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Renault teams with Irish Restaurant Awards 2017

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Renault Ireland and The Restaurant Association of Ireland have announced Renault Ireland as the official car partner of the Irish Restaurant Awards 2017, writes Trish Whelan . The Irish Restaurant Awards (RAI) will travel around the country driving new Renault models for a series of regional events this March to announce county and regional award winners across 15 different categories. County winners will be announced at four regional events with over 600 guests expected to attend each. This year’s host counties for the events are Kilkenny, Fermanagh, Limerick and Sligo. This year over 80,000 individual nominations were cast online from 11-25 January. Pictured above are Ciara Doyle (Business Development & Sponsorship Manager, Restaurant Association of Ireland), and Liz O’Gorman (Marketing Manager Renault Ireland) with two chefs from The Radisson Blue St Helen’s, Stillorgan Road, Dublin. Speaking on the quantity of nominations received, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland

First pictures of Insignia Sports Tourer

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These are the first pictures of Opel's new Insignia Sports Tourer which will launch in Ireland this July, a month after the Insignia Grand Sport,  writes T rish Whelan .  Both will have their world debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show,   When order books open, the car will be available with a range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, along with latest generation transmissions. The second generation Insignia looks more elegant and sporty, offers a specious interior and high levels of connectivity and safety equipment. The track has been slightly increased and the wheelbase extended. Silver roof rails are standard across all equipment levels. A panorama sunroof is optional. Boot space is now 1,640 litres, and a kicking motion under the rear bumper opens the power tailgate. The cockpit is driver-orientated and the car’s ergonomic front seats come with electric side bolster settings, massage, memory and ventilation functions. Other features include heated windscreen/steer

VW Commercial Vehicles’ February Premium Plus sales event

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Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles are holding a February Premium Plus sales event to further enhance and extend its 171 sales offers, writes Trish Whela n . In addition to the company’s 0pc APR HP commercial vehicle finance, and Ireland’s only Commercial Vehicle PCP finance solution across the entire range, customers can now get up to 3 years free road tax on selected models, or €2,500 deposit contribution for the month of February. As part of the 171 offering, customers can drive a Caddy from €50 per week, a Transporter from €70 per week, a Crafter from €80 per week, and an Amarok V6 from €112 per week, all of which are inclusive of 3 years servicing and up to 3 years free road tax. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Managing Director Alan Bateson says the February Premium Plus sales event is now available in their dealerships nationwide.  All their commercial vehicles are available for 24-hour test drives at any of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Retailers nationwide.

Are Eco-Conscious Millennials fuelling record SUV sales?

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Motivated by a strong social conscience and keen to rent, stream and share goods and services, the Millennial generation’s revolutionary approach to spending is changing how companies, including carmakers, do business. More than four in five Millennials believe SUVs have become more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly during the last five years. Having shed their gas-guzzling reputation, SUVs are now on the shopping lists of one in four Millennials in the market for a new car. This statistic came from a Ford Motor Company-sponsored survey of 5,000 people in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK who own a car, or who intend to buy one in the next year. These respondents were aged 17-34. Ford is introducing an all-new fully electric SUV, with an estimated range of at least 480kms (300 miles), enough to drive from London to Paris. The company introduced three new SUVs in Europe last year, and the new zero-emission model will be one of five arriving by 2020. “SUV sales are risin

Skoda unveils new Octavia line-up

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Skoda has announced pricing for the new Octavia which has received a facelift and will go on sale here this March, writes Trish Whelan . Petrol prices are from €19,750; diesels start from €22,895.  Petrols are a 1.2 86hp, and a 1.0 115hp; diesels include a 1.6 with 90hp/115hp and a 2.0 150hp which is also offered with 4x4. DSG automatics are also available. C02 emissions range from 108g/km to 124.  Octavia is Skoda’s top performing model in the Irish market and has been in the top four Irish selling car models for the past two years running.  Cathal Kealy, PR Manager at Skoda Ireland says the Octavia ‘has always been the heart and soul of Skoda in Ireland, and embodies all the brand’s strengths such as interior space, practicality, design quality, simply clever features and value for money and this new Octavia is no different’.  Changes include a new front-end radiator grille, and wider air inlets with a honeycomb structure in the redesigned bumper for a more dynamic look. It will keep

Alfa Romeo Giulia available with 2.9pc PCP

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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Ireland Ltd have announced a 2.9pc PCP APR finance campaign available across the Alfa Romeo Giulia models until 31 March 2017, writes Trish Whelan . This limited time offer can also be used in conjunction with the option to upgrade to the Super Sport or Super Lux trim for €171, offering a saving of over €4,900. Giulia prices start from €39,995 or from €436 per month.  All Giulias come complete with a comprehensive list of standard equipment including 17-inch alloy wheels, LED rear lights, cruise control, dual-zone conditioning, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, and rear parking sensors. The mid-range Super trim, available from €41,995, or €458 per month, adds Alfa Connect 8.8-inch 3D navigation system, techno-leather and cloth upholstery, aluminium door sills, chrome exterior window surround, auto-dimming rear view mirror and a 7-inch TFT colour cluster display.  The Super Sport and Super Lux trims are currently available for €171 more than the compa

VW Touran is Europe’s top selling MPV

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Volkswagen’s Touran is, for the first time, Europe’s most successful MPV with more than 112,000 new registrations in 2016, writes Trish Whelan . The latest generation of the all-rounder with its innovative driver assistance and infotainment systems, is sold over 40 countries worldwide. With its fold-flat seats (with up to seven seats and 834 litres of boot space), the Touran ranks as one of the most variable multi-purpose cars of any class. Volkswagen recently updated one of the Touran’s most important driver assistance systems: the ACC (including Front Assist surroundings monitoring and City Emergency Brake function). The adaptive cruise control now covers the speed range from 30 to 210 km/h (previously 30 to 160 km/h). Combined with a dual clutch gearbox (DSG), this spectrum widens from 0 to 210 km/h. With ACC and DSG, the Touran now moves through stop-and-go traffic almost automatically and slows to a stop and pulls away again autonomously. The car also has the 3-zone Climatronic sy