IRELAND - Skoda to launch a new variant to the Superb line, called Sportline, the car looks far more sporty.

• ŠKODA Ireland introduce Sportline trim level to the Superb model
• Available for a €500 surcharge on Style models, prices start from €37,495
• Standard specification includes sporty black exterior detailing, sporty customisable interior ambient lighting, sports suspension with driver mode selection and keyless entry
• The Superb Sportline builds on the success of the Octavia Sportline launched in July

Today, ŠKODA Ireland have announced the introduction of the new Superb Sportline model as part of their 2017 model line-up which offers customers a range of sporty aesthetics combined with related sporty driving dynamics.

The new Superb Sportline emanates sporty flair with darkened exterior styling such as black exterior side-view mirrors, window frames and side door strips.

The SunSet tinted rear and side windows further enhance the exterior style as well as passenger comfort while the black front grille and darkened front fog lamps add to the domineering front profile. 18" Zenith platinum alloy wheels, a glossy black diffusor and distinctive exhaust tailpipes further emphases the sporty look. 

The saloon (or lift back version) also comes with a glossy black boot lip spoiler while the body-coloured roof spoiler and black roof rails make the Combi one of the most stylish estates in its class.

Inside, black roof lining, soft ambient lighting (which offers ten different colour options) and aluminum pedals add to the sporty interior. Sports seats in a combination of black alcantara/leather with silver stitching provide maximum comfort while the electrically-adjustable driver seat adds even extra comfort for hard cornering. 

A sports chassis and suspension set-up improves the car’s driving dynamics and the driver mode select also offers a choice of Normal, Sport, Eco or Individual driving modes which each change the behaviour of the engine, transmission, power steering and air conditioning based on the drivers preferences. 

Another eye-catching feature of the new Superb Sportline is its distinct communication colour of Dragon Skin Yellow Metallic.

Speaking today, Cathal Kealey, PR Manager at ŠKODA Ireland, commented: “The Superb is already one of the most stylish, practical and comfortable models in its class and the introduction of the new Sportline model now adds even further variety to the Superb offer. 

The aggressive and dominant sporty exterior is further complimented by the sporty interior while the sports suspension and drive model selection offer the ultimate driving experience.“ 

The Superb Sportline is available for just a €500 surcharge on the top-spec Style models. Order books are now open for this new model with first deliveries expected in January 2017 for the 171 registration period.

Engine	Fuel Type	Hatch	Combi
2.0 TDI 150bhp	Diesel	€37,495	€38,695
2.0 TDI 150bhp DSG	Diesel	€40,495	€41,695
2.0 TDI 150bhp 4x4	Diesel	€49,695	€41,895
2.0 TDI 190bhp	Diesel	€38,895	€40,095
2.0 TDI 190bhp DSG	Diesel	€41,895	€43,095
2.0 TDI 190bhp 4x4 DSG	Diesel	€45,095	€46,295
2.0 TSI 280bhp 4x4 DSG	Petrol	€47,250	€48,450

TMW - The flagship DS range of cars from the PSA Group is topped off with the DS5, a great car, so why does it not sell better ?

The DS automobiles brand, which has split from Citroen, has a trio of cars for sale in the UK, and the top of that range is the DS5, within that are three distinct models, the Elegance, performance line and Prestige and a hybrid 4x4 on top of that, the model we have today is the DS5 Prestige BlueHDi 150 S&S, six speed manual, in a stunning Whisper Purple, unfortunately the colour looks black unless you look at it with the sun on, or bright light, otherwise you really struggle to tell what colour this is.

On first glance when the car arrives, you are stuck by how large it is, and how stylised it is, with that silver slash from the front to the door and the kink that goes a few inches up the side, the split rear window on the tailgate, an old trait used before on another Citroen.

When you open the door you get a hint of aircraft, with the central stack in the roof with various buttons which activate the HUD, and the three, yes three, covers for the three stage glass roof. Once you get the car into the position that you are happy to be in, by moving the electric seats and the steering wheel, you slide into the seat, which actually is sat quite high, more SUV height, that luxury saloon, and that’s not an issue.

With the roof stack, and the central stack you feel very cosseted and quite claustrophobic, but in this car that’s not a problem, as there are so many other things for you to look at, like the really good sat-nav system, decent infotainment set up, the various settings for MPG, speed and eco mode, which is just a timer for when the car is at a standstill.

Once you start the car, by pressing the button below the art deco style clock, the car fires up to a roar, it is rather noisy, more so than I expected, but once inside, and driving along the noise goes from intrusive to becoming part of the excitement of driving this piece of French Flair.

The car in question is one that tries to compete with the likes of the Mondeo and Passat, to the C-Class, 3-Series and A4, does it work, well, yes and no, in terms of quality, build, equipment levels and price, yes, definitely, where it fails to compete is pure and simple, they have the market well and truly sewn up between them, so getting a car in there, and be successful, along with decent pricing, residuals and cost of ownership, this car is left wanting, and really that is a huge shame.

People do not look at this car, instead they immediately go for the German brands, and as I have said enough times before, these German brands are NOT as good as they pretend to be, we won’t even mention the VW diesel scandal, the Mondeo, took so long to come to the UK, that it lost its way, and became an instant overnight, out of date car, which is where the DS 5 should have jumped on the band wagon, and pushed the car for all its might, and tried to take some market share for the car.

The DS 5 is a brilliant car, there is no other word to describe it, you feel like you are flying a jet fighter, the car shifts, very quickly, and it has equally good brakes to bring the car to a safe and competent stop, without feeling like you are not in control.

This model comes with a host of added equipment:- 

• Cruise Control
• TPMS
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Sat Nav
• Trip Computer
• Reversing camera
• Hill start assist
• ABS
• EBD
• EBA
• ESC
• Auto handbrake
• eTouch emergency assistance system
• Keyless entry and start
• Auto activation of hazard lights
• Front armrest storage
• Leather pack
• 3-Part glass sunroof with sunblind’s
• Front and rear electric windows
• DAB Digital radio
• USB Socket
• Bluetooth
• Mirror Link
• LED Daytime running lights
• DS LED Vision Xenon direction headlights
• Auto lights
• 18" Alloys 

Just a very small amount of the standard kit on the car, so you can see that it is very well specified, and can fight it with the best of them and come out on top.

Our car here today came with very few additions but they were:-

• Metallic Paint £600
• Metal Effect Interior Trim Finishers
• Colour Heads Up Display (HUD)
• Electric Comfort Pack £500
• Grey Leather £0.00 

The car is also quite friendly to the environment, considering its size and weight, the model here runs 113g/km Co2, which is not bad, however the range does start at 103g/km Co2, it can cruise quite happily at over 100mph, and it tops out at 127mph, whilst taking 10.6 seconds to get from standstill to 62mph, quite slow compared to other cars in the class, but then who actually does drive it like the road testers do?

Fuel consumption is claimed from DS Automobiles as really very good 

• Urban Cycle 4.4litre/100km    64.2mpg
• Extra Urban  3.8litre/100km    74.3mpg
• Combined     4.1litre/100km    68.9mpg 

These are claimed figures, and I didn't manage to get to the high numbers, but according to the trip computer I did manage to get high 40's on a run to Malvern, where we had a bespoke tour of Morgan Motor Company, (post to come shortly) and this included motorway, city and country road driving, and getting stuck in a large traffic jam in Malvern.

Personally I would have preferred to have driven an automatic, as most people who would buy this type of car would opt for the EAT6, which is a great auto box once you get used to the way it needs to be driven, one of our own cars is the C4 Cactus with the EAT6, and for the first few days it was like a kangaroo driving, but now you can drive the car very smoothly, and that’s what would be in this car as standard.

Driving the car and you feel like you are in something very well made, ergonomically the car is great, with everything easily to hand, you never have to reach about for anything, I did have issues with the roof toggle switches when I first got the car, but once I got used to where there were and which switch did what, there was no problems.

Pulling away from junctions is not an issue for the car as there are bags of torque to get you moving, and the well to heavily weighted power steering never diverts from where you point it, no torque steer here.

Now the negative points, and there is one that’s just too big to ignore, and that’s depreciation, this car drops like a stone, but then the big Citroen models generally have, which makes the DS5 a brilliant buy second hand, which then begs the question, would I have one, too right I would, the car has all the toys, the build quality and looks that some of the supposed quality brands would dearly love to have, and fail to achieve.

The car runs, stops and performs faultlessly, has loads of boot space, my only issues are the dark interior for the rear seat passengers, but that can be rectified by the triple glass roof, and the double glass tailgate, this can be an issue if you slam it shut with something in the way, and crash that’s the tailgate window broken, but being careful should alleviate that.

2014 Alfa Giulietta now on sale in the UK - loads of upgrades and tweaks.

• 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta goes on sale in the UK priced from £18,235 OTR
• Exterior revisions include a new grille, new fog lamp bezels, new alloy wheel designs and new colours
• Interior upgrades include sportier and more supportive seats, new door trims and a new steering wheel plus a standard colour touch-screen Uconnect^™ infotainment system with Bluetooth and DAB
• Improved emissions across the engine range plus more performance from the 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel

The 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta is now on sale in the UK with renewed style, new engines and more technological content than ever before. Launched in the UK in 2010, the Giulietta remains the most eye-catching and attractive car and in its segment and, as a consequence, the styling revisions for 2014 have been carefully considered, with a new front grille design; revised front fog light bezels; new 16-, 17- and 18-inch alloy wheel designs and new exterior colours (Luna Pearl, Cobalto Blue and Metallo Bronze) to further enhance its appeal.

The interior of the Alfa Giulietta benefits from more extensive revisions: The standard Uconnect™ multimedia system takes pride of place in the redesigned, high-quality dashboard, with the associated USB/Aux ports now relocated to a more convenient position in the centre console.

The all-new Uconnect™ system, fitted as standard across the entire 2014 Alfa Giulietta range, is operated via its five-inch colour touch screen or using voice commands and includes Bluetooth^® connectivity, wireless music streaming, hands-free SMS reading and DAB (digital radio). Alfa Giulietta models fitted with satellite navigation benefit from a larger 6.5-inch screen with 3D bird's-eye maps, intelligent route guidance and a one-step destination entry function with voice command. Both systems have been developed in collaboration with first-class partners: Harman and Here Auto for Uconnect™ 6.5” and Continental for Uconnect™ 5”.

New door trim panels and a sporty new steering wheel design bring improved quality and more style to the cabin, while the redesigned seats not only exude Italian craftsmanship, they are also more comfortable and more enveloping - particularly in terms of upper-body lateral support - and are presented in a variety of new upholstery and leather finishes. Extensively revised sound insulation also provides a quieter and more relaxed driving environment.

Under the bonnet, every engine in the Alfa Giulietta range benefits from improved efficiency and lower emissions which doesn’t just make the Giulietta more environmentally friendly, it also results in lower fuel bills and reduced Benefit-in-Kind costs for company car drivers. The 1.4 TB MultiAir170hp TCT, for example, now drops into the 15% BIK band, while the diesel-powered 1.6 JTDM-2 105hp drops from the 17% BIK band down to the 15% band. The new 150hp 2.0 JTDM-2 engine, which debuts on the Giulietta, doesn’t just offer more power and torque compared to the previous 140hp 2.0 JTDM-2 engine, it also produces 9g/km less in terms of CO₂ emissions, dropping it into the 17% BIK band.

Regardless of engine choice, the Alfa Giulietta driver always has the option of customising their car's driving character using the standard Alfa DNA driving selector, allowing them to find the ideal blend of comfort, performance, safety and efficiency for the prevailing conditions.

The new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp

The heart of the new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp engine is its third-generation Common Rail injection system that uses innovative injectors capable of controlling the amount of diesel injected into the combustion chamber with maximum precision and flexibility, thanks to its balanced hydraulic servo valve. Up to eight injections per stroke are possible together with injection strategies that optimise the combustion process. The Injection Rate Shaping (IRS) system, for example, involves two consecutive injections so close together in time it generates a continuous and modulated fuel supply into the cylinders. In this way the combustion process is improved with quieter operation with reduced particulate and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, and because the injection system has 40% fewer components it also offers greater simplicity and reliability.

Driving Dynamics

Built on Alfa Romeo’s most advanced architecture with a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, the 2014 Alfa Giulietta provides not only one of the most enjoyable driving experiences in its class, it’s also one of the safest cars on the road. In addition to VDC, six airbags, three-point seat belts with double pre-tensioner, an anti-whiplash system and a third load line for excellent passenger compartment protection, the Giulietta is also fitted with the Alfa DNA driving selector, electronic Q2 differential, DST (which prompts drivers to apply the correct steering input in the event of an emergency through impulses at the wheel) and a Pre-fill system which arms the brakes for emergency braking situations when it senses the drive may be losing control of the vehicle. As a further safety measure for 2014, a tyre pressure monitoring system is also now standard across the Alfa Romeo Giulietta range.

The 2014 UK Model Range

At launch, four trim levels will be available: Progression, Distinctive, Exclusive and Sportiva Nav.

Progression

Compared to the entry-level Turismo model it replaces, standard equipment on the new Progression model now includes new 16-inch alloy wheels; the Uconnect™ infotainment system with steering wheel remote controls; DAB (digital radio); Bluetooth^® connectivity; tyre pressure monitoring; rear electric windows and new seat fabrics with matching dashboard, door and central tunnel inserts. This equates to almost £1,700 worth of additional standard equipment for a modest £470 price increase compared to the outgoing Turismo.

Carryover standard features include the Alfa DNA driving selector, air conditioning, LED daytime running lights, LED tail-lights, VDC stability control and Alfa Romeo’s electronic Q2 differential. Two engines are offered with the Progression trim: The 1.4 TB 120hp turbo petrol and the 1.6 JTDM-2 105hp turbo diesel.

Distinctive

The new Distinctive trim level, which replaces Lusso, benefits from new 16-inch turbine-design alloy wheels and chrome-effect mirrors, while the interior is upgraded with new upholstery; new trim inserts and a cooled glove-box as part of its 2014 revisions. Combined with the DAB and TPMS upgrades, this equates to almost £700 worth of extra equipment for an additional £470. Standard Distinctive equipment, in addition to that already fitted to Progression, also includes rear parking sensors, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, front fog lights, chrome-effect window surrounds, sports dials, an alarm system, a height-adjustable passenger seat and a front armrest with storage. The Distinctive petrol range includes the 1.4 TB 120hp and 1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp engines while the diesel range includes the 1.6 JTDM-2 105hp turbo diesel and Alfa Romeo’s new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp engine.

Exclusive

The new Exclusive trim level takes the place of Veloce for 2014 and benefits from new 17-inch alloy wheels and new leather and micro-fibre upholstery, plus rain-sensing wipers; automatic headlights; electric-folding door mirrors; dark tinted windows; an electro-chromatic rear-view mirror; a rear arm-rest and electric front-seat lumbar support. In total, close to £2,000 worth of additional features are now standard while the price increase is just £920. Exclusive models are also equipped with a sports suspension; sports leather steering wheel with red stitching; aluminium sports pedals and kick-plates; darkened headlight clusters; satin-effect mirror covers and side body skirts. The Exclusive engine range is comprised of the 1.4 TB MultiAir170hp (available as a six-speed manual or with the six-speed ALFA TCT transmission); the 1.6 JTDM-2 105hp and the new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp.

Sportiva Nav

The new Sportiva Nav trim level benefits from the standard features of the outgoing Sportiva model - its sports suspension; 18-inch alloy wheels in a dark titanium finish; red Brembo brake callipers with uprated discs and unique badging - but is now fitted with a sports steering wheel with white stitching; leather and Alcantara upholstery; front parking sensors and, as the name suggests, a new 6.5-inch Uconnect™ satellite navigation system, with TMS, all as standard. The 2014 Sportiva Nav engine range is comprised of the 1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp (available as a manual or with the ALFA TCT transmission) and the new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp engine, with prices increasing by just £810 despite more than £2,500 worth of additional equipment now being offered as standard.

More to Come

A range-topping 2.0 JTDM-2 175hp engine, now with TCT as standard, will be available in both Exclusive and Sportiva Nav trims in the coming months, while details of a new sporting flagship for the Giulietta range will be announced at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show in early March.

Pricing

Prices for the 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta start at £18,235 for the 1.4 TB 120hp Progression, while the diesel range starts at £19,170 for the 1.6 JTDM-2 105hp Progression. Prices for Alfa Giulietta models powered by the new 2.0 JTDM-2 150hp engine start at £21,720 in Distinctive trim. The 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta is on sale in the UK now and is available for customers to test drive at Alfa Romeo dealerships nationwide.

2014 ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA
Engine	Trim	Price OTR
1.4 TB 120hp	Progression	£18,235
1.4 TB 120hp	Distinctive	£19,485
1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp	Distinctive	£20,985
1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp	Exclusive	£22,735
1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp	Sportiva Nav	£24,485
1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp  ALFA TCT	Exclusive	£24,035
1.4 TB MultiAir 170hp ALFA TCT	Sportiva Nav	£25,785
1.6 JTDM-2 105hp	Progression	£19,170
1.6 JTDM-2 105hp	Distinctive	£20,420
1.6 JTDM-2 105hp	Exclusive	£22,170
2.0 JTDM-2 150hp	Distinctive	£21,720
2.0 JTDM-2 150hp	Exclusive	£23,470
2.0 JTDM-2 150hp	Sportiva Nav	£25,220