Wheels & Deals
The GLE Coupé is a totally new concept for the Stuttgart giant that will further expand what is already a rapidly growing Mercedes-Benz model range.
It enters the market here equipped with what CiarĂĄn Allen, sales manager for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars says is âa very high levelâ of standard and optional equipment. Standard is ILS Intelligent Light System, Active Parking Assist, leather trim and upholstery, satellite navigation, metallic paint, heated front seats and mirror pack, to name but some.
Special emphasis is placed on its âDynamic Selectâ handling control technology whose workings are visualised on a central media dashboard display. Others include ADS variable damping, ESP, Agility Control, Airmatic Suspension, Collision Prevention Assist and ECO Stop/Start.
The new GLE CoupĂ© has a distinctly sporty appeal helped by its very obvious all-road, off-road characteristics. With prices starting at âŹ86,455 (ex works) for the 350d, the sleek, low-slung, four-door it is a car for aficionados - those who relish exclusivity within a design that is both innovative and sure to turn heads.
Unusually for a car of this nature the GLE CoupĂ© has a robust off-road capability and that, along with other characteristics such as itsâ roomy cabin, compact sports steering wheel, raised seating position, expansive visibility, infotainment system and upholstery and trim elements all point to its SUV-like parentage.
Likely to prove most popular here is the three-litre,V6 turbo-powered GLE350d diesel. Stats include a 258bhp output, a massive 620Nm of torque, top speed of 226kph, 0-100kph acceleration of seven seconds and a claimed 37mpg or 7.6-litres/100kms in metric language.
A nine-speed G-tronic automatic gearbox and 4-Matic permanent all-wheel drive are standard elements within its Sport Plus drive programme. Petrol alternative is an AMG-Sport model GLE 450 AMG with 4MATIC transmission. It also has a luggage capacity of 1,650 litres and a towing capacity of 3,500kg.
The Hyundai Motor Group has posted a record first-half year in Europe, with registrations hitting 237,221 units between January and June - an all-time high for the brand.
And it is not doing bad in Ireland too.
The company says growth in itsâ sales is driven by the introduction of new models, including the new generation i20, new i30 and new i40. The record sales total represents an 8.1% increase over the 219,373 registrations delivered in the same period last year.
The growth in sales is very much in line with the outstanding performance of Hyundai in Ireland.
Hyundai has taken the lead here in July 152 car sales, with a monthly market share of 12.39% (2,399 units). This places the brand in No .1 position on the Irish car market, for the month of July.
Overall, to date, this year Hyundai are now placed in third place on the Irish market with an overall market share of 9.74%.
Since 2009 Hyundai has moved from a market share of 2.99% (1710 units) to an overall market share in 2015 of 9.74% (9957 units), which is pretty impressive.
We have often talked in these columns of how hydrogen power could well be a real choice for emission free motoring in times to come. Well, those predictions are now becoming more of a reality.
It is now possible to drive by fuel cell-powered car all the way from southern Germany to Lake Garda in Italy. The opening of the hydrogen station in Munichâs Detmoldstrasse completes the European HyFIVE projectâs South Cluster, which comprises Stuttgart, Munich, Innsbruck and Bolsano.
âThis new form of mobility, based on hydrogen, offers private and commercial users zero-local-emission long-distance electric mobility with no concessions on comfort, space and refuelling times,â is how Matthias Klietz, head of Research Powertrain at the BMW Group, sums up the advantages of hydrogen.
The TOTAL multi-energy filling station on Detmoldstrasse marks an important milestone. It is the worldâs first public filling station where the two pumps dispense hydrogen using two different types of refuelling technology.
The first is industry-standard 700 bar CGH2 hydrogen storage technology. This refuelling technology for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is already up and running.
The second is Cryo-compressed hydrogen storage technology (CCH2). This technology, developed by the BMW Group, involves storing gaseous hydrogen at low temperature on board the vehicle at a pressure of up to 350 bar. It is currently at the advanced development stage and will only come on stream for general use over the longer time frame. CCH2 tanks offer up to 50% more hydrogen storage capacity than 700 bar tanks and can support a driving range of over 500 kilometres.
In order to research and develop both types of tank system and their integration in the vehicle, BMW says it is important for to have both systems available for testing in the real world and not just in the laboratory. Much more realistic test scenarios can be achieved if lab tests are supplemented by testing at a public filling station.
Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles offer fast and convenient refuelling in less than five minutes - which is about the same time it takes to refuel a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle.
It also allows long driving ranges in excess of 500 kilometres due to the high energy density of the hydrogen, as well as all-electric, zero-local-emission driving.
We will, no doubt, have more in due course.
A new interactive video enables viewers to experience the new Ford Mustang from multiple perspectives as it speeds around Silverstone.
The video shot at Silverstone with a Mustang fastback powered by a 5.0-litre V8 engine allows the viewer to rotate the vantage point from inside the Mustang using the mouse or curser. Just like in a video game, users also can seamlessly switch to helicopter and front bumper views, see the Mustangâs position on an active map, and check the speedometer and rev counter.
The interactive video can be experienced here: http://bit.ly/Mustang360Silverstone âWe wanted everyone to be able to experience a Mustang V8 at high speed on a great track,â said Mark Truby, vice president, Communications & Public Affairs, Ford of Europe. âWhat makes this video unique is the viewer is in complete control of the vantage point. They can view in any direction just as if they were in the cockpit of the Mustang, switch to drone view, check speed and RPM. Itâs totally immersive.â
Footage for the 80-second film was captured in a single day using six GoPro cameras inside the car, as well as drone and front bumper cameras. This was then meticulously edited to ensure a seamless panorama. Professional driver Paul Swift drove the Mustang on the 2.6-kilometre (1.6-mile) lap of the National Circuit at Silverstone, home to the F1 British Grand Prix.
For the online version of the Mustang film, viewers start the action by clicking on the carâs iconic pony symbol, and start button.
The camera is adjusted using the arrow keys, track pad, or mouse. Clicking on a helicopter icon displays the aerial view, clicking the Mustangâs fascia displays the view from the grille. A more basic version of the film also is available to view on YouTube.
On sale across Europe for the first time in the carâs 50-year history, the all-new Ford Mustang is available as a fastback or convertible.
The 5.0-litre Mustang delivers 421 PS and 530 Nm of torque, also available is a 2.3-litre EcoBoost version that delivers 317 PS and 432 Nm of torque.
Time is running out for motorists across Ireland as a number of 152 offers across the Seat range will come to an end on July 31.
The latest 152 offers which were extended to allow customers who order any Leon or Ibiza for 152 at their local Seat dealership to avail of 0% PCP from Volkswagen Bank as part of the 152 offers.
As well as exceptional value on the Leon and Ibiza range, Seat is also offering its 3-Year Service Plan at a reduced price of âŹ199 across the full range of Seat models including the Mii, Ibiza, Leon, Toledo, and the Alhambra models.
Meanwhile, customers can also avail of the I-TECH pack which is available on the Ibiza and Toledo for just âŹ299.
Niall Phillips, Brand Director at Seat Ireland said; âWe are committed to providing excellent value for money and are determined to keep offering our customers top quality products at affordable prices.
