BMW’s Sixth-Gen M5

 

BMW’s beloved M5 is now in its sixth generation, more advanced than ever if not quite as good looking as previous incarnations. The grandaddy of the high performance super saloon, the latest edition is set to launch on Irish shores in February 2018, complete with a rebooted 4.4L V8 engine, a new all-wheel drive system (m xDrive) specific to the M-badge as standard, an eight-speed automatic transmission (Drivelogic allows for quicker gear changes), and performance figures that make the M5 the fastest and most powerful 5 Series BMW has produced to date.

Karoq’s Irish due date

The Skoda Karoq, set to replace the much-loved and highly versatile Yeti, is due to arrive in Irish dealerships in early December according to Skoda Ireland. The five-seater compact SUV, essentially a smaller version of the new Kodiaq, will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt International Motor Show next month.

Audi’s RS 5 Coupé looks amazing

This is the new Audi RS 5 Coupé, a tasty performance car which Audi says is the perfect combination of “elegant aesthetics with everyday usability”. Fabulous to look at and reportedly sensational to drive, it’s a big marker laid down for BMW’s M division.

The figures are certainly tantalising. Powered by a 2.8L V6 bi-turbo engine, you’ll have 450hp and 600 Nm torque at your disposal, with the ability to spring from 0-100km/h in a mere 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h.

Rugged efficiency: The Bollinger B1

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Enjoy the ruggedness of a Land Rover Defender or Jeep Wrangler, but want something far more efficient and designed with just a pencil and ruler?

New York-based Bollinger Motors has claimed it has developed the world’s first electric off-roading SUT (sport utility truck), the rather utilitarian all-wheel drive Bollinger B1. It certainly sounds like a nifty vehicle – 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds, top speed of 204km/h, 360hp on tap, and 639Nm torque. The onboard batteries offer a range of up to 321km, depending on whether you opt for the 60 or 100 kWh version, with charging times of seven and 12 hours respectively.

Caddy means business

For small business owners on the hunt for a new vehicle, the case for investing in a small panel van is quite strong. They’re generally quite cheap to buy, the engines offer decent fuel economy, tax is low thanks to their status as commercial couriers, VAT can usually be claimed back, and there’s plenty of space in the back for cargo. There’s also quite a few options on the market from which to choose, ranging from the likes of the cheap as chips Citroen Berlingo to the Ford Transit Connect or Volkswagen’s popular Caddy at the top of the pile.

Annoying motorway habits

According to a recent survey by easytrip, the thing that frustrates Irish motorists the most on the motorway is when people don’t use their indicators. If you ask me, that should be extended to every single road – for the most part indicators are either used sparingly or when the driver has already started making their turn, which really defeats their purpose.

BMW launches emissions allowance

Fancy a new BMW or Mini with €2,000 chopped off the price-tag?

BMW Ireland has just announced its Lower Emissions Incentive Allowance, essentially a €2,000 grant towards a new electric, hybrid or standard model with CO2 emissions of 130g/km or less.

Available until December 31st, to qualify for the scheme you’ll need to trade in a diesel vehicle that meets the Euro-4 emissions standard or below. If you don’t have any idea what that means, BMW has developed a handy online tool to see if your old car qualifies.

Tyres under pressure

Keeping your tyres properly inflated will both save you money and improve your safety on the road – underinflated tyres result in worse fuel efficiency and increase stopping distances and the risk of aquaplaning. The risk can be even greater in heavier vehicles with larger load weights than your average family car.

Tracking charge points

Photo: Paul Sharp/SHARPPIX

If you’ve ever driven an electric vehicle (EV), you might know the frustration of arriving at a charge point only to discover there are no free spaces. If you’re running low on juice, it could mean a worrying and rather slow drive to the next available location.

Zap-Map, however, aims to fix this. One of the leading charging platforms in the UK, Zap-Map has just announced the launch of its app for EV drivers in the Republic of Ireland, incorporating live data from ESB and its network of over 1,200 charge points across the country.

Meet the Super Soco

Electric motorbikes aren’t a new concept by any means, but a newly launched e-motorbike promises to ‘reinvent urban mobility’.

Across the Irish Sea, the Super Soco is being styled as the UK’s first affordable e-motorbike, the result of a partnership between Australian electric scooter company V-Moto and a Chinese crowd-funded project to the tune of $15m, which is now being imported into Europe.