Electel Blogspot

Ford Ireland is requesting the Government to extend the current VAT reduction to the end of March, writes Trish Whelan . Head of Ford Ireland, John Manning, says: “In this very tough environment, we need all the help we can get to boost vehicle sales and the continuation of the VAT reduction would be a great asset in this regard.”  The standard rate of Irish VAT was temporarily reduced from 23pc to 21pc for a six-month period from 1 September 2020 to 28 February 2021. Since 1987 when the year-based car registration system was introduced, January has consistently been the busiest month for new car sales in Ireland. Not so this year, as the latest Government Covid-19 restrictions will curtail the normal business activities of car dealers across the country for at least the first four weeks of January and perhaps for even longer into February. John Manning supports the Government moves to curtain the spread of the virus. “It will be really tough on our business as new car sales will ...

Due to numerous Covid-19 lockdowns throughout the past year and uncertainty over Brexit, new car registrations for 2020 finished at just 88,324 units which is a 25pc drop on 2019 (117,109), writes Trish Whelan . Statistics released from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) also show New Light Commercial Vehicle (LDV) registrations in 2020 saw a decrease of 14.2pc (21,732) compared to 2019 (25,336) while New Heavy Commercial Vehicle registrations (HGV) saw a decrease of 22.3pc (2,066) in comparison to 2019 (2,659). Imported Used Cars saw 79,969 registrations in 2020, a decrease of 29.8pc on 2019 (113,926). Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are on the increase with 4,013 new vehicles registered last year in comparison to 3,444 in 2019. Other stats of note show a changing market place in 2020. Diesel accounted for 43.29pc; petrol 36.91pc, hybrid 11.86pc, electric 4.54pc and Plug-In Hybrid 2.78pc. Diesel remains the most popular engine type while hybrid, electric and plug-in hyb...

Volkswagen Group Ireland retail dealerships will, for the most part, operate a 'Click & Collect' service for new car buyers during the period of the Level 5 restrictions, writes Brian Byrne . The Group's brands include Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, Skoda, SEAT and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In a statement today, VGI says the retailers can accommodate most customer’s individual wishes, with the safety of both retailer staff and customer alike of paramount importance. "With Ireland at a crucial and significant juncture in the fight against COVID-19, Volkswagen Group and its network of dealers have worked tirelessly to ensure that all services, whether essential maintenance or click and collect vehicle orders are provided in accordance with government guidelines."  

In 2005 I was car-shopping and briefly considered the Pontiac Grand Prix .  Didn't get around to test-driving one, perhaps because I was driving an Oldsmobile Intrigue and wasn't very interested in buying a similar car.  The car I eventually bought was a Chrysler 300. But there was one thing about the Pontiac that caught my eye.  It was the sculpting on the hood and front end.  Attractive and subtle.  Almost too delicate for the Pontiac's 1960-1980 image as a performance car.  Which might have been a factor in the brand's demise -- it wasn't macho enough for macho buyers. The hood and frontal detailing is so subtle that I found it difficult to locate images that do the sculpting justice.  One needs to actually view a car.  But take a look below and you might get a hint of the reality. Gallery Front quarter view of a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix.  Ever since 1961 Pontiacs featured a two-segment grille.  The version here has a shield-like outli...

By 1990 General Motors was on its path from industry dominance to bankruptcy.  Ford's aerodynamically influenced 1986 Taurus was a marketing success that required a response from GM.  That response was in the form of its new W Platform .  Coupes appeared for the 1988 model year, sedans following for 1990. The present post deals with the sedans.  These were the Chevrolet Lumina , Pontiac Grand Prix , Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal . Shamed by the lookalike 1982 A Body line, GM made an effort to have W Body cars for each brand look distinctive.  Some details are discussed below. Gallery Chevrolet Lumina Euro I owned one of these during my time as demographic forecast supplier to GM.  The basic Lumina had a different grille and no trunk lid spoiler. Pontiac Grand Prix This car had a slightly higher beltline and six-window passenger greenhouse.  Rear door cutlines differ. Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme The basic body here is similar to the Lumin...

In 1947 SAAB ( Svesnska Aeroplan AB ), builder of military aircraft, was exploring entering the automobile market.  The initial result was the prototype that some people nowadays call the UrSaab .  (In Germany and some parts of Europe probably including Sweden, the prefix "Ur" is sometimes applied to the earliest example of something.  The word Ur is the name of what some anthropologists claimed was the world's oldest city.) A series of prototypes were built, details edging towards the first production model, the Saab 92 that reached the Swedish market in 1950. Below are images of that car and another prototype along with two earlier cars with similar rear styling details.  Because Saab built aircraft and had a wind tunnel, it is no surprise that the new car was tested to enhance aerodynamic efficiency.  Whether or not the other streamlined examples actually influenced Saab designers is belong the scope of my source materials.  That said, I hope you might ...