A round-up of today's other news in brief
Lamborghini SUV
Lamborghini plans to make a new 4x4 to rival the likes of the Range Rover and Cadillac Escalade. The new SUV, to be shared under the skin with a similar new model for Bentley, is set to use the mighty 500bhp V10 engine from the Gallardo sports car. Lamborghini will do a hybrid version to alleviate fuel consumption and emissions worries, but don’t expect a green fanfare when the car is revealed in Beijing this April.
New 3-Series has a much better spec
BMW launched its new 3-Series onto the Irish market this week, vying to take on rivals like the Audi A4, but also to move closer to the best-selling BMW 5-Series range. The look is an evolution on the outgoing model, but there are big advances in terms of technology, particularly on the emissions front.
A version of the 320d will be offered in March with an engine producing just 109g of CO2 per km. This is likely to keep BMW ahead of the pack when it comes to emissions for a luxury compact. Despite being the compact saloon entry from the brand, this is the largest 3-Series yet, allowing for greater legroom up front and passenger space in the rear.
The quality of the interior trim and switchgear has also been significantly improved. The boot, too, has been increased from 460 litres to 480 – not an enormous increase but enough to make an appreciable difference.
All versions have 17-inch alloys with run flat tyres, except the 320 EfficientDynamics version, which gets 16-inch wheels with non-run flats. All cars also get, as standard, the stop-start system that reduces emissions. BMW’s iDrive media control system is also a standard feature along with BMW’s Drive Performance Control. This system allows the driver to choose four driving modes, from economy to performance, and allows you to work with your conscience and your bank balance.
The 316d, representing 75 per cent of sales here, will cost €34,180 and the 318d will cost €37,160. One tempting offer is the EfficientDynamics version of the 320d. It comes in at €38,710 – the same as the regular 320d – but has the lowest emissions level and will produce by far the best economy. While the smaller engine will make up the bulk of Irish sales, the price walk to the 520d may still prove a challenge to the 320d. The larger 5-Series can be had for €42,820 in manual or €45,035 in automatic.
Toyota refutes UK story
Toyota has strongly refuted a Sunday Timesreport claiming British dealers were skimping on non-safety-related warranty repairs. Toyota Ireland, which is a privately-owned distributor not linked to the UK operation, said all manufacturing defects are covered by warranty. David Shannon, MD of Toyota Ireland, said: "Toyota Ireland has, since its inception 35 years ago, made aftersales service a core principle in its customer relationship package and this is stronger today than ever before. Quite simply, Toyota Ireland's standards of aftersales service are exemplary."