NEW JAGUAR E-PACE
A car that is about to set the cat among the Premium SUV pigeons will go on sale here in Ireland next month.
The Jaguar E-Pace will come to the market with a limited edition introductory launch price of €36,000 for the E-Pace 2.0D i4 150PS Manual model.
Jaguar says the five-seat compact SUV packs the design and performance of a Jaguar sports car into a spacious, practical and connected all-wheel-drive vehicle.
“Trademark Jaguar driving dynamics and stirring design put the brand’s sports car DNA in a practical design packed with advanced technologies,” the company claims.
The exterior design is characterised by the distinctive Jaguar grille, muscular proportions, short overhangs and powerful haunches while optional 21-inch alloy wheels give the E-Pace a bold and purposeful stance
, instantly communicating dynamic agility
. Jaguar sports car DNA is also evident in the fast sweep of the roofline and the distinctive side window graphic.
The E-Pace is also one of the most connected and intelligent vehicles in its class. The next-generation touchscreen infotainment system connects customers to their favourite apps, such as Spotify
through Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl apps.
Digital connectivity can be found throughout the cabin, ready for every need of the modern family. There are up to four 12-volt charging points and five USB connections as well as a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices.
It also has exceptional interior space. The compact SUV is 4,395mm long with short front and rear overhangs of 882mm and 832mm respectively. Its 2,681mm wheelbase seats five in absolute comfort and yields generous rear legroom of 892mm while the large luggage capacity of 577 litres is made possible by the vehicle’s sophisticated Integral Link rear suspension architecture.
New chassis hardware developed for the E-Pace maximises interior space while also providing the strong foundations for the vehicle’s impressive all-surface dynamic capabilities. The ‘Integral Link’ rear suspension layout
has allowed Jaguar’s engineers to
delivers the responsiveness and agility required without compromising ride comfort.
Under the bonnet, E-Pace is endowed with the full range of powerful and efficient Ingenium petrol and diesel engines. The 300PS Ingenium petrol turbo engine powers E-Pace from 0-60mph in just 5.9 seconds (6.4 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint) before reaching an electronically-limited top speed of 243km/h. For customers who want the ultimate efficiency, the front-wheel drive 150PS Ingenium diesel delivers CO2 emissions of 124g/km and annual road tax of €270.
The E-Pace’s Active Driveline all-wheel drive system is a technological first for Jaguar. The intelligent set-up combines phenomenal traction with Jaguar’s unmistakable rear-wheel-drive character.
The E-Pace and E-Pace R-Dynamic are available with Standard, S, SE and HSE specification packs and a choice of five powertrains, with three diesel and two petrol engines. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium diesel powerplant is available in 150PS, 180PS and 240PS outputs, while the pair of 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol turbo units deliver 249PS or 300PS.
Prices will vary from €36,000 up to €84,110 and we will have more in due course.
NEW AUDI RS4 AVANT
Audi Ireland has announced the pricing of the sensational new Audi RS 4 Avant
, which combines breath-taking driving performance with accessibility for everyday use
.
The fourth generation Audi model
, which made its world debut at this year’s Frankfurt Motorshow,
will
not come cheap and will
retail at an OTRP of €102,350
and will be available to order later this year
.
The RS 4 Avant’s newly developed 2.9-litre TFSI engine delivers a balance of both torque and efficiency. From 1,900 to 5,000 rpm, the V6 twin turbo sends a powerful 600 Nm of torque to the wheels, which represents 170 Nm more than its predecessor.
With the power output of 450 bhp, the RS 4 Avant accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds, which is 0.6 tenths faster than before. The new car uses just 8.8 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, which represents a 17% reduction in fuel consumption compared with the previous model.
Its sleek and sporty exterior is accentuated with striking air inlets with typical RS honeycomb structure.
Together with the wide, flat singleframe grille, the front of the car showcases how the overall design is inspired by the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO. The sophisticated black interior and digital racing-style cockpit underscores the sporty character on offer.
The Audi virtual cockpit and optional head-up display, RS-specific displays indicate to the driver the g-force, tyre pressures and torque.
The quattro drive, which comes as standard, distributes the power of the V6 biturbo to all four wheels, creating a smooth, yet powerful driving experience. The standard-fit RS sport suspension sets the Audi RS 4 Avant another seven millimetres lower than an Audi A4 with sport suspension.
Again, more in due course.
PICK UP A MERCEDES
The eagerly awaited Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup — an all-new model that marks the first venture by the German vehicle manufacturer into this popular light commercial vehicles segment — has been launched on the Irish market
and is being sold through a seven-strong main dealer network
.
Sporting a characteristic SUV appearance, the X-Class fits seamlessly into the broad Mercedes-Benz model portfolio. Its twin-louvre radiator grille, centrally positioned star and powerfully honed bonnet and headlamps, extending far into the wings, combine to give the raunchy newcomer a distinctly up-market appeal that echoes its passenger car stablemates.
Said by Fergus Conheady, sales manager for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles, as likely to become ‘the weapon of choice’ amongst pickup buyers, the X-Class is designed to suit all lifestyles and work environments. It comes in three model variants: Pure, a basic variant for classic robust use; Progressive, a crossover variant in terms of quality feel and comfort; and Power, a high-end variant designed for urban lifestyles.
Prices for the entry level X220 4x2 Pure is at €39,950, inclusive of VAT and VRT.
RECORD BMW SALES
For the first time ever at this point in the year, the BMW Group has delivered more than two million vehicles to customers around the world. A total of 2,008,849 vehicles have been sold in the first 10 months of 2017, an increase of 3.4% on the same period last year. October sales of 197,601 (+0.8%) achieved the same high level as last year, despite the current changeover of the significant BMW X3 model, the new version of which is arriving in dealerships during November.
“Our sales results for the first 10 months of the year confirm the broad range and appeal of our model line-up,” said Dr Ian Robertson, BMW AG management board member for sales and brand BMW.
“We have delivered over two million vehicles to customers in the first ten months of the year. Vehicles as wide-ranging as the BMW X1, the BMW 5 Series, 7 Series and the BMW i3, to name just a few, have all contributed to that growth.”
The BMW Group’s range of nine electrified vehicles boosted their sales by a total of 63.7% in the first 10 months of 2017, with a total of 78,096 delivered to customers.
In October, BMW i and iPerformance vehicles made up around 8% of total BMW sales in the USA, France, the UK and the Netherlands, with electrified sales in Scandinavia accounting for over 30% of total BMW deliveries.
October sales of BMW i, BMW iPerformance and MINI Electric vehicles totalled 9,405, an increase of 60.3% on the same month last year. The BMW i3 increased sales in the month by 20.3% (2,851).
