Edited by Trish Whelan
30 April 2003: The new Toyota Avensis has been awarded the highest ever score under the stringent EuroNCAP safety rating system, with 34 points. It is also the first car to be awarded the maximum 5 stars by EuroNCAP under a new tougher testing regime.
29 April 2003: Opel's new Meriva is now available in Irish showrooms priced from E19,700 and available in three trim levels – Life, Enjoy, Design. The Meriva has also this week been awarded a 4-star rating in European NCAP crash tests.
29 April 2003: Peugeot Technical Training Instructor Des Maguire (MIMI), won the prestigious Wakefield Cup at the annual IMI event played at the Hermitage Golf Club recently.
27 April 2003: PSA Peugeot Citroen consolidated sales for the first three months of 2003 amounted to E13,841 million, a 3.0% increase from the E13,439 million reported in first-quarter 2002.
27 April 2003: Mazda says that strong cost cutting and robust sales in Europe have helped annual operating profits to increase 77%, and projected its highest income in a decade for the current business year.
Fighter flyer wins Land Rover GR4 Challenge
26 April 2003: The first Land Rover G4 Global Challenge has been won by Belgian F16 fighter pilot Rudi Thoelen (above), after a final stand-off in Moab, Utah today between the 16 contestants. The Irish participant, Dingle man Paul McCarthy, came sixth, after gaining two places in the 'Separator' finals.
McCarthy waits to see final placing in L-R challenge
26 April 2003: Kerryman Paul McCarthy is waiting this morning to find out how well he has done in this final stage of the Land Rover G4 Global Challenge, which finishes today in Moab in Utah with a head-to-head of the individual contestants to finalise their scores.
Peugeot launches new small van
25 April 2003: Peugeot have launched their new 206 1.1 litre petrol car derived van in Ireland, highlighting it as a more viable option for first time vehicle buyers who face increasing vehicle running costs.
25 April 2003: Irish Ferries have announced a half-price sale that sees fares cut to as little as E65 each way for a car plus two passengers for a 5-day stay in Britain.
Focus Rally Championship returns to Killarney
24 April 2003: The Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship returns for its second year and the new and improved series will starts with the International Rally of the Lakes based in Killarney on the 3rd & 4th of May next.
Paul running fifth, and feeling fit
22 April 2003: "I'll be going home much fitter, though I don't think I'll have lost any weight because we've been eating well," Paul McCarthy told me last night as he prepared for the last leg of the Land Rover G4 Global Challenge, in which he is lying a creditable fifth.
22 April 2003: Continental Tyre Group has announced the launch of a new tyre for the mini, supermini and compact classes, which now account for 60 % of all cars sold on the Irish market. ContiEcoContact 3 is a technologically advanced tyre which reduces braking distances on wet surfaces by up to the length of a car.
US drivers complain about xenons
22 April 2003: There's a consumer resistence building in the US over the introduction of xenon lights, which have become quite common on European cars. So far in America, only about 1 per cent of cars are sold with the extra cost option.
22 April 2003: A camera-based monitoring system to stop drivers from falling asleep will be 'typical' in cars in 2-3 years, according to its developers, Iteris Inc in California.
Prison sentences for motor deaths?
22 April 2003: Prison sentences are being mooted for drivers in Britain who cause a death by either falling asleep at the wheel or if they've been using a mobile phone that contributed to the accident.
21 April 2003: It does not get any more quintessentially Australian; on one side the sparkling sails of the Sydney Opera House. On the other, the gargantuan girders of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. And in between, the battleground for the final test on the Australian Stage of the Land Rover G4 Challenge – the Sydney Maximiser.
Ford in US chooses Mazda platform for Futura
21 April 2003: Ford in the US has chosen the Mazda 6 platform on which to re-enter the mid-size market in North America, a segment which it left three years ago after losing $7 billion with the Mondeo-based Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique that proved too small for American tastes.
21 April 2003: Volkswagen is likely to offer a 3-litre diesel engine next year in its luxury Phaeton model, to try and boost sales of its new luxury car which so far have been, in charitable terms, 'sluggish'.
21 April 2003: The next Mitsubishi Galant has been previewed at the New York International Auto Show. The car has more power and more room, and a signigicantly more aggressiver attitude than the bland current model.
19 April 2003: More details and first pictures have been released of the new Lexus HPX (High Performance Crossover) concept.
19 April 2003: Next weekend sees the annual Mercedes-Benz Used Car Sale at the National Show Centre in the Irish Kennel Club near Dublin Airport.
19 April 2003: Ford earned $896 million globally in the first quarter of 2003, but posted heavy losses in its international and Premier Automotive Group divisions.
19 April 2003: Uniroyal Tyres recently launched a new localised advertising campaign in conjunction with its dealer network.
History of Curragh motor racing published
17 April 2003: Newbridge photographer and motor racing enthusiast Oliver McCrossan has written an account of the motor racing scene on the Curragh in the 40s and 50s, which has been published by Dreolin in its Irish Transport Series.
Z4 arrives in Ireland, first sales in June
17 April 2003: The new BMW Z4 sports car is now on sale in Ireland, with first deliveries expected in June. The prices are E51,300 for the 2.5-litre version and E58,300 for the 3-litre. A 2-litre will eventually be available, but not until late next year.
Next Prius is sexier, more powerful
17 April 2003: First pictures of the next-generation Toyota Prius hybrid show a much more advanced styling than the rather dowdy-looking current version.
Mazda growing fastest in Europe
17 April 2003: Mazda has become the fastest-growing Japanese brand in Europe, notching up a 33.5 per cent increase in sales in the first quarter of 2003, while the total market slumped by 2.4 per cent.
Ford best improver, Lexus tops J D Power in UK
17 April 2003: Ford, the best selling car brand in Britain, has made the most dramatic improvement in customer satisfaction, according to the J D Power and Associates/ What Car? magazine 2003 UK Car Customer Satisfaction Study. But for the third year running, Lexus has topped the study, now in its tenth year.
17 April 2003: Honda has shown a car concept that has eliminated the windscreen wiper. Its Acura Concept TL uses jet nozzles that shoot air onto the screen to keep it free of rain or snow.
Saab, Subaru, in joint venture
17 April 2003: A joint venture between Saab and Subaru will provide a Saab-ised Impreza wagon to give the GM-owned brand a smaller car than the 9-3 and 9-5 in North America. The 9-2 will not initially be sold in Europe.
Latest Alfa GTV, Spider, here in June
16 April 2003: The latest versions of Alfa Romeo's GTV and Spider sports cars will be available in Ireland in June, at a price not yet determined but expected to be not too far different from the outgoing model.
16 April 2003: A new small Volkswagen to be sold throughout Europe in 2005 is to be built in Brazil.
Lexus announces pre-owned cars certification
16 April 2003: Lexus Ireland has announced a pre-owned Lexus certification programme which will be available through the seven approved Lexus dealerships in Ireland from April 25th.
VW heads for 2 million a year on single platform
16 April 2003: Volkswagen is expected to be the first car manufacturer to build 2 million-plus vehicles on a single platform in one year, in 2007. The group will be building 2.4 million units, under four brand names, and in 13 models on the new Golf platform inaugurated with the Touran compact MPV.
Polish factory wins Astra work
16 April 2003: The next Astra from Opel, now dubbed Astra II, will be built in a GM Polish factory in the town of Gliwice.
Land Rover lays down a challenge to Irish business
15 April 2003: The African Plains in Dublin Zoo was the venue for the offical launch of the Land Rover Team Challenge 2003 by David Harpur, Managing Director of Land Rover Ireland yesterday.
14 April 2003: Marcus Gronholm and Richard Burns finished first and second on the Rally of New Zealand, boosting Peugeot to the top of the manufacturers’ championship.
Compact MPV sector faces big growth
14 April 2003: The MPV segment is expected to grow from its current 1.25 million units annually in Europe to 2.3 million by 2007. Some 80 per cent of the sales will be in the compact and small MPV segment.
Big franchisees to be targeted by carmakers?
14 April 2003: The recent announcement that BMW is to set up its own sales operation in Ireland, after 36 years of ownership of the franchise by Frank Keane (above) and his Motor Import Ltd, highlights the changes being brought about by the block exemption changes in EU law, and also a row between BMW dealers and the parent company over margins.
Don't pamper an icon is 'way to success'
14 April 2003: GM's vice-president Bob Lutz, whose ownership of his own ex-USAF fighter plane reflects his shoot-from-the-hip attitude to carmaking, says Fiat's success with Alfa Romeo is an example of how GM should deal with Saab.
Dual-clutch transmission to grow 'auto' choice
14 April 2003: The development of BorgWarner's 'dual-clutch' transmissions could significantly boost the transfer to 'automatic' gearshifting in Europe, most particularly in cars with high performance diesel engines.
Fiat thinking of 5-year warranty
12 April 2003: Fiat is considering a 5-year warranty on some of its upcoming products, in a bid to boost confidence in a brand that has suffered more than its fair share of misfortunate perception in the last five years.
GM gets Daewoo global plan on stream
12 April 2003: The Daewoo Matiz is just going on sale in Mexico as a Chevrolet, and will similarly be badged in Brazil before the end of the summer. It's all part of a global rationalisation of GM branding following the carmaker's acquisition of Daewoo last year.
'Shock' at lack of interest in hybrids
12 April 2003: Toyota will shortly reveal a new version of its groundbreaking hybrid car, the Prius.
VW to replace faulty ignition coils
12 April 2003: Volkswagen has suffered a significant customer loyalty blow in North America, over a big failure rate in ignition coils used in its turbocharged 1.8-litre engines.
12 April 2003: The MG ZS touring cars of Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes and Colin Turkington kick off at Mondello Park, Ireland this weekend in the first round of the 2003 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship.
12 April 2003: Suzuki and Fiat have agreed to jointly develop an SUV based on the new Suzuki A-segment platform. Production will begin in the second half of 2005 at Suzuki's Hungarian plant near Budapest.
Fiesta, Focus, Ka lead segments
11 April 2003: Ford's Fiesta pipped the Nissan Micra over the first three months of the year to top sales in the supermini segment, while the same company's Focus and Ka also led their respective segments.
10 April 2003: Jaguar and Land Rover have been granted the quality standard ISO/TS16949:2002 certification from the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).
09 April 2003: “I’d always said that I’d never do a bungee jump,” said the UK’s Tim Pickering. “But if I don’t, we’ll lose the points.” The Brit smiled, took three steps forward and on the shout of “bungee”, dived headfirst off a 65-metre bridge to an awaiting boat.
09 April 2003: A 'Smart Moving Conference' in Birmingham has been told that technology could help to tackle road congestion on a number of fronts.
New transmission plant for PSA
09 April 2003: The cornerstone was laid today of a new production facility at the PSA Group’s plant in Valenciennes, France, which will manufacture a new electronic transmission unit.
GM, BMW, to cooperate on hydrogen development
09 April 2003: General Motors and the BMW Group are to jointly develop refuelling devices for liquid hydrogen vehicles, and will invite other carmakers and suppliers to join this initiative, both companies announced today.
Irish Ferries short breaks offer
09 April 2003: Irish Ferries are currently offering two, 2-night short breaks to France both departing on Easter Sunday, 20th April.
09 April 2003: Five thousand people in Japan have placed pre-launch orders for the new Mazda RX-8, the latest version of the company's rotary-engined sports car series. The car officially goes on sale from the beginning of May, and delivery of pre-ordered vehicles will be made from the end of April.
09 April 2003: The second edition of 'You and Your Tyres', produced by the Irish Tyre Industry Association, has just been published. With around 200,000 cars on Irish roads travelling on illegal tyres, the purpose of the brochure is to highlight awareness of tyres as fundamental to motorists' safety on the road.
Ka is 'most reliable small car'
09 April 2003: Ford's Ka has been awarded the distinction of being Britain's most reliable small car, by warranty operators Warranty Direct.
08 April 2003: “Wow, there’s a mouse down here,” yelled Sergey Polyansky from the bottom of the cave. “That’s not a mouse, it’s a bat,” replied his teammate, Chris Perry, as four of the tiny winged creatures took to the air and flew past the Russo-Arabian pairing.
08 April 2003: General Motors is reported to be considering adding an SUV to the Saab range, which currently consists of just two cars.
07 April 2003: After experiencing temperatures of –20 degrees Celsius in up state New York, competitors of the Land Rover G4 Challenge were now faced with the 30 degrees heat of Cape Town, South Africa. Ireland's Paul McCarthy is teamed up with Germany's Dirk Ostertag for this leg of the challenge.
Ford reinvesting 1.25 engine in Fiesta
07 April 2003: Ford is is reintroducing the 75PS 1.25-litre Duratec petrol engine to the Fiesta brand, initially in Britain, ostensibly on the basis of 'incredible' demand across Europe for the Fiesta 1.3-litre and a need to maintain supplies of cars in this band.
07 April 2003: Ian Chadwick from Ballincollig, Co Cork won the second round of the 2003 Ford Rallysport KA Championship at the Circuit of Kerry Rally based in Tralee, Co. Kerry.
CO2 emissions continue to fall
07 April 2003: Average CO2 emissions from new cars have fallen for the sixth successive year, according to a new report from the British Society of Motor Traders and Manufacturers. Emissions for new cars fell by an average of 1.9 per cent in 2002 to 174.2g/km, down from 177.6g/km in 2001.
06 April 2003: “It’s hard to believe that only two days ago were skiing,” said the UK’s Tim Pickering as he looked out over a sun drenched Cape Town. It was a severe culture shock for the 16 competitors of the Land Rover G4 Challenge. After experiencing temperatures of –20 degrees Celsius in up state New York, they were now faced with the 30 degrees heat of Africa’s most southerly city.
KTK launches Super Saloon racer
05 April 2003: The newest entrant for the upcoming season of the Super Saloon Car Championships was unveiled last night in the Kilashee Hotel in County Kildare.
New Citroen package designed to allure
04 April 2003: Citroën have introduced the special edition “Citroën Allure” models to its C3, Xsara Picasso, C5 and Multispace range.
04 April 2003: Irish Ferries are currently offering two, 2-night short breaks to France both departing on Easter Sunday, 20th April.
New Jaguar sports car for corporate racing thrills
04 April 2003: A new Jaguar sports car has made its track debut - the 180 mph Palmer Jaguar JP1 uses a modified version of the 3.0-litre V6 engine from the Jaguar X-TYPE and brings new meaning to the phrase ‘racing green’, having been tuned to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
G4 challenger makes top eight after 1st round
04 April 2003: Ireland's Land Rover G4 Global Challenge contestant John McCarthy, and his team-mate for the first stage Tim Pickering of the UK, are among the top eight at the end of the first stage of the challenge yesterday in New England, USA.
Citroen and Colin McCrae set for NZ challenge
04 April 2003: The 2003 World Rally Championship resumes next Thursday 11 April in the southern hemisphere, where current Manufacturers' Championship leaders Citroën tackle their first Rally of New Zealand.
Peugeot launch replacement clutch kit
04 April 2003: Peugeot in Ireland have just launched their new range of competitively priced Exchange Clutch Kits. A four-piece kit including pressure plate, disc, bearing and alignment tool, prices start from as little E102 retail excluding VAT.
03 April 2003: Toyota’s oldest dealership, Linders of Smithfield, is moving up the River Liffey to a new upmarket premises in Chapelizod.
BMW to take over Motor Import Ltd
03 April 2003: A major change in the Irish motoring industry has just been announced, with the planned taking over of Motor Import Ltd, the BMW franchisees here, by the BMW parent company.
03 April 2003: Opel Ireland has announced the full price list for the new Meriva small MPV, which goes on sale later this month.
02 April 2003: Jaguar is expected to announce a 2-litre diesel version of its X-Type saloon before the end of the year, along with a 'sportwagon' version.
02 April 2003: Figures released today by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show car sales fell by 5.1% in March over the same period last year. Ford, with over 2,500 cars, was clear market leader, ahead of Toyota, Volkswagen and Nissan. A total of 70,290 cars were sold in the first quarter.
New bonnet construction softens pedestrian impact
02 April 2003: Mazda researchers have come up with a new design of aluminium car bonnet (hood) which is aimed at significantly reducing pedestrian injuries and deaths in road traffic accidents.
Peugeot produces millionth 307
02 April 2003: Peugeot has produced its millionth 307, launched in Ireland in the summer of 2001.
Lexus crossover concept for NY Show
02 April 2003: Lexus will take the wraps off its HPX concept SUV at the New York International Auto Show on April 16.
New Meriva price shows up penal tax system
01 April 2003: Opel's new Meriva MPV will cost just under E20,000 for its entry-level version when it goes on sale in Ireland in late April.
New Lexus to be world's safest SUV
01 April 2003: The new version Lexus RX300 may well be the safest premium SUV in the world when it comes to Ireland next month, given that it comes with nine airbags as standard including the first knee-airbag to be provided on an SUV on this side of the world.
Details of new 5-series announced
01 April 2003: BMW has announced plans for the all-new, fifth-generation 5 Series, which goes on sale in the EU generally in July and will be available in RHD form in September.
Italy's first 'Love Park' for Leonardo's town
01 April 2003: The Tuscan town of Vinci, best known for its Renaissance artist son Leonardo, has been reported as renovating a parking lot to become Italy's first Love Car Park, complete with soft lighting and receptacles for condoms.