Renault pips Volvo for Lord Mayor's new car

Dublin's Lord Mayor, Mr Royston Brady, will use a Renault Vel Satis as his mayoral transport next year, replacing the traditional Volvo.

The new Renault, which will carry the registration number 04 D 1, is a twin-turbo 2-litre petrol twilight blue model worth €52,000. Renault Ireland chairman, Mr Bill Cullen, presented it to Mr Brady yesterday. However, the Lord Mayor will not be able to use it until New Year's Day.

Volvo had been the chosen marque since 1989 apart from the term of Green Party TD Mr John Gormley who used a Volkswagen Golf Ecomatic, which ran on rape seed oil. Prior to 1989 the Lord Mayor's car was either a BMW or a Mercedes.

For the millennium year Volvo donated a car free of charge but every other year the city council picks up the bill, size undisclosed.

Renault, which tendered for the annual contract to supply the council with a car for the Lord Mayor, is hoping to benefit from the public exposure during the year, particularly because of Ireland's EU presidency.

According to Mr John O'Sullivan, commercial and fleet director at Renault Ireland, it's the second year Renault has tendered for the contract, losing out to Volvo last year.

The Vel Satis, launched here in May 2002, is one of the more controversial designs in the executive car market and competes against the likes of the BMW 5-series and the Mercedes E-Class.

In a segment dominated by these two brands, it competes with the likes of Audi A6, Volvo S80 and Saab 9-5. Renault sold 51 models last year, and a further 48 by October this year.

The car has several fitted extras including heated leather seats and climate control.