New Car Sales July 2016 In Ireland
Data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) for July 2016 shows that 29,931 new cars were registered in the first month of the new 162 registration, which is up 8% on July 2015 where 27,594 cars were registered in the same time period.
Total new car registrations for the year are already up 19% on the same period last year (131,264 vs. 109,931). The total to the end of July this year has already surpassed the total number of new cars registered for the whole of 2015, a figure of 124,947.
Commercial vehicle sales maintained growth in July 2016. Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations are up 23% for the year to date compared to the same period last year, and are up 15% on July last year (4,341 vs. 3,760). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are up 41% this year to date, are were up 37% for the month of July compared to the same month last year (397 vs. 290).
The data shows that Hyundai is Ireland’s bestselling car brand, followed by Toyota and Ford. The Hyundai Tucson was the top selling car in July but is also the bestselling car in Ireland to date in 2016, followed by the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.
Commenting on the figures, Alan Nolan, SIMI Director General, said, “The motor industry performed strongly in the first half of 2016, with increased activity in both car and commercial vehicle sales. This growth has continued into July, although at a noticeably slower rate than the first two quarters, perhaps due to a combination of external factors such as Brexit and the fact that the extremely high growth rates of recent years must naturally slow as we get closer to a more normal market following a period of catch up.
It is important however for both the Industry and the Economy that, new vehicle sales continue to be at sustainable levels, which for new cars is in the region of 150,000 to 160,000, based on the current population and the age of the national car fleet. A new car market in the region of 150,000 delivers over €1 billion in tax revenues, supports the employment of more than 40,000 in the Motor Industry, and assists in reducing our CO2 emissions from transport by tens of thousands of tonnes.
In this context, we would encourage a Budget strategy focused on building consumer confidence and improving the business environment, particularly with all recent economic forecasts for Ireland anticipating lower growth rates than had been previously expected for the remainder of this year and for 2017”.
Caroline Kidd
Volvo S90 Pricing And Specs For Ireland
The new Volvo S90 saloon has arrived in Ireland, priced from €48,400.
At launch, there is a choice of two 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engines – a fuel-efficient D4 and a more powerful D5 PowerPulse. Two trim levels are offered here, Momentum and Inscription.
The entry level D4 engine has 190hp and comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. This car uses a conventional front wheel drive layout. The claimed economy is 64.2 mpg and CO2 emissions are 116 g/km meaning the car qualifies for motor tax of €200 per year.
The 235hp D5 uses ‘PowerPulse’ technology to boost responsiveness. These models come in all wheel drive to put the power to the road in the smoothest way possible. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is also standard.
Entry level Momentum cars come with leather upholstery, LED headlights, two-zone climate control with ‘CleanZone’ air-filtration system, automatically dimming mirrors and Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system. This brings a 9” touchscreen, satellite navigation (including lifetime annual map updates), a voice-control system, and access to the Internet and a range of cloud-based apps such as TuneIn, Stitcher and Yelp.
City Safety and Pilot Assist, Volvo’s semi-autonomous drive feature, are also standard on the S90. Pilot Assist automatically keeps you at a set speed or distance from the vehicle in front, braking and accelerating with the flow of traffic, and gives gentle steering inputs to keep the car within lane markings at motorway speeds up to 130kph.
Inscription trim adds Nappa soft leather upholstery, electric front seats, rear footwell and side step illumination, a 12.3” active TFT driver’s information display (Momentum cars get an 8” version), and 18” diamond-cut/silver alloy wheels. Styling updates include walnut interior inlays and chrome exterior details.
The optional Xenium package is available across the range and adds an electric tilt and slide glass sunroof, a parking camera system with 360o surround view, and Park Assist Pilot, which includes automatic parallel and 90o parking and blind spot information system, including cross traffic alert.
Apple CarPlay is another option and allows you to access certain functions of your Apple device and CarPlay-optimised apps directly via the car’s touchscreen, voice control system or the buttons on the steering wheel. Also available is the Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system, with 18 speakers and an output of 1,400W.
The D4 Momentum comes in at €48,400, while the higher specced D4 Inscription comes in at €52,900. The D5 with all wheel drive starts at €56,400 in Momentum trim, and at €60,400 in Inscription.
The new Volvo S90 is available from dealers now.
Caroline Kidd
FIAT 500 Collection Goes On Sale
FIAT Ireland has launched the new FIAT 500 Collection. It includes two new special editions of the iconic city car, one red and one white.
Based on the new FIAT 500 Lounge, the Collection features a number of styling and equipment enhancements for just €150 more than the FIAT 500 Lounge on which it's based.
They will also be very exclusive, with a limited run of just 24 specimens coming to Ireland!
The new model is available in white or red with contrasting detailing. White models have a red dashboard, red key cover and a chrome-finished gear shifter. As well as red mirror caps, red side mouldings, larger 16-inch alloy wheels with centre caps with red detailing. For red cars, these details are all offered in contrasting white.
Power comes from the popular 69hp, 1.2-litre petrol engine.
Standard equipment includes seven airbags, remote central locking, electric front windows and mirrors, touchscreen Uconnect infotainment system with Bluetooth, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, LED daytime running lights, air conditioning, panoramic, fixed glass sunroof, rear parking sensors, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, front fog lights, and chrome styling kit.
Priced at €16,250, FIAT claim that this special edition is equipped with up to €725 worth of additional equipment for just €150 more than the Lounge model on which it’s based.
What does Changing Lanes think of the Fiat 500?
At Changing Lanes we are very fond of this little Italian city car. We have been lucky to test drive it a number of times. The Fiat 500 is chic, cute and easy to drive. The 1.2-litre engine is basic but adequate. This is a small car but it's cheap and so much fun. The 500 has been a great success for the brand ans spawned a number of limited editions like this one , which add more gear at a great price.
Fiat has also expanded the 500 range to include larger, more family oriented models like the Fiat 500X compact crossover and the Fiat 500L MPV.
The brand announced new hybrid versions of the Fiat 500 in spring 2020, showing that this little Italian icon is moving with the times. Bravo!
Caroline Kidd
Irish Launch For New Ford Edge
Ford’s new large SUV, the Edge, has arrived in Ireland. The Ford Edge will sit alongside the Kuga and EcoSport in Ford’s SUV line-up.
With pricing starting at €55,700, the new Edge is positioned towards the premium end of the large SUV segment and comes with a high specification as standard and Ford’s ‘Intelligent All Wheel Drive’ for optimised traction in slippery conditions.
Two trim levels will be sold here, Titanium and Sport, with standard equipment including 19” alloys, front and rear parking sensors, handsfree power tailgate, keyfree system, Ford DAB navigation system, Active Noise Cancellation, rear view camera and illuminated scuff plates.
Sport trim equipment includes 20” alloys, Adaptive Steering system, SONY DAB navigation system with 12 speakers, unique front, rear and side sports body styling with dark exterior detailing, and alloy pedals.
The Edge is offered with a choice of two 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engines, one with 180PS or a Bi-turbo version with 210PS. Both versions deliver up to 48.7 mpg and emissions are rated at 149 g/km CO2 for Titanium models, and 152g for Sport.
2.0-litre TDCi 180 PS models are equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox and come in at €55,700 in Titanium trim or at €57,450 in Sport trim. 210 PS models come with a six-speed PowerShift automatic and start at €60,350 for Titanium and €62,100 for Sport.
The new flagship SUV features a host of technologies including Active Noise Control (works like noise-cancelling headphones to counteract unwanted noises in the cabin), Pre Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection (can apply the brakes to avoid collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians), Ford Adaptive Steering (automatically adjusts the steering ratio according to speed to optimise manoeuvrability and precision), Front Wide View Camera (technology that can see around corners even when drivers cannot), and a number of parking aids.
The new Ford Edge is available from Ford’s Irish dealer network now.
Caroline Kidd
Kia Niro Hybrid Crossover On The Way To Ireland
The Kia Niro hybrid crossover is coming to Ireland this October. The car will be priced from €30,495 (excluding the current €1500 VRT relief for hybrid vehicles).
The Niro is about offering buyers the practicality and kerb appeal of a spacious crossover, but with the fuel efficiency of a hybrid powertrain. Smaller than the Kia Sportage, but occupying a larger footprint than the Cee’d hatchback, the Kia Niro occupies a new space within the brand’s model line-up in terms of its size. The Niro will be a five seater, with 427 litres of boot space that can extend to 1,425 litres with the rear seats folded down.
The hybrid powertrain is made up of a 1.6-litre GDI petrol engine, lithium-ion polymer battery pack and 32 kW electric motor producing 141PS and put to the road via a six-speed double-clutch automatic transmission. CO2 emissions are just 88g/km CO2 and the Niro’s fuel economy is rated at 3.8 litres per 100 km.
Standard equipment for Ireland will include Sat Nav with Android Auto (Apple Car Play to follow), full leather heated seats, dual zone aircon, Lane Keep Assist, LED front and rear lights, privacy glass and rain sensing wipers.
Caroline Kidd
Subaru Levorg Arrives In Ireland
The all-new Subaru Levorg will have a list price in Ireland of €44,995.
The new Levorg is dubbed a “sport tourer” and is the natural successor to the Subaru Legacy Tourer.
The car will be available in a single GT trim with a high level of specification and Subaru’s iconic All-Wheel Drive (AWD) as standard. There is just one engine available for new Levorg, a new 1.6-litre Boxer turbo petrol engine producing 170PS and 250Nm torque. Using a CVT automatic gearbox, the Levorg will hit 100kmh from a standstill in 8.9 seconds, while returning fuel consumption of 7.1 litres/100km (almost 40mpg). Emissions of 164g CO2 put the Levorg in tax band D with annual motor tax of €570.
The Levorg is smaller on the outside when compared to the last Legacy Tourer, however Subaru say it’s even more spacious and practical. The boot has a capacity of 522 litres, expanding to 1,446 litres with the second row of seats folded down.
Standard equipment includes leather-trimmed sports seats with blue stitching, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment, connectivity and navigation system, LED headlamps, auto lights and wipers, front and rear fog lamps, metallic paint, 18-inch dark grey alloy wheels, privacy glass and roof spoiler, keyless access and push-button start, bespoke leather heated sports seats in the front, 60/40 split-folding and reclining rear seats, two 12-volt power outlets, four USB ports (two in the front, two in the rear), dual-zone air-conditioning and rear parking camera.
Levorg is equipped as standard with safety technology including Blind Spot Detection (alerts drivers to cars sitting in their blind spot), Lane Change Assist (warns drivers of fast-approaching vehicles behind when the driver indicates to change lane), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (detects vehicles passing behind when reversing out of a parking space). The car also features SI Drive (Subaru Intelligent Drive) which allows the driver, via a button on the steering wheel, to choose either Intelligent mode or Sport mode.
For better handling, the Levorg has Active Torque Vectoring (ATV), which effectively brakes the inside wheels under cornering and apportions greater torque to the outside of the car, reducing understeer and oversteer to allow a more predictable and controlled course through corners.
The all-new Subaru Levorg goes on sale in Ireland this month.
Caroline Kidd
Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé Coming To Ireland!
Following on from the launch of the all-new GLC mid-size SUV in Ireland last December, the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé will launch here in September.
It will sit alongside the GLC, and join a family of models built on the C-Class platform including the C-Class saloon, estate, coupé and cabriolet.
In a similar vein to the GLE Coupé, which followed the launch of the GLE SUV last year, this is a niche model for the SUV customer who wants a sportier, more stylish version of the GLC.
The new Coupé is very similar to the GLC but is actually a few centimetres longer and lower, and of course more coupé styled with sloping roofline, short rear overhang and single-louvre grille with star inset and sparkling diamond-finished backing panel.
According to Mercedes-Benz, passenger space is on a par with the GLC with entrance height, shoulder, elbow and legroom all identical. There is 491 litres of boot space, which can extend to 1400 litres.
The new Coupé will be manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in eight engine variants - 4 petrol and 4 diesels - all EU6 emissions standards compliant, though the GLC 200d Coupé and GLC 220d Coupé will be most suited to the Irish market.
Nine-speed automatic transmission and sports suspension are standard across the range, as is more direct sports steering. Permanent all-wheel drive is standard on the 220d.
Full price and specifications for Ireland will be announced closer to launch but it is likely that the new Coupé will launch with a price of around €60,000 and Mercedes-Benz Ireland promise a high level of standard specification.
Caroline Kidd
DS 3 Pricing For Ireland Announced
The separation of the DS brand from Citroen is now complete and after the launch here of the DS 5 and DS 4, the smallest car in the DS range has reached Ireland. The DS 3 is the car formerly known as the Citroen DS 3, but DS is now a standalone brand and the premium arm of the PSA Group, which also accounts Peugeot as one of its brands.
We spent some time with the DS 3 when it was a Citroen back in 2014. We liked it for its style and agility. It's a fun small car that stands out on the road.
All Citroen badging has been removed and a new grille bearing the DS emblem is the most significant visual update.
The range has been streamlined into two trim lines, Elegance and Prestige, and there is enhanced standard equipment.
DS 3 Pricing
The range kicks off at €21,345 for Elegance with 1.2-litre Puretech (82bhp) petrol engine, and this model features brand new ‘Blade’ 16” alloy wheels, LED front fog lights, sports seats with new ‘Dinamica’ cloth trim, automatic air-conditioning, rear parking sensors and the DS Connect Box emergency and assistance system.
Prestige is available from €27,295 with a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 130bhp. Equipment includes eMyWay satellite navigation, additional front parking sensors, Alcantara upholstery and 17” alloy wheels.
Other engine options for the new model include the 1.2-litre Puretech (110bhp) and 1.6-litre BlueHDi diesel with 100 or 120bhp.
Small petrol engines really suit the DS 3.
In 2019, the DS brand returned once again to the Irish market with a new product spearheaded by the flagship DS 7 Crossback. This large SUV is aiming at the premium market. The five seat SUV features numerous luxurious features and an extensive engine range borrowed from PSA group stablemates.
Caroline Kidd
New Car Sales June 2016: What’s Ireland Buying?
Today, 1st July, marks the first day of the new 162 registration plate, but figures for the first six months of the year show that new car registrations have already topped 100,000 in 2016, a 23% increase on the same period in 2015 (101,338 vs. 82,337).
The month of June saw an increase of 12% (1,626) in new car registrations compared to June 2015 (1,448).
Volkswagen is Ireland’s bestselling car brand so far this year, ahead of Toyota and Hyundai.
The Toyota Yaris was the bestselling car in June 2016 but the Hyundai Tucson still holds onto its crown of Ireland’s bestselling car to date in 2016 ahead of the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus.
The top selling colour for the month of June is black, while grey is the most popular colour for the year to date.
Commercial vehicle sales maintained growth in June 2016. Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations reached 18,417, up 26% overall in 2016 compared to the same period last year, and are up 9% (867) on June 2015 (799). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations, have witnessed a decline of -29% for the month of June 2016 (112) when compared to the same month last year (157), however registrations are up 42% year to date.
Commenting on the figures, SIMI Director General Alan Nolan said, “At the start of the year we predicted that this year’s registration numbers should reach 150,000 for the first time since 2008 and these figurers keep us on track to deliver that. From today of course the focus turns to the 162 registration period. This year promises to be the first normal year of registrations since the recession and with the range of attractive offers available across all brands we are confident that 162 will also deliver in the coming months.”
Caroline Kidd
All-New Renault Mégane Arrives In Ireland
The fourth generation of the Renault Mégane hatchback goes on sale in Ireland priced from €19,490, and will be available from Irish Renault dealers this July.
The Mégane has been transformed with dramatic new styling, a lower stance, longer wheelbase, and the new car has the widest front and rear track in its class for a more dynamic look. The new Mégane’s distinctive front and rear lighting signatures are permanently lit when the engine is switched on.
There will be five trim lines for the Irish market: Expression (from €19,490), Dynamique Nav (from €23,990), Dynamique S Nav (from €25,290), GT Line Nav (from €25,990) and GT (from €30,690). Petrol models are available from €19,490, while diesels are available from €21,490.
Power will come from a 1.2-litre (130hp) TCe turbocharged petrol unit, and 1.5-litre (110hp) and 1.6-litre (130hp) dCi diesel engines. A manual gearbox will come as standard, with the option of an automatic on the 1.5-litre dCi diesel. The 1.5-litre dCi diesel will be the most efficient of the range with emissions of just 96g CO2 and fuel consumption as low as 3.7l/km (76.4mpg).
A range topping ‘Mégane GT’ will house a 1.6-litre TCe (205hp) turbo petrol engine developed by Renaultsport and mated to a seven speed automatic EDC gearbox. This sporty model will also include a class first: 4Control four-wheel steering for extra agility.
Standard equipment on Expression trim includes hill start assist, cruise control, electric front windows, air con and Bluetooth. Stepping up to Dynamique Nav looks worthwhile for 16” alloys, electronic parking brake, auto lights and wipers, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, automatic high/low beam, front fog lights, rear parking sensors, electric, folding door mirrors, electric rear windows, digital speedometer, keycard entry and go, dual zone climate control, Multisense system (ambient lighting and driving modes selector), leather steering wheel, and R-Link 2 multimedia system with 7'' touchscreen.
In 2017, a more economical diesel-electric ‘Hybrid Assist’ model will join the Renault Mégane range as well as a sporty 165hp 1.6-litre dCi diesel for GT models.
Caroline Kidd