There are new cars and 4x4s from almost every car brand on the Irish market across 25 car company displays at Ploughing 2015.
The event will have one of the biggest motor industry displays ever, accounting for a larger area of the site than last year. For Irish car companies, the National Ploughing Championships is their true shop window – in essence, Ireland’s biggest motor show.
The event will also showcase the largest display of 4x4s in Ireland. There are a number of new introductions this year, with Mitsubishi showing its new L200 and Nissan providing visitors with a unique opportunity to see the new Navara, both of which are top-selling 4x4 pick-ups in Ireland.
That’s why it makes good sense to allocate some time to the motor area. There will be many good offers on view, as car companies prepare for the 2016 registration market.
Launch of Nissan Navara pick-up
One of the big news items for this year’s National Ploughing Championships will be the arrival of the new Nissan NP300 Navara 4x4 pick-up, which will be seen for the first time in Europe at the event, coinciding with its launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.
The Navara comes with a 2.3-litre dCi engine, which Nissan claims is up to 24% more efficient than the unit it replaces.
It claims that the engine is the cleanest and most economical in its sector.
This engine will be available with two power output options – 160bhp (118kW) and 190bhp (140kW). The top power model has twin turbo-charging technology and is claimed to deliver low running costs, coupled with reduced CO2 emissions.
It will come with the choice of two- or four-wheel drive and the option of a standard six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
Nissan claims that the Navara has improved comfort and refinement. Nissan has designed a five-link rear suspension system for the double cab model, which it claims provides significantly improved ride comfort and handling. The system is 20kg lighter than the previous leaf spring layout.
It comes with an array of new in-car technology. In a sector that has traditionally been slow to adopt the very latest in comfort and safety features, it sets a benchmark. Around-view monitor and forward emergency braking, both crossover safety features, are unique to the pick-up market and Nissan claims it will provide customers with more advanced levels of technology than previously seen in a pick-up.
Further safety and convenience features include cruise control, hill descent control and hill start assist, all of which have been developed to meet the specific demands of NP300 Navara owners, as well as keyless entry, rear camera and parking sensors.
Nissan claims that the NP300 Navara’s load- carrying and towing ability across the range is improved. With payload ratings now in excess of one tonne across the range and a towing capacity of 3,500kg, the Navara is ready for hard work.
The double cab’s load bed is 67mm longer than the previous model, with a sector-leading 1,578mm. The load bed itself can be fitted with Nissan’s C-channel load system.
The Navara will be offered with a five-year or 160,000km manufacturer’s warranty. The Nissan team will give a price indication for the Navara, which will be launched on the market later in the year.
New Mitsubishi L200 4x4 pick-up style for Ploughing
Mitsubishi Motors will be launching the fifth generation L200 4x4 pick-up at this year’s Ploughing. It is one of three new models on the Mitsubishi stand, along with the Outlander and ASX.
The L200 comes with a new 2.4-litre MIVEC turbo-charged diesel engine and an improvement in CO2 emissions of 173g/km, down from 204g/km on the current manual transmission model, and 189g/km, down from 225g/km on the automatic. The new engine generates 181bhp and 430Nm of torque at low-engine RPM.
The L200 has improved fuel consumption due to a low compression ratio that raises combustion efficiency. With the introduction of the world’s first pick-up with an aluminium engine and the change of cylinder block material from steel to aluminium, the engine weight has reduced by approximately 30kg, which is claimed to contribute to better fuel economy and performance. Fuel consumption has improved on the manual version – now 6.6 litres/100km, down from 7.7 litres/100km, an improvement of 17%.
Mitsubishi claims that the new exterior design contributes to better aerodynamics and improved fuel efficiency.
Bed length has been increased by 15mm and cargo bed height has increased by 15mm.
Mitsubishi claims the new engine and noise-reducing measures on the vehicle body give lower noise levels in the cab. Enlarged body mounts and extended rear suspension leafs provide for a smoother, vibration-reduced ride.
The twin cab has increased room, with +20mm on interior length and +10mm shoulder room. The L200 has a quicker steering gear ratio than before and maintains a class-leading turning radius of 5.9m from its predecessor.
Maintenance costs will be lower, as the oil change interval has been increased from 15,000km to 20,000km and coolant change interval from 60,000km to 180,000km.
The Mitsubishi five-year warranty is now matched to the Nissan Navara for the 4x4 pick-up market.
The L200 comes with the latest generation Mitsubishi super select four-wheel-drive system, active stability and traction control with trailer stability assist, hill start assist and lane departure warning. The pick-up has seven airbags, including side and curtain airbags for the front seats and an added knee airbag for the driver.
There is lots of extra kit, including rear-view camera with touchscreen audio, leather steering wheel with remote audio controls, cruise control, automatic air conditioning, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rear window privacy glass, electric folding door mirrors, front fog lights and dusk sensor lights, 17” alloy wheels and chrome front grille, outer door handles and bed handle.
The price for the double cab model will start at €32,750 for the manual and €35,950 for the automatic, including VAT.
New cars and vans from Peugeot
Peugeot importer in Ireland Gowan Distributors has unveiled a host of new cars throughout this year and they will all be on view at Ploughing 2015. As well as upgrades across almost every model from the 108 to the 508, Peugeot will have a new light commercial vehicle based on the current 3008 model.
The two-seat commercial version is based on the 3008 Crossover Active 1.6 HDi 115bhp passenger car version. The new light van has an entry price of €25,095 including VAT and qualifies for Peugeot’s low 5.9% APR finance and comes with a three-year warranty. A second higher-specification version comes equipped with Peugeot’s patented grip control technology and retails from €25,345 plus delivery including VAT.
The Peugeot 3008 commercial comes with a bulkhead fitted and rear parking aid, electric folding mirrors, automatic headlamps and wipers, front fog lamps, cruise control and speed limiter, LED daytime running lights, front electric windows, Bluetooth, air conditioning, spare wheel, 17” alloy wheels (16” with mud and snow tyres for the grip control option), leather steering wheel and gearstick lever, six airbags, hill assist and an aluminium finish adventure pack.
New look for 208
Peugeot will also be showing the new-look 208 and has now expanded the range with a new upmarket GT model and GTi by Peugeot Sport. And Peugeot claims that the PureTech petrol and BlueHDi diesel engines on offer will meet the next generation of EU engine emissions standards when the car is introduced in June.
Peugeot claims that the new 208 will come to market equipped with the most economical internal combustion engine in the world, consuming only three litres per 100km and producing just 79g of CO2 per km.
A standard-edition new Peugeot 208 powered by a 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100bhp stop-start diesel engine has set a new long-distance fuel consumption record, under the supervision of the French Type Approval Authority (UTAC), at a test circuit in Belchamp, France. A total of 2,152km was covered on just 43 litres (9.45 gallons) of diesel, with an average fuel consumption of 2.0 litres/100km (141.2 mpg).
Versatility in new 108
Peugeot’s new 108 small car will also be on view. This new-styled car is more modern looking and has more features than its predecessor, the 107. The new car is available with a choice of active or allure trims and up to 11 different and distinctive personalisation themes.
The entry price for the 1.0-litre four-door Peugeot 108 is priced from €13,290 plus dealer delivery-related charges. Two engine choices are available, 1.0 and 1.2 litre, both petrol powered. Standard equipment across the range for Ireland includes six airbags, hill assist, a tyre pressure warning system, ESP, front electric windows, remote central locking, LED daytime running lights and a spare wheel.
Kadjar ready for a ploughing debut
Renault’s new C-segment crossover, called the Kadjar, will be launched to the Irish market at Ploughing 2015. This new model sits slightly larger than the Captur and has an entry price of €24,990 plus delivery charges.
There will be 15 versions of the Kadjar on offer, based on four trim lines familiar to owners of other Renault vehicles – Expression+, Dynamique Nav, Dynamique S Nav and Signature Nav. Renault’s active and passive safety has been applied across the range, while connectivity via the easy-to-use R-Link 2 system is fitted to all models above Expression+.
Standard safety features include ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control with traction and understeer control, cruise control, speed limiter, hill start assist, six airbags, seat belts with load limiters and pre-tensioners at the front, side impact protection bars and ISOFIX child-seat mounting points on the two outer rear seats.
All versions have gravel, dust and rain protection kits. On the inside, there is an accessory power point, a 12-volt front socket, a trip computer, two-way adjustable steering column and an exterior temperature indicator.
The three engine options on offer for the Kadjar are the 1.2-litre turbocharged TCe 130bhp four-cylinder direct-injection petrol unit, the 1.5-litre ENERGY dCi 110bhp four-cylinder diesel available in manual and EDC and the 1.6-litre ENERGY dCi four-cylinder 130bhp diesel.
Four-wheel drive with three operating modes (auto, lock and 2WD) is offered with the dCi 130 in the three upper trim levels.
Renault claims the Kadjar has fuel economy levels of up to 26km/litre (74.3mpg or 3.8 litres/100km), with CO2 emissions as low as 99g/km. This is achieved by a combination of design and low weight, as well as the Renault engine stop-start system, the double-clutch EDC transmission in place of a more fuel-sapping torque converter system, an ECO driving mode which optimises the engine’s performance when cruising and standard brake energy recovery.
Volkswagen’S big lineup
The new Volkswagen Jetta will be just one of a host of new cars and 4x4s introduced by Volkswagen at this year’s Ploughing. There will be new Touran MPV models, a new Touareg large 4x4 and of course the full range of new Passat models, introduced at the start of the year.
While the Jetta has been a farmer’s favourite for generations since first introduced 35 years ago, the new version is claimed to be even better value, with price reductions of up to €1,440. The new Jetta now starts at €20,895, before the standard €750 delivery charge, for the 1.2-litre petrol-powered TSI model, while diesel models with a 2.0 litre engine start at €23,395.
The 1.6-litre turbo-diesel version has been dropped from the range to be replaced by a new 110bhp 2.0-litre engine version with marginally more power.
New Touareg
Volkswagen’s new Touareg model, introduced this year, claims significant product enhancements and price reductions over the previous model.
The model now has a starting price of €69,675, which is a €6,430 price reduction, despite the addition of over €10,000 worth of equipment compared with the outgoing model.
The 2015 Touareg has been redesigned from front to rear. Bi-xenon headlights are now standard on all models and at the back, new rear lights are used and there are a host of new exterior colours.
There is a redesigned interior, with a new range of interior colours and styles. There have been changes to the steel-spring suspension, with improvements made to make the car more agile and offer greater ride comfort.
The TDI engines in the Touareg have been given an SCR catalytic converter, which has helped these units to reach the demanding EU6 emissions standards.
There is a new coasting function, which disengages the standard eight-speed automatic transmission in order to use kinetic energy during periods where no acceleration is required and thus reduce fuel consumption further.
This, along with lower rolling resistance tyres and improved aerodynamics, has reduced fuel consumption from 7.0 litres/100km in the 204bhp version to 6.6 litres/100km, dropping CO2 emissions from 184g/km to 173g/km.
The same is true of the higher-power diesel, now with 262bhp, up from 245bhp. This engine now has fuel consumption of 6.6 litres/100km, down from 7.2 litres/100km, despite the power increase.
New style for Amarok
Volkswagen will be showing its special-edition Amarok Atacama 4x4 pick-up range for Ploughing 2015.
This new model includes some special styling features, while it is powered by the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox – this engine generates 180bhp and is capable of producing 2.8t of towing capability. Pricing is from €49,910 including VAT, while the base Amarok prices start at €35,590 including VAT.
The Atacama versions come with special upholstery, 17” Albany alloy wheels that are exclusive to this model, parking sensors, the light and vision pack (which includes Bi-Xenon headlamps with separate LED daytime running lights, windshield wiper intermittent control with rain sensors and adjustable headlights).
New Touran gets showcase
Volkswagen’s new family Touran MPV will be on show at Ploughing 2015 and is due for arrival at dealers in November. For the Irish market, Volkswagen will offer the Touran as a seven-seat version only.
This latest generation model has been heavily revised, not only in terms of styling, but it has also grown significantly, while it is 62kg lighter. Volkswagen claims that the new Touran is 130mm longer, 41mm wider and has a 113mm longer wheelbase than the model it replaces. The car sits fractionally lower to the ground and Volkswagen is claiming a 19% better fuel economy result, depending on the model chosen.
There will be a choice of three engines – two diesel and one petrol. The entry level 1.6-litre 110bhp (250Nm of torque) diesel is likely to be the largest seller and this comes with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic. The manual version comes with fuel economy figures of 22.7km/litre (4.4 litres/100km) and 116g/km CO2. The DSG version is claimed to be even more frugal.
Citroën back at Ploughing
Citroën will be back at the Ploughing Championships this year with the new DS brands. There will be upgrade models in all Citroën cars as well as a new Berlingo van range.
Citroën’s Berlingo will be shown with new BlueHDi Euro6 compliant engines and improved specification and styling. The range provides a choice of factory-built models in its class, including the L1 and L2 vans and the five-seat crew cab Berlingo. Specification upgrades for the Berlingo include a redesigned grille and front bumper and an optional look pack, featuring LED daytime-running lights.
The new-generation DS 5 is an upgrade from the DS, the new stand-alone brand from Citroën.
The Citroën team claims that the DS 5 is the embodiment of the DS automobiles brand.
The impressive-looking entry-level DS 5 Elegance BlueHDi 120 Manual Euro6 model comes with a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine and has a list price of €36,045 before delivery charges.
The new car has a new front-end design, new DS Automobiles branding, a range of new features, new trim levels and the latest Euro6 engines. It is available in two trim levels – Elegance and Prestige – and with three BlueHDi diesel engine options and a new Euro6 compliant Hybrid 4x4 drive.
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