World premiere of the Porsche Boxster GTS and Porsche Cayman GTS

Porsche AG is announcing the world premiere of the Boxster GTS and Cayman GTS at Auto China in Beijing. The two new versions will be the most powerful in their model offerings.

Along with the new GTS sports cars, four exclusive new products for the Chinese market are also making their debut. Two new race cars, the 919 Hybrid and the 911 RSR, together with the 918 Spyder Hybrid super sports car round up the Porsche stand in Beijing. 

This sporty appearance reflects the growing interest of Chinese customers in high-end sports cars. Porsche has a presence unlike that of any other brand in the still young sports car market in Asia with its appealing two-door luxury segment cars – the 911, Boxster and Cayman. China is the second largest single market for Porsche after the USA. In 2013, the sports car manufacturer boosted its sales by 19.9 per cent to a total of 37,425 vehicles delivered.

Porsche has over sixty dealers in China and is opening five new dealers per year on average.

Land Rover’s latest ambassador joins The British & Irish Lions in Hong Kong

Former England and Lions rugby player, Lawrence Dallaglio, has been announced as Land Rover’s latest global ambassador. The announcement, made in Hong Kong, coincides with the British & Irish Lions playing the Barbarians in Hong Kong as part of their 2013 Lions Tour.

Lawrence will be supporting the team in the Hong Kong Stadium on 1 June 2013 for the opening match.

Land Rover has a long history with The British & Irish Lions and is an Official Sponsor of the tour.

2013 DROGHEDA MOTOR SHOW

The Drogheda Motor Show have announced the full line up for the show this year, on the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th June at the Southgate Centre, Drogheda, County Louth.

The show is a collaboration of the motor dealers of Drogheda to provide a better customer experience for those seeking a Brand New Drive.This year, the show will take place just before the release of the new ‘132’ registration plate and the Motor Dealers are hoping that the local community support the family aimed event.

Everybody who buys a car at the show will get unique cashback deals, only available at this show and all buyers will be entered into a draw to win €1320 cashback!”

The weekend long event will showcase the 2013 new car range from eleven franchise motor dealers.

More info can be found on www.facebook.com/BrandNewDrive and www.droghedamotorshow.com

Volkswagen announces 0% finance offer

Volkswagen Ireland has introduced a 0% finance offer across its range of passenger cars from April 23^rd 2013, for a limited period. The decision to offer 0% finance on Hire Purchase agreements across the Volkswagen range comes as Volkswagen hold a 12.4 per cent share of the Irish passenger car market.

Commenting on the initiative, Paul Burke, Operations Director for Volkswagen Group Ireland said: “Volkswagen continues to be the most popular passenger car brand in Ireland however we know that many potential customers are struggling to put finance in place with many banks reluctant to lend.  Our customers have become more astute and recognise that by availing of a finance offer from Volkswagen bank they are able to access a more attractive, flexible finance offer.”

The typical term for a finance arrangement with Volkswagen bank is approximately 40 months, with customers now borrowing, on average €14,700.

Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion

Volkswagen today launched one of the world’s most fuel-efficient family cars: the new Golf BlueMotion. The super frugal family-hatch offers fuel economy of 88.3 mpg and CO2 emissions of just 85 g/km. 

With its 50-litre fuel tank and 88.3 mpg fuel consumption, the new Golf BlueMotion has a theoretical range of 970 miles. Assuming an average annual driving distance of under 10,000 miles, most drivers will only have to refuel 10 times a year.

All this good news is achieved by super low rolling resistance tyres and longer gear ratios for the smooth six-speed manual gearbox and the now ubiquitous Stop/Start feature.

At the heart of the new Golf BlueMotion is a 1.6-litre 110 PS common rail TDI engine.

Irish Times Podcast

Here is me chatting to Neil Briscoe about the Mercedes Benz G Wagon.......

CLICK HERE FOR PODCAST

Good value at a hundred grand...............

On a recent trip to the Austrian Alps I spent a leisure afternoon at the thrill and ride of the Kitzbühel Off-road Experience. Hosted by Mercedes Benz in a vast and deep quarry, the experience allows those in attendance (and brave enough) a drive in a Mercedes Benz four-wheel-drive vehicle. On offer is the M Class,GLK Class, GL Class and G-Wagon. There was no decision to be made by me as it was always going to be the G-wagon. This in my opinion is the last word in luxury and off-road ability. Think of it as having the ability of a Land Rover Defender on the outside and the luxury and plush finish of a Bentley on the inside. After saddling up in the cosy cabin with my very Germanic and friendly instructor, Michael, we set off in low-ratio gearbox between the red cones and down a hill to our first obstacle, a left-to-right bend on an angle of about 22 degrees with plenty of snow and ice under our winter tyres. I continued to drive for about twenty minutes before handing over to Michael who showed me "how it's done".... We crawled up severe inclines with all three differential locks on and not a spin of even one tyre. We made our way down to the very pit of the quarry where there were ice holes and 30 degree tilt turns waiting for us. All were no problem for this mighty machine, the original and best All-Terrain-Vehicle money can buy.  I asked what price the G-Wagon we were driving was and was told it was Eur 100,000 in Germany and I instantly thought to myself what great value it was at that price.

The G-Wagon is made under contract agreement by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria for Mercedes Benz and has been since it was first launched in 1979.

Booking is essential.  http://www.kitzbuehel.com/en/news-and-events/events/Mercedes-Benz+4MATIC+-+Experience_te29690