Inside the industry with Andrew Hamilton
NEW SIMI PRESIDENT
Tony Carey, business development director with Opel Ireland, is the new president of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). During his period in office, he intends to lobby intensively for a reduction in motor related taxes. "The income to the Government from VRT and VAT on new car sales was 8.7 per cent of total tax revenue," he says, "while the contribution from the total motoring sector, including fuel excise duty and road tax, was 16.8 per cent of total taxation. That's an unacceptable burden on motorists." The new SIMI president is also warning that new car prices here will increase, a consequence of the EU block exemption initiative. "Commissioner Monti wants to reduce pre-tax price variations between member states, leading to harmonisation. The likelihood is that new cars here will increase as the Irish pre-tax prices are cheaper than in other countries in the EU, particularly in Britain. That's why it's all the more important that Minister McCreevy reduces VRT in his next Budget."
HYBRID ON MARKET
Toyota plans limited selling of a fuel-cell hybrid passenger vehicle in Japan and the US from around the end of this year. The launch reflects the successful outcome of a full year of public road testing in both countries of the FCHV-4, a fuel-cell hybrid vehicle. Toyota is expecting full-scale sale of fuel cell vehicles to begin in 2010.
FASTEST AUDI
Audi's fastest-ever car, the 450 bhp 4.2 litre V8 RS 6, will go on sale here early next year. Pricing details have not yet been disclosed.
BMW'S HYDROGEN PLANS
BMW will introduce a hydrogen-powered 7-series in Germany between 2008 and 2010. Its internal combustion engine will use either petrol or super-cold liquid hydrogen. The dual fuel system will allow a 745 to travel about 180 miles (290 km) on hydrogen alone and another 400 miles (645 km) on petrol. BMW's Future Powertrain boss, Franz-Josef Wetzel, says this system has been adopted because there are likely to be few hydrogen fuelling points.
WOMEN'S NIGHT
It was women's night at Stillorgan Renault in Co Dublin recently. Over 500 women packed the showrooms to admire the Renault model range and enjoy make-up demonstrations by Clarins. Nicola Mahon for the dealership says "I think we'll be selling more cars as a result."
FORD'S CAR/VAN
Ford is building a car version of its Connect or baby Transit vehicle, a response to Citroën's Berlingo and Renault's Kangoo. Features will include a fold-flat front seat, twin sliding rear-side doors and a 90 bhp 1.8 litre TDCi engine.