Mercedes-Benz is planning its own distinct line of electric vehicles, challenging BMW and Tesla Motors in a bet that alternative-fuel cars have the potential to become profitable.

It’s as fast as an F1 car, can be driven on everyday roads and will cost close to €3m — and there’s a lengthy waiting list.

There’s something about the S-Max. Not being an MPV person by the simple expedient of not having any kids, many of these vehicles do absolutely nothing for me, based as they are on the premise of practicality rather than any particular driving dynamic. The S-Max is different, though.

I know I’m showing my age here, but I remember the launch of the original Suzuki Vitara in Ireland back in 1989 and, although a mere motoring whippersnapper at the time, I recall noting that the car marked a sea-change not only for Suzuki itself, but for the motor industry.

The new Skoda Fabia won the prestigious What Car? Car of the Year 2015 award, having also been named ‘best small car’.

Pricing for the new ˇSkoda Fabia Combi, presented alongside the new Fabia at the Paris Motor show in September and which will launch in Ireland on February 9 next, has been announced. The entry price to the Fabia Combi is €15,495 for the 1.0-litre, 75bhp Active. The direct price comparison over the new Fabia hatch model remains at €700.

The new Skoda Fabia, first seen at the Paris Motor show in September, will launch in Ireland on December 1, just in time for 2015 vehicle orders.

Amid the raft of new car launches recently — between the Paris Motor Show and other events — one new car which fell through the cracks here at Examiner Motoring was the face-lifted Peugeot 508.

Maybe it’s time to move beyond those donut-shaped balloons that connect our cars to the road.

SELF-DRIVE, electric and ‘green’ cars, revamps, new launches, concepts and off-the-wall ideas — welcome to MondialAuto, Europe’s largest car show, as executives focus on what are increasingly rare — buyers.

The Jaguar XE will go on sale in 2015, with the high-performance S model at the top of the range.

Volkswagen Ireland has just released pricing for the new eighth-generation Volkswagen Passat, which will go on sale in Ireland in January.

Last Thursday Opel revealed the first official pictures of the new, fifth generation, Corsa supermini.

THE European Car of the Year is a venerable prize. It began in 1964 and has had many honourable winners, and a few turkeys, such as the Fiat 127 and the Simca 1307.

ALTHOUGH Gareth MacHale (Ford Focus WRC) leads the Citroen Irish Tarmac Championship and is the best placed of four drivers to win the title, he is also the driver under most pressure ahead of this weekend’s final round, the Cork ‘20’ International Rally.

Victoria Beckham has become the new Creative Design Executive for Range Rover.

Car giant Nissan announced today it will build a new model at its British plant, safeguarding thousands of jobs.

Jaguar has unveiled a new version of its XJ saloon, the seventh generation to bear the famous badge.

General Motors has unveiled a car without an engine, steering wheel or foot pedals.