Based on the same platform as the Outlander, Lancer and Lancer Evolution X, the ASX bridges the gap between Mitsubishi’s conventional passenger cars and its rugged off-roaders. With a wheelbase to match the Outlander, passenger space is generous, with the flexible seating inside.

Offered with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, the 2012 1.8-litre diesel engine benefits from a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions, whilst improving fuel economy. This results in a new VED band (from Band F to Band E), thus reducing the annual road tax cost to £115. Although there is no reduction in VED banding on the petrol derivative, there is an increase in braked towing capacity from 1100kg to 1200kg. The 116PS 1.8-litre DiD now achieves 54.3mpg (from 51mpg) and 136g/km (from 150g/km) on the official combined cycle, with the 1.6-litre petrol engine managing 47.1mpg (from 47.9mpg) with CO₂ emissions remaining at 139g/km.

With  low rolling resistance tyres, regenerative brakes and intelligent power management, all ASX models are geared to deliver strong fuel economy.

Safety-wise the ASX incorporates Mitsubishi’s RISE safety technology (which dissipates the energy from the impact away from the passenger compartment) as well as ABS anti-lock braking, Active Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist an Emergency Stop Signal System and 7 airbags as standard.  All of this helps the ASX achieve its 5 Star Euro NCAP rating.

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said: “The crossover marketplace has grown rapidly over the last 18 months. The Mitsubishi ASX has helped this growth by offering a stylish, well priced, practical and enjoyable to drive contender in this marketplace.

“With the ASX delivering excellent economy and emissions, versatility, as well as comprehensive standard equipment, and not to mention the reassuring safety features, the ASX has everything the crossover buyer is after.”

Prices for the new model start from £16,499. The first allocation of ASX 1.8 DiD 4WD diesel variants are available to the Mitsubishi dealer network from mid-January, followed by the 2WD derivatives at the end of March and the petrol units in Quarter 2 2012.

Just 4.28 metres long, the Mokka nonetheless offers accommodation for five adults. Available with a choice of diesel and petrol engines. The petrol offer comprises a 115PS, 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated engine or a 140PS 1.4-litre Turbo with 200Nm of torque. The diesel is a 130PS 1.7 CDTI turbo with 300Nm of torque. Both the 1.4 Turbo and the 1.7 CDTI can be combined either with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. What’s more all engine options are equipped with fuel saving Start/Stop technology.

Well equipped, the Mokka introduces a host of cutting edge technologies to the SUV B-segment, such as Driver Assistance Systems including a front camera and rear camera. In addition to a generous cargo volume, the Mokka offers the fully integrated, latest generation Flex-Fix bicycle carrier that is exclusive to Vauxhall. The user-friendly carrier is fully integrated in the rear underbody, functioning like a drawer and accommodating up to three bicycles at a time.

Design-wise, the model incorporates Vauxhall’s ‘blade’ on the body side, sweeping towards the rear.  The Mokka’s sporty character is reinforced by its higher ground clearance as well as a 1540mm track. Its robust looks are further enhanced by 18” alloy wheels which are standard on most models.

In the interior, the new Mokka displays typical Vauxhall values such as versatility and user-friendly functionality, providing up to 1,372-litres of load space and 19 storage locations.

To add to the model’s versatile nature, the Mokka will be available in Front-Wheel and All-Wheel Drive . With the All-Wheel Drive System, the Mokka automatically and seamlessly transfers power to the rear wheels whenever traction is put to the test.

Standard features that enhance the driving experience across all models include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control (TC) as well as Hill Start Assist (HAS) and Hill Descent Control (HDC ) systems – which improve driving comfort and safety in uphill or downhill terrain. Safety-wise the model offers Advanced Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL+) which increases driving safety is based on the 3^rd generation Bi-Xenon lighting system that includes High Beam Assist (HBA). The new generation Vauxhall front camera system is also available, giving the driver access to a number of functions including Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Alert (FCA) and second generation Traffic Sign Recognition.

No other sub-compact SUV offers such a system that increases safety and driving comfort. The Vauxhall Mokka will be available at Vauxhall dealerships towards the end of 2012.

What’s more the new model displays a number of upmarket features such as chrome framed windows and quality interior materials. The interior design is focused around the driver, with a simple but stylish dash layout.

Kia hopes its new cee’d will make a highly competitive, C-segment entry, which it will offer with its industry-leading seven year warranty.

New cee’d will be available across Europe from the second quarter of 2012 with UK deliveries expected to start from June.

Called the Match, the new model offers additional specification over the standard model; with air conditioning, bluetooth connectivity, trip computer, electric windows, electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors, cruise control, body-coloured bumpers and wings and wheel trims.

The value-busting Match trim is available for both the standard Caddy and the long wheelbase Caddy Maxi (except 4MOTION and EcoFuel models) with prices starting from £14,110 (ex. VAT) and £16,060 (ex. VAT) respectively.The Caddy Match is available for a limited period only, until 30 April 2012.

With a range of economical and refined 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI engines plus BlueMotion Technology models available, which all comply with the latest Euro5 emissions standards, running costs for the Caddy Match are also very competitive.  For even better value and complete peace of mind, Volkswagen Van Centres also offer competitive finance with the Caddy range from £199 a month (plus VAT and Initial Rental) and fixed-price servicing and maintenance contracts from £250 (plus VAT).

“It’s great to start the New Year with an outstanding special edition for one of the UK’s best-selling compact vans,” said Paul Vissian, Product Marketing Manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.  “We’ve studied the market carefully and chosen some of the most popular options to give the Caddy Match an unbelievable standard specification and probably the best value for money we’ve ever offered,” he continued.

What’s more to help buyers in the 18-35 category as well as those looking for a low deposit and low monthly payment option, Suzuki has introduced further affordability options with low rate PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) schemes on Alto, Splash and Swift models. This means that an Alto SZ2 at £6,666 is available for a deposit of £1,406 followed by 42 monthly payments of just £99 with the option to pay a final balloon payment of £2,468 at the end of the agreement to keep the car.

Alto SZ2 is currently the most inexpensive car to buy and own with Group 1E insurance rating and just £20 per year in VED charges. Fuel consumption is very low, offering 64mpg on the combined cycle and emissions of 103g/km.

Moving up the range and taking a Splash SZ2 1.0-litre at £7,777 as an example on Personal Contract purchase; a deposit of £1,777 is all that is required followed by 42 monthly payments of £119 and an optional final payment of £2,591 at the end of the agreement.

For a similar PCP for a Swift and using an SZ2 three door at £8,888 as an example, the deposit is just £159 followed by 42 monthly payments of £159 and a final payment of £3,294 at the end of the agreement. All Suzuki dealers operate an online calculator via Suzuki Financial Services which helps buyers choose a flexible repayment scheme to suit their individual budget. If Hire Purchase is the preferred route for a Swift, Suzuki will provide a £500 deposit towards a payment plan operated by Suzuki Financial Services.

The car maker’s highly competitive 0 per cent APR three year Hire Purchase finance offers available on  SX4 and Grand Vitara models will also continue until the end of March 2012, both requiring a 50 per cent deposit.

Unveiled back in 2010 at the New York Auto Show,  the Optima became Korea’s top-selling car within a month of going on sale – the first Kia ever to reach that exalted position – and is in such demand in the United States that Kia has had to build in Georgia just to keep pace. 

But the Optima has also been configured to appeal to the business community who make up the vast majority of D-segment customers in the UK.  It will be sold only with a diesel engine – a new 134bhp version of Kia’s smooth and efficient 1.7-litre CRDi ‘U2’ power unit – with four specification options available.

The arrival of the Optima means that Kia has a seriously competitive car in all the key sectors for the UK’s fleet and leasing industry – Picanto, Rio, cee’d and now Optima. Three of those cars are all-new models introduced within the last eight months.

The Optima offers features never previously attainable on a Kia, including a high-end Infinity audio system.  It delivers 550W of high-fidelity sound through 12 speakers in eight different locations throughout the car, including a boot-mounted subwoofer.  Self-parking, heated and cool-ventilated seats, cornering lights, panoramic sunroof, reverse parking camera and an automatic cabin defogging system are also available, as is a six-speed automatic transmission that is among the most advanced currently produced by any car manufacturer.

Specification and range

The Optima is available with an extensive list of features.  Sold in the UK with Kia’s familiar 1, 2 and 3 trim grades, but the mid-range 2 versions offer buyers the options of ‘Luxe’ or ‘Tech’ variants.  Standard features include alloy wheels, air conditioning, LED daytime running lamps, leather steering wheel, Bluetooth with voice recognition and music streaming, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, all-round electric windows and electric folding mirrors as well as cruise control and a speed limiter.

Move up to the mid-grade 2 specifications and you can expect to have solar glass with auto defogging, automatically activated wipers, an eight-way adjustable powered driver’s seat with memory setting, heated front seats, dual zone auto air conditioning in place of air conditioning, reverse parking camera, iPod connectivity and a premium Supervision instrument cluster and paddle shifts on automatic models.

The Optima ‘2 Luxe’ version has grey leather seats with a grey cloth trim, panoramic sunroof with electric blinds, 18-inch alloy wheels, black front calipers, black and chrome radiator grille surround, sculptured side sill mouldings and front and rear valances and a reversing camera in the rear-view mirror.

The Optima ‘2 Tech’ is equipped with black leather and cloth upholstery, a 12-speaker premium Infinity audio system – including a centre speaker, an external 11-channel amplifier and an eight inch subwoofer – 17-inch alloy wheels and a 7-inch touch-screen satellite navigation system with European mapping and an integrated reversing camera.

Optima 3 is a combination of the mid-grade 2 models with additional features.  It includes a panoramic sunroof, auto light control, Infinity audio system and touch-screen satellite navigation with integrated reversing camera.  Xenon headlamps with automatic levelling, full black leather upholstery, a cool-ventilated driver’s front seat, heated rear seats and an automatic parallel parking assist system are unique to the 3.  Smart key with start/stop ignition button, stainless steel door scuff plates with front illumination, mood lighting and alloy pedals complete the top-of-the-range version’s high specification count.

As with all Kias, the Optima comes with Kia’s unique seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty, subject to conditions covering wear and tear items.  The warranty is fully transferable to subsequent owners.

Using the new downsized engine, the models deliver maximum power of 500 bhp (507 PS / 373 Kw) at 6000 rev/min and an extraordinary peak torque of 660 Nm (487 lb ft) which is available across virtually the entire rev range from 1700 to 5000 rev/min, providing exhilarating performance and effortless power delivery in the Bentley tradition. Combined with a new close-ratio 8-speed automatic transmission, this translates into a 0-60 mph sprint time of 4.6 seconds for the GT coupe (0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds) and a top speed of 188 mph (303 km/h).

At the same time, the new V8 Continental models achieve outstanding levels of fuel efficiency and CO₂emissions for the luxury performance sector and are capable of travelling over 500 miles (800 km) on a single tank of fuel.

The arrival of the new V8 Continental means that Bentley can proudly boast a 40 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and CO₂emissions.

Both the coupe and convertible models are specified with 20-inch alloy wheels as standard with an optional 21‑inch six-spoke design which is available in dramatic Diamond Black (exclusive to the Continental V8) or Diamond Silver finishes.

Inside the cabin, an Eliade cloth headlining, new contemporary Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus veneers, optional two-tone leather colour split and short centre console continue the fresh, sporting design theme.

The two new Continental models will be offered beneath the flagship 6.0 litre, 12‑cylinder engined Continental GT and GTC, which continue to excite customers with their delivery of an astonishing 631 bhp (640 PS).

Since the launch of the original GT in 2003, the W12-engined Continental range has gone from strength to strength with over 50,000 sales worldwide, making Bentley’s factory in Crewe, England, the largest producer of 12 cylinder engines in the world. The W12 story continues to unfold and remains the ultimate expression of Bentley’s engineering strength.

Commenting on the launch of the new V8 Continental models, Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive, Bentley Motors said: “With the new 4.0 litre V8 engine we are widening the appeal of the latest generation of Continentals, introducing a completely new driving experience. The new engine will have all the exhilarating power, drama and performance you would expect from a V8 engine sporting the famous Bentley wings, effortlessly delivered with our characteristic ‘wave of torque’. This is complemented by innovative powertrain technology that delivers exceptional fuel efficiency and emissions.”

Prices start from £123,850.

Available on vehicle’s of any age, full services carried out at an authorised repairer will quality for service promises, with customers eligible for mobility solution; where Volvo will not only offer the normal courtesy car, but a taxi voucher, a train ticket, a lift or even the use of a courtesy bike.

What’s more Volvo will also offer:

1. Roadside Assistance – The customer will receive a complimentary one year / unlimited mileage Volvo Assistance package.  This package mirrors the normal roadside assistance programme, alone worth from £99 if purchased separately.

2. Personal Service Contact – During the booking in, update and handover stage, the customer will, whenever possible, liaise with the same member of staff, giving a personal level of service designed around their needs.

3. Vehicle Health Check – The vehicle will undergo a 29 point inspection with any items found being highlighted to the customer

4. Software Upgrade (applicable to certain models) – The vehicle will receive a software update to ensure it is running at optimum performance with the latest upgrades from Volvo.

5. Car Clean – The exterior of the vehicle will be washed and the inside vacuumed.

Along with these above promises, vehicles will benefit the use of genuine Volvo parts and Volvo trained technicians using Volvo repair methods.

"Even in these difficult economic times, the Volvo Service Promise demonstrates that our franchised network of Authorised Repairers is able to provide customers with a truly unprecedented aftersales offer with demonstrable added value.  Combined with reassuring peace of mind, Volvo Service Promise enables us to wholly differentiate ourselves from the competition" says Iain Howat, Head of Aftersales and Product.

In a year when van registrations grew 17.8 per cent to 303,097 vehicles, Vauxhall achieved an enviable result, alone responsible for selling 11,436 vans to small business. That marks a growth of 28.05 per cent increase for the brand compared to 2010.

The Luton-based manufacturer says its van sales were buoyed by the offer of four years’ zero cent APR finance, four years’ free servicing, a four year warranty and four years’ AA cover. Vauxhall topped the monthly sales charts in January, March, April, July, September and October.  It is the first time in the company’s long history that it has finished top at retail on commercial vehicles over a calendar year. 

What’s more, the Vivaro was the best selling van in the retail medium van segment with sales up 58.05 per cent year-on-year.

"Last year proved to be an excellent year for Vauxhall van sales," said Richard Collier, Vauxhall’s National Commercial Vehicles Sales Manager.  "It’s fantastic news for Vauxhall that despite the uncertain economic outlook there’s still strong demand for fuel efficient, high quality vans with low running costs and excellent manufacturer support."

Vauxhall is the UK’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles with its Luton plant recently celebrating a decade of Vivaro production.  Earlier this year the plant won the contract to build the next generation of Vivaro, securing local jobs for the next decade.

Although the market was tough in 2011; both diesel and alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) saw their market shares grow, the latter boosted by the Plugged-in Car Grants launched last January. Diesel cars recorded a new high of 50.6 per cent share while AFVs took a 1.3 per cent share.

The Ford Fiesta was the best selling car of the year, while the Volkswagen Golf was the best selling diesel of the year.  The Supermini segment remained the largest in the UK, with a market share almost unchanged on 2010 at 36.3 per cent. However the executive, luxury saloon and dual purpose segments all recorded growth in registrations in 2011.

“2011 proved to be a challenging year for the UK motor industry,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “Weak economic growth will make trading conditions tough in 2012, but record numbers of new and updated models, significantly improved fuel efficiency and exciting new technologies will help to encourage consumers into showrooms. Business and consumer confidence will be the key to a successful year, so it will be important that government delivers on its growth strategy and helps to resolve instability in the Euro Zone.”