THE STATE collected more than €29 million in fines from motorists last year, compared to €18 million in 2006.
With the exception of 2010, when it dipped to €25 million, the amount collected by the State from drivers for road traffic offences since 2007 has remained broadly constant at about €30 million per annum.
Privatised speed cameras began operating in March of last year and do not appear to have contributed to an increase in motoring fines collected by the State.
While the overall level of road traffic fines has remained constant there has been a gradual shift to motorists paying a fixed-charge penalty rather than appearing in court.
Last year, motorists paid €19.8 million of fines using the fixed charge system – the highest on record – while €9.48 million was collected through the courts. In 2006, €11.5 million in fixed charge motoring fines were paid while drivers appearing in court were fined €7.2 million.
New Merc M-Class SUV hits road
MERCEDES HAS this week launched its new M-Class SUV onto the Irish market. In the heyday of the boom, Mercedes was selling 400 M-Class vehicles a year.
While the market for large SUVs collapsed with the onset of recession, the new M-Class has a few benefits that might attract the owners of these symbols of the Celtic Tiger back into the showrooms.
Top among these is the much lower CO2 emissions, with the M 250 diesel version – likely to be the biggest seller here – having emissions of just 158g/km, resulting in an annual motor trax bill of €480. That’s much lower than many owners of the SUV behemoths currently pay.
The engine also puts out an impressive 500Nm of torque, more than enough to give it strong off-road pulling power.
The price is also relatively eye-catching, in that at €71,060 it undercuts rivals from BMW and Audi. This more aggressive pricing strategy looks like it’s going to be a feature of Mercedes models in the future. The German premium brand expects to sell just over 100 M-Class in a full year.
Ferrari cut down to size
FERRARI HAS confirmed that it is giving serious consideration to down-sizing the engines it puts in its cars.
Ferrari boss Amedeo Felisa this week confirmed that the successor to the 458 Italia might drop from a V8 to a V6, with the upcoming move of Formula One from V8s to V6s being seen as a key factor in making customers accept this change.
The big V12s will be kept in place for the top-of-the-range cars though, fitted with hybrid electric assistance to help them achieve much-lower CO2 emissions.
VW goes ahead with 300mpg model
LAST MONTH, Volkswagen confirmed that it would build a limited series of its long-awaited 1-litre diesel hybrid.
Likely to be named the XL1 when it finally hits to road next year, and the company is currently testing prototypes, which suggests that it is serious about keeping to that schedule.
The XL1 was the third iteration of the Volkswagen 1-litre hybrid project, first shown in concept guise at the 2011 Qatar Motor Show. The two older concept cars had been shown to the public in 2002 and 2009 (then called L1).
According to Volkswagen, the XL1 can achieve a combined fuel consumption of a headline-grabbing 314mpg (0.9 l/100 kms) and has CO2 emissions of 24 g/km. Like the L1, the XL1 uses an 800cc two-cylinder turbo-diesel.
This puts out 47bhp and 121Nm of torque and transmits power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed DSG transmission.
The electric motor pitches in with 27bhp and 100Nm of torque, and can work in parallel with the diesel or drive the car independent of it. Fully charged, the XL1 can travel up to 35 kilometres on electric power.
The XL1’s overall size is similar to the Volkswagen Polo, with a length of 3,970mm and width of 1,682mm.
However, the car is much lower with a height of only 1,184 mm, and has a coupe-like roofline, reducing interior volume.