The Hyundai i30, which is due here later in the year and will sell in the same segment as the Kia Cee'd, had a local launch.

There should be strong rivalry here as the Cee'd is one of the contenders for the Semperit Irish Car of the Year award because of the seven-year warranty given with the car.

Not to be outdone, Kia showed a concept version of a topless Cee'd, the exCee'd. The soft-top should be here next summer. This design bucks the trend of the three-piece fold-down metal roof used in such big sellers as the Ford Focus CC and the VW Eos. It's expected to be very price competitive.

Also on show from Kia was a prototype of their hybrid car. The Rio, which currently sells with petrol and diesel power engines, is the model used for the hybrid treatment. A 1.4litre petrol engine will be used in conjunction with an electric motor to add extra power and big fuel savings for urban drivers in particular.

And fans of French style may yet get a chance to see a booted version of the C4. The stylish hatchback sells here but the addition of a booted model, which looks equally attractive, would do much to increase sales as up to 50% of Irish drivers still like saloon models. Toyota saw the merit of keeping a Corolla saloon when the the Auris hatchback was launched. The Auris has replaced the Corolla in most western European markets but saloons are still popular, particularly in rural areas, so Citroen take note and do not miss an opportunity.