Seat Leon VT is news for enthusiasts

Alfa 166 with more going for it

Perhaps the biggest problem with the Alfa Romeo 166 is that it suffers from comparison with its smaller and decidedly more elegant siblings, the 156 and the 147, writes Donal Byrne. Where both the latter are capable of turning the heads of any age group - especially the 156 - the 166 presents a far more muscular and mature profile. It is interesting to see how the latest version of the 166 - the 2.0 litre TS Sportivo - fares when trying to set pulses racing a little faster. Full Story.

A feast of upcoming motormetal

There’s something special about a new car which is more than just a mild mid-life revamp of one we’ve got used to seeing around us in the gridlock, writes Brian Byrne. And during the coming year, Ireland’s motor buffs will have a series of treats in this respect, to drool over, discuss, and maybe even deal on. Full Story.

Radical or traditional, there is a choice

They bear the same name, even a similar high standard of build quality but their aim is totally different, writes Tony Conlon. It’s not so much that Honda’s new Civic is different in door configuration, its more of a case of the five door representing the future while the four door is somewhat more past than present. Full Story.

An MPV that is worth checking out

Daewoo are operating in a market that is difficult and complicated anyway, but for them there is an additional problem that also happens to be unique, writes John Knox. And, to be quite honest about it, a degree of that difficulty is self inflicted, although not intentionally so. Financially, the Daewoo conglomerate has known better times. Trading difficulties associated with the company name have led to a certain unease about their products in the market place. Full Story.

Winners and losers in Irish car sales

While it has been fairly widely reported that the motor market in Ireland has plummetted from 210,000 cars sold in the first eight months of 2001 to 150,000 in the same period this year, writes Bill Trapman, there are some intriguing nuggets of detail in the figures which don't always get out to the general public. Ford again dominated the C segment, though losing over a fifth in sales numerically and just barely fending off Nissan's Almera Full Story.

I suppose the first question to be answered is whether there is a place in the Irish motoring world for a 3-litre version of the Lexus IS200, a car which has opened up the Lexus brand both in this country and throughout Europe, writes Brian Byrne. The IS200 has worked because it provided a much-needed entry to the marque for those who either couldn’t afford £50,000-plus or wanted a smaller car than the GS300. Full Story.

It looks just like any other Focus which might not get more than a passing glance, writes Bill Trapman. But the eagle-eyed might be intrigued by the little badge on the left of the rear door. And anyone walking all the way around will possibly spot the fact that it has a fuel filler hatch on BOTH flanks. Curiosity thus prompted might note there’s a second fuel gauge to the left of the steering wheel. Full Story.

I had to work out a couple of scenarios before I could put the Renault RX4 Scenic in its place, writes Brian Byrne. After all, it comes into a pricey area of the market in this guise. So why would one want to pay the same for a compact MPV as for a full-size one in another marque? Maybe because it makes sense in certain contexts. Full Story.

"People in the office are always telling me their particular traffic problems. Being a motoring journalist attracts them, I suppose. Eventually I decided to collect them." He handed me a sketch map. "Here’s a just a few." We were four motoring writers from geographically differing regions, sipping coffee in a hotel lounge close by a significant interchange over Dublin’s lengthening M50, writes engineer Malachy Walsh. We were preparing for a mission. Not for God, but for the long-suffering motorist in the metropolis. Full Story.

If a brake or indicator light burns out on a BMW 3-series Compact, another adjacent light takes up the job, and the car warns you that you’ve a bulb to replace, writes Brian Byrne. A small thing, but an example of the fact that there’s no cutting back in features just because this is the cheapest BMW, the ‘entry level’ Beemer. And in case you weren’t yet convinced, the 1.8-litre engine in the ‘basic’ version is technologically ahead of anything else in the marque. Full Story.

Prior to the news of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre filtering through the Frankfurt Messe late afternoon on Tuesday 11 September, the Frankfurt Motor Show was an exciting, colourful and very busy place to be on the first of the two press days, write Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan. Many fabulous concept cars made their first appearance, and many new versions of established model names were officially launched. Full Story.

The word ‘estate’ is deemed passé by many carmakers, so we have ‘tourer’ and ‘avant’ and ‘sportwagon’ to upgrade the perception, writes Trish Whelan. Renault have called their Laguna II Prestige a ‘fastback’. By a stroke of luck I got to test drive the fastback Prestige for a second time, a big bonus as it was only with the greatest reluctance that I had handed it back the first time. And second time around I was further convinced. Full Story.

Making Fiat a real contender with a Stilo backbone

Paolo Gagliardo used to scuba dive, a way of taking time out into an environment where he was a guest rather than in charge, writes Brian Byrne. And at the very least, it’s probably the only environment left where the mobile phone doesn’t intrude. All you have to worry about are the sharks. But Fiat Auto Ireland’s new CEO doesn’t have much time for such escape these days. Full Story.

Kia's Rio has much going for it

I noticed that a number of my Brit colleagues have regularly panned the brand, writes Brian Byrne. Which means that the Kia Rio can't be all bad. In fact, might well be quite good. Don't get me wrong. I'm not anti-Brit. It's just that they can be anti-everything not Brit. Even if they don't really have much left in the motor industry that's real Brit anymore. Except newly-reborn Brit MG Rover, which I reckon is going to be the first Brit motoring success story for a long time. Full Story.

Honda's Jazz aims to march with the supermini saints

Honda's new Jazz, which debuts at Frankfurt and goes on sale in Europe early next year, is without doubt one of the most important launches for Honda on this side of the world, writes Bill Trapman. It will give the marque its first real contender in a market dominated by Ford's Fiesta and VW's Polo. At 3.8 m in length, the 5-door Jazz falls at the upper end of the B-segment. It features a unique centrally mounted fuel tank ensure a roomy interior more like that of a C-segment contender. Full Story.

ET phone home ... but maybe not from your car

There's a whole lot of criticism floating around about the use of mobile phones in cars, writes Brian Byrne. But there's not a lot of hard evidence as to their connection with accidents. Nobody's done real research into the area. But that changes from next week, when Ford Motor Company begins testing drivers in a specially-built simulator in Dearborn, Michigan.

Sixty volunteers will take part in the experiment, which is hoping to have publishable results in early 2002. Full Story.

New Fiesta comes out

This is Ford's fresh, new face of small-car form and function – the all-new Fiesta – which will debut at the 2001 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in three weeks' time, writes Brian Byrne. The new Fiesta incorporates Ford's new Intelligent Protection System of dual-stage front air bags, similar to those fitted to the all-new Ford Mondeo. Full Story.

Speedster can mean difficult choices

When I first drove the Opel Speedster, they’d conveniently taken the roof off, writes Brian Byrne. It was in Portugal, so they could depend on the weather. But when I took delivery of the review car here in Ireland, it was a different situation. Being 6’2” and unusually long in the legs, it took me some time to get in. In the end, I had to do it by the passenger side! Full Story.

On a Wing and a prayer

The passing of the year 2000 heralded the introduction to the world of the latest manifestation of the Wing, writes Tony Toner. As an indication of how far we have come in terms of cohesive design matched to function and reliability, Honda’s flagship motorcycle is here, the truly awesome GoldWing GL1800/6. Yes, you have read it correctly. Honda have stretched their ‘old’ 1500cc flat six to 1832cc, added their tried and tested fuel injection system to make available 117bhp and more importantly on a tourer, 123ft lb of torque @ 4,000rpm. Full Story.

Practicality meets fun in Th!nk

Ford Motor Company's 2002 TH!NK Neighbor is a zero-emissions, low-speed electric vehicle which represents a flexible transportation solution for the migration of people to planned-community and resort living, as well as a growing commercial market, writes Bill Trapman. While this Ford electric product is really for the sunnier parts of the US, maybe a closed version will eventually be sold in Ireland? Full Story.

Welcome, flawed Southern Cross

I'm very glad that the Southern Cross part of the M50 is now open, even if it is some 30 years after it was first proposed, writes Brian Byrne. Already it makes a significant difference to some regular journeys I have to make. But is it as safe as it should be? It has one serious flaw, as has every motorway we have built in Ireland. One which is indefensible. Full Story.

Checkpoints for Suzuki's new Liana

We were stopped by no less than three Garda check points on the Irish launch day of the Suzuki Liana which involved a run from Dublin to Faithlegge House in Waterford and back, writes Trish Whelan. It felt as if there was an all-points bulletin out for us. The third time, the garda wanted to know all about the car and took his time to have a good look front and back. I don’t know what the motorists behind were thinking at this grilling by the law. Full Story.

Not quite Formula One, but fun

Imagine that you are sitting around a table on a winter’s night with three friends at the local Drama Group Annual Table Quiz, writes Tony Conlon. As a team you are doing well. The questions on politics, sport and history are easy, to say the least. The two motor sport questions, however, are real bummers. One: Name Michael Schumacher’s first-ever car. And two: Apart from his Racing Ferrari what’s the only other car Schumacher put his name to? Full Story.

Renault's Clio is significantly revised

Mid-life updates often involve slight suspension rejigs, the merest of nose tweaks and a quick change of upholstery, writes John Reilly. Faced with upcoming Ford Fiesta, Citroen C3 and VW Polo launches, minor surgery for the Clio was clearly never on the cards. Launched here at the beginning of July, Renault’s bubbly Clio is significantly revised with a dramatic front-end reshape, a tastefully overhauled cabin, serious alterations to 50% of its bodywork and undercarriage components, a bank of new engines, new wheels, tons of extra kit, and a notable upshift in quality. Full Story.

A quarter-century feast of Fiestas

When the Ford Motor Company launched the first Fiesta a quarter of a century ago, their investment was then the biggest outlay ever made by the company, to build the smallest car they had ever produced. It was over $1 billion, writes Brian Byrne. Now, as Ford gets ready to launch the next generation of Fiesta, a car expected to be as right for its time and its future as was the original, some 10 million have been built. Full Story.

307's arrival means loss of old friend

Sad to lose an old friend, writes John Reilly. My preferred mode of transport since 1993 and by far the best handling car in its class, Peugeot's fine-riding 306 has apparently outlived its sell-by-date. The 307 is different, radically different. And damn good too. Pioneering a new breed of car that's half hatchback, half people-carrier, Peugeot's gone awfully adventurous with this mainstream, bread and butter hybrid. On that note alone, it deserves to succeed. Full Story.

Audi S3 is challenging, but not practical

If you are old enough to remember the rather unglamorous days of the hot hatchback the new Audi S3 will strike a certain chord, writes Donal Byrne. That is not to suggest that Audi would be terribly impressed with their new supercharged version of the Audi A3 being described as merely a “hot hatch” Full Story.

New BMW is possibly world's best

A brilliant car, possibly a world’s best, writes John Reilly. From a stable that produces more thoroughbreds than Coolmore, the new 7-series can push BMW right to the top of the premium segment of the market. And keep it there for years to come. We thought the Mercedes S-Class set new parameters for the top bracket. As it certainly did. The BMW 7-series has bounced back to set new benchmarks in areas we hadn’t thought possible. Full Story.

Mini makes men wave wallets

The man stepped out from behind the bus, waving his wallet, writes Trish Whelan. Others in his group of 'sixtysomethings' nudged each other and pointed. Their expressions said it all. It was my cute little black number. A dream of a design with just the right accessories. Drop dead gorgeous. Mini One. I knew what the talk would be about when they settled back into their bus! Happy memories. Full Story.

I suppose it might be committing motoring heresy to say that I prefer the new Audi A4 to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the key target in the Audi’s upgraded status to luxury saloon, writes Brian Byrne. But it would also be unfair, because I haven’t yet driven the latest version of M-B’s ‘real’ saloon entry level car. Still, when I do, it will need to work hard to compete with the good feeling I’ve got from the Audi, at least the 2.5 TDi I recently left back with deep regret. Full Story.

Driving styles make huge difference in 'greenhouse' gases

Driving styles and traffic conditions could make up to an 11% difference in 'greenhouse gas' emissions, writes Brian Byrne. That's according to the results of an IrishCar.Com test carried out in association with Volvo Ireland. Because that was the discrepancy in fuel consumption found between four drivers on the same route and in the same car on the test, which was carried out on a variety of roads in south Meath and west Dublin. Full Story.

A car to lust for because it's a Lexus

OK, so there’s the guy who already owned a large Lexus saloon and has now traded it in for an RX300 along with one of the few copies for this year of the new SC430 coupe cabriolet, writes Brian Byrne. That’s practical and fun both getting their share. And there’s the member of the phenomenally successful pop group who wants a bit of special style on the few months of the year that's he's not touring. Full Story.

Laguna II relationship worth working on

The Renault Laguna II was not a car I was immediately comfortable in, writes Brian Byrne. But maybe many things in life are better that way, because it gives time to learn nice things gradually. With the new Laguna, it wasn’t too long an ‘eventually’ before I was completely won over. At first I thought it somewhat overstyled, perhaps easily dated. But I decided it was a more than handsome car. Indeed, in many ways quite beautiful. Full Story.

Bring on the Intoxicator!

Reports of road accidents, over 200 deaths so far this year at the time of writing, show no sign of letting up, writes Brian Thornton. He takes another angle of a well-known story to suggest some remedies. Among them he asks that every Garda Station be supplied with an Intoxicator breath testing machine. Full Story.

Space Star DID makes for easy mountain motoring

I remember being surprised by the Mitsubishi Space Star in November 1998 a while after it was introduced as the first Japanese car to chase the rocketing success of the Renault Scenic compact MPV market, writes Brian Byrne. Even though then only available with a 1.3-litre petrol engine, it caught my fancy as a neat, not too expensive and very capable machine. Full Story

Lupo GTi - fetch me a lead!

I must admit to a liking for the terrier breed, writes Tony Toner. I like their feisty attitude, their unruly behaviour (sometimes), and the fact that they don’t back down. They make great companions, are invariably loyal, dependable and great to come home to. With some you never know when they’ll nip you or get you into trouble. The analogy between my four-legged pals and the new Lupo GTI could end this article right here, but then I do like to talk, so it won’t. Full Story

607 is a 'get me home safe' car

The Peugeot 607 proved just the car to see me home safely during a recent thunderstorm which resulted in the road I was travelling along more resembling a river in flood than a national route, such was the force of the downpour unleashed from the Heavens, writes Trish Whelan. Fortunately for me the Peugeot 607 is a very big, solid car and it coped brilliantly with the awful conditions to see me home safely through the floods. Lesser cars might have floated all over the place! Full Story

Audi A2 pushes out the envelope

The Audi A2 is quite an individual beastie, writes Brian Byrne. It can’t be mistaken for anything else once you realise what it is. And it is first and foremost a brave move by a marque which has not been in this (Fiesta/Polo) segment up to now. The A2 is innovative in that it is the first car in the class to have an all-aluminium body on a spaceframe platform, a combination pioneered by the brand’s super-expensive A8 luxury car. It points to the future in many ways. And yet it doesn’t quite make it there in some of them. Which is a pity, because buyers will pay rather richly for the experience. Full Story

Peugeot make a point with 307 launch

There are not many places as special as the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, deep Berber country with a history and romance as rich as our own Celtic tradition, writes Brian Byrne. Indeed, a place where perhaps they have retained their tradition and custom much more than we have in a race begun in the fifties to become Celtic tigers. Maybe Peugeot were trying to make a point in their choice for the international launch of the car they expect to become the benchmark in a segment which represents 33% of the total European car market (over 40% here) and is growing. Full Story.

I feel I don’t need to extol the virtues of VW cars, writes Hugh Maguire. When the current generation VW Passat was launched just 4 years ago it became an instant sales success. It was roomy, well equipped and had the usual bullet-proof VW build quality. Indeed, it proved so good that car giant Ford tempted two of the Passat’s original designers to join the Ford team on the new Mondeo project. A quick glance inside and out reveals that the new Mondeo bears more than a passing resemblance to a Passat. The ultimate compliment? Full Story.

Audi A4 tdi is a fine car

Certain changes in our familiar worlds creep up on us, insinuating themselves into our lives, writes Malachy Walsh. We remain partially aware until a further nudge stimulates realisation that something has altered. I like petrol engines. I am in harmony with their urgent dynamics, impatient if you like. However, European tastes in car engines have altered. The diesel engine has arrived in the upper echelons of family and executive saloons. I have had to re-evaluate my attitudes and feelings towards an engine that I subconsciously identified with commercial vehicles. Full Story.

Significant upgrade for M-Class

Huge sales, more than 300,000 world-wide, suggest Mercedes-Benz got the M-Class formula mix ‘spot-on’ first time around, writed John Reilly. Not so. M-Class is a ‘global’ vehicle. The majority of global brews have been disastrous. American, European and Asian car cultures are poles apart. Meeting one set of parameters, those of the USA first, and getting as many M-Classes to market as soon as possible meant a less than satisfactory fit and finish by European (and Mercedes-Benz) norms. Full Story.

Alfa 147 takes us to history around every corner

If there is a reason needed to go to Italy, Alfa Romeo are the people to come up with one, writes Brian Byrne. And this time, for Irish journalists anyhow, the reason was the addition of two new doors and a bigger engine to the I47. And the freedom to properly try it out on the fast coast road up to Tarquinia showed that the car has the brio we come to expect from Alfa. Full Story.

Surprise preview of Stilo shows Fiat's future strategy

It won't be here until January, and in the normal course of events we wouldn't have seen the car in detail until the international launch in September, writes Brian Byrne. But I was one of just three Irish journalists who had the chance this week to get up close and personal to the new Fiat Stilo, which will replace the Bravo/Brava. Full Story.

It was small, it rusted (particularly the floor), it had a driving position that only Alfa Romeo could make worse, and the heater simply couldn't cope with the chill of the drafts from the ill-fitting doors and the slider windows which were out of track more often than not. But it was cute, writes Brian Byrne. The Mini wasn't even the cheapest car on the market when it was launched in 1959. But it became an icon. Full Story.

High tech MG Rover plant has a human soul

There’s a man on the Rover 75 production line at Longbridge who represents the continuing place of humankind in a world of techno-robotics, writes Brian Byrne. He fits boot-lids. I watched him, fascinated and deeply thankful at the same time. The lid fitted, he closed it. Then, without looking, he ran his fingers down each side where it joined the rear wings of the car. He opened the boot again, loosened a hinge slightly with a spanner, then beat it, not at all gently, with a rubber hammer. Full Story.

Freelander td4 auto is a joy for a family day out

For those who have not yet experienced the sheer joy of driving this super, long-wheel-base SUV, my advice is to go out and book a test drive so as not to feel left out, writes Trish Whelan. My particular drive included a trip to the Burren in County Clare to visit family members who live close to the Burren Perfumery, just before you come to the little village of Carran. It’s definitely 4WD territory. Full Story.

Peugeot 406 Coupe HDi is a practical classic

It’s been around for quite a good few years now, and yet its Pininfarina styling is timeless, making the Peugeot 406 coupe one of the most beautiful in its class, writes Brian Byrne. I’ll change that. It is THE most beautiful. At least to my subjective eye. And appreciation of cars is still a very subjective thing, thankfully. Full Story.

There'll be life in the old car after it dies

Ah! the start of a brand new car's brand new life. Everything is crisp, clean and shiny, writes Eddie Cunningham. The thought of it ever being anything else is anathema. This is a time to rejoice in your new purchase. And so it should be. But even though you might not realise it, the makers of the car have put some thought and planning into when it has passed its usefulness date. Full Story.

Trepidition in the Antipodes

Our two-berth came equipped with hot shower, flush toilet and of course, a gas cooker, writes Brian Thornton. Nice to pick a seaside location in the sun, and relax with a G and T before cooking that steak and having a bottle of New Zealand wine before a late evening stroll along the beach when all others - often as many as 30 other people! - have long since left to go home. So, why then do they manage to kill so many drivers and pedestrians annually? Full Story.

Impreza WRX is a pussycat powercar

So what is it about the Subaru Impreza WRX? What indeed? asks Brian Byrne. It’s a cult car. It gathers rave reviews from motorhacks. In generic terms it has even topped the J D Power reliability surveys. It has a sexy image.

(Yeah. My partner in motoring writing is the one with the reputation for writing a ‘raunchy’ review of the car recently. Being a woman, she got away with it, I suppose. Ask me about the Fiat Tipo Sedicivalvole sometime.) Full Story.

Jaguar X Type looks the part but is different

The X-Type Jaguar that goes on Irish sale early next month, has the unmistakable looks of the big cat marque but otherwise it’s very different, writes Andrew Hamilton. For a start, it doesn’t replace anything in the Jaguar range: there’s no predecessor and there hasn’t really been a "baby Jag’’ at any stage in the marque’s history. Another notable first is that it comes with four-wheel-drive which has never been on a Jag before. Intriguingly, that has everything to do with the Ford takeover that happened over a decade ago. Full Story.

Clio Sport 172 is most powerful hot hatch

Take one 3-door Renault Clio, add some discreet styling kit, tweak about with the underpinnings, add some aluminium to the cabin and for the final piece of the jigsaw drop a 2.0 litre 16v engine into the engine bay - and hey presto! One Renault Clio Sport 172, writes Rob King. The 172 standing for horsepower, to make it the most powerful front wheel drive ‘hot hatch’ around. Full Story.

New BMW Compact is more complete

It is not a name we would have chosen for an entry level BMW. ‘Compact’ gives off all the wrong vibes, writes Eddie Cunningham. As if it has somehow been emasculated. This second generation version does not have the same ‘chopped-off’ look at the rear and has a far more complete look. It is eight inches shorter than the non-compact full-blown 3-series saloon but, thankfully, does have the main car’s suspension. The last one suffered from not enjoying such parity with its contemporary. Full Story.

A testing time with Uniroyal tyres

There is little doubt that many many motorists are of the opinion that once a tyre has sufficient tread to pass the Garda and NCT test that everything is rosy in the garden, writes Tony Conlon. If the same motorists were ever given the opportunity to try various tyres or even see the tyre testing taking place on track, then I’m sure their thinking would change. Coming from a country that has more wet days than dry it was only natural to jump at the opportunity to try two new tyres from Uniroyal, the people who have proclaimed themselves as the Rain Tyre Specialists since 1969. Coming from a country where it rained incessantly over the previous two weeks, it also helped that the test venue was in Northern Italy. Full Story.

Ford Mondeo TD can be fun

The Ford Duratorq DI turbodiesel used in the company’s new Mondeo is not, by all reports, their best diesel engine, writes Brian Byrne. But it’s the only one you’re going to get for some time, because their brand new TDCi engine will only be going into Focus cars for the next year because of supply constraints on the unit’s very advanced engine management systems. But don’t feel bad. The Duratorq itself is new. And while it is without doubt a clatterer at idle, it is an engine that rapidly grows on you. Especially if you are a dieselhead anyhow. (I used to be. Then I wasn’t. Lately I’m turning back into one.) Full Story.

Oh la la, it's the Citroen C5

If there was just one feature of the new Citroen C5 I drove on its Irish launch day which would be top of my ‘I want it’ list, it would have to be the rain-sensing wipers, writes Trish Whelan. The weather over the hour or so ranged from sunshine through spitting showers to a little bit of the torrential. And the system coped fabulously, even doing whatever was needed when the ‘rain’ was just spray thrown up by other vehicles. Very quickly, I learned to forget about wipers altogether and took it for granted that they’d do their thing. Full Story.

Fiat re-enters 800kgs light van market in Ireland

Fiat have launched their new entrant to the 800kgs light van market in Ireland, the Doblo Cargo, putting up a very direct competitor to the established vans in this sector - Renault’s Kangoo, VW’s Caddy, SEAT’s Inca, Citroen’s best-selling Berlingo, Peugeot’s Partner, Ford’s Courier and Opel’s Combi, writes Brian Byrne. The move is against the background of a continuing strong growth in the LCV market in Ireland, of which the 800kg segment represents 32% and is expected to be worth some 12,000 inits in total for next year. Full Story.

This Mazda grows on you - quickly

Like a good pair of denim jeans, Mazda says its 323 model is built to last. And just like your favourite garment, the longer you wear it the more it grows on you, writes Trish Whelan. It certainly grew on me. The review car we tested was the sports version 5-door hatchback which could almost be likened to a small estate car when the rear seats are folded down. Given its high spec and driving performance, it’s hard to understand why Mazda don’t sell more of these cars than they do. Full Story.


So, what's so different about a motorway?

By their nature and design, motorways carry a greater volume of traffic, which generally travel at higher consistent speeds than achievable on national routes, writes Tony Toner. It is of extreme importance therefore, that drivers raise their level of anticipation and their judgement of speed and distance to cope with these factors. Drivers must make decisions early and therefore, it is important to use mirrors earlier and look much further ahead than on other roads. Full Story.


Major upgrade to Renault Clio II

A major restyling of the Renault Clio II has involved a change in 50% of its structural and bodywork components, writes Trish Whelan. In addition, a new interior improves quality considerably from the current versions. Other changes include the introduction of electric power steering. But what promises to be a new ‘heart’ to the car is the upcoming 1.5-litre dCi common rail turbodiesel engine, which will be available in 65bhp and 80bhp options, and according to Renault will offer the best fuel consumption figures in the market. Full Story.


Xsara sleek as a supermodel