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With fertiliser costs still a significant input cost, farmers must rely on their fertiliser spreaders to be as efficient and accurate as possible. Padraig Kehoe, a tillage farmer, shared his experience after 2 years spent using the Kverneland Exacta TL GEOSPREAD and its effect on his crops. “I do find it is a good investment because at the current fertiliser prices there’s no room for inaccuracy, you have to be getting the most for your investment in fertiliser and this is one way of making sure you have no wastage whatsoever”. Located in The Ballagh, just outside Enniscorthy Padraig farms one hundred per cent tillage, growing wheat, barley, oats along with oilseed rape and beans. Two years ago he was in the market for a Disc Spreader and after doing his research he settled on the Exacta TL GEOSPREAD for a number of reasons. “We liked a lot of the key features that were unique, the reference sensor which makes the weighing and the application rate extremely accurate”, he says. He emphasised that “you have less risk of the spread pattern altering because of slope”, making the Exacta TL GEOSPREAD a very impressive investment as it boasts with an unrivalled accuracy preventing fertilizer wastage for maximum returns. “All my fields are stored on the machine and I can just take them off with the USB and put them on the laptop and I find it extremely accurate and I’m more than happy with the spread pattern as well.” For Padraig, good after sales service is critical. “The backup is vital now, especially when you’re dealing with machines.. You’re going to need someone on the other end of the phone”. He finds that Kverneland’s service department support are always on hand to give assistance., “There’s no issue you can ring any time.” Kverneland’s unique approach to precision spreading involves matching fertiliser quality and density to the spreading charts as closely as possible. The essential parameters to adjust the spreader correctly are the physical properties of fertiliser not the name or nutrient content. This is what controls the spreading pattern and accuracy. One of its key features is the CentreFlow spreading system ensuring that there is no impact, fragmentation or dust thanks to a central release point and a smart association of acceleration and centrifugal force allowing the fertilizer to be brought to sufficient speed before hitting the disc and its 8 vanes. These guarantee a continuous flow of fertilizer to the field, an essential requirement for efficient and high capacity spreading. Leonard Hovenden, product manager arable and cropcare Kverneland Group Ireland notes that’s Pardraig’s model is the top of the range machine, the TL GEOSPREAD, with section control, controlled by GPS. “So by using a machine like the TL GEOSPREAD it ensures that he’s accurate in his application of his fertiliser to maximise his input costs, but also to maximise his yield” Leonard finishes. See this walkthrough video on the Exacta range: The Exacta range includes the CL GEOSPREAD, TL GEOSPREAD and TLX GEOSPREAD all offering precision farming functionalities. For more information on Kverneland Disc Spreaders: - Kverneland Spreading-Equipment Contact Kverneland: Leonard Hovenden: Product Manager Arable & Cropcare – 00353 87 147 5137 Allan Hetherington: Area North – 0044 7826 544 630 Greg Tennyson: Area South - 00353 87 700 9689 Website: www.kverneland.ie Kverneland Group is a leading international company developing, producing and distributing agricultural machinery and services. Strong focus on innovation allows us to provide a unique and broad product range with high quality. Kverneland Group offers an extensive package aimed at the professional farming community, covering the areas of soil preparation, seeding, forage and bale equipment, spreading, spraying and electronic solutions for agricultural tractors and machinery.

We name the winning vehicles from the most prestigious awards of this year! The new Hyundai IONIQ 6 has won the prestigious World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle and World Car Design of the Year, lauded by an international jury for its unique aerodynamic design and outstanding all-electric range. World Car Awards revealed the results at a ceremony held in New York earlier this year. A jury of 100 automotive journalists from 32 countries chose IONIQ 6 from the top three finalists, all launched in 2022. This is Hyundai’s second straight triple honors at the World Car Awards. Last year, the jury named IONIQ 5 the winner in the same categories. The IONIQ 6 is the second model in Hyundai’s dedicated all-electric lineup brand, IONIQ. It takes full advantage of a bespoke Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture to offer 800-V, ultra-fast charging capabilities and a spacious interior. With an ultra-low drag coefficient of just 0.21, IONIQ 6 is one of the most aerodynamic and energy efficient EVs on the market. The Electrified Streamliner’s WLTP rated range on a single charge is 620 kilometres. IONIQ 6’s many features include Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, driver assistance systems and advanced connectivity with over-the-air (OTA) software updates that offer the ultimate in-car experience. The spacious and ergonomic interior takes full advantage of the elongated 2,950 mm wheelbase to provide an array of empowering features, such as Dual Color Ambient Lighting, Speed Sync Lighting, EV Performance Tune-up and Electric Active Sound Design (e-ASD), to enhance the electric mobility experience. In addition, IONIQ 6 has won prestigious awards during the past few months as it’s been named ‘Saloon of the Year’ at the 2023 GQ Car Awards and ‘New Car of the Year’ hosted by Le Guide de l’auto. Plus, it achieved a five-star safety rating and ‘Best in Class’ selection in the ‘Large Family Car’ category from Euro NCAP. The IONIQ brand’s winning this year will help to energise Hyundai Motor’s efforts to accelerate its electrification strategy and become the world’s leading EV maker. Hyundai Motor plans to introduce 17 new BEV models by 2030, including Genesis luxury brand models, and aims to boost annual global BEV sales to 1.87 million units by 2030. The new IONIQ 6 is now available to order in Ireland from €48,295 from your local Hyundai dealer. European Car Of The Year 2023 The all-new Jeep Avenger, the brand’s first-ever battery electric vehicle (BEV), has been named European Car of the Year 2023. The compact Jeep Avenger B-SUV is the first Jeep brand vehicle to win this prestigious award in the competition’s 60-year history. The Avenger was shortlisted with six other finalists, which were the Kia Niro, Nissan Ariya, Peugeot 408, Renault Austral, Subaru Solterra/Toyota bZ4X and the Volkswagen ID Buzz. The winner was decided by votes from an independent panel of 57 expert jurors from 22 countries, organized by nine automotive publications. The Avenger’s score was 328 points attracting 21 ‘best’ votes, and it was 87 points ahead of the second placed vehicle. The jurors from all but one country ranked the Avenger in a top three ‘podium’ position. The introduction of the Jeep Avenger in Europe marks the beginning of the next phase of the electrification of the Jeep brand – the BEV wave – that will see four fully electric vehicles hit the market by 2025. By the end of 2030, the Jeep brand’s European sales will be 100% pure electric. The new Avenger is a compact SUV, which, at just four meters in length, is positioned in the rapidly growing B-SUV the second biggest European segment in terms of volume. Agile, capable, quiet, and fun to drive, it offers dynamic performance levels thanks to its instant torque. The new SUV is for active people who are looking for a vehicle with compact dimensions and state-of-the-art technological features. With an electric fuel range of up to 400 km in the WLTP cycle and more than 550 km in the city. A new electric powertrain combines a unique 400-volt electric motor with 115 kilowatts and 260 Nm of maximum torque and a new 54 kWh battery. Building on the success of the exclusive 1st Edition, a fully equipped launch version of which 8,000 units were sold following its launch at the Paris Motor Show in October, orders can now be made on the entire Jeep Avenger range. The first deliveries are expected in the second quarter of this year. The all-new Jeep Avenger is available at a competitive price, aimed at facilitating the transition to electric powertrains. In countries where Government incentives are in place, the new Jeep Avenger BEV will be available in Ireland soon with prices estimated to be around €30,000. Irish Car Of The Year 2023 At an awards ceremony held in the Westin Hotel, Dublin, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz was named as the 2023 Irish Car of the Year in association with Continental Tyres. Members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), the grouping that brings together some 32 of Ireland’s most experienced motoring journalists, hosted the awards event attended by Ireland’s leading car brands, importers and distributors. The awards are voted on by the members of the MMAI who individually assess each new car model that is launched in Ireland each year. The all-electric ID. Buzz uses the same 77kWh battery as the Volkswagen ID.4 and delivers a 420km range from a single charge. Volkswagen took the top award with its latest all electric ID. Buzz model and, the van version, the ID. Buzz Cargo, won the Irish Van of the Year title at the same ceremony, a first in the history of the awards. It is the third time that an electric vehicle has taken the award as Kia EVs also won the 2022 and 2020 Irish Car of the Year titles with the all electric EV6 and e-Soul respectively. Irish buyers for the new ID. Buzz will have the choice of four specification grades to include Life, Family, Tech and Max with pricing kicking off from €67,190. The Irish Car of the year category winners: 1. Irish Small Car of the Year: Fiat 500e 2. Irish Compact Car of the Year: Opel Astra 3. Irish Compact Executive Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4. Irish Compact Crossover / SUV of the Year: Kia Niro 5. Irish Medium Crossover / SUV of the Year: Kia Sportage 6. Irish Large Crossover / SUV of the Year: Citroen C5X
7. Irish MPV of the Year: Volkswagen ID. Buzz 8. Irish Luxury Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz EQS 9. Irish Large Executive Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz EQE 10. Irish Performance Car of the Year: BMW i4 M50

Škoda Auto have announced they will accelerate their e-campaign and will grow the BEV line-up to a total of six models by 2026. The Czech brand will have a particularly diverse electric portfolio in four years’ time, offering the right vehicle for every customer. In addition to the Škoda Enyaq and the Enyaq Coupé, due to be updated in 2025 in line with the new Modern Solid design language, Škoda is planning to introduce four new all electric vehicles: a “Small” as an entry-level electric SUV, a “Compact”, which will officially be called Elroq, a “Combi” estate model and a “Space”, the production version of the Vision 7S concept. Škoda Auto will have invested a total of 5.6 billion euros in e-mobility by 2027. In 2024, the first upcoming BEV vehicle will be the “Compact”, which will officially be called Elroq. Measuring around 4.50 metres in length and boasting a similar combination of compact dimensions and a spacious, very practical interior, the Elroq will be the all-electric successor to the Škoda Karoq. It will further expand the Czech brand’s model portfolio in the SUV segment. The future entry-level model will bear the working title “Small”. It will be a sub-compact car priced around 25,000 euros, that will make electric mobility affordable. The model will be produced at a Volkswagen Group Plant in Spain and introduced in 2025. At around 4.10 metres in length, it will offer a similar luggage capacity as the Scala. In 2025, the Enyaq and Enyaq Coupé will receive a comprehensive update and adopt the new Modern Solid design language first showcased on the Vision 7S. The Enyaq iV models were the first Škoda vehicles to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electrification Platform (MEB) and as such have been emblematic of the brand’s new era of electric mobility since 2020 (Enyaq Coupé since 2022). The “Combi” will play a key role among the four new models. This approximately 4.70 metre-long model will be the brand’s first all-electric estate car, taking the strengths of this particularly popular and successful Škoda body style into the electric age. The “Combi” estate BEV will be introduced in 2026. The largest of Škoda’s future BEVs will be the “Space” – the production version of the Vision 7S concept It will be around 4.90 metres long and round off upper end of the portfolio. These announcements highlight Škoda's ambition to position themselves at the forefront of EV offerings not just here in Ireland but across the markets in which they operate in. To see a list of current Škoda trusted dealers simply visit www.donedeal.ie and have a browse.

Picture the scene, you have made the move to an electric vehicle and you are enjoying that surge of electric power every time you wish to overtake. Equally addictive is that regenerative braking each time you lift off but wait a minute; surely this is hard on tyres? Well the answer isn’t as clear cut as that but yes, EV’s in general are considerably heavier than combustion powered vehicles and therefor can be harder on rubber depending on your daily commute. Many EV manufacturers work with tyre companies to specially develop tyres for a particular model, with the aim of providing tyres that increase the comfort of the journey and help to maximise the driving range between vehicle charging. EVs are generally fitted with low rolling resistance tyres that maximise energy usage. In addition, because EVs are generally silent, tyres are chosen for their low tyre / road noise characteristics so as to increase driver and passenger comfort, such as tyres with the ContiSilent technology as developed by Continental, which can reduce road noise by up to 9 decibels. All of these requirements are taken into account when tyres are specified or developed for a new EV model. So wait a minute? You mean I can’t just buy any set of cheap tyres when it’s time to change? Well not exactly. You can take your EV to any tyre shop and they will no doubt have a set to fit it but if they are not EV specific, you run the risk of wearing the rubber out much faster and also depleting the battery range. The dedicated EV tyres have a strong rubber compound for the battery weight and yet low rolling resistance, meaning they have been developed specifically for electric vehicles. These tyres are not going to be made of algae or include photosynthesising micro-plants in their construction. In fact more and more manufacturers are aiming to produce tyres made out of recycled materials in keeping with the eco build ethos. Most manufacturers have your best interests at heart, which is why the tyres that come with your first alternative-energy vehicle will likely suit you fine and should be replaced with the same type once again. Opting for standard tyres may be less expensive to purchase at first, but it is likely you will spend more money replacing incorrectly-fitted tyres than you would committing to EV specific rubber in the first place. Use these DoneDeal tips for purchasing new EV tyres! EV specific low-rolling resistance Decent high sidewalls protect alloys The deeper the tread the longer they last Be sure the weight capacity is right for the vehicle Shop around for the best price!

The most powerful all-electric BMW model: BMW M is introducing an all-electric performance model to spearhead the new BMW 7 Series range. The BMW i7 M70 xDrive (electric power consumption combined: 23.8 – 20.8 kWh/100 km in the WLTP cycle) is the most powerful model with an all-electric drive system in the overall BMW Group portfolio. Equipped with an electric motor at both the front and rear axle generating a maximum system output of 485 kW/660 hp* and an M-specific chassis, the new BMW i7 M70 xDrive delivers the perfect combination of electric mobility and performance, resulting in a driving experience unique in the luxury segment. The range-topping model of the new BMW 7 Series line-up accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, making it the fastest all-electric BMW model. Top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). Producing the highest output ever for an all-electric car from the BMW Group, the BMW i7 M70 xDrive marks another milestone for BMW M GmbH in its electric mobility transformation. Following the launch of the BMW i4 M50 – BMW M GmbH’s best-selling model worldwide in 2022 – and the BMW iX M60, this is now the company’s third performance model to have an all-electric drive system. The success of electric propulsion among BMW M brand enthusiasts, the consistent expansion of the product offering and the repeated increases in drive system output clearly highlight the huge potential of electric tech to deliver performance that captures the imagination. The new all-electric performance model from BMW M will make its global debut at the Auto Shanghai international motor show this week in China. It will be built at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, together with all other model variants of the luxury sedan. As well as being the lead plant for luxury models, the production facility in Lower Bavaria is also home to the competence centre for electric drive system production, which manufactures both the electric motors and the high-voltage batteries for all variants of the BMW i7 on site. The worldwide launch of the BMW i7 M70 xDrive will start in the second half of 2023.

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. Maxus are no stranger to the pick up world having produced diesel versions for many years. The recipe is simple really; build a workhorse with a decent payload/towing capacity with off road capability and if you get the price point right, surely you are on to a winner! In theory this works with combustion power but can it work when you introduce an electric version only? Well, let’s find out with the Maxus T90EV. First impressions are good, I mean it looks like a like a rugged off-roader ready to take on any mission. Up front the large grill wears the Maxus logo proud whilst to the rear, modern taillights sit each side of the tailgate which is adorned by an oversized Maxus badge leaving you under no doubt what vehicle you are sitting behind. Standard equipment includes reversing camera, rear parking sensors, faux leather seats a ten-inch touchscreen and tasteful 17-inch alloy wheels. Optional extras to pick from include all-terrain tyres, tow bar, winch pack and rear bay roller cover. We were informed that Maxus also offers a subscription to ‘Maxus intelligence onboard’ that pulls live data from the vehicle such as location, speed, driver behaviour and current charge which could work well for fleet operators. Inside the T90EV is comfortable with six-way adjustable electric front seats. Some of the dash plastics are cheap to touch but in the world of pick up’s this isn’t all that uncommon. The fact that it was born as a diesel is somewhat event by the blank spots where the diesel gauge would have been or indeed the drive selector for going off road. Another unusual quirk is the key start, which is very rare for an electric vehicle! Powering the T90EV is an 88kWh battery, which provides a claimed driving range of approximately 350 kilometres. This in the real world is considerably less running the heating with low daytime temperatures, as we would later find out. Four-wheel drive is currently not available, so the T90EV gets a single 150kW motor powering the rear wheels. Setting off on our test-drive Connemara bound we got to take in a number of different roads including smooth motorway, rough back roads and mountainous passes to capitalise on some snowy scenery. On the motorway the T90EV pulls better than a diesel up to the speed limit and the cabin is quiet and well put together. Back roads however did pose an issue with the ride becoming a little more, busy to say the least. Ordinarily pick-ups do dance and buck a bit until you have weight in the rear bed to settle the leaf springs but the T90EV certainly puts the seat cushioning to the test over rough surfaces. Perhaps it’s the low-slung battery packs visible underneath. With just 19cm of clearance to the ground and a protruding rear motor, off-roading is most certainly a no go. So what can you carry or possibly pull with the T90EV? Well Maxus state a payload of up to 1,000kg and a braked towing capacity of 1,500kg. For comparison most diesel pick-ups will tow at least 3000kg. You would have to imagine fully loaded the range would suffer drastically under pressure also. So who will opt for an electric pick up and where is it best suited? For light city work the Maxus T90EV would most likely be ideal. Although not applicable in Ireland just yet it will win in emission free zones with no competition in many markets at present. If your company works in tunnels, indoors or perhaps in noise sensitive areas the T90EV will be the silent emission free workhorse providing you don’t go off road! We spent a day getting to know the T90EV and it is a perfectly acceptable vehicle if used in the right application. As we were out west it would be amiss of me not mention my return journey to Dublin and how it faired out on range. With an indicated 308 kilometre range left and a 246 kilometre journey I knew it would be tight given the freezing daytime temperatures. Once on the motorway I brought the T90EV up to the speed limit and flicked on the heating. Immediately I lost 80 kilometres of range so quickly opted to put back on my jacket! As the kilometres passed my range anxiety began to build. I reduced speed from 120km/h to 100km/h and three quarter way into my return journey, it became evident I wouldn’t make it back to Dublin. At this point the range gauge was dropping into the red but with 30 kilometres left and 20 to a charging station I figured we were safe. Moments later the vehicle limited the power to 80 kph and subsequently 60 kph for the last 10 kilometres of my journey. I suppose these are things you never find out unless you truly test a vehicle! Needless to say I made it to the charge station with 1% of battery to spare. The last 30 kilometres felt like an eternity but for some reason I was happy the T90EV limited the power like an old school fuel tank reserve, which aided me in getting to the charge point. Once plugged into the fast charger, the T90EV received 50% of its capable range in just 30 minutes while I took on board some much needed caffeine. My final jaunt to Dublin was less stressful and the T90EV was returned in one piece. The final piece of this puzzle is indeed the price. Maxus have listed the T90EV Elite specification which we tested at €75,650 including Vat and VRT. This puts it up there with, and above many of its combustion-powered competitors. The big question is, does this two-wheel drive electric pick up suit your needs or should we wait for an all wheel drive variant with a larger battery? For Rugged Looks Against Range a little short Slightly hard on the road DoneDeal hosts the widest selection of cars for sale in Ireland, with 78,000 on sale today. The vast majority of those, over 60,000, are from over 1,000 trusted local dealerships that offer certainty in your purchase through warranties History checks. One car ad is placed every minute on DoneDeal, with about 600,000 cars advertised a year. DoneDeal is Ireland's No.1 Motor Website with over 70 million car searches taking place annually. To check out DoneDeal’s range of cars from all of Ireland’s trusted car dealerships, see here. #Motors

Argo Tractors, the Italian multinational manufacturer of Landini, McCormick, and Valpadana tractors, continues its move toward a more sustainable business aimed at compliance with stringent ethical standards. The latest intervention is the connection to the grid of a solar power system installed above the production site in Fabbrico, in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The panels, which cover only a portion of the total factory area, will provide a production capacity of 2,200,000 kWh per year when fully operational. The operation, which was completed in just a few months, resulted in the installation of 3,104 solar panels with an output of 1,691 kWh. “Argo Tractors continues to do its part to protect the environment”, explained Antonio Salvaterra, Marketing Director, “and in this case it is an investment that fits with our interpretation of sustainability. And we do not intend to stop here: in fact, a similar operation is being studied that will affect the plant in San Martino in Rio (RE) with plans to lay 1,024 panels to ensure an annual energy production capacity of 750,000 kWh. This is in line with the larger investments in R&D, amounting to 5.5% of annual turnover, which result in the introduction of new technologies that not only facilitate human labour but also reduce process and product costs. We have always been attentive to these issues and include them in any reflections that anticipate strategic choices”. Also part of this far-reaching eco-friendly programme are: the WaterWall project conceived to significantly reduce the use of oils through a regeneration process of cooling lubricants and also the exclusive use of water-soluble paints, which have replaced traditional solvent-based paints since the early 2000s, while maintaining a high quality standard. Not forgetting the Landini REX4 Electra prototypes, presented in 2020, and the Landini REX4 Full Hybrid, in 2022: two solutions that illustrate the interpretation of sustainable technology in both environmental and industrial terms. The REX4 Full Hybrid is energy-saving and fully electrically powered, including hydraulic pumps and operator-controlled cab air conditioning. REX4 Electra, on the other hand, is primarily focused on driving comfort and manoeuvrability, combined with energy savings through energy recovery during deceleration and braking. These are two products in the prototype stage aiming to broaden the horizon of an already very wide product range tailored to the needs of more modern and sustainable agriculture.

A report into us this week from the AA states that fuel prices have fallen to the lowest since the start of the war in Ukraine. The average petrol price across the state is €1.59, the lowest since September 2021. Diesel fuel has dropped significantly, with the average at €1.51, 9% less than last month. However, these prices are unlikely to last as a phased restoration of previously reduced rates of excise on petrol and diesel will take place in three stages over the coming months. This reintroduction of duty will see rates restored on the 1st of June by 6 cents per litre of petrol and 5 cents per litre of diesel. On the 1st of September, these rates will increase by 7 cents for petrol and 5 cents for diesel. The Government will fully restore the rates on the 31st of October with a final increase of 8 cents for petrol and 6 cents for diesel. Meanwhile, EV drivers are paying almost identical amounts this month as electricity prices remain elevated. The average EV driver is paying €1,131.04 to charge their car over the course of the year, down from €1,138.13 in the previous month. However, those that are taking advantage of Smart Meters and cheap night rates are paying as little as €421.43 to cover the same 17,000km distance. Those that are charging exclusively on public chargers could be paying up to €2,150.27 per year. With wholesale gas prices falling in recent months, EV drivers anxiously await a corresponding drop in electricity prices. Continued volatility in global markets and more long-term hedging mean these prices may take some time to pass on. The AA have also calculated a diesel car will travel, on average, around 850 km on a tank vs 700 km on petrol, which is why even though diesel is more expensive, the consumer is still likely to use less of it for the same average 17,000km per year.

The much anticipated all new Volkswagen ID.7 which will be the brand’s first global electric model for the upper mid-size class has been unveiled. The combination of ranges up to 700 kilometres (WLTP), superior powertrain, spacious interior and premium technologies makes the ID.7 a comfortable limousine for long distance travel and opens up a new segment for the ID. family. Sitting at almost five metres long, the model also has an enhanced customer-focused operating concept and a high-quality appearance. The ID.7 launch is planned for this year in Europe and China, and from 2024 in North America. The ID.7 is the first MEB model with a completely new, highly efficient drive generation. With 210 kW (286 PS), it is the most powerful and highest-torque electric drive motor in a Volkswagen ID. model so far. This power variant is used in the ID.7 independently of the chosen battery size. The power unit with the internal designation APP550 was developed together with Volkswagen Group Components in Kassel (Germany) and is also produced there. The new electric drive has been optimised above all in terms of its energy consumption. Depending on the battery sizes, it is predicted that WLTP ranges of up to 700 kilometres and charging capacities of up to about 200 kW will be possible. The ID.7 therefore underlines its long-distance suitability for frequent drivers and fleet customers. The ID.7 is almost five metres long and was designed based on aerodynamic principles. Its roof slopes elegantly to the rear in coupé style and contributes to achieving an excellent drag coefficient of about 0.23 depending on the vehicle equipment. The long wheelbase and short overhangs create plenty of space in the vehicle interior for all occupants. A new operating and display concept is introduced in the ID.7. With this, Volkswagen has reacted to feedback from its customers and improved the operating experience in relevant areas. This includes the following features as standard: − a 38-centimetre (15-inch) infotainment system screen − the augmented reality head-up display − a new air conditioning operating concept integrated on the top level of the infotainment system as well as freely assignable favourites buttons − a backlit touch slider With the new massage seats and the electronically dimmable panoramic sunroof, the ID.7 offers equipment options that are otherwise present only in the higher classes of premium competitors. The new panoramic sunroof with smart glass can be switched between opaque and transparent settings by touch control. Like many other functions in the ID.7, the roof can also be operated by means of natural voice commands – this takes place using the new IDA voice assistant. The optional front seats are also a new development: for the first time in a Volkswagen, they optionally offer adaptive seat Climatronic – with cooling or heating as required and also a drying function. A massage function with a seal of approval from the German Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) is also available. The range of options is rounded off by a 700-watt sound system from Harman Kardon: 14 high-end loudspeakers, including centre speaker at the front and subwoofer in the luggage compartment, provide an impressive sound experience with the new Volkswagen limousine. The Travel Assist with swarm data can take over lateral and longitudinal control of the ID.7 as needed. Volkswagen developed this feature together with CARIAD, the software company of the VW Group. If desired, the ID.7 can also use Travel Assist to support assisted lane changing on the multi-lane motorway at speeds above 90 km/h. The driver monitors this, but the strain of driving is significantly reduced. When it comes to parking, the electric Volkswagen can independently perform assisted manoeuvres in different ways. One of these is parking with memory function over a distance of up to 50 metres. For this, the driver either remains sitting in the ID.7 or monitors the parking procedure from outside the vehicle using the smartphone app. The new ID.7 is one of ten new electric models that will be launched by Volkswagen by 2026. This year alone sees the introduction of the new ID.3, the ID. Buzz with long wheelbase and the ID.7. An electric compact SUV and the production version of the ID. 2 all at a price of less than 25,000 euros are planned for 2026. This will give the car manufacturer the widest range of electric vehicles compared with its competitors. The new ID.7 will be produced in the Volkswagen plant in Emden (Germany) for the European and North American markets. In China, the corresponding ID.7 models will be produced locally.

Written by Justin Delaney, an Independent Reviewer, Journalist, and Motor expert. We were recently afforded the opportunity to join Motor Distributors Limited (MDL) on a trip to Spain to learn more about the inbound BYD (Build Your Dreams) brand. For those of you not aware, MDL have successfully distributed Mercedes-Benz passenger and commercial vehicles here in Ireland since 1955. They have vast experience working with a number of brands over the years and no doubt have somewhat changed the landscape in Ireland for how vehicles enter the country, and go to market. Now excitement levels are once again palpable, as the company becomes the BYD National Dealer and Partner in the Republic of Ireland. So who are BYD we hear you ask and furthermore why haven’t we heard much about this brand to date? Well, describing itself as ‘a global innovator of pioneering battery technology, and creator of some of the world’s most technologically advanced electric vehicles’, BYD has held top place in China for sales of new energy passenger vehicles for 10 years in a row. The company was founded in 1995 with a workforce of 20 people and now employs 600,000 people across the automotive, rail transit, new energy, and electronics divisions. Conquering the Chinese market with a population of over 1.4 Billion was indeed their first steps in the Automotive sector but now with new European headquarters in the Netherlands, the BYD Group are making a further commitment to deliver sustainable, safe and efficient new electric vehicles for the European market. So what sort vehicles are we talking about here and what are they like to drive? First to Irish market will be the C-Segment SUV offering called the ATTO 3. This neat little SUV is built on the company’s e-Platform 3.0 and comes with high levels of standard equipment, technology and safety. Using the incredibly advanced Blade Battery power unit powering a 60.5kWh motor, the 204hp ATTO 3 can blast from 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds and cover 420km on a single charge. This gives you a WLTP combined figure of 15.6kWh per 100km of energy consumption, which is pretty impressive. There are three driving modes to include Eco, Normal and Sport driving with two different levels of brake energy regeneration that are both pretty mild. All BYD’s have a high-efficiency integrated heat pump as a standard. We took in a 90-minute test drive over Catalonia’s mountainous back roads and found the ATTO 3 a pleasure to drive. Yes you get the usual bongs, beeps and lane monitoring software that can be somewhat overkill but everything is configurable through the ‘easy to use’ large central 12.8-inch touch screen which can also be rotated 90-degrees at the touch of a button. The visibility is great with the faux leather seats offering comfort and support on par with any of the European rivals. That support was needed also because we found the ATTO 3 had a tendency to torque steer a little when pushed on coming out of a corner. Further inspection revealed the car was indeed on winter tyres having spent some time recently with the media in Germany. With that said, we trust the vehicle would be perfectly compliant on normal rubber giving the fact that it was 24 degrees with road temperatures no doubt higher! Next to hit the Irish market towards the back end of 2023 will be the Dolphin with a range of 427 km. This vehicle is slightly smaller in stature and will mark the entry point into BYD ownership. Pre production models were available for us to test drive and through a slalom style track session, we got to experience the Dolphin under hard acceleration, braking and cornering. Using the same powertrain as the ATTO 3 it felt very similar and surefooted on Continental Tyres even when driven spiritedly. Cabin space was plentiful in the front and rear even with four 6-footers on board. It’s hard not to notice that the interior design oozes a certain charm from the “Ocean Aesthetics” which BYD take seriously in their vehicles. Looking at he bigger pictures it is BYD’s ambition to cool the earth by a degree in temperature and indeed to help clean our oceans by harvesting and using as many recycled sustainable materials in production. The cobalt-free Blade Batteries use Lithium Iron-Phosphate (LFP) as its cathode material, which offers a much higher level of safety over conventional lithium-ion batteries. LFP has inherently excellent thermal stability in any conditions, which we found out with our next test drive of the SEAL. The SEAL is undoubtedly the best looking machine in the BYD family at present. It takes styling cues from a number of vehicles but somehow blends them into a uniquely BYD package which the brand should be very proud of. The SEAL implements something called Cell-to-Body (CTB) technology, which fully integrates the BYD 82kWh Blade Battery into the floor pan structure and enhances the vehicle's safety. This naturally gives the vehicle a low centre of gravity and crash tests have proved it is incredibly safe. There will be a rear wheel drive only version with 313hp or the dual motor all wheel drive variant with 530hp and range of between 520 km to 570 km. Our first taste of the good-looking SEAL was on track doing the 0-100km/h sprint. The rear of the car wears a badge that states 3.8S which some might think refers to engine size but it is indeed the time it takes to reach 100km/h from a standing start. We took great pleasure in putting this to the test numerous times and the performance never dropped with the SEAL recording the sprint in 3.8 seconds and in some cases lower! Cabin and build quality look and feel as good as any electric vehicle on the market from not just our American friends but also the current German offerings. Boot space of 402 litres and a 53-litre frunk in the front end of the car makes it super practical to live with. MDL expect to see this vehicle in 2024 but such is the pace from BYD and how they do business, don’t be surprised if they do make it to Ireland later this year! Just to give you an example of their determination, BYD were not happy with possible logistic partner offerings and price hikes so they purchased 6 cargo vessels at a cost of $700-million to transport up to 7,700 vehicles each to the markets they are now operating in. They have now built over 3-million electric vehicles and operate in over 400 cities across 70 countries and regions on 6 continents. It’s slightly difficult to comprehend the size, scale and pace they are working at but all we can say is, watch this space. The Irish EV market looks set to change and it’s about to get very interesting! At the time of writing a number of ATTO 3’s have arrived into the country. Like always we will do a full comprehensive review on each model after spending some time on familiar roads. All cars will have a least two trim levels to choose from and pricing on each, will be confirmed in the not to distant future.

Kia recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its dedicated plant for the production of battery-electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV). The ceremony was held at Kia’s Hwaseong plant, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, and was attended by over 200 people, including government officials, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Kia’s Global President and CEO Ho Sung Song, and other employees from Hyundai Motor Group and the automotive parts industry. Kia will invest around one trillion won (approximately USD 758 million) to secure 99,000 acres of land, with the company planning to start mass-production in the second half of 2025. It plans to produce 150,000 units in the first full year, with the potential to expand in line with future market conditions. The new PBV plant will be built as an eco-friendly plant that applies future innovative manufacturing technologies while minimising carbon emissions. It will also seek efficiency and intelligence with Hyundai Motor and Kia’s smart factory brand ‘E-FOREST technologies’* such as digital manufacturing systems. One of the innovative manufacturing processes to be implemented at the new PBV plant is known as the ‘cellular (or cell) method,’ which allows vehicle production based on diverse customer demands. The cell method is a process layout strategy that groups together machines or workstations that are used to produce similar products or parts. The goal of the cell method is to create a more efficient and flexible manufacturing process by reducing the distance that materials and products need to travel during production. Under the cell method, machines are arranged in a way that optimises the flow of materials and products between workstations, with the aim of minimising downtime, reducing costs and increasing productivity. The PBV plant’s cutting-edge manufacturing system unifies the new cell method with the original mass-production conveyor system to allow flexible production with more customisation of various product types. In addition, the PBV plant will be built as a low-carbon factory by operating a dry booth, a nature-friendly construction method, during the painting process of vehicle manufacturing, and reducing carbon emissions by about 20 per cent compared to existing factories by utilising natural light and streamlining the manufacturing process. Kia will also apply innovative technologies such as automation of facilities using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), automation of painting quality inspection under the vehicle, automation of installation of parts such as glass, vehicle name, and company logo, and real-time automatic measurement quality data analysis to autonomously correct and install the vehicle body in real time. The new facility will be a ‘human-friendly’ plant by pushing automation in heavy-duty work and tasks that require looking up at the ceiling, while enhancing the feeling of ‘openness’ and also reducing noise levels. Kia plans to show SW (project name), the first model in the company’s dedicated PBV line-up, in 2025. The model will be a mid-sized PBV and will be based on the “eS” platform, a dedicated skateboard platform for battery electric PBVs, enabling various types of vehicle bodies to be flexibly combined. SW has been developed to respond to various business demands such as delivery, ride hailing, and business-to-business (B2B) transactions thanks to its excellent load structure and spacious indoor space that reaches the height of an adult. After launching the mid-sized SW PBV, Kia plans to expand its product line-up to large-sized PBVs that can be used for logistics, fresh food delivery, multi-seat shuttles, and mobile offices and stores as well as small-sized PBVs and mid-sized robotaxis applied with autonomous driving technology. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Hyundai Motor Group also outlined its aim to become one of the world’s top three EV manufacturers by 2030 through the combined sales of Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis electric models. The Group also announced that it plans to significantly expand the annual EV production in Korea to 1.51 million units and global volume to 3.64 million units by 2030. To enable such plans, Hyundai Motor and Kia, alongside with Hyundai MOBIS, plan to invest KRW 24 trillion (approximately 18 billion USD) in the EV sector domestically. In 2030, Hyundai Motor Group will have a total line-up of 31 EV models, including models from Hyundai Motor, Kia, and luxury brand Genesis. Kia will launch EV9, its first three-row seat electric flagship SUV, this year and Hyundai Motor plans to launch the IONIQ 7 in 2024. Hyundai Motor Group’s large-scale investment aims to upgrade Korea’s EV ecosystem and strengthen its role as a hub for driving innovation in the global future automotive industry. It is also expected to promote a virtuous cycle of domestic EV production, R&D, infrastructure, and related industries.

Exciting news for those considering purchasing an EV as Renault Ireland together with its 33 dealerships has announced a new competitive offer on the already popular and award winning all new Megane E-Tech 100% electric. Megane E-Tech electric is the first of a new generation of electric vehicles built on the advanced CMF-EV platform, styled within the brand’s ‘sensual tech’ design language and the first model to wear the new ‘Nouvel’R’ logo. With an electric driving range of up to 450km (WLTP), all new Megane E-Tech 100% electric also features a class-leading digital experience with a 12.3-inch dashboard display, 9-inch multimedia display, and Android Automotive OS with integrated Google services. With up to 26 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features available across the range the model also has a 5 star NCAP rating. Megane E-Tech electric is available with a 60kWh battery with 450km range, a 220hp electric motor, 130 kW DC charging and also a 40kWh battery with 300km range, a 130hp electric motor, and 85 kW DC charging with 22kW AC charging standard on all versions. Three trim lines are available - Equilibre, Techno, and Launch Edition. With the SEAI grant available for electric vehicles being reduced from €5,000 to €3,500 from July 1st customers looking to purchase a Megane E-Tech electric can still save by availing of a reduced APR of 4.9% (down from 5.9%) on all cars ordered by 30th June and registered by 31st July. As part of this offer the max GMFV will also be increased to 50%, giving customer savings in their monthly finance payments of almost €2,000 over the finance term. As one of the few manufacturers not to have increased the price of electric vehicles in 2023, Renault has also announced that it will push out any price increase to the 1st of June. This offer will be welcome by customers looking to switch to electric or upgrade their EV and will be further enhanced at Renault’s 33 dealerships where in-house offers will be available. Customers can ask their local Renault dealer about specific offers including the option of a home charger, boosted trade-in or lower rate finance. Dealerships are also offering 24-hour test drives for customers looking at purchasing a Megane E-Tech electric. Prices for customers, including the €5,000 SEAI grant, start at €37,495 for the 40kWh versions and €41,995 for the 60kWh versions. Renault’s in-house bank, Mobilize Financial Services offer PCP from €249 per month with 4.9% APR. Customers can ask their local Renault dealer for specific additional offers. Customers looking to get more information on all new Megane E-Tech 100% electric offer can log on to www.donedeal.ie and check out our trusted Renault Dealers.