Ireland’s car fleet is ageing faster than previously thought, with the age of cars on the road now at eight and a quarter years on average, according to car data experts Cartell.
The survey showed that cars in Counties Dublin, Meath, Wicklow and Kildare are significantly younger than the average, but that the fleet in other counties is ageing fast as people hold on to cars for far longer than they did before the recession hit.
In the UK, the same figure is 7.44 years. Jeff Aherne, Director of Cartell, told us that he thinks it remarkable how fast the fleet is now ageing.
In July 2012, Cartell noted the average age had tipped eight years for the first time – now cars are significantly older again.
This is proof of the impact the recession is having on vehicle owners, he told us.
People are holding their cars for longer, and when they are buying, they are buying used vehicles in large numbers, instead of new vehicles.
Jeep make plans for Cherokee
Jeep could be about to revive one of the original SUV nameplates with an all-new Cherokee. This model hasn’t been sold in Europe for some years now but apparently Jeep’s paymasters at Fiat are keen to see the brand take on the likes of the Land Rover Freelander, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe with an all-new model, based on the same chassis as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and US-market Dodge Dart.
The new Cherokee will come in both front and four-wheel drive, and is likely to be fitted with a new nine-speed automatic transmission designed to keep its Co2 emissions as low as possible.
Renault getting grip on traction
Renault has decided to stop making the five-seater Scenic. The seven-seat Grand Scenic will continue on as one of Europe’s best-selling medium-sized MPVs, but the five-seat Scenic is now going to be dropped, and replaced by a new model called the Scenic XMOD (pictured left).
What’s an XMOD? Well, it’s essentially Renault trying to glam the Scenic up as a bit of a rough and tumble SUV.
The XMOD is based on the current Scenic body and chassis but gets sleeker, sportier styling, a higher ride height and stick on plastic off-roader bits.
It’s not all tinsel and lights though – Renault is introducing a new traction control system called Grip Xtend, which can be adjusted by the driver to give the best possible traction and grip on various different surfaces, with Road, Loose Surface and Expert modes.
The Scenic XMOD and a facelifted version of the Grand Scenic will make their debuts at the Geneva Motor Show.