Car10

The opportunity to review the Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourer over a decent period came at a fortuitous time, when family from the US and Germany came in to celebrate Christmas with us here in Ireland, writes Brian Byrne . It was in fact the first time in ten years that we had all been together at Christmas. Why fortuitous? Because the eVito Tourer is a 9-seater passenger version of the Mercedes Vito Van. The nine seats were going to be very useful to help shuttle those staying directly with us between airport, home and the homes of their siblings. I suppose that made me an e-chauffeur? The eVito Tourer in shuttle format is designed for such applications as hotel transfers, conference transport, and similar (there is a higher-level version with one fewer seats and a more upmarket specification which can be used as a luxury limo for touring). The review car came with all the demonstrator decals 'Driving the Electric Future', so it was also going to attract attention in my home area ...

Are we really well down the electric route, or is it just hype? writes Brian Byrne . Here are a couple of facts, out of many recent that are EV related. In July of this year, two thirds of all cars sold in Oslo, capital of Norway, were electric. In Shenzhen, China, all 16,000 buses serving the city have been switched to electric, as well as 22,000 taxis. Sure, Norway has been an EV leader for some time, and in China there's a state-backed impetus for EVs. But that's the destination for all of us, sooner or later. I was thinking of that when I had my first drive experience in Kia's latest electric contender in the passenger car market. The EV6 has just joined the Soul and Niro in the Korean brand's EV offerings, and in this case is moving the company close to the premium EV business. The Hyundai-Kia group is one of those which have committed strongly to electric (and also to hydrogen fuel cell development, further down the sustainable motoring road). Unlike the Soul and ...

Mazda will be introducing further improvements to the already legendary handling of its MX-5 sports car in early 2022, writes Brian Byrne . They will come about with a new technology which will be standard on the car, dubbed Kinematic Posture Control. The system recognises a difference in speeds between the back wheels while cornering, lightly applying the brakes on the inner wheel. This prevents lift and suppresses body roll. New exterior and interior finishes will also be available with the 2022 car.  

Jaguar is to reposition itself to compete with brands like Aston Martin, Bentley and Maserati, rather than the high-volume German brands it currently competes against, writes Brian Byrne . To do so, it will refrain from introducing any new models until 2025, when it plans to become an all-electric vehicle brand. All the current models will be phased out by that time. At the moment, the company has one battery-electric car, the I-Pace. Jaguar's boss Thierry Bollore stunned the industry last February when he announced the all-electric ambition. Rather than adapting existing models, the company also scrapped plans for an electric XJ and a new crossover to be called the J-Pace. The Jaguar EV platform will be separate from the Land Rover MLA platform designed for both hybrid and battery-electric vehicles.  

Existing owners of Mk 8 Volkswagen Golfs are to get a free hardware upgrade offer for their infotainment system in the near future, as part of an improvement which will incorporated into all production Golfs from early next year, writes Brian Byrne . The upgrade provides a more powerful computer chip that can give faster and more efficient voice control and gesture control on the system, with an accompanying software update which will be carried out over-air. The company says the move is in response to customer feedback about the current system. Among other things, the update eliminates accidental activation of the under-screen controls when using the touch-screen.  

Of the last 21 cars I have had for review, five have been petrol, three have been petrol-mild hybrid, six were plug-in petrol hybrids, and six were pure electric, writes Brian Byrne . There was just one diesel. That's a major shift from just three or four years ago, when diesel was still king of the road. Now electrification is, in various forms. While pure electric reviews after this week's article, represents three cars in ten that I've driven. The actual proportion of cars sold this year is 8pc, so my review numbers are somewhat ahead of the real world. But 31pc of my cars does show just to where the industry is driving. For this week I'm in the Peugeot e-208. In terms of style, if there is a sweeter-looking supermini out there, I haven't seen it. A perfect example of that design roll which the French carmaker is on at the moment. An in your face front that is nevertheless the epitome of Gallic elegance. A smooth and sexy profile, and a rear that's distinctiv...

The highest performance version of the Audi Q4 e-tron has gone on sale in Ireland with 300hp available, writes Brian Byrne . With a 0-100km/h sprint ability, the Q4 e-tron 50 costs from €69,220 and has a range of 481km. Customers who order their Q4 e-tron 50 today can expect to take delivery and start their journey of electrification from as early as Q2 next year.  

This is a preview from Toyota of an electric Lexus supercar which will hit 100km/h in less than three seconds, writes Brian Byrne . That's as hard a kick in the back as you'l get this side of a rocket-powered sled, and the car will be powered by a solid-state battery currently under development by Toyota. A range of some 480kms is expected. as to the arrival of the car itself — probably not for here — the company was less specific, 'in coming years' their boss said.  

Although crossover-style cars have more or less taken over the market at all levels, the compact family hatch is still a significant format, writes Brian Byrne . Ford's Focus remains one of the firm favourites here, even if it has just been pipped in sales by arch-rival VW Golf for this year. It is also one of those cars which retain customer loyalty really well. After a slew of very technologically advanced cars for review over recent months, it was nice to get back into something that equates with the normal in family car motoring. The Focus EcoBoost Hybrid has been around now for a year or so, but the fourth generation body is familiar for most of four years — it still looks well, particularly in the ST Line dress of my review car. The body and detailing have a nice sporty character. A hint of Coke-bottle profile, good character to the front end, and a neat rear. Even though a revised version is coming next year, this one holds its age very well. The spoiler over the rear wind...

MG Motor Ireland has released prices and specifications for the new ZS EV due to arrive in dealerships in early January, writes Brian Byrn e. With a larger battery giving a range of up to 440km, the car has also new styling changes compared to its predecessor model. These include new LED lights, a side-located charging port, improved aerodynamics, and changes to the rear and wheels. A new connectivity system will operate via a smartphone app, and there's a new touchscreen and digital instrument panel. Prices start at €31,995 after grants.  

Mazda will be launching its first self-charging hybrid car in spring of next year, writes Brian Byrne . The Mazda2 Hybrid will have a combined petrol-electric output of 116hp and a rated fuel consumption of 4.0L/100km. The new Mazda2 Hybrid is the result of a collaboration with Toyota, and will be provided as a Mazda-branded model by Toyota Motor Europe.  

Renault will be unveiling a new SUV in the spring of 2022, and last week revealed its name, Austral, writes Brian Byrne .  The 5-seater will be in the same C-segment as the recently launched Arkana and the Megane E-Tech electric car. It will replace the Kadjar. Renault's model-naming people say the Austral is deliberately related to Australia and the image of exploration.  

There's something missing when you drive off a Ford Mustang Mach-E. The sound, writes Brian Byrne . The deep throaty rumble of the 5.0 V8 or the baritone crackle of the 2.3 four. Either of which are part of what makes the modern edition of the original Mustang iconic. The Mustang Mach-E gives us an almost eerie silence. Of course, the Mustang Mach-E is not a replacement for what may be the most aspired-to sports car in the world. For a start, it's all-electric. Secondly, while its designers cleverly echoed the coupe elements of the traditional car, it will easily carry three adults in the back ... compared to a cramped single in the other. There is, and there will continue to be, debate amongst Mustang passionistas as to whether Ford was right to adapt the pony-car's name to an extended Mustang family. Especially to an electric car, a kind of powertrain that just can't generate the kind of emotion that pumping pistons and throbbing exhaust notes can. Time will tell, an...

Toyota has revealed its first battery-electric car, the bZ4X SUV which will arrive in Ireland in May of next year, writes Brian Byrne . The car will have a front-wheel drive electric motor with 204hp and there will also be an AWD version. The bZ4X has been given a provisional range of more than 450km, and Toyota says an 80pc charge can be achieved in 30 minutes at a 150kW charging unit. An optional 3-phase on board charger will be available from later in the year. Cabin heating is by heat-pump, augmented by infra-red under-dash heating for the front occupants. Potential customers can register their interest through Toyota.ie .  

For those who appreciate a stylish compact estate, the reveal of the new Astra Sports Tourer is a treat, writes Brian Byrne . The wagon version of the Astra will be here next summer, and will have petrol and diesel power, as well as a plug-in hybrid engine. Six-speed manual and 8-speed automatic transmissions will be available, depending on engine choice. The boot provides up to more than 608 litres of storage space, with the rear seatbacks upright, and up to 1,634 litres when folded. Prices, trims and other details will come closer to launch here.