Inside the industry with Michael McAleer
• Land Rover has launched a search for an energetic Irish entrant for an international adventure that will pit representatives from 16 nations against each other in both off-road driving and multiple sports challenges. The competition will be held across three continents and embracing four elements - water, heat, rock and ice. Beginning in New York on March 30th next year, the Land Rover G4 Challenge will include competitions on both coasts of the US, Australia and South Africa, covering around 4,000 miles over five weeks of competition.
The competitive tasks range from mountain biking, kayaking, climbing and abseiling, along with off-road driving. Entry is open to Irish citizens 21-years-old or over, and is via the website www.landroverG4challenge.com or at any Land Rover dealer. The closing date is Friday, November 15th.
• Porsche has decided to shelve plans for a listing on the New York Stock Exchange in view of new US listing rules which hold executives personally responsible for their company's accounts. The German luxury car maker said in a statement it had been invited by the New York Stock Exchange at the beginning of the year to apply for a listing.
• Recently we've learnt of the trend towards oversize wheel rims in the US. You're not a real man unless your 4x4 has 23-inch rims. Now, if the tyre firms are to be believed, the latest fashion accessory is set to be "personalising" your car tyres. Not simply variations on size.
Now it's going to be down to the shades and pattern selections you choose. Continental has come up with a selection of potential prints, patterns and colours that express your individuality - from wannabe supermodel to rock star, footie fan to 1940s film enthusiast. They're calling it the PersonalityTyre, and though they're not yet in production, they are due here in the not too distant future.
How they will stand up to Irish roads, with their potholes and puddles, remains to be seen.
• Ireland's largest Opel dealer network, Crosson Motors Group, has opened its first base in Wicklow after taking over the motor dealership on the Killarney Road/Southern Cross roundabout. The premises was formerly run by Hills of Bray.
According to Crosson's managing director, John O'Reilly, the imminent completion of the M50, which will join the M11 near Bray, will further boost the new north Wicklow base. "This, and the planned extension of the LUAS line to nearby Sandyford, enhances the attaction of our new Bray dealership," he said.
• Honda is now the fourth biggest car manufacturer in Britain, 10 years after opening its Swindon plant. This means it is now ahead of Rover, Land-Rover, Jaguar and Mini (BMW). Swindon manufactures the Civic, CR-V and Accord.