MOTORING: TWICE THE TREAT

The multitude of new cars can make it a tough decision for buyers. Here are a few respectable options for 2006.

MERCEDES BENZ B-CLASS

With the all-new B-Class for 2006, Mercedes Benz is once again setting the trend among all car brands. This stylish new baby takes the advantages of different vehicle concepts and combines them into a distinctive concept of its own. It gives the look and feel of a compact sports tourer but has all the features of a family car.

The new B-Class gives great gas mileage, has lots of interior space along with Mercedes-Benz production values. It is available in two models for 2006: the B200 and B200 Turbo and features a 'tallwagon' styling and functionality, fivepassenger seating and the cargo capability of a small station wagon.

The B-Class also has a unique 'sandwich concept,' which achieves wonders where economy of space is concerned (almost 70% of its body length is available for the occupants and luggage) and is the centerpiece of its safety concept (it places the engine and transmission below the cabin and provides a tall seating position, both for better visibility and improved side-impact collision protection).

With a wheelbase of 2778 millimetres, parallel parking comes as a breeze. All in all, the B-Class is an arresting car with three attractive attributes: elegance, dynamism and practicality.

BMW 2006 3-SERIES

Here's a car with an extraordinary reputation. BMW is a top-selling premium brand in Ireland and the new 3-series is where the motor company has banked its reputation on over the last three decades. That is why it can't go very wrong with its new 3-Series. This one, as with all Beamers, is an exceptional drive with smooth steering and great handling. Plus at 0-100 kmh in six seconds, it packs a lot of punch.

Essentially, everything is new for 2006. The car is bigger, safer and faster. The two engines are new, as are the suspension, braking systems, and transmissions. It also has 'run-flat tyres' that guarantee the highest safety levels and ensure driving dynamics and comfort are unimpaired. When punctured they allow journeys to be continued for 240 kms at 80 kmh. The 3-Series, which makes up 40% of BMW's sales worldwide, comes in a 325i and 330i model. Both sedans get a 3.0- litre inline six-cylinder engine and an all new exterior and interior. It is marginally longer, wider and taller than the '05 model, with slightly more shoulder, head and legroom than the previous model. But due to the intelligent use of lightweight technologies, it has actually decreased in specification-adjusted weight.