Today's other stories in brief
Peugeot announces prices for new RCZ
Peugeot has announced prices for its new RCZ sports car that's now on sale here.
The Audi TT lookalike will start at €36,465 for the 2.0 HDi 163bhp diesel with six-speed manual transmission. It falls into Band B for tax with a 139g/km emissions level and annual motor tax of just €156. A 1.6-litre 200bhp petrol version will also be offered here for €41,495.
The new RCZ comes in just one specification which will include leather upholstery, Bluetooth and USB connections, electric and sports front seats and 18” alloys.
According to George Harbourne, Peugeot’s new managing director in Ireland, “The sports coupe arrives at a pertinent time when the rejuvenation of the Peugeot brand in Ireland is well under way and it will do much to raise our profile in a new segment for us.
“While small numbers are currently available, production will free up for the Irish market in January and we expect to sell in the region of 200 units next year. The bulk of sales will be the low emission 2.0 HDi diesel.”
Phoenix race cancelled
This year’s Phoenix Park race has been cancelled, with Motorsport Ireland blaming insufficient income from sponsorship and entry fees to cover the costs.
In a statement, Motorsport Ireland said: “The funds required to build the circuit and run the event are a fine balance between sponsorship and competitor entry fees. Unfortunately, in the current economic environment, both elements have failed to generate sufficient income for the event to be viable.”
The event was due to take place on the weekend of August 14th.
Fuel costs keep rising
Petrol and diesel costs have risen by a sixth over the last 12 months, according to research from AA Ireland.
It found the price of a litre of petrol has risen 15 per cent to €1.33 per litre while diesel prices are more than 20 per cent higher at €1.25 per litre than in July last year.
AA spokesman Conor Faughnan said the fuel price rises added an extra €26 a month to running a car. Despite these price rises, the AA said its latest motoring survey found running a small family car is now 3.4 per cent less compared with July last year, mainly as a result of lower insurance cost.
According to the AA, average premiums have fallen by 1.3 per cent over the last 12 months.
Audi adds the A7 Sportback to its ever-growing product line-up
Audi has added yet another model to its ever-growing product line-up in the form of the new A7 Sportback, writes Paddy Comynin Munich.
The A7 Sportback sits between the A6 and A8 offering coupe-like styling, five doors and vast luggage space and is seen as a rival to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS.
The car offers generous space for four passengers and many of the creature comforts of the larger and more expensive A8.
There will be four engines offered in the new car, but the core models in Ireland will be the two versions of the 3.0-litre TDi, the first of which produces 204bhp and 400Nm of torque and forgoes all-wheel drive in place of front-wheel drive.
It features multitronic automatic transmission that an impressive fuel economy of 5.3l/100km and CO2 emissions of just 139g/km, meaning motor tax of just €156 per year.
The second version of the three-litre diesel puts out 245bhp and 500Nm of torque and this engine features quattro all-wheel drive. It can return 6l/100km and has emissions of 158g/km, giving it an annual motor tax of €447.
Other engine variants are likely to follow, including a V8 diesel and a high-performance S7 model.
The A7 Sportback comes to Ireland in October, with the front-wheel drive model likely to arrive in time for January 2011.
Final pricing has yet to be set, but is expected to start at around €65,000.
Meanwhile Audi has confirmed prices for the three-litre TDI 250bhp diesel version of its new A8. Prices will start at €91,900. The car goes on sale this month.
Listen up!
On this week's podcast, Paddy Comynreports from the unveiling of Audi's new A7, while we discuss BMW's elite M Division and take you on a high-speed run around Mondello in the M3.
You can listen in anytime at irishtimes.com/motors/podcast or you can download it for free from iTunes.