Rearview cameras

The US congress has passed a law that will make it compulsory to fit rearview cameras on all passenger cars by 2018. The use of rearview cameras on cars is intended to help prevent accidents involving children, who have a habit of walking behind cars when they get out. Rearview cameras are currently fitted to some cars, but they need regular cleaning to be effective, especially with our dirty road conditions.

SEAT to launch new SUV

Seat, the Spanish-based Volkswagen brand, will be introducing a new SUV. It is expected to arrive on the market in 2016. The SUV segment in Europe is claimed to be worth close to one million cars per annum and is a sector that has grown by more than 40% in the last five years. The new Seat SUV will carry forward the brand’s current design in a new, compact SUV that’s powered by Volkswagen technology.

16% used-car sales lift

A new report shows that 16% more cars changed ownership last year, compared with 2012. The report by the website Carzone showed that over 470,000 cars, between new and secondhand, found new owners in 2013. The data was compiled from searches to the website for the last six months of 2013. The results reveal that German car marques remain most popular among Irish car buyers.

FTAI calls for HGV Road User Levy exemption

The Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI) has called on the UK government to grant an exemption from the HGV Road User Levy (RUL) for Irish hauliers transiting Northern Ireland and using the A5 motorway.

The HGV RUL will result in a net increase in costs for Irish HGV operators using roads in NI and Britain, according to FTA Ireland.

SsangYong launch new Rexton W

The South Korean car brand launched the new Rexton 4x4 this week, with entry prices starting at €34,119. The Rexton comes with a selectable 4×4 system and uses a body-on-frame construction for strength. It is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and has a 2.6-tonne towing rating. It is available in three versions: passenger seven-seat, commercial and utility.