Ford is taking a leading position interms of fuel economy improvements across its range. The company haslaunched a new ECOnetic range for the Mondeo and the Focus models todeliver impressive economy figures and lower emissions levels in whatare affordable cars. Michael Moroney reports on his test drive of thenew Ford Mondeo ECOnetic, where economy brings no compromise in termsof performance.

OPEL has announced pricing for the newOpel Insignia, which is due to be available in Ireland from earlyDecember.  

THE Seat Ibiza ECOMOTIVE achieved amajor triumph in the 10th Eco Tour, a recent cross-Europe, tough,fuel-efficient challenge. The 1.4 litre diesel powered Ibiza not onlyfinished first place in the "small diesel" class but wasalso the overall winner with average fuel consumption of 3.8l/100km.

FORD’S new Fiesta and the Ford Fusionare the latest Ford models which have been awarded with an official‘allergy-tested’ seal, first achieved by the Ford C-MAX in 2004. Now all Ford cars have been certified for their allergy friendlyinterior.

THE new Skoda Superb made it Irishdebut at the recent National Ploughing Championships, when sunshineshone down on it in a first for the event.  

VOLKSWAGEN’S rekindled Scirocco coupemodel has arrived on the Irish market. Described by Volkswagen as ‘anew Scirocco for a new era’, it arrives back in Ireland some 34years after the first version was unveiled.  

YOUNGER drivers are now being offeredsignificant savings on their car insurance premium, simply byavoiding dangerous driving times.  

THE Minister for Education and ScienceMr. Batt O’Keeffe TD recently launched the 2009 F1 in Schoolspowered in Ireland by Honda. Last year’s winners Koni Kats from St.David’s School in Greystones, Co. Wicklow and they are currentlybuilding up their portfolio to represent Ireland at the World Finalsto take place next spring in London.   

SUSTAINABLE Energy Ireland (SEI) hasreleased figures demonstrating the level of fuel cost and CO2emissions savings that consumers can make based on the energylabelling of the car that they purchase.