Kadwahat Car

Citroen has introduced two more versions of the C4 Cactus, including an automatic, writes Brian Byrne . A new version of the EAT6 automatic gearbox is available linked to the PureTech 110 S&S engine, providing smoother gear-changing than before. It features two additional programmes for Sport and Snow use. The Onetone Special Edition is based on matching tones to provide a less visually contrasting version of the C4 Cactus. Irish prices and availability in due course.

A 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 is one of a number of exotic cars which will be on sale at the Classic & Vintage event organised by Merlin Car Auctions on Sunday 5 February, writes Brian Byrne . The sale will be held at the Merlin premises at Junction 10 Naas Road, with viewing from 11am and the proceedings beginning at 1pm. Other cars among the 100 vehicles in the sale include an updated 1949 Oldsmobile Chop Top, a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL LHD Convertible, and a 1972 Kyote II Wagon of which similar were driven by silver screen stars such as Steve McQueen, James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever, Jimi Hendrix and The Monkees. There are also  a 1954 Austin A30 Seven 803, a 1964 Hillman Minx and a 1953 MG Midget TD Convertible as well as Porsches, Jaguars and more.

Niall Breslin, musician and founder of the wellbeing movement 'A Lust for Life', has joined Toyota Ireland as a brand ambassador, writes Brian Byrne . He's a recruit to the brand's 'Built for a Better World' programme, which intends to provide as yet unspecified initiatives 'to make a meaningful difference for the people of Ireland'. The entertainer himself promises equally unspecific 'brilliant things' that he and Toyota will be working on. He is pictured with Toyota Ireland marketing director Michael Gaynor.

Skoda Ireland has released prices for the new Kodiaq SUV, beginning at €28,795, writes Brian Byrne . Available in 5-seat format, the vehicle will offer powertrain options of 1.4 turbo petrol in 125hp/150hp versions and 2.0 diesels in 150hp/190hp outputs. There will be three grades available and DSG automatic gearboxes will be among the options. Connectivity features include the Skoda Smartlink+ smartphone integration system containing Apple Car Play and Google Android Auto as standard. The Columbus navigation and infotainment system which is standard on the Style grade also comes with an additional 4G LTE SIM card slot to enable a high speed Wi-Fi hotspot within the car (data plans sold separately) and additional connected services from Skoda Connect. The car goes on sale in March, but will be available to view in advance at Skoda showrooms.

Mercedes-Benz is teasing a new design language with this picture, which suggests elements for the next generation A-Class, writes Brian Byrne . The picture is of a sculpture called 'Aesthetics A', and moves the brand style from the creases and edges which defined the A-Class launched in 2012 to a new 'sensual purity' design. The designers employ sweeping surfaces at angles to each other to contour the body design with light and shadow and to emphasise the proportions. We'll see a concept version in due course.

Etihad Airways has this week moved its Dublin flight operations from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport, for both departures and arrivals. They 5-Star Certified Airline says “Our guests are invited to check in at Area 6 in Terminal 1. This move follows extensive investment in passenger and retail facilities at the airport.” Access to the Etihad Airways Premium Lounge for its First or Business Class and Etihad Guest Platinum and Gold members will not be affected by the move, as the Lounge is located air-side between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. 

David Thomas has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Volvo Car Ireland and will take up this role from 1st February, writes Trish Whelan . David has significant industry experience, having worked with Volvo Cars for 22 years in various international posts. He has worked in a number of senior management roles within the company, serving as Managing Director of Russia; Regional Vice President, based in Sweden; Vice President Global Fleet and Managing Director of Switzerland. Most recently, David has worked in the US market leading Customer Experience and Network for America. Outgoing Managing Director, Adrian Yeates, has left Volvo Car Ireland to pursue other opportunities outside the business. Volvo Car Ireland posted a 28.3% increase in retail sales for 2016, selling 2004 cars, which represents it’s best sales year since 2008. The company is targeting further sales growth for 2017 as it continues to release its’ planned product line up over the next three years.

Honda has presented the winner of the Christmas ‘Guess the Snowflake’ competition with a cheque for €5,000, writes Trish Whelan . For two weeks people had the opportunity to log on to www.honda.ie and guess the number of snowflakes that fell over the All-New 2017 Honda Civic, in the online animation. Winner Jason O’Dwyer, with a guess of 789 snowflakes, arrived to Universal Honda to collect his winnings and with the help of his son Dylan, unveiled the New Honda Civic to the attendees on the night. In conjunction with the ‘Guess the Snowflake Competition’, Universal Honda also gifted €5,000 to the Dublin Simon Community as part of their ‘Powering Local Dreams’ project which celebrates over 30 years of the Honda brand in Ireland. Thanking Honda for their support, Annemarie Brennan from the Dublin Simon Community said “You are providing people with life changing outreach, treatment, housing, homelessness prevention, and education services. Your kindness will make a vital difference and en

Suzuki’s all-new Ignis compact crossover model is now on sale in dealerships priced from €12,995-€17,995, writes Trish Whelan . Suzuki is well regarded around the world for its expertise in making small cars and the Ignis is its latest offering. The car was unveiled for Europe at the 2016 Paris Motor Show and is typical Suzuki. It is the second model, Baleno was the first, to be built on a new generation platform to be introduced in Europe which targets the reduction of weight as well as increased rigidity. It is aimed at small car owners, mostly aged between 21-35 years and looking for something different that makes them stand out.  This compact SUV is both functional and practical, is an easy to drive size with a spacious cabin and good luggage space.  It offers lots of space for occupants with very good head and leg room, even for a 6ft person sitting directly behind an equally tall person in the front.  Three grades are offered: SZ3,SZ-T, and SZ5.  The SZ3 entry level model comes w

Sean Cahill (JB Buggy) won the 2016 Munster Autocross Championship on the last round of the series, writes Austin Shinnors . Cahill earlier lifted the National Loose Autocross (Buggy) Championship and the Wexford man is the first driver to win both championships in the same year. In the National series Cahill won every round and in Munster he claimed victory in five rounds and he amassed 135 points. Runner-up in Munster was Paul O'Driscoll (Semog Buggy) who tied with Whitby Moynan (Toyota Special) on 116 points, but O'Driscoll scooped second as his score on the first event was better than Moynan. Fourth overall was claimed by Fermoy based Polish driver Lukasz Czapnik (Impreza). However Czapnik will remember 2016 as the year he was the best saloon driver in Munster and National autocross, another remarkable autocross double. West Limerick drivers Eddie Walsh (Impreza) and William Meade (Nova) were second and third saloons home. 2016 was a great year for Munster Autocross, with a

In the first results for 2017, the Volvo S90 (above) and V90 achieved the top 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests, while Ford's Mustang was awarded just two, writes Brian Byrne . The high level of standard-fit safety technologies, including autonomous emergency braking and pedestrian protection lifted the Volvos into the top scores beyond any model tested last year. The company's products are now the top three scoring cars ever in Euro NCAP. The Mustang lost out with concerns about crash protection of adults and children in the car, as well as the removal of the Forward Collision Warning system on European versions. Specifically, airbags on the Mustang didn't inflate enough to properly restrain the occupants, and a lack of seatbelt pre-tensioners in the rear left back seat occupants open to abdominal injuries. Ford says a face-lifted Mustang going on sale later this year will have improved technology, already available to US buyers of the car.

Even before it arrives in Ireland, Skoda has announced a Scout version of its new Kodiaq SUV, writes Brian Byrne . Building on the success of the 'Scout' versions of other Skoda models, the Kodiaq Scout will feature technology and visual elements to enhance its offroad ability and ethos. The car will have underbody protection at the front and rear, a 194mm ground clearance, and specially designed 19" wheels. Two petrol and two diesel engines are available for the new model variant, which comes with all-wheel drive as standard. The Kodiaq Scout will be shown to the public at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

The BMW 4 Series Coupe, 4 Series Convertible and 4 Series Gran Coupe have been given a refresh for 2017, writes Trish Whelan . The new 4 Series debuts refreshed styling, upgraded cabin and new interior features. The M4 sports a new look with sharper dynamics and an optional new Carbon Package.  The new models include elements such as a large air intake with eye-catching bars and LED headlights and rear lights. The defining feature of the front is an unbroken central air intake with an aperture that increases in size towards the outer edges giving the car a more imposing presence and a greater sense of width to the entire nose section. On the Sport version, the air intake is almost entirely bordered by a high-gloss black bar designed to accentuate the car’s wide, powerful stance.  The Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe are now equipped with new twin LED headlights as standard. The rear has been given a low, sporty look, with a new rear apron.  The cabin has also been upgraded with electr

There's a great deal of affection for the Suzuki Vitara name in Ireland, writes Brian Byrne , going all the way back to the original model in the late 1980s. So when the company revived the nameplate in 2015 as part of a renewal of its model range, there was a lot of local interest. The new model itself was initially available in three grades, but a fourth one, the S, offers a more sporty character in visual and powertrain terms. The new generation Vitara is a strong looking machine, but with lines that are tempered in a style which is as much at home in the suburban street as it is venturing across more rugged terrain. There's also thought in the aerodynamics, notably in the design of the bumper and roofline, and in the unseen areas of the underfloor which has flat surfaces to smooth air stream. The S version, the review car, gets a number of distinctive elements that set it off from its siblings. The black alloy wheels, black side mouldings, and a special grille design are th

Volkswagen has come up with a new way of heating windscreens, without the traditional filament wires that can cause visibility problems on rainy nights or against low sun, writes Brian Byrne . The system uses a wafer-thin layer of silver in the laminated glass to provide heating and also acts as an infra-red reflecting base in hot sun. Volkswagen is offering the wire-free heated and infrared-reflecting windscreen as an optional extra for the Golf, Golf Sportsvan, Tiguan, Sharan, Passat and Passat Variant models. Prices start at €340 in Germany, depending on model.

The first unit of the new E-Class Coupe has rolled off the Mercedes-Benz production line in Bremen, writes Brian Byrne . First customers will get their ordered car in the spring. The car joins in the lineup of saloon, estate and all-terrain variants of the E-Class, the Irish Car of the Year 2017 in association with Continental. The car is being produced on the same line as the C-Class Coupe and C-Class Cabriolet.

Parisian authorities are considering extending the ban on diesel cars into the capital, writes Brian Byrne . Currently, all diesel cars built between 1997 and 2000 are banned. The authorities are now looking at doing the same for all diesel cars registered between 2001-2005. The total range represents about 20pc of France's car parc. The existing ban uses mandatory grey stickers on the windscreen to denote the banned cars. The new one will use brown stickers. The French capital is only part of the country suffering from smog and related health problems, primarily due to the high penetration of diesel engines in the country. But it is particularly problematic in Paris. (Pic by Unsplash, via Pexels.)

Ford will test its recently announced plug-in hybrid Transit Connect vans in a year-long trial in London, writes Brian Byrne . The vans are part of a major increase in the range of vehicles in the brand's range, which will add 13 variants by 2021. The PHEV Transit Connects will go on sale in 2019. With a pure electric range of 31 miles, they are expected to work on electric power only for most of their work in the city. A number of partners in the pilot project include Transport of London.

A new and more sporty SUV from Mitsubishi is slated to be revealed at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March, writes Brian Byrne . Teaser pictures of the vehicle, which will slot below the Outlander, have been released by the company. The car may have a more coupe style than current offerings from the brand, with cues from the XR-PHEV concept shown in 2013. Given the plug-in hybrid powertrain already a successful part of the Outlander's engine systems, it is likely that the new SUV will also feature PHEV.

Thirty years after its initial Dakar Rally success in 1987, Peugeot provided another sizzling demonstration of its sporting prowess with a landmark 1-2-3 finish at this year's event in South America. In the hands of dream-team Stéphane Peterhansel / Jean-Paul Cottret, Sébastien Loeb / Daniel Elena and Cyril Despres / David Castera, three new Peugeot 3008DKRs completed the 2017 Dakar Rally's 9,000km run through Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina, to take victory on the final podium in Buenos Aires. The result takes Peugeot's score on the famous rally to six outright victories and is ideally timed to coincide with the launch of the new Peugeot 3008 SUV. The 2017 cross-country rally turned out to be a close, drama-packed affair with numerous leader changes and exceptionally small gaps between drivers, from start to finish. The challenging route included high-altitude running, tougher than ever navigation and appalling weather. However, the brand's new, two-wheel drive Peugeot

Renault Ireland will sponsor the third annual Sumo Run Ireland 2017 in aid of Purple House Cancer Support based in Bray, Co Wicklow, writes Trish Whelan . Taking place on Sunday, 23 April at 12 noon, one of Ireland’s most unique fun runs will see participants of all ages don inflatable sumo suits and run (or walk) a 5km route through Marlay Park in Dublin. Sumo Run Ireland currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most people dressed as sumo wrestlers, after breaking the previous record during the first run in 2015. Those taking part this year are encouraged to raise sponsorship to support families affected by cancer in Ireland, through the work of Purple House Cancer Support. Entry fees start from €40 and participants can sign up at www.sumorun.ie (your sumo suit is then yours to keep). Aspiring sumos of all ages are welcome, and children must be above 1.2 metres in height to participate.  Liz O’Gorman, Marketing Manager, Renault Ireland hopes everyone will come on the day to

Premium car brand, Audi, had a new record year for sales in 2016 with 1,871,350 Audi models sold globally since January representing an increase of 3.8pc on 2015, writes Trish Whelan . Audi sales have also increased in Ireland with over 6,000 registrations recorded in 2016. Commenting on Ireland’s performance, Henning Dohrn, Managing Director of Audi Ireland said “We are very happy to be the number one premium car brand in Ireland. The basis for this success is due to our loyal customer base, committed dealer network, award winning products, and our continuous technological innovation.” He is optimistic about the year ahead, particularly with the introduction of new models such as the A5 Sportback, Q2 (pictured above) and Q5 to the Irish market. Audi dealers are investing in the dealer network which will see the opening of three brand new Audi dealerships across the country later in the year. 

A 1973 Range Rover driven on an epic 14,000-mile, five-month expedition from Johannesburg to Somerset in the UK is on sale now at JD Classics. Undertaken by ex-ITN Chief Foreign Correspondent, Michael Nicholson in 1981, this Range Rover has survived the Nyaki Mountains in Malawi and elephants in Dar es Salaam - all chronicled in Nicholson’s book Across the Limpopo. Nicholson was sold the Range Rover by its first owner, Le Mans-winning racing driver Duncan Hamilton who specified it in Lincoln Green with a Palomino interior and a number of factory options. Full leather upholstery and a Webasto sunroof were both fitted as extras by Nicholson who bought the car in 1976 before shipping it to Johannesburg where he was working as ITN’s Chief Foreign Correspondent. After four years of daily use in South Africa, Nicholson was due to head back to England but instead of the 16-hour flight, he packed his family and their belongings into his Range Rover and set off for home. From South Africa, he h

Ireland's Craig Breen (pictured above) finished fifth on the opening round of the World Rally Championship, the Monte Carlo Rally, just twelve seconds behind fourth placed Dani Sordo of Spain despite Breen driving one of last year's cars for the Citroen Total Abu Dhabi works team, writes Richard Burke . The Waterford driver and his British co-driver Scott Martin lay sixth after Friday's opening stages, but Citroen team leaders Kris Meeke of Dungannon and Killarney's Paul Nagle were already out of the running after they crashed out of second place on the fourth stage of the day. On Saturday, a great drive by Breen hoisted him into fourth place, ahead of rival Sordo's Hyundai, while Meeke was again in trouble when he rejoined after overnight repairs, but ignition problems cost him a lot of time and he was completely out of contention. Right at the end of the day, while returning from the final stage to the overnight halt in Monaco, his Citroen C3 was hit by a non-comp

Volkswagen Passenger Cars are holding an Open Event across their 35-strong dealer network all this week until Saturday, 28 January, writes Trish Whelan .  In addition to the existing 171 Campaign offers for the Open Week event, VW will offer customers 0pc PCP finance on selected models, as well as a €1,000 Deposit contribution on up!, Beetle, Golf, Scirocco and Jetta models. There is a €1,500 Deposit Contribution on Passat and CC models plus Tiguan, and Touran models get an additional €1,000 Deposit Contribution.  All cars must be registered by 31 January to qualify for these offers.

Subaru Ireland has joined forces with Dublin GAA and signed a deal making Subaru the official car partner to Dublin GAA, writes Trish Whelan . Subaru will provide vehicles to the players and management of the Dublin senior football and hurling teams. They will drive the Subaru AWD vehicle range including Impreza, XV Crossover, Forester and Outback. Both teams will also benefit from a Subaru Forester Van to transport their kit around the country as they compete in the All-Ireland Championships and National Leagues. Over the last number of years Dublin have won All-Ireland football titles, League hurling and football titles as well as Leinster Championships. Speaking at the signing of the deal, Sean Dunne, Financial Controller of Subaru Ireland (pictured above with some Dublin GAA players) said "We are very proud to become a partner of Dublin GAA and are delighted to support some of the most talented players in the country, especially at a time when Dublin GAA is having such suc

When it comes to design, Mazda was already playing in the Premium League but the carmaker took on a new direction when designing its MX-5 RF (Retractable Fastback) hardtop which is a very different sports car to the MX-5 Roadster Coupe that it replaces and which had actually outsold the Soft Top towards the end of its lifecycle, writes Trish Whelan . The biggest change to the MX-5 is in the roof. The intention had been to make the retractable hardtop disappear entirely when opened, but this had proved difficult to solve necessitating a completely different approach.  “We freed our ways of traditional thinking and took on a new challenge,” the MX-5’s previous programme director Nobuhiro Yamamoto told us during a presentation on the new car. The result of their endeavours is stunning fastback styling and a teardrop shaped cabin that is also well up the Luxury League.  This is what Mazda call Jinba Ittai which is Mazda’s goal of achieving perfect harmony between a horse and rider (Drive T

Mazda’s MX-5 Retractable Fastback (RF) will launch in Ireland the first week of February with prices starting at €31,495, writes Trish Whelan from the car’s launch in Barcelona. Two engines will be available in the line up - a 2.0 SKYACTIV-G engine with 160hp will join the 131hp 1.5 engine which is already available int he MX-5 Roadster. The more powerful engine will be available in the GT grade and will feature a limited slip differential and 17-inch wheels. Two grade levels will be offered. As standard across the range, the MX-5 RF will have alloy wheels, LED headlights, MZD Connect, Cruise control and Automatic air conditioning. MX-5 RF GT models with the 1.5 engine come with 16-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels and piano black wing mirrors while the 1.0 GT is differentiated by 17-inch bright alloy wheels and body coloured wing mirrors. Both engines in the higher spec also feature automatic wipers, rear parking sensors, smart keyless entry, 9 Premium Bose surround sound and heated leather

The Jeep Grand Cherokee for 2017 is now available in Ireland at savings of up to €14,000 over previous price points, writes Brian Byrne . A range of enhancements for the new year include a new Start&Stop function and electric power steering which helps to achieve a 14gm reduction in CO2 (to 184g/km), compared with the previous model year. Fuel economy has also been improved to 40.4 mpg equivalent on diesel versions. There are also new colours and acoustic glass improves the cabin experience. There have also been interior changes including a new gearshift lever and revised centre stack design and facilities. The Jeep Grand Cherokee starts at €70,950 for the 250hp Limited 3.0 V6  diesel while the Overland 3.0 V6 diesel now costs €76,850, a saving of over €13,000. The Grand Cherokee Summit is now €82,450, a saving of over €14,000 and the range-topping Grand Cherokee SRT is now priced at €109,950, a saving of over €10,000. The SRT features a 6.4 V8 HEMI petrol engine delivering 468hp.

Why would I be thinking that the new Renault Megane Grand Coupe might well be the family saloon I'll be recommending most this year? writes Brian Byrne. Maybe because it's really one heck of a good car, and can score because there's still a strong market for compact saloons in the Irish market. Also, the Megane hatch was my own personal favourite car in its class of last year, partly because of its style, partly because of its specification, but ultimately because it just felt right. The saloon version, otherwise the Grand Coupe, just stretches the overall good feeling further. Stretches it literally too. The Grand Coupe and the equally stylish and recommendable Sport Tourer wagon variant of the Megane are both longer than the hatch, and share the same longer wheelbase. That last not just means a bit more legroom inside, but also edges up the already good ride another notch. The extra distance also allows a sporty coupe styling without sacrificing headroom for rear seat pa