Suzuki Baleno Irish Launch
Suzuki has just launched the new Baleno in Ireland, with pricing starting at €17,995. The Baleno will join the Celerio and Swift in Suzuki’s small car range, but fills the gap for a compact car with more interior space and a larger boot, while retaining attractive low pricing.
The Baleno sits on a new platform that’s been developed with a focus on lightness, but also rigidity. The new car debuts a very on trend 1.0-litre three cylinder petrol engine with a healthy 110bhp output. Suzuki claims that the new 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine has the same level of power and torque as a much larger capacity naturally aspirated engine (1.8-litre). A 1.2-litre petrol ‘mild hybrid’ version with 89bhp is also available.
The new Baleno looks good in the metal and delivers on its ‘big’ small car promise – inside two adults can sit comfortably up front without feeling like they’re sitting on top of one another and the rear legroom is very generous too. The boot is 320 litres, which is on the larger side of what’s normal for this class.
On the road, the Suzuki Baleno quickly shows what a fun small car it is to drive, with a lot of that character coming from the new 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. At the Irish launch, the Baleno floated around corners with a bit of zest. It feels agile but planted to the road surface, and light, precise steering made easy work of the twists and turns of the Co. Down test route.
The 1.0-litre engine is lively with plenty of power for overtaking, and the refinement appears very good. Emissions of 105g CO2/km put the car in this configuration in tax band A3 (€190 per year), while the claimed economy is 63mpg. On a shorter test drive, the mild hybrid was not as lively to drive, though running costs are marginally cheaper.
Equipment and engines for the 2016 Suzuki Baleno
Equipment levels are very good from base. The entry model (1.0-litre Boosterjet SZ-T) at €17,995 is definitely a car you might want to buy. Standard equipment includes 16” alloy wheels, air con, electric mirrors and front windows, remote central locking, touchscreen with navigation, Bluetooth, MirrorLink and Apple CarPlay access, auto lights, front fog lights and rear privacy glass.
The 1.0-litre Boosterjet in the top SZ-5 trim comes in at €19,495 and adds more including Radar Brake Control, keyless entry and go, electric rear windows, and even adaptive cruise control. The mild hybrid (SHVS 1.2 Dualjet SZ5) has a list price of €18,995, while the 1.0-litre Boosterjet SZ5 with an automatic comes in at €22,495.
The new Suzuki Baleno will go on sale in Ireland next month.
Check out our latest Suzuki review, the Suzuki Vitara.
Caroline Kidd
Jaguar F-Pace Irish Launch
The new Jaguar F-Pace has arrived in Ireland. Like a lot of people I gasped a little bit when I heard Jaguar would be making an SUV – the first ever for the brand. Jaguar, long the purveyor of luxury saloons and sports cars, was about to put a toe into one of the most lucrative and popular segments of the market, but hardly the sexiest.
Yet I gasped again when I saw the pictures of this new Jag. The F-Pace was a thing of pure beauty even on the pages of a magazine – large, yes – but with styling every bit as evocative as a sports car.
The F-Pace must be one of the most anticipated new cars of recent years. It’s finally landed in Ireland. The F-Pace is classed as a premium mid-size SUV and Jaguar Ireland is pitching it as the ‘practical sports car’.
As such, the sporty BMW X4 and Porsche Macan are the core competitors, though the F-Pace has a considerably lower entry price – 2.0-litre diesel RWD models with a manual gearbox start from €44,100, AWD models from €47,800. Models with automatic gearbox or high performance V6 engines are pricier.
Driving the Jaguar F-Pace
On a test drive, the F-Pace felt sporty and engaging. Even four wheel drive models operate as rear wheel drive vehicles in normal driving circumstances for more agility and fun behind the wheel, only switching to four wheel drive when the car senses the extra traction is needed. The F-Pace has an 80% aluminium structure to keep the overall weight of the car light, but rigid. Torque vectoring comes as standard, which improves cornering performance.
Engine options include the 2.0-litre 180PS Ingenium diesel, 300PS 3.0-litre V6 diesel and 380PS 3.0-litre V6 petrol from the F-Type sports car. The 2.0-litre diesel will meet the needs of most buyers and on a test drive it was quick, smooth and quiet. Mated to a manual transmission on RWD drive models, emissions are just 129g CO2 per km (motor tax €270 per year).
Inside there is seating for five and a huge boot of 650 litres. The cabin is modern luxury with a sports car feel. There are four trim levels – SE, Prestige, Portfolio and R-Sport – and standard equipment levels are high including 18” alloys, keyless start, cruise control, halogen headlights with daytime running lights, front fog lights, space saver spare wheel, four electric windows, dual zone climate control, analogue dials and 5” TFT full colour display, rear parking sensors, hill start assist, autonomous emergency braking, emergency brake assist, lane departure warning and electronic hand brake.
Anything else?
At the launch, the All Surface Progress Control (ASPC) was demonstrated. To make the most of the available grip, ASPC automatically controls the throttle and the brakes, enabling the vehicle to pull away smoothly: the driver just has to steer. ASPC functions between 3.6km/h and 30km/h, and the driver selects the desired speed using the cruise control switches. ASPC is compatible with rear- and all-wheel drive and is ideal for nervous or inexperienced drivers in low grip situations.
With sales of just under 500,000 cars globally in 2015, the F-Pace will boost Jaguar’s fortunes even more. Closer to home, the new F-Pace gives Jaguar Ireland access to a new burgeoning segment, where their sister brand Land Rover is already reigning supreme with the Discovery Sport.
It’s a segment rife with competition from Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, but the Jaguar’s competitive pricing, good looks and sporty pedigree give it every chance of success.
The F-Pace is in Jaguar dealers now.
Caroline Kidd
Mercedes-Benz E-Class On Sale (2016)
Mercedes-Benz is on a mission to overtake BMW and become the world’s number one car manufacturer in the luxury market by 2020. New product is a key part of that strategy: 8 new models and 6 facelifted models were launched in 2015 and there are more new cars on the way this year.
One of those, the new E-Class, has just arrived in Ireland. Now in its tenth generation, the E-Class has grown in length by 43mm and has a 65mm longer wheelbase compared to the outgoing model. It remains a sleek, elegant car and is instantly recognisable as a Mercedes-Benz – that’s regardless of whether you go for the traditional louvered grille and body mounted star, or grille with large inset star (yes you can choose).
The new interior is pure class from top to bottom and Mercedes-Benz has mixed the traditional executive feel well with the style and technology demanded by today’s premium car buyer. An 8.4 inch touchscreen infotainment system comes as standard and can be controlled via a dial on the central console and by innovative new touch-sensitive finger swipe buttons on the steering wheel. Two high-resolution 12.3 inch display screens are available as options and are also a first for the segment.
What's new for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The new E-Class debuts new driving aids, safety equipment and exciting tech that will give buyers a taste of autonomous driving – the optional Drive Pilot allows the car to cruise effectively on auto pilot with the car controlling speed, braking, acceleration, gear changing and even overtaking.
Mercedes-Benz has invested heavily in a new diesel engine family and the E-Class debuts with this new four cylinder 2.0-litre diesel. The new diesel engine, badged E220d, is a significant improvement in terms of power, economy and noise suppression over the outgoing 2.1-litre diesel. There’s more power (194bhp) and CO2 emissions have been lowered to just 102g, so the car will prove economical for owners (motor tax of €190 per year and a claimed fuel economy of 72.4mpg). Later in the year we will see the arrival of a lower powered version of this new engine (154bhp).
Anything else?
There are three trim levels for the new E-Class on the Irish market (Avantgarde, Exclusive and AMG Line), and all cars comes as standard with a 9-speed ‘9G-Tronic’ automatic gearbox. You can mix the design lines, for example select an Avantgarde spec car but choose an AMG Line exterior for a sportier look.
Pricing for the range starts at €52,850 for an E220d Avantgarde Automatic, an €850 price reduction over the outgoing model but with more standard kit including parking assist, heated front seats, full leather upholstery, reversing camera, LED lights, satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, ambient lighting, climate control and cruise control. Exclusive models start at €55,210 and AMG Line versions at €57,650.
The lower-powered E200d will have an entry price of €50,550.
The saloon will be joined by an E-Class estate later in the year, and there is also an E350e hybrid in the pipeline.
Read a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review.
Caroline Kidd
Fiat 500 Arrives In Ireland
Fiat launched the new 500 to the Irish media on Monday at Weston Airport in Lucan, Co. Dublin and they’re billing it as ‘the icon reloaded’.
On the surface of things it doesn’t look much different from the petite 500 remake that first arrived here in 2008.
But according to Fiat, there are 1,900 new components to enhance and refine an already very successful 1950s-inspired retro recipe.
How successful exactly? 1.5 million have been sold in over 100 countries since launch in 2007 and sales have increased year on year - even as the car has aged. From an Irish perspective, the market may be small for 3-door city cars like the 500, but just under 2000 of them have found homes here.
The marketing for the Fiat 500 is very much aimed at the young, social urbanite, yet interestingly Fiat’s own sales data shows that the average customer is a bit more middle-aged - 45 to be exact – but predictably female.
What's new for the next Fiat 500?
Image and styling are naturally very important to Fiat 500 buyers and with the success of the current model, Fiat decided not to get too creative in the design studio when it came to updating the car. The most noticeable changes to the styling are the addition of new LED daytime running lights in a circular shape (like the zeros of the 500 logo), new bumpers with squarer edges, and a 3D-effect grille with chrome-like buttons on the Lounge version.
At the rear there are new 'empty' tail lamp clusters with ring-shaped illumination and body-coloured centres.
There are new alloy wheel designs and two brand new colours, “Glam Coral” pastel and “Avantgarde Bordeaux” metallic, which bring the total number of colours available to 13.
New ‘Second Skin’ personalisation options have also been added to the 500 range. These are factory-fitted themed graphics that add more wow factor, for example “Comics”, which has a cool two-tone appearance of black-yellow or black-red.
Inside the updated 500
The interior still has the retro vibe with coloured dash panels and large round instrument binnacle. There’s more choice inside in terms of colour schemes and seat fabrics, though some of it is dependent on the trim level of the car. The Uconnect infotainment system is now standard across the range, with steering wheel-mounted audio controls and USB / Aux-in ports on all cars.
Available as a hatchback or cabriolet, there are three trim levels for the Irish market: Pop, Pop Star and Lounge. Standard equipment includes remote central locking, electric windows and mirrors, Uconnect, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and LED daytime running lights. An electric roof with heated glass rear screen is standard on the cabriolet.
Step up to Pop Star for air con and alloys, and to Lounge for a panoramic fixed glass sunroof, rear parking sensors, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and front fog lights. Lounge models also have a more advanced Uconnect system with Bluetooth hands-free calling and music streaming, voice recognition and an SMS reader for reading text messages.
What are my engine options?
In terms of engines, there is a choice of three petrols and one diesel: a 1.2-litre 69bhp petrol , 0.9-litre TwinAir turbo petrol with 85bhp or 105bhp and a 1.3-litre 95bhp turbo diesel.
At the launch I sampled the 1.2-litre 69bhp and TwinAir Turbo 105bhp. The TwinAir is predictably quick but it likes to let you know it’s working, so the noise will be either irritating or endearing. The 1.2-litre feels flatter through the gears, and the lack of power could get frustrating out on bigger roads - but it’s fine at low speeds around town.
The key to the Fiat 500 is pricing. The hatchback range starts at €13,450 for the 1.2-litre petrol in Pop trim. The Pop Star range starts at €14,400 and Lounge models at €15,800. The cabrio is available from €16,450.
Yes the Fiat 500 is a small car with a small boot. But in terms of pure desirability, presence and style, you won’t find many that move in such fashionable circles and can match that sort of pricing.
Caroline Kidd
Watch out for a full road test of the Fiat 500 coming soon!
Continental Irish Car Of The Year 2016 Winners!
On Friday 20th November, the Irish Motoring Writers’ Association (IMWA) and guests gathered in Dublin to announce the winners of the Continental Irish Car Of The Year (ICOTY) 2016 awards. Rosemary Smith, ex-rally driver, announced our overall winner for Irish Car Of The Year 2016…the Ford Mondeo!
The overall results, with weighted scores, were as follows:
- Ford Mondeo - 148 points
- Volvo XC90 - 147 points
- Mercedes-Benz GLE - 144 points
- Kia Sorento - 144 points
- Skoda Superb - 140 points
The category winners were as follows:
Irish Small Car Of The Year – Opel Corsa
Irish Compact Family Car Of The Year – Honda HR-V
Irish Medium Car Of The Year/Irish Car Of The Year – Ford Mondeo
Irish Large Car Of The Year – Kia Sorento
Irish Executive Car Of The Year – Volvo XC90
Irish Performance/Sport Car Of The Year – Audi TT
The Irish Motoring Writers’ Association judges awarded points on the basis of criteria ranging from design, comfort, safety, economy, handling and performance, as well as driver satisfaction, value for money and technical innovation. The awards are in their 39th year.
John Galvin, IMWA Chairman said: “The Irish motoring writers have selected an exciting model and no doubt the 2016 Irish Car of the Year accolade will provide a huge boost to the popularity of the Ford Mondeo in the Irish market, particularly in the context of the current competitive economic environment.”
The Ford Mondeo succeeds the Nissan Qashqai, which took the title last year.
Caroline Kidd
Jaguar XF Arrives In Ireland
Jaguar Ireland launched the new XF to the Irish media last Thursday at Carton House, Co. Kildare. The Jaguar XF is the brand’s executive saloon and a rival to the BMW 5-Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and comes hot on the wheels of the new XE compact executive saloon launched earlier this year.
When the first generation of the XF was launched back in 2007, it was a radical step forward for Jaguar, the most obvious deviation from Jaguars of old being the bold design that finally threw off any remnants of a fusty old image and a certain 1980’s TV detective.
The new Jaguar XF builds on that and it might be a predictable thing to say, but the new XF is indeed even better-looking than before. Muscular, elegant, sporty – it’s a car you can’t wait to drive.
Inside the new Jaguar XF
Slip in behind the wheel and it’s a blend of old and new. The cream leather seats and interior finish in the Prestige trim car I drove at the launch give the old school luxury feel, but decorative metal dash inserts scream modernity. There are loads of nice design touches on board like the rotary gear selector that rises up from the centre console on start up, and an 8” touchscreen in the centre of the dash that controls infotainment and navigation.
A quick look around the XF before setting off reveals a large, spacious car. The wheelbase is 51mm longer than before, but the XF is actually marginally shorter and lower than the car it replaces. The boot is 540 litres and rear passengers get 15mm more legroom, 24mm more kneeroom and up to 27mm more headroom compared to the outgoing model.
The construction of the old XF was steel-based, but the new XF is now 75% aluminium, which makes the body stiffer and lighter. Jaguar engineers say that they have saved 190kg in weight, the knock-on effect being improved driving dynamics and efficiency.
Jaguar Land Rover’s new 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel has also been added to the range in two different power outputs, 163PS or 180PS, available with a manual or automatic transmission.
The 2.0-litre petrol (240PS) automatic, 3.0-litre V6 diesel (300PS) automatic, and a 3.0-litre V6 petrol (340PS and 380PS) automatic complete the XF range. The 2.0-litre diesel has attractive low emissions and running costs - in its lowest power output and with a manual gearbox, it will return up to 70mpg, and has emissions of just 104g CO2/km.
Driving the new XF
I took the 2.0-litre 180PS automatic for a drive at the launch and from the get-go it’s an exciting car to drive. The XF has a rear wheel drive layout so there is near 50:50 weight distribution over the front and rear axles. It grips the road well and initial impressions are that it's very agile and very powerful, with accurate steering that's noticeably weighty.
For the Irish market, there are four trim levels - XF Business Edition, XF Prestige, XF R-Sport and XF Portfolio – with the entry level 2.0-litre (163PS) diesel manual priced from €43,205. Prestige models start at €45,995, R-Sport start at €47,240 and Portfolio start at €49,280. The XF 'S' sits at the very top of the range with the 3.0-litre V6 380 PS petrol engine borrowed from the F-Type and a list price of €92,350. Only for purists!
Standard equipment includes cruise control and speed limiter, rear parking aid, electric windows and mirrors, 8” touchscreen infotainment and navigation, dual zone climate control, tyre pressure monitor, 17” alloys and lane departure warning system. New XFs come with ‘Jaguar Care’ - a three-year warranty, unlimited mileage servicing and roadside assistance package.
Lighter, more efficient, more space, exciting to drive, better-looking and all without a whiff of 'old money' - if you are in the market for a mid-size executive car, the new Jaguar XF might surprise you!
Caroline Kidd
Blog Awards Ireland 2015 Finalist
I’ve just received the happy news that I’m a finalist in the Best Automotive Blog (Personal Category) at the Blog Awards Ireland 2015!
I’m absolutely delighted but I need to say a big THANK YOU for voting for me and helping me get to this stage.
I really value your support, so please keep reading my blog and leaving your comments, here and on Facebook and Twitter. It’s the community around this blog (online and offline) that keeps me motivated. I’m a lone wolf, and blogging can be a bit of a lonely pursuit, so it’s lovely to know there are people out there reading this blog!
The winner will be announced at an awards bash in Dublin on 22nd October after a final round of judging.
This is what it must feel like to be an X Factor contestant!
Happy & Safe Motoring,
Caroline
Best Automotive Blog Changing Lanes shortlisted
I’m very excited to be shortlisted for Best Automotive Blog at the Blog Awards Ireland 2015 in the Personal Blogger category.
I’ve had a great first year with the blog and it keeps me very busy - driving cars, writing blog posts and making videos. But I love it and it’s great to be recognised as a credible Irish automotive blog.
Now I need your help to get to the finalist stage. If you like browsing my blog, reading my posts, find it entertaining, informative or just a little bit interesting, I would love if you would give me a vote and help me get over the finish line!
Please follow the link below and vote for Changing Lanes!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PDX25Z6
Thank you for your support,
Safe motoring,
Caroline.
ChangingLanes.ie: The Story So Far
It’s just over a year since I hit the button to make my little blog go live. ChangingLanes.ie Version 1.0 was a small affair that looking back, probably wasn’t quite sure of itself.
But there was one thing it was certain about: it knew it wanted to be a car site. That proved to be enough to get us off the ground and keep us cruising.
It also had the longest URL ever; it was a few weeks before I switched to the more user-friendly “changinglanes.ie”. Slightly embarrassing looking back now but my attitude at the time was to “start something” and refine as I went along.
ChangingLanes.ie is growing now every month. One of the best things about running it is the people it puts me in touch with. I love when I get a little email out of the blue or a comment left on the site.
One of the biggest surprises has been the support of other bloggers, both on social media and within the WordPress community. These are people I’ve never met and owe me nothing, yet they are willing to reach out and offer support.
I really appreciate my regular commenters (you know who you are) and my readers that keep coming back (thanks!). I hope you will continue on this journey with me and say hello anytime at caroline@changinglanes.ie.
Happy & Safe Motoring,
Caroline.
Women@SIMI 2015
Women@SIMI is an event organised by the SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) for women working in the Irish motor industry. It’s an opportunity to meet other women working in a traditionally male-dominated industry, make new contacts and be inspired by women who have reached the top of their respective fields.
This year the speakers were from the motor industry and further afield, including politics, business and aviation: Rowena Dooley, Dealer Principal at Dooley Motors in Carlow and Hon Treasurer SIMI, Louise Phelan, VP Global Operations at PayPal, Mary O’Rourke, former TD, and Gráinne Cronin, the first female pilot at Aer Lingus.
Women@SIMI is now in its second year. Over 150 women attended the event last Friday in the Westbury Hotel in Dublin from different sectors such as vehicle testing, vehicle body repairers, franchise sales, distributors and media.
Newly appointed President of the SIMI, Mark Boggan, opened the event and acknowledged that the industry has a big challenge to encourage more female employees to seek out more diverse roles in the industry, for example, as technicians, sales executives and dealer principals. He said that those in attendance had an important part to play as role models, leading the way for other women and demonstrating the opportunities available and the success that can be achieved.
Rowena Dooley, Dealer Principal of Dooley Motors, member of the SIMI Management Board and SIMI Treasurer delivered a keynote address, which reinforced Mark Boggan’s call “for more initiatives to be put in place to attract, train and retain women personnel within the Industry”.
Rowena also highlighted the fact that the Industry itself has a duty to better understand the needs of female customers when it comes to their requirements when buying or servicing a car, and to make the process less intimidating.
She said that the Industry should tap into the economic potential of the female market and make greater use of female employees' skills. Rowena stated that “a shift in the Industry mindset has been happening, but it is up to us all to make sure it continues at speed and that we pave the way for our present and future female colleagues”.
Caroline Kidd