Gowan Auto, the exclusive importer and distributor of Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Honda, Jeep, Opel and Peugeot in the Republic of Ireland, is set to return once again to the National Ploughing Championships. The event, which will run from 19 to 21 September in Ratheniska, County Laois, is expected to attract over 300,000 visitors. Gowan Auto will command a 96m-long display at stand number 436, row 28. Exhibiting no less than 45 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles selected from across the award-winning brands, a stage will feature at the heart of the display, where a packed calendar of entertainment and brand ambassador interviews will take place, hosted by sports pundit, Phil Egan.
Citroën will display 11 vehicles including all-new ë-C4 X, combining the elegance of a fastback silhouette with the modern attitude of an SUV and the timeless cachet of a spacious 4-door. Fully electric, with a 360km range, it is due to arrive in petrol and diesel later this year. The French marque will also display the award-winning C4, C5 Aircross SUV and C5 X, Irish Large Crossover/SUV of the year 2023. The award-winning Citroën commercial vehicle range will also be on show including the ever-popular Berlingo Van, ë-Dispatch, Relay and the all-new C5 Aircross Commercial SUV which offers optimal comfort alongside 2.2 m3 of load space.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to witness Citroën AMI, a real breakthrough in urban mobility solutions. Offering 100% electric, zero-emissions mobility with a driving range of 75km and a top speed of 45km/h, AMI has an ultra-compact design, standing at just 2.41m long, 1.39m wide and 1.52m high. The undeniably quirky AMI has space for the driver, a passenger and one small item of luggage, with the heated interior bathed in light thanks to the panoramic glass sunroof. In a nostalgic nod to the iconic Citroën 2CV, which celebrates 75th anniversary this year, the manual side windows of AMI can be opened by flipping the glass upwards into a fixed raised position. The quirky quadricycle will debut in Ireland soon and Citroën invites all visitors to drop by and see AMI in person.
Complimenting Citroen’s sustainability strategy, guest speaker of RTE fame, Éanna Ní Lamhna, will host a discussion around climate and wild life protection, e-mobility and how every person can make a difference to the future of our planet.
DS Automobiles will showcase the luxurious DS 4 and DS 7 plug-in hybrids at the Gowan Auto stand, where the team will be joined by delectable DS brand ambassador, Hugh Wallace, on Wednesday, September 20th to chat all things design, and about the refinement and advanced technology of the premium DS range.
Visitors to the Fiat booth will meet the popular Fiat 500 and 500X ranges, and Fiat Professional will display its diverse range of light commercial vehicles, including Doblo, Scudo and Ducato. Whilst Alfa Romeo will exhibit the exquisite Tonale, in both mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid guises, the multi-award-winning new, all-electric Jeep Avenger, voted Europe’s Car of the Year 2023, will make its public debut at the National Ploughing Championships, taking pride of place on the Jeep stand.
Opel will display the Corsa, Crossland, new Mokka, new Grandland and new Astra, Irish Compact Car of the Year 2023, together with the Combo Life Electric 7-seater and Vivaro Electric Combi MPV. The new sporty GSe sub-brand will be unveiled to the Irish public at the show in both Astra and Grandland guise, whilst the Opel light commercial range will also feature, including the Combo, Vivaro and Movano.
A proud sponsor of Irish Rugby, the Opel stand will welcome Daragh Sheridan, Head of High-Performance Coach Development at IRFU, on Tuesday 19th, to chat about the importance of coaching coaches. Opel brand ambassadors and Irish Rugby stars Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe and Stacey Flood will be interviewed on the stand on Wednesday 20th, to speak about their journey to the 2024 Olympics. Phil Healy, Kevin O’Leary Opel brand ambassador, Irish sprinting sensation and Olympic qualifier, will also star on the 20th. Irish boxing legend, Amy Broadhurst, a Blackstone Motors brand ambassador, who recently announced she will stay amateur and enter the next round of Olympic qualification will also interview. Mondello Park, will have a presence on the Opel stand, to promote the young driver education programme, Early Drive Electrified by Opel.
Peugeot, a regular exhibitor at the National Ploughing Championships, will display 10 vehicles across the range at this year’s show, including the stunning all-new Peugeot 408. Joining the 408 will be the e-308, 2022 Car of the Year, the e-208, the spacious and comfortable e-2008, 3008 and 5008 SUVs, the 508, and the e-Expert and e-Partner. With electrification a key objective for the company, every Peugeot model displayed will be electrified, full-electric or plug-in hybrid electric.
Peugeot will bring a host of guests for visitors to enjoy, across the 3-day show. A proud partner to Dublin GAA, visitors to the Peugeot stand will meet stars of this year’s All-Ireland winning men’s and women’s football teams, Con O’Callaghan and Leah Caffrey. Peugeot Brand Ambassadors, Kathryn Thomas and Dermot Whelan, will also make appearances.
