Britain's best new car deals - revealed

The big scrap is on! All the mainstream manufacturers have signed up to offer the £2,000 discount, and now they're rushing to put out offers that'll save you even more money.

So how do you qualify? If you've got an MoT'd car registered before August 31 1999 (just before the V-plate came out) and it's had your name on the V5 for over a year then the manufacturers have to accept it.

The only time the dealer will turn you down is if the car you want will take four or more months to deliver. In reality, this is unlikely to happen unless the manufacturer has run out of stock or it's a low-volume performance car.

So now's the time to get down to the showroom, before the £300m the government has earmarked for this runs out! But this time you visit, the salesman won't be making laughable offers on your trade-in. It's worth £2,000 and no arguing, no matter how dirty it is!

Our team will be updating this guide with all the news on the very latest offers available.

Aston Martin V12 Vantage

British firm has fitted a monster new engine in its smallest model – and Auto Express is first to get behind the wheel

 

Big engine, small car – this is the ultimate go-fast formula when it comes to building supercars, and one that's given us some famous machines.

 

The AC Cobra, the stunning Bugatti Veyron and even the original McLaren F1 all share that special balance between engine size and overall bulk. So, is Aston Martin's new V12 Vantage ready to join this small, exclusive club?

 

On paper, you'd certainly think so! At 4,382mm long, the V12 Vantage is about the same length as a Ford Focus. Yet squeezed under the lightweight, heavily vented bonnet is the enormous 6.0-litre V12 that debuted in the incredible DBS.

 

It delivers 510bhp and 570Nm of torque – enough to slingshot the newcomer from 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 190mph.

 

The big question is, what's the car like to drive? Predictably, first impressions are dominated by the engine, which is hard to ignore. Although the drama builds as you climb into the figure-hugging, optional carbon shell seats fitted to our car, the V12 is the undoubted star of the show. From the moment you get behind the wheel and push the sapphire-tipped key into the dash, the pulsating engine note fills the cabin with a deep, purposeful bark.

 

Throttle travel is long, and the clutch surprisingly light and easy to control. As a result, getting the car off the line couldn't be easier. In fact, it's so powerful, you barely need to touch the throttle to start the Vantage rolling.

 

Steering is weighty, and has a meaty, direct feel, which is enhanced by the small, slim, Alcantara-trimmed wheel. But as you head out on to the open road, the V12 serves up its first surprise.

 

Power delivery is smooth, gearchanges are slick and the ride is unexpectedly supple. Obviously, with all the weight of the engine up front (the V12 is 100kg heavier than the 4.7-litre V8), the ride is still firm – but it's not crashy like some rivals, including the Porsche 911 GT2. For ultimate aural thrills, hit the sport button, located in front of the gearlever. This sharpens throttle response, and makes the exhausts even louder by opening the baffles.

 

Over fast, winding roads, these character traits combine to create a car that's not just fun to drive, but immensely rewarding as well. At full throttle, the Aston demands fluid, measured inputs from the driver. However, it remains devastatingly fast point to point, not least because of the gargantuan amount of thrust on offer under the bonnet, combined with the incredibly grippy Pirelli tyres.

 

The final gold star has to go to the carbon ceramic brakes. As well as being light, they provide unbeatable stopping power – exactly what you need to build the confidence to make the very most of this model's impressive potential. Looks like the big engine, small car club just got a thrilling new member.

 

Rival: Porsche 911 GT2
The ultimate 911 is faster in a straight line than the mighty Aston – covering 0-60mph in a blistering 3.7 seconds. Its chassis is competent, but clinical compared to the V12.

Britain's best new car deals - revealed

The big scrap is on! All the mainstream manufacturers have signed up to offer the £2,000 discount, and now they’re rushing to put out offers that’ll save you even more money.So how do you qualify? If you’ve got an MoT’d car registered before August 31 1999 (just before the V-plate came out) and it’s had your name on the V5 for over a year then the manufacturers have to accept it. The only time the dealer will turn you down is if the car you want will take four or more months to deliver. In reality, this is unlikely to happen unless the manufacturer has run out of stock or it’s a low-volume performance car.So now’s the time to get down to the showroom, before the £300m the government has earmarked for this runs out! But this time you visit, the salesman won’t be making laughable offers on your trade-in. It’s worth £2,000 and no arguing, no matter how dirty it is!

Our team will be updating this guide with all the news on the very latest offers available.

Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup

Renault’s roadgoing race car is back, and it looks better than ever! With sublime handling and great engines, previous Renaultsport Clios have already claimed their places in the hot hatch hall of fame. But can the French firm improve what was already a winning formula?

As the new name suggests, reworking the 2.0-litre motor has resulted in an extra helping of horsepower… all 3bhp of it. Maximum torque of 215Nm is now delivered at 5,400rpm – 150rpm lower than in the Clio 197 – while first, second and third gears have been shortened to improve acceleration. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions show a slight improvement too, at 34.5mpg and 195g/km.

Customers can choose between Sport and Cup chassis. The former puts the emphasis on comfort and throws in more standard kit, while the Cup is engineered for uncompromised driving pleasure. A lower ride height, 15 per cent stiffer dampers than the current Clio 197 and a quicker steering rack ensures the Cup-spec car feels alive in your hands. But it’s not just for experts – the chassis is beautifully forgiving. Charge into a corner too fast, and a sharp lift of the throttle wipes off the understeer and tightens your line – it really is a flattering car to drive fast.
A rear diffuser, front splitter and boot spoiler not only help to build downforce at speed, but give the car its trademark racy styling. New additions include a revised front end with lower front air intake, new lights and a gloss-black grille. If that’s not enough to get you noticed, the Alien green paint certainly will!

If creature comforts are your thing, look away now: the Cup interior is the same as the entry-level Clio’s. All you get is electric windows and a simple stereo – there’s not even air-conditioning. But it does help shave 36kg off the kerbweight, and keeps the price tag low at £15,750. For that sort of money, nothing comes close to offering the Clio’s dynamics.
Rival: Vauxhall Corsa VXRPerformance from the VXR’s 1.6-litre turbo engine is strong, but much of the power is spun away through the front wheels. It can’t match the Clio’s handling finesse, but its brash styling will turn more heads.

Tricky price for new Trixx

As small as a Smart, but twice as clever… These are the shots that prove Vauxhall has a few Trixx up its sleeve for city-car drivers.

Inspired by the clever Trixx concept(first seen in 2004), this all-new electric machine forms part of Vauxhall’s plan to be a low-carbon car maker by 2012.

Described as a 3-plus-1 seater, the model is aimed at the Toyota iQ. However, at the very heart of this car’s appeal is its electric powertrain.

To help speed the model’s journey from show stand to street, Auto Express has also learned that the electric motor and battery will be derived from the hybrid powertrain first developed for the new Ampera.

However to keep weight and emissions to a minimum, the 1.4-litre petrol engine that gives the Ampera its near 300-mile range will not be fitted.

The new Vauxhall is on track to achieve 90 miles between top-ups – making it perfect for city drivers and commuters. One thing that looks much harder to overcome is the price of the technology. Currently, it’s reckoned that car batteries cost around £500 per KWh. Simple maths suggests this means the power source alone could be £8,000 per car – before costs of the build and development of the body and control systems.

As a result, it is most likely that Vauxhall will have to follow a leasing model for its electric vehicles, like that proposed by rival Renault.

So, while drivers might be able to buy the car, in the short term at least, the battery that powers it will remain the property of Vauxhall.

Toyota Prius Prius goes it alone as a range

Auto Express has learned that Toyota is considering naming an entire range after its hi-tech hybrid car - in the same way as it created the Lexus badge for its most expensive machines.

Sources say the company is planning to launch three new dual-power models, starting in 2009. Currently, Toyota engineers call these cars the Prius A, B and C. The A will be a Yaris-sized supermini and the B is planned to be a compact hatchback similar to the current Auris. Meanwhile, the C will be a family model in the same class as the Avensis.

Although Toyota cars will continue to have their trademark conservative styling, launching a new Prius range would allow top brass at the firm to give their petrol-electric vehicles a more adventurous look. The new family's styling is likely to be heavily influenced by the Hybrid X concept car, which was unveiled for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

A company insider confirmed: "The exterior design won't be as controversial as that of the first-generation Prius. However, the intention is for these cars to stand out from the crowd. We need to strike a balance between a shape that's attractive and has room under the floor for the hybrid system's batteries, plus space for five people and their luggage."

Engineers have apparently ruled out making a hybrid people carrier for now because they have been unable to accommodate the batteries in a design that buyers would expect to feature a flat floor. This could change with the use of new compact lithium-ion battery technology.

Toyota Prius

It’s the car that kick-started the hybrid movement 10 years ago, and the Prius is still going strong. The third generation model uses a 1.8-litre petrol engine in tandem with an electric motor to produce a combined power output of 134bhp. Thanks to a super-slippery shape and low-friction components, the result is an impressive 72.4mpg and CO2 emissions of only 89g/km, making it completely tax-free.

However, rules for the Government’s cashback scheme state that only plug-in hybrids can qualify – where the petrol engine acts only as a generator to extend the range of the batteries. Fortunately, Toyota has confirmed that a plug-in Prius is on the way, and should be available to buy within a year.