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While there's little good about any recession, there can occasionally be a silver lining when it causes someone to shift gear in career terms. Which is what happened to one Dublin man in 2009, and now has him working in France with the Enterprise car rental company. Dan Flaherty was a DIT graduate in Auctioneering and Valuation, and while studying in London for a further qualification in Real Estate Management, he rented cars from Enterprise because their unique pick-up and drop-off service suited his needs. "I got to know some of their employees, and they told me about the company and the opportunities that existed within Enterprise," he recalls. "When I returned to Ireland in late 2009, the property market had started to decline and jobs in the sector were thin on the ground. I then decided to change tack and looked elsewhere for work. That’s when I saw an opening for a Management Trainee position within Enterprise." His interview was successful, and...

Renault has launched an initiative which will use electric vehicle batteries in electricity storage systems for integration with national electricity grids, writes Brian Byrne . The systems, labelled 'Advanced Battery Storage', will be able to store and provide a minimum of 60MWh of electricity to even out fluctuations between production and consumption in grids which use renewable energy from wind and solar as a component of their output. The systems will be in place several sites in France and Germany by 2020. They will use both 'second life' batteries from older EVs and new batteries stored while waiting for use in new electric vehicles.

The new generation Audi Q3 will go on sale in Ireland in November and first deliveries to customers will be in January of 2019, writes Brian Byrne . At the international launch in Bolzano, Italy, last week, I was introduced to a larger vehicle, with both more room for passengers and more luggage space. It is the second generation of the car, with design elements that give it more presence from all viewpoints. A new interior includes choices from up to 30 colours of 'mood' lighting. A Bang and Olufsen sound system with 15 speakers can seamlessly shift between FM, DAB and internet streaming of the chosen station, depending on which signal is best. Four engines are available, depending on market — 1.5 and 2.0 turbo petrols of 150/190/230/hp variants, and a 2.0 diesel with 150hp. All the TFSIs have 7-speed dual-clutch automated transmissions as standard, while the diesel is available with either 6-speed manual or the autobox. Prices will be announced in November.

A system to warn motorists of accidents ahead and help them move out of the way of emergency vehicles is being developed by Ford and Vodaphone, writes Brian Byrne . The prototype system shows drivers how to create an 'emergency corridor' in traffic so that fire engines, ambulances and police vehicles can travel unhindered. It is part of a €15 million project for the practical testing of new connected car technologies and automated driving. The system anticipates a future where all vehicles communicate with each other via mobile phone networks and embedded modems. On two-lane roads 'emergency corridors' are created in between the two lanes by drivers pulling over to either side. If there are more than two lanes, for those countries where motorists drive on the right, the corridor is created between the lane on the far left and the lane directly alongside. But even in those countries where it is already a legal requirement for drivers to take this approach, ma...

Irish motorists, particularly young drivers, are being invited to experience tyre and automotive safety systems developed by Continental, writes Brian Byrne . The Vision Zero Live driving safety event at Mondello Race Circuit in County Kildare will be held on Saturday October 13 (9.30am-4pm) with complimentary lunch provided. Participants will have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a fleet of cars on the iconic Mondello track where and take part in a range of tyre safety and automotive technology demonstrations. These will include manoeuvres such as an emergency stop at a range of speeds in dry and wet conditions to demonstrate the distance it can take to stop a vehicle — along with a number of other compelling driving modules to highlight the role of driver awareness and new automotive technologies. A fleet of different cars will be used for the demonstrations — including BMW, Mercedes, VW, Volvo, and Ford. This free to attend event is being organised as part of ...

Volkswagen plans to speed up development of new driver assistance systems using 'virtual validation', writes Brian Byrne . The company's engineers plan that the next generation systems will 'learn' through virtual traffic situations which could replace millions of kilometres of real-road testing. They are developing high-performance software for this purpose, which will allow 'training' systems continuously over days and weeks in any scenario selected. It will also speed up systems development. The software will be used to teach assistance systems for the ID model family.

Kodiaq Vision RS concept sketch. The high performance RS version of Skoda's Kodiaq large SUV will debut next week at the Paris Motor Show, writes Brian Byrn e. In addition to the 240hp power, the car will have distinctive RS trim outside and in, with special sports seats finished in Alcantara. There will be 5- and 7-seat options.

Kia has launched the wagon derivative of its new generation Kia Ceed at a starting price of €25,295, write Trish Whelan and Brian Byrne . Features of the Ceed Sportwagon include a cargo capacity which is larger than many D-segment tourers and the 7-year/150,000km Kia warranty. The car is wider and lower, and is longer than its predecessor in large part due to an extended rear overhang which allows for the 600L cargo capacity — a 14pc increase. Power options are a 120hp turbo 1.0 petrol engine, and a new 1.6 diesel with 115hp, both with a 6-speed manual transmission. Both engines go beyond the new strict requirements of the Euro 6d TEMP emissions standard, and the petrol engine includes a gasoline particulate filter. One trim level is available at launch, which includes a suite of driver assistance and safety systems. A revised 2019 MY Sportage has also been introduced, with external changes that include a more distinctive front end and enhancements to the rear. There a...

The EQC electric car will be a main focus on the Mercedes-Benz stand at next week's Paris Motor Show, writes Brian Byrne . It will be the first of a range of electric cars under the EQ brand. The EQ Silver Arrow show car on the stand will be an emotive signpost to the future of design within the sub-brand. Other debuts at Paris will be the new B-Class compact sports tourer, and the new GLE SUV (above) which is the latest version of the best-selling SUV in Mercedes-Benz history. The A-Class Sedan is also making its debut at a motor show. It represents the compact point of entry into the world of premium saloons from Mercedes-Benz.

Ford has revealed its production version of a Transit Connect Custom with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, writes Brian Byrne . The vehicle will have a 50km aero-emissions range in EV mode, and can travel 500km with the use of its 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine used as a range extender. Ford is the first volume manufacturer to offer PHEV technology in this segment of the van market. The technology enables the vehicle to be charged with mains electricity for zero-emission journeys, contributing to reduced local emissions and allowing the vehicle to enter low-emissions zones. The PHEV model will enter volume production in the second half of 2019.

A joint venture between BMW and Daimler to provide mobility services is to have its headquarters in Berlin, writes Brian Byrne . The global business will concentrate on providing such services in cities, where two-thirds of the planet's population will be living by 2030. The joint venture will cover seamless connectivity for booking and payment for mobility services, car sharing, ride hailing, parking, and EV charging. "As a hub for creativity and innovation, Berlin is exactly the right location for our plans,” says to Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG., says the future of mobility is being shaped in major cities like Berlin. "With the ecosystem we are planning, we will create solutions for tomorrow's urban mobility: intelligent, seamlessly connected and available at the tap of a finger. We believe this will improve quality of life in ...

Jaguar Land Rover gives a peek at a concept for a Range Rover Sport of the 2030s in a streaming TV series from Hulu, writes Brian Byrne . The series, 'The First', is about a group of astronauts trying to get to Mars. The car is used by the aerospace director of the team, played by Natascha McElhone, and includes such soon-to-come technologies such as self-driving capability (the steering wheel retracts into the dashboard when not needed), and a communications bar which messages other vehicles. Also in concept it is fully electric.

Renault has proposed a self-driving delivery vehicle concept that has space for a human on board, but who won't be driving, writes Brian Byrne . The company's concept revealed at the Hannover Commercial vehicle Show features the human as a 'concierge', who will carry out other tasks such as readying parcels for delivery, and bringing them to front doors. The EZ-Pro concept is one of a number of autonomous delivery solutions under development by the company.

The new generation BMW Z4 will get its public debut at the upcoming Paris Motor Show before going on sale in first markets, writes Brian Byrne . First deliveries of the classic roadster from Munich will be in March of next year. The new car will be longer, wider and taller than its predecessor, but will have a shorter wheelbase which BMW says provides better agility in conjunction with the wider track. A new treatment of the BMW 'kidney' grille along with a distinctive lights design combines with a strongly sculpted bonnet to provide a car with a lot of road presence. A range of engines will be topped with a 340hp unit in the M40i version, with a 4.6s sprint to 100km/h capability. The 'entry' engine will offer 197hp.

A moderated discussion on road safety hosted by Continental Tyres and members of the FAI revealed that a 'lack of communication' between different kinds of road users was the most common concern, writes Brian Byrne . The discussion was chaired by Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland, and was filmed for distribution as a road safety video. The discussion focused on best practice and examples of ‘Sharing the Road’ among the different and sometimes competing road users. Other issues included drivers who do not use their indicators and pedestrians and cyclists who do not check both ways before crossing the road. The overall consensus among the group was that their heroes are the bus drivers. Due to their extra training and professionalism on the road, bus drivers have gained a respect that other transportation areas are working to achieve. The FAI group that appears in the video includes Pearl Slattery, player with Shelbourne FC in the Continental Tyres Women’s Natio...

SEAT's new Tarraco large SUV has just been revealed at an event in Tarragona in Spain, writes Brian Byrne . The name, which is the original Roman Empire name for Tarragona, was chosen by a social media vote of some 145,000 responses. The new car previews what will be a stronger design language from SEAT in future models, including a grille that is larger and has more presence. Full LED lighting front and rear in the car emphasise the brand's lighting signature. An FR sporty version will be along in 2020 and a PHEV hybrid with 210hp is also on the upcoming list. The Tarraco will come to Ireland at the end of next February with two petrol engine options, a 150hp 1.5 and a 190hp 2.0. There will also be two 2.0 diesels, of 150hp and 190hp respectively. Transmissions will be 6-speed manuals and 7-speed dual clutch automatics. There will be FWD and AWD formats. The vehicle will come in 5- and 7-seat options, but SEAT Ireland's people are very much expecting that the bul...