New Focus on horizon

Meet the most desirable family car ever! This striking machine is about to rewrite the hatchback rulebook, with a stunning combination of head-turning looks, driver appeal and up-to-the-minute technology. Say hello to Ford's next-generation Focus.

Set to go on sale in 2010, the third generation of the family car will take the company's brand values to the next level. It gets a dramatic new look that's backed up by a range of hi-tech small- capacity turbocharged engines.

Ford gave the strongest hint of how its upcoming models will look when it revealed the Iosis Max at the Geneva Motor Show last month (see Issue 1,053). And it's from this car that the new Focus takes much of its styling inspiration.

The hatch gets a sleek new front end, with a large lower grille and elongated headlights. Bold lines run from the edges of the grille to the A-pillars.

At the rear, there are further nods to the Iosis MAX, with a high tail, angular C-pillars and eye-catching lights. Chunky wheelarches and short
overhangs finish the look and give the newcomer a muscular stance. According to insiders, a panoramic glass roof will also be available. Inside, expect a toned-down version of the concept's striking cabin, with a new centre console boasting an improved version of Ford's Human Machine Interface control system. Options will include a reversing camera.

Under the skin is a fresh development of the current car's chassis, so it's unlikely the new model will grow much in size. Emphasis will be put on ride and refinement, without sacrificing the sharp steering and driver appeal for which the Focus has become famous.

New turbocharged EcoBoost engines dominate the line-up. Entry-level models will come with a 1.0-litre four-cylinder turbo unit offering 89bhp or 108bhp, but most variants will get a new 1.6-litre turbo, available with 148bhp or 178bhp outputs.

These units will combine storming pace with low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to give buyers the best of both worlds. There is also a new range of diesels in the shape of a 1.6 TDCi, delivering up to 128bhp, and a flagship 2.0-litre with 168bhp or 197bhp.

All engines are mated to manual boxes as standard, but Ford will also offer its Powershift twin-clutch transmission. Start-stop technology is set to be rolled out across the range, too.

We reported in Issue 1,054 that Ford bosses were debating when to launch the car. Sources have revealed that it looks as though the Focus and C-MAX compact MPV will be launched simultaneously in 2010.

The models have been developed alongside each other and could be global cars – ie sold in all Ford markets across the world. They would follow in the footsteps of the latest Fiesta, which goes on sale in China later this year, and in the US in 2010.

The Focus will be built at Ford's plant in Saarlouis, Germany, while the C-MAX, which is to appear as a seven-seater for the first time, will be assembled at Valencia in Spain.

Grande Punto 1.4 T-jet vs Swift 1.6 Sport

If you want to increase power fast, bolting on a turbo is a quick fix. So in theory it should be ideal to use in a small hot hatch. But can the 1.4 T-Jet powerplant fitted
to Fiat's Grand Punto Sporting match the thrills provided by the normally aspirated 1.6-litre unit in the Suzuki Swift Sport?

Look at the raw figures, and there's virtually nothing in it. With 123bhp at its disposal, the Japanese supermini has 3bhp more than its Italian rival. However, as with the other pairings here, the turbo model has a torque advantage, with the Grande Punto delivering 206Nm to the Suzuki's 148Nm. At the test track, the Suzuki sprinted from 0-60mph in only 8.5 seconds – that's three-tenths faster than its rival.

But this was turned on its head during our in-gear assessments, as the torquey Fiat showed the normally aspirated car a clean pair of heels in both tests. The flexible Grande Punto raced from 50-70mph in fifth gear in 7.6 seconds – an impressive 1.3 seconds faster than the Swift.

Sporty hatchbacks aren't all about pure speed, though, and the two cars deliver very different driving experiences. While the laid-back Fiat pulls strongly from low down, you need to use all of the available revs in the Suzuki. Its frenetic character is in stark contrast to the more refined Italian model.

The Grande Punto repays you with lower emissions and superior combined fuel consumption. It puts out 155g/km of CO2 to the Swift's 171g/km Swift, so sits in a lower tax band. Owners will pay £150 for an annual tax disc; Suzuki buyers shell out £175. The Japanese car is also more expensive for company drivers, although the gap isn't huge due to the Fiat's higher list price. It costs standard-rate business users £18 less each year than the more heavily polluting Swift.

The Fiat enjoys a similarly small advantage at the pumps, although we struggled to get near its combined economy figure of 42.8mpg. On our test it returned 32.4mpg, which was just enough to beat the 31.7mpg Swift Sport. However, the Suzuki comes up trumps on insurance. Its annual premium undercuts its rival's by a useful £78. The purchase price provides the biggest dent in the wallet, though, and this is where the Suzuki makes even more sense.

At £11,990, it's £765 cheaper than the Fiat. It doesn't skimp on kit, either, with climate control – instead of its rival's air-con – fitted as standard. Yet while you save on the Swift, it's not as spacious. The Suzuki is smaller than the Punto, with less rear legroom and a much tinier boot. A firm ride and busy engine also make it ill-suited to long trips; the softer and more refined Fiat is a capable motorway cruiser.

Crucially, though, the Swift is more engaging. Its steering provides greater weight and precision, while the stiff suspension serves up sharper responses and tighter body control than the Grande Punto.

The two engines highlight this difference in character. Nothing beats the thrill of driving a car with a highly tuned petrol engine, and the rev-hungry Suzuki can even make a trip to the shops exciting – a priceless quality in a small hot hatch.

The Fiat is a more talented all-rounder, with its relaxed and linear power delivery. Yet it's not as much fun, and is more expensive and thirstier than the claimed figures suggest.

If you want space and pace the Fiat wins, but for our money the Sukuki is the better junior hot hatch. The normally aspirated car wins this clash.

Ford Capri coming at last

The Capri is back – as a hatch! These are the best pictures yet of the compact family car that looks set to be the must-have model of 2010 – it's a new three- door version of the Ford Focus.

Just as Volkswagen has done with the stunning Scirocco, Ford is seeking to reinvent one of its most famous sports cars. And it's this dramatic evolution of the next Focus that will do it.

Boasting a stylish but practical body, it will target the Scirocco and the Renault Mégane Coupé, providing a glamorous sister car to the standard five-door hatch – revealed in Issue 1,057. Appealing to young, style-conscious buyers, the new Coupé should be a big hit.

As you can see from our exclusive pictures, it takes some inspiration from the Iosis Max concept, revealed at March's Geneva Motor Show.

That car debuted the new family 'face' of not only the new Focus, but the next-generation C-MAX, too. However, the three-door model evolves this with sleeker, sportier LED headlights and a deeper, more aggressive set of lower air intakes.

The key design cues, though, are the rakish windscreen, low roofline and high waistline, which meet to give a heavily chopped appearance at the back. It's reminiscent of the Scirocco, but is arguably more daring and head-turning. A neat diffuser-style lower bumper, roof spoiler and gorgeous LED tail-lights complete the rear. Add in short overhangs and large alloy wheels, and the model looks every inch the
chic compact sports car.

And because that roofline doesn't slope down too steeply, the Coupé will be practical, too, with plenty of headroom for rear passengers and a decent sized boot. Options such as a panoramic glass roof, to further increase the feeling of light and space inside, are anticipated.

In the front, a similar cabin to the five-door is expected, with a new centre console offering an improved version of Ford's Human Machine Interface system. The finish will have a premium feel, with options including a reversing camera.

To match its storming looks, the car will be fitted with a class-leading chassis. And this promises even more agility and grip than the five-door, without sacrificing ride comfort or refinement.

There'll be even more reason to smile when buyers see the engine range. New turbocharged EcoBoost powerplants will be available, with most cars getting a 1.6-litre petrol, producing 148bhp or 178bhp.

A new 1.6 TDCi diesel will also debut, giving up to 128bhp, alongside a flagship 2.0-litre with 168bhp or 197bhp. All these units will combine pace with superb fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. And helping the Focus Coupé to be even more efficient will be the option of a Powershift twin-clutch gearbox. This will be offered in addition to a standard-fit manual transmission. Stop-start technology is also expected to be rolled out across the line-up.

Of course, there will be a high-performance range-topper, but it's unlikely to be powered by the much-loved 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo engine from the Focus ST and RS. This is deemed too thirsty, and will be replaced by a 2.0-litre, 200bhp EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo.

The new Focus range debuts alongside the C-MAX MPV at a major motor show next year.

Jaguar’s new C-Type on the prowl

It's the sports car that every Jaguar fan has been desperate to see! This is the Big Cat's all-new rival for Porsche's Boxster – a compact two-seat roadster that promises performance and style at an affordable price.

Evoking memories of the legendary C-Type, it will lead a new wave of driver-focused machines, taking the firm into uncharted – but potentially very successful – territory. The compact sports market is huge and, as well as the Boxster, rivals include the Audi TT, BMW Z4 (tested on Page 50), Nissan 370Z and Mercedes SLK: Jaguar needs a slice of the action.

Drawing on the XK range's strong following, the newcomer will feature head-turning styling and a thrilling rear-drive chassis. With a sub-£40,000 price tag, it's a real recipe for success.

Ratan Tata, boss of Indian giant Tata Motors, which owns Jaguar-Land Rover, has made no secret of his desire for Jaguar to expand its sports car line-up – and this could be vital to securing the firm's future. Thanks to insider information, we can give you the best view yet of how the machine could look.

It's clear that the new model evolves cues from the XF such as the bold mesh grille, sharpened LED headlights and bonnet power bulge, making them more aggressive and sporty. Short overhangs, a steeply raked windscreen and muscular rear haunches are further highlights. The look is completed by a pert rear with slim tail-lights, an XF-style chrome strip and integrated chrome exhausts. In short, the vehicle takes the traditional British roadster shape and makes it completely modern.

As with the XK, the new sports car would use an aluminium monocoque with extruded body panels to maximise weight-saving and structural stiffness. A strict two-seater, it would feature an electrically operated folding canvas roof, to be stowed behind the occupants' heads.

Under the bonnet there will be a wide range of engines all taken from the XF, with an entry-level 235bhp 3.0-litre V6 version and a 380bhp 5.0 V8 flagship. There's also scope to offer the XF's latest 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel, which boasts 272bhp and the prospect of 40mpg. All models will feature Jaguar's excellent six-speed automatic gearbox, complete with steering wheel-mounted paddles.

With such a lightweight chassis, even the entry-level 3.0-litre V6 will be enormously fast, boasting a 0-60mph time of around seven seconds. The 5.0-litre V8 version could slash two seconds off that sprint and accelerate on to 155mph.

As the XF has shown, Jag's talented engineers can produce a saloon that corners like a sportster but offers a cosseting ride. So making a purer driver-pleasing roadster should be a task they will relish. But while the car will be agile, responsive and sporty to drive, it also promises to be extremely comfortable.

Of course, the firm is not without its problems: together with Tata, it is currently trying to secure financial assistance from the UK Government. And that means the new XJ saloon plus a forthcoming XF estate, as well as a convertible version of that car, are its priorities for now.

This Boxster rival, along with a replacement for the legendary E-Type and an Audi R8-style supercar, are on the drawing board, though, and would arrive in 2012 at the earliest.

Aston Martin Cygnet

From supercars to a supermini! These are the amazing pictures that will have car fans shaking their heads in disbelief. But it really is true...

Aston Martin is building a model that's even smaller than a Ford Fiesta!

Based on the Toyota iQ, the Cygnet is the result of a joint venture with the Japanese giant. Details are scarce at the moment, but the tiniest Aston Martin ever is expected to share the same three-cylinder petrol engine as the iQ, along with its innovative three- plus-one seating arrangement.

It will also boast a Euro NCAP five-star crash safety rating. And with a low-emission, highly economical engine, the Cygnet will help Aston to meet increasingly stringent environmental targets too.
As you can see, the firm has managed to distill all of the design cues from its supercar range into a package measuring only three metres long.

Inside, expect the same attention to detail as you'd get on the DBS, with a leather-clad cabin featuring the very best materials, along with an ECU (Emotion Control Unit) that plugs into the centre console, replacing a traditional key.

However, not just anyone will be able to buy a Cygnet. In order to snap up one of the must-have urban machines, you have to already own an Aston Martin, as the firm is only making them available to existing customers. The company has identified that around 30 per cent of owners have small cars such as the MINI or Smart ForTwo in their garages, using them for short journeys to and from city-based offices. Now Aston is giving them the chance to buy their very own 'luxury commuter'.

Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin chief executive, explained more about the Cygnet: "Now is the right time for Aston Martin to take this bold step to embark on this special project – made possible with the support of an organisation of Toyota's stature and capability and the intelligent design and perfect city car package of the iQ.

Official: Citroen C3

The all-new Citroen C3 is shaping up to be a glass act! These are the first official images of Citroen's brand-new contender in the supermini class, and as with all Citroens nowadays style is at the top of the agenda.

Taking pride of place on the outside is an optional 'Zenith' windscreen, which stretches dramatically over the driver's head, offering a panoramic field of vision and creating an airy and light ambience in the cabin. A progressive tint on this huge slab of glass, provides occupants with optimum UV protection, too.

Expensive-feeling materials and a dashboard shared with the more upmarket DS3 Concept take the interior to a new level in terms of perceived quality. Improved sound insulation and an integrated air freshener mean the new C3 is just as suited to tackling longer jounrneys as it is around town.

From launch an entry-level HDi 90 version will be available emitting just 99g/km of CO2 - Citroen's first sub-100g/km and therefore tax exempt road car. And from 2011 Citroen is going even further. Stop & Start technology will see a diesel version of the C3 emitting around 90g/km, while a next-generation three-cylinder petrol unit will be offered with less than 100g/km.

Pricing is yet to be announced, but the newcomer is sheduled to arrive in the UK in early 2010 when it will go head to head with the talented Ford Fiesta.

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport

GET ready for lift-off! The world's fastest and most expensive supercar has blown its top. This is the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, a car that can lay claim to being the world's most incredible convertible – and we've driven it.

Priced at around £1.1 million, it costs £300,000 more than the Coupe. So what do you get for your money? Well, a machine that looks even more spectacular than the fixed-roof version. The polycarbonate targa-style roof may not be the most sophisticated – it has to be left in the garage when removed, as there's nowhere in the car to stow it – but in open-top form the Grand Sport looks sensational.

As you'd expect from Bugatti, the Veyron has undergone a very thorough strengthening process to cope with the loss of the roof. The carbonfibre chassis has been redesigned around the windscreen pillars, strengthened in the sills and thickened behind the driver. It hasn't stopped there, because the single-setting suspension is softer than the coupe version, too.

Everything is the same under the bonnet, though – the Grand Sport still gets a 987bhp 8.0-litre quad turbocharged W16 engine.

On the move, the whole car feels a little softer than the coupe, especially at the rear, but that doesn't mean the chassis isn't as rigid. The ride is slightly more compliant too while another big improvement is a slight trade-off in outright grip in favour of more progression at the limit, thanks to new Michelin tyres.

The best bit is the noise though – roof down the W16 sounds incredible, the whole experience more involving than the Coupe. And while the Grand Sport may weigh in at 1,990kg – nearly 100kg more than the already hefty Veyron coupe – it still accelerates like no other production car with 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds, 0-124mph in 7.3 seconds while top speed is in excess of 250mph. It's an amazing engineering achievement.