Motors
New Toyota Avensis is launched
Toyota Ireland has launched the much anticipated new Avensis. Offering more prestigious exterior and interior styling, advanced safety technology and lower-emission engines including a new 1.6 D-4D, the new Avensis is designed to appeal to customers looking for premium comfort and high specification, while maintaining its signature attributes of quality, durability and reliability.
The new 2015 Avensis has been designed to offer significant improvements in five key areas: Styling, Safety, Sensory Quality and Comfort, Equipment and Value for Money and Driving Pleasure and Running Costs.
Both the saloon and Touring Sports versions of the new Avensis have new, more prestigious and dynamic exterior designs. The front of the vehicle is a bold interpretation of Toyota’s trademark design language, with a smaller more aggressively styled upper grille which anchors new headlamp clusters and extends the overall vehicle length by 40mm.
The lower grille encompasses a gloss black-painted bumper centre and has been significantly enlarged, pushing the fog lamps to the extremities of the vehicle, emphasising vehicle width. The new elegant profile is further enhanced by a choice of new 16” and 17” alloy wheel designs.
In anticipation of a 5-star rating from the Euro NCAP programme, the safety systems have been comprehensively upgraded, bringing active safety and driver assistance to new levels. A focus on active safety technology introduces the new Toyota Safety Sense system, fitted as standard across the model range.
Processing information provided by a compact, windscreen head-mounted unit housing both a laser and a camera, Toyota Safety Sense offers customers a pre-collision safety system incorporating a forward collision warning and featuring autonomous emergency braking. The Luna and Sol grades also feature a lane departure alert system, automatic high beam and road sign assist.
Interior comfort and style have been enhanced and refined resulting in a more elegant interior design. The all-new interior design offers attractive trim, finishes and colour schemes. The premium feel of the cabin is further improved by a new front seat design, ideally suited to maximise comfort on long distance journeys.
The feel and operation of all switchgear has been improved, and sensory quality is further heightened by the careful harmonisation of text and symbols, and more consistent back-lit illumination. The interior design has also been designed with robust materials which provide additional sound absorption and insulation resulting in decreased Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) and a smoother, quieter drive.
Each grade spanning from Aura, Luna and Sol offers class-leading equipment and advanced technology such as the Toyota Touch 2 system and an 8” multimedia screen. In addition, the new Toyota Safety Sense system is fitted as standard across the range demonstrating that the new Avensis offers outstanding value for money and cutting edge safety equipment at every level of the new grade structure.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Recent registration figures released at the end of last month show that the Volkswagen’s ID.4 is the best-selling electric car in Ireland. Since it arrived in 2021 there has been nearly 6,000 registered and it now leads the charge to electrification here making it officially Ireland’s number one electric EV.
Even more exciting for the brand is the arrival of their new ID.7, the brand’s first global electric model for the upper mid-size class. It was launched globally last month, and Volkswagen chiefs are promising a battery range of 700km. This is massive step up for Volkswagen and will be a game changer for the brand.
Volkswagen Ireland are saying that it will arrive here later this year, and prices will be announced closer to that Irish launch date.
“With the ID.7 we are taking the next step in our electric offensive,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
“The saloon offers a high level of comfort and long ranges. Already by 2026, we will offer the widest electric range of all manufacturers in Europe. Our goal is to achieve an electric car share of 80% in Europe by 2030. As from 2033, Volkswagen will produce only electric vehicles in Europe.”
Galway Volkswagen dealers, Western Motors are holding an electric vehicles information event on Thursday May 25 where they will have information on hand for potential buyers of any of the Volkswagen EV range.
The Western Motors sales team and service team will be able to provide information on along with additional information on the grants available and application for same and electrician to talk about the EV Charging Boxes and so forth.
For more information, call Western Motors on (091) 709970.
Following the success of the Hyundai IONIQ 5, we now have the IONIQ 6, a completely different kettle of fish with the same running gear but a completely different design.
Both have been lauded at world level as the IONIQ 6 follows the 5 by winning the 2023 World Car of the Year title.
Not only did it pick up this gong, but it also won the 2023 World Electric Vehicle as well as the 2023 World Car Design of the Year awards.
This is the second consecutive triple win for the Hyundai Motor Group – the Hyundai IONIQ 5 was last year’s winner in the same three categories. A jury of 100 international automotive journalists from 32 countries selected the winners by secret ballot based on their evaluation of each eligible vehicle as part of their on-going professional work.
Up to now, the majority of electric vehicles have been SUVs. It’s the most popular shape of our times as buyers go for taller features and practical family characteristics. It might be strange that Hyundai would bring out the IONIQ 6 which is more like a coupe styled sedan with a lower, striking silhouette that they describe as a ‘streamliner’.
It certainly looks pretty special and while it uses the same battery, motors and platform. There are indications however that it is somewhat offers better range than the IONIQ 5. It is lower to the ground and has a lower drag co efficiency meaning reduced resistance and hence, better distance from a charge.
Under WLPT measurement the car has been tested to return 614km on a full charge. And, it can be charged at a much faster speed than other cars on the market; 315km in just 15 minutes.
There’s also a host of clever technology on board. Of course, a lot of what’s on offer these day are just toys and are not needed for everyday driving but, it is what the customer wants and he/she is always right! You can even opt to have the door mirrors on screens inside the car with cameras outside taking the pictures.
Prices for the Signature version with a 53kW battery starts at €48,295 rising toe €71,250 for the top-of-the-range Finesse all-wheel drive model with a 77kW battery.
By Gerry Murphy
There is always a flutter of expectancy when a car company like Alfa Romeo brings out a completely new car. Since the heady days of the Alfa 156, the fortunes of the manufacturer have been slowly eroding and they now need their new Tonale to be loved more than ever.
Launched a couple of weeks ago, the Tonale Plug-In Hybrid Q4 is truly a landmark for the Italian brand. In what they call the Alfa Romeo’s “zero to zero” process, which will take it from being a 0% electrified brand at the start of 2022 to being a zero-emissions, 100% electric brand by 2027 it will start off a complete conversion in just five years.
Indeed Alfa Romeo has positioned itself to be one of the fastest automotive brands to reach carbon neutrality.
Alfa bosses tell us that the Tonale Plug-In Hybrid Q4 combines maximum efficiency and Italian sportiness; the all-electric range (AER) is 56km, up to 80km all-electric range city, 600km in the total cycle and emissions reduced from 29g/km.
I have had the pleasure of taking the new Tonale for an extended test drive on the day of its official launch recently. The best compliment that I can give the car is that it is a ‘proper’ Alfa. Those who have history with the brand will fully understand what that means and why it is important that it lives up to its heritage.
The interior especially wraps itself around the driver just as in the days of old. It is a wonderful place to be, and you are completely at one with the vehicle. The quality is right up the in the premier league; dark and moody with clever details and the right amount of new technology.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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