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British automaker Lotus has unveiled its first all-new car in 11 years – an all-electric supercar, the Evija. The 1,972-horsepower coupe will be the first developed under Lotus’s parent company, billionaire Li Shu Fu’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., which also controls Volvo Car Group, and will be the halo for the rest of the Lotus range that includes the Elise, Exige, and Evora.

Many many people have been asking what they should do about getting an electric car. So I thought we’d keep it dead simple.
With lots of help from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), here are seven straightforward steps to hopefully make the whole exercise that bit easier.
1. The obvious one: Check out the range of EVs which are eligible for an SEAI grant of up to €5,000.
2. The SEAI website (www.drivingelectric.ie) has a handy tool to help you compare running costs, driving range, annual tax and so on.
Use it as part of your focus on what you want.
3. Take your time. It is absolutely vital you pick a car which will suit you in terms of comfort, practical passenger and luggage room – and, of course, range.
There is no point in paying too much for something with higher range than you feasibly require or, contrarily, purchasing a low-range vehicle when you need 430km at least.
4. It might sound a bit strange but pick a car that will be easy to adapt to as well. Running an EV does require a change of mindset in terms of how, when and where you charge the battery and so on.
5. After you have narrowed down your choice of car to, I would suggest, two models bargain for the best deal but don’t get too stingy.
Dealers have to make a margin too.
6. If you have a trade-in don’t be distracted by what the dealer says he is offering you.
Only concentrate on what it is costing you to change. Keep focused on that at all times and you won’t go too far wrong.
When you have bought, the dealer will do all the paperwork necessary for the €5,000 car grant from the SEAI.
This will take approximately 10 to 15 working days.
As you know, you also get a VRT rebate of €5,000, making a total of €10,000 knocked off the initial price.
7. Unless you already have one, you should apply – yourself – to SEAI for a home car charger grant of up to €600. Just get your meter point reference number (MPRN) from your electricity bill and fill in the online form at www.seai.ie/grants/electric-vehicle-grants/electric-vehicle-home-charger-grant/
As soon as that is approved by a letter of offer, get an electrician registered with Safe Electric Ireland to complete the work and submit the required forms back to SEAI. Payment will then be made to your bank account.
Happy EV times.

Even in these days of ubiquitous SUVs, it’s important to remember one in five Audis sold is an A4.

As promised last week the final piece of the new BMW 1-series jigsaw – driving impressions.While the memorable part was driving the 302bhp M135i range-topper with all-wheel drive, I was also impressed with the quiet smoothness and pulling power of the 118d diesel.Prices start from €32,100 for the entry-level 118i and stretch to €50,830 for the M135i.Due on September 28, they expect sales of 300-400 here.The M135i was fast, assured and brilliantly poised but I would like another, longer drive to ascertain if this new four-cylinder has the hairs-on-back-of-neck character I hoped and suspected it would.That may seem like a cop out, but it’s not. Traffic was heavy on German roads – even some of the twisty back routes were slow, so it was possible only to glimpse the car’s ability.What is sure is its blistering pace and ability to cope with huge changes in direction with ease. I’d have liked more hot-hatch sound, something to involve you. Would I buy it ahead of, say, a Volkswagen R? Not so sure.The diesel was a genuine surprise. It was as quiet as I’ve ever heard an engine. It will be the choice for many Irish buyers. Rightly so.

MITSUBISHI has just released prices and specs for its new L200 Double Cab pickup. The vehicle, always a popular option for Irish buyers, is due on sale later in the summer.
Prices will start at €35,000 – that’s for the manual 4WD Business model.
Next step up is €37,850 for the Intense spec version; €39,350 for the 6spd auto Intense and €41,935 for the 6spd auto Instyle.
The L200 is powered by the 150PS 2.2-litre diesel engine which has also undergone major revision.
Mitsubishi expects the Intense manual version to be the one most buyers will spend their money on.
A new off-road mode has been added to improve traction over surfaces that include gravel, mud/snow, sand or rock settings.
Safety elements include forward collision mitigation, automatic high-beam, rear cross-traffic alert and multi around-view monitor.
The heavily overhauled new pickup is still built on a ladder-type frame.
The L200 has been a big favourite for some time.
And the name has been on the road for more than 40 years now.
Business spec includes: air con, cruise control, voice control, USB port (front) electric windows, trailer stability assist (TSA), 16in alloys and full-size spare.
Intense adds: keyless entry, two USB charging sockets for rear seats, smartphone link display audio (SDA) with 7in touchscreen display (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), multi around-view monitor, forward collision mitigation (FCM), off-road traction control, hill descent control, 18in alloys and front fogs.
Instyle adds: dual zone air con, automatic parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, auto high beam (AHB), leather seat upholstery, heated front seats and six-way electric driver’s seat.