Fleet Car Winter 2018

IRELAND’S FOREMOST FLEET & CORPORATE SECTOR GUIDE

Volume 16. No. 3. Winter 2018

Volvo XC40 Irish Car of the Year 2019

REVIEW:

FEATU RE S

Autostyle Car Design 2018 AWARDS: Fleet Car Awards 2019 Shortlist announced INTERVIEWS: ADL Merrion Fleet • Fleet First • Mercedes-Benz REPORTS: GoCar's 10th Anniversary Seminar • ACEA 'Towards Zero' NEW PRODUCT: Volkswagen Financial Services Leasing FIRST DRIVE: Honda CR-V Hybrid TIMES PAST: Ferrari Museum Plus Launch Pad & Test Drives

volkswagen.ie/electric

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0% Benefit-in-Kind tax, savings through the Advanced Capital Allowance scheme and reduced maintenance costs, mean you make massive savings every day you have an electric car or fleet on the road.

Discover more at volkswagen.ie/electric

Contents Winter 2018 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 Contibutors: Rob Van Dieten, Marcella Connolly Photography: Jarlath Sweeney, Cathal Doyle, Paul Sherwood, Marcella Connolly Administration: Orla Sweeney, Denise Owens, Paula Mullarkey Advertising: Mary Morrissey Design: Eamon Wynne

4 News • Progress at ALD Automotive • New Europcar MD • Airside Citroen wins dealer award • EUCAR leads the R&D way • Introducing Exemplar services

www.fleetcar.ie | 3 16 Interview III With Natasha Ramsay, ALD Merrion Fleet 19 Awards II Finalists for for Fleet Car Awards 2019 24 Technology Latest from Continental

6 Awards I Irish Car of the Year awards 8 Interview I With Patrick Howlett, Mercedes-Benz 9 Introduction Volkswagen Financial Services Leasing 10 Launch Pad • New Audi A6 • BMW 3 Series • Toyota Corolla • Dacia Duster • Kia Ceed SW • Fiat 500X

26 Design 15th Autostyle Car Design competition 28 Report II ACEA Road Safety Conference 30 Times Past A visit to the Ferrari Museum, Maranello 32 Test Drive I Kia Ceed SW

13 Interview II With John Wallace, Fleet First

33 First Drive New Honda CR-V

14 Report I GoCar’s 10th Anniversary Seminar

34 Test Drive II New Ford Focus ST-Line

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

ALD Automotive's growth plans

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LD Automotive, the parent company of ALD Merrion Fleet, one of Ireland’s largest f leet management companies, has ambitious growth plans. According to its CEO, Mike Masterson, the company is on target to add another 8 to 10% to its fleet size this year, and is aiming to reach 2 million vehicles by 2020.

“Less than four years ago, we marked our one-millionth car,” explained Masterson in an interview with Fleet Europe 98.

“Th is March, we passed the 1.5-million mark. That’s because our fleet growth is accelerating, from about 7% per annum up to 2011, to 9.8% last year. So it’s not

SEAT gets into the Spirit

just achievable, it’s something we have already delivered. That’s why ALD has risen from being a mid-range player to leader in Europe.”

“We feel prett y optimistic about the business in the upcoming years and we’re comfortable with our 8 to 10% annual growth prediction.

Meaning that we’re aiming 2 million vehicles in 2020 and 3 million in 2025 of which then 1 million will be in B2C.”

Spirit Motor Group, one of Ireland’s largest retail motor groups has expanded its portfolio with the addition of SEAT to its range of brands. Spirit SEAT, located at Maple Avenue, Sandyford Business Park and catering for the South Dublin market, will provide the full range of SEAT products. The new dealership will create 11 jobs, bringing the total number of employees within Spirit Motor Group to over 200.

New M.D. for Europcar Mobility Group in Ireland

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olm Brady has been appointed as the new Managing Director for Ireland of Europcar Mobility Group, taking over from outgoing CEO Colm Menton, who is retiring.

Colm boasts over 17 years experience with Europcar Group having previously held the position of business development director while also serving as Managing Director of GoCar; Ireland’s only car sharing service.

In his new position, Brady will focus on helping Europcar Mobility Group to develop in Ireland, providing individuals and businesses across the country with easy access, barrier-free and cost effective mobility

solutions.

Commenting on his appointment, Colm Brady said, “It is a very proud day for me to assume the role of MD of Europcar Mobility Group in Ireland. We intend to be at the cutting edge of mobility solutions and I look forward to leading the change in the Irish market, supported by the brilliant team here at Europcar Mobility Group in Ireland.”

Airside is Citroën Dealer of the Year

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irside Citroën, Swords, Co. Dublin has been awarded the Citroën Ireland Dealer of the Year Award 2018, from a network of 23 authorised sales dealerships nationwide.

The Dealership also scooped the Sales Dealer of the Year Award 2018.

The Dealership, which is owned by Avanacar Limited who took over the operation in May 2017 and is run by Dealer Principal and Managing Director, Damien Smyth, was officially presented with both awards by Pat Ryan, Managing Director, Citroën Ireland at the 2018 Dealer Conference which took

FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

place at The Heritage Killenard.

Alan Moore, Managing Director of Spirit Motor Group and Niall Phillips, Brand Director of SEAT Ireland

Windsor Renault & Dacia

Following the opening of a Windsor Renault and Dacia dealership in Galway this summer, a second dealership has opened in Airside in North Dublin.

The new dealership will cater for the large north Dublin market and will have 30 employees working in the state of art facility which will house all Renault and Dacia models. The 8,000 sq ft showroom previously housed Windsor Opel.

Celebrating 50 years in business this year, Windsor is one of the leading motor retail groups in Ireland, with 18 dealerships including this latest Airside location.

(l-r), Paul Tunnicliffe, Automotive Development Director, IM Group, Karl Larkin, Sales Manager, Airside Citroën, Damien Smyth, Dealer Principal, Airside Citroën and Pat Ryan, Managing Director, Citroën Ireland.)

Patrick Magee, Country Operations Director, Renault Group Ireland: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Windsor Motor Group as the new name for Renault and Dacia in North Dublin. We plan

NEWS II | 5

to further our presence in Dublin with Windsor in the not too distant future – so watch this space!”

New Opel dealers for North County Dublin Opel Ireland has appointed Linders to the Opel Dealer network. With dealerships located in Finglas (J5 M50) and Turvey (J4 M1), Linders, which is one of the longest established dealerships in Dublin, having been founded in 1938 in Smithfield, joins the existing 29 nationwide dealers in the Opel network.

‘We are so excited to be joining the Opel family especially as they roll out their new line of PSA models’, said Paul Linders, Managing Director. We feel the Opel brand is best suited to our dealerships in Finglas and Turvey and we look forward to meeting the demand for Opel passenger and commercial vehicles in North County Dublin.”

Europeans lead the way in autonomous vehicle R&D

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new study on automotive patents shows that Europe is leading the global race for self-driving vehicle innovation. The study, by the European Patent Office (EPO), shows that Europe accounted for 37.2% of all patents related to self-driving vehicle technologies that were issued between 2011 and 2017; ahead of China (3%), Japan (13%) and the United States (33.7%). “The number of related European patent applications has grown 20 times faster than other technologies”, explained Roberta Romano-Götsch of the EPO.

Schuster said the survey highlights the collaborative research and innovation of stakeholders. “Together with our partners in industry, politics and society, we concentrate on the long-term aspects of mobility to serve society and remain competitive.”

EUCAR members are BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler AG, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Ford of Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Jaguar Land Rover, IVECO, Opel Automobile GmbH, Groupe PSA, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, Volvo Cars, Volvo Group.

Chairman of EUCAR (the European Council for Automotive R&D) Gerd

Gillian Whitt all, General Manager, Opel Ireland said, “We are delighted to be working with Linders, who have a remarkable 80 years of trusted history in the Irish motor industry.”

Dublin Airport gets new valet parking service (l-r): Paul Linders, Managing Director, Gillian Whittall, Opel Ireland General Manager and Joe Linders, Linders Group Owner)

LeasePlan pulls out of of IPO Private equity-backed car leasing group LeasePlan has pulled its initial public offering citing “market conditions”.

The leasing firm had announced its intention to launch an IPO and listing on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Brussels in September but cancelled plans following reports of disappointing debuts from other fi rms due to market volatility.

A

new premium valet parking service has been launched at Dublin A irport. Exemplar Automotive Services provides pick up and drop off services for air travellers from their terminal on departure and arrival providing convenience, faster travel times and peace of mind.

Exemplar offers competitive rates to both Short and Long Term airport parking as well as additional services to ensure customers’ vehicles are maintained to a high standard. All first time bookings will receive a complimentary valet service.

“While some may think this is a premium service intended for VIPs, our pricing allows

us to be competitive with all airport parking as well as offering additional services to save time and ensure a rapid arrival and departure at Dublin Airport,” explained company founder Dave Lawes.

For booking enquiries visit www.exemplar. ie or via Social Media @exemplar.ireland www.fleetcar.ie

6 | AWARDS I

Volvo XC40 is Irish Car of the Year 2019

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heVolvoXC40hasbeencrowned Irish Car of the Year 2019 in association with Continental Tyres. It’s the first time that Volvo has claimed the Irish Car of the Year title, and caps a remarkable year for the compact SUV XC40 which earlier this year won the European Car of the Year 2018 accolade.

Motoring journalists from print, online and broadcasting voted to select the XC40 as their overall Car of the Year at a gala black tie event in the Gibson Hotel in Dublin which was attended by Ireland’s leading car brands, importers, distributors and other motoring dignitaries.

The other main award of the evening went to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter which was awarded Irish Van of the Year 2019 in association with Continental Tyres.

It maintains a remarkable record for the Sprinter as every successive generation of the large panel van has claimed the IrVotY accolade since its launch.

Nine category winners were announced on the night in addition to the overall awards, with the XC40 also claiming the Irish Compact Crossover of the Year title.

Ford claimed two awards, with the Focus taking the Irish Small / Compact Car of the Year gong, while the Fiesta ST was awarded Irish Hot Hatchback of the Year.

The Volkswagen Group had triple success in the crossover/SUV segments, with the SEAT Arona taking Irish Small Crossover honours, the Škoda Karoq winning Irish Medium Crossover, while the Volkswagen Touareg was successful as the Irish Large Crossover of the Year 2019.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS was voted as Irish Executive / Premium Car of the Year 2019, while the BMW M5 won the Irish Performance Car of the Year 2019.

The Nissan Leaf drove away with two awards. As well as winning the Irish Green / Efficient Car of the Year 2019 accolade, it was also recognised with the Irish Car of the Year Innovation Award 2019 for its e-Pedal technology.

FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

David Thomas, M.D. Volvo Car Ireland; Tom Dennigan, Continental Tyres and motoring journalist Bob Flavin and Mark Galligan.

What impressed the Fleet Car judges this year Jarlath Sweeney - Editor, Fleet Car New versions of the Ford Focus, Kia Ceed and Mercedes-Benz A-Class impressed me most in the Compact segment and indicating just how improved these new generations are, equal points were given as I couldn’t separate them! Kia got my largest share of the Executive/Premium category to demonstrate that the Korean brand is catching up on its German rivals.

Volkswagen Group cars got most of my marks in the SUV classes with the new Volkswagen T-ROC (Small Crossover), Škoda Karoq (Medium Crossover) and new Touareg (Large SUV) taking my first preference votes.

In the Compact Crossover section, the new Volvo XC40 proved to be my overall choice for the actual main award, having heard all about its creation from chief designer Robin Page at last year’s Autostyle Car Design Awards. For the Green title, my favourite was the new Jaguar I-Pace, probably the most impressive car to drive and experience of all the contenders involved.

In stark contrast to each other, the Hyundai i30N got my pulse racing in the Hot Hatch category but my heartbeat was soon back to normal thanks to the Level 3 Autonomy technology on the Audi A8, which received the majority of my points in the Innovation Award category.

Cathal Doyle - Deputy Editor, Fleet Car I was pleased to see the XC40 win the overall Irish Car of the Year 2019 title as it epitomises all that is good about Volvo currently.

I scored the Ford Focus alongside the Mercedes-Benz A-Class in the Compact category, while also rating the new KIA Ceed highly. The SEAT Arona and Škoda Karoq received top marks in their respective categories, with the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X4 impressing in the Large Crossover segment.

The Fiesta ST was my runaway choice in the Hot Hatchback category, while I scored the KIA Stinger highly in the Performance Car section - an impressive effort from the Korean brand.

It was a toss up in the Executive / Premium category between the Volvo V60 and Audi A6, with the Volvo just edging it.

Finally I was hugely impressed by Jaguar’s i-Pace in the Green / Efficient Car category.

In fact it’s arguably my car of the year, combining impressive range with even more impressive performance and probably the nicest Jaguar interior for a generation.

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8 | INTERVIEW I

One-to-One with Patrick Howlett, National Fleet Sales Manager, Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars Patrick Howlett is the National Fleet Sales Manager for Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars. Born in Wexford, he studied Economics at University College Cork.

Having gained 12 years sales experience at both dealership and importer levels at a number of leading marques in the premium automotive sector, Patrick joined Mercedes-Benz in 2017. His responsibilities include managing a national fleet sales strategy with a focus on vehicle leasing, large corporate fleets, public sector and SME channels.

FC. Outline Mercedes-Benz’s approach to the Irish fleet market.

PH. Fleet sales are an integral part of our work at Mercedes-Benz in Ireland and a key element in Daimler AG’s 2020 strategy globally. Supporting the work we do centrally is our dealer network within which each outlet has dedicated fleet sales personnel who are active in developing relationships with businesses and fleet operators in their area.

Our collective advantage revolves around our products and our brand, and the enviable reputation that Mercedes-Benz enjoys internationally.

Long renowned for their luxury, performance, specifications and style, their outstanding fuel economy, low CO2 emissions, reduced running costs and industry leading residual values are amongst the other reasons why company car drivers choose Mercedes-Benz.

Others include innovations in safety and technology, and the range of models from the stylish entry-level A-Class to the flagship S-Class, with many others coming almost every month throughout 2019.

FC. What cars / car types are proving popular? In the premium sector in which you compete, how much of a move is there towards SUVs in preference to FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

Cathal Doyle, Deputy Editor of Fleet Car presents Patrick Howlett with the award for the MercedesBenz C-Class winning the Irish Fleet Car 2018 Premium category

conventional saloons?

PH. Saloon cars such as the MercedesBenz E-Class and C-Class, winner of the Irish Fleet Car 2018 Premium category, continue to be popular amongst fleet buyers notwithstanding a noticeable growth in SUV sales, particularly the Mercedes-Benz GLC. FC. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the Irish corporate car sector at present?

PH. A positive outcome in relation to Brexit and a return to certainty should remove one key challenge that has overshadowed the industry in Ireland generally. Such an outcome should have a positive impact on Sterling and realign currency exchange rates in a way that would strengthen our own used car market and reduce the att ractiveness that imports have had. Other ‘factors of interest’ relate to trade and employment, and the economic situation generally, both at home and globally.

will remain this way for quite some time to come, thanks to our very efficient and clean new technologies, coupled with our huge investment in the OM654 engine.

In parallel, we see increased interest in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles where we are poised to promote both petrol and diesel plug-in hybrid versions of the C-Class, E-Class and GLC all arriving here in 2019. Alongside this we will launch our EQ brand in 2019 with the arrival of the electric-powered EQC. Though diesel will likely be king for some time to come, the strength of Mercedes-Benz is having a comprehensive model offering across all power segments.

FC. Is the increasing popularity of PCPs having an impact on the vehicle leasing sector with employees preferring to buy privately rather than lease?

PH. There is no reason why private ownership and vehicle leasing cannot grow in tandem as they are not mutually exclusive. The challenge our dealers face is to promote the advantages and attractions of company car ownership, especially where higher business mileage is being covered.

FC. Is there anything you like to see Government doing to encourage the fleet sector?

PH. Motor vehicle sales generate significant tax income. Current issues impacting our industry relate to the full implementation of WLTP, pressure from used imports, and the alignment of VRT bands in order to safeguard the local industry and the countless numbers it employs at distributor, main dealer and in the ancillary trades.

FC. Are you seeing a shift away from diesel by the fleet sector?

PH. One leading German motor industry engineer whose role is to look ahead and plan model developments as far ahead as 2030 and beyond, when quoted in the Irish media, said that diesel will be with us for a very long time to come.

Today, diesel is very much a mainstay of our fleet sales business and we expect it Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

INTRODUCTION | 9

Volkswagen Financial Services Leasing – fits the bill!

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fleet renewal programme within a small to medium enterprise (SME) can be a costly affair, putt ing a heavy fi nancial burden and tying up funds that can be otherwise used to grow the business.

Volkswagen Financial Services Leasing has a maximum mileage of 200,000kms to meet the needs of the high mileage business user. “The client can establish the estimated mileage in advance so that they can get costs appropriate to their usage, we can also amend the contract if needed (right up to 6 months from the end) should the customer’s needs change.”

Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS), a wholly owned division of Volkswagen Group has now launched its leasing offering dedicated to the Irish business user. VWFS is one of the largest leasing companies globally for cars and commercial vehicles with 4.3 million vehicles on lease.

For the sole trader, SME owner to the large fleet manager, there are many advantages to the leasing packages on offer from VWFS that cover both cars and light commercials.

Emmet Wrafter, Head of Fleet at Volkswagen Financial Services Ireland, explained to Fleet Car the benefits of the Volkswagen Financial Services Leasing offer. In essence, everything is provided, from the right vehicle, to repair and maintenance and annual road tax - plus a local, personal service provided by the closest authorised dealer to the customer (118 nationwide).

“Of the many advantages, we can supply from the customer’s choice of dealer, a vehicle with a full hand over demonstration which includes details of the many safety systems on board plus the setting up of the infotainment system, inserting contact numbers for servicing etc.,” explained Emmet.

Th is is important as there are so many high tech safety systems in today’s cars that protect the drivers and support an employer’s duty of care to their employees.

The personal service extends to the specialist, local sales person taking care of the client’s account. If requested by the customer, the same dealer will service the vehicle, building a good relationship for the life of the lease. “If the vehicle is off the road, a replacement is provided by the Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

dealer - not a rental,” added Emmet.

Regarding the financials, Emmet mentioned that the agreed fi xed monthly payment for the vehicle allows for certainty of budgeting for the company with a single clear monthly invoice issued.

“Agreements are usually from 24 to 54 months, with one or three months payments in advance and the customer can simply hand back the vehicle at the end of the lease term, thereby guaranteeing their costs and de-risking their business,” he stated.

“Th is frees up cash flow, and uncertainty is a thing of the past,” he emphasised.

While for SMEs, running and maintaining vehicles is a significant cost, for their employees, providing a new vehicle of their choice through Volkswagen Financial Services Leasing keeps them motivated and can enable the company to attract the best recruits. It can also be a reward for their hard work and an outward signal of the company’s commitment and status.

There are no set up document fees and a fuel card can be provided if required (through Circle K). Drivers can book directly or via the leasing support team to get the vehicles serviced and to undertake the NCT / CVRT tests. Only guaranteed genuine parts and premium brand tyres are fitted at service.

Volkswagen Financial Service’s package includes full breakdown and recovery programme. For light commercial vehicle users, the van can be specified with accessories such as ply-lining, racking, and additional lights/chevrons amongst many other options, and these will be included in the overall monthly payment agreement.

One fi nal advantage that is unique to Volkswagen Financial Services is that any model from their five brands Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi, Volkswagen passenger cars, SEAT or Skoda can be supplied, ensuring all business needs can be supported.

“Our Volkswagen Financial Services Leasing managers and dealers nationwide are ready, able and keen to answer any queries about a potential plan,” concluded Emmet.

Further details on vwfs.ie./leasing

“Then there are the benefits of running Volkswagen Group vehicles, with class leading quality, advanced technology and the latest safety systems, ensures that customers have the most efficient vehicles on the road to drive their business forward,” added Emmet. www.fleetcar.ie

10 | LAUNCH PAD I

New Audi A6 will appeal to fleets while e-tron moves electric car game forward

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t’s been a busy year for Audi with new generation A6, A7 and A8 all arriving on these shores. The A6 in particular will be of interest to the company executive market. With an on-the-road price starting from €51,650, key areas of focus are a more plush and spacious interior, a new all-digital MMI touch response interface and mild hybrid technology on all engines, With double-glazed windows as standard it’s the most quietest and most civilised A6 to date. Available at launch in SE and S-Line trims and with a 2.0-litre, 204PS 40 TDI diesel engine in front wheel drive, 2.0 TFSI petrol and two

full all-electric model. Available to order from January with deliveries starting in the Spring, the mid-sized 4WD SUV (size wise it probably slots between the A5 and A7) comes with a stated range of up to 400 km via its 95kWh battery and two electric motors. Prices are from €101,750 excluding Government grants. Just one high spec trim model is being offered.

3.0TDI V6 engines will follow as will quatt ro versions.

Arguably set to cause even a bigger stir is the arrival of the all-new e-tron, Audi’s first

Among the available features is the latest generation multimedia interface, adaptive air suspension, and optional camera door mirrors that project an image onto OLED screens on the inside of the doors.

BMW reduces prices amid multiple new product arrivals

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lso busy churning out new models is BMW with the new 3-Series unveiled at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris in October sure to be of interest to fleet customers. Set to arrive in March next year, the seventh generation midsized saloon is said to offer noticeably sharper driving dynamics courtesy of extensively upgraded chassis technology, improved aerodynamics, full LED headlights as standard, more interior space with a focus on shoulder and elbow room and a significant increase in comfort and premium ambience. Engines will include four cylinder petrol and diesel model, plus six-cylinder diesel with outputs ranging from 150 hp to 265 hp. M-Performance and plug-in hybrid models will follow. Prices for the entry level 318d SE will start from €43,700.

Following hot on its heels will be the X7, BMW’s new flagship SUV. The luxury seven-seater will boast two full sized third row seats. Available in three versions from launch, the X7 will be powered by a six-cylinder petrol engine and two six-cylinder

diesels. On the road prices will start from €114,750.

Elsewhere the new X5 goes on sale from this month with prices from €€87,390, while the all-new 8-Series Coupe starts from €116,740 for the 320 hp 840d xDrive. A new Z4 is also due in March priced from €50,420.

Overall BMW Group Ireland has announced a price reduction across its BMW and MINI brands despite the increased costs due to WLTP, with an average price reduction of 5.1 per cent.

Toyota reunites the Corolla family

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ver since Toyota decided in 2006 to create the Auris brand for the hatchback version of its compact family car instead of continuing with the Corolla name for all iterations, it must have been a source of frustration for its Irish distributor, as it watched other brands’ models claim kudos for best selling car in the country. Combined, the Auris hatch and estate, and Corolla saloon would have consistently topped the Irish charts month after month.

That will no longer be the case though, as the next generation of hatchback, saloon and estate will all come under the Corolla moniker. The new models are arriving into dealer showrooms this month with fi rst deliveries expected from January for the hatch and Tourer, and February for the saloon. Naturally the focus is on hybrids, with the Corolla saloon gett ing hybrid power for the FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

fi rst time via a 1.8 litre, 122 hp unit, with the hatch and Touring versions also having the option of a new more powerful 2.0 litre / 180 hp version. Prices for the hybrid versions start from €26,820 (saloon) / €26,370 (hatchback) / €28,420 (Touring Sports).

Set to arrive in April is the Camry Hybrid, priced from €39,750.

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

LAUNCH PAD II | 11

New more refined Duster retains value for money appeal

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he Dacia Duster can arguably lay claim to being the car of the last half decade. Starting from a zero base, over 10,000 units have been sold in Ireland since its launch six years ago, accounting for half of all Dacias sold in that timeframe.

If the original Duster always felt that it was built down to a price, the new Duster, now on sale, is a significantly more refined vehicle, though crucially retaining its competitive price advantage. Starting from €17,390, it’s noticeably quieter and more refi ned than before, thanks to thicker glass and improved sealants, while redesigned seats with better padding

provide decent support. The dashboard has been redesigned, with a higher-positioned driver-focused MediaNav multimedia touchscreen display. New technologies now offered include keyless entry, climate control and Blind Spot Warning.

Visually it retains the silhouette of the

outgoing car, although every panel is new. Also available for the fi rst time is a petrol engine, a 115 hp 1.6 litre SCe which joins the existing 1.5 litre diesel with same horsepower. Th ree trim levels are offered - Essential, Comfort and Prestige. Essential includes heat adjustable driver’s seat, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Comfort trim, available from €19,790, adds 16-inch alloys, manual aircon, frontseat armrest, rear parking camera and sensors, 7” touchscreen multimedia system including satnav amongst others, while Prestige models available from €21,290 add 17-inch alloys, multi-view camera, blind spot warning, climate control and keyless entry.

KIA adds new Ceed Sportswagon and revised Sportage to family

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ollowing on the heels of the well-regarded new KIA Ceed is the estate version, the Ceed Sportswagon. Wider and lower (by 20mm in each dimension) than the car it replaces, the Ceed Sportswagon is also 95mm longer than before. That results in an impressive 600 litre boot capacity, which puts many estate cars in the segment above the Ceed to shame.

Practical estate-friendly features include a 40:20:40 rear seat split which can be folded remotely with a single touch from inside the tailgate giving a flat boot floor. An underfloor box can secure or hide smaller items, while outside the car, integrated roof rails are fitted as standard.

As with its hatchback sibling, KIA has put a great deal of effort into making the Ceed Sportswagon amenable to European motoring tastes. So it comes with fully-independent suspension complemented by revised spring and damper rates and a faster

steering rack.

Engines offered are a 1.0 litre 120 PS petrol engine seen on the Ceed hatchback, and a new ‘U3’ 1.6-litre CRDi diesel that develops 115 PS. The Ceed Sportswagon comes with just one trim level, with prices of €25,295 (petrol) and €27,595 (diesel) Also newly arrived is the upgraded Sportage with revised exterior and interior, upgraded infotainment and active driver aids, and the new new ‘U3’ diesel engine. Idle Stop & Go (ISG) is now standard across every engine in the Sportage range. Prices start from €29,495.

New engines and styling revisions for Fiat 500X

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n updated Fiat 500X with refreshed exterior, revised interior and new engines has gone on sale. Externally new LED daytime running lights, LED headlights and rear lights are standard on all models. On Urban models there’s an all-new front and rear bumper design, while the Cross version gets new-look protective skid plates.

Inside there’s a new instrument cluster, with easier to read graphics, together with a new steering wheel. Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Assist and Lane Assist driving assist systems are standard on all versions.

A new three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine that delivers 120hp and 190Nm of torque and is paired with a six-speed manual transmission is offered as well as a four-cylinder 1.3-litre engine Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

with 150hp and 270Nm of torque, matched to a six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission (DCT).

Available with a choice of three trim levels, Urban, City Cross and Cross, the new Fiat 500X is priced from €21,795. www.fleetcar.ie

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INTERVIEW II | 13

Fleet First Contract Hire; Interview with John Wallace, President of the VLAI

T

o lease or not to lease, that is the question among purchasers in the corporate and fleet car sector. When it comes to starting a new business, logistics are always at the forefront of decision-making, and can be quite the stumbling block for many.

Thankfully companies like Fleet First Contract Hire are there to help with those decisions and John Wallace, its Managing Director has 20 years of experience in doing just that. Fleet First tends to specialise in small to medium enterprises (SME) and although it may not be the biggest company out there, this perhaps helps in understanding the specific needs of SMEs. Coming from a wholesale and rental background, John co-founded Fleet First in 1998 as part of a larger motor group, however six years ago Fleet First Contract Hire became completely independent. “I came into the leasing by accident. Through the Vehicle Leasing Association of Ireland (VLAI), of which I am President this year, I was at a course they were running about 20 years ago and met a friend who was involved in the larger motor group and he asked me would I come and join him and set up Fleet First. So that’s what happened,” he said.

John was re-elected into his position as President of the VLAI this year, having previously held this position some ten years ago.

Running a successful business is not without its own struggles. During the economic collapse a number of businesses and financial institutions felt the squeeze, leaving room for extra competition to fi nd their way in. “Six years ago when the whole world fell apart, the banks were very reluctant to loan so that left the door open for the auto manufacturers to come in with their own fi nancial products, which is really where the Personal Contract Text: Marcella Connolly - marcella@fleet.ie

Plans (PCP) came from. The banks are back in now but they’re having trouble trying to compete with the manufacturing companies with their PCPs,” explained John.

“As well as this, a new trend has emerged amongst companies, known as the Grey Fleet. Employers give an allowance to the employee to obtain a car instead of providing a company car, which if left unregulated, could spell trouble for employers in the future. If an employee purchases a second hand vehicle, imports one or invests in a substandard vehicle, the liability is still the responsibility of the employer to make sure that it is up to standard. With lease hire, you’re given an individualised package with everything from NCT, safety, servicing and annual motor tax taken care of, and the responsibility is on the employee to keep it that way. As leasing agents, we would love to see more leasing going on in companies. It alleviates the owner’s liability. We’d be creating our own used cars, resulting in a younger fleet, greener and safer fleet,”, said John highlighting that this would also be the preference of the VLAI. As an SME, Fleet First currently has about 300 cars in its fleet in operation all over Ireland. With a company of this size, the customer experience is very personalized and John himself knows nearly all the drivers by name, which is useful when handling some of the minor hiccups experienced by clients. “Sunday afternoon punctures are a common occurrence.

Because we’re small, we’re very flexible and can always twist towards our clients needs.”

Harmonised Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) standard for C0 2 emissions, nearly every aspect of a vehicle will come under scrutiny when making the purchasing decision. Simple additions such as a sunroof, choosing bigger wheels or even the weight of safety equipment will affect the emissions ratings and that could raise the cost of vehicles across the board. It may just come down to having to choose between high, mid or low-spec vehicles.

Brexit is also a factor that may affect consumers and employers but until that has a defi nitive answer, the leasing companies will simply have to move with the tides. “We’re going through a transition period. There’s opportunities and threats, it’s just hard to know,” concluded John.

As a well-known leasing company, Fleet First Contract Hire has remained steady for the past 20 years having seen both the ups and downs of the motor trade. John may not have any expansion plans as of yet, but much like the motor trade itself, who knows what the future will bring?

The SMEs have a “user chooser” experience and can weigh up a list of needs that best suit their company. However, that may not always be the case as with the implementation of the Worldwide www.fleetcar.ie

14 | REPORT I

The Future of Multimodal Transport

I

n November GoCar marked its 10th Anniversary in business by hosting a panel discussion on the Future of Multimodal Transport in Ireland. Among the guest speakers at the Wood Quay venue in Dublin were; Dr Cara Agustenborg, Lecturer in Environmental Policy, UCD, Colm Brady, Managing Director of GoCar and Europcar Mobility Group Ireland, Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer with the National Transport Authority, Owen Keegan, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council and Sheila Struyck, Managing Director of BU New Mobility, Europcar Mobility Group. Shane Ross, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport gave the keynote address and Newstalk’s Vincent Wall chaired the discussion.

GoCar is a branch of Europcar Mobility Group, which also owns and operates the Europcar business in Ireland. After discovering a gap in the market for car sharing in Ireland, GoCar was created to allow members to book and use any car registered with the service. Since 2008, its car sharing fleet has grown in size, with 450 GoCar vehicles currently on Irish roads and over 30,000 drivers having signed up as members.

One of the main focuses of the discussion harked back to new research commissioned

by GoCar that was carried out relating to transport in Ireland. It found that 66% of the public questioned want to see a reduction in the number of cars on Irish roads. The two main reasons given were traffic congestion in built up areas and a growing concern over the environment.

However, the survey also found that FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

68% of people see the lack of viable and affordable transport alternatives as a major barrier to a car-free lifestyle, with over half of the public dissatisfied with the current public transport system; quality and availability being the two biggest concerns.

“Irish people recognise the need to reduce the number of cars on our roads for a multitude of reasons” said Colm Brady, M.D. of Europcar Mobility Group Ireland.

“Car sharing provides a great alternative to owning a car – it’s convenient, cost effective and has a lower impact on the environment”. According to the survey, one of the biggest stresses of owning a car in Ireland is the high cost of insurance premiums, as 39% of respondents agreed that this alone would make them consider car sharing rather than car ownership.

During the discussion, Environmentalist Dr Cara Agustenborg had a very poignant remark about the health of our environment, “We are one of the only countries in Europe whose emissions are increasing, not decreasing. It’s a very worrying trend and a lot of that is coming from the transport sector, so car sharing is a key factor in that solution.”

Anne Graham, CEO, National Transport Authority was the target of a difficult question when asked to comment about how people are truly dissatisfied with our public transport network. She admitted that there is a lot of work still to be done.

“We know that we need to improve the public transport right across the State and we are working hard to deliver better transport. We have to increase and

improve our service, but we also have to educate the public about the services that they actually have in their locality because there is a lack of understanding there.” The transport authority has found that when people were made more aware of the various services, the popularity of them grew, and this could be exactly the transitional step needed to get more people into car sharing. “I think it would be very difficult to get somebody to move from their own private car into a car share, I think the step-change will be from those who already use public transport or sustainable transport modes.”

Colm Brady gave an example of the cost of travelling on public transport, which he put at €10,000 annually. However, Ms. Graham refuted that claim explaining that “you can travel across all CIE services for under €5,000 a year”. Also mentioned, was the fact that Irish Transport is heavily investing in more rural areas and trying to connect towns. For the fi rst time, Cavan town has received a town service, with Monaghan and Kilkenny expected to receive theirs in the near future. Dr. Agustenborg didn’t agree with Ms. Graham’s optimistic view of Irish public transport, stating that she believes that the current transport situation is “very poor” and finds it much cheaper and faster for her to drive her car to work every day, admitt ing that this is probably down to the use of her electric car.

The topic of congestion in built up areas such as Dublin’s inner city has been a bone of contention between the City Council and City Planners for years and Owen Keegan of Dublin City Council

Text & Photos: Marcella Connolly - marcella@fleet.ie

REPORT I | 15 was asked if there is more that the city could be doing? It was suggested that people using car sharing could have use of the bus lanes. “I don’t think the Council would favour allowing that to happen. Even [though] a share car is more acceptable than a privately owned vehicle, it’s still a car… I don’t think the Council favours compromising the current public transport uses which are primarily bus lanes… The reality is that if you’re going to get into the city, you’re going to have to do it by a sustainable mode”.

The panel discussion moved towards the future of multi modal transport in which Sheila Struyck, M.D of BU New Mobility, Europcar Mobility Group, discussed the acquisition of a new electric scooter company in Belgium. It’s a pilot run scheme at the moment and it’s a ‘freefloating’ system, meaning that you do not have to return scooters to the pick-up point. “Th is has gone a lot better that we originally expected. People use them to go to their car share. Right now we are investigating how to connect this services to our other national services and we are looking to move to other cities. I think the real question is to ask the Government how to work with scooters, bikes and all the other types of transport in the city”.

Mr. Keegan pointed out that Dublin city is twinned with San Jose, which has recently rolled out approximately 1,500 electric scooters in the city, describing the impact as having been “quite phenomenal”. “It’s something we’re actively looking at. There’s still a whole lot of regulations to look at, such as safety, but we are looking at it, as it could make a great contribution”.

Throughout the discussion, electric modes of transport came up time and time again.

With Ireland’s first autonomous electronic bus trialled in Dublin earlier this year, the growing positive response to GoCar’s car sharing scheme and the possibility of introducing electronic scooters, the future of multimodal transport looks bright, but not without having complex regulations in place. The slow progression towards a green, sustainable transport sector may be a bureaucratic nightmare, but who knows, it might be a lot sooner than we think.

Celebrating 10 years of GoCar Launched in Ireland in 2008, GoCar has grown over the past 10 years to become Ireland’s largest car sharing service. Today, it operates a fleet of over 450 cars across hundreds of locations nationwide and have more than 30,000 members. With multimodal transport solutions vital to urban development and sustainable growth, it believes that car sharing will continue to play an important role in the movement towards a more flexible, efficient and environmentally friendly approach to everyday transport in the future.

Prior to celebrating its 10th anniversary GoCar undertook some research into the changing opinions on mobility in Ireland. Here are the findings: Car ownership • 51% believe the cost of car ownership (including tax, insurance, fuel, and general maintenance) is the most stressful thing about owning a car, while 20% believe it is finding suitable and affordable insurance • 68% believe the biggest barrier preventing them from living without a car is the lack of viable and affordable transport alternatives • 66% believe the need to reduce the number of cars on Irish roads to ease traffic congestion and protect the environment • 63% believe too many people rely on their own cars as a primary mode of transport Car sharing • 39% said the current cost of insurance premiums would make them consider car sharing rather than owning a car • Factors most likely to encourage car sharing: • 48% more cost effective than owning a car • 20% more environmentally friendly than owning a car • 16% quick and easy to access car sharing vehicles • 16% convenient as a second family car Public transport • 66% think population increase will strain public transport • 52% are dissatisfied with the quality and quantity of public transport options available to them (this drops to 40% among only Dublin-based respondents) • 25% of current car owners could comfortably live their daily lives using public transport and car sharing instead of owning a car (this rises to 37% among only Dublin-based respondents) Public transport improvement which will have the greatest impact: • 45% drink link plan for rural communities • 25% BusConnects plan for Dublin Bus network • 17% recent Luas extension • 13% proposed Metro North Future transport • 68% believe Irish drivers should choose transport that limits long-term environmental damage • 57% are nervous about driverless cars and their potential dangers • 39% would consider using a driverless vehicle in the future • 34% would like to see driverless public transport technology in the future Jarlath Sweeney

www.fleetcar.ie

16 | INTERVIEW III

One-to-One

way, aimed at the private sector which I will touch on later.

with Natasha Ramsay,

FC. If commercial, what are the benefits to a company leasing a fleet as opposed to buying?

Client Services Director, ALD Merrion Fleet

NR. With leasing clients receive a fully outsourced solution managing all aspects of fleet management. Th is offers a choice of services to make their life easier and a trusted partner with a consultative approach. There are many benefits, such as creating a capacity within their core business, from delivering or developing the best solutions to address any client needs identified in these areas. The customer can also benefit from our buying power and expertise, while bringing new technology and innovation helps with the management of their fleet.

Peace of mind is offered as the contract is risk free, with fi xed payment plan, and there is no risk on the resale.

FC. Can we begin with a little background on your company?

FC. What is it that business owners look for when leasing a fleet?

NR. ALD Merrion Fleet was established in 1999 as an independent company, grown to be one of Ireland’s largest Fleet Management companies. We are market leaders in Contract Hire, Fleet Management Services and mobility solutions, operating locally from our Head Office in Sandyford and with continuous business growth, we now employ 65 people.

NR. Trust, reliability and value comes to mind, as we develop a trustworthy relationship and a partnership to act as the clientele’s trusted advisor. Then there is the fully outsourced solution as mentioned earlier as fleet clients don’t always have the resources needed to deal with challenges in fleet, particularly as legislation changes, compliance and so forth. Reliability is another key pillar through consolidation of their entire fleet requirements, from purchase, maintenance, invoicing etc.

Fleet optimisation ensures sustainable mobility, not to mention value and cost optimisation. Staff retention is another positive as company representatives likes to be driving one of the latest cars available and take pride in their job therefore.

From June 2017, ALD Merrion Fleet is now part of ALD Automotive, a French company, which is a fully owned subsidiary of Société Générale. ALD operates in 55 countries, with over 1.6 million vehicles and is ranked #1 in Europe and #3 worldwide.

FC. In what sector does your company do most of it’s business, private or commercial leasing?

NR. To date we have mainly leased to businesses. However, this is across a broad range of business sectors, from multinational PLC’s with large fleets to SME’s with a requirement of 2-3 vehicles. We have new products on the FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

would always try to direct the client to the right manufacturer, in terms of the right fit for their business.

FC. Do you have special partnerships with manufacturers?

NR. We work with all manufacturers and have always worked in a partnership approach. We are happy to supply any vehicle, once it meets the customer’s needs – which is one of our USP’s. We rely on their expertise and support from purchase through the whole life of a vehicle, aftersales.

FC. Does the inflating insurance rates adversely affect business? How so?

NR. It doesn’t really, it is obviously a key consideration for the customer. One of the main benefits of our services, is that we have a tight control on our Accident Management. Monitoring trends and providing recommendations to clients in order to reduce their risks. Such recommendations could include changing their driving for work policy, introducing penalty systems, or implementing driver training programmes. Again, this is a USP for us.

FC. What about any partnerships with financial institutions?

NR. Now that we are fully owned by ALD, we are fi nancial institution in our own right, which is an advantage when it comes to funding for our clients.

FC. How do you think Brexit will affect the market for car leasing companies?

FC. Does there seem to be a preferred manufacturer amongst business owners?

NR. It’s difficult to say, as it’s an ongoing issue – Brexit is obviously on our agenda.

One of the key considerations we see, is the possible impact on second hand values – which greatly impacts our business. If any further decreases were to happen or any potential increases this would affect the price of leasing we will have to see how this plays out.

NR. No, there is quite a diversity of makes amongst our client base, it really depends on the industry, what they need, what vehicle is fit for purpose etc. We

Issues to be aware include exchange rates dropping, more imports, second hand values going down – which really impacts the entire motor industry.

INTERVIEW III | 17 FC. Have you seen a growth in business since the recovery of the recession?

NR. Yes, we have seen it, generally businesses are doing well and back investing. In particular we have seen a growth in the SME market, from expansions and set ups, they are growing and investing more.

FC. What does your company offer that makes it stand out from the crowd?

NR. You can take it for granted we need to be competitive, as price is always key. Other than up front price, we like to think it’s our ‘Premium Customer Service’ levels and a reliability factor that gets included in this. The feedback we receive from our clients is how we measure our service and ensure our premium levels stay on track. With a current NPS score of 80 - for drivers on the road, this is a leading result in the customer satisfactions league and has proven to be our biggest differentiator.

Continuing to measure these results allows us act on any issues and plays

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

a huge part in every element of our service provision. We like to empower our people and some of the feedback and quotes from customers that makes us proud, for example, comments like: “Our ‘Relationship Management overall is second to none’ and we are ‘easy’ to deal with.” Our professional and proactive approach is appreciated with statements like: “A serious partner, with great service and great employees” - “Industry experts” - “A well run establishment”.

FC. Outline future plans for your company, for example, expansion plans or new contracts.

NR. Now that we are part of a larger and wider organisation, and are very excited about the future. There are interesting changes ahead in terms of mobility, with the powertrain shift, the complexity of it all, including Governments revising policy and taxation. We will always reinforce our consultancy approach in order to support our clients in their journey towards fleet optimisation and sustainability. One of advantages of being

part of ALD is getting access to their state of the art technology and innovation around new products.

Some of the initiatives we are looking at locally are a private lease offering, and we have recently launched a new product PCH (Personal contract hire). White labelled product’s with manufacturers, (A fully branded manufacture’s lease offering, with ALD in the background) across Europe ALD would be a leader in this space. In mature markets there are other imitative and options in the mobility world is car sharing, which no doubt we will avail of in the very near future !

There is a good opportunity for growth, particularly as we see a changing trend – involving less people to want to own assets, wanting a nice car, without the hassle. The future for us is extremely exciting, so bring it on!

www.fleetcar.ie

18 | AWARDS II

Fleet Car Awards & Seminar 2019 Shortlisted contenders revealed

T

hat’s the date for the Fleet Car Awards & Seminar 2019 which will take place at The Johnstown Estate in Enfield. It’s set to be one of the must-attend events for anyone who is involved in the corporate car sector in Ireland - from fleet managers to leasing company representatives and motor industry professionals.

The two part event incorporates both the Awards presentation honouring the best fleet cars of the year with a highly topical seminar and discussion forum. Topics are being fi nalised, but subjects such as the evolving motor industry in relation to fuel types and automation, the impact of Brexit, and grey fleets are set to be among the areas under discussion, with some exciting and highly relevant speakers set to offer valuable and interesting insights.

The Fleet Car Awards are well established, having been fi rst presented in 2012. Each year they recognise the best and most suitable cars across a range of sectors relevant to the corporate market, factoring in key criteria relevant to fleet buyers as well as more driving oriented features.

For 2019 there will be six categories up for grabs at the Fleet Car Awards, including one all new category, the Irish Fleet Manufacturer of the Year. This will be presented to the manufacturer that is identified as the most proactive and innovative in working with the corporate car market and the Irish leasing industry.

Of the five specific categories, three cover the traditionally most important fleet segments, namely C-Segment for smaller

www.fleetcar.ie

Car

AWARDS & SEMINAR 2019

family sized cars, D-Segment for larger vehicles, and Executive / Premium for the business executive sector. However the evolving face of the motor industry is being reflected in what cars are included as contenders. Instead of separate categories for crossover SUVs, they are now incorporated into the mainstream categories, as increasingly company car buyers are choosing to opt for this type of car rather than a traditional saloon or estate.

Equally the increasing importance of alternatively fuelled cars for corporate drivers is also being highlighted, with two separate categories - for hybrid cars and electric cars - to be presented to the best and most relevant fleet cars in these classes. With virtually every manufacturer now including such cars in their model line-up, fleet buyers are increasingly seeing such cars as realistic alternatives to diesel.

In the following pages are the 25 cars that have made the shortlist for the Fleet Car Awards 2019. Gett ing to this stage is a considerable achievement in itself - for instance there were over fi ft y contenders long-listed in both the C-Segment and D-Segment categories. These shortlisted contenders will now be freshly assessed by the Fleet Car Awards judging panel comprising experts and professionals across a range of industry related specialisations before they cast their fi nal votes ahead the gala event on March 12.

Fleet Car Award Winners 2018

C Segment - Honda Civic

Premium - Mercedes-Benz C-Class FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

D Segment - Opel Insigna

Executive - BMW 5-Series

Crossover - Skoda Kodiaq

Irish Green Fleet Car - Volkswagen e-Golf

AWARDS II | 19

Fleet Car of the Year 2019 - C-Segment: Shortlisted Contenders Ford Focus

Honda Civic

KIA Ceed

A previous winner of this category on two occasions, the Ford Focus continues to be an important car for fleet buyers despite the influx of crossover contenders. Th is new fourth generation model majors on safety and driver assistance equipment and offering improved onboard connectivity. It retains its status as a benchmark of fi ne handling while Drive Modes are now on all models. Engine options are a 1.0 litre 125PS petrol or a 1.5 litre 120PS diesel. Offered in hatchback and estate versions (no saloon this time), the Focus comes in four trims including a luxurious Vignale version, while there’s also a new Active crossover type model. Prices range from €22,495 to €33,420.

The winner of the category at the Fleet Car Awards last time out, the appeal of the Civic to the company car market has been broadened since then on two fronts - the addition of a diesel engine, and the launch of a Sedan version.

The 1.6 litre diesel develops 120 PS and with just 93 g/km of CO2 with manual gearbox ticks the green boxes for fleets. 1.0 and 1.5 petrol versions are also offered. Honda’s exemplary range of standard safety equipment via its Honda Sensing Suite continues to be a key feature for this car. Prices run from €24,250 to €35,385. Due to the larger dimensions of the new Civic sedan, its almost the same size as the highly acclaimed Accord model which is now discontinued.

KIA’s family sized hatchback which arrived in August has now been joined by an SW estate version. While it may have lost an apostrophe in its name, it makes up for it with plenty of additions. The new Ceed offers a roomy, comfortable cabin that’s well designed and generously specified, an economical and refi ned new 1.6 litre diesel engine as well as turbo petrol engines, and advanced safety equipment including offering ‘level two autonomous driving’ Lane Following Assist technology.

Engineered for European tastes, it’s also good to drive, with a well damped ride and nicely rated steering. KIA’s seven year warranty will also appeal. Offered in four trim levels, prices range from €22,695 to €28,595.

Škoda Karoq

Volkswagen T-Roc

T he Czech manufacturer’s first foray into t he smaller crossover class ticks a lot of boxes.

As you’d expect from Škoda, it’s spacious, with optional VarioFlex seats that can even be completely removed giving up to 1,810 litres of boot space. Optional features include a Virtual Cockpit and ŠKODA Connect online services. There are two petrol engines of 1.0 and 1.5 litre capacity and 1.5/1.6 litre diesels. A Sportline trim featuring unique body kit and alloy wheels as well as sports seats and other additions inside is due imminently, meanwhile the Karoq is offered in two trims of Ambition and Style, with prices ranging from €27,900 to €34,650.

Volkswagen’s most compact crossover SUV for now, until the imminent arrival of the new T-Cross, the T-Roc stands out for its distinctive style in a class of look a l i kes.

Particularly if you opt for a higher trim, a high quality cabin makes it an appealing space inside, while a dynamic chassis will encourage the keen driver. A choice of petrol and diesel engines are offered ranging from the 1.0 litre TSI 115bhp to 150bhp 15 litre petrols and 2.0 litre diesels, with 4MOTION and 8-speed DSG also available. Available in four trims of T-Roc, Design, Sport and R-Line, prices (ROTR) range from €25,925 to €39,545.

www.fleetcar.ie

20 | AWARDS II

Fleet Car of the Year 2019 - D-Segment: Shortlisted Contenders Mazda6

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Peugeot 3008

Already highly regarded, Mazda’s large saloon and estate has just had a makeover making it an appealing proposition for traditional buyers in the D-Segment against the ever increasing crossover SUV competition. Straddling the gap between mainstream and premium, strengths include a refreshed well appointed cabin and excellent driving dynamics with steering and suspension having been revised. A new 2.5 petrol isn’t offered here but we get 145PS and 165PS 2.0 petrols and 150PS and 184PS 2.2 diesels and a choice of 6-speed manuals or autos. Offered in Executive, Platinum and Platinum+ trims, prices range from €31,945 to €45,295.

Winner of the Premium category last time out, the C-Class is also an att ractive proposition for higher-end D-Segment buyers. A face-lifted version has just arrived featuring external and internal design changes and notably new electronic architecture passed down from the S-Class, allowing the use of safety and autonomous driving technology. Latest generation engines include 129hp and 156hp 1.6 litre petrol engines as well as a 184hp mild hybrid option. 1.6 and 2.0 diesels range from 122 to 235hp. Offered in Avantgarde, Exclusive and AMG equipment lines, prices begin from €37,710 up to €111,430 for the ultra high performance AMG C63S.

The multi-award winning Peugeot 3008 has taken the crossover SUV world by storm since its launch just over a year ago. Stylish looks, a wrap-around att ractive cockpit, economical engines and a refi ned ride are strong points.

Offered in four trims of Access, Active, GT Line and GT, engines include 1.2 120bhp and 1.6 180bhp PureTech petrol units and 1.5 130bhp and 2.0 180bhp BlueHDi diesels with a choice of 6-speed manual or 8-speed EAT6 Auto transmissions. No 4WD versions but the 3008 is available with Advanced Grip Control. Prices range from €26,990 for Access 1.2 petrol to €45,540 for the GT with 180bhp diesel.

Peugeot 508

Volvo XC40

With the all-new 508, arriving in Ireland in the first quarter of 2019, Peugeot is stating clearly its ambitions to move upmarket.

Although actually a h atc hbac k , frameless doors and a steeply raked back give it a coupé appearance with significant visual appeal. Inside also feels a lot more upmarket than the old 508, with the latest version of i-Cockpit and a wrap-around cabin. Engines are 130bhp 1.5 litre and 160bhp and 180bhp 2.0 litre BlueHDi diesels, while a 1.6 THP petrol comes with 180bhp or 225bhp. A plug-in hybrid follows late next year. Offered in four trim lines of Active, Allure, GT Line and GT, prices range from €32,400 up to €49,120.

It ’s been a n incredibly successful year for Volvo’s new compact SU V, winning both the European Car of the Year and Irish Car of the Year titles. It features much of the latest design language and connectivity and infotainment technology as well as safety features fi rst seen in the latest XC90 and in subsequent models. Available in four trims of XC40 Base model, Momentum, R-Design and Inscription, there’s a choice of 156hp T3 and 190hp T4 petrol engines and 150hp D3 and 190hp D4 diesels, with auto and AWD available. Prices start at €38,450 for the Entry level T3 Manual up to €51,950 for the D4 Automatic AWD in Inscription trim.

FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

AWARDS II | 21

Fleet Car of the Year 2019 - Premium/Executive: Shortlisted Contenders Audi A6

KIA Stinger

Mercedes-Benz CLS

A new generation A6 brings additional levels of refi nement and connectivity to Audi’s executive class saloon. Key features include mild-hybrid technology on all engines, an all-digital control system, impressive levels of noise muting and class-leading leg-room in the rear. Available in front-wheel-drive or quatt ro versions, engine options include 204PS 40 TDI, 231PS 45 TDI and 286PS 50 TDI diesels while a 2.0 TFSI petrol variant will follow. Two trims - SE and S-Line are offered. Prices start from €51,650 OTR for the S line 40 TDI S tronic, while an S line 50 TDI quatt ro tiptronic retails at €68,955.

KIA enters the Executive class as well as the sports car arena with its Stinger.

The five-door coupé offers strong performance, an entertaining drive, and comes equipped with materials and technology to match any of the established premium brands. The GT model, which features a 370PS 3.3 litre V6 petrol engine and all wheel drive isn’t aimed at the fleet sector, however the rear wheel drive GT-Line model which boasts a 200PS 2.2 litre diesel represents an interesting left of field choice for executive corporate customers. With just a single trim level, the Stinger GT-Line is competitively priced at €52,995, while the Stinger GT costs €66,895.

A new CLS brings added appeal to the upper end of the Executive fleet market as for the fi rst time it offers seating for a five adults, while boasting generous boot space of up to 520 litres. The stylish four-door coupé features all-digital wide-screen displays with the latest in touch-screen infotainment, safety and driver assistance systems. Diesel engine options comprise a 245hp CLS 300d along with a 286 hp CLS350d 4MATIC and 340 hp CLS400d 4MATIC. A CLS 220d version arrives in 2019. Petrol options include 306hp CLS350, 367hp CLS450 and 435hp AMG CLS53.

Available in standard and AMG-Line trims, prices range from €66,145 to €109,280.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Volkswagen Touareg

A former category winner of the Fleet Car Awards, for many upwardly mobile business high flyers the E-Class personifies the Executive Class.

L ook i ng a nd feeling in many respects like a slightly smaller S-Class, key features include a high quality and well designed and engineered cabin, a comfortable ride, and efficient and refined diesel engines. There’s also a plug-in hybrid version. Trims are Avantgarde, Exclusive and AMG-Line, as well as AMG performance versions. Choose from 184hp E200 petrol or 194 E300de Plug-In Hybrid versions, or four diesels ranging in power from 150hp to 286hp. Prices run from €53,070 all the way up to €170,650 from the AMG E63S.

An all-new Touareg moves Volkswagen firmly into the Executive Class with a significant improvement i n m ater ia l s , equipment and intuitive layout.

More spacious inside, boot space of 810 litres with seats up will accommodate even the most demanding owners. Notable features include the fully digitalised Innovision Cockpit with Digital Cockpit with 12-inch display and the top Discover Premium infotainment system with 15-inch display. The fiveseater only SUV comes with a choice of a 3.0 litre TDI V6 engine in outputs of 231 or 286hp. A plug-in hybrid PHEV model will follow. Available in standard and Design trims, prices before optional add-ons range from €65,395 to €78,995. www.fleetcar.ie

22 | AWARDS II

Fleet Car of the Year 2019 - Green Fleet - Hybrid: Shortlisted Contenders BMW 5 Series Saloon iPerformance

Ford Mondeo HEV

Honda CR-V Hybrid

The BMW 530e iPerformance is a plugin hybrid that combines a 184hp 2.0 litre petrol engine with 95hp electric motor and a high-voltage lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 9.2 kWh. When running on electricity alone, the vehicle has a stated range of around 45 km. While the driver can select between petrol only, hybrid and electric only driving modes, left in auto mode the car utilises intelligent energy management to select the optimum drive, for instance using satnav to plan where on a route is the optimum place to use the electric motor. It’s priced at €60,875 in SE and €65,275 in M-Sport specification.

Although on sale in the US for a few years, Ford’s fi rst hybrid offering for the Mondeo only arrived in Ireland earlier this year. It combines a specially developed Atkinson cycle 187PS 2.0 petrol engine with two electric motors – one to support the petrol engine in driving the wheels and another to enable regenerative charging to the 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. Quoted fuel consumption is 4.2 L/100km and stated CO2 emissions are 92g/km.

Unlike the regular Mondeo which comes in hatchback and estate variants, the Mondeo Hybrid is available as a saloon only. Both trim versions come generously specified with Titanium trim having an RRP of €35,796 while Vignale models are priced at €40,907.

Honda’s first hybrid offering in an SUV in Europe, the CR-V Hybrid uses intelligent Multi Mode Drive technology (i-MMD) designed to give an exceptionally smooth and efficient power delivery. It combines a generator motor with a 1884PS propulsion electric motor, a 145PS 2.0 Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, Lithium-ion battery and a single fi xed-gear ratio transmission.

Honda says it will run on electric power at 60km/h for around half of the time, and at 100 km/h for approximately one third of the time. Offered in four trims, prices range from €38,000 to €49,800 after Government grants.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Toyota Prius

Mitsubishi was one of the first manufacturers to offer hybrid technology in an SUV. An updated model has gone on sale, and is now available in three trims of Intense, Instyle and S-Edition. The Outlander PHEV combines a new 135PS 2.4 Atkinson cycle petrol engine (up from 2.0 litres) with 10% more powerful engine/generator and rearmounted electric drive motors. Battery capacity is now 15% more powerful at 13.8kWh. It’s one of the fi rst plug-in hybrids to be WLTP certified at 46g/km CO2 . It’s also up to 20% cheaper than before, with prices from €39,900 for Intense, Instyle from €43,900 and S-Edition from €47,500 inclusive of grants.

The Daddy of them all when it comes to combi n i ng petrol and electric power, the Prius is now available both as a non-plug-in series hybrid and a plug-in version.

Now in its fourth generation, each model has got progressively more efficient with improvements to electric motor and battery technology which sees the Prius returning leading fuel consumption and emission figures. It also scores strongly for refi nement and standard safety equipment. The regular Prius comes in two trims with prices of €31,450 and €34,150, while the Prius Plug-In is offered in three trims with prices from €37,125 to €40,390 (all prices inclusive of any Government grants).

FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

AWARDS II | 23

Fleet Car of the Year 2019 - Green Fleet - Electric: Shortlisted Contenders BMW i3 / i3s

Hyundai Kona Electric

Jaguar I-Pace

If you want to make a statement about your green credentials, then BMW’s i3 certainly stands out from the crowd with its unique stylish appearance and eye-catching features such as its rearward opening back doors. It’s also about to become more practical too with the arrival of a more powerful 42.2kWh battery which will provide a range of up to 260km based on the WLTP cycle - that’s almost 30% more than before and double the original range of the i3. Range Extender versions have been discontinued. The 170PS i3 is priced at €45,774 and the 184PS i3s at €49,060 excluding Government grants.

The arrival of an all-electric version of Hyundai’s popular crossover in January has the potential to be a significant game changer. Not only is it the fi rst all-electric small crossover to make, but it sets new standards for range capacity with a promised WLTP measured driving range of up to 482km (546km under NEDC measurements). That’s thanks to a powerful 64 kWh battery that develops 204PS and will accelerate the Kona from 0-100km/h in just 7.6 seconds. Offered in a single trim, it’s priced at €36,995 after current government and SEAI grants while Residual VRT of €1,055 is paid by Hyundai.

Jaguar’s fi rst all-electric SUV certainly has got heads turning. The I-Pace offers an impressive range of 470km under the WLTP cycle thanks to a powerful 90kWh lithium-ion battery powering two electric motors that generate 400PS and 700Nm of torque and four wheel drive. That power provides acceleration of 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds, while offering sportscar like handling. Inside too is impressive - Jaguar interiors are always well appointed, but the I-Pace sets new standards in this regard, while the boot can take up to 656 litres of luggage. Offered in three trims as well as limited First Edition, prices range from €81,585 to €109,810 inclusive of Government grants.

Nissan Leaf

Volkswagen e-Golf

N i s s a n’s a l l elec t r ic L ea f c ont i nue s to evolve very nicely.

While the current model is powered by a 4 0kW h batter y which delivers a stated range of 270km under the WLTP standard, a more powerful 60 kWh battery is on the way which will take horsepower up from 150hp to around 200hp. It’s also reported that the new battery will accept charging speeds of up to 100kW. Notable features of the Leaf include e-Pedal which makes one pedal driving a reality, and ProPilot which offers a degree of autonomous driving. Th ree trims are offered - SV, SV Premium and SVE, with prices ranging from €28,690 to €32,600 inclusive of Government grants.

The winner of this award last time out, what appeals to many about the e-Golf is that it looks and drives prett y much like every other Golf on the road. The electric motor has an output of 136hp giving a theoretical range under NEDC measurement of 300km. Just announced is a new Executive Edition of the e-Golf which adds unique alloy wheels, LED tail lights, full full leather interior with Sports comfort seats in front, Active Info Display, Rear-View Camera, Heated Front Seats, Tinted Rear Windows and Keyless Access. Prices for the regular e-Golf are from €45,995, while the e-Golf Executive Edition is priced from €49,495.

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

www.fleetcar.ie

24 | TECHNOLOGY

Major automotive parts supplier Continental aims for zero accident future

C

ontinental continues to be best known as a tyre manufacturer, ranking amongst the big four brands, but there’s an awful lot more to the company. It’s one of the world’s largest producers of automotive parts, supplying most of the leading brands with everything from seats to state-of-the-art autonomous driving technology.

In fact up to 50% of the components in a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and 60% in the flagship S-Class could originate from Continental. As Michael Caine might have said; ’Not a lot of people know that.’

The company has an ambitious target built around its Vision Zero initiative, namely to achieve zero injuries, zero fatalities and zero accidents on our roads. It aims to realise this though a combination of the safety technologies it develops alongside its premium range of tyres.

To demonstrate just what a broad range of technologies are developed by Continental, it brought its Vision Zero Live event to Mondello Race Circuit in County Kildare, where it offered Irish motorists, staff from tyre retailers and managers of large company fleets the opportunity to participate in a range of ‘hands on the wheel’ demonstrations of the company’s latest tyre and automotive systems.

“Our Vision Zero Live event is a great opportunity to educate the public as to FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

the great improvements that automotive and tyre technologies are bringing to road safety,” explained Tom Dennigan, Head of Continental Tyres in Ireland. “It is exactly these innovations that are helping Continental and our partners in our quest to achieve zero accidents, zero injuries and zero fatalities.”

A lot of the technology will be familiar to motorists, if not the fact that it is developed

by Continental. A prime example is Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) where the car will stop automatically if the driver does not intervene to avoid a collision.

The use of cameras and sensors is also increasingly prevalent in today’s new cars, but how much trust would you put in them? An interesting exercise undertaken in Mondello was driving ‘blind’ with the windscreen covered over. Using just the vehicle’s latest generation cameras and distance sensors we had to navigate around a pre-prepared route without hitting the guiding cones. It felt far from natural but is an interesting insight into how technology is being adopted to make autonomous driving a reality in the not too distant future.

When it comes to practical demonstrations however, comparisons of tyres are the most dramatic. Maybe it’s a case of the old Gospel saying about believing because you have seen, but for anyone that is in anyway

ambivalent about the merits of cheap or partially worn tyres over new quality examples, a demo such as that undertaken

by Continental would quickly convince towards the latter.

Directly comparing Continental tyres against new budget brand examples, a series of exercises involved emergency braking and swerving tests to simulate emergency situations when you need your tyre to perform. The advantage of such a comparison test is that it highlights just what a difference there is between two tyres. In isolation it is nearly impossible to quantify how good or poor a tyre is without a benchmark to compare against.

To put it frankly, the difference between the premium and budget tyres was stark, with the Continental tyre stopping in a noticeably shorter distance on a wet skid plan, while also providing much better grip on the slalom test. Exercises also demonstrated the significant drop off in performance with part worn tyres at or near the legal tread depth level of 1.6mm.

These tests were conducted at everyday driving speed and put the lie to oft repeated reasons given to justify cheap tyre purchases such as ‘I only travel slowly’, or I only use the car locally’. When that extra yard or two stopping power can be the difference between life or death, is there really a decision to be made?

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

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*Price excludes dealer delivery and related charges. Subject to availability. Terms & conditional apply. Model shown for illustrative purposes. C02 range: 131 – 140 g/km and 5.7 – 6.1 l/100km.

26 | DESIGN

XV Autostyle Design Competition 2018 The event held at the Villa Di Bagno, Porto Montovano, Mantova, began with a series of workshops presented by some of the world’s leading car brand designers.

Mitja Borkert: Lamborghini The new Terzo Millennio

Adam MacKerron (22) Coventry University.

His winning portfolio is pictured right.

T

he 15th running of the annual Autostyle Design Competition was significant in numerous ways. Not only did the organisers Berman SpA attract the highest number of entries to date from all over the world, but for the fi rst time the presentation workshops from chief automotive designers featured motorbikes. In addition, the car exhibition covered the broadest range from supercars, sportscars to compact SUVs. Founded by Berman owner Robert Artioli and Eric Dubois, formerly of Nissan and Renault Design Centres, and now with Safran Group, the competition has progressed and evolved, creating a platform for young, upcoming, inspiring car design college students. From the ten finalists shortlisted, the winners came from England, Italy, India, Poland, China and Australia with some attending prominent car design colleges elsewhere.

Mitja began with a famous quote from Ferruccio Lamborghini, the company founder: “I wanted this car just for me, it was always a dream and must remain a dream”, on describing the iconic Countach sports car designed by Pininfarina. That philosophy remains to this day at the Bologna based marque to create “elegant supercars” that epitomise “refi nement, luxury and performance”, according to Mitja. In detail he described Lamborghini’s latest products and the thinking about the design lines.

For example, with the Aventader SVs, defi ned lines from a jet lighter plane were replicated. Drawing further admiration was the Terzo Millennio III, which was on display outside, an 800 volt pure electric 4WD supercar that propels from 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds.

Flavio Manzoni: Ferrari Concept & Technical designs at Ferrari It may have taken seven years to fulfi ll a long held desire to establish a landmark Design Centre (Stile Ferrari) at Marenello, the home of the ‘Prancing Horse’, but Flavio’s pride was plain to be seen as his dream has been realised. The four-story building is located near its test track.

Meanwhile, back on the track of producing desirable sports cars, Flavio used simple words to describe the high-end status

Ferrari exalts in. “We create emotion,” he stated, “and we have no desire to be the fastest.”

Taking inspiration from past Ferrari cars, a new programme Icona (Icon) has been established with new Limited Edition Monza SP1 & SP2 models recently launched at the Paris Motor Show.

“Monza SP1 brings us back to the pure lines of the 750 Monza with a modern more powerful look,” he said.

Monza SP1 & SP2 are similar in concept; although the main difference is that they can be ordered either as a single-seater or a two-seater. The driver does not need to wear a helmet below 110 km/h.

Flavio also described the new Ferrari 488 Pista Spider as “the highest performance Prancing Horse drop-top ever.” It’s the 50th Cabriolet to be introduced by the brand. The model’s engine (3.9 V8 720 hp) twin-turbo dynamics and aerodynamics are derived from two track cars – the 488 Challenge and the successful 488 GTE which won the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Tatsuya Sonoda – Toyota ED2 The new RAV4

Pagani Huayra FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

Toyota Motor Company Design Centres from all over the world contributed to the overall design of the new RAV4 SUV, with the newly established ED2 Centre

DESIGN | 27 in the south of France having the fi nal say in producing a powerful, bold and iconic design, redefi ning the RAV4 heritage according to Tatsuya. “It’s the standout model in the D-Segment,” he claimed.

Tatsuya went through the history of the RAV4 models to date mentioning that he thought the original model “was cute.” Now that the RAV4 is in the mass market, it has become more car like but still offering a go anywhere att itude and ultimately – fun, he emphasised.

Space, storage and comfort were high on the agenda when it came to the new model, and with different levels of specification offering contrasting yet appealing looks, the rebirth of an icon is reassured as is the transformation of Toyota from ‘conservative’ to exciting.

Tatsuya was joined on stage by US native Ian Cartabiano, President and Director of Design at ED2.

Andrea Ferraresi and Julien Clement – Ducati The Panigale V4 For the fi rst time in the 15-year history of the Autostyle Competition, leading designers from the motorbike sector were invited to the presentation workshops.

The creators of the Ducati Panigale V4 with its 300 km/h plus top speed raised eyebrows and caught the imagination of the attendees immediately. Andrea stated that the engine block is the central part of the bike’s overall design, determining the distance between the wheels to ensure stability. From its initial design, road tests feedback required that some aerodynamic changes were required on the side panels to improve leg comfort for the pilot and ensure sufficient air-cooling for the engine. Every angle of the bike’s design is important, claimed Julien, who has three new products created under his watch and he is still under 30!

“It is called the Panigale V4, a sports bike with a 1,103 cc 90o V4 engine introduced this year as a successor to Ducati’s flagship, the V-twin 1299. It marks a new and important chapter in Ducati’s history – a symphony of performances and emotions that’s 100% Italian.”

Hisanori Matsushima – Suzuki The new Jimny In describing the fourth generation Jimny as the smallest, toughest, real and authentic off-roader, Hisaneri proudly looked back at the success of its predecessors which have enjoyed a ‘lovable’ history since 1970. More than 2.85 million units have been sold worldwide. Building on its strong heritage, the new model is shorter, wider and more robust with better load volume. It offers improved visibility due to more upright pillars. Comfort levels are enhanced and the front and back seats are now fully reclinable.

“Many design elements were inherited from past legends, creating a familiar yet distinct Jimny look such as the front grille with vertical openings, clamshell bonnet and the rear combination lamps gathered at the rear bumper,” he explained.

Lowie Vermeersch – Dallara The Dallara Stradale From the Granstudio Design Centre in Turin, the new Stradale is a dream come true for Giampaolo Dallara, the legendary race engineer behind the iconic Lamborghinii Miura. Granstudio was enrolled to launch Dallara’s first ever road car under the design mastery of Lowie Vermeersch.

“Designing the Dallara Stradale was about transforming the dream of Giampaolo Dallara to make his own road car into a sculpture. It was a dream that was rooted

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

in the timeless beauty of his Miura and fuelled by a long career full of passion for the race. So we avoided to impose a preconceived and fi xed idea of the styling, but we allowed its shape to stylistically evolve during the process in a continuous interaction with Dallara’s engineers. Only in this way we could design a car that is as essential and pure as the original intention. And only working like this we managed to reach this incredible level of aerodynamic performance. We wanted to merge beauty and performance into a design that in essence expresses honesty.

And in doing so the styling is not only the translation of a dream but also an expression of what we consider a core value of Dallara,” stated Lowie.

The Dallara Stradale not only focuses on performance but also on the emotional connection it creates with its driver and in the eyes of the beholder. It is therefore no coincidence that the design not only evokes the spirit of the single seater racecars Dallara is famous for.

•

•

XV Autostyle Design Competition 2018 organised by Berman was co-sponsored by Auto & Design magazine, Wacom, Bustaffa & La Cantina Sociale Coop. di Quistello One of the man highlights from the magnificent display of exotic sports cars and examples from the vehicles selected for the student designers’ portfolio were the transformer type robots assembled from Berman car parts. The project was undertaken

by Eric Dubois in association with local Universities.

Further report and photos on www.fleetcar.ie

28 | REPORT II

ACEA Conference 2018 - ‘Towards Zero’

Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Transport

A

holistic approach is needed by everyone involved in the automotive and mobility sectors, together with legislators and governments across Europe, to provide the infrastructure necessary to achieve the ultimate goal of zero fatalities in road accidents. Above all the driver has a big role in reaching this objective.

That was the final conclusion of a special seminar in Brussels hosted by ACEA, the representative body for European motor manufacturers entitled ‘towards zero’ - safe vehicles, safe drivers and safe roads,.

In his welcome address, Erik Jonnaert (pictured above), Secretary General, ACEA, set the tone for the afternoon’s speaker and forum sessions, which had Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Transport as the keynote presenter.

“While the number of fatalities have decreased in recent years, there is still much more to be done in order to reach the ultimate goal,” he said.

Hosted at the Free State of Bavaria Centre located near the European Parliament, Erik introduced R ichard Cuerden, Director, TRL Academy who revealed fi ndings on detailed research on various issues relating to current and future road safety trends.

Although Ms. Bulc is coming towards the end of her term as an MEP and Commissioner, with European elections due next year, she still harbours the intent to help reduce road fatalities. In no uncertain terms she called for everyone to ‘Buckle-Up’ and mentioned that this

FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

wording goes beyond seat-belt usage but requires everybody to be more vigilant on the roads.

Commissioner Bulc takes this matter personally: “We can meet targets to overcome these challenges,” she said and highlighted the freedom of movement that we all enjoy from cars and other vehicles while noting that “there are some negatives such as pollution, congestion, and of course, fatalities and injuries. For far too long, roads are the silent killer and unlike rail and aviation industries where there is zero tolerance, this is our aim for our road networks.”

“The 25,260 deaths on EU roads last year have caused a lot of grief and pain to families and friends involved.” Ms. Bulc commended the various road safety organisations within Member States in helping to reduce the fatality figures by 50% over the past decade, which represent a 2% decrease year-on-year. She also mentioned the 136,000 seriously injured in road collisions each year, “which also have a traumatic effect”.

The majority of the deaths come from vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, mostly in urban areas and involve people above the 65 age group. “We must be aware that 39% of road traffic accidents occur on rural or regional roads and 8% on motorways and therefore a holistic approach is needed to achieve zero tolerance taking in vehicles, infrastructure and road behaviour. We (at the European Commission) are looking at introducing further new safety measures and features, which will become mandatory for inside

and outside the vehicle and are currently investigating the possibility of retro-fitting existing safety elements on today’s cars.”

Point of note is that the average age profi le of cars across Europe is 15 years, which could pose a problem.

“We need to future proof our road infrastructure, with mobility solutions to cater for high levels of automation as drivers move towards it. Bear in mind that 94% of fatal collisions involve driver error.”

“Can we change human behaviour? “We are unpredictable and spontaneous,” she added in reply to her own question.

Ms. Bulc called for more enforcement on roads, with a greater Police presence and controls. In conclusion, she made one fi nal plea, “Buckle-up Partners,” she stressed.

Road Safety Analysis study A detailed analysis of road accident statistics has been carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and Centre Européen d’Etudes de Sécurité et d’Analyse des Risques (CEESAR).

Richard Cuerden, Director, TRL Acadamy outlined fi ndings from the research and stated that in order to identify appropriate future vehicle safety systems, further in-depth accident research needs to be conducted to enable informed decision making at European level.

“Th is is also the case for the revision of the EU’s General Safety Regulation (GSR), which is under discussion by the

REPORT II | 29

Safe vehicles, Safe drivers & Safe roads European Parliament and the Council right now,” he said.

“Th is accident analysis provides clear guidance on the strengths, weaknesses and effectiveness of the safety measures proposed as part of the GSR revision in terms of how much they can further improve road safety,” he added.

Some of the key fi ndings of the analysis, which cover commercial vehicles in the main, include: • ‘Direct Vision’ low-entry cabs for trucks: systems to detect vulnerable road users (such as pedestrians and cyclists) are some 50% more effective in reducing fatalities and injuries than extensively re-designing trucks to create low-entry ‘direct vision’ cabs. Similar to what is already in place under the Transport for London CLOCs specified regulation.

• Front- and side-crash measures for SUVs and vans: these big and heavy vehicles already have a high level of occupant protection. As the study shows, the added value of additional passive safety measures is thus limited, although the researchers recommended to extend Frontal Impact Crash Tests currently exempt from vans under 2.5 tonnes GVW and also include the Side Impact Crash Test above the 700mm critical point.

• Reversing detection system for trucks: the benefits of this safety measure would be limited. The target population is already low, covering only 0.10% of all road user fatalities according to the accident analysis.

The panel discussions covered two main topics: “What is the best mix of measures for improving road safety today” with

Malin Ekholm, Vice President, Volvo Cars Safety Centre, joined by Matt hew Baldwin, Deputy Director, DG Move, European Commission, Laurianne’s Krid, Director General, FIA and Antonia Perot, Secretary General, European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers giving their views and opinions.

•

• •

The second panel consisting of Prof Klaus Kompass, Vice President Vehicle Safety, BMW Group, Gwenole Cozigou, Director, DG Grow, European Commission, Richard Schram, Technical Manager, EuroNCAP, Sigrid de Vries, Secretary General, European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) and John Dawson, Founding Chairman, International Road Assesment Programme gave their interpretation on “What does the future hold in an automated world”.

The main points raised in these sessions include that we must embrace the technology developed for autonomous driving, although driverless vehicles are years away.

• Vehicle ownership is changing with car sharing becoming more popular in urban areas.

• Currently driver distraction is a key factor in causing collisions.

• More needs to be done to protect motorcyclists including getting rid of wire rope type motorway barriers.

• 70% of accidents involve two-wheeled vehicles.

• Additional safety technology can add to the overall weight of the vehicle thereby affecting CO2 levels.

• Drivers need to be aware of safety systems fitted, not to be over confident

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

•

and think they are invincible.

Safety first is paramount when adapting to autonomous driving, which requires infrastructure improvement and legislative changes.

By 2025, 70% of cars will be connected.

Harmonisation of technology between manufacturers required i.e., compatibility and ease of use.

Road signs and display need to be regulated to meet automation.

Revisions of general safety regulations for passenger cars and vans as recommended

by ACEA: • Fronta l f ul l w idth impact; strengthening of safety systems to reduce impact • Drowsiness & Attention detection; assesses length of time driving with warning • A lcohol Interlock installation function; vehicle non start if under the influence • Autonomous Emergency Braking; Warning with automatic breaking • Reverse Detection; with camera/ sensors to warn pedestrians • Emergency Stop Signal; f lashing braking lights to warn/alert others Rear Impact: • Strengthen rear structure of vehicle, reduce impact on collision • Lane Keeping Assistance; more effective than lane departure warning • Tyre Pressure Monitoring; Allow for direct and indirect systems

www.fleetcar.ie

30 | TIMES PAST

The Ferrari Museum Experience: Genuine Passion

P

eople forming a n orde r l y queue outside the doors to the entrance of the Ferrari Museum at Maranello may not have seen the movie ‘La Passione’ dedicated to Ferrari, produced and directed by singer/ songwriter Chris Rea. Nevertheless the passion that the Italian sports car brand engenders was evident in that queue, with the collective excitement and enthusiasm of the waiting groups palatable.

Once inside, a full sized Ferrari Formula 1 car, pinned horizontally on the wall provides an instant photo shoot opportunity. A famous quote by the legendary company founder Enzo Ferrari sets the tone for the guided tour of the hallowed halls exhibiting

the brand’s glorious past. Th is museum, twinned with a similar public facility in Modena, the birthplace of Ferrari, is not purely for cars featuring the famous ‘Prancing Horse’ badge, as also on view are a vast array of trophies, photographs and other historical objects relating to Ferrari sales success on the road and prowess on the race tracks.

The Ferrari Formula 1 simulator on site adds to the thrill. A look through the broad selection of high-end branded merchandise (with high-end price tags to boot) was a necessary evil. Hard to find a simple T-shirt less than €50, while a €8,700 label on one of the model sports cars topped the lot.

Autumn 2018 marked the 120th anniversary of the founder’s birth and the Ferrari Museum pays tribute to his passion with two specially themed exhibitions – “Driven by Enzo” and “Passion & Legend”.

“Driven by Enzo” shows off the four-seater models driven personally by Enzo Ferrari. As is well known, Enzo used to try

Ferrari 488 GTE

FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

TIMES PAST | 31 out every car produced at Maranello himself, but not all of them were for day-to-day driving. On his daily journeys, he particularly loved four-seater cars because of their combination of comfort and sportiness and often ferried around his illustrious visitors in them. His passion for these cars began with the 1960 Ferrari 250 GT 2+2 and continued for the rest of his life with the 400 GTi, the 412, and finally the Ferrari 456 GT, a car he personally approved in 1988. Even when he decided to employ a chauffeur in 1969, the latter was often a passenger and travel companion to a man who always felt himself to be a driver.

“Passion and Legend” is the extraordinary story of Enzo Ferrari and his company, retraced through cars and images. Ferrari is the transposition into the real world of its founder’s vision and his unconditional love for cars, as we can see in this exhibition of seven decades of the most beautiful cars. Then we find the 166 Inter of 1948, the first Ferrari mainly for road use, the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta “Tdf” of 1956 and again the Dino 246. The exhibition carries on down to the cars of today such as the F12tdf, a special limited series, and the 812 Superfast, the company’s highest performing road car.

The Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 single-seaters driven by Michael Schumacher, Jody Scheckter, Niki Lauda, etc are proudly displayed in a dedicated hall while the GT track cars featured intact original livery. Vehicles are well spaced out but patience is required to get enough room for a clear photo beside the car of your dreams.

The Ferrari Museum in Maranello also offers visitors exclusive shuttle bus tours to the Fiorano track and along the Viale Enzo Ferrari boulevard in the factory complex. A museum guide on board will also discuss the various characteristics of the Ferrari track where the Prancing Horse has carried out all its competition and road car tests since 1972. Likewise the Ferrari Campus, the heart of the complex where all the Prancing Horse cars are built.

The buildings and facilities designed by world-leading architects of the likes of Renzo Piano, Massimiliano Fuksas, Jean Nouvelle, Marco Visconti and Luigi Sturchio are also fascinating. Equally interesting is the historic part of the factory which has been meticulously preserved, not least the factory entrance which dates back to 1947.

Visitors must remain on the bus at all times throughout the tour, and both photography and videoing are prohibited.

Ferrari 166 Inter

Ferrari 250 GT 2+2

Ferrari 246 GT & 250 GT Berlinetta TDF Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

www.fleetcar.ie

32 | TEST DRIVE I

Kia Ceed SW (Sportswagon) under review

styling lines are sleek and sporty. Th is is accomplished by shortening the front overhang (by 20mm) while providing a longer rear overhang (by 115mm), although the wheelbase remains the same at 1,465mm.

Upon opening the tailgate, the additional cargo capacity is noticeable (at 14%) stretching from 72 litres (with seats in place) to 600 litre (with seats down) as is the lower load sill. In addition, every Ceed SW features an underfloor storage box.

T

hose of us involved in the automotive industry continue to admire the achievement of the Korean brands in having made great strides in the global marketplace within a relative short period of time. Relative to the timeline that it took the collective Japanese manufacturers to gain a foothold in Europe, Korea’s Hyundai, Kia and SsangYong have managed to make serious inroads in market share in many countries across the continent, practically within a decade.

A recent visit to the Paris Motor Show indicated the generous acceptance of Kia Motor Company as a mainstream automaker judging by the huge press attendance at its launch conference where details of the all-new ProCeed and Ceed GT were revealed. Both new models are expected to arrive here early 2019. In the meantime, the Ceed SW (Sportswagon) is the newest Kia on Irish roads having been launched here late September.

Having a soft spot for station wagon or estate cars from an early age (practically reared in one – a Hillman Husky), when a newcomer arrives, a certain sense of

FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

curiosity develops. Although the general marketplace in Ireland is small, most manufacturers offer estates in some shape or form, based on their saloon or hatchbacks. Kia has done well in this C-Segment sub-category with more than 512,000 Ceed Sportwagons sold since introduction just over ten years ago, accounting on average for 40% of all Ceed output, compared to 30% achieved by its competitors.

Th is third generation sporty load carrier that is designed, engineered and built in Europe (Slovakia) is more practical, spacious and versatile than before, with improved cabin and cargo space provided compared to its predecessor.

In fact what the new Ceed SW has in its favour is that it provides greater luggage space than many D-Segment tourers making it an att ractive option for both the private and business user.

Being lower (20mm), wider (20mm) and with a longer rear overhang than the previous edition, its interior spaciousness all round is deceptive particularly as its

At one time, many moons ago, station wagons did not handle too well. As they were used primarily as load carriers, the weight they could carry was more important than how they drove. Not so with modern day estates, and in the case of the Ceed SW, there was little difference in how it performed relative to its 5-door hatch brethren. Its newly developed fully-independent suspension system provides drivers with a more agile and responsive experience from the steering wheel, while ride quality is good on par with the standard bodied Ceed.

To move the load (and the car), a choice of 1.0 litre T-GDi 118 bhp petrol or new 1.6 litre CRDi (115 PS) common rail diesel that uses SCR emission control (thereby requiring AdBlue) is offered.

Both engine variants were driven recently and both fuel types performed well, proving economical. Today’s cars nearly all feature some kind of a touch screen and Kia’s version is simple to use providing the basics required from radio controls to phone access, instantly. There was no issue with seat comfort, visibility or ventilation.

Compared to the outgoing c'eed, the new Ceed just feels better all round.

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

Hybrid adds additional appeal to Honda CR-V

FIRST DRIVE | 33 the wheels. However that’s really only noticeable when you accelerate hard, as Honda has tuned the fi xed-gear format for European markets so there is less of a whine at full thrott le. Overall it’s incredibly smooth to drive, with the system seamlessly switching between the different modes without the driver or passengers even being aware of it most of the time.

Handling wise, the CR-V Hybrid is on a par with nearly every other SUV in that it’s not a car that encourages enthusiastic cornering due to its raised stance. No complaints about the ride, at least on smooth Spanish roads, where it performed adeptly.

T

here was a degree of surprise when Honda announced that the new CR-V would not be offered with diesel engines. It represented quite a departure for a model that hitherto came in diesel only, especially in a segment where that fuel still predominates.

While a 1.5 litre turbo petrol powered allnew CR-V arrived in September, Honda’s confidence that sales of the CR-V won’t be negatively affected is riding on the arrival of a hybrid version - Honda’s fi rst such vehicle in Europe. It gets to Irish shores by next February but we’ve driven it in Spain, and believe it probably is the version to look at, especially from a fleet perspective.

There’s some interesting new technology involved with the CR-V Hybrid which Honda says brings new levels of refinement and efficiency to a hybrid system. Dubbed i-MMD (intelligent Multi-Mode Drive), it combines an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-litre i-VTEC petrol engine with two electric motors - one a generator and one electric

propulsion unit - and a lithium-ion battery.

The system automatically selects between EV Drive where the battery supplies power to the electric propulsion motor, Hybrid Drive where the petrol engine supplies power to the generator motor which in turn supplies the electric propulsion motor, and Engine Drive where a lock-up clutch mechanism allows the petrol engine to connect directly to the wheels.

A maximum output of 184 PS with a torque figure of 315 Nm means the CR-V accelerates smartly from start - especially as this will nearly always be under electric or hybrid power meaning the full torque figure is available . Official fuel economy figures under NEDC measurements are 5.3 (FWD) and 5.5 (4WD) l/100km and CO2 figures of 120g/km and 126g/km respectively.

The transmission is different as well, with a single fi xed gear ration connecting the moving components. In practice it feels like a Continually Variable Transmission (CVT) to drive, where the engine can feel disconnected to what is happening at

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

One notably feature of the new CR-V in both petrol and Hybrid versions is the generous legroom for rear seat passengers thanks to a 30mm longer wheelbase compared to before. Overall the cabin feels typically Honda - robustly put together with quality materials. Our biggest criticism is the multimedia interface which tries too hard to impart lots of information but is a bit of a mess to look at and not intuitive to use.

The CR-V Hybrid is priced from €38,000 after Government grants. That represents a €2,500 walk from the equivalent petrol model with auto transmission. Unlike the petrol it’s only available in five seats because the space needed for the hybrid battery takes up around 50 litres of boot space.

Whether traditional diesel buyers will look elsewhere remains to be seen, but Honda expect the CR-V Hybrid to account for 60-70% of sales once it arrives here in February. From a fleet buyers’s perspective, it certainly is the model that will make the most sense.

www.fleetcar.ie

34 | TEST DRIVE II

Focus comes of age

rear spoiler and sporty body kit including rear diff user for a price of €23,495, it will appeal to those who like their cars to stand out.

That sporty look is also enhanced by ST-Line models sitting 18mm lower than other models.

Diesel will be continue to be the choice for many company car buyers but the 1.0 litre 3-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine is worth looking at particularly if you aren’t spending your days pounding up and down the motorway. My overall average, which including a fair amount of motorway driving was 6.3 l/100km (44.8 mpg), but driving around Dublin I was gett ing a quite impressive 5.5l/100km (51.3mpg).

Tested: Ford Focus ST-Line 1.0 EcoBoost 125 PS. RRP: €23,495

I

t’s hard to credit that it’s twenty years since the Ford Focus first saw light of day. Not least because those early Mark 1 versions have aged rather well, with a significant number still running around on our roads.

Although the Mondeo of 1994 might claim to be the car that set Ford on the road away from its Eighties incarnation as purveyor of rather dull and not particularly well built cars, the Focus was a revelation compared to the outgoing Escort in almost every respect. Especially in its ride and handling, it highlighted that a normal car with everyday engine could be just as much fun to drive as an expensive sports car.

The new fifth generation Focus faces into a very different marketplace from 20 years ago, not least in the competition it faces from the new breed of crossover SUVs which have devastated the traditional family car segments. It also faces the challenge of not being offered in a 4-door saloon variant, traditionally a firm favourite with Irish buyers.

To remain an appealing proposition, it’s going to have to retain the handling excellence of its predecessors, but also improve on areas like interior quality, equipment levels and space.

Visually it looks the part. The model tested here is the ST-Line trim which essentially gives the car a more sporty appearance without the running costs of a performance car. It’s something Ford historically does well, and with features like twin tail pipes,

Ford in Ireland isn’t presently offering the more powerful 1.5 litre Ecoboost petrol engine. On a performance level, the 1.0 litre unit with 125PS does a more than adequate job, but driving enthusiasts may feel shortchanged as the bigger engine comes with full independent rear suspension compared to a torsion beam set-up on the 1.0 litre and diesel units offered to Irish buyers.

Which leads in nicely to ride and handling - for many the raison d’être of the Focus. Overall we’d have to say that while the Focus is still without doubt one of the finest handling cars on the market, it doesn’t perhaps stand out as much as hitherto, with perhaps not the level of stability over rough surfaces that you might expect from this car. Maybe it’s a case of rivals catching up, but it would be interesting to drive an independent rear suspension shod model on Irish roads to compare. Ride comfort is perfectly acceptable notwithstanding the lower ride height of the ST-Line version.

The inside feels rather spacious for a mid-sized car with both front and rear passengers well catered for with head and leg room. The cabin is well laid out with enough physical buttons to avoid having to take your eyes off the road for very long, while the SYNC 3 multimedia interface is as good as anything on the market these days.

Equipment wise the Focus in ST-Line trim is basic enough. The glaring omission is that neither reversing camera or parking sensors are offered on ST-Line - you have to go to Titanium spec just to get parking sensors which seems prett y skinfl int in this day and age. Other features such as the lack of auto wiper sensors, no auto dim mirror and air-con rather than climate control are less contentious but do give the impression that Ford is building down to a price, especially when many mainstream rivals will offer these as standard.

More commendable is the inclusion of safety features as standard which include Pre-Collision Assist including Vehicles, Pedestrians & Cyclists, and Post Impact Braking.

So overall a prett y decent effort from the Blue Oval. Shame we don’t get the option of the better rear suspension, equipment levels could be higher, and some may yearn for a saloon version, but overall this is a thoroughly well engineered car that drives very well with one of the best chassis in the business, is well catered for with safety equipment and comes with a modern well designed and spacious cabin.

FLEETCAR | Winter 2018

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

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