Autoesque

Despite continued bleak economic conditions, the Irish car market managed to grow slightly during 2011. Figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show that total registrations were 89,904, an increase of 1.7% compared to the previous year’s 88,373. Around 12,000 of 2011’s sales were due to the scrappage scheme, which closed at the end of June. This gave Vehicle Registration Tax relief of €1,250 per new car, provided that the customer’s trade-in was at least ten-years-old. While the Focus was the most popular model, Ford slumped to third place in the manufacturers’ rankings. That left Toyota to take the top spot, closely followed by Volkswagen. Ireland's most popular car in 2011: The Ford Focus. BMW slipped into the top ten, thanks mainly to 2,163 new 5 Series registrations. The entire Mercedes-Benz range combined couldn’t beat that performance, which contributed to BMW achieving a massive 37.7% year-on-year sales upsurge. Even that wasn’t quite enough...

When Suzuki’s naked GSR750 was introduced last year, one key item was missing from the spec sheet: anti-lock brakes. Now that omission has been fixed with the launch of the GSR750 ABS, which goes on sale this month. The UK on the road price has been set at £7,478, which is just £350 more than the non-ABS version. As an extra incentive, there’s currently a £650 cash back offer that runs until the end of April, but to qualify the bike has to be bought using Suzuki’s finance scheme. Related posts: V-Strom accessory packs Suzuki reveals Inazuma 250 2012 Suzuki GSX-R1000

Fifty years in business for a specialist manufacturer is something to celebrate, so it’s unsurprising that Shelby American is producing some special versions of its cars to mark its golden jubilee. 50th Anniversary Editions of the Shelby GTS, GT350 and GT500 Super Snake will be available, although just fifty white and fifty black examples of each are going to be built to guarantee exclusivity. All come with gold stripes, special wheels, six-piston front brakes, 50th anniversary badges, unique interiors, a car cover and a special vehicle identification number. And that’s about it, which is a bit underwhelming, although buyers do also get to go to the Shelby factory in Las Vegas for a handover ceremony. Starting prices for the post-title 50th Anniversary Edition packages range from $19,995 for the GTS V6 to $59,995 for the GT500 Super Snake, plus the cost of the base Mustang. Related posts: Roush Stage 3 Mustang Shelby G.T.500CR

With Mercury gone, Ford now only needs to concentrate its efforts on one other brand: the somewhat moribund Lincoln. But it appears that serious work is being put into rebuilding the marque, which is understandable considering that the luxury segment in the United States accounts for over ten per cent of sales. Over the past year or so a dedicated team has been formed, and in 2011 the Lincoln Design Studio opened. One of the first products of the new facility is the MKZ Concept, which has been unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Lincoln MKZ Concept. Scroll down for more images. Based on a new mid-size platform that can accommodate front- or all-wheel drive set-ups, the concept hints at a production model that should go on sale later this year. Its significance shouldn’t be underestimated. As Derrick Kuzak, Ford Motor Company group vice president for Global Product Development, said, “With the Lincoln MKZ Concept, we are not introducing a new ...

Kia has released the first image of the new 2013 Cee’d five-door hatchback, which will make its public debut at March’s Geneva Motor Show. Nothing has been revealed about the car’s technical specifications or engine line-up, but expect the new Cee’d to be more efficient than the outgoing model. Sales are due to begin across mainland Europe from the second quarter of 2012, and UK deliveries will commence in June. The estate version should then arrive later this year, with the sporty Procee’d three-door following sometime in 2013. Related posts: Electric Kia Ray launched New Hyundai i30 revealed Three-door Kia Picanto

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has been declared the 2012 North American Truck of the Year. Awarded 254 points by the jury of fifty automotive journalists from across Canada and the United States, the Evoque achieved an emphatic victory over the other two finalists. The second-place Honda CR-V scored 142, while the BMW X3 managed a modest 94. 2012 North American Truck of the Year: Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. It was a much closer contest for the 2012 North American Car of the Year title. The Ford Focus and Volkswagen Passat secured 155 and 161 points respectively, but the Hyundai Elantra emerged as the eventual winner with a score of 174. 2012 North American Car of the Year: Hyundai Elantra. Related posts: 2012 Euro COTY nominees 2012 NACTOY finalists 2012 Euro COTY candidates Volt is Car of the Year

The just-unveiled Cadillac ATS compact sports saloon has an important job to do for the brand. As Don Butler, vice president of marketing for Cadillac, says, “the ATS aims to change the status quo of the European-dominated segment.” And that means it’ll have to steal customers from the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4... not an easy task. The new arrival could also allow Cadillac to re-launch itself in Europe with a credible product offering. Apparently, it has been engineered to accommodate a diesel engine (although for North America three petrol engines will initially be available), and there’s even the possibility of a right-hand drive version. Based on an all-new platform, the ATS is claimed to offer superior driving dynamics combined with lightness. Certainly, a kerb weight of less than 1,542 kg (3,400 pounds) is similar to the latest generation BMW 3 Series, and a 51% front / 49% rear mass distribution should help the car’s handling prowess. Buyers will...

The original thirty-five candidates for the 2012 European Car of the Year award have been whittled down to a list of seven nominees, following a first round of voting. 2012 European Car of the Year Nominees Manufacturer Model Citroën DS5 Fiat Panda Ford Focus Range Rover Evoque Toyota Yaris Vauxhall / Opel / Chevrolet Ampera / Volt Volkswagen Up! Given that there have been some dubious winners in the past (the Simca / Chrysler Horizon in 1979 and Fiat Bravo / Brava in 1996 are obvious examples), it’s good to see that the jury has decided on a strong group of finalists. Perhaps the one exception is the Toyota Yaris, which really doesn’t deserve to triumph over any of the other six contenders. Arguably, the Citroën DS4 or even the Porsche 911 ought to have taken the Toyota’s place instead. A second ballot will now take place to determine the overall winner, and the result will be revealed on 5 March 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show. And wh...

Just ahead of its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, images of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart compact have been leaked. 2013 Dodge Dart. Scroll down for more images. Their emergence follows Dodge’s teaser campaign last month, so perhaps we’ll never know how ‘official’ the release of these latest pictures is. Whatever, it seems that the heavily-cropped teaser shots really didn’t do the Dart’s styling justice. Thanks to a low, wide stance, a prominent rising beltline along the side and a neat arrangement for the headlights and Dodge crosshair grille, it manages to look pretty good from just about any angle. Certainly in terms of design, the Dart moves things on immeasurably from its Caliber predecessor. Based on a stretched and widened Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform - known as Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) - the Dart is going to be available with a choice of three four-cylinder petrol engines. Two of those feature Fiat’s MultiAir valvegear technology, whi...

Clearly keen not to put off potential purchasers or existing owners, General Motors has been swift in upgrading the crash performance of its Chevrolet Volt and Vauxhall / Opel Ampera range extenders. The changes are designed to provide additional protection to the battery pack, in order to prevent a post-impact electrical fire. They come in response to a crash test that was carried out in the United States by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration back in May 2011. That test caused battery coolant to leak, which in turn resulted in an electrical fire three weeks later. The NHTSA then replicated the situation under laboratory conditions, which caused a battery pack fire six days after. Included in the modifications are a sensor for the battery coolant reservoir that monitors coolant levels, a tamper-resistant bracket for the reservoir to prevent coolant overfill and additional structural strengthening that should provide extra side-impact protection for the battery pac...

The Fabia S2000 campaigned by Škoda UK Motorsport in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge is getting a fresh paintjob for the 2012 season. To be driven by the reigning IRC champion, Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen (the chap who made Vicki Butler-Henderson rather carsick when they competed together in a navigational rally for Fifth Gear), the car’s new livery combines Škoda’s traditional green, white and black colours with a Union Flag design for the roof and bonnet. The 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge comprises thirteen events, of which nine are run on asphalt, three on gravel and one on mixed surfaces. The series begins with the Sata Rallye Azores, which takes place in February. Related posts: Škoda Vision D - more pics Octavia vRS hits 200 mph Škoda entry in 2012 BTCC

1,941,253 new cars were sold in the UK during 2011, according to figures just released by the SMMT . As expected, that was down on 2010’s total of 2,030,846, but the 4.4% reduction wasn’t quite as bad as had been previously forecast. Some manufacturers did buck the trend though, recording some healthy percentage increases. The biggest winners were Infiniti, Lexus, Alfa Romeo and the rejuvenated MG, but all are comparative minnows with a combined market share of just over 1%. Of more significance were the rises of 14.2% and 14.0% achieved by Mini and Audi respectively, with the latter also managing the highest unit growth - 13,969 - of any marque. Indeed, Audi finished the year with 113,797 sales, tantalisingly close to archrival BMW’s figure of 116,642. Needless to say, for many firms it wasn’t a good year. Unsurprisingly, neither Daihatsu nor Saab did well, but shockingly Smart saw its sales slashed by over a third and Mazda’s decrease was of a similar magnitude. Rena...

Dacia has revealed its new Lodgy MPV, which is due to debut at March’s Geneva Motor Show. Specification details are sketchy, but Dacia has confirmed that the Lodgy’s dodgy name derives from ‘lodge’, five- or seven-seat versions will be available and its overall length is 4,500 mm (about 14’ 9”). That makes it just a tad shorter than the Grand Scénic from parent firm Renault, although it’s unclear whether both models share the same platform. Certainly they manage to look different which, judging by the images, isn’t necessarily a good thing for the Dacia. While the Grand Scénic manages to appear fairly neat and stylish, the Lodgy looks a bit too van-like and its awkward proportions aren’t helped by seemingly tiny wheels. Going by the first view it’s a disappointment, especially as some recent Dacia designs (such as the Duster) have managed to be both distinctive and appealing. Perhaps the Lodgy will be better in the metal… The Dacia brand is scheduled to launch in the UK in a...

Choosing the 2012 North American International Auto Show to unveil the Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is rather apt, given the popularity of SUVs in the United States and reluctance among buyers there to enjoy the fuel-saving benefits of diesel. Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept. Scroll down for more images. A key selling point of the XC60’s petrol hybrid system is that it lets the driver decide how power is delivered, via a choice of three modes. As the name suggests, Pure mode relies solely upon the 69 bhp (51 kW / 70 PS) electric motor for propulsion. Driving the rear wheels, it’s linked to an under-floor 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and offers a range (according to the New European Driving Cycle) of 28 miles (45 kilometres). That’s a useful distance and, with the plug-in recharging facility, it means the need to run the internal combustion engine could be a rare event. Topping up the battery from flat takes 7.5 hours with a 110V / 12A supply, but if 220V / 12V is a...

Shoehorning the suspension and drivetrain from a Nissan GT-R into the Juke crossover always had the potential to produce some spectacular results. And it seems that that promise has been realised, judging by the performance figures that Nissan has just released for its Juke-R project. Nissan Juke-R. Scroll down for more images. A top speed of 160 mph (257 km/h) is more than adequate, if not stunning, but it’s the acceleration that really impresses: zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) is claimed to take just 3.7 seconds. That time may not beat the donor GT-R, but it is better than the 3.9 seconds of the Porsche 911GT3 RS 4.0, for example. Such supercar-humbling ability obviously means the Juke-R easily outshines the regular version: Comparison: Juke 1.6 DIG-T 4WD M-CVT versus Juke-R Juke 1.6 DIG-T 4WD M-CVT Juke-R Engine 1.6 litre I4 turbo 3.8 litre V6 twin turbo Max. power 187 bhp (140 kW / 190 PS) 478 bhp (356 kW / 485 PS) Max. torque 240 Nm (177 lb/ft) ...

Dodge has revealed the 2012 Charger Redline, which comes complete with three performance kits from sister brand Mopar. The first is purely cosmetic, and consists of a two-piece grille with black inserts, 20” Mopar Black Envy wheels and a matte black vinyl roof panel that contrasts nicely with the Redline tri-coat paint. Also featured are various carbon fibre components, including a pair of rather big door scoops, a three-piece rear wing and a chin spoiler. The interior hasn’t been forgotten, and it gets some aluminium trim pieces and stainless steel pedals. Stage two introduces some additional performance to go with the more aggressive look. It comprises Mopar brake linings, a cross-brace for the front suspension towers and a tuned exhaust system. But it’s with the third kit that things start to get really interesting. That’s because it substitutes the R/T’s usual 5.7 litre Hemi V8 engine for Mopar’s special Gen III High Output version. With a capacity of 6.9 litres (426 cub...

The 4/4 is a seminal model in Morgan’s history, because when it first appeared back in 1936 it was the company’s first four-wheel car. Still going strong, albeit with a multitude of changes and many different engines along the way, the 4/4 75th Anniversary Edition has now been created to celebrate its remarkable longevity. 2012 Morgan 4/4 75th Anniversary Edition. Scroll down for more images. Available in a choice of Sport Black, Sport Red or Old English White, the paintwork is complemented by a black hood and black 15-inch wire wheels. There are also matt black bonnet stripes with ‘4/4’ and ‘75’ motifs, although these look a bit incongruous and whether they will appeal to Morgan traditionalists remains to be seen. On the inside, black leather upholstery and matching carpets come as standard, while the dashboard is polished tawny ash. Completing the interior package is a wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel. But the enhancements for the special version aren’t only cosmetic...

Kia has become the latest manufacturer to add an electric vehicle to its range. The Ray EV is based on the recently introduced petrol-powered Ray mini-MPV and, unusually given their very different technologies, both models will share the same production line. Drive comes from a 67 bhp (50 kW / 68 PS) electric motor connected to an automatic transmission. With 167 Nm (123 lb/ft) of torque available, zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) takes a leisurely 15.9 seconds, while the Ray EV’s top speed is 81 mph (130 km/h). Performance is likely to be less important than range and recharge times to potential users, though. The 16.4 kWh lithium ion polymer battery pack, which sits beneath the rear seat and cabin floor, is claimed to be good for 86 miles (139 km) before it needs topping up. That process takes six hours using a normal domestic electricity supply, or a much more practical 25 minutes in fast-charge mode. The battery is claimed to be lighter and offer better energy density than compet...