Motoring Editor Michael McAleer previews the new cars due out in the coming months
Being a relatively small player in the European scene, few car firms factor in our January sales boom when planning their launches.
So we find several significant models coming to market in the middle of the year. That's good news for us in the motoring press and for those who don't partake in the January sales rush. Patience is a virtue, and the coming months may prove that it pays dividends.
The new arrivals come quick and fast in the coming weeks.
Tomorrow sees the Irish launch of Volvo's S40 and V50 range. Volvo is keen tomove its entry level model range into the premium market, knowing full well that's where the real profits are to be made these days.
So it wants to repeat the success of its S60 and S80 range in the S40, hence the similarities in design. The new S40 is a mini-clone of the S60, and a vast improvement on the current model's bland lines.
Prices start at €28,500 for the 1.8-litre. It shares its body platform and chassis with the new Focus (along with the current C-Max and Mazda3). The fact the Focus has long won plaudits for its handling bodes well for the Volvo.
Another benefit of having Ford to lean on is that the S40 will come with a wider variety of engine options than previously.
Elsewhere, the hottest segment this year - the family hatchback market - is set to welcome another new entrant in the form of the new Opel Astra. To be launched next Monday, the new Astra has set its sights firmly on stealing some of the thunder from Volkswagen Golf.
With the Golf regarded as the father of the hatchback market, Opel's desire to take on the fellow German is clear and pricing is set accordingly. Starting at €19,595 for the 1.4-litre Life trim model they rise to a maximum of €30,695 for the 2-litre turbo Sri.
While the Astra will be hoping to win over large portions of the mainstream market from Golf, the VW model will also face new competition at its premium end with the arrival of the new BMW hatchback 1-Series in September.
As if all that wasn't enough for the hatchback fans, before Christmas we'll see the long-awaited arrival of the new Ford Focus. This battle is sure to rage right into the New Year.
Keeping on the family theme, we'll also see the arrival of the new Toyota Corolla Verso in the coming weeks. This time in the format of a full seven-seater and set to challenge the dominance of the Renault Megane Scenic - now packing even more punch with a seven-seater format in the Grand Scenic version - and Opel Zafira. Three engine variants are on offer in the Verso: a 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre VVT-i; and an improved 2-litre D-4D diesel. Prices start at €26,895.
Later in the summer, we'll get Seat's entry in the burgeoning mid-range MPV market. The Altea is due here in July, taking on the utilitarian five-seater brigade with a truly retro and dynamic design, courtesy of chief designer Walter de Silva.
Four engines are on offer: 102 bhp 1.6-litre and 150 bhp Fsi 2-litre petrol units, and 105 bhp 1.9-litre and 140 bhp 2-litre TDi diesels. We drove them all recently and found the 2-litre petrol the best match for size and chassis.
Before then, Mitsubishi will introduce the long-awaited replacement for its SpaceWagon model. To be launched next Monday, the seven-seater Grandis is hoping to take on the likes of the Seat Alhambra and Hyundai Trajet. We'll have a full road test in the coming weeks.
This spring sees the long-awaited update of a firm family favourite. We can now wave goodbye to the 406 and welcome in its successor, the 407, carrying a very distinctive look. (For a first-drive report on the new 407, see page 16).
Meanwhile this September will see the arrival of the new Skoda Octavia. Based on the new Golf platform, its larger scale is surprising. Expect a slight increase on the currenty entry level price of €17,915.
At the executive end of the market, Audi's Irish sales staff will be keen to get their hands on the new A6, due here in June. With BMW's 5-Series stealing much of the limelight at the start of this year, and giving the dominant Mercedes E-Class a run for its money, Audi will want to show that the executive market is not just a two-horse race.
Apparently it's targeting the 5-series, more so than the Mercedes E-Class. The June launch will begin with an entry model powered by a 2.4-litre V6 petrol with 174 bhp, but there will be a 140 bhp 2-litre TDi coming in the latter part of the year. Avant or estate versions will emerge in 2005.
While prices have not been fixed, realistically the first 3.0 TDi arrival should come in around or even below €64,000, on a par with the BMW 530d.
Other offerings from Audi in the coming months include a five-door version of its A3, due here in September and to be known as the Sportsback.
BMW will expand its 5-series range with a Touring, or estate version, from June 1st.
Then there's the X3, a not-so-little brother for the X5, BMW's highly successful American-built prestige all-road vehicle. It will be making its Irish debut on June 24th. There will 2.5 and 3-litre petrol versions and a diesel 2.5-litre with prices likely to start at around €50,000.
Meanwhile, Jaguar's S-Type has undergone a facelift of sorts and will arrive here with its new look in May. However, most attention will focus on the all-new V6 2.7-litre diesel-powered model - here in June.
Offering 206 bhp it's a torquey beast, with a claimed 0-60mph time of 8.1 seconds, a top speed of 140 mph and a claimed combined fuel consumption of 40mpg.
It's the same diesel that will feature in the new Land Rover Discovery, star of the New York car show earlier this month, and due here in October. Prices are expected to be slightly up on the current range and there will be no entry level E specification model on offer.
For the sports enthusiasts, the summer months are offering up some choice cars. Mini is going topless with its cabrio version due out at the end of June.
And at the same time Mercedes will introduce the second generation of its two-seater SLK. It bears several design traits of the SLR supercar and is certain to do well with Irish fans.
Other new entries from Mercedes in the coming months include the facelifted C-Class in early July and the new Smart ForFour, on sale here in September.
Finally, the most important Irish launch for the mass market motorist in the coming months is without doubt the Aston Martin DB9. Due for release in Britain later this month it will undoubtedly have an enormous market over here. Well, we can always hope.