Time was when Fiat were the absolute berries when it came to the production of small family cars and even laid down the guidelines which so many other manufacturers followed when it came to the production of such machines.

It is perhaps not the best time to be launching a coupe or a cabriolet, but Renault has just launched the new Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet onto the marketplace.

The sales figures in recent years are proof positive of the impact Hyundai has had on the Irish car market and the company’s slow but sure rise up the sales charts is indicative of how the Irish public has engaged with the South Korean company.

While it might be wide of the mark to say the Ford Galaxy is my favourite MPV, it would be a lot closer to the truth to say maintain that I have watched with admired Ford’s development of this machine from an OK to a top contender to one which is very close to the top of the pile.

There can be few more evocative motoring names than Alfa Romeo.

For a company which was in dire straits just a few short months ago — and it is not out of the woods yet, by any means — Opel could well be considered to be in rather rude good health right now.

THE BMW X3 is a car that has been much criticised in recent times — partly justifiably — but I must confess I have always felt it to be a car not best served by some critics.

‘Hey mister, where’ja get the mobile ice pop?,’ shouted the young fella as I passed by in my ‘bitter lemon’ metallic-coloured Citroen C3 Picasso.

The great and good were joined by a slightly sweaty gang of motoring hacks in London last week to get the first official glimpse of the latest addition to the Range Rover family.

Ford will debut its latest, face-lifted and technologically upgraded Mondeo at the Moscow Motor Show, in August, the company has announced.

NISSAN were busy last week, outlining several new arrivals in Ireland and an active near future in terms of product launch.

REGULAR readers will know that I really liked the new C-Class Mercedes, seeing it as a serious return to form for the Stuttgart giant in the compact executive market segment.

Years ago I took glider flying lessons. The experience was quite different to any other kind of flying, because once the sailplane was released from the towing aircraft, there was a quite extraordinary silence.

Ford has ratcheted up its attack on the MPV market here in Ireland with the announcement of the model line up and prices for the new S-MAX and Galaxy models which went on sale across its dealer network last week.

Since the launch of the Mazda6 in the Irish market in January 2008, the it Mazda6 has established itself as a credible and alternate choice for customers who want a large family car with more style and driver’s appeal against what more mainstream rivals.

It seems to me that Renault has been one of the most aggressive motor companies here on the Irish market since we were gripped by recession in early 2009 and the fact that the company has reported it took 11.4% of the market here in April appears to be solid evidence that its approach is paying divi

The mini MPV segment is one which is only recently coming into vogue and you cannot but be impressed with the manner in which certain companies have reacted to its inception.

Possibly the most important car in the history of Saab is about to be launched across Europe.

Renault Ireland has launched its new saloon, the Fluence, which we are told has been designed with the aim of standing out as the most attractive car of its class for an amazing price.