Car10

The Dacia brand is celebrating the production of 10 million vehicles since it was established in 1968, writes Brian Byrne . The milestone vehicle was a Duster Extreme produced at the company's facility in Mioveni, Romania. Some 2.1 million Dusters have been sold to European customers since the SUV model debuted in 2019. The Sandero and its Stepway derivative are the best sellers in the range, which also includes the Logan and its LCV wagon, and the Dacia 1300 and derivative cars. The most recent addition to the Dacia lineup is the Jogger 7-seat MPV, which has just gone on sale in Ireland. Hybrid and electric models are scheduled.  

Civil and mechanical engineering company GMC Utilities has boosted its commercial fleet with 34 new Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, writes Brian Byrne . The company has participated in some of the largest civil and engineering projects in Ireland since it was founded in 1970, and employs around 350 staff. The vans were provided by the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles specialist dealer MUTEC in Dublin. They include medium wheelbase 315 and long wheelbase 316 model.  

Opel Ireland has revealed pricing for the electric version of its Combo Van, starting at €34,395 including VAT, writes Brian Byrne . Now available to order, the Combo-e may qualify for SEAI grants for business-to-business (B2B) customers. Available in Edition and Sportive trims, the Combo-e has a range of up to 275km from a single charge and offers up to 3.3m3 cargo space, 800kg payload and a 750kg towing capacity. 

Opel's Corsa model is celebrating 40 years of production this year, writes Brian Byrne . From the first of the first generation that rolled off a brand-new assembly line in 1982 to today's sixth generation which is a bestseller for the brand, over 14 million units have been built. The car has been powered by the leading engine technologies of the time in each of it iterations, and today a quarter of Corsa sales are of the electric-powered version. As a modified Corsa-e Rally, it is demonstrating in motorsport how top performance and environmental compatibility can be combined.

Volkswagen have released camouflage pictures of the next generation Amarok pickup on offroad driving trials, writes Brian Byrne . The vehicle will go on sale in Ireland at the end of the year, with a new V6 diesel among the engine options. The new Amarok will be longer and have a longer wheelbase than the previous one, and will have an increased payload up to 1.2 tonnes. Depending on market, it will come with rear drive or a choice from two AWD versions. 

A Mercedes-Benz electric large SUV will arrive in Ireland early next year with a rated range of up to 660kms, writes Brian Byrne . The EQS SUV will be in the same space as the EQS and S-Class saloons at the top of the brand's models hierarchy. The car will be available in RWD and AWD formats. A version with ultra-fast charging capability will be able to build a 250km range in 15 minutes. Prices and specifications for Ireland closer to launch. 

BMW Ireland has released prices for the new 7 Series, from €132,210, writes Brian Byrne. The first Irish deliveries are expected to commence from December of this year. The car will launch in fully-electric form as the i7 xDrive60, with ICE and and PHEV versions following next year.  New styling in line with the latest BMW design language will set the car from its predecessors. There is also a new interior. 

The Yaris Cross self-charging hybrid electric car has been named 2022 World Urban Car by the organisers of the World Car Awards, writes Brian Byrne . The awards are given by a 102-member jury of international automotive journalists from 33 countries. Launched in 2021, the Toyota Yaris Cross follows in the footsteps of the Yaris, named The Car of the Year in Europe in 2021.  Zoe Bradley, head of marketing communications, Toyota Ireland said the Yaris Cross hybrid 'ticks a lot of boxes' for both urban and rural drivers. Prices start at €28,050. 

Maxol has launched a loyalty app, the first of its kind in Ireland to implement FuelPay, writes Brian Byrne , a feature that allows customers to pay for their fuel, from their vehicle, in the palm of their hand. The app works by using geo-fencing and the user's phone GPS to determine at which service station the customer is located. Customers can turn on the fuel pump with their phones by entering the specific pump number on the app, without getting out of the car. There are 76 Maxol locations in the Republic of Ireland and the app can offer a wide range of other services which Maxol wants to offer customers on one digital platform, including a station finder feature that will locate the nearest Maxol service station quickly. 

Opel will be celebrating its 160th birthday in August of this year, marking a lifetime of many automotive innovations, writes Brian Byrne . The company was founded by Adam Opel as sewing machine maker, and from there to making bicycles in which it became a global leader. Opel became one of the early pioneers in automobile manufacturing from 1899, and today is heading to be a maker of only electric vehicles from 2028 onwards. The first German carmaker to develop large-scale production technology, Opel's first assembly-line car rolled off in 1924.  Opel has been involved in electric car development since 1971 when the company's Electro GT set six speed records at Hockenheim. In 2012 the Ampera was European Car of the Year. The Ampera-e followed in 2016, and the range of electrified Opel models, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric, today spans Corsa, Mokka, Grandland, Combo Life, Zafira Life and the full Opel van range, with the Vivaro-e mid-sized panel van crowned Irish Van of t...

Kia Ireland hit a 7.75pc market share in the first quarter of 2022, the highest it has ever been, writes Brian Byrne. Sales are up by more than a third compared to the same quarter last year. The boost is underpinned by strong interest in the EV6 flagship electric car, and the new generation Sportage.

This is a Smart car like we've never seen … a new generation of the diminutive brand owned by Mercedes-Benz and Chinese company Geely, writes Brian Byrne . Instead of being a little oddball, Smart is growing up. The model pictured here was revealed in Berlin and is a sleek crossover based on a concept shown at last September's Munich Auto Show. The model's name is oddball, though - #1. Still, the underpinnings are all solid. A 268hp electric motor and a battery with a 400km range. A capability of accepting an 80pc charge in 15 minutes. And, space for five.  It's the first of a line of models. Which will be targeted directly at BMW's Mini range.

Could this be the next generation steering 'yoke' from Lexus? writes Brian Byrne . It comes in a teaser photograph for a new electric car from the Toyota premium brand due for full reveal on 20 April. It will be the brand's first dedicated electric model and is a crossover called the RZ. The car is related to the upcoming Toyota BZ4X EV, which in Chinese markets is offered with a similar aircraft-style yoke. Toyota plans to launch 30 RVs across its two brands by 2030. For a long time the pioneer of the hybrid petrol-electric powertrains declined to get into the EV market, hyping its hybrids as a more sustainable option.  

Skoda have updated their Karoq compact SUV with a focus on the more recent family design cues and a number of interior tweaks, writes Brian Byrne . Orders are now being taken for the refreshed car at a starting price of €33,750. Karoq was first introduced in 2017 and more than 5,000 have since been bought in Ireland.  The design changes include a wider hexagonal grille, slimmer LED headlights and tail lights and a new take on the daylight running lights. Inside, customers can now option sustainable materials preference for the trim and upholstery, such as seat covers made from recycled plastic drink bottles. Aerodynamic changes have reduced drag by around 9pc, Skoda says. These changes include inserts into the new alloy wheels, a longer rear spoiler and a covered underbody. Power is from a choice of one diesel and two petrol engines, with outputs from 110hp to 150hp.  

A new Opel Grandland has gone on sale in Ireland at a starting price of €35,495, writes Brian Byrne . The styling of the new car adopts that of other recent new Opels, such as the Mokka, and standard features include adaptive LED headlights and a full suite of driver assistance systems. Power options will include 130hp petrol with manual or automatic transmissions, a 130hp automatic diesel, and a 225hp plug-in hybrid in early summer. A 300hp AWD PHEV will be available later in the year. The car gets a new interior in the format of recent Opel models, and there are three grade options.  

The new generation Kia Niro will arrive in Ireland in time for the 222 registration period in plug-in hybrid form, writes Brian Byrne . A battery EV version will come later in the summer, and Irish prices will be revealed closer to launch. The 141hp PHEV version will be powered with a 1.6 DGI petrol engine as primary power, with up to 65km range on the battery. The BEV will have a rated 463km range. This is the second generation of the Niro and will come with a full range of driver assistance options, including a remote parking system that allows the driver to complete parking in tight spaces from outside the car.