Women ‘prefer’ buying online; new RS; get the Buzz; the Colin McRae run; new tyre CEO
MORE women are buying online, a new survey shows. The growth is double that of men purchasing online, according to BuyaCar.co.uk. The number of women increased by 68.5pc this year. W hy?
The company says: “Research consistently reveals that women are less comfortable than men in the traditional car dealership environment, increasingly turning to the low-pressure online car buying experience as their preferred option.”
Do you feel ‘less comfortable’ in a dealership? Why?– ecunningham@independent.ie
AUDI’s new RS 5 Coupé will start from €110,750 onthe-road. The gran turismo of the RS models has a 2.9 TFSI V6 bi-turbo engine (450hp, 0-100kmh in 3.9secs, top speed 250kmh). Orders start next month.
Volkswagen will build a production version of its all-electric I.D. Buzz – but it will be 2022 before passenger and commercial versions appear on the market. The microbus will have Level 3 autonomous capability. Buzz will be one of three electric vehicles Volkswagen has in the pipeline.
The Colin McRae Charity Run takes place on September 16. Supported by Subaru, it is the event’s third year paying tribute to the late great.
The day starts from Eastwood Motors Subaru in Lisburn and ends at Nearys Subaru in Lusk, Co Dublin. An estimated 150 Subarus from the UK and Ireland are expected.
All proceeds are in aid of Angel Wishes, a registered charity that aims to make gravely ill children’s dreams come true. See picture. Drivers can pre-register at ‘Just Giving – NI Subaru Run’ or email organiser Joanne Derby-Murray at nisubaru555@gmail.com.
Hyundai will double to four the number of SUVs it sells in Europe by 2019 before adding more models by 2021.
Porsche is claiming to be the first to make lightweight wheels of braided carbon fibre. They’re going on to the 911 Turbo S Exclusive series straightaway. The wheels weigh 8.5kg less than standard forged alloys on the Turbo.
After a thorough revision, Honda’s 120PS 1.6 litre i-DTEC diesel engine will rejoin the Civic from February next. The ‘old’ one was a great engine with exceptional fuel consumption.
However, I’m not so sure the new 1.5-litre petrol in the Jazz, outlined in Motors last week, will make it to Ireland.
BMW’s Concept Z4 looks stunning. Now let’s hope they stick with lots of it. The concept has new underpinnings and a range of engines.
The two-seat cabriolet has been developed as part of a joint venture with Toyota whose Supra will come only as a coupé. It will debut in Geneva next March.
Sue O’Neill is the new chief executive of the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA).
She has lengthy experience of bespoke management services to organisations and associations, helping them to remain relevant to their members.