Driver's Republic Podcast

How Irish car brands negotiate with the factories that build them!

Driver's Republic Podcast

Show Notes

In this week's episode, we dive into the big reveal of the all-new Alpine A290, launched at Mondello – and yes, it’s as exciting as it sounds. 🚗 Paddy shares his first impressions after getting behind the wheel of the VW ID.3 GTX – does it live up to the GTX badge?

🚙 Mark is driving the 2025 facelifted Suzuki Vitara and has been jet-setting between Prague and London to check out two major launches: the new Skoda Elroq RS, and a very hush-hush look at the next-gen Nissan Leaf (spoilers strictly embargoed until next week!). 🎧 Our special guest is Martin Cardiff, Head of Sales at VW Passenger Cars. Martin brings a wealth of experience from his days in Skoda's factory to shaping VW’s product and planning strategy today. From trim and spec decisions, to price points, to what car colours Irish buyers really want, Martin lifts the curtain on how carmakers tailor their offerings for specific markets. It’s a fascinating listen for anyone curious about what really goes on inside the automotive “chocolate factory.” Don’t miss this one – it’s packed with insight, first drives, and a look into how the cars we see on the road come to life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Driver's Republic Podcast

Sep 11, 2026

Paddy has been cruising around his town in a Citroen Ami, Mark has been on tour with Skoda Epiq, Peaq and the VW ID. Polo and we talk to OHME chargers about their benefits if you're looking for a home charger for your new EV! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 21, 2026

Eskimo is software that pulls online enquiries straight from listing sites into one system so sales teams can act on them properly. We speak to CEO Conor Moran on how the platform is changing the way car dealers in Ireland can do business.

Aug 12, 2026

This week we're joined by Dave Humphreys who is not only one of Ireland's busiest motoring journalists but a seasoned motorcyclist who has been lucky enough to ride a lot of two wheeled things in his career! He has been trained in advanced riding and is here to chat about being on the road from the perspective of a motorcyclist but also as a car driver.

Jul 14, 2026

Mark is just back from Goodwood and fills us in.

Jul 2, 2026

No surprises, the additional EV grant sold out within a couple of hours of going live on July 1st - will it come back in 2027?

See all episodes →