It’s easy to be seduced by EV party tricks, whether it be mind blowing instant torque acceleration, self driving trickery or dashboard gaming. So when I took Hyundai’s all new ground-up EV the Ioniq 5 to Slemish car park, along with coffee machine, toaster and vehicle to load adapter ready to go, I was actually doing this absolutely brilliant all rounder a disservice. This is the Project 45, the limited run (3000 units) launch edition of the Ioniq 5. They are long sold out but they are effectively a fully loaded ‘Ultimate’ trim car with the 305bhp dual motor drivetrain…
Author: Andy Cooper
Red Bull Car Park Drift slid into Belfast last weekend as part of their international series of Gymkhana style events, held in front of the iconic Titanic visitors centre in the heart of Belfast. Over 5,000 motorsport fans turned out for the two day drift event at the custom built circuit to see the 30 competitors in epic drift cars battle it out. The event marked the first of the Red Bull Car Park Drift 2022 World Final Qualifiers and with just one qualification place available for the 2022 World Final, competition was stiff with competitors from across Ireland determined…
The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show thankfully returned this year to Birmingham’s expansive National Exhibition Centre. In the same week as the COP26 climate summit and with the Coronavirus pandemic still lurking in the background, an event that celebrates our beloved internal combustion engine in all its many guises over the last century is one to be revered. Such a broad church is why the Classic Motor Show is such a beloved entry in the petrolheads calendar, supported by the best owners clubs in the country that bring out their best member’s examples be it an immaculate Miami Blue Peugeot…
In this episode of RMS Motoring’s Sold as Seen Podcast, Andy has the Hyundai Ioniq 5 on road test, so EVs, costs and ownership are the order of the day. Craig drops a bomb. Gary gets us excited about our upcoming trip to the Classic Car Show at the NEC, and has us slightly less excited about the new Range Rover launch. Andy talks us through seeing the Lotus Emira in Birmingham, experiencing the fuel crises and being embedded in the Cotswolds, land of Clarkson, Metcalfe and Castle Combe Circuit. And we talk Bond Cars with the release of No…
Lotus launched it’s stunning new sports car, the Emira, earlier this year at the 2021 Goodwood festival of speed. It’s touted as the company’s last piston car, and its first under new owner Geely. Channel 4’s Lotus: A New Dawn documentary laboured the huge investment in the business promising a step change in finish of new-Lotus vehicles. The stakes have never been higher. A hop across to the midlands on the cards to see the Lotus Emira at Rybrook Lotus, Birmingham as a static display of their show mule – so no test drives, in part to determine would the…
Bob Flavin is a automotive journalist and also has been producing several Youtube car reviews a month since 2010, making him the most popular car reviewer on YouTube in Ireland, with 70k subscribers. He also has over 130k followers on TikTok, and was previously the motoring correspondent for the Irish Independent. He regularly spends his time flying around Europe to review cars for major manufacturers, and has recently started holding car enthusiast events near Dublin with huge turnouts. He joins the Sold as Seen team for a long form conversation on being an automotive journalist in Ireland, being a…
The historic Titanic Dry Dock and Pump House played host to this year’s exceptionally busy Titanic Dubs. Running for a decade now by GTI NI, this show normally signifies the end of a busy car show season, but of course due to the Coronavirus pandemic it turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire year. The central Belfast location is great for a show that in one area has restomod Beetles, another modified Caddy vans, bagged Golfs and Jettas elsewhere and VW Buses ready to camp out! Trade stands and refreshments turn it into a family all…
Comprehensively better than a Golf GTi. It’s click bait cliche of course, but its also the slice of the hot hatch market segment that Hyundai want, deservedly so in this case. Buy into the N brand today, maybe you’ll have a Tuscon or Kona Electric accompaniment on the drive tomorrow. We’ve tested the i30N at launch at Kirkistown Race Circuit back in 2018 and we loved how fun it was to drive on and off circuit. Namyang have been busy in the interim, this the home of the N-division R&D centre, and where the ‘N’ itself comes from. A…
JPCCNI took over the grounds of Killard House School in Donaghadee for a third time for their Back to Skooled show. This was a charity car event to raise much needed funds for the school that caters for kids with complex learning needs. There is something nostalgic about seeing the greatest Japanese icons from the 90s and 2000s sitting together, the above no exception with the Nissan S14a 200sx and A80 Toyota Supra (Skyline R33s hiding to the rear) evoking those Gran Turismo thoughts. This was a great day out for any JDM enthusiast or petrolhead in general. With £2200…
Shaftsbury Park is a leafy, walled public park set just off the main coast road in Carrickfergus, and played host to Letstance’s latest show. Sunny skies, food, music and a high standard of show cars numbering over a hundred in this stunning backdrop meant for an excellent automotive day out. There was a wide range of modified, performance and classic cars throughout the Letstance Show, with the likes of this Audi A4 B5 turning heads. This turbocharged S2000 was another highlight, the engine work and attention to detail throughout made it a stand out. Another modern classic Honda caught my…
A relaxed morning in stunning surroundings, with both decent cars and coffee in ample supply. You couldn’t ask for more at this North West location, nestled in the courtyard of the historic grounds of the Georgian Blackheath House that sits between Aghadowey and Macosquin. I spoke to Thomas from Blackheath pottery, who has a love of classic and performance cars and hopes to run the event monthly. Photos by Ryan North
Welcome to Episode 7 of Sold as Seen Podcast. Fresh from our fascinating insight into the life of GQ’s Jason Barlow in Episode 6, in this episode we talk about some upcoming NI events, get excited by the recent announcements of a new Honda Integra and Nissan Z car, delve into some Youtube and Podcast channels that tick our boxes, partake in a Q&A from forum members – and lots more. Listen On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Soundcloud | Acast | YouTube | RSS Feed or just ask Siri or Alexa to Play Sold as Seen…