interesting question though, which is does a manufacturer gain any advantage in applying a much loved moniker from the past to a new vehicle that has little in common with its forebears? Or can it actually have a negative effect, by enraging potential customers for whom the original represents something far different to what the company is now asking us to believe is its rightful successor?
You can argue that for most potential customers of the new Capri the heritage of the brand name will have little significance, as it’s been nearly forty years since the last one rolled off the production line. Maybe so, but then why use the name in the first place? Creating a brand new name would seem to be a better choice than alienating fans who fondly remember the original.
seventies, and all the more appealing for its retro looks. Similarly Opel a couple of years back revealed a stunning concept electric vehicle based on the Manta, a production version of which may or may not yet see light of day but would fully deserve to carry the name made legendary for its rally exploits. Even the largest MINI derivatives, some of which are so capacious you could almost fit the original inside, still bear enough resemblance to the ground-breaking design from Alec Issigonis that it’s hard to argue that they don’t deserve to be called MINIs.
Perhaps the most damning acknowledgement from Ford itself that the new Capri shares little more than a badge name with its predecessor comes from its media launch materials. Despite a somewhat tenuous claim, though a series of sketches, that the Capri would have evolved into the new iteration if Ford had continued production over the years, there isn’t a single image of the new car shown against one of its forebears. QED, the critics might say…
Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie
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