UsedCarsNI Blog

Stephen Mawhinney Motors Marks 35 Years with £75,000 Investment…

Stephen Mawhinney Motors Marks 35 Years with £75,000 Investment…

Ballyclare dealership unveils corporate rebrand as it celebrates major milestone and reflects on an evolving industry. Stephen Mawhinney Motors is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a significant £75,000 investment in its family‑run Ballyclare dealership, reinforcing its longstanding reputation for quality vehicles, excellent customer service and strong community ties.

Points Hard Earned for Locals in Sweden

Points Hard Earned for Locals in Sweden

Round 2 of the 2026 World Rally Championship proved positive for the local crews, despite constantly changing stage conditions that pushed teams to their limits. For Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy drivers Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong, the iconic season opener delivered strong results, with Armstrong even battling former champion Thierry

DEVINE STARTS TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT MAIDEN GALWAY WIN

DEVINE STARTS TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT MAIDEN GALWAY WIN

NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Callum Devine kicked off his 2026 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship title defence in style with a commanding victory on the Galway International Rally alongside Noel O’Sullivan. The Skoda duo claimed their first win on the season-opening event, surviving challenging conditions to secure

The Good, the Bad, and the Trickiest Monte Ever

The Good, the Bad, and the Trickiest Monte Ever

The 2026 World Rally Championship opener proved to be one of the most demanding Rallye Monte‑Carlo events in recent memory, with treacherous weather and constantly changing stage conditions pushing crews to their limits. For Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy drivers Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong, the iconic season opener delivered

The Car That Changes the Game: Meet the All Electric Volvo EX60

The Car That Changes the Game: Meet the All Electric Volvo EX60

Volvo is making one of its boldest moves yet into the electric future with the launch of the all‑new, all‑electric Volvo EX60—a mid‑size SUV designed to remove the final barriers to going electric and redefine what customers can expect from the segment. Positioned in the world’

Kia EV9 Review: A Confident New Flagship for the Electric Age

Kia EV9 Review: A Confident New Flagship for the Electric Age

With the EV9, Kia has taken a decisive step into full‑size electric SUV territory, delivering a vehicle that feels every inch the brand’s new flagship. Bold, tech‑heavy and genuinely family‑friendly, the EV9 isn’t just another large electric SUV – it’s a statement of intent. Big,

Hyundai Opens Order Books for New IONIQ 6 N

Hyundai Opens Order Books for New IONIQ 6 N

Hyundai Motor UK has confirmed pricing and full specifications for the new IONIQ 6 N, marking the latest expansion of the brand’s high‑performance N sub‑brand into the electric saloon segment. Building on the success of the IONIQ 5 N, the IONIQ 6 N has been engineered to

Suzuki Vitara Updated for 2025: Sharper Style, Smarter Tech and Improved Hybrid Efficiency

Suzuki Vitara Updated for 2025: Sharper Style, Smarter Tech and Improved Hybrid Efficiency

Suzuki’s UK line‑up follows a refreshingly logical path. The Swift acts as the brand’s city‑car entry point, followed by the S‑Cross mid‑size crossover, the Vitara compact SUV and the larger Across at the top of the range. Alongside these sits the freshly introduced all‑

Ford and Ohme Lead the Charge Across Northern Ireland

Ford and Ohme Lead the Charge Across Northern Ireland

Ford and Ford Pro have partnered with Ohme as their new electric vehicle (EV) home‑charging partner in Northern Ireland, further strengthening Ford’s commitment to making the transition to electric driving simpler and more accessible. As part of the Ford Power Promise, Ford dealers across Northern Ireland will provide

Five Hundred Motor Racing Club of Ireland – 2025 Awards Party

Five Hundred Motor Racing Club of Ireland – 2025 Awards Party

The Five Hundred Motor Racing Club of Ireland held its annual Awards Party on Saturday 3rd January at the Beechlawn Hotel, Dunmurry. Although most of the 2025 racing season took place at Kirkistown Racing Circuit in County Down, the evening attracted guests from across the island, including Derry, Lisnaskea, and

Latest Isuzu D Max Debuts with Major Upgrades and Tougher Capability…

Latest Isuzu D Max Debuts with Major Upgrades and Tougher Capability…

Isuzu has unveiled the Latest D‑Max, bringing a comprehensive refresh to the UK’s best‑known workhorse pick‑up. With updated styling, improved safety technology, enhanced off‑road performance and a simplified range structure, the latest D‑Max aims to strengthen its reputation among both commercial and lifestyle buyers.

From Sim to Win: The Rise of Ethan Faulkner

From Sim to Win: The Rise of Ethan Faulkner

When it comes to winning trophies on the race track, most drivers start with karting and work their way through the ranks, eventually ending up in tin-tops or single-seaters with cabinets full of silverware. For 22-year-old Ethan Faulkner from Maghaberry, the journey has been very different—yet his rapid rise

2025 SPRINT REVIEW…

2025 SPRINT REVIEW…

Words and Photos: GRAHAM BAALHAM-CURRY The 2025 SW Adair Tyres Northern Ireland Sprint Championship got underway at the start of March in County Antrim where its calendar showed a season consisting of nine rounds, with seven of them counting after two drop scores. Here’s how the season unfolded: Round

2025 HILLCLIMB REVIEW…

2025 HILLCLIMB REVIEW…

Words and Photos: GRAHAM BAALHAM-CURRY The typically silent hills above Holywood in County Down come alive each spring to the sounds and smells of racing cars and 2025 was no different as the ANICC Motorsport Supplies Hillclimb Championship got underway in April. Here’s how the season unfolded: Round 1

The Dacia Sandriders Claim Historic Dakar Rally Victory

The Dacia Sandriders Claim Historic Dakar Rally Victory

The Dacia Sandriders have claimed a remarkable victory at the 48th Dakar Rally, widely regarded as the toughest challenge in international motorsport. Nasser Al‑Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin delivered a commanding performance to secure overall victory by almost ten minutes, marking a historic milestone for the team. This outstanding result

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, NI

BMW M Ushers in a New Era with Fully Electric High-Performance Models…

BMW M Ushers in a New Era with Fully Electric High-Performance Models…

BMW M GmbH has announced a groundbreaking shift in its high-performance lineup, introducing fully electric models based on the Neue Klasse architecture starting in 2027. This marks a new chapter for the brand, combining its racetrack heritage with cutting-edge electric technology. The upcoming BMW M Neue Klasse models will feature

Kia EV3 Brings Big-Car Tech and Range to the Compact EV Market…

Kia EV3 Brings Big-Car Tech and Range to the Compact EV Market…

When it comes to battery powered SUV’s there is no shortage of them, especially from Korean maker Kia. But can their latest compact SUV, the EV3 stand out amidst an electrifying sea? As the smallest Kia electric vehicle, the EV3 sits beside bigger siblings such as the EV4, EV5,

From Minis to Championship Glory: Ricky McGimpsey’s Motorsport Journey…

From Minis to Championship Glory: Ricky McGimpsey’s Motorsport Journey…

For Ricky McGimpsey, motorsport isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifelong passion that began at the tender age of 13. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the sport, Ricky’s early experiences were shaped by his father’s involvement in vintage car trials and club events.

OUTLANDER PHEV AND L200 DOUBLE CAB PICKUP TO LAUNCH IN THE UK MARKET IN SUMMER 2026…

OUTLANDER PHEV AND L200 DOUBLE CAB PICKUP TO LAUNCH IN THE UK MARKET IN SUMMER 2026…

The all-new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and the latest-generation Mitsubishi L200 Series 7 double-cab pickup truck have been revealed as the two Mitsubishi models to be made available in the UK from summer 2026, initially available in limited numbers from launch. Both the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and

KELLY DEFENDS KILLARNEY HISTORIC CROWN IN THRILLING FINALE…

KELLY DEFENDS KILLARNEY HISTORIC CROWN IN THRILLING FINALE…

The Killarney Historic Rally kicked off the 2026 NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in breathtaking fashion as Donagh Kelly and Rory Kennedy defended their crown, clinging on to victory by a mere 1.5 seconds as John O’Donnell and Robert Duggan mounted a ferocious late charge through

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO NORTHERN IRELAND DEALER NETWORK…

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO NORTHERN IRELAND DEALER NETWORK…

Volkswagen Group UK is upgrading a number of its brands’ showroom facilities in Northern Ireland. From today, 1 December, Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Škoda will operate from shared sites in Belfast and Mallusk, under the management of Isaac Agnew Group. Both sites have undergone significant upgrades to offer customers the

BRINGING IT HOME…

BRINGING IT HOME…

Despite a late puncture Jordan and Paul Hone claimed a third maximum score of the season to win the Brown & Brown NI Forest Rally Challenge at the Fivemiletown final, writes William Neill. Claudy’s Jordan, who won the prestigious BTRDA 1400 series in 2016 before a first outright rally

BALLYMENA TO HOST EAGERLY ANTICIPATED 50TH ANNIVERSARY ULSTER INTERNATIONAL RALLY IN 2026…

BALLYMENA TO HOST EAGERLY ANTICIPATED 50TH ANNIVERSARY ULSTER INTERNATIONAL RALLY IN 2026…

The Ulster Rally is gearing up for one of its most exciting editions yet, as organisers proudly announce Ballymena as the new home for the event’s landmark 50th anniversary event. With a refreshed itinerary, returning to iconic world-class stages, the 2026 edition on the 7-8 August 2026 promises to

JAECOO NAMED UK’S MOST GOOGLED CHINESE CAR BRAND IN 2025…

JAECOO has been named the most searched Chinese car brand in the UK, according to Google UK’s Year in Search 2025, signalling rapidly growing consumer awareness and curiosity around the adventure-focused marque. Google’s annual data release highlights the models and automotive topics that gained the fastest momentum over