British PAG brands to merge
30 November 2001: Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin are to be merged in a reorganisation of the Ford-owned Premier Automotive Group. Management teams in the group are examining how to combine in areas such as engineering, platforms, powertrains, design, manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing. Full Story.
First Quattro diesel joins Audi A3 range
29 November 2001: The new Audi A3 1.9 TDI quattro, combines for the first time in an A3 diesel power and quattro permanent four-wheel-drive. Full Story.
Works Cooper version of Mini
28 November 2001: Mike Cooper, whose late father John created the original Mini Cooper, has designed a Works Mini Cooper which can do 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds, has a special bodykit, and is shod with off-the-shelf 17-inch BMW wheels. Full Story.
Mazda refines Premacy for 2002
28 November 2001: Mazda has updated its Premacy range with a more powerful engine, a 130bhp 2.0-litre petrol taken from the 626. It replaces the 113bhp 1.8-litre engine in the previous-generation model Full Story.
Honda leads again in pedestrian safety in NCAP
27 November 2001: The Renault Laguna remains the only car to achieve a five star occupant result in Europe's leading independent crash tests confirmed Euro NCAP today. The Honda Stream compact MPV got three stars in pedestrian safety, emulating the achievement of its Civic sibling. Full Story.
Kiernan scores motor industry try
Chief executive of the Maxol group, Tom Noonan, with the recipient of the Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year Tom Kiernan, and minister for the environment and local government Noel Dempsey TD.
27 November 2001: The Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year is former Irish rugby international Tom Kiernan. He is also a non-executive director of the tyre distributor, More Miles Ltd. Full Story.
Car salesmen 'still patronise women'
27 November 2001: Car showroom salesmen can still be patronising and disparaging towards women, according to a contributor to the UK Motor Industry Management magazine. Michael Banks, managing director of OAI Management Group, says that for the majority of women, the car-buying process remains as frustrating as it did at the beginning of the 1990s. Full Story.
Opel and Renault share van prize
Brian Smith, Semperit, Margaret O'Boyle, Opel and Lede Aukema, Opel Ireland, at the awarding of the Semperit Irish Van of the Year.
26 November 2001: The Opel Vivaro and Renault Trafic have been jointly voted Semperit Irish Van of the Year 2002 by the Irish Motoring Writers Association. The announcement was made at an awards ceremony in the Berkeley Court Hotel, attended by leading figures from the motor industry. Full Story.
Back seat drivers can kill
26 November 2001: Back seat drivers may be fatal companions, new research commissioned by tyre-maker Uniroyal has found. It discovered that passengers can play as big a role in road safety as drivers. Full Story.
Renault Laguna II is Semperit Irish Car of the Year
Brian Smith of Semperit with Bill Cullen of Renault and Kevin Fenix of the Irish Motoring Writers Association.
22 November 2001: The Renault Laguna II is the Semperit Irish Car of the Year 2002.
It won 114 points in the competiton run by the Irish Motoring Writers Association, and was closely followed by the Ford Mondeo with 109 points. The Citroen C5 was third, and joint fourth went to the Alfa Romeo 147 and the Honda Civic. Full Story.
New Range Rover officially unveiled
22 November 2001: The new Range Rover has been officially unveiled at a special media and VIP reception at the Design Museum in London. It is only the third new Range Rover model in 31 years. Sales start on 15 February. Full Story.
UK call for improved speed limit signage
22 November 2001: The Association of British Drivers has called for the British government to re-think its policies on setting and signing speed limits. The ABD's Chairman, Brian Gregory said the increasing lack of uniformity in the setting of limits and the abysmal level of signing 'leaves drivers guessing' what the limit actually is. Full Story.
New SEAT Ibiza details released
21 November 2001: SEAT has released the first information about the next generation of its Ibiza, due in RHD production from the spring of 2002. Full Story.
Peugeot 307 is European Car of the Year
20 November 2001: Peugeot’s recently-launched 307 has scooped the European automotive industry’s most prestigious award – the title of ‘Car of the Year 2002’. Full Story.
Renault Laguna II gets more safety plaudits
19 November 2001: Auto Express has confirmed what Euro NCAP announced six months ago - that the new Renault Laguna is the safest new car on the road today. Full Story.
M-B increases warranty
19 November 2001: All Mercedes-Benz vehicles purchased here from 1 November 2001 will be covered by a two-year warranty. This replaces the old 12 month period and applies to all passenger cars and vans as well as M-B spare parts and accessories purchased in Western Europe. Full Story.
Petrol prices continue to fall
19 November 2001: Petrol prices have fallen significantly in the last month with a litre of unleaded petrol now costing 62.4 pence on average, a drop of almost a full four pence in the last month. Diesel prices have also fallen by over a penny to 57.7 pence a litre. Full Story.
Ray O'Brien new Opel dealer in Kildare
Anthony Murray, sales manager Ray O'Brien Group; Ray O'Brien; Iede Aukema, MD Opel Ireland; and James Brookes, Opel Ireland Financial Director, at the signing of the dealership contract for Co Kildare.
19 November 2001: The Ray O’Brien motor group has been appointed Opel Dealer in Co Kildare, and will operate from a new showroom in Newhall, Naas. The showrooms are scheduled to open on December 1. Full Story.
Lexus again tops list for vehicle durability
16 November 2001: For the seventh year in a row, Lexus has led a study on the durability of four- and five-year old cars and trucks, and registered less than half the problems of an average vehicle. A 1997 Lexus had 1.73 problems on average per vehicle, compared to 3.82 problems for the overall average results for vehicles of that year. Full Story.
Ford rolls out Fiesta van variant
16 November 2001: Ford Ireland has introduced a new limited edition model based on the Fiesta van. The Fiesta XRV is powered by the TDDi Lynx 1.8 turbo diesel injection engine, delivering a power output of 75PS. Full Story.
Light Commercials sales remain buoyant
16 November 2001: The latest figures for LCV registrations covering the ten-month period January-October 2001 will must come as good news to the optimistic economic commentators. Full Story.
Roads programme 'frozen' - Labour
16 November 2001: The increase in capital expenditure at 5% amounts to the virtual shelving of the National Plan, including a ‘freezing’ of the roads programme, according to Michael McDowell of the Labour Party. Full Story.
Subaru launches new Impreza model
15 November 2001: Subaru has launched a new version of the Impreza, the 1.6 TS Impreza, which will appear in dealer showrooms in January. Full Story.
SIMI looks for VRT changes
15 November 2001: The Society of the Irish Motor Industry has made a pre-Budget submission asking for a VRT equalisation measure that would provide for a reimbursement of a proportion of the VRT paid on a car if it was exported secondhand. Full Story.
MG Rover appoints White Bishop dealers
14 November 2001: MG Rover has appointed the White Bishop car dealership on the Long Mile Road in Dublin as part of its sales network.
Pictured at the formal appointment ceremony are Dave Smith, MD of MG Rover Ireland, and Pat White, MD White Bishop. Full Story.
Nissan begins electric vehicle research in US
13 November 2001: Nissan is beginning a new research project at the University of California, designed to determine the marketability of non-polluting electric ‘city cars’. Full Story.
Fiat Doblo van gets more power, greater payloads
13 November 2001: Fiat has expanded its Doblo Cargo range fourfold, introducing a 1.9 JTD engine to the lineup. It features the 1910cc Common Rail turbo diesel engine producing 100 bhp, compared with the 63 bhp for the non-aspirated version. This represents an increase of 58% in brake horsepower and 68% in engine torque. Full Story.
New Jazz promises performance and frugality
New Honda Jazz.
13 November 2001: The new Honda Jazz which will go on sale in Ireland in mid-December will feature a new 1.4-litre engine which has a sequential twin-spark technology that promises exceptional performance and frugality. Full Story.
Volvo uprates forecast for diesel cars in RHD
10 November 2001: More than a third of all 60, 70 and 80 series Volvos to be produced next year are expected to be powered by the company’s new D5 aluminium diesel engine.
This is a doubling of Volvo’s forecasts for use in RHD cars of the new engine, which for the coming year has already been improved with revisions to the turbocharger and engine management system, and the provision of a new airflow sensor.
And automatic versions of D5 powered cars will be available from January. Full Story.
Hydrogen Zafira beats all comers
9 November 2001: The GM Zafira-based fuel cell concept car, HydroGen1, has given another impressive demonstration of its outstanding abilities at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum, a US competition for environmentally friendly vehicles. Full Story.
Major contract with Tesco Ireland for Naas company
Store Manager, Tesco Newbridge Brian Moran; Managing Director Tesco Ireland Maurice Pratt; Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevey TD and Managing Director of Toughline Manufacturing Ltd Brendan Ronan 'celebrate' Toughline's contract to supply Tesco Irieland with 62 trailers.
9 November 2001: Naas based Toughline Manufacturing Ltd has recently completed a contract to supply Tesco Ireland with 42 road trailers. The contract follows a previous order for 20 similar Toughline trailers and completes a £1.65million supply contract. Full Story.
Full irishcar.com/Volvo environmental site goes online
9 November 2001: The irishcar.com Environmental site, 'Volvo for Life', produced in association with Volvo Cars Ireland, is now fully on-line, after a pilot site was put up on the net earlier this year. Full Story.
New Range Rover is unveiled
8 November 2001: Land Rover has released the first photographs of the new Range Rover, which goes on sale in February 2002.
The all-new vehicle is powered by a choice of 4.4-litre petrol V8 and 3.0-litre turbodiesel six-cylinder engines. It has full-time four-wheel drive and uses independent suspension front and rear. Full Story.
Honda, Toyota models top reliability survey
8 November 2001: A survey of 620,000 vehicles operated by UK leasing companies has found the Honda Accord and Toyota Avensis to be at the top of the league for reliability. Full Story.
Caldina gives clue to next Avensis estate
8 November 2001: This is the next Toyota Caldina, which is a sportwagon based on the Japanese equivalent of the Avensis estate. It gives us a clue as to what the next Avensis estate will be like.
Semperit Irish Car of the Year shortlist announced
7 November 2001: The five cars shortlisted for the Semperit Irish Car of the Year 2002 have been selected by members of the Irish Motoring Writers Association and a number of other motoring journalists invited onto the voting panel. Full Story.
Honda's 3-door Civic now on sale in Ireland
7 November 2001: Honda’s long-awaited 3-door Civic has now arrived in Ireland and is available with a 1.4-litre engine at an introductory price of £13,877 (EUR 17,620) in a specification that includes dual front and side airbags and deadlocks. Full Story.
Mazda RX-8 to go into production
7 November 2001: Mazda's rotary powered sports coupe first seen as the concept model RX-Evolv two years ago and shown as the RX-8 at the Detroit Motor Show in January this year will now go into production to bring a rotary engine car back into the Mazda line up. It will carry the name RX-8. Full Story.
Lift toll barriers at peak time - call
7 November 2001: The AA has called on the Government and National Toll Roads to raise the toll barriers on Dublin’s Westlink bridge during the morning and evening peak periods in order to alleviate unacceptable levels of congestion. Levels of revenue taken from motorists at the bridge are now so high that the cost could easily be absorbed. Full Story.
Maverick for Ireland awaits diesel
7 November 2001: The Ford Maverick SUV won’t be sold in Ireland until there is a diesel engine version available.
The Maverick, which is a companion car to the Mazda Tribute, is selling well in the US where it is marketed as the Ford Escape. The Maverick which was previously sold in Ireland was a rebadged Nissan Terrano. Full Story.
VW prepares to divide its operations
7 November 2001: Volkswagen is to divide into a 'sporty' side with Audi, Lamborghini and Seat brands and a 'classic' division of Volkswagen, Skoda and Bentley. The division will take place this month. Full Story.
Two new Focus versions to mark 2002 model year
New Ford Focus TDCI.
6 November 2001: Two new versions of Ford’s Focus are now available in Ireland, marking at the same time a mid-life upgrading of Ireland’s best selling car for 2001. Full Story.
Trucks traffic deaths protest march for Naas
Wreaths mark the spot where Mrs Kathleen Brennan died.
6 November: A protest march about the heavy level of truck traffic through Naas is to be held next Saturday, following the latest traffic fatality in the town involving a truck. Full Story.
Rail plan will mean extra 1.25m tonnes of freight on roads, more deaths - TD
6 November 2001: The Labour Party Spokesperson on Public Enterprise, Deputy Emmet Stagg, has warned that if Irish Rail is allowed to go ahead with its plans to cut by 46% the volume of freight carried on the rail system it will inevitably lead to extra deaths on the roads and will cause significant social and environmental damage. Full Story.
Mondeo has been substantial success for Ford
5 November 2001: The Ford Mondeo has sold 4,700 units in Ireland this year, outselling rivals each month when supply has allowed. In a segment where Ford had lost ground in recent years, this has been a substantial success for the company.
A third of Mondeos sold have been the higher performance and higher specification Zetec versions. Some 38% were diesels, and although only on the market since May, estates have accounted for 7% of all versions sold to date. Full Story.
Irish motor business mixes hope and confidence
5 November 2001: Already in a downturn before 11 September, then suffering inevitable shivers after that catastrophe, Ireland’s car sales business is nevertheless likely to emerge at the end of the year in a fairly sound state compared to half a decade ago when it was only beginning to come out of endemic doldrums.
Most leaders in the business here are also fairly confident of a good performance next year, though it is likely be down on the 2001 eventual finish. Full Story.
Major Fiat initiative for people with disabilities
5 November 2001: Fiat Auto Ireland has has displayed six specially adapted vehicles for people with disabilities, at the Access & Mobility Exhibition held at the weekend at the National Show Centre, Swords, Co Dublin. The models featured were two Puntos, two Scudo Combis, a Doblo and a Ducato.
And in a further move to bring car ownership to more affordable levels for people with disabilities, Fiat has announced a 6% discount off such vehicles for primary medical certificate holders. Full Story.
Plea for VRT cut in car safety features
3 November 2001: The Government could help reduce road accident fatalities and injuries rather more than it does by reducing the VRT element on safety features in cars sold here.
That view was strongly hammered home this morning by the chairman and managing director of Ford in Ireland, Eddie Murphy, when he called for ‘more equitable and enlightened’ taxes on cars and motoring. "VRT is inhibiting the inclusion of safety features in cars sold here, in a country which suffers one of the worst safety records in Northern Europe," he said. "It is incumbent on our Government to look to more contemporary taxes to replace the current blunt mechanism.” Full Story
Car sales pass 160,000 to make it another strong year
1 November 2001: New car sales so far this year have now exceeded 160,000, with 5,367 new cars being sold in October '01 compared to 6,677 during the same month last year. Full Story.
Helen leads the way in customer care
1 November 2001: Top Car Newmarket, the Citroën and Mitsubishi main Dealers in Newmarket, Co. Cork recently appointed Helen O’Riordan to the position of Aftersales Manager. Full Story.
Honda's latest hybrid concept has 400hp on tap
1 November 2001: Honda has already led the way in providing a hybrid sporty car with its two-seater Insight which we'll be driving this coming week, but nobody else will be in Ireland unless they're prepared to pay £30,000 for the privilege.
Meantime, the company showed a new hybrid sporty concept at Tokyo last week which will keep the appetite whetted. The Dualnote (above). Full Story.
EARLIER NEWS ARCHIVES here