29 October 2001: BMW has launched a new 3 Series line-up for the 2002 model year. The changes comprise a new look for the Saloon and Touring models, two new four cylinder engines, extensive chassis changes and improved standard specification across the range. Full Story.

26 October 2001: Volkswagen has shown a production standard design study of a sports car, the W12 Coupé, at the Tokyo Motor Show. Developing 600 bhp at 7000 rpm and maximum torque of 620 Newton metres (457 lbs ft) at 5800 rpm, the car reaches 62 mph in less than 3.5 seconds and goes on to a top speed of over 217 mph. Full Story.

Brian Smith of Semperit, Kevin Fenix, chairman IMWA, with
model Yvonne van Hoffen and the Semperit ICOTY trophy

25 October 2001: The candidates for the title ‘Semperit Irish Car of the Year 2002’ have been announced by the Irish Motoring Writers Association. The winning car will be announced at a lunch ceremony in the Berkeley Court Hotel on Thursday, 22 November. Full Story.

25 October 2001: The Government should introduce some confidence-boosting measures to encourage people to buy new cars, a leading car company boss has said. James Wyse, managing director of Citroen franchisees Gallic Distributors, was speaking a the Irish launch of the new Citroën C5 2.0 HDi Diesel Estate, retailing at £23,500 on the Irish Market. Full Story.

25 October 2001: A zero-emissions vehicle fuelled by hydrogen, a new kind of compact car, a high-utility luggage-carrier and a fun hatchback with voice recognition controls are just five of the 17 innovative concept cars from Toyota at the 35th Tokyo Motor Show. Full Story.

25 October 2001: Peugeot predicts that the steady growth in the diesel sector is set to accelerate dramatically over the next few months and well into next year. Full Story.

23 October 2001: Austin McHale (Rathcoole) limbered up for the Rally of Great Britain with a fine third place on the Bulldog Rally in Wales on Saturday, the Toyota Ireland Corolla WRC driver chasing home Marcus Dodd and Stephen Finlay on the eight-stage event. Full Story.

19 October 2001: Honda has announced the new Civic Hybrid, equipped with its most advanced Honda IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) System.

This hybrid system employs a petrol engine as its main power source, with electric motor/generator assist. The system is lighter and more compact than ever, according to the company, which has been very successful with its Insight coupe hybrid in the US. Full Story.

19 October 2001: Mazda Motor Corporation will reveal the all-new Mazda 6 at the Tokyo Motor Show on 24 October. There will be three body styles: 4-door saloon, 5-door hatchback and estate. The Mazda 6 will be powered by a new family of four-cylinder petrol engines plus next-generation common-rail diesel engines. Full Story.

18 October 2001: The Nissan Nails concept car to be shown at the Tokyo Motor Show suggests new, flexible ways of using vehicles as ‘a tool for communicating with friends’, rather than simply as ‘a means of transportation’. The Nails concept integrates advanced communications tools including cellular phones. This concept can be used either as a two-seater or as a light pickup in whatever creative way one might desire. Full Story.

17 October 2001: Volkswagen has released the first official pictures of the production D1 Project luxury car. Full Story.

17 October 2001: MINI Cooper S will be unveiled at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show on 24 October, hot on the heels of the successful UK launch of MINI One and MINI Cooper. The flagship model is due to set pulses racing next summer when it goes on sale. Full Story.

16 October 2001: Opel’s new Combo will be in Ireland before the end of the year, ready to do battle in the healthy LCV market here and hopefully bring the marque up from the bottom of the current Top Ten. Full Story.

16 October 2001: Austin McHale heads to Wales this Saturday (October 20) for the Bulldog Rally, the Rathcoole driver taking in the fourth round of the ANCRO British National Rally Championship with the Toyota Ireland Corolla WRC in preparation for the Network Q Rally of Great Britain next month. Full Story.

16 October 2001: A Volkswagen Lupo 3L TDI has won outright this year’s RAC/Fleet World MPG Marathon in the UK with an overall consumption of 91.46 miles per gallon, way ahead of the vehicle in second place which returned 74.6 mpg. Full Story.

16 October 2001: While sales of new cars have fallen back quite significantly compared to last year, sales of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) suffered only a small decline according to the latest figures from the industry. By the end of September 2001, a total of 34,374 new vans were registered, just 4.5% down on the figure of 35,995 for the same nine-month of period last year. Full Story.

15 October 2001: Opel’s all-new Vectra will make its world premiere next March at the Geneva Motor Show with sales beginning in Europe shortly after. The new midsize model will be launched as a four-door saloon and five door hatchback and with four-cylinder ECOTEC petrol engines ranging in power from 124PS to 147PS and diesels producing 100PS to 125PS. Opel will also offer a five-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift function for the first time on the Vectra. Full Story.

14 October 2001: Honda's all new CR-V features stronger, more striking looks, a freshly designed powertrain and major new features and equipment.

The second generation CR-V employs Honda’s global Compact Car Platform whose packaging permits greater interior length and height within a body of about the same size as before: length and width are slightly increased, height and wheelbase are identical. Full Story.

14 October 2001: Almost half of all drivers wait too long before changing their tyres. This is the message of the Irish Tyre Industry Association in launching its Tyre Safety Awareness Week, which runs from 22nd to 27th October.

A recent ITIA survey at depots revealed that 46% of tyres brought in for change were below the legal tread depth limit of 1.6mm. As part of the campaign, all 180 ITIA dealers across the country will provide free tyre checks to drivers at their depots. Full Story.

14 October 2001: Veteran Formula Fordster, Derek Daly (Castleknock) marks his position in the Irish team at Brands Hatch with his 20th foray in the annual Formula Ford Festival next weekend (October 20/21). Full Story.

13 October 2001: Portrush master chef, George McAlpin, had his first taste of Formula 3 power on Saturday at Silverstone, the newly-crowned Ford of Ireland Formula Ford Champion taking up one of the prizes he won - the first being with Meritus Racing - for winning the title last month in his Ramore/Coast Pizza Pasta Bar Mygale SJ01. Full Story.

12 October 2001: Ford has a new demonstration model of the Galaxy Ghia, known as the Galaxy ‘Office’, fitted out with an array of business equipment. Full Story.

12 October 2001: A new study shows an average increase in waiting times for a driving test of almost two weeks in most areas since July, leaving some 60,000 people still waiting to do the driving test. Full Story.

11 October 2001: Hyundai Cars Ireland has launched the Matrix mini-MPV to the Irish market at a price of £15,600. A diesel version will become available next year. Full Story.

10 October 2001: MIJAG, the Motor Insurance Justice Action Group, is organising a National Car Protest at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis this Saturday October 13th. Full Story.

10 October 2001: Fiat Auto Ireland has announced the appointment of Michael Howe as Commercial Director with effect from October 1, 2001.

Michael Howe is a native of Dublin and has worked in the motor industry since 1978, the year he left school and joined Toyota Ireland Ltd. He started in that company's Warranty Department but gained a wide range of experience and expertise as he assumed other responsibilities including Product Development Manager, Marketing Manager, Sales Manager and latterly Product & Market Planning Director of the company. Full Story.

9 October 2001: German electronics and electrical company Bosch is behind two new developments that will ensure diesel continues to be a popular choice for years to come. Full Story.

5 October 2001: Peugeot has won the UK Caravan Club’s overall ‘Towcar of the Year’ Award for the third time, and the second occasion with the same model – the Peugeot 406. Full Story.

5 October 2001: Jaguar is to transfer up to 3,500 production line workers to other duties for two weeks this month, because of a sales downturn over the terrorist atrocities in the US. The company has cut its predictions for sales in its key US market for the rest of the year, despite a 4.6% increase in sales before September 11. Full Story.

5 October 2001: Ireland's leading National Hot Rod drivers are set to show Britain's best just what a force they have become when Tipperary Raceway plays host to the largest number of high-speed oval racers competing for the European Championship and the Davy Evans Memorial Trophy on Saturday/Sunday, October 13/14. Full Story.

Levels of greenhouse gases set to soar - ESRI

5 October 2001: Levels of greenhouse gases here will soar over the next ten years, the Economic and Social Resreach Institute predicts in its medium term outlook for the country. In a major section of its latest report, the ESRI devotes considerable time and effort trying to put a focus on how much energy we will use over the coming decade and the effect that will have on our environment. Full Story.

4 October 2001: Provisional figures from the motor industry for September 2001 show that 5,452 new cars were registered during the month - that's a decline of just over 42% compared to 9,199 registered for the same month in 2000.

VW was the top seller for the month, while sibling brand Audi, whose latest A4 (left) is doing very well for them, was the only marque to show an increase. Full Story.