Peugeot is launching a MPV cum estate version of its 307, the winner of the European Car of the Year award 2002. The 307 SW - for station wagon - goes on sale in May, with some models offering up to seven seats.
Meanwhile Ford has unveiled a mini Transit, called Transit Connect which will go on sale in September. Ford is keen to translate the full-sized Transit's success lower down the commercial vehicle market.
OPEL'S Vivaro van has been declared International Van of the Year 2002. The runner-up was another Opel commercial, the Combo.
THE two-seater Smart city car is finding greater-than-expected success in Britain. Demand for the car is so great that DaimlerChrysler is opening another five Smart franchises across the UK, taking the total to 28. There's still no word of when Smart will arrive in the Republic. DaimlerChrysler had said a launch here early this year was likely, once the British market had been organised.
MITSUBISHI'S L200 double cab pick-up has become a huge success since VRT was reduced last year, from £7,080 to £40. The 2.5 litre four cylinder turbodiesel retails here at €26,639 ex-works. Since the VRT reduction nearly 500 have been sold: there were 183 registrations for January, and 72 in the first five days of this month.
MONITCOM is an Irish software company marketing Minorplanet, a vehicle management system allowing operators to track every movement of their vehicle. The aim is to deter hijacking: already over 240 Irish-based companies use the system.