29 January 2002: The 2001 market year was the most successful in BMW’s history, with some 37.85b euros in sales recorded by the Bavarian manufacturer. The company recently launched its new flagship 7-series cars (above) in Ireland. Full Story.

29 January 2002: An IBM/Peueot linkup will bring car servicing problem-solving to the Internet for mechanics across the world, making globally available an e-diagnostic system which has previously been only accessible by a limited PGA Group Intranet. Full Story.

29 January 2002: A problem with exploding batteries in Mercedes C-Class cars in the US has resulted in at least one injury. Full Story.

28 January 2002: Jaguar has received an environmental commendation at the 'Business Commitment to the Environment Awards' held in London. Full Story.

29 January 2002: It is always dangerous to read too much into statistics but new figures strongly endorse claims that better roads save lives. The figures are based on the link between the number of deaths on different types of roads in Britain last year. Full Story.

25 January 2002: A sporty Opel monocab design study called Concept M will have its world premiere on the General Motors stand at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Full Story.

25 January 2002: Skoda will be seriously attacking the upper end of the ‘D’ segment car market in Ireland from July when it introduces its Superb large car, based on the floorpan of the VW Passat and Audi A6. Full Story.

24 January 2002: Audi has launched its allroad quattro to Ireland by bringing potential buyers and existing Audi customers to an ‘Allroad Experience’ at Aughrim Estate in Co Wicklow. Full Story.

24 January 2002: Ford is experimenting with clustering groups of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) to produce enough light to make them useful in headlamps. Full Story.

23 January 2002: UK car fleet operator Lex Vehicle Leasing has reported the Mk IV Golf GTi as the top choice in Britain for a company car. The 3-series BMW was second choice, followed by the Ford Focus and the Ford Mondeo. Full Story.

23 January 2002: Nissan’s X-Trail SUV is now available on the Irish market in just one format, Sport. The vehicle has a sophisticated part-time 4WD system linked to an array of other electronic features, and sells for just one price, eur 33,260. Full Story.

22 January 2002: Twenty-seven year old Frenchman and reigning junior world rally champion Sébastien Loeb brought home his Citroën Xsara WRC at the weekend some 46 seconds ahead of second placed Tommi Makkinen, the winner of the last three Monte Carlo rallies and over two minutes ahead of third placed Carlo Sainz. Full Story.

22 January 2002: A researcher at the US Center for Rapid Transit Systems at Virginia Polytechnic Institute is proposing that commuters in northern Virginia one day won’t have to choose between trains or highways. For about 30 cents a kilometre, they’ll use a rapid, personal transit system that will glide them along inside of their own cars using an electromagnetic levitation system. When they get to their destination, they’ll be able to drive off and head straight to the garage. Full Story.
       

22 January 2002: Fiat Auto (Ireland) Ltd. has announced that Michael Howe, currently Commercial Director of the Company, has been appointed Managing Director. He will succeed Paolo Gagliardo who returns to Italy in February to lead the Alfa Romeo brand in that country, taking up the new position of General Manager Alfa Romeo Italy.

Michael joined Fiat Auto Ireland in 2001. He has worked in the motor industry since 1978 and was a Director of Toyota Ireland Ltd. before he joined Fiat. He is a graduate of the Irish Marketing Institute and holds an MBA from the Open Business University. Full Story.

22 January 2002: After a development time of 48 months and an investment totalling more than euro 2bn, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class will be in the showrooms of Mercedes-Benz dealerships throughout Europe from mid-March 2002. Full Story.

22 January 2002: At the Detroit Motor Show General Motors unveiled the AUTOnomy, the world’s first concept vehicle built around a fuel cell drive system and free from the confines of traditional automotive architecture. Full Story.

21 January 2002: The first SUV from Volvo Car Corporation has made its debut at the Detroit Motor Show. The all-wheel drive XC90 is a 'next-generation SUV', aimed to be one of the safest and most exciting on the market, says Hans Wikman, Project Director. Full Story.

21 January 2002: It is one of the most disgraceful examples of a basic life-saving recommendation being completely ignored.

Three years ago the Joint Committee on Education recommended that motorists should be barred from overtaking when school buses are picking up or dropping off children. But the key recommendations made in 1999 have never been acted on by either the Department of Environment or Education. Full Story.

21 January 2002: Speeding drivers caught on camera in Holland can now buy the photo as a souvenir. Full Story.

18 January 2002: Kolin in the Czech Republic, 60 kilometres east of Prague, is to host a joint-venture plant scheduled to begin operation in 2005 which will build cars to be sold under the Peugeot, Citroën and Toyota brands, at prices below those of the smallest cars currently produced by the two companies. Full Story.

17 January 2002: From February this year, Volvo is offering its 200bhp 2.4T engine in its S80 executive saloon model. The car will provide a top speed of 143mph and 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, combined with low CO2 emissions. Full Story.

16 January 2002: An EU proposal on compulsory eye tests for drivers would have all drivers over 45 required to have the tests every 10 years. Full Story.

16 January 2002: Ford's boss in Ireland tonight renewed a plea to Ireland's Government to take a really positive step on road safety by cutting Vehicle Registration Tax on safety-related components on cars. Full Story.

15 January 2002: In a five-day event at Punchestown Racecourse, Motor Import Ltd are this week showing off the new BMW flagship to almost 500 potential customers. Full Story.

15 January 2002: It has been something of ‘The Year of the French’ in car sales in Ireland for the first 10 days of 2002, with Citroen, Peugeot and Renault capturing between them almost 17% of the market.

And each of the brands have registered almost the highest rates of increase on their sales for the same period last year, against a market which is down by some 8.5%. Full Story.

15 January 2002: Japan’s Hiroshi Masuoka secured his dream inaugural victory of the World’s toughest off-road rally event – the 5,858 mile, 17 day Arras – Madrid – Dakar Rally. For Mitsubishi, it was a record seventh Dakar victory and Mitsubishi models filled the top eight places. Full Story.

14 January 2002: Ford will begin building its Fusion urban-activity vehicle in April. The car was first shown at last September's Frankfurt Motor Show and is based on the new Fiesta platform, with the same wheelbase, length and width as the Fiesta five-door, but taller. Ford Fusion.

14 January 2002: Audi's estate version of its highly successful new A4, the A4 Avant, is now on sale in Ireland. Full Story.

14 January 2002: Volvo is thought to be planning a car positioned below the S40 and V40 which would debut after the S40 and V40 are replaced in late 2003 or early 2004. The car, if produced, would share parts with Ford's new Fiesta (above). Full Story.

14 January 2002: Four million people swapped cars for alternative transport in Italy's Lombardy region on Sunday during a 12-hour ban on private vehicles to ease soaring pollution levels. Full Story.

11 January 2002: With three days to go in the gruelling 5,858 mile Arras – Madrid – Dakar Rally, Mitsubishi hold no less than nine out of the top 10 places. Full Story.

11 January 2002: Opel's new Vectra will be available in Ireland from March 19th, and the Opel Ireland are planning a special St Patrick's weekend launch programme. Full Story.

10 January 2002: This VW Magellan concept SUV shown this week at the NAIMS show in Detroit is possible for production in 2003 and is an all-wheel-drive sport wagon concept.

VW chairman-elect Bernd Pischetsrieder said such 'crossovers' are the 'next big trend for the United States'.

The Magellan is powered by Volkswagen's W8 275 bhp engine, already available in the Passat and a version of which will likely power the upcoming VW luxury car, the Paheton. It uses a 'Tiptronic'-style auto/manual gearbox. Full Story.

10 January 2002: The Audi Avantissimo concept study which was first shown at Frankfurt in September is this week attracting a lot of admiring study at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The 4.2-litre V8 engine under the bonnet, with 'bi-turbo' forced aspiration, outputs more than 430 bhp and delivers a peak torque of 600 Nm. Full Story.

9 January 2002: As 2001 came to a close, Mercedes-Benz celebrated a significant anniversary: On the final day of production before Christmas, the 20 millionth Mercedes-Benz passenger car rolled off the production line in Sindelfingen. The vehicle was a C-Class Sports Coupé (above) in brilliant silver. Full Story.

9 January 2002: MG Rover has revealed details of the new MGTF - successor to its MGF sports car which it will replace in February 2002. The TF is an evolution of the MGF and features a new exterior appearance, an all-new suspension design, higher performance engines and a host of new paint, trim and hood colours. Full Story.

9 January 2002: One of the first vehicles to be built after the Second World War by Auto Union, which later became Audi, has been restored by the German car manufacturer. Full Story.

9 January 2002: Toyota in the UK has introduced an Electronic Traffic Avoidance option (ETA) on its 2002 Avensis models fitted with standard satellite navigation. Full Story.

9 January 2002: The year just ended was another spectacular one for sales of Light Commercial Vehicles. Over 38,200 new LCVs were registered here during 2000, a result exceeded only in the year 2000. That outcome augurs well for the Irish economy in the months ahead according Fiat Auto Ireland CEO Paolo Gagliardo, who saw his own company increase its sales by a substantial 45% during the year. Full Story.

8 January 2002: Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its Vision GST design study at the Detroit motor show, which it describes as a saloon, estate, MPV and sport utility vehicle (SUV) in one. The looks are dominated by a roof line which links the A and C-pillars in a gentle curve. There are 22-inch wheels and a wedge-shaped side profile. Full Story.

8 January 2002: Ford consolidated its position in 2001 as the country’s leading light and medium commercial vehicle distributor, gaining 17.1% of the market, or 7,292 units. The brand was ahead of VW (9.7%, 4,133 units) and Nissan (8.9%, 3,793 units). Despite total commercial registrations dropping by 7% to 42,753 units, Ford registered a record year, exceeding 7,000 commercials for the second year in a row. Full Story.

8 January 2002: Honda has introduced a pre-production version of an all-new SUV - the Pilot - at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

It will go on sale in the summer of 2002, the company says. Full Story.

8 January 2002: Californians have ordered 'vanity' personalised licence plates to turn their cars into memorials to the September 11 airliner attacks. Full Story.

7 January 2002: VW's Beetle is to go diesel, with an imminent introduction of a version using the 100bhp 1.9-litre unit already in use in the Bora and Golf. Full Story.

7 January 2002: General Motors has resurrected the 1950s icon Chevrolet Bel Air as the baseline idea for a new two-door convertible concept vehicle being shown at this week's Detroit Auto Show. It's the latest in a crop of 'nostalgia' vehicles developed by US designers to highlight the 'glory days' of American automobile design. Full Story.

7 January 2002: Japanese scientists say 80% of front-seat deaths in car accidents could be prevented if those in the back wore seat-belts. Full Story.

7 January 2002: An 11.3 percent increase in unit sales in France for Citroen/Peugeot is one of the indicators that the eurozone may well avoid recession this year. Full Story.

7 January 2002: MG Rover has produced a new entry-level model - the 1.1-litre Rover 25. The engine can return a combined fuel consumption of 42mpg. Full Story.

4 January 2002: Toyota has unveiled in Cologne its definitive 2002 challenger in Formula 1, the TF102. Official drivers, Mika Salo and Allan McNish, will give the car its race debut at the Australian GP at Melbourne on March 3. Full Story.

4 January 2002: The Motor Insurance Justice Action Group MIJAG is considering the possibility of running a candidate in the General Election, expected to be held in May. This was discussed at length at the December General Meeting of the campaign and it was decided to nominate member David Green to run as a candidate in the new Mid West (Clondalkin/Lucan/Newcastle) constituency in Dublin where the Tanaiste, Mary Harney TD, is also expected to run. Full Story.

4 January 2002: Ford was the leading car brand in Ireland for 2001. With a market share of 11%, or 18,156 units, the blue oval claimed the number one position ahead of Toyota (10.4%, 17,115 units) and VW (10.3%, 16,990 units). Total car registrations for 2001, at 164,744, were down almost 29% on the heady levels of 2000. Sales of small cars fell by 40%. Full Story.

4 January 2002: A study funded by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found 3.2 percent fewer multi-vehicle daytime crashes for vehicles with daylight running lights, and the results have prompted General Motors to call for mandatory such lights on all cars sold in the US. The call, however, has been criticised by the US-based Center for Auto Safety, which claims it is simply a 'PR ploy' and says running lights are only 'marginally beneficial. Full Story.
       

4 January 2002: Road deaths in a British county at the centre of a debate over the increased use of speed cameras rose by a third in 2001. Police figures show last year 123 people died in road accidents in Essex - 37 more than in 2000. Full Story.

3 January 2002: Fiat’s new Stilo officially goes on sale on Monday next in a price range from e17,460 to e28,885. There will be 12 versions in the range from start, in 3- and 5-door and with three specification levels - Active, Dynamic and Abarth. Full Story.

3 January 2002: Honda have placed the emphasis on fun and performance for its new Jazz 5-door hatchback while at the same time claiming class-leading fuel efficiency. Full Story.

3 January 2002: Volkswagen’s new Polo is expected to be launched here at the end of February 2002. Full Story.

1 January 2002: Renault and Opel have jointly won the European Van of the Year 2002 for their Trafic/Vivaro van, which also won the Semperit Irish Car of the Year 2002 last November. Full Story.

1 January 2002: Hyundai Ireland has launched the all-new Terracan bringing the marque to the mainstream segment of mid-size SUVs. It fits into the company’s lineup above the Santa Fe, which has itself gained 14% of the Irish SUV market in just 18 months. Full Story.

1 January 2002: The latest version of the Ford Explorer has earned a ‘best pick' designation from the US-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which tests vehicles by running the driver's side front end into a deformable barrier at 40mph. Full Story.