UsedCarsNI Blog

RENAULT TWINGO E-TECH ELECTRIC HOPS INTO UK SHOWROOMS

RENAULT TWINGO E-TECH ELECTRIC HOPS INTO UK SHOWROOMS

Ahead of order books opening later this year, more than 100 Absolute Green examples of Renault’s characterful new electric city car are giving UK buyers an early close-up look. Renault’s newest small EV has made an early leap across the Channel. The Twingo E-Tech electric — already

From launch to landmark: BYD reaches 100,000 UK registrations

From launch to landmark: BYD reaches 100,000 UK registrations

In just three years, the New Energy Vehicle specialist has grown from a single-model entrant to one of the UK’s fastest-rising automotive brands. Three years ago, BYD arrived in the UK with a single model and a clear ambition: to make electrified motoring more accessible to British

Portugal proves punishing for local crews despite flashes of promise on WRC weekend

Portugal proves punishing for local crews despite flashes of promise on WRC weekend

Rally de Portugal delivered drama, setbacks and standout moments for the local contingent, with Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy battling back from penalties, spins and a heavy impact to claim a breakthrough stage win, while Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne showed encouraging pace before their challenge ended in a Saturday

Podium for Fulton in Japan

Podium for Fulton in Japan

FORUM8 Rally Japan 2026 was round seven of the FIA World Rally Championship and took place from 28–31 May across the Aichi and Gifu prefectures, with the service park based at Toyota Stadium in Toyota City. A long-established fixture that first appeared on the WRC calendar in 2004,

MG’s Bold New Arrival: The All New MGS9 PHEV Sets a Fresh Benchmark for 7 Seat SUVs

MG’s Bold New Arrival: The All New MGS9 PHEV Sets a Fresh Benchmark for 7 Seat SUVs

MG has taken a decisive step into the world of large family SUVs with the launch of the all‑new MGS9 PHEV, its first-ever 7‑seat model. Long admired for producing affordable yet forward‑thinking vehicles, MG is now expanding its ambition—and the MGS9 arrives ready to challenge

Lewis Turkington: Racing His Own Line

Lewis Turkington: Racing His Own Line

The 16-year-old son of four-time British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington is stepping out of the shadows, swapping autograss for asphalt, and building a motorsport story with purpose. Lewis Turkington may carry one of the most recognisable surnames in British motorsport, but his route into racing has

Callum Devine seals fifth straight Rally of the Lakes triumph after dramatic duel with Doherty

Callum Devine seals fifth straight Rally of the Lakes triumph after dramatic duel with Doherty

The reigning champion reclaimed the Irish Tarmac lead in Killarney, while Robert Duggan, John O'Donnell and Darragh Walsh also took category honours. KILLARNEY - NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan won the Assess Ireland International Rally of the Lakes for a

Dramatic Win For Meeke At Cultra…

Dramatic Win For Meeke At Cultra…

Following the successful return of the event in 2023, the Thoroughbred Sports Car Club (NI), in partnership with Porsche Centre Belfast, staged the Cultra Motorsport Festival 2026 on Saturday 6th June. At its heart was the Cultra Hillclimb, a demanding 640-metre course threaded through the grounds of the Ulster

BlackBall 100: Driving Together for Zac Gives Back

BlackBall 100: Driving Together for Zac Gives Back

Blackwater Graphics were delighted to welcome participants, sponsors, volunteers and supporters to the inaugural BlackBall 100 — a charity car run created to bring people together for a powerful local cause. What began as a simple idea — to unite car enthusiasts, local businesses, friends and families — has grown into something truly

DONNELLY GROUP’S CHARITY PARTNERSHIP RAISES RECORD-BREAKING £34,393 FOR NI CHILDREN’S HOSPICE

DONNELLY GROUP’S CHARITY PARTNERSHIP RAISES RECORD-BREAKING £34,393 FOR NI CHILDREN’S HOSPICE

Donnelly Group Foundation, the charitable fund launched by Northern Ireland’s largest independent vehicle retailer, Donnelly Group, has marked its highest annual fundraising total to date, raising a record-breaking £34,393 for NI Children’s Hospice. Selected by Donnelly Group employees as the 2025 Charity Partner of the Year,

Belfast Giants and Agnew Škoda Drive Into a Greener 2026/27 Season

Belfast Giants and Agnew Škoda Drive Into a Greener 2026/27 Season

A renewed official vehicle partnership brings all-electric Škoda SUVs, bold Giants branding, and a shared commitment to sustainability on and off the ice. As anticipation builds for another high-energy season at The O2 Belfast, the Belfast Giants are preparing to make an impact beyond the rink. The club

Ohme introduces PayPal instalment option for home EV chargers

Ohme introduces PayPal instalment option for home EV chargers

Ohme has introduced a new payment option that allows customers buying its home EV chargers directly to spread the cost through PayPal Pay in 3, as the company looks to lower the upfront barrier to switching to electric driving. The move comes as electric vehicles account for more than one

Donnelly Group and Mitsubishi: A 30-Year Partnership Drives into a New Era

Donnelly Group and Mitsubishi: A 30-Year Partnership Drives into a New Era

As Mitsubishi Motors makes its much-anticipated return to the UK market this summer, Donnelly Group is ready to welcome the brand back to Northern Ireland with commercial vehicle sales reintroduced at its Mallusk site. For Donnelly Group, Northern Ireland’s largest privately owned vehicle retailer, the announcement carries particular

Driven by Passion: Inside Elite Autos NI with Mark Stewart

Driven by Passion: Inside Elite Autos NI with Mark Stewart

From modest beginnings and a handful of stock to a colour-coordinated Newtownards showroom known for everything from practical daily drivers to high-performance dream machines, Mark Stewart’s Elite Autos NI is a family-run business built on focus, mistakes, resilience and a lifelong love of cars. From Quarry

Leapmotor Drives into Northern Ireland with Donnelly Group Appointment

Leapmotor Drives into Northern Ireland with Donnelly Group Appointment

Donnelly Group, Northern Ireland’s largest privately owned vehicle retailer, has been appointed as the exclusive Leapmotor dealer for Northern Ireland, marking a significant step in the brand’s local growth. Backed by Stellantis, one of the world’s leading automotive groups, Leapmotor brings together forward-thinking electric and hybrid

Fifty Years on the Road: The McGillions Story

Fifty Years on the Road: The McGillions Story

From a handful of cars beside a pub to a trusted family dealership in Sion Mills, McGillions has built its reputation on reliability, relationships and doing business the right way. When Brian McGillion talks about the motor trade, he does not begin with engines, franchises or forecourts. He begins with

Ford Explorer: Big cruiser, bold tech - but is Ford’s new Explorer truly an explorer at heart?

Ford Explorer: Big cruiser, bold tech - but is Ford’s new Explorer truly an explorer at heart?

The Ford Explorer name carries serious baggage. In the US it’s an icon; in the UK it’s largely a cinematic footnote best known for outrunning dinosaurs. Now, Ford has rebooted the badge for Europe as a mid‑size electric SUV, engineered in Germany and built on Volkswagen Group’

Parent & Child Parking Spaces: What the research shows about misuse & fines

Parent & Child Parking Spaces: What the research shows about misuse & fines

New research indicates that most drivers in Northern Ireland support fines for the misuse of parent and child parking spaces. The findings come from a survey of 700 motorists carried out by CompareNI.com in May 2026. What the research found The survey found that 59% of respondents believe car

Nissan Ariya NISMO: A Family EV With A Racing Heartbeat

Nissan Ariya NISMO: A Family EV With A Racing Heartbeat

Nissan’s first Ariya to wear the NISMO badge blends a sharper chassis, punchier all-wheel-drive and motorsport styling cues. It’s quick, grippy and surprisingly usable—if you can live with the weight and a few fussy touch controls. Key specs: Nissan Ariya NISMO (e-4ORCE AWD) | £56,

Cheap Car Insurance on Social Media? How NI Drivers Can Spot a Ghost Broker

Cheap Car Insurance on Social Media? How NI Drivers Can Spot a Ghost Broker

For many young drivers in Northern Ireland, getting on the road is a major milestone. A first car can mean more independence, easier travel to work or college, and more flexibility in everyday life. But for many drivers, the cost of insurance can quickly become one of the biggest barriers.

Safari Rally Kenya: Survival, Strength and Symbolic Success

Safari Rally Kenya: Survival, Strength and Symbolic Success

Safari Rally Kenya once again delivered a brutal reminder of why it remains one of the most feared events on the World Rally Championship calendar. Round three of the 2026 WRC season brought joy and frustration in equal measure for Irish and British crews, as unforgiving terrain, torrential rain and

Katsuta Triumphs Again as Drama Unfolds at WRC Croatia

Katsuta Triumphs Again as Drama Unfolds at WRC Croatia

Takamoto Katsuta and County Tyrone co‑driver Aaron Johnston delivered a second successive World Rally Championship victory at Croatia Rally, guiding TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to the top step once again and propelling Katsuta into the lead of the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time in his career. Returning

McErlean takes eighth as Rally Islas Canarias tests Irish crews…

McErlean takes eighth as Rally Islas Canarias tests Irish crews…

Kilrea’s Josh McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy finished eighth overall for M-Sport Ford on a fast, technical Rally Islas Canarias, as changeable conditions and tyre calls shaped a weekend of learning for the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-linked crews. Driving the Ford Puma Rally1, McErlean and Treacy

MOFFETT CLAIMS THIRD WEST CORK VICTORY TO IGNITE TITLE CHALLENGE

MOFFETT CLAIMS THIRD WEST CORK VICTORY TO IGNITE TITLE CHALLENGE

NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes claimed their third West Cork Rally victory in five years after seven stage wins across the opening two days of action proved too much for their Irish Tarmac Rally Championship rivals. A final-day charge from ITRC leaders

Volkswagen’s new full-hybrid: electric running, no plug required

Volkswagen’s new full-hybrid: electric running, no plug required

A new self-charging hybrid system is set for the Golf and T‑Roc, promising more EV-style driving without the cost—or hassle—of plugging in. Volkswagen is readying a new full-hybrid drivetrain for the Golf and T‑Roc, due to arrive from the fourth quarter of this