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FORD RANGE RAPTOR

Bumper 48-page issue INSIDE

By DECLAN GLYNN www.motoringmatters.ie

The mighty Ford Ranger Raptor is the toughest and most high-performing version of Europe’s best-selling pick-up.

Developed by Ford Performance for the true enthusiast off-roader, the Ranger Raptor is an appealing choice for thrill-seeking customers in Ireland.

The Ranger Raptor is powered by a Bi-turbo version of Ford’s 2.0 litre EcoBlue diesel engine that delivers 213 PS and 500 Nm of torque, and is mated to Ford’s new 10-speed automatic gearbox.

EXTREME STYLING

The commanding presence delivered by the ultimate Ranger’s imposing dimensions and extreme styling is supported by a unique Ford Performance chassis optimised for high-speed off-road driving and go-anywhere capability.

Built to withstand high-impact

IS SPORTY AND TOUGH

off-road events, the Ranger Raptor’s unique, super-strong reinforced chassis frame uses high-strength, low-alloy steels to endure the punishment delivered by off-road racing.

The Raptor’s race-bred suspension has been specifically crafted to tackle fearsome terrain at high-speed while remaining in complete control and comfort, using a 150 mm wider track and 51 mm taller ride height compared with the Ranger XLT.

FOX shock absorbers with

Position Sensitive Damping

provide higher damping forces at extremes for unparalleled off-road capability, and lower damping forces in more moderate conditions for a smoother ride onroad.

Front damper travel is increased by 32 per cent, and rear travel by 18 per cent. All-terrain BF Goodrich 285/70 R17 tyres have been specially developed for the Ranger Raptor.

The 33-inch (838 mm) by 11-inch (285 mm) tyres offer a tough sidewall to take on the most formidable environments

with confidence, and an aggressive off-road tread pattern that provides an iron grip in wet, mud, sand and snow conditions.

GO-ANYWHERE CAPABILITY

The unique chassis design is combined with optimised off-road geometry that delivers 283 mm ground clearance and 850 mm wading depth.

A 32.5-degree approach angle, and ramp-over and departure angles of 24 degrees, provide impressive go-anywhere capability.

The Ranger Raptor also features unique underbody protection to deflect off-road obstacles.

Available in Ford Performance Blue, Race Red, Agate Black, Frozen White and Conquer Grey the Ranger Raptor’s aggressive design is driven by performance and functionality.

Ford Performance DNA is present throughout the interior, which delivers quality craftsmanship, harmonious

Continued on page 2

RAPTOR contd from page 1

colours and durable materials for driving scenarios from the high street to high altitude. The premium leather and suede bolstered seats are specially designed for enhanced grip and off-road high-speed support with a dual-firmness cushion for ultimate comfort.

UNIQUE DRIVING MODES

My test vehicle was a Ranger Raptor, which was finished in Frozen White non-metallic paintwork with contrasting black bonnet stripes on the bonnet, roof, sides and tailgate for maximum visual effect. Drivers can select from six Terrain Management System modes to tackle a wide range of terrain and driving scenarios, including: Normal mode, Sport mode, Grass/Gravel/Snow mode, Mud/Sand mode, Rock mode, and Baja mode. While the first 5 modes are self-explanatory, the

Baja mode tunes responses for high-speed off-road performance, just like drivers need in the famous Baja desert rally. The one thing that really grabs attention with the Ranger Raptor is its sheer size. Park a Raptor on the street and it will dwarf a standard Ranger by a considerable amount, as it is the Raptor’s

bodywork that really makes it stand out from the crowd. The Raptor’s standard BiTurbo 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine allows for swift acceleration for this type of offroader, with the 0-100km/h sprint achievable in just 10.0-seconds, while fuel economy of up to 31.7mpg is possible on a combined driving cycle.

CADDY TURNS 40

The Caddy – originally introduced in the US in 1979 as the “Rabbit Pick-Up” – first rolled off European production lines in November 1982, and has since established itself as a major player in the compact and urban van market.

Originally based on the Mk1 Volkswagen Golf, and adopting its front end, over the years the Caddy has proven itself as a flexible, robust and reliable vehicle for tradesmen, delivery firms, young families and beyond, with successes spanning across four decades and five generations of the model.

After the first-generation Caddy’s introduction in 1982, it remained on sale in Europe until 1993, before the introduction of the second-generation model in 1995. Available as a panel van and high-roofed estate, the Caddy 2’s versatility made it ideal for everyone from couriers to tradesmen and service providers.

Caddy ‘Mk3’ arrived in 2003, when manufacturing was moved to a Volkswagen facility in Poland that’s

been dedicated to the van ever since. Improvements made on this model were substantial, from the switch to the Mk5 Golf platform, the payload, load space, and the model’s variety, with a flexible seven seat configuration that lent itself to young families for the first time.

The fourth-generation Caddy brought further improvements in vehicle safety and efficiency, as well as a range of two, five and seven seat configurations for complete customer versatility, making it practical for work and leisure, city driving or countryside excursions, family life and beyond.

Now on to its fifth generation, the Caddy 5 is more innovative and versatile than ever, offering a host of driver assist systems and intelligent tech features designed to make driving simpler and more enjoyable, with features such as Bluetooth® handsfree, a multifunction steering wheel, and an emergency e-call system all included as standard.

JAGUAR MOTORWAY FIRE

At a time when new cars are in short supply Jaguar dealers in the UK must have been devastated to see a delivery of the latest models going up in smoke.

The incident took place on the M1 near

CONCEPT CAR FROM VW

advertisement from any particular edition of the paper without compensation or allowance.

therefore accepted only subject to the above conditions. The advertiser

The success of the ID.4 has strengthened VWs commitment to an all-electric future. Based on the platform currently used on the ID.4 the German company has released a view of a concept car of what the next model in the range may look like. VW plans to introduce 10 new electric cars in 2026 including the ID.Life concept car seen here.

Nottingham in England, as a car transporter was delivering its load of the latest iPace models to waiting customers. The transporter caught fire and it quickly took hold and £260k worth of precious cargo disappeared in an inferno.

Rowan Avenue, Stillorgan Industrial Park, Dublin 18. Tel: 01-2939304

adaptive cruise, auto lights, massive spec, €72,900

2022 BMW 530E M-Sport, auto, PHEV, low miles 7k, 292bhp, €170 road tax, touring, 12kw battery, Dakota lthr, 12kw battery, approx. 50km range, 19” alloys, heat elec. seats, park sensors, a/con, dual climate, sat. nav, paddleshift, cruise, lots more, €65,900

2017 Toyota Landcruser 5 Seat Commercial, Auto, 4WD, 71k, Diesel Estate, auto, 2.8, price quoted included VAT, invoice available, Tax €333, lthr/alcantara inter., heat/cool seats, rev. camera, dual climate, cruise, lots more, €59,900

2020 BMW X3 30E M-Sport X-Drive Auto PHEV, Estate, 292bhp, very low miles 19k, €170 road tax, pristine, black lthr, heat elec. seats, rev. camera, iDrive 7 widescreen sat. nav, park sensors, lots more, alloys, elec. boot lid, lots, lots more, €59,900

2021 BMW 530E M-Sport Pro PHEV, auto, touring, very low miles, 13k, 292bh, Est, 12kw battery, Harmon Karmon surround sound, head-up display, adaptive cruise, Dakota lthr, alloys, Technology pack, climate, cruise, sat. nav, a/con, lots more, €170 tax, €59,900

2021 Mercedes EQA 250 AMG Line, auto, full elec, 19k, Est, €120 road tax, black lthr/alcantara heat seats, digital dash, widescreen sat. nav, bluetooth ph/audio stream, park sensors, a/con, dual climate, cruise, 306bhp, lots more, €58,900

18k, 400bhp, lthr, alloys, sat. nav, rev. camera, Apple CarPlay/Android auto, a/con, dual climate, cruise, auto lights/rain sensors, bluetooth ph/audio stream, keyless start/go, lots more, €55,900

auto, very low miles only 11k, Hybrid dsl, 245bhp, lthr, heat elec. seats, sat. nav, rev. camera, bluetooth ph/audio stream, dual climate, cruise, elec. bootlid, alloys, €170 road tax, lots lots more, €54,900

2015 Porsche Cayenne 3.0D V6, auto, dsl, Est, 245bhp, low miles only 86k, looks stunning, 40+ MPG, sat. nav, PSM bluetooth ph/audio, paddleshift, het elec. memory seats, very high spec, 22” exclusive design sport wheels, lots more, €49,900

2021 BMW 330E SE Pro Auto PHEV, 292bhp, low miles only 17k, park sensors, sat. nav, bluetooth phone/audio stream, a/con, dual climate, cruise, auto lights/rain sensor wipers, CD, lots, lots more, €170 road tax, €43,900

2021

50 TFSI-E S-Line auto, PHEV, 299bhp, €170 road tax, 36k, hybrid petrol, lthr/alcantara heat elec. memory seats, sat. anv, paddleshift, 19” alloys, a/con, dual climate, cruise, bluetooth ph/audi stream, lots lots more, €54,900

2019 Volvo XC60 T8 R-Design AWD, auto, 390bhp, PHEV, Est, petrol, €170 road tax, pristine, glass pan. tilt/slide s/r, elec. heat seats, a/con, dual climate, adaptive cruise, park sensors, bluetooth ph/audio stream, rain sensors, lots more, €51,900

2020 Audi e-Tron 50 Technik Quattro, auto, Electric Estate, 313bhp, €120 road tax, 23k, pristine, 22”

black alloys, high spec, sat. nav, bluetooth ph/audio stream, heat elec seats/memory, cruise, dual climate, power bootlid, auto lights, €51,900

more, €49,900

2018 Audi A7 3.0 TDI S-Line Black Edition Quattro, auto, 286bhp, dsl, 58k, €390 road tax, grey lthr, 21” diamond cut alloys, rev. camera, virtual cockpit, Bang & Olufsen sound, heat elec. memory seats, cruise, a/con, dual climate, NCT 07/24, €49,900

2021 BMW 330E M-Sport Auto PHEV, 16k, €170 road tax, pristine, high spec, full lthr, heat seats, sat. nav, Apple CarPlay, rev. camera, 18” alloys, park sensors, a/con, dual climate, cruise, auto lights, rain sensors, €47,900

with lumbar support, rear camera, dual climate, cruise, and more, €45,900

2020 Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 35 TDI Sport Auto (MHEV), 163bhp, dsl, Ultra, low miles only 29k, sat. nav, virtual cockpit, rev. camera, bluetooth ph/audio stream, park sensors, elec. bootlid, keyless start, dual climate, cruise, lots more, €43,900

330E Sport Pro Auto PHEV, 292bhp, low miles only 15k, €170 road tax, stunning, silver, black Vernasca lthr, high spec, heat seats, sat. nav, Apple CarPlay, rev. camera, 18” alloys, a/con, dual climate, cruise, €43,900

2021

2020 BMW 520D M-Sport Auto MHEV, 190bhp, low iles only 42k, diesel, €280 road tax, pristine, bluetooth ph/audio stream, sat. nav, paddleshift, a/con, dual climate, cruise, heat elec. black Dakota lthr seats, lots more, €42,900

330E M-Sport Auto PHEV, 292bhp, auto, low miles only 32, black Vernasca lthr interior, heat seats, sat. nav, Apple CarPlay, rev. camera, 18” alloys, park sensors, a/con, dual climate, cruise, auto lights, €170 road tax, lots more, €41,900

2020

2019 Jaguar iPACE EV400 S AWD Auto,

2021 Mercedes C300DE (PHEV) AMG Line, estate,

Audi A6

SQ7

2017 Toyota Landcruiser 5 Seat Commercial, auto, 4WD, 14.7k, dsl Estate, price ex-VAT, VAT invoice available, tax €333, dual climate, a/con, rev. camera, lthr/alcantara inter., heat/cool seats, cruise, lots

2020 BMW 530E M-Sport, auto, PHEV, 252bhp, 34k, auto, hybrid petrol, ivory lthr, €170 road tax, 12kw battery, 19” alloys, park sensors, heat elec. seats, sat. nav, paddleshift, a/con, dual climate, cruise, lots, lots more, €45,900

2020 Audi A6 50 TFSI-E Sport Auto, PHEV, 299bhp, hybrid petrol, low miles only 38k, pristine, €170 road tax, touchscreen media/infotainment, sat. nav, black lthr, heat seats

BMW

BMW

An ASTON MARTIN and an

Imagine for a moment you’ve just won the EuroMillions. You’re a car fan and you’d like to own a luxury place in the sun.

The MotorMarket team have been researching the options and we think this could be ideal for you.

The Aston Martin Residences in Miami is a unique block of hyper luxury apartments on the waterfront.

The penthouse is now available for sale, complete with a rare Aston Martin Vulcan for the bargain price of $59 million!

Covering floors 63, 64 and 65, the penthouse is a massive 20,000 square feet. With seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms there will be no shortage of space for visiting family members.

In case you need to make a trip to the supermarket there will be a Vulcan waiting in the car park, ready to go.

This Aston Martin is one of only 24 in the world.

BULLETPROOF GOLF

If you are seriously concerned about your personal safety a bulletproof car might be the answer. In the past many high security cars attracted more attention to the passengers as a result of being based on high status cars, but that has changed.

A South African company realised that the many high profile individuals prefer to draw less attention to themselves but still travel in safety.

Their answer is a bulletproof Volkswagen Golf GTI. The armouring conversion adds less than 180kg to a vehicle such as the Golf. For this reason, economy and performance are largely unaffected.

This particular armouring package includes

replacement of all standard glass with Optima ballistic glass that from the outside looks no different to a standard vehicle. All doors, panels, pillars, rear seats and hatch are armoured with lightweight synthetic armour.

The same ballistic protection is included in the roof and sunroof, the latter remaining operational just as the front windows are.

A PTT intercom system finishes off the package giving you the safest performance hatchback on the road today.

If you feel the need for that kind of security Armormax will be happy to help you.

CARAVANA – A CAUTIONARY TALE

When Carvana was established in the USA in 2012 it was hailed as the new way of selling cars to consumers. The business effectively did away with everything the traditional car dealership did and offered an online only service.

Founder Ernest Garcia (right) believed the future of car sales was in an online presence only, making the business similar to Amazon. Investors seemed to agree with him and although the results meant it lost money heavily, it was at one stage valued at $63 billion making it more valuable than Ford. Shares were traded at a high of $376 and recently plummeted to $4.

Everything has changed and the business is on the brink of collapse. Perhaps this could be a salutatory lesson for Irish motor dealers who are looking at alternatives to the traditional car sales

model. Consumers still like to talk to a sales person whom they can relate to. Dealing with a computer isn’t the same as meeting a sales professional on the forecourt.

MERCEDES CHARGES FOR SPEED

The latest technology allows manufacturers reach our cars through WiFi. Even now upgrades to the most modern car engine management system can be made remotely without visiting the dealer. This is an opportunity for the techno boffins in head office to take advantage of.

Mercedes are preparing an option, in North America, that will allow their high spec electric cars increase their speed and overall performance by paying an additional monthly fee of $100. Codenamed project “Acceleration Increase” it will boost power output from the electric motors by up to 20% for those who are up to date

Last chance for SONO MOTORS?

subscribers. Obviously those who fail to keep paying will simply lose the additional power as the system can be changed remotely.

This could be the sort of system that we will see more of as we adapt battery powered cars. Will we pay more to listen to certain music or for an extra smooth suspension system?

On the face of it, an electric car covered in solar panels is a sure-fire winner. As well as being a plug-in SUV the proposal from this German start-up Sono Motors utilises solar panels built-in to the body to ensure that most day-to-day running is powered by the sun. In recent months the founders have been showing a prototype model to investors in the US. Unfortunately investor confidence is low and the company is struggling to raise the funds to start production.

In a letter sent to all 21,000 who have pre-ordered a car an appeal has been issued to put down a further 3000 Euro deposit to fund the production of the vehicles. All those who pre-order have been promised a discount of 3k from the launch price which is expected to be 29,900 Euro.

If you are interested in becoming a Sono pioneer this could be your chance to get motoring on solar power. Apparently there are no plans to produce a right hand drive version in the foreseeable future.

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SOLAR TREES To power your car

“Solar trees” could soon be coming to a street near you, with the launch of a new car-charging project. London company SolarBotanic Trees has announced a new solar tree product – a large parasol-shaped structure with solar panels on top – that can generate electricity for use on streets and in residential areas.

It’s designed for areas like car parks at airports, shopping centres and exhibition centres, where it can be used to charge electric vehicles, as well as laptops and phones. One solar tree can generate enough power to meet the consumption needs of a three-room house, according to the developer.

TAXI!

NEW YORK

There is nothing more iconic than a new York cab. The distinctive yellow sedan is as much part of NYC as hot dogs and pizza. Although a number of cars are manufactured specifically for the taxi market the most common is the Ford Crown Victoria.

The 4.6 V8 produces 210 horse power which means the engine is never really under strain resulting in long life for these workhorses.

THAILAND

The Tuk Tuk is part of the tourist experience in Thailand and are famous the world over for the distinctive Tuk Tuk sound made by the 2 stroke engine. While being neither speedy or comfortable this is still the most popular from of taxi transport in the country. There are plans to electrify them as environmentalists realise the engines are making lots of pollution.

LONDON

The famous black cab is regarded by many as the ultimate taxi as it provides lots of passenger space with easy access.

All of the cars have a turning circle of 28 feet which was apparently specified to allow them to navigate the roundabout at the Savoy Hotel.

Newer all electric models are now being sold to replace the rattly diesels.

PHILIPPINES

The Jeepney is the local name given to this unique form of public transport that is a cross between a taxi and a bus.

All these vehicles started life based on the countless army jeeps that were abandoned after the US troops withdrew after WW2.

Since then the chassis has been stretched to allow what was just a small four seater to accommodate ridiculous number of passengers.

CUBA

The Coco is unique to the Caribbean communist outpost. Many are purely pedal powered although some have a small two stroke to help them along. Widely regarded as one of the most dangerous forms of taxi service around the Coco certainly makes the Irish taxi provider look absolutely luxurious.

In Ireland we are all too quick to complain about our Taxi service. The MotorMarket team thought we’d have a look at what other countries are providing the travelling public.

Tuk Tuk, Thailand

Black cab, London

Jeepney, Philippines

Coco Taxis, Cuba

A PLACE TO PARK YOUR CAR COLLECTION

If you’ve assembled a valuable car collection you don’t want to leave them in the driveway to get sun and rain damage. This American home might be just what you’re looking for.

Set on 19.6 acres across three plots, the 17,878-square-foot main house sits on 8.71 acres. Home hunters will find 10 bedrooms, 14 full bathrooms, five half-baths, space to park six cars above ground in the garage and porte-cochere — and space to park another 30 cars in an underground garage.

This is the first time the house has been listed since its construction in 2009. The getaway's been on the market for at least five months at an asking price of $33.8 million.

WHY BURY A TOYOTA FOR 21 YEARS?

FORD INVESTS IN ELECTRIC

Building on its commitment to grow an allelectric vehicle range, Ford has invested a further £125 million in its Halewood Plant, on Merseyside – increasing capacity by 70 per cent – plus £24 million in the supporting E:PRiME product development centre.

The announcement takes total investment in enabling Halewood’s transformation to an EV component plant to almost £380 million.

Kieran Cahill, Ford’s European Industrial

Operations vice-president, said: “Ford is a global American brand, woven into the fabric of Europe for more than 100 years and a major employer here at Halewood for almost 60 years.

“Our vision in Europe is to build a thriving business, by extending leadership in commercial vehicles and through the electrification of our car range. Halewood is playing a critical part as our first in-house investment in EV component manufacturing in Europe.”

When the Americans invaded Afghanistan in the aftermath of 911 one of the people they most wanted to capture was the one-eyed terrorist leader Mullah Mohammad Omar. He knew if he was to evade capture he would have to take extreme measures.

A COP ON YOUR TAIL

We all dread the prospect of a blue light flashing in our rear view mirror. There’s no point of trying to outrun the car so we all pull in.

What happens in Valencia, Spain when the police car in pursuit, is a Renault Twizy? Somehow it doesn’t quite present the image of strong law enforcement. In fact it makes the police officer a bit like something from toytown.

He proceeded to make his escape from the city of Kandahar in a Toyota Corolla Estate. However, fearing that finding his car would lead to his downfall he buried it in a giant hole wrapped in plastic sheeting, where it has been for 21 years!

2022 Honda Civic with 250,000 miles!!

You may think you drive more than the average person, but you’ve got nothing on the former owner of this 2022 Honda Civic.

Listed for sale at a USA Houston-area dealership, the car shows a whopping 248,740miles. The previous owner was a medical

courier and used his vehicle to deliver supplies in and around Houston.

The one-owner car has been well-cared for over its surprisingly busy life. If you feel the need for a very high mileage, one owner car, it can be yours for $18,999.

Mount Merrion Cars

01-2832044 • Foster’s Avenue, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin, A94 V6T7

Touring M-Sport, auto, PHEV, 1 owner, real head turner, pristine, 61kms, cognac Vernasca lthr, heat seats, rev. camera, 18” alloys, park sensors, a/con, dual climate, cruise, auto lights, rain sensors, €170 road tax, 292bhp, €

2019 Renault Kadjar ‘S Edition’, half lthr 1.3, 140bhp, 36kms, alloys, sat. nav, rev. camera, r/locking, a/con, bluetooth, Isofix, superb fuel economy and cheap tax only €280, €21,900

2017 Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI, Coupe, 125bhp, 108kms, gorgeous Scirocco, alloys, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Xenons, cruise, r/l, bluetooth phone/music streaming, much more, €270 road tax, €19,900

2016 Audi A3 1.4 TSI, auto, tiny miles only 47kms, SE spec, alloys, Xenons, a/con, e/w, r/lockig, bluetooth ph/music, park camera, much more, NCT 10/24, €19,900

2015 Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI Comfortline, auto, 66kms, €200 road tax, alloys, reverse camera, park sensors, sat. nav, Xenon headlights/dayglow LED’s, a/con, MFSW, cruise, bluetooth ph/music stream, NCT 12/24, €19,900

2018 Volkswagen Golf Estate 1.6 TDI Comfortline, diesel, 49kms, alloys, park sensors, a/con, e/w, r/locking, bluetooth ph/music and lots more, 115bhp, €190 road tax, NCT 06/24, €19,900

2016 BMW i3 EV, fully electric, silver, auto, 48kms, high spec, heat black leather seats, cruise, Keyless Go, remote locking, bluetooth media, Car has been vinyl wrapped in silver, lots more, €15,900

2017 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI, automatic, 90bhp, 88kms, €190 road tax, really well presented, alloys, a/con, elec. windows, r/locking, €15,900

2015 Volkswagen Polo Cross 1.2 TSI, auto, tiny miles, only 69k, special car, upgraded alloys, Xenons headlights, silver roof bars/door mirrors, 2-tone seats, upgraded alloy, park sensors, a/con, NCT 08/24, €14,900

2015 Volkswagen Polo 1.2, automatic, wine, 102kms, high spec, upgraded alloys, park camera, cruise, a/con, e/w, e/m, 3-spoke MFSW, r/locking, 2 years NCT, bluetooth ph/music, and more, €12,900

2017 Toyota Yaris Vitz 1.0, 52k, €180 road tax, Isofix, r/locking, alarm, immobiliser, cheap annual tax, superb fuel economy, €11,900

2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, 2.4, high spec, 224bhp, €170 road tax, auto, heat lthr seats, digital climate, MFSW, bluetooth touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, alloys, r/locking, Keyless Go, 70kms, €32,900

2019 Ford Ranger Wilktrak, Bi-Turbo, auto, 213bhp, 91kms, just in, simply stunning, leather, presented in immaculate condition, diesel, tax 03/23, €32,450 + VAT

2017 Audi A5 2.0, auto Sport spec., 190bhp, 76kms, f/fogs, alloys, Keyless Go, heated black lthr seats, bluetooth phone and music, Digital cklimate, Isofix, lots more, €190 road tax, €29,900

2020 Hyundai Ioniq Premium Spec, 136bhp, tiny miles, 22kms, auto, electric, heat seats/steering wheel, adaptive cruise, climate, a/con, bluetooth phone/music player, lots, lots more, €29,900

2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 SE  Tech, 180PS 7 seats, auto, dsl, 93k, €280 road tax, climate, a/con, MFSW, armrest, bluetooth ph/music stream, Isofix, pan. glass roof, NCT 04/24, €28,900

2020 Nissan Leaf 40Kw N-Connecta, hugh spec, 150bhp, 18kms, MFSW, cruise, half lthr heat seats, cruise, bluetooth ph/media, Keyless Go/Entry, sat. nav, 360° Camera, alloys, Isofix, lots more, €28,900

2018 Volkswagen Touran Highline 1.4, 7 seats 1.4 TSI, auto, 150bhp, 37kms, heat Alcantara seats, Xenons, sat. nav, rev. camera, Aux/USB inputs, upgraded alloys, bluetooth ph/music stream, a/con, Isofix, €270 road tax, €28,900

2018 Audi A3 1.4 TFSI, auto, 36kms, Sport spec, alloys, heat seats, cruise, Xenon headlights, a/con, e/w, r/locking, bluetooth ph/music, and lots lots more, €26,900

2018 Jaguar E-Pace, 2.0, tiny miles, as new, only 38kms, dsl, €270 road tax, 150bhp, 6-speed, immac. maroon, alloys, keyless go, touchscreen, bluetooth ph/music, climate, a/con, armrest, much more, €26,900

2017 BMW 330E ‘Sport’ Plug-in Hybrid, 252bhp, auto, 86kms, Park dist., Keyless go, sport seats, BMW sat. nav, dual climate, MFSW, cruise, centre armrest, bluetooth, Isofix, €170 road tax, €24,900

2021 BMW 330e

50,900

2020 Audi A5 2.0 MHEV, S-Line, auto, 163bhp, €390 road tax, auto, dsl, 28kms, park sensors, r/locking, keyless Go, climate, a/con, cruise, Audi sat. nav, heat lthr seats, MFSW, centre armrest, €47,900

2017 BMW X5 2.0 Hybrid M-Sport, big spec, 313bhp, €170 road tax, 99kms, auto, 22” alloys, petrol, brand new tyres, glass pan. s/r, Dakota lthr, heat seats, keyless go, sat. nav, bluetooth ph/music, Isofix, €46,900

Off-road and around the world

If you are an adventurer or explorer and are thinking of a vehicle that can take you on your global travels a UK firm may have just the thing for you.

The Fering Pioneer is the brainchild of ex-Ferrari and McLaren engineer Ben Scott-Geddes, who has repurposed supercar and racing technology to provide environmental responsibility and unrivalled offgrid capabilities for the most extreme adventures.

Despite its imposing appearance, the Pioneer is no larger in any direction than a typical delivery van and is actually shorter than a Ford Mondeo Estate. It also weighs the same as a family hatchback.

Power to the axles is provided solely by two electric motors –unusual for an off-road vehicle. But they are perfectly suited to the task, providing instant torque, controllability and reliability. They provide a total of 600Nm of torque; more than a comparable diesel 4×4.

A battery provides a zero local emission, electric-only range of around 50 miles. The Pioneer’s range extender generator is then available to give ability to keep going to the end of your adventure.

The Pioneer’s battery cells are not the same as you’d find in a conventional EV, as the usual Lithium-Ion chemistry is affected significantly by extremes of weather. Instead, Fering have used more sophisticated Lithium Titanate Oxide cells which are designed to survive extreme weather conditions.

For longer adventures, the battery is supported by an 800cc

3-cylinder range extender combustion engine powered by biodiesel. By operating consistently at its most efficient level, the engine generates power to run the motors and charge the battery in normal driving. This means the battery can cover peak demands for power – such as hill climbing – using energy reserves which are then replenished while the vehicle is cruising, stationary or braking.

Using advanced materials and techniques from the circuit and supercar has allowed the Pioneer to rewrite the rules on strength and lightness too. The dry kerb weight is around 1,500kg – the same as a medium-sized hatchback.

This has been made possible by using an aluminium spaceframe with composite elements, while the exterior panels are made of tough fabric. This material, which is similar to the canvas found in high-end hiking boots, can shrug off damage, is easily replaced and has better

insulation properties than metal skins.

Despite this, the Pioneer is capable of carrying its own weight as a payload, with a 1,500kg capacity.

The combination of light weight and an efficient powertrain results in exceptional fuel economy. Even with the batteries discharged, the Pioneer is expected to deliver around 50mpg – half the consumption of other 4x4s, and comparable to a diesel hatchback.

The efficiency also means the Pioneer can have an incredible ability to live ‘off-grid’ and survive expeditions to remote areas without having to worry about refuelling. With long-range tanks fitted, the Fering will be capable of driving for 7,000km without needing a fuel stop or recharging from the grid. If such extreme range isn’t needed for the mission, the tanks can be swapped for water to provide fresh supplies on a mission.

HOW ABOUT A PEDAL CAR?

afford one, this could be for you.

Electric moped or bike?

The name Pininfarina is associated with stylish Italian design. When they were approached by Dutch company Eysing to design an electric moped/motorcycle it was clear that the machine was going to ooze style. The PF40 doesn’t disappoint. From every angle this machine has retro style built in to all the elements.

The electric motor produces enough power to speed all the way up to 28mph, so motorcycle enthusiasts are going to be disappointed that it certainly doesn’t deliver on thrills even if it manages to create a stylish impression of the rider.

That’s another problem. The manufacturer doesn’t recommend it for anyone weighing more than 254 pounds, so if you really want one you may have to go on a diet. Also, it costs a staggering 14K Euro.

If you’re the sort of motoring enthusiast who always wanted a classic Bugattii, but couldn’t

The late Terence Conran, founder of the

Habitat chain of design stores, had a collection of Bugatti pedal cars mounted on the wall of his mansion. Now theyare being offered for sale through Bonhams the auctioneers. Initial estimates suggest these

big boy toys will make between £500 and £3,000 each.

The star of the collection is a red and black type 57 which should exceed the estimate of £2,400.

A VIP Taxi for £99k

Surely the ultimate indulgence for the super wealthy is a chauffeur driven taxi. UK car designer Khan have created the perfect car for those who have long since left public transport behind but want the convenience of a luxury London taxi at their beck and call at all times.

This VIP model comes loaded with every imaginable extra including designer quilted leather seats, wireless phone charging and oodles of wood trim. As always, if you have to ask the price you can’t afford it. For the record £99k, plus Irish taxes, will see you in the back seat, waiting for your driver.

Test Drive Crash

CAR PARKING GONE WRONG

When this American driver took their car to the supermarket they were probably just going to pick up a few groceries. They ended up with a much more expensive trip as they managed to impale their Volkswagen Passat on a pole in the car park.

We still haven’t quite figured out how it was done, but it certainly was an interesting mistake.

When 18-year-old used car salesman Vladyslav Vitk took a customer for a test drive from his employers Chicago dealership, he was expecting to make a sale. Instead he made headlines.

He lost control of the BMW X6 and wrote it off and in the process managed to rip though the front garden and fencing of a local house.

While its unclear if he ever made the sale its pretty certain he’s not getting a bonus this month!

LAMBORGHINI SUV

Most people who dream of a Lamborghini are thinking about a low sleek Italian supercar but for those who really need something a little more rugged this vintage SUV may be just the thing.

Originally inspired by a model tested for the US military this model is one of just 279 ever made. This expensive machine has less than 9km on the clock.

All this style is going to cost a buyer in excess of $200k when it goes to auction.

Inscription AWD, full Nappa lthr, 31,557kms, blue, auto, chrome pack, park assist, MFSW, 20” alloys, cruise,

2018 Volvo XC90 T8 ‘PLUG-IN HYBRID’ AWD, R-Design, pan. sunroof, auto, 78,302kms, alarm, 20” alloys, dual climate, elec. heat seats, onboard comp., park assist, sat. nav, 7 seats, pan. glass roof, €65,950

climate, a/con, alarm, MFSW, park assist, cruise, t/wins, Media conn, Keyless, €47,950

7 seats, keyless, €49,950

‘172 Volvo XC90 D5, 235hp, 4WD, Nappa lthr, dsl, auto, 140,824kms, dual climate, alarm, 20” alloys, Isofix, tiptronic, heat seats, park sensors, sat. nav, stop/start, Keyless Entry, €49,950

AWD 2.0, 4WD, R-Design, 66,786kms, auto, 19” alloys, elec. heat memory sports seats, keyless, half lthr, dual climate, alarm, tiptronic, lots more, €44,950

2019

‘161 Volkswagan Polo 1.0 BlueMotion, petrol, ‘Fun’ spec, 47,297kms, t/wins, CD/MP3, 16” alloys, Isofix, onboard comp., media conn, e/sunroof, sports seats, stop/start, €14,500

‘181 Mercedes E200D Avantgarde, auto, lthr, diesel, 93,763kms, 2.0, 17” alloys, dual climate, elec. heat sports seats, park assist, t/wins, stop/start, keyless, cruise, €36,950

‘181 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI 150hp R Line, pan. sunroof, 42,749kms, diesel, 19” alloys, cruise, dual climate, roof rails, park sensors, sat. nav, keyless, a/con, stop/start, €35,950

2019 Volvo XC90 T8 ‘PLUG-IN HYBRID’ auto, RDesign AWD, pan. sunroof, 114,576kms, 20” alloys, Chrome pack, lthr heat seats, roof rails, park sensors, MFSW, e/sunroof, €64,950

2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 SE, 7 seats, AWD, auto, pan. sunroof, diesel, 90,750kms, 19” alloys, dual

‘161 Volvo XC90 T8 ‘PLUG-IN HYBRID’ 2.0, 4WD Inscription, auto, 63,547kms, alarm, e/sunroof, 20” alloys, elec. lthr, heat seats, MFSW, onboard comp.,

Volvo S90 T8 ‘PLUG-IN HYBRID’

2020 Volvo XC90 T8 ‘PLUG-IN HYBRID’ 2.0

roof rails, media conn, €77,950

2021 Volvo XC60 2.0, Polestar T8 Hybrid, Nappa lthr, auto, 21,342kms, 4WD, a/con, alarm, heat elec. seats, park assist, sunroof, t/wins, 21” alloys, Harman Kardon sound, pan. glass roof, €73,950

2021 Volvo S60 T4 petrol, 190hp Inscription, 2.0 auto, 22,638kms, 19” alloys, cruise, elec. memory lthr seats, Harman Kardon sound, keyless, park camera, cruise, dual climate, alarm, €46,950

2018 Volvo XC60 D4 190HP AWD Inscription, pan. sunroof, 71,316kms, 2.0, auto, diesel, a/con, armrest, alarm, lthr, MFSW, onboard comp., 19” alloys, stop/start, park sensors, sat. nav, €49,950

2019 Volvo XC60 D3, lthr, Winter Pack, incl heat steering wheel, 61,928kms, 2.0, dsl, 18” alloys, heat seats, Chrome pack, cruise, park sensors, keyless, roof rails, Harman Kardon sound, much more, €47,950

2008 AUDI R8 4.2 V8, Irish car, FSH, low miles only 40k, Bang & Olufsen media pack, rev. camera, Xenons, elec. sports heat seats, alarm, alloys, park sensors, dual climate, Isofix, a/con, rear spoiler, r/locking, drive model selector, NCT 01/23, €59,950

low miles only 39k, diesel, auto, FSH, elec. memory heat seats, privacy glass, park sensors, rev. camera, a/con, climate, sat. nav, bluetooth, stop/start, Isofix, auto wipers, MFSW, bluetooth, NCT 01/24, €47,950

2015 Porsche Cayman GT4 Carbon ceramic brakes/ bucket seats, Irish car, 27k, hug spec, yellow seat belts, lthr dash/yellow stich, a/con, stop/start, sports seats, Bi-Xenons, 2 keys, dual climate, alarm, FSH, fogs, sports exhaust, cruise, floor mounted fire extinguser, NCT 03/24, €109,950

450BHP, Head-up display, Irish car, FSH, bi-xenons, 3.0 V6, Bang & Olufsen media pack,heat elec. seats, lthr, MFSW, climate, sat. nav, stop/start, 2 keys, Isofix, cruise, a/con, alarm, alloys, €72,950

camera, 360° camera, stop/start, keyless, 2 keys, alarm, cruise, a/con, heat seats, lthr, NCT 07/23, €74,950

‘181 Audi A5 SLine, FSH, s/r, 43k, coupe, auto, heated seats, Xenons, cruise, MFSW, sat. nav, bluetooth ph/media, rear privacy glass, park sensors, a/con, alarm, alloys, e/w, privacy glass,

2018

Competition, carbon ceramic brakes, massage seats, BMWSH, hugh spec, Bowers & Wilkins media pack, heat elec. memory sports seats, 2 keys, keyless entry, rev. camera, motor tailgate, park sensors, privacy glass, 35k, Isofix, rev. camera, cruise, lthr €94,950

LWB, FSH,

under BMW warranty, M-Performance pack, rev/ camera, park sensors, heat seats, sat. nav, bluetooth ph/media, MFSW, 2 keys, dual climate, stop/start, sat. nav, privacy glass, alarm, alloys, cruise, a/con, heat seats, 16kms, touchscreen, €54,950

rotar wheels, auto lights/wipers, a/con, €23,950

2017 Mercedes S350D SE

71k, dsl, auto, cruise, alarm, alloys, MFSW, roof rails, park sensors, rear spoiler, alarm, Xenons, stop/start, NCT 06/23, Isofix, park sensors, privacy glass, touchscreen media, €42,950

‘141 Audi A6 Bi-Turbo, S-Line, Black Ed., Quattro, low miles, 64k, s/r, 313hp, BOSE media pack, bi-xenons, rear privacy glass, cruise, dual climate, elec. seats, 20”

BMW M5

2021 BMW M135i,

2020 Audi A6 S-Line,

2018 Audi RS5 Coupe

18k, rev. camera, 360° camera/surround view, sports chrono, BOSE media pack, elec. memory heat seats, cruise, privacy glass, black exhausts tips, soft close doors, 2 keys, stop/start, park sensors, cruise, NCT 07/24, €104,950

435HP, 7 seats, pan. roof, 62k, diesel, auto, elec. memory heat seats, Tech pack, wireless charger, dual climate, Bi-Xenons, stop/start, roof rails, alloys, cruise, MFSW, privacy glass, sports seats, €74,950

2022 Land Rover Defender 90 D300, 5 seats, privacy glass, heat lthr seats, rev. camera, 360° view, bluetooth ph/media, a/con, dual climate, MFSW, cruise, digital dash, 2 keys, stop/start, park sensors, climate, sat. nav, €104,950

90

No VAT, sawtooth wheels, bucket seats, 67k, diesel, green, upgraded radio/stereo, Xenons, hardtop, upgraded Fox suspension, heat seats, a/con, bluetooth, f/spots, €42,950

2020

Range Rover Vogue P400e, plug-in hybrid, pan. roof, 21k, auto, Meridian media pack,cruise, sat. nav, black lthr, rev. camera, privacy glass, stop/start, 2 keys, cooler box, Xenons, bluetooth ph/media, touchscreen media, drive mode selector, €109,950

2022 Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid, pan. roof, 14 way seats, 11k, adaptive cruise, heat seats, Bose media pack, rev. camera, rear privacy glass, sports chrono, elec. heat lthr seats, s/r, climate, stop/start, 2 keys, rev. camera, touchscreen media, keyless entry, Isofix, lots more, €POA

bixenons, privacy glass, a/con, e/m, e/w, elec. seats, park sensors, stop/start button, climate, €35,950

2019 BMW 840D X-Drive Head-up Display, 20” wheels, low miles only 31k, diesel, auto, sat. nav., Harmon & Kardon media, park sensors, stop/start, 2 keys, climate, alarm, cruise, privacy glass, NCT 04/23, €74,950

2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD, upgraded 19” sport wheels, pan. roof, heat seats/steering wheel, 950 miles, auto, a/con, lthr, s/r, MFSW, park sensors, 2 keys, cruise, pilot assist, Xenons, lots more, €62,950

‘19 BMW 530E M-Sport, plug-in hybrid, 18k, auto, park sensors, cruise, heat seats, bluetooth ph/media, rear privacy glass, xenons, auto 39,950

2019 Volvo XC90 R Design T8 Plug-in Hybrid, 7 seats, pan. roof, privacy glass, sat. nav, rev. camera, stop/start, dual climate, 2 keys, heat seats, cruise, alloys, alarm, heat elec. memory seats, auto tailgate, lots more, €64,950

‘12 BMW 640D M-Sport Coupe, dsl, 3.0, 76k, auto, sat. nav, bluetooth, elec. memory seats, lthr, privacy glass, Isofix, keyless entry, stop/start, touchscreen media, NCT 08/21, €20,950

2021 Volvo XC90 R-Design T8 Plug-in Hybrid, 7 seats, pan. roof, sat. nav, bluetooth ph/media, cruise, auto tailgate, park sensors, Isofix, a/con, dual climate, bluetooth ph/media, 2 keys, stop/start, alloys, cruise, MFSW, roof rails, €82,950

2020 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, FPSH, pan. roof, Estate,

Land Rover

2013 Land Rover Defender

Commercial,

2017 Audi SQ7 4.0 TDI V8,

LUCID AIR HITS A SLOWDOWN

When the Saudi backed Lucid electric car manufacturer was launched it was seen as the next big thing on the stock market in the USA. It boasted of having a full order book. Since then the premium priced car maker has started to hit the harsh reality of selling cars. It seems all the early adopters have had their cars delivered and in the meanwhile stiff competition has meant the others have gone elsewhere for their smart new vehicle.

The company has a market capitalisation of $75 billion, but as sales are slowing down that measure may well prove to be nothing more than an illusion. Reports from America suggest that Lucid are actively canvassing those who expressed an early interest in the car and offering steep discounts to get them to commit to an order.

It remains to be seen how many of the exciting launches in the electric car market will still be there to celebrate in 20 years. Business is a marathon not a sprint.

Porsche with 670K miles

Porsche has taken a bit of a hit in recent reliability surveys so it’s worth reporting on one driver who is more than happy with his model.

US Driver Tom Thalmann loves driving his Porsche 911 Turbo. Since new, he’s put more than

SODIUM AND THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC BATTERIES

676,000 miles (1,087,916 km) on it between daily driving it and weekend racing it over the years. Although he took the engine out at 383k miles he claims it was just for preventative maintenance and the engine was in fact in great condition.

The rush to electrify our cars has caused a huge supply chain problem as manufacturers simply can’t access enough batteries to meet demand.

Lithium-ion batteries are what are under the bonnet in almost all the cars on the market at the moment. Unfortunately it’s expensive and sourcing the raw material in them comes from some politically unstable regions.

By contrast Sodium based batteries are manufactured from readily available material like

soda ash. To date the performance of sodium batteries hasn’t met the performance of lithium based products.

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL is leading the way in developing new version sodium batteries that they are testing in small city cars. They have also experimented with combination of lithium and sodium power packs that reduce the costs involved in producing new cars. Watch out for sodium in the future of cheaper electric cars.

LANCIA REBRANDS AS ELECTRIC-ONLY MANUFACTURER

The band of Lancia fans in Ireland will be keen to know that the Italian car manufacturer is being re-launched as an electric-only car manufacturer.

The company is owned by Stellantis alongside Fiat, Chrysler, Citroën, Vauxhall, and Peugeot.

They plan to launch three electric cars between now and 2028 with such familiar names as Ypsilon and Delta amongst the planned line-up.

The change in the company plans is also reflected in a new logo which will feature on all the products when they arrive in the market.

When replying to adverts please mention

17,900

2015 Kia Sportage 1.7 LX SUV Estate, diesel, blue, €280 road tax, 114bhp, NCT 01/24, €14,750

2013 Audi A6 2.0SE 177BHP Diesel, 135k, leather, €270 road tax, NCT 06/23, €13,900

2016 Nissan Juke 1.5 SV red, diesel, 82k, 108bhp, €190 road tax, NCT 03/24, €11,900

2018 Renault Trafic Commercial 1.6 Diesel, fresh DOE, white, 142k, 120bhp, €333 road tax, €11,900

2015 Opel Astra 1.4 Excite Blue, 58k, 98bhp, €280 road tax, NCT 11/23, €10,900

2008 Land Rover Range Rover 2.7 TDV6, Auto, diesel, 89k miles, 188BHP, €333 road tax, (due 10/23) €10,900

2011 Kia Sport 1.7 EX SUV Panoramic roof, diesel, Estate, white, 112k, 114bhp, €280 road tax, NCT 11/23, €9,900

2014 Dacia Duster 1.5 Signature Diesel, 94k, €270 road tax, NCT 07/23, €8,900

2009 BMW 320 SE Diesel, 71k, silver, 141bhp, €270 road tax, NCT 05/23, €7,900

2011 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 Silver, 80k, 59bhp, €270 rad tax, NCT 11/23, €7,450

FAKE DEALER SCAMS £1.3M

Kent police have just ended the career of a fake car salesman. Using an old trick, he advertised cars online and then proceeded to “sell” the cars to unsuspecting motorists. Having taken deposits, and in some cases full payment, the con artist simply disappeared.

Fortunately police noticed that a local bad boy was suddenly driving a Porsche Panamera where before he was scarcely able to afford a banger. Following a quick investigation of his new found affluence the truth was discovered and the 32-year-old conman faced the courts.

The Porsche was seized and will be auctioned to help repay some of the £1.3 million he is believed to have scammed.

Driven by the hand of God

If you are a footie fan you’ll have heard of ‘The Hand Of God’, that famous goal scored by Maradona. At his peak the Argentinian was regarded as probably the finest player in the world.

At an early stage in his career he was gifted a 1980 Mercedes 450SLC by a group of supporters who were so pleased with his skills they wanted to show their appreciation. If you want to own this specimen car you’ll have to dig deep. Bonham’s the auctioneers expect that when it goes under the hammer in February it will make in excess of £150k.

AGED 90 AND STILL TRUCKING

Apple car delayed

As the years catch up on us most drivers realise that they need to limit their ambitions.

The exception to the rule is 90-year-old Brian Wilson from Sheffield. Having just had his HGV licence renewed he plans to keep on driving trucks

around the British Midlands. With over 70 years of truck driving behind him he is fully confident that he can keep going without any problems. He has limited his driving to 150 miles a week and is thinking about retiring next year, if the business can do without him.

Huge numbers of us carry an iPhone in our pockets and many Apple fans would dearly love to match that with an Apple electric car that would be filled with all the latest technology. The bad news is that although Apple are committed to producing an electric car they have delayed the launch of their game changing car until 2026.

The Californian company seems to be determined to perfect a self-driving technology and appear to want to have perfected that system before they enter the market. As with all Apple products this car won’t be cheap, with a rumoured American price of $100k, but if it works as well as their phones and computers it could become a market leader.

Paul Tobin Ltd Est 1993

We have MOVED to our new SUPER SHOWROOMS on BLUEBELL AVENUE

Only 2 mins from our previous premises.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new location.

auto, hybrid petrol plug-in, 5k, Navarra blue, black lthr, piano wood finish, pan. sliding s/r, head-up display, Bang & Olufsen sound, keyless entry/go, adaptive radar cruise, 19” alloys, elec. memory heat front seats, 360° camera, €86,950

auto, dsl, Est, 265bhp, 7

Rover Evoque P300E HSE, 1.5, auto, PHEV, 19.5k, upgraded deep garnet lthr inter., upgraded Meridian sound, 20” alloy wheels, elec. memory heat front seats, heat rear seats, pan. sliding s/r, low road tax, €69,950

2.0, auto, hybrid petrol plug-in, 13k, 310bhp, €170 road tax, black Nappa lthr, keyless, 20” alloys, park sensors, climate, cruise, privacy glass, 360° surround camera, Harmon Kardon sound, lots more, €64,950

elec. memory heat and air cooled front seats, rev. camera, park sensors, radar cruise, phone/media bluetooth, lane assist, dual climate, hybrid, €59,950

2022 Lexus NX 350H F Sport AWD, Hybrid Estate, 5.5k, €390 road tax, 14” touchscreen display, pan. monitor, wireless charger, lthr sport seats, elec. memory heat front seats, 20” alloys, 360° rev. cameras, cruise, €74,950

2022 Mercedes GLE 350DE AMG Premium, auto, hybrid dsl plug-in, 14k, Est, €170 road tax, 320bhp, 21” multispoke alloys, 360° cameras, park sensors, elec. memory heat front seats, phone/media bluetooth, a/con, start/stop, privacy glass, €99,950

2022 BMW 530E M-Sport, auto, hybrid petrol plug-in, 9.k, ivory lthr, ash wood finish, 19” alloy wheels, heated steering wheel, Harmon Kardon sound, elec. heated front seats, phone/media bluetooth, sat. nav, rev. camera, park sensors, €67,950

2022 Volvo S90 T8 Recharge, uto, hybrid petrol plug-in, black lthr, 360° rev. camera/sensors, Google maps, e/s/r, adaptive radar cruise, keyless entry/go, Harmon Kardon sound, phone/media bluetooth, elec. memory heat/cool seats, €59,950

2021 Audi A7 2.0 TDI S Line, auto, dsl, black pack, black half lthr int., 21” alloys, pan. s/r, 360° camera/park sensors, Bang & Olufsen sound, Xenons, keyless entry/go, sat. nav, built-in media pack, cruise, €390 road tax, 12.5k, €71,950

2021 Audi A8 3.0,

2021 Land Rover Range

2021 Volvo V90 R-Design

2019 BMW X5 3.0 M-Sport,

seats, 25k, 22” alloys, lthr, elec. memory heat front seats, Harmon Kardon sound, 360° park camera/sensors, head-up display, sat. nav, stop/start, rear spoiler, MFSW, dual climate, €86,950

200 BMW 840i M-Sport Coupe, stunning colour combo, auto, coupe, 21k, grey, 2-tone red/black lthr, aluminium finish, 20” alloys,head-up display, rev. camera/sensors, elec. memory lumbar support front seats, Harmon Kardon sound, sat. nav, €86,500

2019 Lexus LS500H, rare, low miles, only 15k, elec. memory heat/cool massage seats, 360° camera/park sensors, e/s/r/, 20” alloys, head-up display, €390 road tax, sat. nav, stop/start, cruise, climate, centre armrest, lots more, €72,950

2019 Lexus RX450H 3.5, automatic, 38k, 4WD, silver met, black lther interior, 20” alloys,

2018 Mercedes E220 AMG Night Edition Premium, auto, dsl, 32k, 194bhp, €200 road tax, black lthr, a/con, alloys, park sensors, MFSW, stop/start, heat seats, sat. nav, dual climate, cruise, centre arrest, 2-door, €44,950

2018 BMW 530D M-Sport, absolutely spotless, 42k, 265bhp, €270 road tax, black lthr, aluminium finish, M-Performance bodystyling, upgraded 20” alloys, elec. reclining heat front seats, ph/media bluetooth, sat. nav.,€43,950

2017 Mercedes GLE 500e 3.0, auto, PHEV, 26k, Est, 442bhp, €180 road tax, pan. glass s/r, elec. memory heat/air cooled seats, 360° rev cameras/sensors, alcantara headlining, Harmon Kardon sound, 20” alloys, €59,950

2017 Volvo XC90 R-Design Pro, 4WD, 61k, auto, dsl, est, 235bhp, €390 road tax, rev. camera/park sensors, elec. memory heat front seats, 20” alloys, adative radar cruise, a/con, stp/start, privacy glass, MFSW, dual climate, NCT 07/23, €51,950

Fully restored Porsche 911 Targa sells for nearly £950,000

The fascination with modern classics continues. If you saw this fully restored Porsche 911 Targa in your local Dunnes Stores car park, you might admire it or simply just pass it by.

How many shoppers would think it was worth close to one million?

This 1972 S 911 2.4 Targa was fully restored, at great cost, to bring it to concours condition.

It was paired with the Chronograph watch that was designed by Ferdinand Porsche, as part of the package.

When it went for auction at UK company RM Sotheby’s recently, it achieved close to £950,000.

Now is the time to start searching every barn in Ireland to see if there is another gem like this waiting to be discovered.

SQUAD ON DUTY

Sometimes a car isn’t clear if it’s a golf buggy or a car.

This little number comes from Dutch company Squad Mobility and its unique claim to motoring fame is that it is entirely solar powered, meaning that it is ideal for city use.

The sun charges two 6.4kwh

batteries which then drive 2two2kw motors on the rear wheels.

The sun should give you 13 miles of driving and if that isn’t enough, the batteries can also be charged from a normal wall socket which will the get you 60 miles.

The expected price for this little town car is 6,500.

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IT HELPS US AND OUR ADVERTISERS

2016 BMW 120i Sport 1.6, auto RWD, Android auto, Apple CarPlay, 107kms, sport styling, red stitching, 17” diamond cut alloys, privacy glass, sat. nav, rev. camera, bluetooth, cruise, dual climate, speed limiter, f/fogs, €19,999

2017 BMW 330E Sport+ 2.0, Plug-in Hybrid, auto, RWD, 252bhp, 19” upgraded M-Sport alloys, €170 road tax, 144kms, 184bhp, bluetooth, sat. nav, park sensors, a/con, cruise, speed limiter, auto lights, f/fogs, auto dim mirrow, €23,444

‘162 BMW 50D M-Sport 2.0, dsl, sat. nav, auto, RWD, 190bhp, 18” M-Sport alloys, privacy glass, park sensors, lthr heat seats, bluetooth conn, cruise, dual climate, €200 tax, €25,888

2021 BMW 530E M-Sport+ 2.0 petrol plug-in hybrid, auto RWD (292bhp), 20” upgraded M-Sport alloys, 24kms, €170 road tax, lthr heat seats, privacy glass, sat. nav, Android auto, wireless ph. charger, Black pack, blue M-sport calipers, cruise, more, €56,999

2017 BMW X5 40E M-Sport XDrive 2.0, petrol plug-in hybrid, auto, 4WD (310bhp), 22” upgraded M-Sport alloys, €170 road tax, 151kms, heat elec drivers seat, head-up display, rev. camera, sat. nav, cruise, push button start, roof rails, aux/USB, lots more, €44,444

‘182 Landrover Range Rover Sport 3.0 dsl TDV6 HSE  Dynamic, pan. s/r, 258bhp, 21” alloys, 143k, auto, 8-sp, 4WD, sat. anv, climate, cruise, rev. camera, elec drivers seat, elec. tailgate, €71,999

RWD, 170bhp, 18” upgraded M-Sport alloys, 132kms, €280 road tax, alcantara seating, privacy glass, rev. camera, speed limiter, push button start, dual climate, f/fogs, auto dim mirror, €19,999

2015 Ford Fiesta 1.25 Titanium, a/con, 16” alloys, 60bhp, 96kms, €200 road tax, t/glass, bluetooth conn, r/c/l, a/con, f/fogs, hill-start assist, r/c/l, e/w, e/m, LED daytime lights, €11,999

2018 Ford Focus 1.5 Diesel ST Line 120BHP, 17” alloys, a/con, park sensors, 51kms, €180 road tax, 6-speed, privacy glass, rear spoiler, push button start, r/c/l, a/con, e/m, traction, hill-assist, €21,999

2021 Kia Sportage 1.6 Mild Hybrid K3, Black Edition, 17” alloys, CarPlay, 136bhp, 44k, dsl, €200, 6-sp, 2-tone lthr heat seats, sat. nav, rev. camera, privacy glass, cruise, climate, auto lights, €32,333

2018 Mercedes GLC220 Sport Premium Plus 4Matic, 19” alloys, €270 road tax, 111kms, 170bhp, auto, dsl, lthr elec. memory heat seats, park sensors, rev. camera, cruise, climate, elec. tailgate, roof rails, AUX/USB, f/fogs, bluetooth, lots more, €39,999

2017 Volkswagen Golf 1.2 Comfortline, 110bhp, 17” upgraded alloys, 105bhp, 44kms, paddleshift, sat. nav, dual climate, adaptive cruise, bluetooth, f/fogs, traction, €19,999

2014 Mitsubishi ASX 1.8 Diesel 3, 2WD, 114bhp, 6-speed, privacy glass, 17” alloys, €280 road tax, 177kms, heat seats, bluetooth, a/con, f/fogs, park sensors, rain sensing wipers, €10,999

2020 Renault Zoe Electric, GT Line 50 Rapid, 16” alloys, BOSE sound, a/con, 134bhp, 111kms, heat seats, lthr, push button start, Keyless entry, rev. camera, cruise, t/glass, park sensors, traction, MFSW, lane departure, bluetooth, €21,999

2016 Volkswagen Golf 1.2 Comfortline, sat. nav, rev. camera, 16” alloys, climate, 76kms, auto, paddleshift, adaptive cruise, dual climate, auto dimming mirrow, rain sensing wipers, f/fogs, €17,999

2012 Volkswagen Golf 1.4 Highline, auto, App Connectivity, reverse camera, 87kms, 122bhp, 16” alloys, CarPlay, rev. camera, bluetooth, a/con, f/fogs, auto lights, heat e/m, €11,999

2021 Volkswagen Polo 1.0 R-Line, 80bhp, 16” diamond cut alloys, 17kms, €190 road tax, privacy glass, touchscreen radio, Apple CarPlay, push button start, rear spoiler, e/w, e/m, r/c/l, €22,222

2018 Volkswagen Golf GTE 1.4 Plug-in Hybrid DSG, 204bhp, 18” diamond cut alloys, €170 road tax, 47kms, Tartan plaid fabric, t/glass, Apple CarPlay, Android auto, 8” infotainment screen, park sensors, park sensors, MFSW, €26,999

2018 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0, 310bhp 4Motion, lthr, s/r, 19” alloys, 53kms, auto, lthr heat seats, t/glass, sat. nav, s/r, rev. camera, push button start, park sensors, cruise, climate, f/fogs, €39,888

2013 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 Comfortline, auto, Apple CarPlay, Android auto, rev. camera, 17” diamond cut alloys, 70bhp, privacy glass, bluetooth, r/c/l, traction, €12,222

‘141 Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 Diesel V6 R-Line SUV 4Motion, auto, 4WD, 245bhp, pan. roof, 106k, heat lthr seats, 20” alloys, park sensors, cruise, climate, MFSW, aux/USB, roof rails, privacy glass, NCT 01/24, €28,999

BRACKEN

ROAD, SANDYFORD, DUBLIN 18. TEL: 01-902 6878

PRICE PROMISE GUARANTEE

– Find a similar car at another SIMI dealer for less and we'll refund the difference!*

2.0, automatic, diesel, leather, 134,099kms, 18” alloys, dual climate, armrest, a/con, USB, multi-CD, sat. nav, park sensors, elec. seats, Eco Mode, FSH, reverse camera, service history, Safety Sense, WAS €31,999, NOW €31,499

2017

automatic, diesel, 58,426kms, cruise, dual climate, armrest, bluetooth phone, elec. seats, MFSW, stop/start, f/fogs, rear park sensors, traction, Isofix, Eco mode, bluetooth phone, WAS €30,999 NOW €28,499

4WD, 4M R, auto, 53,926kms, dual climater, bluetooth ph, MFSW, onboard comp, lots more, WAS €43,999, NOW €37,499

‘141 Land Rover Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 XS, 5-dr, Auto, diesel, blue, 226,907kms, leather, WAS €23,999, NOW €22,499

2018 Jaguar XE 2.0 D Prestige, 163PS, diesel, 48,224kms, climate, a/con, armrest, sat. nav, media/iPod conn, MFSW, cruise, Isofix, bluetooth, aux. jack, €23,999

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 2.0 MIVEC 4WD, Instyle, auto, hybrid, Isofix, MFSW, cruise, a/con, alarm, auto lights, lthr, onboard comp., €18,999

2017 Volvo S90 D3 2.0 150HP, Momentum, Geartronic, 194,680kms, auto, dsl, cruise, a/con, lthr, sat. nav, 18” alloys, stop/start, MFSW, t/wins, WAS €25,999, NOW €24,999

BMW 320D M-Sport GT 2.0,

2018 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0 TSI 310HP

2019 Mercedes C220 D A/T,

OPENING HOURS:

Monday-Friday 9am-6pm; Saturday 9am-5pm

TDI 115bhp DSG Style, diesel, 59,165kms, Estate, dual climate, MFSW, park sensors, Isofix, sat. nav, dual climate, onboard comp., stop/start, alloys, traction, MP3, Isofix, Apple CarPlay, WAS €32,999, NOW €29,999

Charles Hurst for you, for life

FREE WARRANTY

– A comprehensive 3 or 6 month warranty - depending on age and mileage.**

‘142

automatic, diesel, 147,816kms, auto lights/wipers, elec. seats, e/m, e/w, bluetooth phone, armrest, dual climate, f/fogs, MFSW, 7 seats, stop/start, media connection, rear park sensors, sat. nav, WAS €37,999 NOW €36,499

2018

150PS Sport Nav, Sky ACT, 83,431kms, diesel, 19” alloys, alarm, auto lights/wipers, climate, lthr, t/windows, MFSW, rev. c amera, sat. nav, multi-CD, front park sensors, WAS €22,999, NOW €21,999

150PS T itanium, automatic, diesel, 47,708kms, elec. seats, sat. nav, f/fogs, e/w, e/m, park sensors, media connection, rev. camera, onboard computer, Isofix, bluetooth phone, rev. camera, WAS €42,999 NOW €39,499

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI 150HP BMT Highline, diesel, 97,778kms, alloys, climate, heat seats, sat. nav, USB, s/r, bluetooth, onboard comp, cruise, park sensors, €24,999

2016 Audi A5 SB 2.0 TDI 136 Ultra SE, diesel, 150,338kms, a/con, sat. nav, Isofix, onboard comp, bluetooth, park sensors, MFSW, WAS €22,995, NOW €20,499

2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque TD4 SE, auto, diesel, 114,000kms, leather, 5-door, WAS €32,999, NOW €29,999

2018 Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 65HP Comfortline, 47,348kms, iPod conn, Apple CarPlay, stop/start, a/con, Android auto, MFSW, park sensors, bluetooth,WAS €15,999, NOW €15,499

BMX X5 sDrive 25d M-Sport, 2.0,

2019 Ford Galaxy 2.0 TDCI

2019 Skoda Karoq 1.6

Mazda6 2.2D

RUN BY THE SUN

Every car driver dreams of the idea of running their car for nothing. A manufacturer based in Finland believes they have the answer. The Lightyear is a family-sized saloon car with a exceptionally low drag coefficient of 0.175 that features a unique body covered in solar panels. They claim that sun alone will give up to 43 miles running a day on free solar power. Just in case it’s a rainy day it can also be plugged in to boost the battery. Sounds good? Except the launch price is around $250k. While that is clearly impractical, the technology may well be the direction we will all be using one day.

ALL ELECTRIC MERCEDES SHOWROOM

In a sign of how the motor industry Mercedes have opened their first electric only showroom in Japan. The Yokohama sales operation will only offered the Mercedes range of electric cars. The Japanese have been slow to

adapt to electric cars and seem happy to stay with extensive selection of hybrid vehicles that have been available there for years.

How long will it be till we see an electric only showrooms in Ireland?

THE CHINESE ARE COMING

China has overtaken Germany in the table of top car exporters. A total of 2.6 million cars left China for the rest of the world last year and it seems to be set to continue to increase in 2023.

In order to ensure that they get their vehicles to market the Chinese are ordering new ships to export them directly.

BYD, which only makes electric and hybrid cars, is, ordering at least six ships in October, each with the capacity to carry 7,700 cars, for 5 billion yuan ($710 million). State-owned SAIC Motor Corp., which already operates the world's fifth-largest shipping fleet via transport arm SAIC Anji Logistics, has a tender out for seven new carriers that can each hold 8,900 vehicles.

SEARCH FORD ARCHIVES FOR FREE

Ford have been archiving pictures of every model thy have produced in the UK. With over 6,000 pictures available to search online this invaluable resource could be useful to anyone planning a car restoration who wants to check any detail on their beloved project.

“We’re opening up in a way we’ve never done before,” said Ted Ryan, Ford archive and heritage brand manager. “Making our archives accessible for everyone online is a real passion project for me and the team.

“Looking back through Ford’s history not only helps to educate, but can serve as inspiration as we accelerate our transformation into an all-electric and software-driven vehicle company.”

https://fordheritagevault.com/

HYUNDAI DUNDRUM

www.hyundaidundrum.ie

Dsl Estate, 93kms, 2 keys, a/con, alarm, lthr heat seats, cruise, climate, r/c/l, sat. nav., stop/start, privacy glass, park sensors, armrest, €390 road tax, €41,950

Dundrum Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14, D14CD00

Call us today on (01) 21 31 770

Email: info@hyundaidundrum.ie

2016 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 SV 64kms, €180 road tax, 110bhp, diesel, 2 keys, a/con, alarm, alloys, bluetooth, armrest, climate, cruise, stop/start, s/r, MFSW, 6-sp, USB, €18,450

2018 Opel Astra Sports Tourer SC 1.0T 66,904kms, €190 road tax, 105bhp, a/con, bluetooth, cruise, MFSW,stop/start, rear spoiler, traction, NCT 02/23, €13,950

2017 Nissan X-Trail 1.6 XE, diesel, 100,367kms, grey, 130bhp, a/con, alloys, cruise, climate, MFSW, Isofix, bluetooth, 7 seats, stop/start, traction, hill-start assist, €21,750

2018 Volkswagen Golf 1.0 Highline TSI, Est, 110hp, €200 road tax, 42,906kms, a/con, alloys, climate, cruise, MFSW, park sensors, sports seats, stop/start, 6-sp, dual climate, €22,450

2019 Hyundai ix20 Deluxe 1.6, 125bhp, €390 road tax, 40kms, a/con, alloys, bluetooth, CD, c/l, armrest, fogs, hill-start assist, MFSw, park sensors, rear spoiler, stop/start, €17,950

2016 Skoda Fabia C Ambition 1.2 TSI 90HP 47kms, €190 road tax, 2 keys, a/con, alloys, Android auto, Apple CarPlay, bluetooth, fogs, MFSW, r/c/l, stop/start, traction, €POA

2017 Nissan Micra 1.0 SV, 71BHP, 31kms, a/con, alloys, bluetooth, c/locking, cruise, EBD, e/w, hill-start assist, MFSW, rear spoiler, r/cl, traction, €190 road tax, €14,450

2019 Kia Stonic K3 1.4, Estate, 41kms, €280 road tax, a/con, alloys, auto wipers, c/l, climate, cruise, EBD, fogs, hill-start assist, MFSW, park sensors, privacy glass, sat. nav., 6-sp, stop/start, €18,950

2022 Hyundai Tucson ix35 Executive 1.6, Diesel, 14kms, 115bhp, €280 road tax, a/con, lthr, alloys, elec heat seats, fogs, MFSW, privacy glass, park sensors, stop/start, 6-speed, rev. camera, climate, €39,450

2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid Sol 2.5, auto, 61kms, 218bhp, €180 road tax, 2 keys, 360° camera, a/con, lthr heat elec. seats, alloys, keyless entry, privacy glass, start/stop, sat. nav, cruise, lots more,€POA

2022 Hyundai Tucson 1.6 Executive Plus, Diesel, grey, 136bhp, €120 road tax, a/con, alloys, cruise, dual climate, heat front seats, MFSW, park sensors, stop/start, sat. nav, €41,950

2020 Nissan Leaf EV SV Premium 40KW  54kms, €120 road tax, 150BHP, auto, electric, a/con, alloys, bluetooth, cruise, heat seats, park sensors, privacy glass, rev. camera, sat. nav, €27,950

2017 Audi A6 Allroad 3.0 TDI Quattro Sport 218PS

COLD WILL AFFECT ELECTRIC CAR RANGE

HOW DID TESLA GET THE NAME?

ElonMusk is credited with kick starting the electric car industry when he launched his range of Tesla cars way back in 2003.

The unique and, frequently crazy entrepreneur can justifiably take credit for the success of the brand, so most people assume he came up with the name.

Not so. The name had been registered by a

Sacramento, USA man who didn’t want to part with it. The name pays tribute to Nikola Tesla who is best known for inventing AC electricity. Musk decided that he wanted to have the name and sent one of his top people to the owners doorstep and was told not to leave without it.

The plan worked. After a lot of pressure the name changed hand for $75,000.

Many electric car drivers will have realised recently that they are not getting as much distance between charges as they did during the summer months.

Frosty weather has had a significant impact on the performance of electric cars.

Most EVs will lose 12% of their range in very cold weather. In addition drivers typically use a lot more

power for heating the cabin and defrosting windows.

In exceptionally cold weather, the type we rarely get in Ireland, the performance of the battery pack can drop as much as 40%. Charging times will also increase as the temperature drops, so be prepared to spend more time plugged in to get the same charge.

Norway

hits 20% electric

The Norwegians are leading the move to electrifying their national car fleet. One car in five is now electric and they expect that to hit 30% in another two years. Their plan is to

be selling electric only cars by 2025. All of this is being achieved with the help of government incentives, not just that Norwegians want to save the planet.

SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE

Following a period of exceptional growth we now require a Senior Car Sales professional to join BILL GRIFFIN MOTORS

Exceptional career prospects.

We are also ready to have a JUNIOR SALES EXECUTIVE

who wants to make a career in car sales, join the fast-moving team at this exceptionally busy car sales business.

Applications by email to: dave@billgriffinmotors.ie

Electric chargers in China and USA

Aclearindication of how seriously a country is taking the switch to electric power can be judged on the number of charging points that are available.

In the USA there are a total of 113,000 charging stations which leaves large parts of the country effectively unavailable for long distance travel.

The Chinese province of Guangdong alone has

372,000 charging stations.

China expects to have enough charging stations installed by 2025 to handle 20 million electric cars on their roads.

Last year the Chinese installed 592,000 charging stations. It’s clear that the cars of the future will be electric and many of them will be Chinese manufactured.

Elon Musk

Nikola Tesla

BILL BUYS CARS

ANY MAKE, ANY MODEL

2019 BMW M5 4.4i V8 Twin Turbo 600bhp, auto, low miles only 17k, 20” M Light alloy double - spoke style 706M, ivory white Happa lthr, heat elec memory seats, paddleshift, cruise, a/con, dual climate, sat. nav, surround view camera, Harmon Kardon sound, start/stop, lots more, €105,995

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Vogue P400E Hybrid, auto, pan. roof, lthr heat, elec. memory seats, gloss black alloys, sat. nav, rev. camera, digital climate, lane dep. alert, cruise, bluetooth, paddleshift, armrest, 2 keys, privacy glass, 21k, €333 road tax, €93,455 + VAT

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2.0 P400e HSE Dynamique Hybrid, auto, 404bhp, 54k, €180 road tax, pan. roof, lthr heat seats, sat.nav, a/con, dual climate, MFSW, paddleshift, armrest, USB port, rev. camera, digital climate, auto boot, 2 keys, €84,950

new tyres, a/con, MFSW, touchscreen monitor, rev. camera, cruise, bluetooth, 2 x USB ports, 2 keys, NCT 07/23, €59,950

55 Quattro Sport, 408BHP , 21k, elec. automatic, pristine, sport alloys, alcantara lthr heat elec memory seats, sat. nav, surround view camera, digital climate, digital cluster, auto boot, 4 new tyres, paddleshift, bluetooth, MFSW, rear privacy glass, 2 keys, €120 road tax, €59,900

2017 Audi Q7 Quattro 3.0 TDI S -Line 272bhp, auto, 7 seats, pan. roof, lthr heat, elec memory seat, diesel, 60k, head-up display, auto boot, digital cluster, rear privacy glass, bluetooth, cruise, MFSW, paddleshift, 2 x USB port, start/stop, park senosrs, every extra, €53,950

2020 Audi e -Tron 50 Quattro Technik 308BHP , lthr, sat. nav, auto, Electric, 20k, €120 road tax, rev. camera, lthr elec. heat memory seats, sat. nav, rev. camera, digital climate, digital cluster, auto boot, paddleshift, 2 x USB ports, MFSW, 2 keys, €48,900

2019 Audi e -Tron

2016

a/con,

2018 Nissan Juke 1 5 DCI N- Connecta, sat nav, rev camera, rear privacy glass, diesel, 65k, 6- speed, sat. nav, a/con, start/stop, armrest, USB port, Aux-in, MFSW, 110bhp, €190 road tax, €15,900

2017 Nissan Note 1 2E auto, reverse camera, a/con, 70k, white, 2 keys, immaculate condition, e/w, 5- door, NCT 03/24, €10,900

2017 Opel Insignia 1 6 CDTI Tech Line, 140bhp, sat nav, 6- sp, park sensors, dsl, 112k, €200 road tax, alloys, alloys, half lthr, lane dep alert, start/stop, park sensors, 6- speed, dual climate, a/con, USB port, NCT 08/24, €13,700

auto, pristine, 55k, 122bhp, brand new NCT 01/24, alloys, half lthr, start/stop, armrest, e/w, a/con, bluetooth, paddleshift, MFSW, €270 road tax, red, €11,900

2019 Hyundai Ioniq EV, auto, 100k, electric, white, 120bhp, €120 road tax, rev camera, sat nav, bluetooth, heated seats, heated steering wheel, bluetooth, cruise, lane departure alert, Infinity sound, touchscreen monitor, aux-in, USB, €19,900

2016 Hyundai Tucson 1 7 CRDI, diesel, 116BHP , 84k, immaculate, SH, alloys, aux-in, USB port, start/stop, a/con, NCT 11/24, €200 road tax, €17,900

‘181 Citroen C4 Cactus 1 6 HDI Feel, low miles only 23k, dsl, yellow, 100bhp, FSH, cruise, bluetooth, roof rack, alloys, rear privacy glass, e/w, €180 road tax, NCT 03/24, €15,450

‘191 Hyundai Tucson 1 6 CRDI Comfort model, alloys, cruise, park sensors, diesel, 72k, red, 115bhp, €270 road tax, stop/start, 6- speed, USB port, aux-in, park sensors, e/w, cruise, bluetooth, NCT 03/23, €24,900

sensors, rear privacy glass, cruise, 100bhp, €180 road tax, immaculate, SH, alloys, sat. nav, park sensors, touchscreen monitor, cruise, rear privacy glass, 2 keys, NCT 02/23, €14,900

‘181 Ford Mondeo 1 5 TDCI 120BHP , FSH, cruise, bluetooth, 2 keys, diesel, 124k, €190 road tax, pristine, alloys, 6- speed, park sensors, start/stop, bluetooth, MFSW, a/con, 2 keys, NCT 01/24, €13,950

2015 Mercedes A180D Sport Model, sought after jupiter red, half alcantara inter , rev camera, start/stop, diesel, Est, 35k, 109bhp, USB port, flat bottom MFSW, pristine condition throughout, NCT 12/23, €17,900

2017 Jaguar XF 2.0D Prestige Auto, 180bhp, lthr heat seats, sat.nav, rev. camera, 110k, diesel, €200 road tax, MFSW, park sensors, dual climate, a/con, paddleshift, armrest, touchscreen monitor, start/stop, NCT 01/25, €20,950

2017 Toyota Aqua 1.5 VVTI Hybrid, auto, alarmed and immobiliser, 91k, pristine, e/w, EV mode, a/con, aux-in, 2 keys, silver, NCT 03/24, €11,450

2016 Jaguar XF 2.0D R- Sport 180BHP , auto, sat. nav, diesel, lthr heated seats, 82k, €200 road tax, dual climate, paddleshift, MFSW, cruise, bluetooth, aux-in, USB port, park sensors, rear privacy glass, sat nav, NCT 03/24, €22,900

2017 Renault Fluence 1.5 DCI Limited Edition model, s/r, bluetooth, cruise, diesel, 91k, 95bhp, €190 road tax, NCT 01/23, s/r, a/con, dual climate, bluetooth, aux-in, CD, €11,450

‘181 Jaguar XE 2.0D Prestige Model, FSH, full lthr, sat. nav, diesel, 163bhp, cream lthr inter., start/stop, park sensors, dual climate, a/con, sat nav, lane dep alert, aux-in, USB port, touchscreen monitor, €180 road tax, NCT 04/24, €22,900

2012 Audi A1 1 4 TFSI,

Smart ForFour 0.9 Prime T, auto, s/r, 73k, black, 90bhp, alloys, lthr heat seats, cruise, start/stop, lane dep alert, USB port, aux-in,

monitor, cruise, park sensors, start/stop, NCT 10/24, tax 09/23, €15,900

2018 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 DCI Acenta model, cruise, bluetooth, 2 keys, 57k, a/con, MFSW, e/w, start/stop, aux-in, USB port, 110bhp, €180 road tax, €18,750

‘181 Hyundai Kona 1 0 Kauai Executive model, heat seats, rev camera, 75k, orange, 120bhp, 2 keys, alloys, park sensors, start/stop, aux-in, USB port, a/con, touchscreen monitor, €270 road tax, NCT 02/24, €17,900

2014 BMW 116i M- Sport, auto, half alcantara/lthr, reverse camera, a/con, 45k, white, 136bhp, 2 keys, alloys, reverse camera, MFSW, aux-in, USB port, NCT 09/24, €16,900

‘182 Nissan Note 1 2E automatic, 2 keys, 57k, push- start button, a/con, rev camera, lane dep alert, collision, alert, folding mirrors, start/stop, 98bhp, €180 road tax, €12,450

2017 Nissan Note 1 2E auto, 79k, white, 98BHP , rev camera, lane departure alert, collision alert, 2 keys, immaculate, a/con, e/w, €120 road tax, NCT 12/24, €10,900

2020 Seat Arona 1 0TSI SE technology model, sat nav, bluetooth, cruise, wireless ph charger, 8k, 2 keys, start/stop, aux-in, MFSW, bluetooth, 2 x USB ports, pristine, €200 road tax, €20,950

‘18 Suzuki Swift 1.2 Automatic, heated seats, a/con, 66k, silver, pristine, e/w, aux-in, push start button, €12,750

‘171 Toyota C-HR 1.2T Luna Sport mode, FSH, heat seats, rev. camera, 65k, 116bhp, cruise, touchscreen monitor, a/con, dual climate, rear privacy glass, wind deflectors, €280 road tax, NCT 01/23, €18,900

2013 Volkswagen Golf 1 2 TSI Comfortline, automatic, new model, alloys, rev camera, rear privacy glass, 55k, dual climate, cruise, wind deflectors, start/stop, paddleshift, NCT 08/23, €13,700

2019 Ford Ka+ 1 2 TI VC1 Active, 58k, alloys, cruise, bluetooth, a/con, 85bhp, €270 road tax, pristine, touchscreen monitor, MFSW, NCT 11/23, €13,900

2016 Hyundai i30 1.4 CRDI Pro Commercial Model, New DOE 08/23, cruise, bluetooth, diesel, 90bhp, immaculate, aux-in, USB port, MFSw, cruise, bluetooth, 6- speed, €333 road tax, €8,950

2013 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI, auto, rear privacy glass, alloys, 39k, blue, start/stop, elec windows, folding mirrors, aux-in, NCT 12/24, €11,900

‘17 Audi A4 2.0 TDI SE Ultra Estate, 150bhp, FSH, cruise, bluetooth, auto boot, 97k, dsl, alloys, dual climate, e/w, start/stop, park sensors, 2 keys, aux in, USB port, €155 road tax, €20,900

2018 Opel Mokka X 1.6 CDTI SC auto, 140bhp, FSH, 39k, diesel, pristine, cruise, park sensors, folding mirrors, touchscreen monitor, dual climate, MFSW, running daylights, rev camera, €270 road tax, NCT 04/24, €17,900

2018 Kia Ceed 1.6 CRDI 2 Model, FSH, 104k, diesel estate, white, 134bhp, €190 road tax, sat. nav, start/stop, cruise, e/w, park sensors, Kia fitted roof racks, touchscreen monitor, aux-in, USB port, rev camera, NCT 01/25, €13,900

2019 Ford Ka+ 1 2 TI VCI Active, 47k, black, alloys, cruise, bluetooth, a/con, 85bhp, €270 road tax, pristine, MFSW, e/w, touchscreen monitor, NCT 10/23, €13,900

2018 Peugeot Partner 1 6 HDI Professional L1 model, VAT invoice included, sat. nav, Mirror link, cruise, bluetooth, diesel, 81k, 99bhp, €333 road tax, Android auto, e/w, 2 keys, €13,500

2016 Mazda CX-3 1 5 TD 2WD Sport, full lthr heated seats, BOSE sound system, sat.nav, diesel, 93k, €190 road tax, USB port, aux-in, bluetooth, head-up display, rev camera, park sensors, NCT 05/24, €14,900

2019 Toyota Prius 1 8 VVT-I Active Hybrid, auto, park sensors, EV mode, rear privacy glass, 122BHP , €170 road tax, 2 keys, NCT 08/24, 44k, silver, €22,750

2014 Volvo V40 1 6 D2 R-Design, FSH, alcantara lthr heated seats, bluetooth, 89k, diesel, white, pristine, MFSW, start/stop, USB port, bluetooth, €180 road tax, NCT 01/25, €12,500

2017 Suzuki Ignis 1.2 Dualjet Mild Hybrid, auto, 60k, new NCT until 10/24, lane departure alert, a/con, gold, start/stop, rear privacy glass, wind deflectors, folding mirrors, 2 keys, €13,750

‘17 Mercedes A180D Sport, FSH, sat. nav, rev. camera, full lthr, diesel, 89k, e/w, MFSW, bluetooth, cruise, 2 x UDSB ports, 6- speed, push- start button, 2 keys, €190 road tax, 109bhp, €19,450

‘172 Ford Ecosport 1.0 Zetec Ecoboost 125bhp, 65k, pristine cond., 2 keys, alloys, a/con, e/w, bluetooth, armrest, aux-in, USB port, MFSW, €270 road tax, NCT 02/23, €15,700

2015 Audi A4 2.0 TDI SE 120BHP , alloys, cruise, a/con, 99k, diesel, black, pristine, CD, start/stop, e/w, MFSW, €200 road tax, taxed 03/24, NCT 10/23, €15,700

2019 Citroen Berlingo 1.6 HDI Commercial, VAT invoice included, FSH, bluetooth, Android auto, 106k, diesel Van, white, pristine, cruise, bluetooth, Mirror link, DOE 11/23, €14,400

2013 Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI Comfortline, auto, alloys, a/con, rev. camera, 19k, pristine, cruise, start/stop, wind deflectors, NCT 01/24, €14,900

Kearys partner with OHME electric chargers

Award-winning smartcharging company Ohme is the new official charging partner for Kearys Motor Group in Ireland.

The agreement will see Kearys Motor Group recommend Ohme EV chargers for all of its new and used electrified vehicle sales with an Ohme Home Pro charger in showrooms for customers to view.

Based in Cork and London, Ohme was one of Ireland’s fastest growing smart-charging companies in 2022 and is looking forward to continued strong

BRIT FILMS HIMSELF DRIVING AT 333KPH

German police are investigating a British YouTuber who filmed himself driving at 333kph on an Autobahn.

Ally Law, 25, is well-known for taking things to extremes to drive traffic to his site. This time he may have ended up in a bit of trouble as he drove his rented Lamborghini Huracan.

In spite of people believing there are no speed limits on the Autobahn, many locations do, in

NO RANGE ANXIETY

fact, have restrictions. His antics bring a whole new

meaning to the phrase “ drive it like you rented it”

growth in 2023.

Kearys Motor Group is Ireland’s largest family-owned motor group, representing the likes of BMW, Hyundai, Nissan, Renault and Mini across 12 dealerships and employing 450 people throughout Ireland.

Kearys also own Carstore, Ireland’s largest used car supermarket with three superstores in Dublin, Cork and Limerick as well as a strong online presence.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Ohme as our

preferred EV home charging supplier,” said Brendan Keary, CEO of Kearys Motor Group.

“We considered many potential charging partners and it was clear to us that Ohme’s smart charging capability, award-winning products and excellent customer service made it the obvious choice for Kearys. With increasing numbers of customers choosing new and pre-owned electric and hybrid vehicles, we’re looking forward to recommending Ohme’s smart chargers.”

IS BATTERY SWAP THE FUTURE?

While electric car owners have complained about range anxiety this driver has come up with a novel solution.

This Tesla was pictured in Ukraine where electricity supplies have been a problem, so

STAFF BUY OUT ENTIRE GARAGE

charging time is difficult to predict.

The owner has mounted a petrol generator on the back of their car to be certain of keeping the car on the road. Could this be the answer for apartment owners who can’t charge at home?

Chinese manufacturer Nio is going in a different direction to all other electric car manufacturers.

Instead of equipping each car with a set of batteries, they provide a service where the driver goes to a ‘swap station’ each time the car needs a charge. In a 3 minute operation the car is fitted robotically with a new power pack that is fully charged and ready to go.

The benefit of their approach is the car is

cheaper to start with, as there is no expensive battery included in the purchase price.

The disadvantage is that they charge a flat fee, each month, regardless of the amount of times the battery pack is switched. At $250 a month it could well suit a high mileage user.

Nio is a small scale supplier in the Chinese market with only 100,000 cars sold this year but the concept could yet prove to be something that manufacturers may use in the future.

U.S. Postal Service goes electric

Irish visitors to the United States may well have noticed the local post is delivered to homes in small US Post vans.

Curiously they are all right hand drive, unlike every other vehicle in the country.

This is to allow the driver to deliver directly to the kerbside postbox without getting out of the vehicle. Some of these odd machines have made it across the Atlantic and can pop up at car shows in the UK, although the MotorMarket team have yet to see

one here in Ireland.

The US Postal service have just placed an order for 66,000 all-new electric vehicles, pictured here, to replace their petrol fleet. It wouldn’t be surprising if used examples of it turn up here in the future.

L

ots of people believe the could run the business better than the boss. When Peter Ambrose, the owner of the Yorkshire Peugeot dealership, Castleford, decided it was time to step aside after 23 years the staff cooperated to take on the challenge.

He said he was delighted to facilitate the staff who have formed a Trust to run the garage. The garage sells over 1,300 cars a year so they will have plenty to keep them busy as they come to terms with running the business.

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Points the way! New JEEP COMPASS

The iconic JEEP brand is famed for its gas-guzzling range of SUV’s and 4x4’s, but the American manufacturer is now on a mission to change that image forever.

In 2023 we will see the arrival of JEEP’s first-ever allelectric production model, but the brand has just launched the new Compass SUV with a plug-in hybrid powertrain (PHEV) for buyers looking to make their first venture into the world of electrification.

The Compass plug-in (badged 4xe) is joined by a traditional 1.3-litre petrol-powered Compass (ICE) and a mild-hybrid Compass (MHEV). It is the Compass 4xe that is the focus of this review.

The new JEEP Compass 4xe is available in Limited, Upland, S and Trailhawk trim levels, with ICE and MHEVpowered models also available in entry-level Night Eagle trim.

qualities too.

The electric motor that drives the rear wheels enables great progress to be made on loose surfaces, meaning the 4xe will be able to go further off the beaten track than many rivals.

The Lithium-ion battery in the Compass 4xe can be fully charged in as little as 4 hours via a domestic wallbox charger.

DRIVING

By DECLAN GLYNN www.motoringmatters.ie

until you request too much of it that is, give it a few quick leftright switches and it does become a bit overwhelmed, with the lack of feedback through the steering wheel sapping some driver confidence.

together, drives well, looks good, it’s modern and different, and that acceleration is addictive, the cheap running costs are appealing too.

RUGGED AND MODERN STYLING

The Compass 4xe comes as part of a recent facelift, with the refreshed SUV receiving styling tweaks in the form of a more aggressive-looking front bumper, full LED headlights as standard, and a more modern cabin.

Under the bonnet of the Compass 4xe is a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine coupled with a 60bhp electric motor for a combined power output of 237bhp.

The electric motor is fed by an 11.4kWh battery, which provides the SUV with a zero-emission driving range of up to 50km, while Co2 emissions of less than 50g/km results in annual road tax of just €140.

When every journey is started with a fully-charged battery, it is possible to achieve fuel consumption as low as 1.9l/100km on a WLTP combined driving cycle.

A six-speed automatic

transmission and an all-wheel drive system come as standard across all trim levels in the Compass 4xe model range.

CAR ON REVIEW

My review car was a new Compass ‘S’ 4xe in Glacier Silver metallic with a contrasting black roof and 19-inch black alloy wheels.

Other exclusive ‘S’ trim standard equipment includes gloss black exterior accents, body-coloured lower sills and wheel arches, premium leather seats with black stitching, an 8-way power driver seat with 4way powered lumbar adjustment, and split-folding 40/20/40 rear seats. Standard features across all Compass 4xe trim levels include LED headlamps, tail lamps & fog lamps, black roof rails, power-folding & heated door mirrors, dual-zone automatic airconditioning, heated front seats and steering wheel, centre

console storage with sliding armrest, and all-weather floor mats with a JEEP logo, along with a Uconnect infotainment system, and a Selec-Terrain™ traction management system which is designed to optimise the vehicles four-wheel drivability for unsurpassed capability on any terrain.

The Compass 4xe can complete a 0-100km/h sprint in just 7.3-seconds, and can reach a top speed of 200km/h, with power transferred to the road via a six-speed automatic transmission.

When driven in a relaxed manner, the 4xe offers excellent comfort and refinement for all occupants.

Light steering provides a beneficial sense of agility on the move, while good visibility makes the Compass easy to drive around town. However, the Compass 4xe is not only good to drive on public roads, as it offers terrific off-road

The Model Y is well planted and feels secure on the road, with decent roadholding and very little body roll, even when being pushed a little. The ride is firm, but not overly so, which is impressive on such a heavy car with a relatively small footprint.

The steering is direct with the car changing direction willingly,

The regenerative braking system does take some getting used to. I didn’t like it at first, as when you lift off the throttle pedal, the car brakes quite firmly, but after some time with the car, I soon adjusted my driving style and the regenerative braking is easily controlled by just easing off the throttle pedal rather than just lifting off completely, as would be the norm in an ICE car.

VERDICT

There are many things to like about the Model Y. It is well put

With prices starting at €52,990 for the RWD model, €57,990 for the long range, and €67,990 for the performance version, it is well priced when compared to its rivals in this premium small electric SUV sector.

Being electric it is not for everyone just yet, but if you are curious about switching to an electric car, the Model Y is definitely worth a try, and with such long ranges from a full charge of the battery, range anxiety is not an everyday thought you will have to worry about.

Approved

Approved

sound, auto massage front seats, dsl, 111k, climate, heat elec. seats, stop/start, park sensors, sat. nav, €36,950

2016 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Diesel, tiptronic, automatic , 209,000kms, NCT 02/24, €780 road tax, €POA - CAR DUE IN

Approved

Approved

2017 Volkswagen Polo 1.0 Trendline, 60HP, Tech pack, only 42k miles, €190 road tax, superv, FSH, recent service, bluetooth ph/media, e/w, alloys on excellent tyres, f/fogs, NCT 01/25, 2 keys, privacy glass, stop/start, MFSW, €13,950

Approved

2019 Volkswagen Up! Take Up! 1.0, 60BHP, €180 road tax, just arrived, she’s blue and almost new!!! only 4k miles, CD, hill-start assist, traction, EBD, elec. windows, c/locking, €13,950

Approved

2012 Kia Rio CRDI 1 Air Ecodynamics, 74bhp, 111k, diesel, a/con, upgraded wheels, park fold mirrors, just serviced, newpads and discs and 2 tyres, €180 road tax, a/con, hill-start assist, stop/start, MFSW, 6-speed, CD, €6,950

Approved

2015 Nissan Note 1.2 SV Sport, 1 owner, €190 road tax, 88k miles, a/con, bluetooth, Park assist, alloys on excellent tyres, 2 keys, a/con, stop/start, privacy glass, rear spoiler, MFSW, c/locking, warranty, €8,950

Approved

2017 Mini Cooper 1.6D, 116BHP, only 64k miles, diesel Estate, very economical, low road tax €180, a/con, bluetooth, aux input, Isofix, 2 keys, FSH, fogs, hill-start assist, Keyless entry, r/c/l, 6-sp, stop/start, traction, €16,950

Approved

2014 Ford Fiesta 1.1 Zetec, manual, 5-door petrol, 37.5k miles, blue, sat. nav, cruise, parking sensors, multimedia system, €15,950

Approved

2019 Lexus NX 300H Premium CVT, auto, €280 road tax, 61k, 197BHP, soft lthr seats, Mark Levinson stereo, head-up display, bronze, grey alloys, Chrome surrounds with roof rail, cruise, heat elec seats, stop/start, privacy glass, €41,950

2010 Mercedes-Benz C200 CDI Elegance, 136bhp, 111k, diesel, €270 road tax, new tyres, brakes and discs, tax 09/23, a/con, alloys, dual climate, elec. seats, MFSW, hill-start assist, 6-speed, €7,750

AS AN AA APPROVED GARAGE YOU CAN AVAIL OF A FULL AA WARRANTY PROGRAMME

NEW VOLKSWAGEN TAIGO

A sport trendsetter

The all-new Volkswagen Taigo is a striking Compact SUVCoupé that erases the boundary between style and everyday life.

Based on the Volkswagen Group MQB A0 platform, the Taigo is closely related to the Mk6 Polo, but it does have a taller presence and a more rugged look compared to the Polo.

The new Taigo sits between the T-Cross and T-Roc in Volkswagen’s impressive SUV line-up. Available exclusively with front-wheel drive, the Taigo is powered by a 1.0-litre 3cylinder TSI petrol engine delivering 95bhp or 110bhp depending on the model chosen.

The 95bhp unit is paired to a standard 5-speed manual transmission, with the 110bhp engine offering a choice of a sixspeed manual or a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch (automatic) transmission.

By DECLAN GLYNN www.motoringmatters.ie

DECEPTIVELY SPACIOUS

Typically, cars with coupé styling suffer when it comes to rear headroom, but the Taigo isn’t one of those cars. In fact, even tall passengers will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of headroom on offer, which is only marginally less than in the front.

Leg room in the back is generous too, with ample knee room and a good amount of space under the front seats for passengers feet.

There is ample storage space up front, with the Taigo benefitting from a decent-sized glovebox, door bins that can swallow a large bottle of water, a deep cubby in the centre armrest, and a space at the bottom of the

centre console which doubles as a wireless smartphone charger.

Boot space behind the rear seats measures in at an impressive 440-litres, but this can be expanded easily by dropping the split-folding rear seatbacks when the need arises.

When it was tested for safety by Euro NCAP, the Taigo was awarded the full five stars, scoring well at protecting adult and child occupants.

THREE TRIM OPTIONS

The new Taigo is available in a choice of three generouslyequipped trim levels – Life, Style and R-Line.

Life trim gets plenty of standard features, including

16-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, multi-colour digital cockpit, black roof rails, Front Assist, Hill Start Assist, Lane Change Assist, and extended and predictive pedestrian/cyclist protection.

Taking a step up to Style trim adds larger 17-inch ‘Aberdeen’ alloy wheels into the mix, as well as clever LED matrix headlights, comfort seats, Travel Assist, Park Distance Control, and chrome interior detailing.

Range-topping R-Line trim is the sporty option in the range, and includes such features as 17-inch ‘Valencia’ alloy wheels, R-Line specific bumpers, rear privacy glass, R-Line seat trim covers, black headliner material, ambient lighting, and brushed stainless steel foot pedals.

Infotainment is taken care of by way of an intuitive and responsive 8-inch touchscreen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto coming as standard across all trim levels.

CAR ON REVIEW

My review car was a new Taigo R-Line DSG (automatic), which looked stunning in its Kings Red Pearl Effect metallic paintwork and upgraded 18-inch

‘Misano’ alloy wheels.

Producing 110bhp and 200Nm of torque, the 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine enables a 0-100km/h sprint time of 10.9-seconds, with plenty of oomph available for pretty much every situation.

The 1.0-litre powerplant performs spiritedly, and this enables the Taigo to feel nimble and agile on the road.

The 7-speed dual-clutch (DSG) transmission tends to shift up in a fuss-free manner, and it doesn’t drop gears wildly when you lean on the accelerator. I found that actuating manual gear changes by using the steering-wheel paddles proved very useful when overtaking slower moving traffic.

The steering is well-weighted and precise, and the car remains composed when cruising at a leisurely pace. With fuel consumption as low as 5.9l/100km achievable on a combined driving cycle, the Taigo should prove cost effective on every journey.

VERDICT

The new VW Taigo is a stylish, comfortable and practical car that also benefits from superb ride quality, generous rear

passenger space and excellent efficiency. Pricing starts at €29,845 (inc. delivery) with my RLine DSG review car priced from €37,990. A host of optional

US State To Ban Electric Cars

At a time when the worldwide trend is moving rapidly towards electrification the US state of Wyoming is introducing legislation to ban the sales of electric cars. From 2035 Wyoming is planning to ban the sales of new electric vehicles.

The reason it appears is simple: Wyoming is heavily dependent on the oil industry. A total of 68,000 jobs in the state

are linked directly to the oil business and legislators are keen to preserve them.

Senator Brian Boner, R-Douglas, said “I'm interested in making sure that the solutions that some folks want to the socalled climate crisis are actually practical in real life.

“I just don't appreciate when other States try to force technology that isn't ready.”

equipment on offer enables buyers to personalise their new Taigo to their own individual taste.

2019 BMW 420D F36 M-Sport Grand Coupe, auto, low miles, only 43kms,190bhp, €200 road tax, diesel, lthr, heat seats, cruise, dual climate, sat. nav, bluetooth, CD, USB, MFSW, park sensors, privacy glass, NCT 04/23, €36,950

TDI Style, 120BHP, 4-dr, €190 road tax, 130kms, diesel, black lthr, elec. front heat memory seats, cruise, climate, bluetooth, sat. nav, MFSW, park sensors, auto lights, stop/start, 6-sp, USB, traction, €21,950

98kms, 180bhp, €280 road tax, lthr heat seats, cruise, dual climate,

218bhp, diesel, lthr elec heat seats, cruise, sat.nav, bluetooth, park sensors, 2 keys, alloys, push start button, alarm, NCT07/23, €21,950

2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.2 TD4 S Auto, 150bhp, Dsl, Est, 82kms, lthr, elec. heat seats, cruise, dual climate, MFSw, rev. camera, park sensors, alarm, stop/start, NCT 06/23, €25,950

2015 Dacia Duster Alternative 1.5 DCI 110BHP, very low miles only 44kms, very clean, bluetooth, CD, USB, aux, climate, roof rails, €200 road tax, diesel, a/con, Isofix, 6-speed, €11,950

2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI Highline, 6-speed, FWD, 120HP, 107kms, €190 road tax, elec. heat seats, cruise, dual climate, bluetooth, CD/USB/Aux, alarm, lthr, stop/start, privacy glass, MFSW, €16,950

2016 Mercedes B180D Urban, auto, €190 road tax, 155kms, Est, Diesel, 109bhp, climate, lthr, bluetooth, a/con, cruise, climate, Isofix, 6-sp, rev. camera, NCT 07/24, €16,950

2016 Volvo V70 2.0D D3 SE Lux 150BHP, auto, €200 road tax, 129kms, auto, dsl, Est, elec. memory heat seats, cruise, dual climate, sat. nav, bluetooth, CD, USB/Aux, MFSW, park sensors, stop/start, NCT 01/24, €20,950

2016 Mercedes E220 BlueTec SE, auto, 134kms, 177bhp, dsl, elec. lthr heat seats, cruise, dual climate, sat. nav, bluetooth, MFSW, park sensors, €200 road tax, NCT 01/24, €22,950

2016 Mini Cooper D Clubman GR2 Cooper, pan. roof, 143bhp, €200 road tax, cruise, climate, sat. nav, bluetooth, CD, USB/Aux, MFSW, rear park sensors, stop/start, Mini alloys, a/con, €19,950

2016 Mercedes E220 Bluetec SE, auto, dsl, 177bhp, €200 road tax, 175kms, lthr elec. heat seats, cruise, dual climate, sat. nav, park sensors, alloyws, alarm, Isofix, NCT 01/24, €20,950

2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4, 7 seats, 150bhp, 160kms, dsl Estate, €280 road tax, cruise, climate, MFSw, stop/start, rear park sensors, roof rails, side steps, alarm, alloys, cruise, climate, €22,950

2015 Mercedes C200 Bluetec Est, 136bhp, dsl, €200 road tax, black lthr, cruise, dual climate, MFSW, rev. camera, Isofix, 6-sp, USB conn, Mercedes alloys, a/con, lots more, €16,950

2015 Audi A6 2.0 TDI SE Business Edition S-Tronic, auto, €190 road tax, 168kms, 190bhp, cream lthr elec memory heat seats, cruise, dual climate, MFSW, park sensors, stop/start, privacy glass, €18,950

2015 BMW 520D M-Sport, auto, low miles only 97kms, €200 road tax,

2018 Skoda Superb 1.6

2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 SE Tech, 7 seats, auto, pan. roof,

MFSw, sat. nav, privacy glass, Est, dsl, push start, €34,950

2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque TD4 HSE Dynamique, auto, 180bhp, 119kms, €280 road tax, lthr, elec. seats, cruise, dual climate, touchscreen media, sat. nav, alloys, privacy glass, €30,950

2015 Toyota Rav4 2.0 D-4D Sol edition, 2WD, FSH, 124bhp, dsl, 120kms, lthr elec seats, cruise, dual climate, touchscreen media, park sensors, MFSW, roof rails, alloys, €270 road tax, alarm, €20,950

2015 Land Rover Discovery 4 2.0 TDV6 5 seat XE, auto, 172kms, heat lthr cream seats, bluetooth, stop/start, fogs, climate, park sensors, privacy glass, a/con, 209bhp, €333 road tax, €26,950+VAT

2014 Volvo XC90 D4 FWD SE GT, auto, 200bhp, dsl, 132kms, cream lthr, elec. memory drivers seat, heat seats, bluetooth, MFW, rear park sensors, Isofix, privacy glass, cruise, climate, roof rails, €19,950

2014 Skoda Superb Ambition 1.6 TDI 105HP, 4 new tyres, new t-belt/waterpump, 148kms, dsl, 2 keys, a/con, alloys, dual climate, half lthr seats, heat seats, Isofix, sat. nav, 6-sp, MFSW, €11,950

Buying a Classic as an investment

Introducing: THE SONY CAR

Electronics giant Sony have joined forces with Honda to develop a Sony Electric car.

The Sony Afeela has been introduced as a prototype that is expected to reach the market in 2026. As you would imagine with a car from Sony it is packed with electronic wizardry, including no less than 45 cameras!

We’ve all heard stories of cars that were once seen as destined for the junkyard and are now rising in value faster than dotcom shares.

If you’ve been thinking about what a valuable car will be in the future, or are planning to leave something behind for the kids, a recent survey by Hagerty International should show the way for you. Their team of experts have suggested these models may well be what we regret not having bought when we had the chance.

CITROËN BX

The quirky French car was never a big seller in Ireland and is

already a relatively rare sight. Look for a model that has been well kept and ideally, an example with higher spec.

TRIUMPH SPITFIRE

This classic British sports car has been around since the 60’s but seems to cross the generations with it’s simple design and ease of access to spares and repairs. This is likely to keep rising in value as fewer models survive on the roads.

SAAB 99 TURBO

Since the Swedish manufacturer went bust 10 years ago the price of the 99 Turbo has been rising as fans remain loyal to the high powered saloon. Back in the day, lots of these cars were

crashed and were a favourite with car thieves. A straight example looks likely to keep going up in price.

AUDI TT QUATRO

When the TT arrived on the market in 98 it was an instant hit, but the one to aim for as a keeper is the Quattro. They are a rare sight on Irish roads but certainly worth looking for if you want to invest in a car that is likely to go up in value as well as giving you lots of driving fun in themeantime meantime.

FORD FIESTA

Early model Fiestas are rising in price as buyers are filled with childhood nostalgia over what motoring was like 40 years ago.

Heated seats belts...The next must have

Drivers of electric cars will already know the impact of cold weather on the range the car will travel. One of the largest drains on scarce electric power is the use of the heater

The man with 400 cars

Let’s face it we would all probably like to own more than just our daily drive. One or two more cars would be enough to satisfy even the most dedicated car fans.

UK businessman Rodger Dudding has taken his passion to extremes. From simple beginnings he has amassed a

staggering 400 cars in his collection, in a 200,000 sq. foot facility where he stores the loves of his life.

This serial entrepreneur became most successful while buying a number of lock-up garages throughout London and beyond.

He now has a property

portfolio of 14,000 lock-ups rented out.

His collection is vast and includes 24 Aston Martin Lagondas, 11 Ferraris, 22 Bentleys and more Rollers than he can recall. With an estimated value of £150 million, his collection is unlikely to be matched by anyone here in Ireland.

to keep the occupants nice and warm, as there is no hot water which was freely available with old petrol engines.

To meet this need a German manufacturer has developed heated seat belts to minimise

the need for a heater by simply keeping the passengers warm through heated elements in the belts. They estimate that this will reduce the amount of electricity drawn from the battery by 15%.

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

Lots of drivers can start to feel tired as they complete long journeys, but a German driver took things to extremes when he fell asleep behind the wheel of his Tesla. German traffic police, near the town of Bamberg in Bavaria, tried to pull over a Tesla on the autobahn but got no response from the driver.

In spite of blue lights and sirens the car kept a steady distance and speed for 15 minutes as the

police pursued it.

Finally, the driver brought the car to a halt and it was discovered he had been asleep. Apparently he had set the car to autopilot and placed a weight on the steering wheel to mimic a hand being in place, which autopilot requires. The arresting officers said the 45-year-old driver showed signs of drug use. Sounds like his little sleep could end up causing him quite a lot of trouble.

23

PASSENGERS IN ALAHAMBRA

We’ve all become used to the idea that everybody has to have a seat belt in a car, but 23 people must be a record.

Police on the Swiss German border were astonished when they stopped a 7 seater Seat Alhambra. Inside the car they found 9 adults and 14 children. The driver had a lot of explaining to do.

US love affair with the truck

1953 MG for £18/£22k

If you’ve always fancied wind in your hair type motoring, this little 1953 MG could be just the thing for you. It is being auctioned by Classic Car Auctions UK with a guide price of £18 to £22k.

The TD-Series Midget was the first MG sports car to feature independent double-wishbone front suspension, rack and pinion steering and twin leading-shoe front brakes.

Powered by the proven 1,250cc XPAG engine with

a 4-speed manual transmission, it was reputedly capable of 82mph and 26mpg.

It was rebuilt utilising a new Hutson tub with four new wings and refinished in its original shade of Silver Streak Grey Metallic.

It has been fully mechanically refurbished, including the engine, gearbox and rear axle. An underrated 1950s sports car that is ready to go and be enjoyed once again.

SUPERFAST ELECTRIC POLICE

As cars seem to keep getting faster, it looks like the forces of law and order need to keep up.

German specialist car tuner AC Schnitzer have just released a specially prepared BMW i4 M50 to keep up with the bad guys.

CAR

This high performance electric car will reach 60mph in 3.3 seconds and break 100mph in 8 seconds, which should be more than enough to outpace even the most determined lawbreakers.

Presumably this performance machine will have an equally tasty price so we are unlikely to see it on Irish roads anytime in the near future.

Has Tesla passed its peak?

When Elon Musk launched Tesla as a pioneering EV maker, many doubted his ability to bring cars to market and make a success of the business. He proved the sceptics wrong and overcame all the obstacles of a new business and manufacturing at scale.

Just a year ago the business was one of the most valuable on the planet, with a valuation of almost $1 trillion.

A lot has changed since then and Tesla has fallen in share price value by almost 70% this year.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

Musk has become increasingly seen as both a genius and an eccentric risk taker.

His foray into Twitter has caused investors to doubt his Midas touch as problems there continue to haunt him.

As he spends more time away from the core, business investors

have looked more coldly at Tesla as car manufacturer.

Since he started to develop, EVs traditional manufacturers have caught up, and now all the big players are moving into his space very fast.

He is no longer the only player in the market and the competition is only going get tougher as the market matures.

The risk for Musk is that Tesla is seen as one trick pony with a

limited range of high price cars in an industry full of big players who are intent on producing cars for every segment, creating real competitive pressure that he never faced before.

Recent figures showing car sales in the United States has shown just how much our American cousins love their pick-up trucks. For the second year in a row the Ford F150 has held the top spot in 31 of the 50 states.

The base model starts at $33,695 and features a 3.3 litre V6, 17 inch wheels and reversing camera.

Worn tyres can be more dangerous than drink

We have all become accustomed to rejecting the idea of drink driving, but we may have to review how we think about people who drive with balding tyres.

A recent survey by Cardiff University has found that

driving

driving on bald tyres can be even more dangerous than drink driving.

As speed increases, the risk factor increases substantially and at 70 mph bald tyre drivers can be up to 7 times more dangerous than drink drivers.

The study found that

average alcohol consumption increased driver braking times by 18% leading to an extra 12.4 feet of stopping distance. However driving on tyres with 1.6mm of tread increased driver braking distance by 89 feet.

ANOTHER TOP GEAR CRASH

The curse of Top Gear has struck again as Freddie Flintoff (right) is the latest presenter to fall victim to mixing speed with car reporting.

The former cricketer, 45, has become a familiar face on Top Gear after the Troubled Trio who formerly presented the show were sacked/retired after Clarkson’s trouble. The accident happened at the Top Gear track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey. While his injuries are not thought to be serious it’s a warning to him that life on the cricket field might have been a lot safer than presenting a car show.

New Ford Focus

The original Ford Focus arrived on the Irish car market in late 1998, and it instantly became one of the go-to names in the mid-size family car segment. Tasked with being a replacement for the evergreen Escort, the original Focus was a game-changer in every respect.

Now in its fourth generation, the Ford Focus is at the very top of its game in terms of design, interior comfort, safety, infotainment and outright driving fun, while a recent mid-life facelift has added even more desirability to the mix.

By BREDA CORRIGAN www.motoringmatters.ie

Packed full of driving fun

catching new loop light pattern.

NEW INFOTAINMENT & DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEMS

The new Focus introduces Ford’s next-generation SYNC 4 technology to greater numbers of customers than ever before, enabling cloud-connected navigation and connected voice control with natural language understanding.

Line X 1.0-litre EcoBoost 5-door, which was finished in Chrome Blue metallic paintwork.

while a Co2 emission figure of 129g/km results in annual road tax of just €200.

EXPRESSIVE NEW DESIGN

The new Focus features an expressive new design language and fuel-efficient electrified powertrains, alongside advanced connectivity and driver assistance technologies designed to make the ownership, and driving experience, easier and more rewarding.

A new iteration of Ford’s ‘human-centric ‘design philosophy brings greater confidence and boldness to the Focus exterior, with a more distinctive approach to the Titanium, ST-Line and Active variants – all of which are powered by a 1.0-litre EcoBoost 125PS petrol engine mated to a

six-speed manual transmission.

For buyers looking to enter an electrified world of efficiency and control, all trim variants can be specified with a 1.0-litre EcoBoost 125PS mild hybrid (mHEV) powertrain combined with a seven-speed PowerShift automatic transmission.

Each trim variant gains unique styling elements that express their individual personalities, with an available X pack bringing a high specification, and expanded Vignale pack availability delivering ultimate luxury and exclusive design features.

The new bonnet design increases the height of the nose for greater visual presence across

the model line-up, and the Ford ‘blue oval’ badge is relocated from the bonnet lip to the centre of the larger upper grille.

DISTINCTIVE LIGHT SIGNATURE

New LED headlights are standard across all model variants, and now include integrated fog light functionality that allows a cleaner, sleeker lower fascia design, while delivering a distinctive and purposeful light signature.

Darkened taillight lenses provide a premium look to the rear of the car, while the highseries LED rear lights feature a new internal design with a darker central section, and an eye-

SYNC 4 is supported by an all-new, largest in segment 13.2inch landscape centre screen with an intuitive interface designed to make it effortless to navigate a comprehensive range of driving and comfort features. The technology also allows Ford Power-Up wireless software updates to improve functionality over time.

Advanced driver assistance technologies introduced to Focus for the first time include Blind Spot Assist, which monitors the driver’s blind spot for vehicles approaching from behind, and can apply counter-steering to warn the driver and discourage a lane change manoeuvre if a potential collision is detected.

To my mind, this is one of the most advantageous safety features ever, as it really does take the double-guessing out of lane changing manoeuvres, and motorway merging.

TEST CAR DETAILS

My test car was a Focus ST-

A hugely-impressive array of standard equipment adorns the ST-Line X, with key features such as: 18” alloy wheels, Full LED headlights, LED daytime-running lights, LED rear lights, Quickclear heated windscreen, rear privacy glass, unique ST-Line front grille, full bodystyling kit, large bodycoloured rear spoiler, selectable drive modes, sports-tuned suspension, dual-zone airconditioning, DAB radio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, B&O Premium Audio with 10 speakers, powered 4-way driver seat adjustment, powered lumbar support, heated front seats and steering wheel, keyless entry & start, front & rear parking sensors, reversing camera, red brake calipers, wireless smartphone charging, and a load-through ski hatch in the rear seats, along with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems.

With 125PS (123bhp) and 170Nm of torque on offer from the smooth-revving petrol engine, the Focus can sprint from 0-100km/h in 10.2-seconds, on its way to a 198km/h top speed (where permitted).

In reality, my test car did feel swifter than the 0-100km/h figure would suggest, helped in no small part by the slick and sporty manual gearbox, while the sports-tuned suspension ensured the car handled with terrific poise and precision at all times.

The 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine consumes as little as 5.4-litres of petrol for every 100km driven on a WLTP combined driving cycle,

Although the new Focus is a superb motorway cruiser, it is on winding back roads where it really excels. The nippy and responsive engine, along with a well-weighted steering set-up, allows for great flexibility and terrific driving fun.

The standard premium ebony with partial Sensico seats with red stitching looked distinctively sporty, but also had the benefit of being extremely comfortable and supportive in all the right areas.

It is easy to get comfortable behind the multi-adjustable leather-bound steering wheel in the new Focus, and all but the tallest of passengers should have decent leg and headroom.

Boot space measures in at 391-litres behind the rear seats, and this is pretty much about average for the class, while the boot has a useful square shape to make the most of the space on offer.

VERDICT AND PRICING

The new Ford Focus is still one of the best handling cars in its class, and its overall driving dynamics are outstanding in every respect.

Now filled with an impressive level of on-board technology and safety systems, along with enough space for five occupants and their luggage, the new Focus is a highly commendable, and thoroughly enjoyable family car.

The new Ford Focus range is priced from €32,540 (ex-delivery) with my test car specification priced from €36,347 (ex-delivery).

GOING DUTCH AT 180MPH

£40 million in used stock

Every car dealer is looking to minimise the amount of money tied up in used stock, so imagine what it feels like to have £40 million tied up in depreciating metal.

Romans International is a family-based business in Banstead, UK, run by father and son team, Paul and Tom Jaconelli, who specialise in

When it comes to the Dutch we know they can play a bit of football but we don’t normally associate them with supercars, but DONKERVOORT hope to change all that with their F22.

This sleek, super sports car is powered by an 2.5 turbo Audi

engine producing 492 HP. That’s enough to power this lightweight dream car to 100kmh in an incredible 2.5 seconds. Apparently only 75 will ever be made, so if this is a car you need to improve your image you’d better talk to Donkervoort soon as 50 are already sold. For the record, prices start at 250K.

Do electric seats use precious battery range?

Electric car drivers are realising that the battery range quoted for their cars, is in ideal conditions, which doesn’t include cold winter spells.

As a result many owners have started turning off electrical extras to preserve the valuable range left in their battery.

The question a lot families ask is whether it’s best to use the heater or the heated seats. The answer is clear: heated seats use a lot less power than the heater. So if you are cold in the car but not sure what to do to stretch out the power to get home, turn off the heater and switch on the heated seats.

Are car washes bad for your car?

We all love the convenience of the car wash in our local garage. Just drive in and let the machine do all the work. The question we probably never ask is about the damage it may be doing to our beloved paintwork.

The truth is that automatic carwashes are usually making miniature scratches on the paintwork and will, after repeated use, lead to the paint becoming dull.

Car wash operators are meant to service the machine regularly. Those that do usually do a lot less damage but sadly many operators install the machines and leave

them without being serviced. This means they simply are not working as intended. There is no escaping that washing at home is the best option, but make sure that you do not re- use the same dirty water. Wash the car with shampoo and then use clean water to rinse and chamois dry.

1960 Jaguar sold for £14K

The enduring attraction of the Jaguar MK2 was shown at a recent UK auction when this model was sold for £14,000.

This model was presented in Rosso Red with a solid 2.4 straight 6 litre engine under the bonnet.

The mileage was claimed as being only 32,000, with supporting history. It was described as being in good condition so it should make a nice fun car for the new owner.

exotic cars, hence the need to keep so much tied up in stock.

Tom is full of stories but one of his favourites is about a man arriving on a moped and buying an Aston Martin.

Another customer bought a £420k Ferrari and transferred the money from his bank within minutes of arriving on the forecourt.

1959 CITROËN 2CV SELLS FOR £8,300

The Citroen 2CV was never much more than the most basic sort of motoring but it endured and won a place in motoring history.

This 1959 model was recently refurbished and promised lots of

relatively trouble-free motoring for the new owner.

Clearly somebody had to have it in their collection and it went under the hammer at a UK auction recently, finally being sold for £8,300.

DO YOU RECOGNISE HER?

UK police are keen to speak to this woman, who visited a car dealership in Winchester and took an Audi RS3 for a test drive. Unfortunately she hasn’t returned and the car is still missing!

It’s not that long since a south Dublin dealer was caught in a similar scam so it’s quite possible that this woman may try and extend her trick to Ireland, so Irish dealers are being advised to watch out for “test drive’ crooks.

Paul Jaconelli Tom Jaconelli

ALL-NEW PEUGEOT 308

By BREDA CORRIGAN www.motoringmatters.ie

IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A NUMBER

The all-new Peugeot 308 is the first model in the French manufacturer’s line-up to bear the new Peugeot brand coat of arms in the front grille entirely dedicated to it. The radar for the advanced safety systems is located behind the coat of arms, making it the centrepiece on the grille.

The new 308 possesses an assertive appearance from the front, while its muscular rear end design benefits from powerful aerodynamics boosted by its lowered roofline. The new 308’s extended wheelbase stretches the silhouette and offers more space for rear passengers, while the 20mm height reduction, combined with a soft-nose, visually lengthens the bonnet.

The boot volume is now 412 litres, with the added convenience of 28 litres of compartmentalised storage space, and with the rear seats folded, the load volume increases to a generous 1,323 litres. However, for drivers looking for even more practicality, there is a Station Wagon (SW) body style available, with up to 1,634-litres of cargo space on offer.

TRIM & ENGINE OPTIONS

The new 308 Hatchback is available in entry-level Active, mid-spec Allure, and Rangetopping GT trim levels, while engine options consist of a 1.2 PureTech petrol engine with 130bhp, a 1.5 BlueHDi turbo-diesel unit with 130bhp, and a petrol/electric plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with 180bhp or 225bhp (model dependent) – all of which are paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard.

The new Peugeot 308 is built from an evolution of the EMP2 (Efficient Modular Platform) multienergy platform, which makes it possible to deploy fully electrified versions, and a fully-electric version of the 308 will be launched in late 2023.

IMPRESSIVE STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Key standard equipment available from Active trim includes stylish alloy wheels, model designation badges front and rear, Nera black door mirrors, gloss black B pillars, bodycoloured rear spoiler, Bluetooth™, DAB radio, Mirror Screen™ with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™, Thatcham alarm system, new compact automatic gearbox

impulse selector, sport pedals with foot rest, gloss black ‘Piano’ key toggle switches, PEUGEOT iCockpit™ with a 10-inch HD touchscreen, electric parking brake, and an acoustic tinted windscreen, along with a suite of advanced safety systems to include: ABS, EBD, EBA (Emergency Brake Assist), multiple airbags with adaptive driver and front passenger airbags, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, Hill Start Assist, Lane Keep Assist, speed limit and traffic sign recognition, Driver Attention Warning, Intelligent Speed Adaption, and tyre pressure sensors.

Additionally, the front headlamps use LED technology from the entry Active grade. Chiselled and slim, they contribute to the dynamics and identity of the new Peugeot 308.

They are extended by hookshaped daytime running lights on the front bumper. This light signature is reflective of the current Peugeot style, and is recognisable at first glance both by day and by night.

AMAZING INTUITIVE CONTROLS

The PEUGEOT i-cockpit® is part of the brand's DNA. With each generation, it has been enhanced and modernised.

With this new Peugeot 308, it marks a clear change in terms of ergonomics, quality, design and technology.

The new compact steering wheel includes sensors which can detect the driver's grip on the steering wheel when using the new driving aids. Ergonomic, heated (optional), it includes all the helpful controls: radio, media and telephone.

The instrument cluster, located at eye level, has a 10 inch digital panel as standard across all grades. In the GT trim, the cluster is 3 dimensional.

Fully configurable and customisable, this digital cluster has several display modes (TomTom connected Navigation, DAB Radio/Media, Driving Aids, Energy Flow, etc.) that can be modified directly from the stalk.

From the Allure grade, the new 308 includes fully configurable virtual i-toggles which enable customers to create their preferred shortcuts.

Positioned opposite the central screen, like an open book, they provide a unique look and level of technology in the segment. Each i-toggle is a touchsensitive shortcut key to the air conditioning settings, a telephone contact, a radio station, an application launch set-up

according to the driver's choice. The new infotainment system gives all occupants the very best of the smartphone world and the best of the automotive world.

TEST CAR

My test car was a new Peugeot 308 (Hatchback) Allure 1.2 PureTech (petrol) which was finished in Olivine green metallic paintwork (a no-cost option). The 1199cc engine produces 130bhp and 230Nm of torque, and this enables the car to sprint from 0100km/h in just 9.7-seconds, on its way to a top speed of 210km/h (where permitted).

On a WLTP combined driving cycle, it is possible to achieve fuel consumption as low as 5.7-litres for every 100km driven, thereby making it possible to drive for up to 900kms between fill-ups, courtesy of the standard 52-litre fuel tank.

I found my test car to be very easy to drive, thanks in no small part to its light controls, and small and sporty steering wheel, while its well-judged suspension set-up ensures that road imperfections and speed ramps are dealt with in a fuss-free and composed manner.

The standard 8-speed automatic transmission provides seamless gear changes, and this adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the overall driving experience.

Key standard Allure features include rear privacy glass, a 180degree colour reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry, pushbutton start, multi driving mode selector, 17-inch alloy wheels, gloss black rear cluster connecting strip, Connected 3D Navigation, PEUGEOT i-Connect (activated by using “OK PEUGEOT”, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay™, driver and front passenger comfort seats, high beam assist, and signature LED daytime running lights, along with Active Safety Brake, and a Drive Assist Pack consisting of Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, and Long Range Active Blind Spot Detection.

VERDICT, PRICING & WARRANTY

The all-new Peugeot 308 Hatchback is one of the most distinctive and desirable cars in its class, and its intense appeal captivates with its strength of character and dynamism.

The new ergonomic and intuitive PEUGEOT i-Cockpit™ offers easy access to the full range of features on offer, while the new instrument panel ensures that all information essential to the driver is displayed at eye level.

Pricing for the new Peugeot 308 Hatchback starts at €31,765 (ex-works) with the SW variant commanding a €1,000 premium.

All Peugeot passenger cars are covered by a comprehensive 5year/100,000km warranty, along with Peugeot Assist breakdown cover for the same duration/mileage limitation.

FERRARI SHOWROOM OPENS

An indication of just how much bigger the UK market is, compared to Ireland, is underlined by the opening of a new Ferrari showroom in Leeds.

This two storey purpose built showroom will sell the entire Ferrari range, as well as offering a selection of used supercars.

In addition to the sales facilities the building boasts a 13 ramp service centre devoted exclusively to servicing the Italian beauties.

TYSON FURY TO TURN TO CAR SALES

All great sports people have to look ahead to what they will do when they are no longer able to compete. World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has a clear view of what he will do when he finishes his boxing career. He plans to open a used car showroom.

The Champ has a background in the car business. As a teenager he worked for his father, John, as a car cleaner and did a stint as a salesman before he decided that life inside in the ring would make him more money.

It’s doubtful that any buyer would decide to get aggressive with him if he does decide to return to the forecourt.

CAR SALESMAN MAKES £11

MILLION ON 102 CARS

Tom Hartley Junior must be the envy of car sales people everywhere. The UK based luxury car dealer has just reported profits for last year of £11.3 million, selling just 102 cars.

The dealer is something of a legend in the luxury car market having followed his father into the business. He is reputed to have sold his first supercar at only 12 years of age, and has continued non-stop ever since.

One of the cars he has in stock is a Porsche 918 Spyder selling for £1.3 million.

There’s obviously lots of money to be made at the top end of the motor business.

Lucky escape for car dealer

The staff at an MG dealership in Loughborough in the UK had a lucky escape when a car crashed through the showroom window.

The dealership had only recently been refurbished and was a week away from a grand reopening.

A Citroen Picasso crashed through the window of the showrooms covering the sales staff in glass. Fortunately none of the team were injured but two cars in the showrooms were written off and substantial damage was caused to the building.

The total cost of this motoring mishap, including car damage and building repair, is estimated at £100k.

FORD KUGA PHEV

By DECLAN GLYNN

OFFERS ELECTRIFIED DRIVING THRILLS

The all-new Kuga is based on Ford’s new global front-wheel drive flexible architecture that supports improved aerodynamics for better fuel efficiency, and helps reduce the SUV’s weight versus previous generation models by up to 80 kg when comparing equivalent powertrain variants.

Additionally, the new architecture is designed to enhance crash performance and contributes to the Kuga’s Euro NCAP 5-star safety rating.

The third-generation Kuga sits on Ford’s C2 platform, so it shares its underpinnings with the dynamic and highly-acclaimed Focus hatchback. As a result, ride quality and handling are definite standout attributes for the Kuga, with driving fun provided by the bucket load.

SCULPTED & SIMPLIFIED DESIGN

The new Kuga’s distinctive exterior design is more sculpted and simplified than its predecessor, and its streamlined silhouette incorporates a longer wheelbase that creates a larger footprint on the road – thereby benefitting ride quality, stability and passenger space.

The new Kuga’s powertrain line-up consists of a self-charging Full Hybrid (FHEV) and a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) –the latter of which this review relates to.

The Ford Kuga PHEV combines a battery-powered electric motor with a 2.5-litre Duratec petrol engine –delivering a combined power output of 225PS (222bhp) together with outstanding fuel economy and CO2 emission figures from just 22g/km

(WLTP). For added peace of mind, the 14.4kWh hybrid battery comes with an 8-year/160,000 km warranty.

A choice of electric vehicle (EV) modes means drivers can decide whether to run their Kuga PHEV on power from the electric motor, on petrol power alone, or via a combination of both. When using the mode ‘EV Now’ the PHEV can travel up to 63 Kms on battery power alone.

Power is supplied to the Kuga’s front wheels courtesy of a CVT automatic transmission, while the level of brake regeneration can be boosted by pushing the ‘L’ button in the centre of the rotary gear selector, allowing the vehicle to reclaim energy when decelerating or braking.

TRIM & CHARGING OPTIONS

The new Kuga PHEV is available in a choice of four generously-equipped trim levels – Titanium, ST-Line, ST-Line X and Vignale – all of which can complete a 0-100km/h sprint in just 9.2-seconds, and can achieve fuel consumption as low as 1.1l/100km on a WLTP combined driving cycle.

The Kuga PHEV can be charged from 0-100% in around three-and-a-half hours from a 7kW wallbox charger, or in approximately six hours via a domestic socket.

Boot capacity varies between 411 and 645-litres depending on the position of the sliding rear seats, with the option of folding the rear seat backs to reveal a cavernous load space when required.

CAR ON REVIEW

My Kuga ST-Line X review car looked particularly elegant in its Chrome Blue metallic paintwork, while the standard 18-inch Rock Metallic alloy wheels with red-painted brake calipers added a dash of sportiness to the overall look. Other standard ST-Line and ST-Line X exterior features include black roof rails, front LED fog lights, a large rear spoiler, ST-Line badges, and a ST-Line full body styling kit comprising of unique front and rear fascia and bumper design, painted rear diffuser, painted front skid plate, and a dark mesh upper grille.

The Kuga PHEV is more than quick enough for everyday driving, and the engine itself is hushed until you put your foot down hard, but when running on electric power alone, a calming

serenity fills the comfortable, high-quality cabin. Despite the additional weight of its batteries, the mid-size SUV handles exceptionally well, while its quick steering makes it a true drivers car in every respect.

An impressively-tight turning

circle makes parallel parking a lot easier than you might expect for such a large car.

In fact, the Kuga PHEV is such a thoroughly rewarding, practical and highly commendable SUV that I feel potential buyers of midsize plug-in hybrid SUV’s would

be foolish not to consider a car as comfortable and capable as the new Ford Kuga.

CONCLUSION & PRICING

Building on its success as Europe’s best-selling PHEV in 2021 and 2022, the new Kuga PHEV is

now available with the option of a ‘Black Package’ that features a black roof, black exterior detailing and all-black 20-inch alloy wheels for a more dynamic and distinctive look.

Also available are Forddeveloped comfort seats certified

New Appointment at HOMS Assist

HOMS Assist is pleased to announce the appointment of STEPHEN CLANCY as Motor Engineer and Claims Assessor to the law firm which operates nationwide.

Stephen has over 20 years’ experience in the area of vehicle damage claims and the motor industry, and previously worked with Gerard M Doyle and Assess Ireland as a Motor Engineer Assessor, dealing directly with insurance companies.

Stephen’s expertise as a motor assessor is unique in Irish law firms, as he acts as a conduit between insurance, legal and garages. In his new role Stephen will specialise in all types of motor damage claims to achieve the best possible result for the client and aim to leave the client stress and hassle-free.

Working closely with garages and insurance companies, Stephen will ensure the insurance company covers the cost of the work; and that clients secure the full value of the

cost of the necessary repairs to their vehicle, including depreciation and diminished value; meaning there is no cost to the person involved in the accident. HOMS Assist will also ensure that the person involved in the accident is provided with a rental car where necessary.

Speaking about his appointment, Stephen said “I am delighted to join the team at HOMS Assist, in a role that will take the burden away from clients in what is traditionally a stressful period following a motoring accident. This is a unique offering which makes sense for garages, as well as for clients, because they don’t have to chase and negotiate with insurance companies for payment. It improves cash flow and reduces administrative burden, as HOMS Assist manages all this using a simple and efficient process.”

Commenting on Stephen’s appointment, Robert Bourke, Partner at HOMS Assist, said “Our mission at HOMS Assist is to provide a wide range of legal services nationwide,

delivering quality, knowledge, experience and value; collectively working in partnership with our clients, investing in our people while supporting the communities in which we operate. With his wealth of motoring claims expertise, Stephen is a valuable addition to the team, and we are delighted to welcome him to our team. Stephen’s appointment reinforces our commitment to invest and build upon the success of our firm by delivering the highest expertise and legal services for our clients.”

HOMS Assist is an award winning, client-oriented law firm operating nationwide, with offices in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. Stephen and the team have over 50 years’ experience in material damage and road accident claims.

In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. For further information see www.homsassist.ie

by leading spinal health organisation AGR for improved comfort and support.

The multi-talented Ford Kuga PHEV enables drivers to rethink adventure, electrify their drive, redefine their space, and get connected – and in control –

behind the wheel of one of the best-handling mid-size SUV’s on the market right now.

The new Ford Kuga PHEV is priced from €43,322 (ex-delivery) and is on sale now.

THE HANDBRAKE IS DISAPPEARING

Everyone who learned to drive in the past will remember the knack of balancing clutch, accelerator and handbrake on a hill start. That skill looks set to disappear as manufacturers are abandoning the manual handbrake in favour of the button sized electric brake.

New cars in the 2023 market will almost all come with an electronic brake. This may sound like progress, but remember that the old fashioned lever between the seats was a lot cheaper to repair. After all, there was very little to go wrong and any apprentice mechanic could sort a problem pretty easily, unlike the all-electric version.

Diesel

Diesel

auto, rev. camera, dual climate, 2 keys, heat seats, MFSW, USB, €25,895

2022 Hyundai i30 1.0, 120bhp, 2,836kms, 2 keys, a/con, alarm, alloys, cruise, elec. sports seats, stop/start, privacy glass, rev. camera, 6-sp, USB, park sensors, MFSW, €28,995

‘191 Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI 115BHP Comfortline, Estate, €190 road tax, 2 keys, 38,000kms, alloys, a/con, privacy glass, stop/start, park sensors, MFSW, 6-sp, €23,450

‘171 Mercedes C200 D Sport, Estate, 136bhp, 52,023kms, €200 road tax, 2 keys, a/con, lthr, dual climate, cruise, elec. seats, 6-sp, stop/start, lots more, €23,750

‘191 Audi A6 Avant 2.0 Estate, silver, auto, diesel, 87,200kms, 5-door, €200 road tax, 186bhp, €39,750

‘172 Mazda6 2.2 Executive SE, 150PS, €190 road tax, 92,502kms, dsl, a/con, cruise, CD, alloys, fogs, privacy glass, Isofix, park sensors, dual climate, 2 keys, stop/start, €16,900

Diesel

Diesel

Diesel

Diesel

28,450

Diesel

‘151

2019 Mercedes B180, 5-door, auto, 136bhp, €270 road tax, 40,245kms, a/con, alloys, climate, cruise, heat seats, MFSW, park sensors, 6-sp, stop/start, touchscreen, traction, €31,750

2019 Kia Soul e-Soul, electric, auto, 204bhp, 24,987kms, 2 keys, alarm, all-lthr, climate, cruise, privcy glass, park sensors, stop/start, rev. camera, MFSW, Isofix, keyless, €29,500

2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 1.5 Highline TSI, 150bhp, auto, DSG, 49,226kms, a/con, fogs, privacy glass, MFSW, roof rails, sat. nav, traction, park sensors, stop/start, NCT 07/23, €36,995 ‘16 Toyota Yaris 1.0 Luna MPV, 69bhp, €180 road tax, alloys, Aux conn, rev. camera, USB conn, MFSW, park sensors, cruise, climate, 73,000kms, NCT 09/24, €12,950

2020 Seat Ateca 1.5 TSI 150HP XC Plus, 22,000kms, €270 road tax, 2 keys, a/con, alarm, alloys, dual climate, MFSW, park sensors, privacy glass, keyless entry, cruise, sat. nav. €31,995

2020 Toyota Corolla Luna Sport 1.8 Hynbrid, auto, €180 road tax, 9,000kms, 2 keys, a/con, alloys, climate, heat seats, privacy glass, park sensors, stop/start, MFSW, touchscreen, €

2019 Hyundai i30 Delxue, 1.4, 100bhp, 21,000km, €270 road tax, a/con, alloys, bluetooth, Cd, cruise, f/gs, hill-start assist, MFSw, 6-sp, stop/start, traction, €18,950

2015 Citroen C4 Picasso Grand 1.6 Blue HDI VTR+5, dsl, 99bhp, €190 road tax, 83,000kms, a/con, alloys, cruise, stop/start, MFSW, EBD, traction, €15,950

BMW X3 XDrive E20D SE, auto, diesel, 151,003kms, a/con, alloys, cruise, heat seats, MFSW, roof rails, sat. nav, park sensors, Isofix, stop/start, 2 keys, €280 road tax, €22,950

2018 BMW 420i F33 Sport, Convertible, 2.0, 56,522kms, a/con, e/w, fogs, MFSW, sat. nav, park sensors, bluetooth, Isofix, keyless entry, stop/start, €34,950

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Call us today on (01) 21 31 770

Email: info@hyundaidundrum.ie

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