News: Ireland's first Toyota dealership hits 75

  

It seems to be that businesses are falling by the wayside every few minutes in these dark times of austerity, but there are a few, a select few, that have true longevity. How about one that began life as the dark clouds of war gathered over Europe, and has traded, survived and prospered through Cold War, moon landing, Haughey, Jack Charlton and Bertie? Well done Linders of Chapelizod, for hitting your 75th birthday.

News: Rolls-Royce celebrates 10 years under BMW ownership

On 1 January 2003 the new home of Rolls-Royce officially opened for business and the first car was presented to its delighted customer at one minute past midnight.


Described at the time as ‘the last great adventure in automotive history’, production of Phantom was initially one car per day, rising to three by the end of 2003. Today, with a product range spanning two model families (Phantom and Ghost) and six models, the company’s craftsmen and women hand-build up to 20 cars each day. In 2011, Rolls-Royce celebrated a second consecutive sales record and the best result in the company’s then 107-year history.

The response to the company’s portfolio from customers, media and enthusiasts has been overwhelmingly positive throughout the company’s first ten years of business. Each new model has been warmly welcomed and attracted worldwide acclaim, with the cars winning many design and luxury awards. The company’s growing dealer network provides the same unique and effortless customer ownership experience across the world, with superlative customer service offered as standard.

The unequalled quality of all Rolls-Royce motor cars built at the company’s manufacturing plant has been recognised by the media from the very beginning. And bringing the story up to date, the launch of Phantom Series II in 2012, for example, was met with the highest acclaim.

Starting with a workforce of less than 400, there are now more than 1,400 people employed at the Goodwood-based manufacturing plant and head office. More than 100 new positions were created in 2012 alone. The company has invested heavily in future talent, with thriving apprenticeship, graduate and intern programmes. More than 80% of employees live locally (within 15 miles) and staff turnover is one of the lowest in the manufacturing industry.

The company makes a significant positive economic impact to the local area and, with more than 90% of cars exported, to the British economy. Investment has also extended to the site, with a major new extension to the manufacturing area currently nearing completion. This is to help the company meet further growth in worldwide sales and satisfy demand for highly personalised Ghost and Phantom models.

“Rolls-Royce is a great manufacturing success story and I am very proud to celebrate 10 Years of Excellence," said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “The renaissance of the world’s most famous automotive brand and the creation and development of the Home of Rolls-Royce has been an extraordinary and successful journey. I applaud the Rolls‑Royce team at Goodwood and across the world for their passion and together we can look forward to the next ten years with great optimism.”

News: Volvo celebrates 25 years of airbags

The first Volvo car equipped with an airbag left the assembly line in 1987 – and since then the company has extended the technology with several world-firsts.


Volvo was first with both the seat-mounted side airbag and the Inflatable Curtain (IC) - and in 2012 the technology's 25th anniversary was celebrated with the introduction of the groundbreaking pedestrian airbag in the all-new Volvo V40.

"It is the first time airbag technology has been used to help protect vulnerable road users, in this case pedestrians, outside the car," says Lennart Johansson, Senior Manager for Interior safety at Volvo Car Corporation.

Lennart Johansson, who was part of the pioneering work in the 1980s, adds: "The benefit of modern airbag technology is that it takes very little space and still helps provide a good level of protection that can be optimized for the occupant and the crash situation. However, when we see a need for enhanced protection we always search for a total safety solution. The airbag is one solution and it can be combined with other measures."

Another recent example is the new knee airbag in the all-new Volvo V40. It is designed to distribute the load on the driver's lower body in a frontal collision.

The airbag has been a standard feature in all cars for several years, but in the early days both the technology and its reliability created intense debate. At that time, many of these anxieties were justified.

"Getting an airbag to deploy is not a challenge, but making it deploy at exactly the right moment is," explains Lennart Johansson, adding: "In recent years, the timing and the performance level of inflation have been in focus. And in modern airbag technology, the inflation level can be adapted to match crash severity."

The use of sophisticated radar and cameras in recent cars paves the way for the possibility of activating protective safety systems even before the impact if necessary.

A look in the rear-view mirror shows that the first airbag solutions emerged back in the early 1950s. However, the technology was far from mature. One 1955 patent describes a system similar to today's, but with the significant exception that the driver himself had to deploy the bag by pressing a button. Another early debate focused on the use of a pyrotechnic charge to inflate the airbag with gas.
A controversial bill in the United States in 1984 speeded up the airbag development process. Focusing on the dangers of not using the safety belt, the bill stipulated that within three years new cars must be equipped with protective safety devices that did not have to be activated by the occupants.


The airbag was quickly recognised by many observers as the best solution and some even believed that it even would replace the three-point safety belt that was invented by Volvo Car Corporation back in 1959.

However, Volvo successfully argued that the best safety result would be achieved by co-operation between the safety belt system and airbag technology.

"More airbags will not necessarily improve the overall safety level. It is important to regard the airbag as part of a systematic approach where the car's structure, the safety belts, the airbags and other details such as the steering column interact to ensure optimum absorption of the collision forces in an accident," comments Lennart Johansson.


In the late 1990s, the airbag became standard equipment in the Volvo 850.
In 1994, Volvo Car Corporation took the technology further by introducing a side airbag that is integrated in the seat backrest, ready to help protect the chest in a side impact.
"We took a huge step forward by making the side airbag part of our patented Side Impact Protection System that is integrated in the body structure," says Lennart Johansson.

By then, it was already time for the next world-first from Volvo Car Corporation - the Inflatable Curtain (IC).

The IC is designed to enhance head protection for both front and outer rear seat occupants in a side impact. In some car models, it is also helps protect the occupants in a rollover situation.
The roof-mounted version was introduced when the new Volvo S80 was launched in 1998 and is a standard feature in all Volvo models except the C70.

Instead, the convertible Volvo C70 is equipped with door-mounted inflatable curtains that are deployed upwards in a side collision and remain inflated to help provide protection if the car rolls over. 
Volvo has taken this technology another step further by extending the curtain to also provide enhanced protection in offset collisions and for children in the rear seat.


Airbag technology has changed a great deal since it was introduced 25 years ago - and Volvo has been one of the key players in the refinement process.

"Airbag performance has been improved significantly. Today's technology is much more adapted to the collision sequence and the way occupants are moved by the crash forces. After 25 years, refining the airbag technology is a vital part of our aim to build the safest cars in the world," explains Lennart Johansson.

Meanwhile, Volvo Car Ireland has announced that Bluetooth phone connection will now be standard on four of its most popular models, the V40, S60 and V60 ranges. This feature is part of the High Performance Audio system which includes USB connectivity, AUX-input, 8 speakers and Steering wheel audio controls.

The High Performance Audio system provides USB audio connection for iPod, iPhone and USB 2.0 memory sticks. The audio streaming and USB capability enables the driver to play music through the High performance Audio system. The driver can control the music selection through the use of the steering wheel controls. Information such as the artist name, album and track is displayed on the multi information display.

Bluetooth® technology allows safe hands-free phone calls whilst driving. This is becoming an increasingly important feature for drivers particularly in light of recent moves by the government to double penalty points for motorists caught using a mobile phone when they are driving.

The High Performance Audio system normally retails at €500. The addition of this option as a standard feature will further enhance the already generous specification levels of these models which have City Safety and a world first pedestrian airbag as standard (on V40).