BMW Isetta

The bubble car is back! BMW’s iconic Isetta was introduced way back in the fifties, but it’s set to make a comeback, and become the greenest model the firm has ever produced. As with all BMW’s the city car will be rear-wheel drive, but with the engine positioned at the back too. And just like the Toyota IQ it will feature a clever 3+1 seating arrangement with an occasional seat behind the driver.

From launch a choice of small capacity petrol and diesel engines should return over 100mpg and less than 90g/km of CO2. But the real revelation will be an all-electric version, likely to make an appearance in 2011.

Peugeot 3008

Take a look at Peugeot’s vision of future family motoring. This is the 3008, an all-new model which is said to combine the best bits of an MPV, an SUV and a hatchback.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because Peugeot isn’t the first to try it. Nissan’s Qashqai has proved that there are plenty of buyers who want an alternative to the traditional hatch. But can the latest Lion follow in its successful footsteps?

Unlike the Qashqai, the 3008 doesn’t replace a regular hatchback model. Instead, it will sit above the 308 and be priced from £16,000. With its chrome mesh grille, oversized headlights and chubby wheelarches, the newcomer certainly stands out. Inside, the dash wraps around to meet the high centre console, so while the driving position is raised, it feels cosy and car-like.A vast windscreen and glass roof mean the cabin is light and airy. In the back, there’s space for three adults, while the boot gets a triple-height floor and split tailgate. At 1,604 litres with the seats folded flat, it’s big, but still smaller than the 308 SW’s. However, you can’t remove the rear seats, nor can you slide them back and forth.

Despite its SUV billing, the model isn’t four-wheel drive. To improve all-terrain ability, there’s optional Grip Control, but the new car isn’t really suited to off-roading. Under the bonnet, buyers can choose from normally aspirated and turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engines, plus 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesels. A hybrid arrives in a few years.

We drove the 1.6 HDi. It’s gruff but frugal, returning 55mpg. Despite its tall stance, the car doesn’t roll much and grips strongly. Ride comfort also impresses, but the brakes are mushy and the steering vague.

The fact the 3008 isn’t a regular hatchback is its biggest virtue, because as an MPV or an SUV, it doesn’t quite convince.

Rival: Nissan QashqaiThe Japanese crossover strikes a great balance with its chunky SUV styling, precise driving experience and well built cabin. It’s not as roomy inside as the 3008, but is keenly priced and there’s a seven-seater version.

Porsche Panamera revealed

At last! Porsche’s new Panamera supersaloon has made its official public debut, ahead of this year’s Shanghai Motor Show in China.

Unveiled to a crowd packed into a room at the very top of one of the fast growing city’s 7,000 skyscrapers, Porsche admitted that despite it’s high hopes for the model, the global recession meant the firm would have its work cut out in making the model a success.

However, with no fewer that five industry firsts for technology, plus a distinctive design, the German company is confident that it will sell at least 20,000 Panameras every year – once the model hits the road on 12th September.

Priced from £72,266 for the Panamera S, £77,269 for the Panamera 4S and £95,298 for the top of the range Panamera Turbo, the car gets the world’s first seven speed double clutch semi automatic gearbox.

It also becomes the first saloon from the firm to offer fuel saving stop and start engine technology, active aerodynamics, adaptive suspension, and Porsche’s signature Sportchronos handling pack.

The Panamera S and 4S have 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, with a choice of 19-inch and 20-inch alternatives available. The Panamera Turbo rides on 19-inch alloy wheels.

Additional features on the Panamera Turbo include PASM with an adaptive air suspension function that actively adjusts the ride height, BOSE Surround Sound audio system with 14 speakers, metallic paint, multi-function steering wheel, heated rear seats and rear side airbags.
From next year, a new entry level V6 engined model is promised, with a fuel sipping hybrid model due 12 months later.

Answering questions at the event, Porsche announced that there are currently no plans for a diesel mode, however this contradicts previous reports in which Porsche has refused to rule the technology out.

Stop-Start Shoot Out!

Cars with stop-start technology are available in every shape and size imaginable. But where do you test seven of the newest stop-and-go models around?

Bristol, famous for the Clifton Suspension Bridge, has the worst traffic congestion in the UK outside London, according to the AA. And that makes it the perfect place to put the latest stop-start cars through their paces.

With our location decided, all we needed was a line-up to prove there really is a stop-start model to suit every budget. We selected seven cars to represent every major market sector.
Leading them off is Smart’s ForTwo. With its new micro hybrid drive (mhd) system and tiny engine, it should be at home on city streets. Following it is the revised Citroen C2, with an automated manual gearbox to make urban driving easier.

Our supermini choice is one for sun worshippers as well as eco warriors – the new MINI Convertible has arrived in time for summer, and gets emission-busting stop-start technology. So does Toyota’s latest Auris – and it also has a new 1.33-litre petrol engine. Will it be able to deal with Bristol’s morning peak?

This is the first time we’ve tested Honda’s all-new family hybrid, the Insight. It lines up next to VW’s spacious Passat BlueMotion. For executive car buyers, we’ve brought along the BMW 320d, complete with the company’s class-leading EfficientDynamics hardware.

The differences between our cars mean we won’t pick an overall winner – we just want to see how they cope with a rush-hour drive through one of the UK’s busiest urban centres.

Puma reborn... as new Twingo CC!

It's not only MINI that’s set to join the speedster set, as these latest pictures prove! Poised to hit the road in 12 months’ time, the two-seat Renault Twingo CC is described as a spiritual successor to Ford’s much loved Puma, and is the French firm’s answer to the successful Peugeot 207 CC.

Our spy shots also offer the first glimpse of the new model’s clever single piece hard-top, plus its dramatic face. The car – which is codenamed X33 – measures 3.70 metres in length and will offer drivers a choice of two engines. Prices are set to begin at around £14,000.

At present, the plan sees entry-level models fitted with the 100bhp, 1.2-litre TCE unit used in the Twingo GT. A flagship version is also under development, which would use the 131bhp 1.6-litre engine from the Twingo RS. But there is still some uncertainty over the engine range, due to Renault’s intention to cut the emissions of its entire vehicle line-up.

Top brass have already announced a vision to create a new range of cars with average CO2 emissionsof only 40g/km by 2012. To do this, the firm says it will supplement a new generation of electric cars with a range of ultra-efficient petrol and diesel models.

It’s not yet clear if there will be an all-electric Twingo, but options being discussed at the moment include a 900cc three-cylinder petrol and an upmarket 1.6-litre 140bhp diesel.

Regardless of the engines Renault chooses to fit, anti-lock brakes, equipped with front discs and rear drums, will be included as standard and should provide fade-free stopping power.

In keeping with Renault’s aim to be crowned Europe’s ‘safest’ car company, ESP will be offered on all models. The Twingo CC will be built at the firm’s factory in Dieppe, alongside other models in the Renaultsport range.

But there is still no word on whether all versions of the car will wear the firm’s performance badge – or if bosses intend to reservethe Renaultsport logo fortop-spec variants only.

Jaguar XJ scooped!

IT’s the big cat that’s got bosses full of pride! Jaguar insiders have been talking about the new XJ for months – and, with these pictures, we can finally see why they’ve been so excited.
This is our best look yet at the car described by Jaguar as one of the most radical it has ever produced. The new flagship limousine, set to make its world debut in July, has a bold shape designed to draw the limelight away from the Mercedes S-Class and BMW’s latest 7-Series.
In addition to its striking body, the new XJ will benefit from a futuristic interior, along with a range of more powerful, hi-tech engines.

As you can see, the model takes themes first seen on the widely acclaimed XF – Auto Express’s current Car of the Year – and makes them even more dramatic. The stylish nose adds larger air intakes to the aircraft-inspired grille and angular headlights, while the sporty, coupé-like roofline slopes towards the boot at a more rakish angle than on the XF.

Bold tail-lights and a smart chrome strip finish the rear. Under the skin is the current XJ’s lightweight alloy chassis. But this has been totally re-engineered at the back to incorporate a development of the XK coupé’s rear suspension, plus increase passenger space.

Inside the car, many of the innovations seen on the XF are to be carried over, such as the rotary gearknob that rises from the centre console. Yet there will be even more dramatic touches, and buyers can expect the leather and wood to have the kind of special feel usually reserved for the likes of Bentley.

There won’t be any shortage of power on board, either. Top-spec models are set to benefit from the XF’s new 5.0-litre direct-injection V8 engine, which produces 385bhp in normally aspirated form.

The flagship XJR has a supercharged version, pushing out 503bhp, as it targets the Audi S8 and Mercedes S63 AMG. This range-topping car will be able to cover 0-60mph in about five seconds and hit a top speed of 155mph.

However, a new 271bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engine is expected to account for the majority of XJ sales. This will be capable of returning an amazing 40mpg – the same as the recently launched Diesel S version of the XF – thanks to the new XJ’s lightweight alloy construction.

All models will have a six-speed auto box with steering wheel paddleshifters. And they promise the excellent ride and handling balance for which Jag is famous. After a reveal in July, the XJ makes its public debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Sales start before 2010.

Sizzling MG6 puts Brits back on top!

Meet MG’s hot new fastback – which could be heading here! Set to debut at the Shanghai Motor Show at the end of April, the MG6 is based on the Roewe 550 – successor to the Rover 45 and MG ZS.

While details are still sketchy, these concept drawings reveal the new car’s low-slung coupé profile and strong, dramatic lines, which set it apart from the more staid 550 saloon. Engines are likely to be shared with with the Roewe, however, and the range is set to include a 1.8-litre turbo.

The hatch will be sold in Europe alongside the British-built MG TF roadster, giving the Chinese company a foothold over here. SAIC now owns the brand outright, having taken over Nanjing – the firm which originally bought MG. But Ford now owns the Rover name.

SAIC also manufactures the Roewe 750 – a redeveloped Rover 75 – and will reunite the former British brands further by showcasing the MG6-based Roewe N1 in Shanghai. An increasingly confident SAIC has recently been linked with a buy-out of GM brands Buick and Saturn.

It also has a joint venture with VW in China, and is said to be discussing a model swap with Proton. This would see the latter rebadge the 750 in Malaysia, and SAIC in turn would market a rebranded version of the Savvy city car.